Unbroken Hopes|| Charles Leclerc X Max Verstappen(Lestappen)Wildest Dreams Book2 Staring but i know you won’t be far

They did travel together and they did share the same hotel room. But that’s practically all there was said. They didn’t talk, not really. It wasn’t like they were ignoring the other but they didn’t talk about what they really should. Both to scared up in another argument. The ticknes of the situation palpable in the air.

It was now only hours before the gala. Charles was in the bathroom staring at himself in the mirror. His bruises where fading but still visible. His own reflection leaving a sour taste as he remembers it all so well and the aftermath of it.
He was just touching up some subtle makeup under his eye as Max enters the bathroom, looking at his lover via de mirror.
“You okay?” He ask despite their disagreement as Charles just shrugs. “Mh fine” he says as he finally closes the cuffs of he Ferrari branded suit, straightening his polka doted tie.
“I’m going now, Joris is waiting in the car downstairs” he says as he keeps his eyes fixed on the hotelroom door. “See you there” he breathes, but before he can turn the handle on the door Max grabs his wrist. “Charlie pl-” but he is already cut off. “I’ll see you there Max” he says sternly looking at him. “I don’t want to fight, not tonight” he says squeezing the Dutchman’s hand and then he is out the door.
Max is left in the room, alone as the door closes. He sighs. “I don’t wanna fight…ever” in to the nothingness before getting himself ready.

————-

The ride to the gala is at least as awkward as the rest of the trip to Bologna. Max goes with Christian and his wife Gerri. They would meet Checo there.
Christian tries to make smalltalk. “How are you and Charles holding up?” He asks with the best intentions as Max is like a son to him, the little kid that signed for Torro Rosso who now is a two time world champion. He had seen him grow up, personally and professionally. Max shrugged his shoulders staring out of the window. “Well we have been better” he says as he has never been known to be one to lie. “It brought back some old pain” he says, not even sure why he is telling this to his teamboss and wife.
Christian leans forward to Max and pats his knee. “I’m sure you will be alright” he tries to reassure his driver while he squeezing his knee one more time. “You two always do” as Gerri nods along reassuringly.
“I just hope you are right”

———

Charles is waiting with Joris at the venue as he is in line to be interviewed. He is happy his friend could accompany him at such short notice.
“But tell me, why again you and Max don’t go together?” Joris whisper asks at him at the back of the room. Charles rolls his eyes. “He has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want to be seen with me”
Joris snorts rolling his eyes until he sees Charles’s face, looking at him dead Serious. “Come on man, you are joking?” As Charles huffs crossing his arms over his chest. “Why would I be joking?” He asks his friend.
“Are we talking about the same Max here?” Joris asks cocking his eyebrow.
“Ofcourse we are talking about the same Max?! What are you even on about?” He asks back slightly annoyed.
“Because the Max verstappen I know looks at my best friend like he hung the moon and the stars in the sky, the guy would do everything for you, did everything for you! After Mateo and your state back then and later on he even wanted to come out alone to protect you, he wouldn’t leave the hospital before he knew you were okay… I’m sorry but I can’t believe that the same guy suddenly doesn’t want to be seen with you Charlie” he says accusing but loving at his childhood friend. “Are you sure this is not one big fat misunderstanding?” He asks but doesn’t get a answers as Charles is ushered of to stage with his second place interview ahead of the red carpet and the gala. As he walks on stage looking back once more he sees Joris mouthing at him “we’re not done talking about this”

As Charles interview is halfway done Max , Christian and Checo enter the same backstage area where Joris is still waiting. As Max spots his boyfriends best friend he quickly looks at the floor as he feels his cheeks heaten, Not sure about what to say. But Joris quickly resolves that as he greets Max and pulls him in to a friendly hug. “I’m glad to see you” he says and just as Max wants to answer he and the rest. Of Redbull are called up on the stage. They pass by each other behind the curtains, Joris observes from afar. Max’s tries to make eye contact while Charles just glares ahead.

As Charles comes near him again he mumbles “traitor” and Joris can’t help but laugh. Hitting his friend playfully on the head. “You really are stupid aren’t you?” He says serious but with no venom.
“Ow careful I just had a concussion remember?” He only half jokes. “Well good maybe this settles your brain back in to the right place” he says as he definitely hasn’t let go of the topic, much to Charles’s dismay. Especially not after what he has just seen.

