#that one conversation was indeed about f1

[acesofspadess]

Lucky Star

max verstappen x reader

warnings: PDA?? breaking up??? curse words,

summary: upgrades to his car were fine, but having his lucky star in the lone star was even better

Max had not won a race since June, many fans believed it was because of the breakup between him and his now ex Kelly, but no one really knew why his demeanour that was unfazed and really not up for fun changed over the summer break.

You did though, that’s because you were what changed. You had officially met Max at the Monaco Grand Prix a few months back. You were not new to the F1 world, having been to a few races in the past. You had a very strong love for the sport and went whenever it was possible. You had been invited by RedBull for your work in Tag Heuer- one of their biggest sponsors.

As a designer for one of the most expensive watch brands, you got paid very well, being able to live in the principality yourself, but not many people knew who you were, and you were more than okay with that. You lived yourself as you wanted, without the opinions you couldn’t care less about flooding your comment section.

“And this is Y/N from Tag Heuer. She’ll be in the garage this weekend.” Christian introduced you to Max. “Max, nice to meet you.” He shook your hand with a smile. You shook his hand with a greeting of your own. “Are you ready for this weekend?” You followed up, politely. “I hope so.” He laughed in his natural fashion. “It’s hard to overtake here, let’s hope you don’t have to.” You joked back and he looked almost happy you had an idea on what you were talking about. “You know in the chicane….”

That was the first time you met Max, you had small conversations throughout the weekend, but not enough to leave a lasting impression, or so you thought. Over the summer, Tag Heuer was creating a custom version of their Monaco watch for Max himself, and to the company, it only made sense that it was designed in Monaco, by the new head of design that lived in Monaco…you.

You walked into the back room of the store setting up for the appointment that was scheduled in a few moments. Nothing in you thought Max, who met people everyday would remember you, especially after his public breakup with Kelly and lack of a race winning car following Spain.

“Y/N?” You looked up from your iPad to see Max walking in. “It is indeed. How are you?” Max seemed to go through the formalities and the extent of designing the watch easily, but you could tell something else was on his mind. “Well, this isn’t too far off the original design, only a few colour changes. It should be ready in a few months time.” You said walking out of the office with him in tow. “I’m sure you know if you have any questions you can always call.” You ended your speech. Max nodded looking out the glass doors before looking back at you. 

“I do have one question.” He started and you nodded at him to continue. “Would you want to have lunch with me?” He asked softly, a blush rising to his cheeks. You smiled at the question, of course you would love to, but until you handed these papers off and your process was done, that was a very strict…

“Max, I would love too,” you started softly, and Max was smart enough to know where your tone of voice was heading, “but until this,” she waved the small iPad, “is out of my hands, you know I can’t.” You finished telling him and he looked at the iPad like he would another car on track.

“How long?” The look on your face said enough about your confusion. “Until this,” he pointed, “is out of your hands?” you but your lip to keep your chuckle at bay. “Maybe two, even three weeks.” You admitted. “I’ll wait then.” He promised. “Max, not to say I’m not flattered, but we’ve had a handful of conversations in the past, months ago even, when you had a girlfriend, is this even a smart thing for you to do?”

Max seemed mildly taken aback. “You may have a point,” he nodded his head, “but I enjoyed our conversations a lot, I didn’t feel like Max Verstappen the world champion, I just felt like Max.” He reasoned and it was one you couldn’t argue. With a slight chuckle you agreed, “Three weeks it is.”

You had actually managed to get to Switzerland and set the watch into work within two weeks, but when you told Max, he had been in Ibiza with Lando and Martin Garrix. You two talked as much as you could over the time zone, and by the time you finally met up for your date, it felt natural, like you had done it plenty of times before.

Over the course of the next few months you and Max spent whatever free time he had in his apartment. You never minded just sitting on his couch while he streamed with Redline or just winded down, you simply enjoyed each others company. At first Max didn’t know how to attend to you, he was used to having to go out almost every day, buy things, order other stuff, or just constantly be running in his relationships. After you had told Max you didn’t need anything from him other than himself he relaxed and you two were better than ever.

