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it starts with max and charles already seated on a cozy couch in ferrari’s media lounge, surrounded by warm lighting and a camera crew setting up for their Q&A.
the setup feels casual despite the “official” branding—max is sitting cross-legged, leaning back into charles, who has one arm draped loosely around max’s waist.
max is wearing one of his red bull polos, slightly oversized, while charles is in his race suit with the top half undone, the sleeves tied around his waist.
the video starts rolling, and the producer gives them the go-ahead to begin.
max waves at the camera first, a bright smile on his face. “hi, everyone! it’s me, max, and…” he tilts his head up slightly to look at charles.
charles smiles softly and leans closer into frame.
“and me, charles,” he says, his voice calm and warm. “we’re here to answer some of your questions. or tweets, i suppose.”
“tweets, yes,” max nods enthusiastically, reaching forward to pick up a tablet resting on the table in front of them. “we have a lot of them, actually. apparently, you all had a lot to say.”
charles chuckles, while max scrolling through the screen.
“oh, they did. it’s been—what?—a week since we went public?”
“seven days, two hours, and forty minutes, but who’s counting,” charles quips, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
max rolls his eyes but leans into him anyway, smiling. “you’re so dramatic.”
“and you love it,” charles counters, pressing a quick kiss to max’s temple, eliciting a faint blush.
the first tweet max reads aloud is lighthearted:
lecstappen
max, how does it feel to officially date the guy who’s been staring at you like you hung the stars for years now?’
max laughs, glancing at charles.
“they’re not wrong, you know. you’ve always been kind of obvious.”
charles doesn’t even attempt to deny it. “i don’t see the problem,” he says with a shrug, his gaze softening as he looks at max. “you’re very easy to stare at.”
max blushes deeper, quickly moving on to the next tweet. “okay, okay, let’s not make this too cheesy.”
“okay, here’s a good one,” max says, glancing at charles. “this person asks:
maxverstappensleftshoe
max, what’s the most annoying thing charles does at home?’”
charles raises an eyebrow, looking mock-offended. “annoying? me?”
max snorts. “you’re perfect, huh?”
“exactly.”
max rolls his eyes but grins as he considers his answer. “well, if we’re being honest… it’s probably when you leave your racing gloves everywhere. kitchen counter, couch, even the bathroom once—”
“it was one time!” charles interrupts, laughing.
“it was thirteen times, charlie,” max corrects him, trying to keep a straight face but failing. “i keep telling you to put them in the laundry or… anywhere that isn’t where we eat.”
charles shrugs, unrepentant. “they’re my lucky gloves.”
“your lucky gloves don’t belong next to my cereal,” max fires back, but his tone is light, affectionate.
charles leans closer, planting a quick kiss on max’s temple. “fine, fine. i’ll try to do better.”
“you better,” max mutters, still smiling as he scrolls to the next tweet.
“your turn to answer,” max announces after skimming the new question. “it says:
forzalecstappen
charles, what’s your favorite thing about max?
charles doesn’t hesitate, his voice softening as he answers, “oh, that’s easy. everything.”
max freezes for a second, his cheeks turning pink as he groans. “you can’t just say ‘everything’!”
“but it’s true,” charles insists, his expression genuine. “you’re kind, funny, and way too pretty for your own good. and you’re—”
“okay, okay, next question!” max cuts him off, his blush deepening.
“no, wait, let me finish—”
“nope!” max laughs, already swiping to the next tweet.
the new question makes max smirk mischievously. “this one says:
piastrispastries
max, who’s clingier, you or charles?
charles immediately speaks up. “you.”
“what?!” max exclaims, twisting to look at him in mock outrage.
“you are clingy, mon amour,” charles teases, grinning as he tightens his arm around max’s waist. “not that i’m complaining.”
max pouts, leaning back against him. “you’re literally the one that’s holding onto me right now.”
“because you’re irresistible,” charles replies smoothly, pressing a kiss to max’s cheek.
max sighs, shaking his head but smiling as he scrolls again.
