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fall0utmind · 15 days ago

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(un)lucky 13 - medical leak au

Hi guys, new chapter is here !!!!

ao3 here

some imagination is needed here - gotta pretend Aragon and Misano are swapped in the calendar. Also, the Mig podcast came out in like June!!

Thanks for all your support guys xx

Meanwhile, in Madrid, Alex is on the verge of tearing his hair out. He can take so much of his brother’s sulking when the solution is so obvious. It’s driving him insane. It would be much easier if Valentino and Marc could figure out the art of communication. Alex has always looked up to his brother but he is seriously lacking in the love department. Or maybe he’s just an idiot around Valentino – the jury is still out on that one.

Marc had flown home on Monday in a foul mood which hasn’t improved over the past few days. Much to Alex’s chagrin, he has been quiet all week- sullen, trapped inside his head, and moping around the house. To be fair to his brother, Alex does somewhat understand. Occasionally, he forgets that Marc had been through more hell than just Valentino and their fucked-up relationship this weekend. Alex was there in the aftermath of their ruin and it was categorically the worst part of his life. This week, they have both been studiously avoiding the news, determined to ignore how it has all been uprooted.

Their parents rang yesterday, questioning in panicked voices if everything was okay, and threatening to come over with home-cooked meals. Alex is surprised that they lasted so long, he thought his mum would be threatening murder almost immediately. Of course, they had texted across the weekend, offering words of support but not interfering; it appears that even they have now reached their breaking point. Alex spent the best part of an hour trying to explain everything to them, pointedly ignoring all of the bits about Valentino’s interactions (he doesn’t want his mum to actually end up in jail). In the end, they agreed that a week alone to decompress would be good for Marc (they pointedly didn’t tell him this - he wouldn’t like it).

At the end of the day, Alex can tell that Marc is still somewhat worried about the potential fallout of this weekend. He has been trying to put on a brave face, pretending it doesn’t bother him, but Alex knows better. On Tuesday, Marc spends all day in meetings with his management team and sponsors, trying to decipher the next steps. He looks much more relaxed when he emerges from their office later that evening. According to Marc, the sponsors were shocked but reacted optimistically, meaning that they weren’t considering dropping him. Instead, they released a handful of supportive messages online, so now any respectable media channel will have to put a more positive spin on Marc’s history or face backlash.

Despite this good news, Marc is still withdrawn over dinner, pushing his food around his plate and deep in thought. It confirms to Alex that this isn’t a ‘the whole world knows’ freak out and definitely has to do with Valentino. He has a sneaking suspicion that there is something Marc isn’t telling him, something happened on Sunday or Monday which has spun his brother into a tizzy. But no matter how hard he tries to get it out of Marc, he remains tight-lipped, refusing to admit anything is wrong. He mumbles an excuse about being stressed for an interview and hastily retreats to his bedroom.

The following morning, Marc wanders into the kitchen with a crease in his brow. Alex is already sitting at the bar, a mug and a half-empty plate in front of him. There are still eggs in the pan and bread in the toaster. Marc pours himself an espresso and makes his breakfast, thanking Alex for his courtesy.

“All the journalists involved have lost their jobs” Marc mutters, unprompted in the silence.

Alex raises a curious eyebrow, “That’s great! Why do you look so upset?” he enquires

“People online are saying it was Vale, apparently he’s been threatening everyone who had anything to do with it,” Marc grumbles.

Alex politely chooses not to berate his brother for looking online again, they both agreed not to do that until it calmed down. Instead, he focuses on the remark and has to stifle a laugh. Marc frowns at him.

“Sorry, sorry, it’s just very Valentino, isn’t it?” Alex giggles.

Marc quirks an eyebrow, scowling at his brother’s clear amusement.

“Well, you know, not actually talking to you, just going and firing everyone, ruining their lives. It really is going big or going home while ignoring the actual issue for him.” Alex explains, chuckling at Marc’s confusion.

