#how marc looks at vale

[topnotchquark]

Thinking about all the NFAK songs built around the act of looking at the lover. How there is an exploration of the manner in which the sight of the lover engages with the beloved. The sight being the first sense that interacts with the beloved, and what that means to the lover. How sight lets you build what you want to make of your beloved without touching them. Akin to how one might interact with god because one can't touch god.

"Kiven Mukhre ton Nazra Hatawan" being an ode to how you can't take your eyes off the one you love because you see god there. "Je tu akhiyan de saamne ni rehna" being this sulky, pouty demand you make to your love to return your heart if they are not going to be there in your sight always. "Akhiyan Udeek diyan" a reminder to your love that your eyes are waiting for their arrival, to get a glimpse of you. "Chaap tilak sab cheen" being about how the lovers world collapsed when their eyes met their beloved's. "Ye Jo halka halka suroor" literally telling the beloved that its their gaze that is responsible for this constant state of inebriation that the lover finds themselves in. A love so intense, so potent, that even when the least invasive sense is exposed to it, it's enough to capture a whole gamut of human emotions.

[moonshynecybin]

Sorry so random and hate to asking this like you’re google search engine but what is the deal with Vale and his parents lol

big question! im not sure how much you know so i'll generally cover as many bases as i can and sort of. gather some resources that might help you form a picture.

his dad: graziano rossi. former racer (his peak was finishing third in the 250cc class the year vale was born) who had to retire after some scary injuries (crucial for maximum vale neuroses). in terms of their relationship, first go peruse this webweave from @kwisatzworld. actually i frankly think theyre a better person to answer this question wholesale but i digress. important to note that vale straight up is like yeah he was not a good father lol. ALSO notable that graziano is asked what kind of son vale is and says 'one i can brag about to friends' which. okay. graziano also will not shut the fuck UP about vale in print (he was kind of the one to break rosquez not really being close friends anymore post-assen? for some reason??) which idk if my dad was constantly talking about me to reporters i would feel weird about that. like that is not something that i would enjoy. seems a bit like they have the sort of relationship dozens of us divorced children have with our parents where we can kind of only talk to our dad about sports.

additionally, his parents had him quite young (25 for graziano and in the thick of his racing career, unsure for his mom) and you get a sense that vale thinks they should not have done that.... he doesnt super call them 'mom' or 'dad', instead using their first names, he says they have a more 'friendly' relationship than parental, and apparently his dad and him just started saying i love you to each regularly uh. recently. heres a video of him talking about it (i get the sense the divorce exacerbated these issues as well). that being said i DO also think that vale is closer with his mom in general (she lived in his house for a long time! they lived together during covid as well!) (his mom is named stefania palma and shes a civil engineer, which i think kind ties into how journalists often mention that luca and vale talk about the bike like theyre engineers. i literally dont think that is coincidence, i think they got it from their super hot and smart mom...) heres a bit about her and graziano (x):

theres also LUCA. who is obviously his half brother (he has a few other half siblings on graziano's side, but they arent famous so we dont know as much. i get the sense they arent as close just by virtue of their difference in involvement w racing but its hard to say! its clear hes close with luca, ESPECIALLY after the academy really got going and luca got a bit older.) luca is born in 1997 when vale is 18 years old and just kicking off his career, so hes kind of never known a world where vale wasnt insanely famous. luckily and ironically his father is a sports psychologist. luca's story kind of ties in with stefania's (obviously), and here's a post about how some of the stuff going on in their lives mightve effected them and of course vale. idk why this became a luca treatise but hes important okay!!!! just a family with a lot going on that informs vale's whole deal (having much younger siblings and liking to teach perhaps as a result, his marriage feelings, his REPRESSION issues, how he shows love, how he self-protects, and a lot more. idk this is hardly comprehensive but hopefully it gives a little food for thought !

[batsplat]

Pecco and Pedro are probably the people who more than anyone else want to beat Marc. Pecco because he is forced to do it for a matter of survival, his bet next year is to be able to win against Marc with the same bike. Pedro wants to win the first world championship with Marc in MotoGP, even better if he wins it against him, because of course that’s what he wants. I MotoGP your teammate is your first enemy, as surreal as it is, it would be more likely to see Pecco and Pedro helping each other (which would be unlikely anyway because they aren’t the type of people who do that) than one of them helping their teammate , especially if it's Marc. If anything Marc and Pecco have to be intelligent enough to at least not take each other out Portimao style, because in that case there will be someone behind them ready to bite

so I'm going to jump in right away by saying, I know this ask acknowledges it's unlikely but, yeah, pedro and pecco will not be helping each other in any meaningful sense - because they are both serious challengers to each other and they know it. sometimes, riders can be known to help non-team members in fairly small low-key ways (see in this post valentino accusing marc of deliberately towing ducati riders to get them ahead of his actual rivals in brno 2014). for both pecco and pedro, marc is definitely the bigger focus, but they are both perfectly aware of the danger the other poses, and will not be inclined to treat each other as anything other than an active threat

that being said! of course pecco has already nicely demonstrated this season that he does approach his marc fights differently than he does those with other riders (which is broadly the correct and smart thing to do, even if the specifics can be critiqued). portimao even gave us the direct comparison between pecco/pedro and pecco/marc! part of it, yes, will just be an element of self-preservation - marc is now back to being a major roadblock for winning any future championships, and he'll be in pecco's house so will of course require... extra attention. apart from that, it absolutely would be the most meaningful way pecco could win a championship, by beating the famous marc marquez on equal machinery... nobody has done that before, and it would instantly dispel any remaining doubts about pecco's ability and cement his legacy as one of the greats of the sport. he wants to beat marc so badly because marc is one of the two riders he's always been chasing... and marc's absence has left all the young pretenders in this odd place where they've taken the crown but don't quite believe it's theirs yet. (just to say this again, I personally don't share the view that marc's absence diminishes those titles in any way, but it is of course interesting when the riders themselves have these insecurities.) there was that interview from early-ish last year where pecco talked about some of his personal limitations and how he views his own status in the sport:

fascinating, isn't it? of course, I'm sure a second title will have helped to some extent in making him feel a little more entitled to that status in the sport - but this is not the kind of thing valentino or casey or jorge or marc ever would have said. there's a self-consciousness to pecco, an awareness of his uncertain, shaky journey to the top of the sport, how he's fully cognisant of how different he is to those names... which can be a problem at times - delusion is an athlete's life blood, and while the level headed insight pecco expresses here is arguably admirable, it is not necessarily helpful for him as a champion. on the other hand, sometimes lacking a little in the delusion department can be a good thing if it allows you to deliberately improve yourself, pushed on by the knowledge that you still have a long way to go... pecco's biggest self-inflicted wounds have tended to come when he's at his most comfortable - you can theorise about why this happens, but maybe that striver mindset is exactly what he needs to keep him going. it's still quite the admission to describe his 2022 season as more incomplete than either valentino or marc's title runs. (mind you, it's arguably even less complete a season than some of their misses - of course with valentino you have the obvious ones, but did you know that marc scored an average of 13.44 points in 2015 vs pecco's average of 13.25 in 2022? obvious caveat that in 2015 there were considerably fewer competitive bikes and barely any capable of regularly challenging for race wins.) the need to prove himself is always there with pecco... it keeps peaking through with him, and it absolutely peaks through in his approach to marc. yes, yes, acosta is the future, jorge martin has been his title rival more recently... but of course, beating marc would be special. do you think pecco ever dreamed that of it? do you think he really believed that he could before he was already premier class champion? with most champions, you would say it's likely. with pecco, I'm not quite so sure

as for pedro, yeah, obviously, that's just the cycle continuing lol. deeply curious what those two regularly competing at the sharp end of races looks like. pedro has kinda kept his distance, isn't that much of a marc fan himself... when he talks inspirations he tends to bring up schwantz, stoner, pedrosa, and of course rossi

schwantz is far from an unusual pick amongst riders, though as the years pass perhaps gradually more so - it certainly reveals an appreciation for the history of the sport. as do the other choices, in a way... let's not forget that acosta was eight years old when casey retired. of course back in the day casey and dani themselves got plenty of criticism for how 'boring' they were - that's just how these things go! nobody's ever nostalgic for the present etc etc

pedro did also talk last year about how the public wants celebrations and rivalries, critiquing how friendly riders are nowadays and saying people want battles like jorge/dani, valentino/marc, and so on (full clip here)

heartwarming: global number of people who still care about the valentino/sete rivalry is now confirmed at 2 (two)

obviously, you can't just go out and manufacture feuds because you're feeling like it, and pedro's had a pretty quiet rookie season in that sense. but once he feels like he's settled in and can challenge the infamous marc marquez in an actual title fight? on the basis of this rhetoric, you'd at least hope he's not going to be too shy in taking on the challenge. of course he too wants to beat marc more than anyone else... again, it's a question of legacy, how pedro clearly situates himself within the same lineage as both valentino and marc - even if personally he aspires to be more of a successor to the former than the latter. always better to take the crown for yourself, right? this is a kid who's clearly into the history of the sport and is already determined to make himself a big part of that story... weaving himself into that narrative by taking on a legend of the past, taking on the task of disposing with that legend himself. plus, given pedro is so aware of that history - he knows that what people remember are the rivalries. he wants some of that for himself! it'll be interesting to see how proactive he'll be in making that happen, certainly seems like an enterprising young lad