“oh, this one’s good,” max says after a moment.
ferrariscult
what’s your favorite post-race ritual together?
charles hums thoughtfully. “probably dinner. we always find somewhere quiet to eat and talk about the race.”
“yeah,” max agrees softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “even if it’s just pizza at home, it’s nice.”
charles nudges him gently. “you forgot the best part.”
“what’s that?”
“cuddling on the couch after,” charles answers, his voice low and warm.
max looks up at him, his eyes soft. “yeah. that’s the best part.”
the tender moment is broken when max notices the next tweet, and his expression lights up. “oh, you’re gonna love this one, charlie,” he says, already laughing.
“what now?” charles asks warily, leaning over to peek at the screen.
max reads it aloud.
definitelynotobsessing1633
do you guys ever get tired of being so disgustingly in love?
charles laughs, his grin wide. “no, never.”
“of course, you don’t,” max mutters, though he’s smiling.
“do you?” charles challenges, raising an eyebrow.
max doesn’t answer, instead scrolling quickly to the next tweet, his cheeks faintly pink.
“thought so,” charles murmurs smugly, pressing another audible ‘pop’ kiss to max’s cheek.
max scrolls through the tablet, his face lighting up at a particular tweet. “oh, look at this one!” he says, angling the screen toward charles.
charles leans closer, reading aloud with a smile.
leclercslawyer
so, how does it feel to be parents to four baby furs?
max’s grin grows wider as he starts, “it’s… chaotic, to say the least.”
charles chuckles, nodding. “very chaotic. but it’s also wonderful. they’re all so different.”
“yeah,” max agrees, looking thoughtful. “jimmy’s the chill one, sassy’s… well, sassy, leo’s a bundle of energy, and donatello—”
“donut,” charles interjects fondly.
“donut,” max corrects himself, rolling his eyes with a laugh, “is the king of the house. he thinks everything belongs to him now.”
“he’s not wrong,” charles quips. “he stole my breakfast last week.”
“you shouldn’t have left it on the counter, charlie,” max teases, earning a nudge from charles.
“you sound like you’re taking his side!” charles exclaims, pretending to be offended.
“of course i am,” max says with a smirk. “donut’s my boy.”
charles shakes his head, his smile softening. “fine. but leo’s my boy.”
“oh, no doubt about that,” max says quickly, leaning back against charles. “leo follows you everywhere.”
charles grins. “he’s a good pup. but i think he likes you more, actually.”
“he likes me because i give him treats when you’re not looking,” max admits, his tone conspiratorial.
“max!” charles groans, though he’s laughing.
max scrolls to another reply of the thread,
1633wdcfight
i wonder what’s the most challenging part about having four pets?
they both pause, considering the question.
“probably coordinating everything,” max says after a moment. “like making sure everyone’s fed, walked, or—”
“keeping them off the bed,” charles interrupts, deadpan.
max snickers. “oh, that’s impossible.”
“it’s your fault,” charles accuses, pointing at max. “you let them up there when i’m not home.”
max shrugs, unrepentant. “they look at me with those big eyes, charlie. i can’t say no.”
charles sighs, his arm tightening around max. “you’re too soft.”
“says the guy who spoons leo on the couch,” max fires back, grinning.
charles doesn’t deny it, instead smirking as he says, “well, yes, but i do like cuddling their papa better, no?”
max’s cheeks flush, and he ducks his head to hide his shy smile. “charlie…”
“it’s true,” charles says, pressing a kiss to max’s temple. “the pets are adorable, but they don’t compare to you.”
max pouts playfully, his tone light but teasing. “maybe i should just let them sleep on the bed more. you like cuddling them, after all.”
charles laughs, leaning in to nuzzle max’s neck. “you know i’d still choose you, chéri.”
“hmph.” max tries to sound grumpy, but his smile betrays him as he scrolls to the next tweet.
