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Max tried to ignore the post-race bustle around him but it was hardly possible in the middle of the parked F1 cars.
People were already swarming the place, desperate to get to the podium, mechanics were tending to cars but Max just found himself in the middle of it. Taking his time, he removed his helmet and then his balaclava to finally take in a full breath without any obstructions.
The slight warmth of the Miami sun that now dared to pierce through the clouds was a nice felling but ultimately encouraged Max's desire to get out of his racing suit. Rubbing over his scent-glands at the side of his throat, Max looked around, lost in thought, until his gaze was caught by a retreating figure. A figure Max knew really well, unbeknowest to most at the moment.
Even though he couldn't see Lewis's expression, it was obvious something was not right. Max could see the tension in Lewis's shoulders from miles away. There was no trace of the usual suave flair the older was usually sporting and it actually worried Max he picked up on that this fast.
The most telling sign was the helmet. The fact Lewis hadn't taken it off only confirmed Max's assumptions.
If Lewis didn't take off his helmet there was no way to even remotely get close to him. No one could speak to him with that helmet on and that's also how he left the parc fermé with sure and fast strides. Like he was on a mission and Max was pretty sure the alpha just wanted to get to the Ferrari hospitality.
It made the omega wonder what could've impacted the older's mood like this.
It's not easy to get this side out of Lewis. Max should know.
There's a tugging in his chest. Something telling him to follow Lewis right away and make sure he's okay.
Max knew it's his omega side that's calling forth this desire, the want to care for the alpha he's sharing a more than confusing relationship with.
The whole thing was a big 'back and forth' between them. They had had something, just to blow off steam, plain physical benefits, but after Lewis became more and more busy with his problems at Mercedes, things cooled off between them.
Still, during that time they spent together Max learned to read Lewis's body language. It happened automatically, him paying attention to that and in the end being able to make out any of Lewis's mood without even having to talk to him. Sometimes a little sigh was enough and Max knew how to act.
It was almost instinctive, subconsciously, as he started to follow, passing the people and parked cars. Everything went past him as he started his pursuit of the older alpha.
Due to the huge accumulation of multiple different scents Max found himself unable to detect Lewis's citrucy fresh bergamot. He probably would've been able to untangle it from this stream but it's just too weak to make out because of the scent blockers Lewis must be wearing.
Luckily, Max caught a naive Ferrari mechanic who told him Lewis went into the direction of the Ferrari motorhome so Max wasn't wrong. He knew Lewis always wanted to freshen up after races.
While he made his way to the red hospitality small little doubts began to spread in his head. Maybe Lewis just wanted to be left alone and Max really wasn't a champion in cheering up. Afterall, they're also not that close anymore and who was Max to Lewis to take the right to console the older? If anything he might -might- go through as possible friend of the older, leaving out the fuck buddy part.
Nevertheless, Max still ended up in front of Lewis's driver room. He knocked but didn't wait for an answer. If anything Lewis couldn't possibly hide anything Max hadn't seen yet.
"Go away." was the rough greeting he received but it left Max unimpressed and disappointed when he saw Lewis had already changed into a new shirt.
Crossing his arms Max stood in the doorway, "I didn't even take a step in and you're already this friendly?" Max tilted his head as Lewis turned around to look at him, "Should I have brought a fruit basket?"
There's surprise written in Lewis's brown eyes but it quickly evaporated, "Came here to gloat?" he asked with a barely surpressed sneer, souring bergamot scent biting Max's nose.
It was apparent the alpha was more than just angry and for a second Max contemplated if it had actually been a smart move to come here.
"No." Max said neutrally, "I thougt it's clear we're past that." He walked in slowly, scent following low and warm, meant to soothe.
Even though Max was acting unbothered, the fact Lewis thought Max came to bath in his failure disappointed the younger a bit.
"What do you want, Max?"
Deciding to ignore the small stab the Dutch softened his expression in the face of an irritated Lewis, "Nothing. I was just wondering how you're doing."
Not 'if you're okay', Max thought because it was obvious Lewis wasn't okay and he didn't want to aggravate the older any further with useless questions.
"What does it look like?" Lewis asked and the small smile on his face had a dangerous edge, "What do you think how I'm doing?" he stepped closer to Max but the omega stood his ground.
"I don't know." Max replied evenly, "You tell me."
This was a very crucial part if Max wanted to get through to Lewis. Making assumptions would've been wrong so he's inviting Lewis to reveal his feelings himself. The Brit had to make the first step.
"Today was a total embarrassmant." Lewis bit and turned away.
Success, Max thought and stayed silent, attentively watching the alpha.