anyhow, yes, plenty of potential for both of those dynamics. and yes, they do very much want to beat marc - but if we're talking about who wants to beat him the most, jorge martin probably deserves a mention right around now. does have to be said that something dumb like the portimao thing is costing pecco and marc this year. it's kind of gone under given the sheer bucketloads of points all the title contenders are throwing away, but pecco would be eight not eighteen points behind in the standings if he had settled for sixth in portimao, and for marc it would be twenty four rather than thirty five points if he'd backed out of the move and had another go on the next lap. relatively unlikely to make a difference at the end of the season... though for mr title decider pecco bagnaia, it sure might be! I did joke about making the pecco/marc portimao thing tradition, but generally speaking two top riders crashing each other out isn't that common a thing, and it's pretty..? rare? that it's the same two riders on multiple occasions? I'm drawing a bit of a blank here, to be honest... then again, title contenders do seem to crash rather more than they used to (admittedly they also have a lot of opportunities now) - so maybe this is going to become a more regular occurrence. but what is more likely to happen is that when you have two competitive riders on the same bike, they do run the risk of taking turns stealing points from each other at the circuits where their bike is at its best. I think pecco and marc can probably minimise this given what a good all-round bike the ducati is across a range of different circuits, and also given that as individual riders they do at least seem to be reasonably distinct in what their strongest and weakest tracks are. all in all, I kind of doubt they'll cost each other like that next year... though admittedly if portimao is anything to go by I may be tempting fate

[eovaldi]

it’s just like sometimes i think about marc and vale and i start wanting them to make up bc i need to see them joking and laughing and then i think about when vale said the wound is still as fresh as the day it happened and when marc said the years go by and i love him less and less (which i feel like could be undone in 2 seconds if vale said the right things) but they’re both too alike and too stubborn to admit they both are the reason they’re here and too that they both aren’t over it

[hotmessmaxpress]

This is SHITE but it's writing so I'm holding it out to you like a cat bringing its loving owner a dead mouse.

Vale doesn't admit it until they're back together, having reconciled. They're still tiptoeing around the heavy baggage of their past, only acknowledging it when it's unavoidable.

They're in bed, sweaty and bare, and Vale is tracing the lines on Marc's face. He gently slides the tips of his fingers down, from the crinkles at the edges of Marc's beautiful eyes to the smile lines that bracket his lips. His fingers continue down, running gently over his tanned neck and strong shoulders, down the scars on his arm until he can tangle their fingers together.

"I'm not as young as I used to be," Marc says, laughing with a touch of the plastic stiffness he uses with the media.

Vale senses that this is an important moment.

"You're beautiful," he says, somewhat lamely but with total honesty. Marc is beautiful. He always has been and will always be.

He is definitely different than their last attempt at a relationship, if you could call it that, though. Then again, Vale has changed just as much.

Marc laughs stiffly again, glancing away.

Vale frowns.

"I know you aren't as young anymore," Vale adds, treading carefully. "I am not either."

"You were never young," Marc teases, and Vale is relieved to find that Marc has relaxed, and lost his plastic tone. He's genuinely smiling now, though it's a small smile.

Vale pretends to be affronted, scoffing.

"I have eternal youth."

"Immaturity," Marc corrects.

That startles a laugh out of Vale, who can't argue. Marc has always been overly mature for his age, but even now he seems older than he is. Vale knows Marc has been through a lot, though his brain carefully doesn't think about the role he had to play in all of it, and he reckons that makes Marc seem older.

"I was worried--" Marc says, then pauses.

Vale bites his tongue and waits. Marc is clearly trying to find the words.

"You thought it was sexy that I was so young," Marc finally settles on. He says it with careful neutrality, tone light, but it still feels like an accusation.

Vale considers arguing, but he and Marc have been working on honesty. He can't bring himself to lie.

"I did."

Marc hums. Vale waits for him to say more, to explain what he's feeling, but he doesn't. It makes Vale anxious; he feels like he's done something wrong.

"What are you thinking?" he prompts, finally running out of patience.

Marc chews his lip, playing with Vale's fingers.

"I was worried that you would be bothered by how old I've gotten."

Vale laughs, and then corrects himself when he sees the flash of hurt across Marc's face. He sees Marc's defenses go up, and he soothes him with a kiss to the spot on his face where his eyebrows have now knit together.

"No, no. I laughed because you are not old."

Marc is still frowning. Vale sees Marc's youth in the way he pouts, in the way his jaw flexes as he chews the inside of his lip.

"You are older," Vale says. "But that's life. We grow and get older. I will love you when you're old."

"When I'm old you'll be ancient," Marc bitches, still frowning.

Vale laughs again.

"Yes. And?"

Marc glares at him. Vale is clearly not making him feel better.

"Okay, fine. I thought it was very sexy when you were so young and I was getting old. It was sexy to see how you looked at me so innocently. Now you are not young or innocent, but you're still sexy. You are unbelievable. Everything about you makes me want to keep you in my bed forever."

He presses a kiss to the corner of Marc's lips.

"Plus, I am in love with you."

Vale hopes Marc understands what he's trying to convey. The first time they tried this, Vale wasn't ready to be in love with Marc. He wasn't ready to admit that Marc loved him. This time he's made peace with it. This time he wants to be with Marc for the rest of his life, regardless of how old they are.

Marc seems to understand him. He kisses Vale sweetly, then pulls back to stare into his eyes. He must be satisfied with what he sees, because he finally smiles again.

Vale leans down to kiss Marc again.

"Okay?" he asks, just to be sure.

"Yes," Marc says, sounding relaxed. "I love you too."

[moonshynecybin]

Marc must have gotten some sign of defrosting from Vale istg because in his documentary he was fully prepared to go I don't give a fuck anymore. And he had full vontrol over his doc

But now in the dazn interview he goes like... well its up to him because the door of reconciliation is open

lobs a nuance grenade SORRY... so this IS kind of aligned with how he's acted/talked about valentino since the divorce with the notable exception of that doc (and misano 2019 lol) which is a setting where he had complete authorial control. like it makes sense to me that he's making an effort to avoid any potential negative soundbites to get slapped on headlines (and. well. consistently saying vale is the angry one DOES make vale seem more unreasonable here. marc's like IM not mad UR the one being crazy...), but i ALSO think he keeps it positive because rehashing it HURTS. like i think he will only let out how painful the whole thing was for him in a situation where no one can possibly ask him any follow up because it would literally feel like open heart surgery.

it is also notable to me is how vale and marc's strategies in avoiding those kinds of soundbites are SUPER different... like when he's asked about marc in interviews now, usually valentino always gives a vague compliment about marc's riding style and then immediately changes the subject. MARC on the other hand, has an entirely different game plan that tbqh i think kind of runs away from him sometimes. like he always starts with. 1. he was my hero and my idol and is so charismatic and i wanted to fuck him so bad. 2. EYE dont have any issues with him that's all in his brain. and then 3. valentino PLEASEEE call me back. and in THIS video he is NOTABLY effusive oh my god. jesus christ. like yeah keep it positive do all that PR stuff but marc my man you dontttt need to monologue for two whole minutes on how obsessed with him you are while holding a photo of you looking at him contemplating dick in silence. like whats wrong with you lol.... never has anyone begged more publicly for old man dick

[remapped-soul]

@carlosheinz pspspspspspspssp

bro i just want someone to look at me like marc look at vale 💔🚶‍♂️

[myrquez]

Bezz for Sky Sport Italia

-“In the VR46 groupchat, when you talk about the new Ducati riders that are going strong, like Marc Marquez.. how is it (what do you guys think about it, how does it feel like)? The Devil wears Prada? Look at Marquez..? I just wanted to address this topic.

“Well, we talk about it much more in person than on our groupchat-

“But it doesn’t go unnoticed. (You do talk about him)

“No, we pay attention to everything. With Vale is difficult not to, he has always taught and still teaches us to pay attention to every detail, so we always try to understand everything around us. Marc is going very strong, and we watch him and try to learn from him.

“So he’s like a benchmark! (nice pun right there)

“He’s like a ‘tool’ that we can use… wait, it does sound bad, I mean he’s a rider, but he’s a rider that we can ‘use as a lesson’. We can look up to him, as if he was a teacher.”

[dyns33]

Flufftober2024 - 1 Moon Knight

Heeeey ! I did my best (and I'm not done actually) to write a mini story per day until Halloween about my fav characters !

As also, it will be a longer story on Sundays. We are starting with dear Marc, Steven and Jake !

"No. Steven, I said no. Jake, stay out of it."