Obviously Marc hasn’t worked out how fond Vale is of him yet. It is clear to Alex that Marc does not trust the older man, and he isn’t surprised in the slightest. Valentino had all but destroyed Marc’s life and revelled in it. It must be incredibly confusing to face the truth that the man you love has done his all to ruin you for a decade, only to change his mind out of the blue. . Alex kind of hates him for it, but he’s willing to compromise for Marc. In his defence, Valentino is now trying desperately hard to get Marc back (albeit in an odd way), but it doesn’t change the fact that Alex will be dishing out the shovel talk the second he gets the chance; there is no way he’s letting Vale hurt his brother again.

Valentino has got to be the craziest man Alex has ever met; he supposes that is why they work so well as a couple – him and Marc. The whole dramatic song and dance they are doing rather than just talking- it is very them. He just hopes they work it out soon.

But by Friday Alex has enough, 5 days of being sad is entirely too long. They have another race weekend soon and he doesn’t want Marc to still be like this – sad and withdrawn. It is not conducive to healing, let alone riding. Since their workout this morning, Marc has locked himself in his bedroom, and Alex knows he won’t come out until he goes for a run later, at 4 pm like clockwork. Alex is seriously considering just calling Valentino to sort his shit out, so when he gets a text from Franky, he almost cries in relief.

................

How are you doing? How’s Marc?

Marc hasn’t left his room in 3 hours – I’m beginning to worry.

He sounds like Vale; he can’t decide what he wants to do – it’s driving Luca insane.

Never met two more incapable adults.

Lol.

I don’t think I will ever understand. He was not very good when Pecco came. The house was a mess and all. He’s a bit better now but is fretting a lot (about everyone). It would be sweet but cazzo it’s so annoying.

I can’t imagine that. Don’t remember a time when Vale didn’t hate us.

Yh sorry about that. I'm not sure any of us have been too kind.

It's fine, past is the past. Not too chuffed with Rossi though.

I think I have a plan, actually about Marc and Valentino.

They spend the rest of the day plotting.

Marc is moping, he doesn’t like to admit it, but he is definitely moping. He has spent the week alternating between being in bed, crying, and training until he is sweating and his muscles protest. He knows that Alex thinks there’s an easy solution to this – either talk to Vale and somehow sort out a decade of resentment and pain, or forget about him, screw someone else and move on. Regrettably for Marc, it isn’t that simple. He’s scared of letting Valentino in, but he wants so badly. He wants a relationship, not just a couple of nights but the softness and romance he knows would make him happy. Unfortunately, life is not a fairy tale, and Marc isn’t sure he will ever get his happy ending.

During the worst moments, he spends hours on end stuck alone with his thoughts. He should never have kissed Valentino on Monday – he doesn’t know what he was thinking. He had thought he read something in Vale’s face, a desire for him.

But then he woke up to reality.

Valentino and him were something different, almost alien in the way they fluttered between friends, lovers, and enemies. When he was younger and naive, he thought Valentino was the one for him. But then everything had come crashing down in quite a spectacular fashion. This weekend, for the first time in a decade, they had spoken words that weren’t venomous disputes, cruelty on podcasts or carefully painted indifference.

For a split second, it was heaven, their lips meeting felt like the most painful redemption. Marc had fallen into it head first, as he always does with Valentino; it was only when they had separated to gasp for air that Marc came to his senses. Vale wanted more, he always wanted more, and Marc so desperately wanted to let himself be pulled in, but it all crumbled around him; the realisation that they wanted different things punching him in the gut. Marc wanted, no, wants, love - not just a quick fuck. Although Vale claims to love him, Marc isn’t so sure. There is no trust in their relationship because what was once there is in shattered pieces on the ground, smashed during their decade-long feud. He isn’t sure they will ever manage to gather them all and rearrange them into a semblance of a soft, functioning, loving relationship.

Maybe they were never meant to have it, destined to be rivals and only have the distant echoes of love. Every time he reaches out for the whisps of tenderness they slip through his fingers.

