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The heavy pounding of the rain echoed through the halls. No amount of rescheduling could have made this day driveable. The track was practically flooded, the unrelenting storm showing no signs of stopping.
It was disappointing for the grid, obviously, but they were happy they weren't being forced out in these conditions. This meant an absurd amount of free time for everyone, now not needing to be worried about the stress of a race.
Grid Omegas (the better group chat)
Charles:
I cannot stand being still for much longer, the Ferrari motorhome is so boring and Lewis isn't good company right now
George:
I feel you mate, this is horrible. All that anticipation and pre race adrenaline for nothing, I feel like I can't relax after that
Lando:
nest?
Gabi:
That actually is not a bad idea
Arvid:
Liam is with the red bull boys, I can sneak you into my driver's room here
George:
Won't there still be employees to question us?
Lando:
they can eat shit
Charles:
Not the wording I would have used but yes, in this case I agree with Lando
Gabi:
I can ask Nico to deal with anyone that wants to oppose us
Lando:
no alphas, its girls night
Charles:
We are not girls?
Arvid:
Are you guys coming or not?
George:
I'm on my way and I'm picking everyone up in the process. Everyone get ready and bring some items of yours with.
And that's how they ended up in front of the VCARB motorhome, mostly dry, with some items that smelled the most like comfort to each respective Omega. Arvid was waiting for them, eagerly leading the group to his driver's room. Of course, they got some questioning looks, but George's soccer mom stare made sure no one actually dared to speak up.
The nest the VCRAB driver already had wasn't going to be big enough for all of them, so they all got to work fixing it up. After a while, they had what they deemed to be an acceptable nest. Playing Tetris with their bodies as they got in, the smell of content omegas filled the room.
“This is a lot nicer than racing.”
And then their respective phones started pinging with a different group chats notifications. With a collective groan, they silenced their phones and went back into relaxing, whatever the others wanted could wait.
Grid chat (the actual only good group chat)
Lewis:
Did any of the other omegas mysteriously disappear?
Oscar:
Lan’s gone I think, I was taking a nap and now he's not here
Nico:
Gabi looked anxious, I saw him leaving with what I think were nesting items, I think the race being cancelled is stressing them out.
Alex:
They are probably in one of their rooms, give them space.
Max:
Considering no one is responding Alex is probably right about that
Kimi:
So they're out having fun but we aren't??? Unfair…
Ollie:
Yeah! We should all hang out too!
Oscar:
But didn't Nico mention Gabi being stressed? How is that them having fun?
Lewis:
They find a way to comfort themselves usually, it's their way of enjoying time.
Liam:
I'm already with Max and Isack if the rest of you want to join?
Isack:
Is there even space for everyone?
Max:
Realistically, no.
Valtteri:
Me and Checo are cooking if anyone wants to join us instead.
Fernando:
I will be there.
Carlos:
Me too, sounds like a good way to pass the time
Kimi:
So everyone that isn't going to hang out with the grandpas, let's go to Red Bull!
Fernando:
I will remember how you spoke about us.
Pierre:
Kimi you are brave saying that to him.
But me and Franco will be coming to Red Bull
Franco:
You are dragging me there to see if Fernando kills Kimi for saying that
Pierre:
I never said or implied such a thing
Lewis:
I'll start planning the funeral
Fernando:
He is too young for death, he will, however, remember this.
Alex:
Please don't be too harsh on the kid
Max:
Your Omega wouldn't be too happy about that, would he?
Alex:
What?
Ollie:
No offence but I don't think George wins in a fight against Nando
Kimi:
But he has the stare tho!
image69272628292.png
(Image of George looking very angry)
Fernando:
He cannot fight.
Max:
We went off topic, how many of you should we expect? We know about Pierre and Franco
Kimi:
Me and Ollie!
Pierre:
If you live
Lewis:
I can join
Alex:
I need to come to ensure Kimi's safety
Nico:
I will join Valtteri but you youngsters have fun!
Esteban:
Since Ollie is going I will go too, I don't want him getting into trouble.
Max:
I'm assuming that's all since knowing Oscar the kid is asleep again.