"I thougt I was doing the right thing." Lewis continued, "But this is a freaking deja-vu. I just- I don't know-" he rubbed over his face and Max felt that tug again in his chest, "I mess up quali and the team doesn't know how to operate two drivers." He turned back around and the glare he levelled Max with actually surprised Max, "It took them several laps to allow me to pass Charles. By then my mediums were already in the realm of the dead and then we had to switch positions again." he scoffed and averted his gaze again, hands on his hips, "I told them to have a teabreak while they're at it with the decision making."
Max couldn't help the small chuckle escaping him at that and Lewis shot him a curious look, "With biscuits?"
"Yeah. Angie already told me you're rubbing off on me."
Lewis's tone grew a bit softer towards the end and alright, forget Red Bull. Lewis could also give Max wings if that light warm feeling in his chest was anything to go by.
But just as fast it came Lewis hid the softness again, scent souring, and Max understood. The older just wanted to be angry right now. He didn't want cheering up or anything. He wanted to experience his own anger and Max recognized that punishemnt from himself. Seemed like Max was not the only one with bad habits.
But could anyone hold it against Lewis? Another team had failed him. Again. Publicly. Strategically. Emotionally. And Lewis had taken it in stride as much as possible only to release everything in the safe confines of his room.
And Max's instincts responded violently.
Even though they were only sharing a purely physical relationship, Max had a problem with watching Lewis crash to the ground like that.
It sounded dramatic and might not look like it but that was because Lewis wasn't flying that high to begin with. This was one of countless setbacks that got even worse to you than a single huge fall because it made you become hopeless. It made you question yourself, if you're even good enough, if you still deserve your place. If it would ever end?
It's hard to experience. The sharp edge in Lewis's voice, the way his shoulder coiled like wires, tense and on the verge of giving in. That attractive bergamot fragrance turning into a sour and biting scent spike with frustration and something else.
Disappointement.
Max knew Lewis was practically poisoning his own mind like that and he couldn't just stand there and watch.
It had already been difficult when the alpha had still been with Mercedes. Max once had given his own opinions voice about the situation but had been quickly shut down by Lewis who hadn't been in the mood at all to share internal team problems with the younger. After that they only had met up when Lewis needed to take his mind off or when Max was bored.
"I just don't know what to do to make this better. I can't exactly explain their jobs to them. I have my own stuff to figure out!"
The alpha had started to pace and Max moved without thinking, stepping into Lewis's path and gently placed his palms on Lewis's chest. The touch sent a shiver down his spine and he wondered when the last time was he had touched Lewis like this.
"Enough, Lewis." he said, voice low and even, "Breathe."
Lewis opened his mouth but Max didn't give him a chance. He tilted his head, just a bit, to expose his neck- not in submission, but trust. It's a small move, barely noticeable but afterwards his scent bloomed.
At first it was a flicker of sweetness in the air -sugary and golden, warm honey melting over sunlit stone with a touch of heat-hinted spice. It was a mixture of floral softness and herby gentleness, perfectly balanced just like natural wild honey.
"I don't want to talk." Lewis said tightly but his gaze wasn't as sharp anymore Max noted.
"Then don't." Max replied simply and felt his own body temperature rise, a response to the rise of pheromones he's releasing.
He shifted forward a bit, inhaling the alpha's own unhappy scent that slowly changed into a neutral tone.
As if noticing the closeness to the desired alpha Max's scent thickened, not just in volume but in depth. It opened like a budding rose, unfurled like silk in the air, weaving into Lewis's breath, his skin, and his very being.
Max let the silence stretch, steady presence against Lewis as the omega's scent curled around them like a dangerous snake. The honey fragrance was pure and Max knew it was very rich when he wanted it to be. (Or rather when he was in the presence of a certain someone.)
Even though Max didn't look like it, his scent was omega to the bone, warm, tempting, comforting and welcoming. But right now it was a bit more.
He heard Lewis take in a shallow breath and Max could feel a slight tremble beneath his hands. In that exact moment Max watched as his scent slipped into Lewis's system, silent but inevitable.
The air was so dense with the omega's fragrance Lewis couldn't do anything but inhale it. Breathing it in as it settled in his blood. Gentle but effective.
The alpha was frozen, pupils dilated and gaze unfocused as Max leaned in and pressed his face to the hollow of Lewis's throat where the alpha's scent was most potent. Like the touch of a ghost he let his lips brush over the older's skin, hands still steady on Lewis's chest, and released his scent full-force - a golden wave, sweet and hot and heavy honey crashing into the unguarded alpha.
And Lewis stilled completely against Max.
His ribcage rose once. Twice. Shaky breaths.
"Max,"
It was a whisper, but it came out half-broken before Lewis suddenly staggered back, just a half-step, and Max instinctively reached for Lewis's arm to steady the older. It's the moment Lewis's control started to slip beneath the warmth and care of Max's scent. Max dared to lean back to lock eyes with glazed brown ones, noticing the way Lewis's breath hitched like someone slipping under water.