———-

After the official broadcasted interviews are done it’s time for the red carpet. The situation rather awkward as they still stand so close. Almost like they do in the media pen. Questions mostly about the year they have had, there expectations for next year and their plans for winter break. The press is strictly told that relationship questions where still not allowed especially after what happened only three weeks ago.
Sometimes their eyes meet. As they stare for a second to long. Like this it’s going to be a long long night.
At some point Charles feels likes the press might have latched on to something. But if they did, they don’t mention it and for that he is great full. The words of Joris playing in the back of his mind.

————-

The prize giving itself proves to be a bore fest like every year prior. Mostly he tries to watch the football match on his phone, trying to pass time, wanting this night to be over for many reasons. Even though he is here celebrating and to be celebrated. He feels like he has nothing to celebrate about.
Watching the stage , especially as Charles is up there representing a award to a little boy something stirs in his chest. He feels his breathing speeding up and a prickly sensation in his eyes. A familiar feeling that he hadn’t missed. It only made his breathing heavier.
No one seems to notice.  So. He tried to drink some water, tried to breathe in and out. No one notices until Gerri, who is sitting next to him does.

As a former spice girl she knows everything about the anxiety and being in the public eye. She softly touches Max hand. Whispering “shhhs, breathe” so softly that almost Max doesn’t even hear, almost. It relaxes him, at least for now. Gerri’s knowing eyes says all he needs to know. He tries to breathe in to his nose out of his mouth. Trying to make his movements go unnoticed by the rest of the table. Luckily his breath evens out just before he is called out backstage to also present a award.

On the other side of the room Joris hadn’t let go of the subject at hand. As he whispers in Charles’s ear
“Just try to look at it from his side too Charles? You know as best from how far he he had to come. Just talk to each other, that’s all I’m asking from you.” Charles looks at him, he knows his friend is right. But just like Max he had always been stubborn. Speaking of, said man has just walked on the stage. They make eye contact once, twice. The flutter in his belly tells him enough.
He excuses himself from the table for a “bathroom break” before making his way towards the hallway.

Max is just about to return to the main hall, taking back his seat when he is pulled in to the stairwell with a hand on his mouth “WHAT THE FU-” he says wide eyed until his eyes fall on his assailant. “Charles?” He just asks his eyes wide and his mouth agape.
“Come , we need to talk” he says grabbing the Dutchman’s hand pulling him up the stairs. Though he easily followes the brown haired man he can’t help but comment. “You couldn’t just text me? Or you know, ask?” He says with half a smile as an odd familiar feeling creeps in his bones. Beeing led by Charles at the night of the prize giving. Though then in Paris and now in Bologna.

They round the corner as Charles opens the safety door to the rooftop of the building. As the door shuts behind him he starts blabbing immediately, holding his boyfriends hands. Max tries to slow him down but his Boyfriend doesn’t let him finish “Look Maxy, please let me finish I don’t want to fight. Not with you. I don’t want to hide anymore, but if that means growing apart, that is what i want even less. I only thought about myself with the way I reacted, I’ve totally forgot from how far you have come and what this all might have triggered for you. We should have talked and”
“Charles”
“I shouldn’t have ignored you like that and-”
“Charles”
“I just-“
“Charlie” Max shuts him up with his lips pressed on those from the monegasque who loses all his tension from his shoulders.

“I’m sorry too, really sorry. Of course I want to be seen with you. Cause I’m so fucking proud of you and us! And I’m sorry for making you feel like I was ashamed of us. I’m not. It just triggered things and I couldn’t stand to see you get hurt. I’m sorry that I made this about me when this should’ve been about you” he says as he traces the light stubble on the monegasque’s cheek.

Charles just shakes is head “no Max, this is about us. They might have hurt me physically but they tried to hurt you just as much. You are allowed to feel what you feel to” he sighes as Max kisses him once more. Soft and tender.
“Let us just talk okay?” He then cracks a smile “let’s talk and listen” what makes Charles smile to. “Definitely also listen” he then takes a step closer to the dutchman. “But let us talk when we get home” he smiles wider and his eyes turn darker.
“I can live with that” Max laughes as he pulls the monegasque’s final inches towards his chest. Connecting their lips once more.
Charles rests his hands on Max’s hips, feeling the warm skin creep from under his dress shirt. Drawing small circles with his fingers as their kiss deepens. Max throws his arms over the younger man’s shoulders and pulls him close. Playing with the short hairs at the nape of the brunette’s neck.
Muffled moans and clicking of teeth. Lost in their own world when a door fell shut.

Fuck, they were caught