Alright, I'll wait for you all, we can play some FIFA
With that, the rest of the grid all made plans to do something. The affectionately named “grandpa squad” (and Carlos) were making food together, making sure they had enough extra for the younger members of the grid. They were quite protective of the pack, making sure everyone was okay, staying hydrated, well fed, even against their personal trainers wishes sometimes.
The younger members stuffed themselves into Max's driver room, ready to play a couple rounds of FIFA, complain, yell, but overall just have a good time.
There were some people that were there to cause drama…or help something along, depending on how you looked at it.
This was only Lewis's second year being Charles' teammate but he's already had enough about his pining for a certain Dutchman. He constantly complained about the other but in a way where it wasn't anything but compliments and flirting. While he knew realistically, he shouldn't push them (lest they end up like…he would rather not talk about that actually), he could still at least try to soothe the Omega. He noticed the other seemed more stressed, his usual pleasant honey and vanilla scent turning sour at the edges and like the good Alpha he is, he wants to help.
He just didn't expect to help in the form of sneakily observing everything in Max's driver room, seeing what would be the easiest thing to steal that has enough of the Red Bull drivers scent on it.
He decided on Max's jacket. Stupid because it was insanely obvious that it's missing? Yes. Was it the perfect thing considering how close it must have been to his scent glands? Also yes. And he would rather do something stupid than keep smelling Charles' distress and anxiety for another week.
He made a weak excuse about wanting to see if Charles' was back yet and he slipped out undetected with the red bull jacket. Speeding through everything until he reached the Ferrari hospitality was definitely a mission, but he made it, jacket secure (and more importantly dry) and ran into his driver's room before anyone could stop and question him.
He went to knock on the others' room, only to receive no response, he wasn't exactly surprised, but he would need to listen out for the other driver's return. Which…can take a while. He knew how omegas liked to take their time, limbs tangled up, purring, cozy, happy, it can take someone ages to get them out of a nest. If you asked him why he knew, he would try to change the subject.
After what was definitely way too long, he heard the footsteps he was waiting on. Opening up his door, he was met face to face with Charles. His scent was more relaxed but there was still a twinge of something sour, almost rotten underneath the sweetness.
“Ah, Lewis. Did you need something?”
“Yeah actually, I got you a gift.”
He retreated back into his room, grabbing Max's jacket, and presented it to Charles.
“This is…”
“Max's jacket, yes.”
“You stole it from him?”
“You have smelled all wrong for the entirety of the season, I haven't been around someone so constantly stressed for a while. It hurts to see you like this man.”
“And you think my cure for this is…Max.”
“Humour me and take it, yeah?”
The Monegasque carefully reached out, grabbing the jacket, before bringing it up to his nose and deeply inhaling. The effect was instant, shoulders relaxed, scent sweet, it's like whatever burden he has been carrying for the season has fallen off of him.
“So, how do you feel, better?”
“....yes.”
“Good, keep it.”
“Won't Max notice it's missing?”
“He probably will, but I don't think he will mind if he figures out you're the one who has it.”
“Lewis, he will think I stole it! He will hate me!”
“Relax, he won't. You can say you found it and wanted to return it, if he doesn't buy it, blame it on me,” Lewis said, but deep inside he knew Max's alpha will be rumbling with happiness the moment he sees Charles in his clothes.
The Monegasque sighed, put the jacket on, and went into his room. Lewis counted this as success, maybe it'll open their eyes to what everyone else already sees too. That's some wishful thinking on his behalf though, those two are so sense it's still going to take them some time to figure it out, he guessed.
Charles kept the jacket in his driver's room, packed it in his suitcase when it was time to leave, put it in his nest at home, it just felt right. That wasn't something he ever expected. He never thought of Max's scent as anything more than “just another alpha”. Sure, he liked the notes of the cold, alpine air mixed with gasoline, but he never gave it much more thought than that.
He liked Max enough as a person, their debriefs after races was one of his favorite parts, he loved how detailed and passionate Max got when he talked, how he could analyze Charles' driving as well if they were close near the race, the fact he didn't hold back and said exactly what was on his mind. But he also angered him so much! He is so aggressively skillful on track, then he looks all handsomely smug on the top step covered in champagne making the suit stick to his broad shoulders and- oh fuck. What Lewis did is make him realize way too many things. That's dangerous.