You hadn’t been to any more races since becoming Max’s girlfriend. You were in the process of designing a new watch, and that took a lot of your time.

Austin was the first race of the triple header Max had made you promise you would attend. You were happy you did as well. You had watched Max win anything for the first time since Spain. You wiped the small tears that went down your cheek as you watched from the pit-lane but more filled at every wipe.

You watched as he got out of his car and ran to his crew that congratulated him. You hadn’t seen Max smile this much at a race in a long time. Despite having interviews- that Max didn’t care for- he came running to you and with no thought in his head and kissed you, shielding most of the kiss with his water bottle. “I love you.” He whispered and you knew the tears were no longer from his win. “I love you.” You recited back to him and he kissed you again smiling as he pulled away before running off to his interview.

After making your way from the pit lane and into the garage Christian patted your shoulder, “I think you should be around more often.”

maxverstappen1 posted!

liked by yourusername and others

maxverstapppen1 Perfect timing @/tagheuer

@/yourusername

view comments

yourusername 💙💙💙

maxverstappen1 ❤️

forzamaxie33 oh he said fuck y'all for real

[f1girliefics]

F1 Drivers' Reaction When You Are a Fan of a Different Team

Lewis Hamilton

When you two started dating, you were not a true F1 fan. You heard about it, but it wasn't really your thing.

But then, being with him, your love for the sport grew and it truly became something you enjoyed.

However, it came as an even more surprise when you announced that you were indeed not a Mercedes fan but a Ferrari fan.

Toto nearly fell off his chair when he saw you in your red shirt.

He made you wear a Mercedes sweatshirt over it in the paddock. 

Lewis on the other hand didn't really mind that you were a fan on a different team.

You knew that you were his.

Little did you know about his upcoming change for the 2025 season.

George Russel

George nearly doubled over when he saw you wearing a McLaren hoodie.

"Lando gave it to me," you said.

"Date Lando then." was his reply.

He would be 1000% jealous.

Every time you wore something even in a similar colour family, he was fuming.

It would get to a point when he would attempt to throw all of your merch. 

It was rather amusing to you to watch him be so jealous.

Max Verstappen

It is impossible to root for a different team while dating Max.

If you do, you still don't.

Maybe in secret, you could. But the many conversations about teams and who is the best. Not just at winning but all together. 

And just based on his explanation. 

You wouldn’t choose anyone else than Redbull. 

Daniel Ricciardo

Considering his habit of changing his teams almost yearly, he wouldn’t blame you. 

However, when you explained to him that you were indeed a Mercedes fan, he nearly fainted. 

“What? It’s a team which didn’t do a contract with you, yet.”

“That’s why you chose Mercedes? Because I didn’t drive for them yet?”

No matter how many times you try to explain yourself, he would be dumbfounded. 

Then he would just laugh loudly. 

It would make you feel better almost immediately.

He wouldn't be jealous or angry, instead, he would laugh more and more.

Carlos Sainz

Now he truly didn't expect to see you wearing a Red Bull shirt when you visited him during the Monaco GP.

"What is this?" he would ask.

"My shirt?"

"Nonononononono. You are my girlfriend, you must root for Ferrari!" then he would start speaking in Spanish, and you had to get Charles to calm Carlos down.

But he would only calm down after seeing you wear a Ferrari shirt.

Charles Leclerc

“Impossible. My girlfriend is a Ferrari fan.”

“Mate, she is wearing an Alonso shirt,” said Carlos and laughed as he watched Charles who obviously didn’t believe him. 

Then they both saw you walking towards the paddock.

Indeed, you wore an Aston Martin shirt.

"I can't believe it." Charles said.

"Well, he is her father, Mate." said Carlos once more as he patted poor Charles in the back.

