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george wasn’t supposed to go online.
he knew that and his boyfriend told him that repeatedly and yet there he was, curled up on the the couch, phone glowing against his face in the dim light of the living room, and staring at his own name trending again for the nth time since suzuka grand prix. he let out a slow and tired sigh while his thumb hovering before scrolling anyway. he had already seen it all before: every variation of hate, every twisted narrative, and every accusation thrown at him whether he was involved or not. and somehow people still found a way to blame him.
today’s topic? ollie’s crash and the driver’s group chat.
george pressed his lips together and jaw tightening. of course it circled back to him and ofcourse the gpda got dragged into it and of fucking course, he got dragged with it.
being a gpda director was supposed to be about safety, about making sure drivers had a voice, and about structure and order. and george liked order. but no one else wanted the job so he took it. and now he was public enemy number one for it.
“i told you not to go online,” his boyfriend walked into the living room.
george didn’t look up immediately. he just sighed with shoulders sinking deeper into the couch. then he lifted his gaze. his boyfriend stood in front of him with arms crossed and expressions firm but the moment their eyes met, it softened instantly.
it always did.
that’s because george looked… unfair. those stupid pretty blue eyes, even though glassy and tired while his lips pressed into a pout will never be able to resist by his boyfriend. it was always ridiculous.
his boyfriend clicked his tongue under his breath and walked over. “schat,” he murmured as he sat onto the couch beside him.
george swallowed. “people are blaming me,” he said quietly. “because of ollie’s crash.”
“that is not your fault,” the man said quickly.
“they’re saying i didn’t do enough. that im useless in the gpda or that i only care when it benefits me–”
“bullshit–”
“maaaax,” george softly hit max’s arm.
“i told you to resign–”
“and give them the more reason to hate me?”
max exhaled slowly. “schat…”
george shook his head and looked down at his phone again. “max, you know i can’t.”
yes, max knew. he knew george wouldn’t quit something he believed in. he knew he’d rather take the hit than leave something unfinished. it was one of the things max loved about him and also one of the things that drove him insane.
“what did it say this time?” max asked quietly.
george hesitated before handing max his phone. max took it with brows furrowing as he scrolled. his expression darkened almost immediately.
“so these people–”
“they’re your fans by the way,” george muttered.
max scoffed. “anyone who slanders you or just promotes hate on the other drivers are not true fans, especially for you. and that goes both ways.”
george hummed softly. they both know that their fans are always at each other’s throats. and also there are fans who ship them. but if only they knew that behind all the rivalry, the snarky interviews, and the on track tension, george and max went home to each other. they don’t know that max was unbearably clingy and george let him be. people dont know that their arguments were half real and half foreplay, or that their love language was bickering… and staying.
“they really think you’re not active in the group chat?” max muttered and still reading.
the mercedes driver snorted. “and people really think that you don’t read it.”
“well,” max said easily. “i don’t.”
george turned to him slowly, raising a brow.
max shrugged. “i only check it when you message.”
and annoyingly, that’s true. george felt something warm bloom in his chest despite everything. because most of them time, when max replied in the group chat, it was just to back him up, or to reinforce whatever george had already said, or to make sure he wasn’t standing alone.
“idiot,” george mumbled but he was smiling now.
max glanced at him and that’s when he noticed it. george’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. well, it hadn’t for days since suzuka and something in max’s chest tightened. he didn’t like that and didn’t like how quiet george had been and how heavy he felt, somehow, the lightness, teasing, dramatic, and over the top george had slightly dimmed.
max stood up abruptly.
“where are you going?” george asked.
“kitchen,” max said and already walking away.
george frowned but didn’t question it while in the kitchen, max pulled out his phone and made a call. it was short and simple but very very intentional.
later that night, formula 1 dropped a new video and the internet exploded. drivers was asked a series of questions like “who’s most likely to” in the grid. and one particular question really stood out and it was “who messages the most in the driver’s group chat.”
almost the entire grid answered the same, ‘george and carlos’. two of the drivers answered, ‘oscar.’ and then there’s george, “max is quite vocal… surprising,” and the production staff laughed.
the content was clearly filmed months ago even before the season began. but the timing of this content was perfect. it was a direct contradiction to everything people had been saying about george “not doing his job”. it’s a quiet and accidental… or maybe not so accidental defense.
george barged into their bathroom with phone in hand, “did you do this?”
max was doing his skincare routine, a routine he absolutely did not have before george. he glanced at george through the mirror.
“do what?” he said innocently.
“this video,” george said as he waved his phone. “the timing is suspicious.”
“i haven’t watched it,” max replied then washed his face and reach for the face towel.
“but you know what’s in it.”
max turned around and stepped closer. “no,” he muttered. “why? what’s in it?”
george squinted. “ugh, whatever” he groaned but before he could walked away, max reached out and pulled him for a hug. a really tight hug. the kind of hug that made everything else feel far away. george melted into max almost instantly. he buried his face in max’s neck and breathed him in like he needed it.
max rested his chin on top of his head. “i don’t like it,” he murmured. “when people spread things about you.”
the british’s grip tightened slightly.
“i want them to know how you actually are,” max continued. “how annoying you are in t he group chat. how you spam updates and how you fight the fia like yourlife depends on it.”
george huffed a laugh against his skin. “but they only saw me stirring the pot when i mentioned your name,” he mumbled.
max pulled back just enough to look at him and grinned. “well,” he said. “not my fault you’re obsessed with me.”
the mercedes driver pulled back fully with wide eyes now, “obsessed? me? with you?” he said and max nodded seriously that made his jaw dropped. “i should leak our messages or sell it to the press,” he gasped. “show everyone how you text me first every five minutes asking if i still love you–”
max laughed loudly and pulled him back in before he could finish. “go ahead,” he said easily with his arms tightening around george. “i have nothing to hide.”
george narrowed his eyes, “oh really?”
“really,” max said softly. “i’d actually prefer it.” his expression shifted with something gentler settling in. “i’m ready to tell the whole world,” he said quietly as he brushed his thumb agaisnt george’s cheek. “i want to tell everyone how i’m madly in love with you.”
george’s breath caught and just like that, the noise faded. all the hate, headlines, and the endless exhausting scrutiny, none of it mattered. not when max looked at him like that or not when max chose him every single time.
he smiled at max, eyes soft and fond. “you are so embarrassing,” he whispered like it was a secret meant only for him.
“and you love it,” max replied with a little smug smile tugging at his lips.
george huffed a quiet laughed then he leaned in slowly and certain and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to max’s lips. “unfortunately,” he murmured against them with breath warm, “i really do.”
max’s arms tightened around him instinctively like he never wanted to let go. after a beat he hummed softly right against george’s ear.
🎶
“so don’t you worry your pretty, little mind.
people throw rocks at things that shine…”
🎶
george let out a quiet snort and pulled back just enough to look at his boyfriend. “ahh, you’ve been practicing.”
“for you schat,” max said and he kept on humming but gentler this time as he swayed them side to side, slowly, uncoordinated and barely a dance but entirely theirs.
george didn’t complain. he just let himself be held… be moved... and be loved. and somewhere online, george was still trending but in that bathroom, in max’s arms, he was finally and completely okay.
🏁