Y/N couldn't hear the debate that was going on between Marc and his two alters, but it was obvious that they didn't agree. She first imagined an important, dangerous mission that required a plan.

Until more details were revealed, which forced her to stop herself from snickering.

"We're not kids anymore, there's no way we're finding a disguise, and if I agreed to find a disguise, it wouldn't be a guy from Ancient Egypt."

"Oh, you don't agree on your choice of costume ?" she teased gently.

"There won't be a costume. Steven, no !"

"Let me guess. Mister Marc is an adult, with a soul as black as the coffee he drinks, allergic to fun and therefore refusing to celebrate Halloween. Steven wants to take advantage of the occasion to show his love of Egypt. And Jake doesn't care, but he wants to please Steven and annoy you, so he ganged up on you."

"Bingo…"

"Why don't you want to celebrate Halloween ? It's fun. And it will be mostly Steven, you can sleep while he struts around."

"I said no, it's no. It's for the kids, we have better things to do. Could you be on my side, please ?"

"Well, I could, but spending time with you, disguised too, is tempting."

"You often see us as Moon Knight, it will be the same."

Really, Y/N didn't understand why Marc was so stubborn about such an innocent subject. He often got angry when Steven, Jake or even her suggested that he change his habits.

Most of the time, Marc ended up giving in, because the requests weren't that bad. He was even happy with some changes, even if he was too proud to admit it. He also wanted to make sure that his alters were okay.

Jake didn't ask for much. Even wilder than Marc, he had lived in hiding for so many years that it seemed strange to him to ask for something, rather than taking it in secret. It annoyed the others a little, but since the protector would never put them in danger, they could trust him.

Steven had a lot of requests. Often adorable, easy to do, like having vegan options in the fridge or vanilla-scented shampoo. His happiness was a priority for the system. Sadly enough, Marc stepped aside to give him as much space as possible.

So for once he was giving his opinion, strictly refusing something, it seemed important. Even if it was about Halloween.

A party for kids, he had said. Kids.

As the argument continued, Marc growling at his reflection, Y/N came closer to hug him. That stopped him dead in his tracks, and probably his alters too.

"We won't celebrate Halloween if you don't want to."

"… Really ?"

"Yes. If you really don't want to. I understand."

As always when he received a little affection, Marc panicked, knowing very well what she meant, and immediately Steven took his place, a bit lost and disappointed that she was depriving him of his Halloween.

Even when Y/N offered to watch the movie he wanted, he continued to sulk.

She didn't know how to make him understand the heart of the problem. Luckily for her, Jake seemed to have caught on, catching Steven's attention, who relaxed a bit as he looked at the mirror.

"Oh. Is that why ? Marc, why didn't you say ? I didn't think it reminded you of… What ? There's no need to be rude, Jake. I may not speak Spanish, but I figured those were bad words."

"Jake, be nice to Steven."

"He said, 'Vale, cariño, pero sólo para ti, porque el pequeño Stevie es realmente estúpido en este momento'. No idea what that mea… Thanks for the translation, Marc."

"Is he feeling better ?"

"I think so, they're laughing at me together now."

"If we watch a horror movie, would that make you all happy ?"

"Hmm. Marc agrees. Jake says 'Stevie se va a asustar, pero me gusta la idea de que estés pegado a nosotros.'… Hey ! I'm not going to be scared of a movie !"

The question of disguise was then forgotten, because it wasn't that important after all. They were going to have a good time together, hugging each other in front of the television while eating chocolate, until Khonshu came to ruin this moment as always.

And then, Moon Knight would put on his ridiculous costume, like Marc had said.

[fall0utmind]

Gattino - Rosquez One shot (~2k)

Oh hey, did someone want a stupid one shot where Marc gets a helmet with cat ears?? No? Have it anyways :)

As per usual, come talk to me xx

It had been a hot summer so far, the sun beating down on the dirt track during the day; the atmosphere was oppressive with no breeze to break it. The evenings brought cooler air which was beautiful to sit out in, but the nights were unpleasant, too hot for even a sheet. Even so, the academy rode, and Vale watched them. He advised them on their water breaks, which were more frequent at this time of the year, telling them where they were losing time and how to improve. Afterwards, they scrambled inside, racing each other and laughing like schoolboys rather than fully grown adults. Valentino wasn't sure where they got the energy from.

The evening sun was slanting through the big windows, casting the room in hues of gold. Valentino was sitting on one of the comfy sofas writing up notes from the track session. It had been a long day at the ranch, full of motorbikes and joy. The boys were changing and getting sorted for dinner, their chatter drifting down the hallway. It was comfortable, having his house full of laughter over the summer; sometimes it felt too lonely when they weren’t here.

Luca was the first one back downstairs, his hair still slightly damp from the shower. He smiled at Vale before heading into the kitchen, mind already set on food. Valentino rolled his eyes fondly and watched his brother disappear, knowing the other boys would come down soon, clamouring for a meal. They usually took turns to make dinner, fostering a sense of comradery that he was immensely proud of in his academy. Tonight was Pecco and Luca's turn; he had heard them conferring over lunch. Valentino was just thankful it was not Bez or Cele, or the kitchen might not be standing by the night’s end.

Right on cue, Bez screeched from somewhere in the house, the sound of heavy footfall following. It stopped suddenly before a round of obnoxious later exploded from the direction of the bedrooms. The running started up again, multiple people this time.

Bez came rushing through the door, clutching his phone and shouting as he did so, "Luca!! LUCA".

Pecco and Franky rushed in after him, Franky was laughing hard, whereas Pecco looked torn between confusion and amusement. Luca popped his head out of the kitchen, frowning at the commotion, "What is It Bez?", he asked. Valentino heard a harsh cuss before a thump as Bez smacked into the kitchen doorframe. It prompted the others to burst into giggles, used to Bez's clumsiness.

Bez simply thrust his phone at Luca as he pouted and rubbed his head. Valentino honestly began to consider babyproofing the house if his boys continued to act like children. As if to prove the point, Cele ran through the door at full speed, almost colliding with Pecco. He steadied the younger gently and grinned at Cele’s embarrassed smile, "Watch it piccolo", his voice was tinged with amusement as he chided him. Cele scowled at the nickname, unimpressed. Vale shook his head at them, trying to suppress his overly fond grin.

Bez was practically jumping up and down as Luca took the phone, almost yelling at him in excitement. Luca shushed him, and Bez quietened down enough that Valentino could hear rapid-fire Spanish playing from the phone’s speaker. Luca’s cheeks began to turn pink, his mouth agape as he stared at the phone in his hands. When the video ended indicated by the lack of Spanish, the whole group dissolved into laughter. Every time one of them looked back at Luca’s stunned face, they doubled over once more. Bez was gasping around his words, "fuck that's so funny. Luca’s face. Jesus, of course, he posted it like a thirst trap, classic Marquez".

Vale froze. Which brother were they talking about? And what the hell was a thirst trap? And why the hell were his boys so invested in it? His interest was piqued; he needed to see the video. He stood up and strolled into the kitchen, aiming for casual despite his racing thoughts. When he approached the group, Luca and Pecco both shot him panicked looks, the former even stepping away from Valentino. He frowned in confusion, cocking his head slightly. Well, that answered the question of which brother. Pecco had grown surprisingly close to Marc since they had been teammates, and he now avoided all conversations about the Spaniard with Valentino. It made sense, although Valentino had stopped being so publicly anti-Marc, he certainly wasn’t fond of the man. Not at all.

(Definitely not)

Valentino held his hand out to Luca, who shook his head frantically in response. It made Valentino feel like he had missed something important. Anger bubbled inside him. The others were looking between the two brothers now, uncertainty radiating off them. Valentino arched an eyebrow at Luca, who sighed but passed him the phone with a look that told him he wouldn’t like what he saw.

On the screen was a video from Alex Marquez's Instagram story. It started with Alex laughing hard with a friend, talking in rapid-fire Catalan; the only bit Vale understood was Marc’s name. The next frame showed Marc, standing shirtless as Alex gave him a box from behind the camera; the younger could be heard laughing in the background as Marc opened the gift. A rapid series of emotions crossed his face: confusion to shock, to embarrassment, before finally settling on a cocky smirk as he lifted a helmet out of the box. At first glance the helmet was normal- sleek glossy black with a dark visor. Until Marc spun it in his hands, revealing two little pieces on top. Valentino flicked his eyes up to Luca, wondering why it was so funny. He realised before Luca could say, it was funny because the helmet had cat ears. Alex had brought Marc a helmet with little ears on it as some kind of stupid joke. The Marc in the phone lifted his head to look directly at the camera, trailing his hands over the ears as he winked and simply said, "For Luca".

Valentino stared at the screen for so long that it turned black. He vaguely remembered a promotional video Luca had done for Honda last year- one where Luca had said that he would like Marc to wear this helmet. Something hot pulled in his gut. He tried to ignore it.