“ah, here’s another!” max says brightly, eager to change the subject.
charles chuckles, watching him with nothing but fondness as max reads the next question aloud.
verstappiesluv
i absolutely love the fact that the tifosi started calling max their angelo bambino. how does it feel to have such an cute special nickname?
max freezes, the tips of his ears instantly turning pink. “what?” he asks, blinking rapidly as he tries to process the words.
charles can’t help but laugh, his grip tightening around max’s waist as he presses his forehead to max’s shoulder.
“angelo bambino,” he repeats, clearly savoring it. “little angel. it suits you perfectly, don’t you think?”
“yes, max,” the interviewer chimed in, a mischievous glint in their eye. “the tifosi have started calling you angelo bambino. how does that make you feel?”
max groans quietly, his face already turning pink as the crowd cheers and laughs. “oh, not this again,” he mutters, shaking his head.
charles, sitting beside him, is absolutely beaming. “he loves it,” he says confidently, leaning closer to the microphone. “he just doesn’t want to admit it.”
“charles!” max protests, his cheeks practically glowing now.
the interviewer laughs, clearly enjoying their dynamic. “it’s a pretty adorable nickname, though. you have to admit, max.”
max sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he glances at charles, who is watching him with an infuriatingly smug expression. “it’s… fine, I guess,” he says reluctantly, though the shy smile tugging at his lips betrays him.
charles nudges him playfully. “see? he loves it.”
“do not,” max mutters, crossing his arms.
charles laughs, wrapping an arm around max’s shoulders and pulling him close. “don’t worry, angelo mio, I’ll protect you from all the adoring tifosi. i think they’re already trying to steal you away from me.”
“you’re the worst,” max says, though he’s smiling now, leaning into charles’s side.
“and you’re the cutest,” charles counters, pressing a kiss to max’s temple as the crowd erupts into cheers.
max groans, burying his face in his hands. “oh, my god. no. that’s so embarrassing.”
“why?” charles asks, grinning as he leans back to look at him. “you are angelic. sweet, soft, kind… adorable.”
“charlie!” max whines, his cheeks burning as he tries to wiggle out of charles’s hold.
charles only laughs harder, pulling him back and wrapping his arms tighter around him. “oh, no, you’re not escaping this, angelo mio.”
“stop!” max says, half-laughing, half-groaning as he twists to glare at charles. “they only call me that because I’m with you. it’s not even my nickname! i am nothing but an angel.”
charles raises an eyebrow, feigning confusion. “oh, so you’re saying you don’t want the tifosi to adore you?”
max hesitates, his lips twitching as he struggles to come up with a response. “that’s not what I said,” he mumbles, looking away.
charles smirks, clearly enjoying this far too much. “you’re blushing,” he points out.
“no, I’m not,” max says quickly, though the way he avoids charles’s gaze completely betrays him.
charles chuckles, leaning in to press a soft kiss to max’s temple. “you’re so cute, my angelo bambino.”
max huffs, leaning back into charles’s chest despite his embarrassment. “I hate you,” he says, though it’s said with so much affection that it’s completely unconvincing.
max’s lips twitch as he scrolls through the tablet, his expression lighting up when he sees another tweet. “oh, this one’s fun,” he says, holding the tablet up for charles to see.
charles leans over his shoulder, reading aloud.
sucker4f1
did you guys ever figure out who on the grid is your biggest shipper?
the question alone makes both of them snort. max is already grinning when he starts answering. “you mean, aside from all of them?”
charles chuckles, leaning back slightly and tightening his arms around max.
“honestly, they’re divided into two camps. there’s the group that supports us quietly, and then there’s the group that complains because apparently, we’re too ‘lovesick.’”
max gasps dramatically, turning to look at charles. “us? lovesick?”
charles shrugs, his face the picture of innocence. “that’s what they say.”
max rolls his eyes, looking back at the camera. “we’re not lovesick. we’re just… affectionate.”
“exactly!” charles agrees. “and overdramatic? nonsense. there’s no such thing when it comes to love.”
max elbows him gently, snickering.