Charles would know better than to get jealous.

And yet, he wanted you in a red shirt, in his mind green really wasn't your colour. 

Lando Norris

He is so offended.

As if you just told him that all you have at home is fish for dinner.

He wouldn't be able to look away from you as he just stares.

"My own girlfriend... a Ferrari fan?!" he would manage to say.

He would be shocked for weeks to come.

No matter what you try, he wouldn't be able to get over this tiny little detail for a long time.

Oscar Piastri 

He is actually quite okay with you being a fan of another team.

Since he knows that you only root for him, no matter what, he is quite okay with you being a Mercedes fan.

Given that, your little obsession with Mercedes gave Toto a reason to be close to not only you but Oscar as well... hoping to see the driver one day in another colour than papaya.

And Oscar quite likes being invited over to the Mercedes quarters. 

Fernando Alonso

Being a seasoned driver who drove for many teams, he wouldn't be offended if you root for a different team than Aston Martin.

You would still wear the colours and be very proud of him. 

He wouldn't be offended or jealous even when you show up wearing your Red Bull shirt.

He would just laugh and smile at you.

Lance Stroll

How dare you?

You are dating him, not McLaren!

And yet, you looked amazing in papaya.

And yet, he was fuming.

"Why are you wearing that?"

"You shouldn't wear that."

"You should wear an Aston Martin shirt!"

"Come, we will get one for you."

He wouldn't calm down until he saw you in green. 

And in the future don't even think about wearing anything else.

/YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO TRANSLATE OR STEAL ANY OF MY WORKS/

[green-swan]

cigarette or zoot? (pt. 1) | joost klein x f1! driver (fem!reader)

in which london and smoking are synonymous with meeting a cute dutch artist

------------------------------------------------------

when AVROTROS approached her about eurovision, she thought they made a mistake. max was dutch. she wasn't. her lithuanian roots were deeper than any other identity she could've carved for herself. in the end she agreed; going in their cars with max around the city of malmö, visiting a few eurovision parties and most importantly, interact with joost klein (whom she didn't know, mind you) and teach him how to use an F1 simulator. this was going to be a heavy week. thank god it was in a month, right now she had a race to win.

first came the party - london was a welcome destination for the young driver. she thrived under the busy nature of it even in what some would call late, and others early, hours. she couldn't say the same for crowds though, the moving mosh of strangers all too close to each other and trying to show their superiority (the latter was aimed at men to be fair). she did see silvester, and the two had a lengthy conversation that didn't come to a conclusion but rather stayed at "what the fuck, let's make lithuania internationally famous!" she had hoped for a good place in eurovision, if not victory, while silvester (silvestras sounded more like home) had voiced his wish for her to win the upcoming miami grand prix and not only become the first female to do so, but also the first from lithuania. the pressure was on.

unfortunately, she lost silvester after getting a drink, so what really was the point of staying in the now airless room? she grabbed her drink and went to the rooftop that really should've been closed. her short frame slumped against a railing and she lit a cigarette, making it a point to hold it between her thumb and index finger. it was quiet, and london shimmered in different shades of yellow and white. so many people, some praying, some arguing, some alone. it felt peaceful despite the harsh wind that threatened to put out her cigarette.

"cigarette or zoot?" an accented voice sounded out, breaking the howls of wind. she turned around, spotting a man in what would've been a formal outfit had it not been for the pyramid-shaped shoulder pads on his blazer. joost klein, the man she was meant to interact with in front of cameras later that month. "cigarette," she answered, "though they call them something else here," she finished with an unsure smile. "i thought we couldn't bring tobacco in here?" he questioned, with a miscievous undertone in his voice. "they didn't check me, so it's on them," the driver shrugged, "why? you want one?"

"god, yes please!"

she took out another one from her pack, put it in between her glossed lips (joost thought that the gloss suited her) and lit it before giving it to the dutch man. "you know, i once tried eating a cigarette," he started, earning an incredulous look from the shorter girl. "what? did it taste good?" her curiosity was cute, "what do you think?"