The boys had fallen into an awkward silence, waiting for Vale to make a move. He could not stop imagining Marc in the helmet. Marc's sharp grin when he won His eyes dark as he flipped up the visor.

Fuck.

Valentino’s voice was a little too deep and gravelly when he spoke, "he will look ridiculous". He could only hope they didn't notice. He almost chucked the phone back at Luca, fleeing the scene. Behind him, the boys stared in bemusement, only Luca looked on with a knowing look in his eyes.

*

By the time dinner was ready, Valentino had firmly pushed all thoughts of Marc to the back of his mind. He steadfastly ignored the looks Bez and Pecco shot him throughout the meal, focusing the conversation on tomorrow's training plan instead. He spoke to Cele about tucking tighter in the corners and told Franky about the areas of the track where he was losing speed. He saw Pecco and Luca conversing quietly out of the corner of his eyes and had the distinctly uncomfortable feeling that they were talking about him.

Once the dishes were washed and put away, the whole group settled in the living room, sprawled out across furniture and the floor. Valentino had cracked out a bottle of wine; it was summer break after all. Pecco was second in the championships, just behind Marc, who had gone from strength to strength on the Ducati. It was, admittedly, rather impressive, and Marc looked good in red. He paused, wondering how he had yet again begun thinking about Marc. He cursed himself for his weakness.

The buzz of a phone was loud, even above the murmurs of conversation and hushed music that Vale had picked out. A choked-off noise ripped him from his musings and he raised his eyes to look at the source. Luca was staring at his phone again, eyes like saucers. The boys closer to him clambered over to see what he was looking at. Bez and Cele started cackling immediately; even Pecco was smirking, rolling his eyes fondly. Bez turned to Luca, "Ah, I think he liked your idea", he said in a teasing voice. Luca chuckled, slightly far away, "fucking hell, clearly. Is this on his public?". The other boys laughed harder at the comment. Vale felt lost. He tuned them out as they continued to joke around, unwilling to be drawn into Marc Marquez once again. Instead, he ran through the mental imagery of every corner in the 2006 championship.

He tried to follow the conversation after that, but he was far away for the rest of the night. His glass of wine had been finished and refilled a few times over. Valentino refused to give in to the temptation. He didn't care about Marc. He didn't want to know what the hell he was doing. And yet, as the night wore on, Valentino’s mind kept drifting to him. Marc smiling underneath him, his eyes crinkled and fucked out. Marc, shirtless, on his sofa at the ranch. Marc wearing the helmet as he sped around Valentino’s track, on one of Valentino's bikes. The possessive part of him was very pleased by the idea. It was a heady thought, addictive in the way that only Marc could be. It led his brain down a path that he tried not to tread. Not anymore. It was only once the boys had all headed to bed that Vale gave in. It was slightly embarrassing to unblock Marc on social media for this.

(But so worth it.)

His most recent post was a series of five slides, the caption simply read “Meow” and tagged Luca. Something akin to jealousy burned inside of him. The photos were various shots of Marc in the helmet. He was shirtless, standing outside by a pool, sweat trailing down his bronzed skin. The Spanish sun was lighting him up like some kind of Greek god, carved from marble and made to be worshipped. Valentino licked his lips subconsciously, enraptured by the flex of his abs and pecs. He had the helmet on, it made Valentino freeze like a rabbit in headlights. In the first two photos, the visor was down, hiding his facial expression, but Marc had flipped the visor up in the others. He was laughing in the one, crinkles in the corner of his eyes which were honeyed in the sunlight. The second one was straight out of a wet dream. Marc looked hungry, as he did when he raced. His eyes were hard and determined - deep pools of molten fire. Valentino shifted in his seat. He flicked to the final slide, a video this time. Alex and Marc were dirt biking, the younger chasing Marc around the track, following a black helmet with little pointy ears. Marc was riding like a maniac, his cackle heard over the roar of the bikes. The video ended when he skidded to a stop, flipping his visor up and smiling widely at the camera.

Valentinos heart was beating out his chest. He can't remember the last time he was so turned on. Over a goddamn Instagram post of all things.

Maybe he was getting old.

Maybe it was just because of Marc.

But when he finally dragged himself to bed, he dreamt of the younger man. It came in flashes of golden skin, dirty smiles, and hot nights. But somewhere, deep in his dreams, he was chasing Marc around the track, his cat ear helmet hiding his bright grin.

[djangari]

I have to deal with this and all I get is a headache and a silver medal

~ 1616 words

“Third place? Hmm, do you remember who finished third in 2018?”, Marc jokes to the reporter and laughs as she answers that she doesn’t. “Me neither! So that's it.”

Pecco freezes, while the reporter joins in, and the video eventually restarts. He won’t like that. Hopefully, he will never see this or at least when he is not present- “What are you watching?”

A familiar figure leans over his shoulder and slowly he turns his head to look at his mentor, who suddenly appeared behind him. Whose smug grin got wiped out of his face, as he watches the video. How stupid he was to assume the other would need longer to join him in the trailer, of course he will visit him first to see how he handles the championship fight stress.

Vale laughs too. However, it's more of a pressed, dry, forced sound that is coming out of his mouth. So different from Marquez cheerful, honest sounding laugh.  In this moment, Pecco doesn’t dare to mirror it. Instead, he observes Valentinos mimic, how his eyebrows are pulled together, the wrinkles around his mouth disappeared, his eyes don’t agree with the act he is trying to play.

He taps on the screen, pauses the loop. Silence spreads in the room, while Pecco is waiting for Vale to do something. To speak, to react.

A few seconds go by and Vale hums. “He isn’t wrong. Do you remember who was third in 2008?” Pecco knows that the factually correct answer would be Pedrosa, but in this situation he would never speak it out loud. He rather shakes his head.

“See? Nothing to speak about. Let’s get Bez and eat pasta or something. We need to calm your nerves before your great weekend.” Vale straightens up again, already turning towards the door. “Come on, come on, I’ll pay.” Impatient as always, he already left the room before Pecco could protest.

Pecco quickly gets up from the couch and follows the older man. From behind he can still see the tension in his otherwise relaxed and flowing movements, can see the firm grip he has on his phone.

________

Later, when they finally found Bez and Vale nearly dragged him with them, they are half finished with their meals as Vales phone, which lies next to him on the table, screen clearly visible to everyone nearby, buzzes and lights up with a pop up notice. Vale unlocks it easily with the hand that isn’t holding the fork loaded with pasta and clicks on the message. Another video starts playing, just as Vale puts the fork into his mouth, and Marc’s voice is audible.

“The third place doesn’t matter at all!’

Vale instantly chokes on the noodles and begins coughing. Pecco exchanges a look with Bez and leans over to his left to slap Vale on the back so their mentor maybe would not die because of a meal when he has lived through over twenty years of riding a death machine for fun. Bez reaches him a glass of water, although he mirrors Pecco’s expression of desperation and can absolutely relate to being fed up with his behavior.

Who can blame him? The two of them should be cheering him up, motivating him and giving him the extra power to win. Now he is robbing him of his nerves instead of helping him to concentrate.

 “Who remembers who finished third in 2022 or 2015? I finished third, but no one remembers.”

And it gets worse again… Why did he have to mention 2015 again? Sometimes it seems like he is doing this on purpose- wait no he does. Sadly Pecco, besides to Luca of course, is the one who is mostly present to see Vale‘s reaction. Not Marc. Maybe he would stop if he sees the impact he has on the old man.

… Who is he trying to fool. He would do it even more. Pecco has been around for too long to still denial the painful obvious existence of their weird exhibition kink.

With a small sigh, Pecco reaches over the table and again pauses the video, pauses the sound of Marc’s laughter. Slowly Vale recovers and is able to breathe like a normal human being again. “Nothing to worry about!”, is the first thing he gets out of his mouth.

 Sure. Pecco suppresses the urge to bang his head on the table until he falls into a coma. This would look weird, especially in public. Rumors spread fast in this paddock. The press he would have to face, the mocking he would have to endure from his engineers, it ruins the whole experience. They would eat him alive if he did that, even more if he did it on this particular weekend. So, all he does is to roll his eyes and beg some higher power that this moment would soon be over.

The door falls shut and the whole cafeteria goes silent for a second. Pecco throws a small look over his shoulder, only to freeze in fear.

Anyhow someone heard him up there and decided he needed to feel even more miserable. Loosing the title apparently isn‘t enough. Please, please, please, let him at least not-

„You‘re okay?“ No. No. No. Keep your head up, keep your head up.

„Ah. Of course, of course!“ Suddenly, the relaxed Vale is back again. He can hear the chair scraping on the floor as he leans back. „No need to worry about a guy like me.“ Ok, this has gone surprisingly well- „If you couldn‘t kill me, pasta will never make it.“

Pecco‘s head falls towards the table. God damn it.

A kick against his shin saves him. He tries to kick back, but Bez already caught his glare. With another deep breath, he turns around to face the situation like an adult.

„Ciao“, he greets his future teammate, who is standing on the right side behind his chair. Never in the existence of the universe would he ask how the fuck he got into the cafeteria of the VR46 team, so instead he stays silent and waits for Marc to speak again.