“you literally made a whole speech about how ‘nothing else matters’ at one of the galas.”
charles smirks, unrepentant. “and i stand by it.”
max laughs, shaking his head before returning to the question. “but if we’re talking about the grid’s biggest shipper, it’s definitely lando.”
“oh, for sure,” charles says, nodding. “he’s practically our unofficial PR manager. he’s always hovering, trying to make sure we’re ‘presentable.’”
“like he’s one to talk,” max mutters, and charles grins.
“carlos is pretty close too,” charles adds. “he likes to act annoyed, but he’s just as bad.”
max smiles at the mention of carlos. “he’ll pretend he doesn’t care, but then he sends us texts like, ‘guys, stop being so cute, it’s distracting.’”
charles chuckles. “checo’s the opposite. he just looks exhausted whenever he’s around us.”
“hmmh.” max nods fervently. “poor checo. i think he regrets sitting next to us at team dinners.”
“lewis, though,” charles says, a teasing lilt in his voice, “he’s still adapting. he doesn’t know where to look half the time.”
max giggles, his eyes twinkling. “we’ll break him in eventually.”
“i think fernando’s the funniest,” charles says, his tone conspiratorial.
max’s eyebrows raise. “oh, absolutely. i’m sure nando has a whole album of videos and pictures of us on his phone.”
charles nods seriously. “he records us all the time. i caught him the other day pretending to take a selfie, but he was actually filming us.”
“he thinks he’s subtle,” max says, grinning. “he’s not.”
“he’s not,” charles echoes, shaking his head.
max pauses, scrolling through more tweets before smirking. “and then there are the rookies.”
charles snorts. “oh, the poor rookies.”
“they found out about us before they even got to the grid,” max says, laughing.
charles leans forward slightly, resting his chin on max’s shoulder. “fast learners,” he quips, earning a laugh from max.
“oscar’s basically our child at this point,” max adds, smiling fondly.
“he doesn’t complain though,” charles says. “i think he likes being spoiled.”
“who wouldn’t?” max teases, and charles chuckles.
“and then there’s pierre and esteban,” max continues. “our gossip partners in crime.”
“oh, they’re the best,” chares agrees. “always up to the date for the dramas.”
“the rest of the grid’s been really supportive, though,” charles says thoughtfully. “even if they’re a little too eager to tease us.”
max hums in agreement, leaning back into charles’s embrace. “it’s nice. they’re like family.”
charles smiles, pressing a kiss to max’s temple. “a very chaotic family.”
max grins, his cheeks slightly pink as he reads the next tweet.
then max stumbles upon a tweet that makes him burst into laughter before he even reads it out loud. “oh, you’re gonna love this one, charlie,” he says, barely able to contain his grin.
“what is it?” charles asks, leaning over to peek at the screen.
max clears his throat dramatically, trying to compose himself.
maxyleclerc
oh my god, charles literally couldn’t stop kissing max in the paddock last week. he’s so whipped.
charles chuckles immediately, his free hand gently tilting max’s jaw toward him. “can you blame me?” he asks, his tone so nonchalant it almost makes max forget the cameras are rolling.
max’s eyes widen slightly as their gazes meet, and a faint pink blush dusts his cheeks. “charlie,” he says, his tone halfway between a scold and a shy giggle.
charles grins down at him, entirely unbothered. “what? it’s true.”
“you’re impossible,” max mutters, trying to turn back toward the camera, but charles doesn’t let go right away.
“look at him,” charles continues, his voice softening into something almost reverent as he tilts max’s jaw slightly again. “he’s got very pretty lips, you see.”
max’s blush deepens instantly. “charles!” he squeaks, squirming in charles’s hold.
charles doesn’t stop. “made to be kissing and—”
max cuts him off, pinching the arm wrapped around his waist as his ears turn a brilliant shade of red.
charles winces dramatically but doesn’t look the least bit sorry. “and to say nice things, i mean!” he adds quickly, trying to look innocent.
max narrows his eyes at him, then at the camera. “sure, charles. that is very convincing.”
charles just chuckles again, leaning in to press a quick kiss to max’s temple. “you’re adorable when you’re flustered, you know that?”
max huffs but can’t hide the small, shy smile tugging at his lips. “‘m not flustered,” he lies, his voice quieter now.