The break between Miami and Canada offered a little bit of time to himself, but he didn't want to spend it like that. He would overanalyze and overthink every interaction he has ever had with Max and that's not a route he wanted to go down.
He needed a day to wind down with people he enjoyed, and that's how he stalked Max's and his friends' stream schedules to find out today is a day he should be busy. He took that opportunity and ran with it.
Grid chat (the actual only good group chat)
Charles:
I know a lot of you are probably vacationing or taking time off but if any of you are free, I'm hosting a get together/party at mine
Lando:
yisss, be there
Oscar:
Just the grid?
Charles:
Yes, I do not have plans to invite anyone else
Oscar:
I'll join
Fernando:
Will there be alcohol?
Lewis:
Probably nothing up to your standards
Fernando:
Shame, you kids do not know how to party
Charles:
I take that is a no from you then?
Fernando:
Si.
Lewis:
I can come
Max:
I had plans to stream but they can survive without me, I'm coming
Ollie:
Do you spend all of your free time simracing?
Max:
Only most
Ollie:
Remember to take care of yourself!
Kimi:
Yeah! Who else would we go to for advice?
Fernando:
I did not realize Max had acquired children, good on him.
Max:
I am not a mother
Isack:
Max :’(
Max:
I may be a mother
Isack:
:D
Liam:
So can we go to this party, mom?
Max:
Aren't you on vacation?
Arvid:
Yeah!
image63916391916290.jpeg
(Image of Arvid, Liam, Isack, Kimi and Ollie hanging out on a beach together)
Arvid:
Hypothetically though, would you let us go?
Max:
@Charles will there be alcohol
Charles:
Oui
Max:
In that case no
Liam:
We are of legal age to drink?
Max:
You are my children, I decide that.
Fernando:
You are not a fun mother.
Max:
Too bad
Kimi:
Max just wants to keep us safe, he is a great mother!
Ollie:
And does this mean we get Charles as our other mom?
Charles:
What?
Isack:
It SO does!
Max:
What?
Arvid:
We are one big happy family!
Oscar:
Since Charles technically adopted me so I could have another home race does this mean we're siblings?
Liam:
Yeah!
Oscar:
Neat
Charles:
You are just accepting that without question????
Oscar:
Yeah
Charles:
How? Why?? What????
Lando:
iykyk
Max:
Once again, what?
Lando:
dw abt it ;p
Lewis:
You won't be getting much more out of them
Charles:
Yes, that is probably right.
Charles:
That is everyone then? I am assuming the people who haven't responded are in a different time zone so they cannot come anyways
Oscar:
Yeah
Charles:
Alright, see you tonight. Start arriving from 10pm, earlier if you oh so graciously want to help me set up
(read)
Charles:
Screw all of you too
(read)
Charles didn't expect Max would come too. He planned this day around the fact he couldn't come. Well shit.
Minor freak out later, he decided he really needed to get his shit together and at least start preparing for this.
The setup for the party was fine, it's not like he needed to do much himself, he had the money to pay for good food and he already had good alcohol at home. It's more about how to present everything that actually mattered.
He was in the middle of a pointless decision about if he should switch the two plates in front of him around when he was let known by his doorman that someone had already shown up. He looked at the clock, it read 9:30pm. It seemed like someone actually did come to help.
The person that arrived was none other than Lewis. Charles was relieved, this could have ended up way worse if it was someone else.
“Charles, hey mate.”
“Hi Lewis, thanks for coming earlier. I swear I was about to lose my mind over arranging plates of food.”
That was not what Lewis was there to talk about or help with but if it helped him feel a bit better about everything he wouldn't mind lending him a hand with those tasks too.
“You're probably just overthinking, I can help with it,” the Brit offered.
“You're a lifesaver, mate.”
They made his way into the kitchen, silence stretching between them. It wasn't awkward per say but there was a tension there, someone clearly had something to say.
Lewis was the one to break it.
“Look, I know you're probably wondering why I'm here right now, I didn't let you know I would be coming early and I'm sorry about that.”
“That's nothing to apologize for it's actually really helpful that yo-”
“BUT,” Charles was unceremoniously interrupted, “I wanted to make sure you're okay. With…you know…Max?”