The Spaniard looks relatively comfortable in this situation, or so it seems for outstanders.  For them his bright smile blends them enough to not see the signs. Only if you get close enough you can see the tension in his shoulders, the way he holds his head high up and the inconspicuous foot tapping. Yet something… something in his eyes displays the same kind of hunger he often sees in Vales eyes after an especially good race. His smile just looks a little bit too sharp and too pleased.

„I wanted to come over and wish you luck for the weekend. You will need it.“, he says sweetish and blatantly ignores the indignant glare Vale shoots him. Pecco swallows what lies on his tongue and tries to put on a similar act. „Thanks. Good luck to you too, Enea won‘t give up that third place easily.“ Marc just laughs. „Don‘t know if you already heard it, I don‘t really care about that. Next week we will try out the bike together and that is what matters in the end.“ Pecco hears the threat that lies in those words, fights for his small smile to stay on his face. „Ah right, I am also curious how they have improved the machine for next year.“

He couldn’t have said clearer ˋThis bike was build for me and you need to look how you get along with her.´ A small twitch in his smile indicates Marc understood. „Ah I trust the engineers, I‘m sure it will be a great bike.“  They just stare at each other, playing the act of a friendly talk between soon to be coworkers. It's like time froze.

Someone somewhere in the cafeteria laughs loudly and the tension breaks. “Well, I should go and find Nadia, we need to meet up with Gigi.” Shortly he bowes down to mutter something over Valentinos shoulder, who flinces at the slight touch. “You wouldn’t dare to die before I get my ninth, would you?”

Pecco sees Bez's mouth falling open and how Valentino stiffens up. Marc also notices that and his smile gets even sharper. Lightly his fingertips run over the edges of Vale‘s collarbone, centimeters away from the soft skin of his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, Pecco observes the way Vale now holds the fork, knuckles bright red, fearing he will do something drastic. The question is, would he be able to stop him? Thankfully Marc leaves Vales personal space before something like that could happen.

With a tap on Pecco's shoulder, Marc signals his exit and turns around to walk away. None of them wants to torture themselves so they surely won’t stare after him, watching how he nearly hops out of the cafeteria. Instead, they stare at the table, everyone trying to recover in their own way. Bez continues eating, hoping to forget everything what he just witnessed. Vale damages the cutlery and mumbles some curses under his breath. Pecco, finally, gives in and slowly bangs his head against the table before resting it on the cold surface. Why can’t this weekend just end?

______

Sunday night, when Marc's speech is almost over, Pecco feels his phone vibrating. Quickly, he checks his messages and sees a new one from Bez.

ˋWe need to replace the tv downstairs. He threw a bottle against it and now he doesn’t talk ´

Pecco grabs Domi‘s hand and tries to relax. Someone has to remember him that he needs a soundproof room next year for the case Vale decides to visit Ducati.

[formulapookie]

don't ask just read idk what's this

ok so I remember a while ago in the Rosquez community there was a wave of angst and we had decided in 2015 after Sepang Marc had lost the baby him and Vale had because of the kick and he never told Vale.

Now.

Migbabol episode comes out. Vale says that thing where he says Marc might have fallen on purpose just to have him penalized, that he's done that intentionally.

And Marc never really recovered completely at a mental level for the loss of the baby because despite everything he had half a thought of keeping it, and even now he's hurt by that loss because he thinks "what could've been".

He usually laughs at Vale's podcasts batshit takes, because come on, who wouldn't?

But this time he doesn't, because in his mind Vale is accusing him of having killed the baby.

And he rationally knows that Vale doesn't mean that because he doesn't even know there was a baby, but his mind just races with it.

And Alex is listening to the episode with him and sees Marc freezing and tears coming because he's till wounded. And he hugs him tight because Alex obviously knew abt the baby, and that it was Vale's and that Marc lost it in Sepang.

Say this week, Misano 2, Vale is there (for RPF reasons he doesn't have children) Marc wins again, Alex comes third, they go out to celebrate, Alex gets a bit too drunk and somehow (say Ducati throws one big party for all its teams) he runs into Vale like in the bathroom.

And oh he's angry. Like so close to punching him in the face he has to remind himself he's in Italy and punching Valentino Rossi be his death sentence.

So he just insults him, tells him he's a terrible person for saying that, that Marc fell on purpose.

And Vale, still not knowing the truth, kinds does his bastard smirk and goes "And why? He could've, he had to get me out the fight somehow"

And Alex sees red, and he just doesn't keep himself in check anymore and tells Vale "He would've never done it on purpose because he was pregnant with your fucking baby, and he wanted to tell you but you went and made him fall, and he lost the baby, the first thing he told me when he came back limping because of the crash was 'Alex we have to be sure the baby is ok', do you get it Rossi? He was more concerned for the baby YOU TWO had on the way than himself, or your fucking championship. He never, never told you because he didn't want to hurt you but I don't give a fuck, you deserve to know how much of a disgusting person you are for saying that. You know, Marc saw the podcast, because every time he's convinced you'll be less of a dick, and when he hard you accusing him of pretending to fall because of the contact he had a breakdown, he didn't eat for three fucking days because he was hurt by the loss once again. So just so you know, that day you killed your child Rossi, and you hurt my brother so much you could've just killed him too. Next time you get a mic think of this, and maybe be less of an asshole"

And Alex leaves, and Vale is just standing there in the bathroom, he isn't smiling anymore, he's practically on the verge of crying, he wants to think this is yet another Marc trick, but then he remembers how one day Marc had thrown up in the morning and woke him up or of how he had placed a hand on his own belly when raising from the gravel after the fall, in the footage he saw thousands of times.

And then Marc comes into the bathroom, and he sees Vale is there, and for a moment there's something like pain in his eyes, and then Vale is closing the distance, grabbing him by the shoulders and looking at him in the eyes with this hurt gaze and just goes "We had a baby?"

And Marc is in shock, there's four people who know, his mother, father, brother and Dovi. And none of the would've told Vale, he asked never to tell.

But he can't hide it, not anymore because he's practically crying. "Yes. We did"

"When?"

"2015, I found out one week before Sepang, I didn't want to distract you so I didn't tell you, I thought about doing it after the race but then you said those things and I didn't"

"Marc did you lose it on track?"

Marc doesn't want to say it, because yes, he did, but still even after all the hurt he doesn't want to accuse Vale of it.

"Marc tell me"

"I - yes. The doctor told me the - the kick and the fall killed it."

Something inside Vale at that point shatters, he wants to punch himself.

"So I - I killed our baby?"

And once again Marc doesn't want to answer, because in his heart he can't accuse Vale of having done this, because despite everything he's STILL in love with him.

So he just looks away and Vale knows it's the truth.

"You should've never known about it, I made them promise they wouldn't tell you"

And Vale is dying inside because what the fuck why does Marc want to protect him from the truth? After all he did?

"But please Vale, I ask you just one thing. Don't say I did it on purpose, the fall, please don't say it again. I didn't, I couldn't have, not normally but especially not with the baby. I though I could've kept it. Take a season off. So please, keep on hating me, say all you want, say to the world I came begging for you the year after but please. Don't say I fell on purpose that day. I'd prefer you telling the world I was with Lorenzo and that's why I made you loose. I'd prefer that but I beg of you don't say I killed our baby on purpose"

And vale is just shocked because Marc is practically telling him he could slaughter him and he didn't care as long as it didn't involve the baby.

And NOW he truly looks at Marc and fucking sees who he's been accusing of being a monster all this time.

And he doesn't know what to do because what exactly should you do when you discover you killed your own baby for greed? And you discover it after years because who knew didn't want to tell you not to hurt you? And you have them right in front of you after accusing him of having killed it themselves?

"Marc if you told me -"

"If I told you back then you would've called me a liar, you would've told me it wasn't yours, that I was sleeping around, that I just got pregnant because I was a whore and kicked me out"

And Vale can't argue because it's true, back then he would've reacted like this.

So he just has to watch as Marc exits the bathroom and he can't say anything anymore and just stays there for God knows how long until one of the boys finds him and drives him back home.

Uh so yes sorry it's a lot but I had to get it out

[uwabbittuwabbit]

the funny thing with vale and Marc is that they both still care incredibly much about how the other perceives them as but both have yet to get a reaction out of the other that they want (in Marc’s case forgiveness, positive acknowledgment; in vale’s case anything beyond the corporate front Marc puts on) let’s be honest if Marc really dgaf he has flippant replies in cards just look at him putting bezz absolutely beneath him after Valencia and we all know Vale doesn’t not gaf but because none of them are getting off they are gonna continue this sick socially distanced foreplay leave it to these two to edge each other in PR truly there is nothing like it

[hotmessmaxpress]

Rosquez Horror AU

Vale turns up at Marc’s motorhome after his crash with Pecco. 