Marc can’t do it again - put himself into the firing line and let Valentino shoot. In the motorhome, he tried to be the adult, to claw himself away, set some distance so they could communicate, but like always they imploded. It turned into another vicious argument and it had all gone terribly wrong. The first spark had lit the fuse many years ago and set the ticking in motion.

The countdown rules Marc’s life.

In the aftermath, Marc took one look at the devastation that was their relationship, aching with the harsh reality of their admissions, and he fled like a coward. He abandoned their sinking ship once more, unwilling to drown for the man who had already done this once before. Fate was a cruel thing, pulling them together, only for every interaction to be a direct collision – inescapable and destructive, like two cars meeting head-on. A tiny part of him wishes that he had never met Vale, he hates it. There is a deep ache within him, a cavernous hollow which cannot be filled. No matter how many people he fucks, how much he begs, how much he tries to plug it with something, anything. There is a Valentino-sized hole in his heart, his bones, his soul.

It is incurable. It is inevitable, terminal.

When Marc isn’t stewing over the way it went with Valentino – he throws himself into work. He asks Carlos for extra workouts and ignores the frowns he receives from both him and Alex. He swims, cycles, runs, and lifts weights until he can barely move after, and then he does it all again the next day. He calls his team, spending hours locked in the office in meeting after meeting with sponsors and managers. Marc is desperately trying to find out if he can turn the weekend into a positive. He’s suddenly realised that he doesn’t want to hide from this anymore nor pretend it never happened. He refuses to brush it under the rug. Although Marc hates vulnerability, feeling like people are stripping him bare and reading his darkest thoughts, it is easier, somehow, to address the past when it is so far away. He knows he is only human (sometimes he wishes he was not). People knowing his past is less of a concern, he is no longer that vulnerable, and they cannot use it against him. It makes it bearable.

As it turns out, there is little to do when your life has been turned upside down and you are trying to avoid the world. Marc spends a lot of time re-watching old races or training, determined to do well this weekend. To prove that this hasn’t beaten him down. He pointedly avoids Alex, knowing what his brother thinks. Although he had been trying to avoid social media, Marc sees the news online- it is inevitable really. Valentino has been spinning his web again, pulling strings taut until he gets what he wants. It appears that currently, that is revenge. According to the internet, everyone hinted to be involved with the whole scandal has been suddenly fired and struck off, and Valentino isn’t being subtle that it is his hand striking the blows. Marc feels inexplicably angry about it. How dare Vale suddenly pretend to care now when he was nowhere back then? There is also the simmering of embarrassment underlying the anger. Marc does not need some knight in shining armour – he is fine on his own. A childish voice tells him to call every agency and have their jobs reinstated. He doesn’t. It will not diminish his irritation that Valentino thinks he cannot handle this. As it turns out, Alex does not share his rage. Marc does not understand his brother’s rambling explanation and settles to be confused. He ignores the amused smirk Alex is wearing, lest he does something stupid like kick him.

To give his brother some credit, it was Alex’s idea to turn his mental health experience into an educational tool, reminding people that they are not alone. Make what could be a huge weakness into a strength. Throwing people off immediately makes it impossible for them to stab him in the back. When he brings it up to his manager, it is met with unrivalled positivity and before he knows it, they are in contact with mental health charities and vocal experts. An interview is set up with a journalist he likes, someone trustworthy. It's booked last minute so it can air right before Aragon. It is hoped that being outspoken about mental health will not only smooth over any concerns but also gain him some support. It has the added bonus that anyone who feels like being an asshole will gain sufficient backlash. Marc feels honoured to be involved with something so significant but would be lying if he said that he wasn’t terrified about it. Nevertheless, if there’s one thing he’s learnt in life, it’s that the scariest things come with the biggest rewards. The most nail-biting corners, when he can feel the bike start to slip, are the ones where he claws back a win. The biggest leaps of faith can become the most successful.