There's also a solid grip around Max's arm as well as the alpha's gaze bored into him, "What- What are you- fuck, Max." Lewis's breathing was elevated and it seemed like he wanted to let go of Max but couldn't.
Max didn't back off, "You need this." he murmured, "It's okay." He encouraged softly as they stood like that together, Max's scent seeping further into Lewis, sinking through his skin. Coating his lungs.
There's a crease between Lewis's brows as if he's confused as to what was happening, as if he didn't understand how Max's scent was able to undo him like that. How it slid through the cracks of his iron composure like smoke, unraveling any knot he'd tied tight since that race. It's breaking the base of his rational thinking, of his control as the whole construct came crashing down and as if needing physical support Lewis's other hand shot out, blindly catching Max's waist to steady himself.
"Max," Lewis managed, voice hoarse, strained by desperation as he blinked, trying to regain his senses but they're long coated in honey, "Don't-" He gritted his teeth and there was a spike in his scent as his grip on Max tightened, breathing ragged, "Not- not like this."
"Relax. I'm not trying to seduce you." Max said with a small smile and raised his hand to knead the back of Lewis's neck, "Wanna sit down?" he nodded at the couch.
Carefully he moved Lewis back, mindful of his delirious state until the back of Lewis's knees hit the couch behind him and he sank down, breathing hard, head falling forward until it rested against Max's stomach. He's grabbing the fabric of Max's racing suit tightly, dizzy from something more than stress.
It felt like a high.
But it was pure. It was soft and warm, wrapping around Lewis and elevating his mind.
It was not lust. Not frenzy. No heat.
Just need.
And trust.
Max took Lewis's cap off and ran a hand through his curls, slow and deliberate, his heart full of warmth it felt bursting. He kept scenting, the output of his pheromones steady to keep Lewis stable and preventing him from spiraling. Max felt Lewis's body relax as the older slumped further against him, breathing a bit steadier, giving his whole self into Max's hands without asking for anything in return.
"You're okay." Max murmured, gazing down at Lewis who was keeping the omega close by his waist, "You don't need to fix everything all the time. Just let go." his voice grew a bit raw towards the end and he gulped, feeling his throat ache.
It was hard to see Lewis like this but this was the least Max could do to make Lewis take a breath.
They hadn't been close lately but when they're standing here like this it felt like they never stopped seeing each other and Max wanted to keep that feeling. He wanted to be there like this for Lewis more often and not just for physical release. He wanted more. But that wasn't important right now. It could wait.
Lewis felt undone like this. His mind and whole being completely bared in front of Max.
Not humiliated. Not emasculated.
Held.
He felt held and cared for with Max lifting him up like this and the younger's hands caressing his hair.
They've never done anything like this but to Lewis it didn't feel a bit wrong. He was right where he wanted to be and he never wanted to leave. He never wanted Max to leave.
"Since when do we do stuff like this?" Lewis's raw weak voice broke the silence later when they're both laying on the couch, the alpha with his head on Max's chest. He sounded cautious.
"Since I thought you needed it." Max replied without hesitation, his voice soft but direct.
The room felt thick with the aftermath of Max's pheromone onslaught and was slowly cooling off now, the haze slowly lifting off their senses.
This wasn't normal. Not for them.
Usually, when they're tangled up, it's behind locked hotel doors, during heats, ruts or stress or boredom. It's fast, raw and convenient because it's temporary. No one had obligations to the other and on top of that, it's safe. They knew neither of the other would use their delicate situation against each other and really that was one big headache less.
And it's good. It's devestatingly good. The best Max ever had but he would never tell Lewis that. The Brit's ego was big enough as it was.
This situation though was something completely else. Something they both had never done, an intimacy they hadn't dared to breach ever. And now Max had just gone and scented Lewis. Held him. Whispered things that weren't just comforting but honest and real. That meant something.
"You know this isn't what we do." Lewis's voice sounded low, rough around the edges and just sleepy.
Max hummed. Lewis's weight on top of him was comforting and Max tightened his arms a bit around the older's shoulders.
"Do you think it should be?" he threw back quietly and finally looked down, waiting for Lewis to respond.
The older didn't move from his position, "Depends," he muttered and then raised his head to meet Max's eyes, "Are you gonna pretend this didn't happen later?"
Holding Lewis's intense gaze that was still marred by Max's intoxicating pheromones the Dutch gulped. Both of them knew Max didn't just have such an effect on Lewis by accident but unraveling and acknowledging that knowledge would open a whole new chapter.
"Depends." Max allowed a small smile to tug at his lips and leaned his head back, "Only if you want me to."