“Oh why wouldn't I be? I mean we're maybe not friends but we don't hate each other and-” the Monegasque started rambling, clearly he was more stressed about it than he led on.
“Charles. Look, I know how you're feeling. Believe it or not you smell like pure anxiety,” the younger man's gaze shifted to the floor upon being called out “But that's why I'm here.”
“Is it?”
“You picked this day because you were overthinking, needed company and this was a day Max was supposed to be busy, yes?”
Lewis read him like an open book, it was a little embarrassing honestly.
“Yes.”
“And now you need to deal with knowing the person you wanted a break from will be here in about 20 or so minutes.”
“Yes.”
“And that's stressing you out, but the one thing that helps when you're stressed also just so happens to be that person.”
“Well when you say it like that-”
“It sounds stupid yes?”
Charles hesitated, thinking about everything.
“Yes, if you put it like that, it does.”
“What I'm trying to say is everything will be okay, you don't have anything to worry about, he's gonna be fine, you're gonna be fine, and things will go smoothly. You have no reason to act any differently around him, it'll be fine.”
“It…will be fine,” Charles said weakly.
After another beat of silence, Lewis asked the biggest question he had.
“Also, what did you end up doing with the jacket?”
This caused Charles to turn approximately the same shade of red as his Ferrari car. Lewis raised his eyebrow at this.
“Look just…I am too embarrassed to say this so just follow me.”
Charles led the Brit deeper into his apartment, stopping in front of a door. With a deep breath, he opened.
What was inside was his bedroom. And on his bed? A wonderful nest, with the jacket at its center.
“Oh.”
“Yeah…you can see why I wanted some time to clear my head.”
“I'm sure it'll still go well.”
Charles sighed, closing the door.
Or rather, attempting to. He failed to notice he didn't fully close the door, leaving it open just a tiny crack.
The two returned, finishing the last of the setup, Lewis putting on some music because he didn't trust Charles, and all that's left was waiting for everyone.
It was a more chilled out party, if you could even call it that. More of a friendly hang out between people that really needed this.
Music was switched in favor of the noise from the TV as they all took turns playing various video games. The fact that Mario kart was something they all unanimously voted on was very amusing. The alcohol was flowing, snacks and food was being depleted at a questionable rate, it was only a matter of time before someone needed to excuse themselves.
And as fate would have it, that first person was Max.
“Hey Charles, where's your bathroom?”
“Down that hallway, second door to the right.”
“Thank you.”
Max was good at following instructions, that wasn't the issue. The issue was that something else caught his attention before he could even enter the bathroom. A room with a slightly opened door.
The saying is “curiosity killed the cat” but since it never said anything about lions, he went and peered inside. It took him a minute to register what was actually in front of him.
Charles' bedroom.
An Omegas nest.
A flash of blue.
A very familiar blue.
Oh.
Oh.
His jacket in the heart of it all.
He wondered where it went but this was the last place he expected it to be. He didn't even know when Charles would have gotten his hands on it, but that wasn't what mattered to him.
What mattered is that the Omega he's been crushing on before either of them even presented has an item of his clothing in his nest. Charles finds Max comforting. Charles finds Max safe. His inner Alpha was so happy with that. He is providing for his omega.
God that definitely required a conversation with Charles though. Now that he knew he had a shot, maybe it wouldn't be too bad. Either that or he misread the whole situation entirely somehow and he was assuming things that he wanted to be true.
But then he looked back to the best and rationalized that Charles may share some of the same feelings for him too. Now what he needed to figure out is when and how to bring it up. He had a whole party's worth of time to mull that one over.
He returned not long after, but he couldn't help sneaking glances at Charles anytime he could. Well…more glances than usual, the Dutchman wasn't exactly known for keeping his eyes to himself. The fans have caught him looking at Charles plenty of times throughout the years, he can't help himself. Wanting someone for years does that to a person.
That same want is the reason he's here right now. He would use any excuse to be near him, even if it means cancelling any important (or vaguely important, in this case) plans. He never planned on making a move, he just wanted to spend what little time he could with the one person he has dreamed of before he figured out what loving someone even means. The worry of him overstepping some invisible line that would cause their carefully crafted friendship to fall is the reason he hasn't said anything about his feelings to Charles. He would rather have him as a friend than nothing at all, no matter how much that hurts him. The option of being alone hurts more.