Marc stares at him, where he is on the front step, and genuinely takes a moment to wonder if it’s really happening. Vale barely looks at him, much less speaks to him. Despite Marc’s deepest desires to move forward with Vale, he can’t even get the other man to acknowledge him. 

Until now, he supposes. 

He lets Vale in the door, and stands a healthy distance away from him. Suddenly the motorhome feels entirely too cramped, too close. Marc doesn’t know why he feels like he needs space from him; it’s not like Vale will hit him. 

Vale looks at him with narrow eyes. 

“Your crash-” 

Vale gets no further before the siren starts and they both freeze. 

It’s been a long time, years, since one has appeared in the paddock. 

The mandated emergency screen in the corner of Marc’s trailer flares to life with a crackle and an animatronic voice speaks. 

“Attention all drivers, staff, and guests. A void creature has been spotted in your vicinity. Take shelter immediately. Lock all doors and windows and arm yourself if possible. Take cover and stay quiet. Do not respond to voices you cannot see. Repeat. Attention all riders, staff, and guests. A void creature has been spotted in your vicinity. Take shelter immediately. Lock all doors and windows and arm yourself if possible. Take cover and stay quiet. Do not respond to voices you cannot see. May Mercy be with you all.”

Vale and Marc move quickly and silently. Vale locks the door, while Marc checks the windows. He shows Vale how to pull down the metal safety panels in front of the doors and windows, and Vale helps him secure the rest of the motorhome. 

Marc sends off a text to Alex with a half moon emoji and waits for the avocado Alex is supposed to send in return. Their code, unable to be mimicked by an outsider pretending to be one of them, and meant to signal “I’m safe and sheltered.”

The avocado pops into his messages shortly after, and Marc lets out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Vale seems to be doing something similar, staring at his phone in concern. 

“Okay?” Marc whispers. 

Vale nods, but Marc can see the tension in his shoulders. 

“Bedroom,” Marc suggests. “It’s the safest.”

They carry food and water from the kitchenette to the bedroom, and Marc closes the door. Another metal safety panel comes down, and latches into place, and Marc breathes a sigh of relief. 

“Is Alex okay?” Vale whispers. 

Marc nods. 

“Safe and secure. Are all of your riders?”

Vale looks nervous. 

“I’m still waiting to hear.”

Marc nods. 

He has the urge to reach out and comfort Vale, but the space between them in the tiny room feels vast. It’s not lost on him that Vale is only here because he wanted to yell at him. The ongoing anomaly event may be uniting them for now, but Marc has no doubt that when the threat is gone Vale will be back to hating him. 

He reaches out anyway, squeezing Vale’s hand. He pulls him to the bed and they sit.

“We may as well be comfortable,” he suggests. 

Vale doesn’t relax, though. He checks his phone again.

There’s a scream, so far off in the distance that Marc wonders if he heard it. He glances at Valentino, who has frozen in place, and assumes it must have been real. 

He has a terrible thought that at least it was far away. At least it wasn’t near them. If it has to happen, let it happen somewhere away from himself and his family. 

He wishes Alex were with him, like the first time he experienced an anomaly from the void. They were so young, at home in Cervera. He remembers watching television after dinner, then the screen cutting to a news anchor. 

The news anchor had said something confusing, and Marc had looked over at Alex, who was similarly confused and annoyed that their show had been interrupted. Whatever the anchor had said terrified Roser, though. She had come running, grabbing Marc and Alex by the arm and dragging them down the hall to the small room under the stairs that they weren’t allowed to play in. 

Alex had started crying, scared and startled by the way their mother had roughly grabbed them, and Roser had hissed at him to be quiet. Marc thought she was being mean; he remembers yanking Alex out of her arms, as if to protect him from her, and he pulled Alex against him. They’d been almost the same size at this point, long before Alex had his massive growth spurt and shot up past Marc’s height. 

Marc had held his little brother in his arms, petting his hair, as Alex calmed down. He glanced at Roser, seeing her silently praying. At the time he hadn’t known the danger they were in– he didn’t understand the sirens surrounding them and the noises outside that he’d never heard before. 

Roser brushed his hair back from his forehead, and her hands were shaking. It felt like hours that they sat there in that small closet-room, legs sore from squeezing together and sweating from the close space. 

Marc and Alex hadn’t dared to complain though, sensing that now was not the time to press their mother for information or to whine. Once the wind outside died down and the sirens finally stopped, Roser had released them from the room and fed them dessert like it was a special occasion. She kept touching their faces, kissing their cheeks and their foreheads, and she spent most of the rest of the evening on the phone. 

It was only once they reached school-age and got their first mandatory anomaly safety lesson that Marc really understood what might have happened to them.  

Vale is still tense. Marc sees it in the lines on his face, lines that weren’t present the last time Marc and Vale shared a shelter during an anomaly. 

They had been in a hotel that time, toward the end of their relationship, but before things got awful, and the hotel was expensive enough that they hadn’t had to leave the bed for more than to close the curtains. The doors and windows were already secured, and it was easy to forget the void creature lurking outside, far below them. They had climbed back into bed after they ensured the curtains were closed, and they muted the TV. 

They treated it almost as if it was a thunderstorm, wrapped up in blankets and waiting for it to pass. Vale had pressed kisses along his neck, whispering reassurances in his ear. 

“You’re safe,” he had said. “I won’t let anything hurt you.”

At the time, Marc had believed him. 

Marc swallows the lump in his throat, and reaches for a water bottle. He cracks the top and takes a long drink, trying to soothe the dry feeling in his throat. 

Vale checks his phone again. 

“Pecco hasn’t checked in,” he says, so quiet that Marc barely hears it. Marc’s heart jumps into his throat. His brain races through the full spectrum of possibility. It could be that Pecco was separated from his phone, and when the sirens go off it’s instinct to run without reaching for something like a phone. It could also be much worse– Marc’s ears strain for another scream. 

“He might just not be near his phone,” Marc says, reaching for Vale’s hand again. 

Vale allows Marc to take his hand, and he squeezes it. 

They sit in silence for another long while, simply holding hands and waiting. 

“I’m sorry about the crash,” Marc says. 

“No you aren’t,” Vale says, giving Marc a dry look. 

“I don’t want to crash. I don’t want anyone else to crash either.”

Vale grits his teeth, and Marc tries to pull his hand away. Vale doesn’t let him, and it reminds Marc of all the arguments that ended with Vale trapping him in his arms until they both calmed down. 

“You race like you want to crash.”

Marc doesn’t have anything to say to that, at first.

“I’m getting older,” he finally breathes. “Things are changing for me,” he adds, leaving it at that.

Vale turns and stares at him, appraising him. 

Marc wonders if Vale can see the lines that Marc himself sees when he looks at himself in the mirror. He wonders if Vale’s eyes pick up on the way that Marc’s body hurts; he wonders if it shows on his face how tired he is of being in pain. 

Vale opens his mouth to speak, but they’re interrupted.

“Valentino!”

Marc’s entire body freezes. Pecco’s voice is outside, calling through the walls. 

Marc squeezes Vale’s hand hard. He knows Vale is smart enough not to respond, but he can’t take that chance. He hoists himself up and straddles Vale, pressing his forehead to Vale’s. He stares Vale in the eye, keeping Vale’s focus on him. 

“Don’t,” Marc warns, nearly silently. 

Vale wraps his arms around Marc, and squeezes him tightly. 

“Vale, please,” the voice outside begs. “I don’t know where the thing is. I know you’re in there- I need shelter.”

Vale buries his face in Marc’s shoulder. 

“I left my phone in the garage and got locked out,” the voice yells. “Please, Vale! Please don’t let it get me.”

Marc thinks Vale might break his ribs with how tightly he’s holding him. Marc wonders how loud his heart is; if Vale can hear it from where his face is pressed against him. Marc puts his hands gently over Vale’s ears, trying to spare him the trauma of being targeted by an anomaly. He knows how it feels to have the voice of someone you love trying to tempt you into welcoming your own death through the door. 

“Valentino!” Pecco’s voice yells again. It sounds desperate, pleading, and Marc can feel tears well up in his eyes. He hopes Vale can’t hear it. It’s a wretched thing, copying the voice of another.  

Marc has never seen a void creature. He knows that people have seen them; he went to school with someone who claimed to have run from one. Marc knew that was ridiculous; you can’t run from them and live. But they have been captured on camera, and seen through windows. Marc only knows that they’re ungodly things, wrong and twisted and otherworldly. 

He wonders now what the one outside must look like. He wonders if it bothers to take on Pecco’s appearance, or if it looks like the shadowed monster his school teachers had taught them to protect themselves against. The horns and claws made from the absence of light; sucking in light from everything they are near. 

Vale is shaking now. He’s still gripping Marc tightly, and Marc still has his hands sealed over Vale’s ears. 

There’s a scream outside, so nearby that Marc physically flinches. For a minute he has a horrified thought that it could be in the motorhome with them, and he wrenches his body around to look at the door. The metal sheeting is still in place, just like the metal over the windows. 