“of course not,” charles agrees easily, though the teasing glint in his eyes says otherwise.
he presses another kiss, this time to max’s cheek, and max lets out an exaggerated sigh.
the next tweet max reads is about something entirely unrelated, but charles still can’t seem to help himself, trailing his lips down to max’s shoulder as max tries to focus on reading.
“charlie,” max whispers under his breath, barely audible, his tone soft but filled with affection.
“yes, mon amour?” charles replies, his voice just as quiet, lips still grazing max’s shoulder.
“behave,” max murmurs, though he’s smiling as he turns his head slightly to meet charles’s gaze again.
charles hums, his grin widening. “only for you.”
lando’s voice suddenly pipes up from behind the camera, startling both of them. “you two are disgustingly cute, you know that?”
max lets out a laugh, finally managing to squirm away from charles’s hold just enough to sit up straighter. “thanks, lando. your input is very necessary.”
“oh, i’m sure it is,” lando teases, leaning into frame briefly to smirk at them.
charles just shrugs, entirely unbothered, as he pulls max back against him. “jealousy doesn’t suit you, lando.”
the camera crew laughs, and max shakes his head fondly before turning back to the tablet. “okay, the last tweet…”
charlieandcherie
we’ve been rooting for you two for years. may happiness always comes for you both. seeing you happy together makes us really happy too.
charles and max exchange a look, their expressions softening into matching smiles.
“oh,” charles says quietly, his arm tightening instinctively around max’s waist. “that’s really sweet.”
max nods, his fingers fidgeting slightly with the hem of charles’s sleeve. “yeah,” he says softly, his blue eyes glimmering as he looks toward the camera. “thank you. it means a lot to us, really.”
“it does,” charles adds, his voice sincere. “we’ve felt all your support over the years, and knowing you’re all happy for us means everything.”
charles leans forward, pressing a lingering kiss to max’s temple, his lips brushing against soft skin as he whispers something in french.
max giggles, his cheeks flushing pink as he turns to nudge charles lightly. “liefje,” he mutters, though he can’t hide his smile.
charles grins unapologetically, his dimples on full display as he looks back at the camera. “sorry. he’s too cute.”
“you’re impossible,” max says, though his voice is full of fondness.
the crew behind the camera gives a signal, prompting charles to straighten slightly. “and that’s a wrap!” he announces, his tone bright and playful.
max exhales dramatically, leaning back against charles as if he’s exhausted. “finally.”
the interviewer laughs. “you two are naturals. we should definitely do this again soon.”
charles immediately perks up, his enthusiasm unmistakable.
“yes!”
“no!”
max protests at the exact same time, groaning as he covers his face with his hands.
charles laughs, prying one of max’s hands away to hold it. “why not? it was fun!”
“because you get to talk nonstop and embarrass me in front of the whole world,” max says, glaring at him playfully.
“oh, come on,” charles teases, leaning down to nuzzle max’s cheek. “you had fun too. admit it.”
max huffs, but the corners of his lips twitch upward. “maybe a little.”
the interviewer shakes their head, clearly amused. “you’re both ridiculous, you know that?”
“we’ve heard,” charles says with a laugh, pressing one last kiss to max’s jaw before pulling back slightly.
“okay, okay,” max says, waving at the camera as he tries to suppress his smile. “bye, everyone. thanks for watching.”
charles leans closer again, his arm still securely around max’s waist. “au revoir,” he adds with a horrible attempt of wink, making max groan as he nudges him again.
the screen faded to black as the text see you next time! - il prededestinato & angelo bambino appears.