"i once nearly swallowed jet fuel," she said with sympathy, "i get it."

joost knew who she was, well vaguely. the only female formula 1 driver and the only lithuanian on the grid. so why did AVROTROS want him to interact with her in addition to her dutch teammate? by that point, the wind had calmed down, an eery silence on brink of errupting had it not been for the music blasting from downstairs. she hummed a few lyrics before he spoke up, startling her heart as if she'd forgotten that he was indeed still there.

"can i take a picture of you right now?"

"why?"

"you're pretty. you look really beautiful in this moment, and i want to capture it."

she thought for a moment. "okay, if you let me take one of you after." he smiled. (he was so going to convince her to be on the cover of his next album)

------------------------------------------------------

note: jumping on the joost klein bandwagon (hehe been a fan for a while! got tickets for his europapa tour so i've been riding on cloud 9). i also love formula 1 and so thought why not combine them?

as the first paragraph indicates there will be (probably short and sweet) chapters and maybe extra ones after if this goes well <3

[sports-on-sundays]

hi hi hi!

i was wondering if i could request something where reader is arthur's best friend and he introduces her to charles. but then charles falls in love with reader first while reader has a partner and he confesses to her but she tells him she can't. and then a while later reader breaks up with her bf and charles shoots his shot again and she agrees to go out with him?

thank you sm 🫂

taken / CL16

Summary: Charles x female!reader - Your best friend's brother just so happens to have a thing for you. You just so happen to have a boyfriend.

Requested?: Indeed.

Author's Note: Did you read my mind? I was just thinking of an idea very similar to this one!

You're a little nervous to enter the Leclerc household. Not because you think they won't be just the sweetest people you've ever met- you're sure they will be, considering how Arthur turned out. No, you were just a little nervous to meet his older brothers. Particularly Charles.

You aren't even sure why. Maybe just because of his extreme fame. But Arthur is famous too... He races in F2.

But Arthur invited you to dinner with his family, saying his mother and brothers wanted to meet you, from all the good things he always said about you.

You had grinned and teased, "What sort of things do you say about me?"

And he had teased back, giving a playful smile, "I said you make the best fruit salad. That got them interested."

Now you sit in the passenger's seat of his car, a bowl of fruit salad sitting in your lap. Arthur pulls up to his house. "How you feeling?" he asks, shooting you a grin.

"Never better. Come on- I can't wait to meet your brothers."

"Aw, never mind my brothers! It should be my mother you're excited to meet!" He gets out of the car, and you follow, falling in step with him as you walk up to the house.

As you're halfway up the walk, the door opens, and Pascale Leclerc opens the door. "Bonjour Arthur et Y/n!"

You respectfully smile and respond back in French, "It's a pleasure to meet you!" You shake hands, and she holds the door for you and her youngest son.

"The other two are making a mess in the living room. I'm working on dinner. Why don't you join them?"

"Merci," Arthur smiles, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek, before leading you to the living room.

And there they are. Charles and Lorenzo Leclerc, lounging on the sofa. Both of them look away from the television when you enter with Arthur, and their faces brighten.

Charles stands up and shakes your hand. Lorenzo follows, doing the same thing. "Nice to meet you, Y/n," Charles chuckles, "Arthur has said so much about you."

"Oh, really? Other than my professional fruit salad making?"

Arthur cracks up as the elder Leclerc brothers give confused smiles. Arthur explains, "I never actually told them about your fruit salad-!"

"You liar!" you snap, giving him a playful shove.

Then the four of you settle down, and Lorenzo says, "So... You've ought to tell us about the fruit salad, then."

You shrug, your nervousness already dissipating. There's something about all three of these guys- they're just so natural, so sweet. "It's nothing much. Arthur just really likes this fruit salad I make." You roll your eyes.