It won’t break in, he reminds himself. He presses his lips against the crown of Vale’s head like a blessing, like it might protect them both. 

He thinks of the time he had been in Vale’s position and thought Alex was outside. They were in Vale’s motorhome that time, before they had started to put a name to the thing that was developing between them. 

“Marc! Are you in there? Please let me in!” the thing had screamed in Spanish. 

Marc had shot up from where they were seated on Vale’s couch in silence, and Vale had thankfully gotten to him before he reached the door. Vale had gripped him around the waist, yanking him backward. 

“No!” Marc had said, and Vale had clapped his hand over Marc’s mouth. 

“Marc, that is not Alex,” Vale had hissed in his ear. He had dragged him away from the door, and Marc had struggled and cried. 

“Marc!” the voice outside called, coming nearer. Marc sobbed against the hand pressed to his mouth. Vale dragged him into the toilet of his motorhome, shutting the door behind them and bracing his body against it. He forced Marc to look at him, keeping a hand over his mouth. 

“Marc, that is not your brother. It’s not him and you know that,” he had whispered desperately. Marc had pressed his face hard against Vale’s neck and sobbed silently, and Vale had covered Marc’s ears for him. 

It was a long time that they sat there, pressed tightly together while Marc prayed to every God that his baby brother was safe. 

It was after that experience that Vale had suggested Marc and Alex have a code; a way to prove to one another that they were safe. 

Marc can’t remember if he ever thanked Vale for that.

Marc thinks of that now, as he sits with his own hands over Vale’s ears. Marc wishes he could make it end, but he knows that if the anomaly is still outside now it will be a long time before they’re released from the lockdown and fear. 

The voice outside has stopped, at least, so Marc takes his hands off of Vale’s ears. Vale doesn’t let go of him, but his arms relax a little. 

“I think it’s gone away,” Marc whispers. “It’s silent, at least.”

Vale takes a shuddering breath. 

A scream sounds from outside; Marc guesses it’s a motorhome or two over, but it sounds as if it’s in their ears. Marc flinches hard. 

“Not gone,” Vale hisses. 

Marc glances apologetically at him, then sighs and wraps his arms around Vale’s neck. They’re already in too close and intimate a position as it is. They’ve crossed a line that Marc knows they’ll regret later, but he doesn’t care. His heart has been racing since the whole ordeal started, and if pressing himself against Vale makes him feel a little less terrified he’s going to do it. Vale doesn’t seem bothered, and his arms are still around Marc’s waist. 

“It’s going to be okay,” Marc whispers. 

Vale snorts. “Are you telling that to me or yourself?”

“Both,” Marc admits. “It’s been so long since I’ve heard one so close.”

Vale is silent for a moment. 

“We had one a few months ago in Tavullia. I was there with the boys.”

Marc can only imagine how tight Vale’s security is at the ranch. 

“It was you outside.”

Marc’s heart stops in his chest.

“What?” Marc asks, voice coming out just slightly too loud. Vale squeezes him a little tighter and they both sit silently for a moment, holding their breath and listening. 

Nothing makes a sound, so they relax slightly. 

“It had your voice. I almost opened the door.”

Marc has no idea what to say about that, so he rests his head on Vale’s shoulder. He wonders how the academy riders must have reacted to that; he’s surprised Uccio didn’t open the door to run outside and punch him in the face. The mental image of Uccio running full force at a void horror because of his hatred of Marc is such a fine line between hilarious and disturbing that Marc has to cover his mouth to muffle the high pitched, hysterical laughter bubbling up. 

Vale runs a hand through his hair. 

“Calm down,” he whispers flatly. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at.”

Marc shakes his head. If he tries to explain he can only imagine he’ll laugh harder. 

Once he calms down he climbs off Vale’s lap and lays down on the bed, coaxing the older man into joining him. At first Vale stays far from him, but Marc gives him a dry look and Vale gives in. It’s not as if they haven’t already been on top of one another; pretending like they need to be separated is almost funny. 

Vale allows Marc to cuddle up to him, and after all these years Marc still slots against him easily. Their bodies both still remember how to fit together; where to put their arms and legs so that they match up like puzzle pieces. 

“I miss this,” Marc says, heart still pounding. It’s a cliche, he knows; it’s a notorious joke that there’s nothing that makes you want to bare your soul like a void event. There’s just something about thinking you’re going to die that brings out the honesty in people. 

Vale is so quiet that Marc wonders if he’s pretending he didn’t hear him. 

“I do too,” Vale says. 

“What?” Marc asks, freezing. 

“I miss you. I’m still angry, though,” Vale admits. 

“I’m sorry,” Marc says. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I never hurt you on purpose.”

He knows Vale doesn’t believe him, and the silence hangs heavy between them. Marc wishes he could make Vale see the truth in his words. He wishes he could do anything that would make Vale understand. 

The next thing Marc knows, he’s waking up to the blare of the release sirens. 

“Attention all drivers and staff. The void creature has been neutralized and the anomaly event is over. You may leave your shelter and resume regular activities. Please stay alert for any further emergency communications. Repeat. Attention all drivers and staff. The void creature has been neutralized and the anomaly event is over. You may leave your shelter and resume regular activities. Please stay alert for any further emergency communications.”

“Pecco,” is the first thing Marc says, and Vale jolts up from the bed and scrambles for his phone. It’s already vibrating with incoming messages by the time he picks it up, and Marc can see as Vale’s entire body relaxes. 

“He’s fine,” Vale says, voice cracking. “He’s okay.”

Marc sits up and pulls Vale toward him, hugging him tightly in relief. They’re both shaking now, from the rush of adrenaline and relief. 

“He’s okay,” Marc repeats. “Thank God.”

Marc’s own phone is vibrating with messages of friends checking in, but he and Vale stay holding one another anyway. 

When they finally have the energy to release one another, they don’t hurry to get up. The rest of the paddock will be recovering, taking stock of who was injured. Everything will no doubt be cancelled for the rest of the day. 

They take their time opening the metal shields and restoring the motorhome to normal. They don’t move far from one another either, though they don’t acknowledge that. 

“Why did you want to open the door? In Tavullia?” Marc blurts. 

He thinks that there’s a non-zero chance that Vale leaves here and never speaks to him again anyway, so he may as well ask. 

Vale is quiet for a moment, but he puts his phone down. 

“It was a moment of panic. I thought– I thought that if I didn’t open the door for you I’d really never see you again; nevermind that it didn’t make sense for you to be there. I just thought that I couldn’t let you die.”

Marc has a lump in his throat that makes it hard to talk. 

“I know you don’t believe me when I say it but I love you. I never meant to hurt you.”

Vale isn’t looking at him, and when he doesn’t raise his head to look at him Marc turns his back, busying himself with putting away the bottled water and snacks they didn’t use when they were under lockdown. 

“I know, I think,” Vale says. “I think I know that you didn’t mean it.”

Marc’s heart is racing and he freezes in place.

“I love you, Marc. I’m still so angry but I do love you.”

“Just give me a chance,” Marc says desperately. “Let me fix things.”

Vale looks at him for a long moment. 

“Okay.”

[moonshynecybin]

vale/marc/dovi

dovi and vale dont really fuck with each other AT ALL and not even really in a sexy way imo... like dovi has gone on record (in his book i think) basically saying vale kept a uh. deliberate distance that he didnt super enjoy and found a bit cold and impersonal. that plus the marc of it all points to ME that if they did have a threesome it would be entirely marc-focused and like. hilariously and cartoonishly insane and toxic. which can still be VERY hot and fun in a specific set of circumstances... like fr i think vale DOES generally try and exclude marc from his rivalry narratives (outside of recent podcasting experiences aldskjfhads) but if anyone ELSE is being hailed as a generational marc rival/person who can step to marc hes like hm. but that should be me though. and he goes insane. (like hes somewhat currently doing with pecco and marc!!!!! imo) which is ALSO very fun in the context of a threesome where theyre both trying to get marc off and dovi is being considerate and vale is like well i can simply make him come five times. rip to you though

[ray935sworld]

Child of divorce AU

My baby, my baby

Chapter 3: Focus on love

Marc took a deep breath.

His eyes were closed. He shut the whole world out. Just for a few seconds. He needed to focus. He needed to get his mind in the current reality. He needed to forget all the articles he had read over the winter break. He had to forget all the questions he had been asked.

He had heard every variation of cheater by now. He hadn’t known most of them. Some of them were rather creative. Others just hurtful. He had read every possible insult in regards to his baby. He had read so much he wasn’t even angry any more.

“How fucking dare they?!” he had screamed slamming his tablet on the desk. David was on a walk with Alex so he didn’t had to hold back. “How the fuck can anyone say something like that about a child? David isn’t even 2 yet!”

Or maybe it was just David. Maybe he was what would always bound him to Vale. After all it was his DNA that shaped his angle too. He had his hair. His kind smile. And his laughter. He saw fractures of Vale in his son. So he couldn’t bring himself to really hate Rossi. Not when his son was so much like him.  