The party was slowly wrapping up, people were leaving in various questionable states, but Max made sure he stayed sober enough. He needed to bring up what he was earlier, even if it would require him to admit he intruded on the Omega's personal space on accident.
“Charles, do you need help cleaning up?”
“Oh! That's a kind offer Max but-”
“I want to help, Charles.”
Direct, a little rude maybe, but it was a very Max thing to say. So Charles let him, beyond his more rational thinking, he let the Alpha stay. He was helping the Omega, proving he could be a good provider, wait- that's not the line of thought Charles should be going down. He would blame it on the alcohol, even though he made sure to stay sober enough so that it was a very very flimsy excuse.
The two worked together seamlessly, almost as if this was a practiced dance, a routine they have done a thousand times before, and not just Max offering to help him for no other reason that it was just Max and he was nice and a good Alpha and- fuck, Charles needed to stop thinking like that.
“Hey Charlie,” Max started. It was time to talk about what he saw. “Before I say anything, it was an accident and I didn't mean to do that.”
“Max? What are you talking about?”
“I saw your nest.”
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck.
He didn't close the door properly. It was probably wide open (he didn't consider the possibility of Max snooping around, maybe he should have) and it was right there on display for Max to see.
“Max, I'm sorry, Lewis gave me the jacket and it helped me relax I'm sorry I shouldn't have accepted it I shouldn't have taken it I should have given it back and-”
“Charlie.”
“...Yes?”
“I am not mad at you, any reasonable Alpha would be insanely stupid to be mad at you for that,” Max did file away the information that he needed to talk to Lewis about this situation though.
“You said it helped you relax?”
“Yes I-” this was a lot harder to say out loud than Charles would have ever thought, especially to Max of all people.
“I have been stressed during this season, Lewis noticed, he brought me your jacket, it helped. I selfishly didn't return it. I put it in my nest. It's comforting. I'm sorry, I will give it back.”
“Give it back? Nonono- Charlie. I would never ask something like that of you, not after you told me everything,” Max gently reaches over, cupping the Omega's cheeks.
“Max, are you here to embarrass me?”
“No, I'm happy.”
“Happy? Someone stole your clothes, gave them to me, I kept them and you're…happy?”
“Charlie, knowing that it makes you feel safe, that by extent I make you feel safe, that is the highest honor and Omega can give to someone.”
“You are not upset?”
“God, Charlie, no, I wouldn't dream of being upset by that,” Max paused thinking of the right words to say. He didn't want to fuck this up.
“When I saw it, your nest, I thought it was beautiful. It looked so safe, comfortable, it smelled so nice. Seeing my clothes woven into it? Oh Charlie, I needed to keep myself in check so I didn't start rumbling like an engine right there in your hallway. It made such a primal part of me so happy.”
“So, your Alpha likes it.”
“Yes, and so do I.”
“You do?”
“Charlie, I don't know how else to say this but I've been in love with you since Val d’Argenton. I never thought you would feel the same, I never brought anything up because it was safer having you as a friend than not having you at all. But after seeing this…” he trailed off.
“Charles Leclerc, please let me have you, please let me be your Alpha. I promise I will stay by your side, give you everything you need, you won't need to lift a finger schat, I-”
“Max,” it was now Charles' turn to interrupt him.
He looked at the other with pleading eyes. Did Max look pathetic right now? To everyone else, probably. To Charles though? He looked like the most beautiful man on earth.
“I'll have you…if you'll have me.”
The biggest smile spread across Max's face that then shifted into something more private, more personal, a smile just for the two of them.
“Oh schatje, I've been wanting to have you for years.”
Their lips collided, but it wasn't a hungry kiss. It was something gentle yet passionate, something to show their deep devotion for each other that has existed for years, even if only one of them realized it until recently. They've been orbiting around each other their whole lives, it made sense that they fit together like this. Like they were made for each other.
Two halves of a whole, finally coming together.
All it took was some rain, a cancelled race and a great wingman.