A day before he’s due to head into Madrid for the interview, whilst he’s knee-deep in packing (trying to decide which outfit would be best), his phone bleeps. His notifications have been blowing up since last weekend, mainly from the number of posts he has been tagged in on social media. He has deleted a bunch of apps and turned off alerts on all the others, determined not to sink into narratives other people are writing about him. Apart from that, friends and family have been checking in across the week. He is slightly embarrassed to admit that half of them go unanswered, only his immediate family and the people at Misano got a response.

He half-heartedly checks his phone, assuming it’s his mum offering to come again, or maybe a friend. Marc isn’t expecting it to be Pecco; he drops his phone in shock. His life has become categorically odd in the past few weeks, especially after this weekend. The academy boys are talking to him now – not that he ever had many issues with Luca or Franky. But Bez and Pecco have always been wary of Marc, particularly since Pecco had been there when it all fell to pieces the first time. Since Ducati had expressed interest, the younger man had been more pleasant and had somehow managed to secure his number from someone; he still doesn’t know who (there are not too many people in the paddock with his number). When the news was released over the summer break, Pecco was one of the first to congratulate him.

His phone beeps again.

Hi Marc, hope you’re ok. You might find this interesting.

The second message contains a link to something on YouTube. He spares a quick thought for just how strange this is before curiosity gets the better of him and he clicks the link.

A YouTube video loads. At first, Marc is confused, then shock paralyses him and he is unable to prevent the video from playing. Eventually, ten seconds in, he pauses it and settles in disbelief. He can’t believe Pecco would do this, send him that God-awful video again, the one with Mig where Vale is just sending punch after punch in Marc’s direction. He flicks his eyes to the stats, surprised that there are so few views, he thought the video had been popular.

He double-checks the link, definitely to the correct video. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches the upload date. Today. But that’s not right, this came out a while ago. He notices then, he thinks they were wearing something different from the clips he had seen last time. It hits him in a rush, sucking the air out of his lungs. It looks like he’s not the only one who’s been busy. Valentino appears to have done a second podcast with Mig. Marc’s heart hammers, feeling slightly sick at the thought of what the older man might say about him this time.

To Marc’s surprise, he isn’t mentioned at all in the first 20 minutes, Valentino talking instead about the academy and next year’s prospects. He has to admit that it is rather sweet, how much Vale cares about his boys and his excitement about the youngest ones he is coaching, still in the lower leagues. It reminds him of Vale’s humanity, and how much he attends to the things he is passionate about. There is a soft smile growing on Marc’s face.

When the conversation turns to Pecco, it naturally flows into Ducati and their prospects next year. That means that Marc is the obvious next topic. He feels frozen when Mig asks, his mind overwhelmed by thoughts of what he might say, what insults he could procure. It is not exactly like Marc has been kind to Valentino recently, pushing him away at every attempt. Maybe Valentino has realised that Marc isn’t worth it, and this is his revenge. Marc can’t breathe. When Valentino opens his mouth, he squeezes his eyes shut. But then, Valentino begins wax poetry about Marc, praising his impressive comeback and determination. Marc is so shocked that he doesn’t even register the way Mig smiles, looking pleased.

He blinks.

Another text comes through, the notification covering the top of the screen. He doesn’t know this number but it has an Italian call code. His heart thumps. He scans the message, once, twice, three times, his hands shaking. The words blur in front of his eyes and his pulse is thundering.

“Sorry, I didn't have a chance to forewarn you.” The message reads. It can only be from one person. Marc thinks his jaw has hit the floor. It has to be a joke, surely? He doesn’t know where he stands with Valentino now, especially with the older man suddenly switching up his entire judgement of Marc. To go from hatred to love in a weekend feels so incredibly unrealistic that Marc is finding himself second-guessing everything. And now this. He no longer knows what to think, or what to trust. His heart and his brain are at war and within himself he feels a deep sense of conflict. He wants to believe that Valentino loves him, to fulfil his heart's wishes, but his brain is holding him back. Marc doesn’t reply, letting the screen turn black as he stares. The message sits unopened as he turns off his phone.

#motogp #marc marquez #rosquez #motogp rpf #medical leak au #valentino rossi #eeeek finally #happy about this #almost there

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