But now he was too tired. He was just exhausted from wasting his energy without getting any results. Nothing changed. Nothing was somehow different, no matter how hard he tried and how loud he yelled. He just couldn’t silence them. He couldn’t overshadow the rumors.

He just couldn’t wrap his head around how anyone could drag an innocent child in an adults fight. But apparently the man he still loved deep in his heart could. He hated that he still felt something for him.

He hated Rossi for what he put them through but oh – oh how he loved him for giving him the gift that David was.

He smiled, still trying to concentrate.

A memory popped up in his head.

“Papa!” his baby had almost shouted as Marc rolled back in the driveway. He had taken his motorcycle to do a quick run to the supermarket for his mother. David said on Julias lap, waiting and now trying to reach for his papa.

Marc had smiled and pulled his helmet off.

“Hey baby!” he greeted him after secure the bike. He gave him a quick kiss on the boys cheeks who started to giggle. “Did you had fun with your abuelo?” “Yes. Papa bike. Papa was on bike” “Yes, I was on my bike. very good” he agreed.

“He was very excited to watch you ride from the window” Julia told his son. “He laughed at the sound… And David didn’t you want to ask your papa something?” “I…” “Yeah? Tell me!” he said encouragingly. He smiled, already kneeling to be on his eye level.

“Can I bike too? Wanna bike. Like you and papa.”

The frown that caused this statement was very clear to see. Julia wanted to laugh as he saw the shock on his sons face. Payback. For all the times he and Alex scared and would still scare him and their mother.

Marc blinked. So David really seemed to enjoy bikes? But how much? How much was enough for him? Would he feel pressured to continue if he started riding that young? And did Marc really wanted Marc to go this way in his life?

He swallowed. There was so much to considered. He didn’t want David to get hurt in the profession that he loved so much but had taken his body apart so many times.

But he’d be a hypocrite if he said he couldn’t understand it. And after all, racing was such a big part of his life, he couldn’t keep David away from his.

David was the most important part of his life and he refused to deny him anything, especially not such a big part of his life. He wouldn’t keep him deliberately away from anything. Not after David had already been pushed out by his father.

Despite – they did talked about it and agreed not to try and spark anything. They wanted to support him but not make him. Not that the agreement really meant anything now.

“How about you take a look first?” Marc had asked diplomatically. Thinking about all that was meaningless. David was just too young. All he did thinking about it was just overthinking and stirring his anxiety. And he didn’t want that.

So he lifted David who nodded enthusiastic up. Just looking. I meant nothing and wouldn’t hurt. “Yeah! Yeah! Pwweees” “Alright” he replied laughing and sat down on the bike again. But this time his son sat there with him.

He hold onto him. He hold him close and tight while David giggled and leaned more towards the handles, grabbing the clutch.

Marc watched him, having leaned in to make sure he was able to touch everything. He hovered above the boy watching his movements. He truly was the child of the two riders.

He made a mental note to reach out to Dani and Jorge. After all they had gone through that already with little Pedro. He was already 5. Surely they could give him some tips and opinions.

He could focus. So he stood up, ready to start the first round of texting and start the 2016 season.

He took another breath. There it was. He saw his child smile. He heard his laugh. He knew he was safe and happy. He was protected. He could do this. No worries.

His mind was clear. There was nothing distraction him anymore. The world was gone. Nothing unimportant was clouding his mind anymore.

It went away in a bliss. Even as he saw Rossi a couple of times on track he ignored him. He continued racing. His mind knew that it was him and he knew what he did. But it was all in the back of his mind. He could continue riding. It was safe. There was no anger bubbling up. Just an empty feeling of not caring.

So he did the testing. He did lap after lap, trying to find the perks and the disadvantages of the bikes. He looked for the limit and for ways to trick it into obeying him. He needed it to exchange. He found some ways and some that didn’t work at all.

Soon the way the bike worked would be part of his blood again. He needed to learn every little detail and understand it to make it work.

With that goal he went back in the box. He had some questions to ask and data to compare. So he sat down.

He would focus. He really wanted. There was no reason not to. Until there was a voice that stopped his concentration. Actually, it was the name the voice said.

"David, what are you doing here?"

Marc looked up. The data didn’t matter now. Whatever sentence the engineer had started was left unfinished in his head. Because he knew for a fact that there was no David in his team. Or Danis. Or anyone that could be at the garage. There was only one David. His David. So how could he not react and forget everything else when it was about his boy?

His big brown eyes searched for the 2 year old.

He felt panic rise in his chest when he didn't saw him at first glance. David. David was here but he couldn’t see him. He hated the combination. He couldn’t pull David close to protect him. He couldn’t hold him in his laps. He couldn’t even see him.

He had thought his son was safe with his father. Maybe they were at the motorhome, reading books or watching the bikes. Apparently David loved hearing bikes. Roser had soon found out that her little alien grandson fell easily asleep to the sound of roaring bikes.

Apparently not, if someone saw him somewhere near.

He wanted to calm down. Maybe his dad had just taken him for a walk to visit him in the garage. Maybe David had whined, wanting to go outside in the sun or see the bike up close or seeing his papas again.

His head came up with any reasonable excuse. He had to make it sense. He couldn’t think about any other version. After all he had read to many threats in the last weeks. He had faced to much hate towards himself and his baby, despite not having wronged the man he loved.

He had experienced physical violence. At least his baby had been spared. If he hadn't... He surely would make headlines and not about racing.

His anxiety was high. Even higher when his little sunshine was involved in any way and he'd do anything to keep him safe.

Quickly, he tried to remind himself that he knew the voice. It was Santi. He trusted Santi.

No reason to worry.

David loved Santi. Santi loved David. They got along great.

Santi would protect David. Still. He was his son and he needed to know he was safe.

Too many questions started bubbling in his head. Too many fears mixed. So where was he? Where was his kid, so he could hug him and see that he was safe.

He looked around. Bikes. Mechanics. Many, many dangerous, sharp and definitely not safe things were laying around. David could easily get hurt like this. He felt an itch under his skin at that.

Then he saw him. Santi was standing on the other side of the garage, picking up a little boy who had just wandered inside, still wobbly on his legs. His arms reaching for the man. Julia stood a few feet away, watching the boy going towards his “Tio! Tio!” as he called him.

His voice high and giggle. He smiled brightly. His small teeth were flashing in the light.

"There you are...” Sant said as he kneeled next to the boy who almost fell in his embrace. With the kid in his arms he stood up. He was secured on Santis hips and Marc breathed relieved.

Safe. His baby was safe. “Bueno, pequeño. Do you want to see your papa?" The Honda crew chief nudged his little nose, which made the child giggle.

He started to babble little, connected with a smile and a big nod, that made his hair flop followed. It was enough to be recognized it as an agreement. Santi grinned satisfied.

"Yes? Yes. Okay. Let's go. Let's go look for him-"

With David on his hip, he turned around. "Where could he be?” His voice was over the top questioning. It was the classic baby voice and Marc thought it was adorable. He was glad to see his team embrace his boy just as much. Especially after the past months. Even they got more protective than before.

“Where could your papa be? Over there..." He looked from one side to the other and the younger Spaniard laughed as he watched his baby looking confused and focused around to find him.

He bit his little lip in concentration. His eyes going big to not miss anything. But he shook his head. “Mmmh mmh” he made a disagreeing sound.

"No. No, you're right, not here. He isn't here... Maybe over there? What do you say, David?"

Then David spotted him and pointed at him. His lips curled up into a smile and his eyes lost all concentration.

"Ahí - ahí" he laughed. His little fat hand clumsily pointing towards the rider. He excitedly shook his hand. It looked like he was trying to throw his hand towards him. "Hola, my baby" he said waving at his boy.

Santi smiled too as he went towards him, Julia following them too.

"There you are" he grinned as the child was handed to him. "Oh my sweet, sweet David" Carefully he caressed his hair. The boy just smiled and leaned towards him, hugging him close.

Both seemed to use the short break to breath. They were holding each other close, keeping each other safe and sane.

Suddenly the kids smile disappeared. Instead he looked sad. His little mouth went down and he hide his face in his the leathers. But his father had seen it.

"David, what's going on?" he asked worried. Unconsciously, he hold him closer. "What happened? Talk to me. Please."

"Was with papa..." A sniff left his body. Marc froze. Santi stared at him in disbelief. The two adults shared a look. "Didn't want me. Papa, why does he doesn't want me anymore?"

“Oh David, it’s… I promise you it has nothing to do with you. Your father is just a little stupid. He… Remember? He listened to some very, very mean people. He believed a lie. It has nothing to do with you.”

“But he didn’t hug me!” he sobbed. “Miss his hugs! He gives the best.” “I know… I know and I’m sorry”

There was nothing else to say. He just hugged his boy closer. He pressed his arms tighter around his rips just like Vale always did and pulled him as close as somehow possible. He kissed his head. He felt the same dark curls that he knew so well.

He closed his eyes, wishing his hugs would be enough one day.