"Really? Maybe we'll have to try it sometime," Charles smiles.

"I brought some for our dinner tonight!" you grin, meeting the man's eyes, which are nearly the same color as Arthur's- at least in this lighting.

"Oh, good," he nods.

The conversation continues like this for the rest of the night, and dinner is sweet. As the night goes on, your heart grows fonder and fonder of Arthur's family, just as it did when you first met Arthur himself.

Before you're about to leave, you ask awkwardly, "Oh! Uh, Charles, I was wondering..." The F1 driver looks up. "If I could, you know, get a picture with you. You know, so that once you become a world champion I have proof I met you." You are fully aware of how stupid this reason is, and are just avoiding the fact that you're totally the biggest Ferrari fan around.

Charles, laughs at this and starts to say, "Sure, we can-"

But his mother interrupts, "Come on, now. Charles isn't so special. Let me take a picture of the four of you. Give me your phone, honey." You hand your phone to her gratefully, and you stand for a picture, between Arthur and Charles, with Lorenzo on the other side of Charles. You feel Arthur's arm over your shoulders, and Charles' hand gently on your lower back.

After taking a few pictures, she hands your phone back, and you thank them, saying with a laugh, "Sorry if that made it awkward!"

Lorenzo says, "We don't mind," at the same time as Charles saying, "I'm used to it," at the same time as Arthur saying, "Yeah, Y/n, you made it super awkward."

The whole ride home in Arthur's car, you babble to him about his family and how sweet they are and this and that and the other thing. You find yourself especially mentioning Charles' name, though.

Arthur just listens as he drives, every so often putting in his two cents. When you make it to your house and he drops you off, you wave and get out. For the rest of the night, you can't stop thinking about the Leclerc's.

For the next six or seven months, Arthur invites you over a few more times. On this night, you're staying the night, because your house is having renovations on it. And probably because Arthur wanted some stupid slumber party or something, but was too cool to say it, as a grown adult man in his twenties. But facing it, Arthur totally has the heart of a stupid baby.

You could have just stayed in your home, but Pascale invited you over as soon as Arthur apparently mentioned to her that it was tough for you because of all the renovations.

Your boyfriend wasn't available to help you out because he had an accident about a workweek ago and has been in the hospital since. He's going to have to undergo surgery for a fracture. It hurts you to have to be away from him, but you have responsibilities, and have been staying with him, getting nearly no sleep, for the past four days. You boyfriend understood and even pushed you to let yourself go home, assuring you he'd be fine.

The whole Leclerc family has been warming up to you, but especially Charles, it seems. He often gives you nice comments on your looks and praise on your sweet personality.

Now you sit on Arthur's bed in his mother's house, on your phone. He's just gone to take a shower, leaving you by yourself. You believe that the only other person home is Pascale, who you assume is in bed by now.

You feel a shiver at the cold air conditioning, so you slip off Arthur's bed and walk to the corner of the room, grabbing a hoodie hanging on a hook, assuming it's Arthur's and knowing he wouldn't mind you wearing it. You pull it over, instantly feeling warmer as the soft cloth rubs against your cold arms and the scent of men's cologne fills your nose. It's a little big on you, so feels like a warm cozy blanket, almost.

At the growl of your stomach, you quietly slip out of Arthur's room, figuring you'll go unnoticed and be back on Arthur's bed before he ever knew you left his room. You head to the kitchen on soft feet. I'll just grab a little something from the fridge. You gently push open the door to the kitchen, but stop dead in your tracks when your eyes settle on the man standing in the kitchen. Charles looks up from the eggs he's making on the stove, and your eyes meet.

"Oh... Hey, Charles," you smile softly, awkwardly stepping into the kitchen. "Why are you here...?" You don't think before you ask that question.

He chuckles. "I'm sorry. Why are you here?" But the smile on his face is sweet. "Arthur mentioned you were staying over for the night offhandedly. I figured maybe I'd drop by."

You nod slowly, feeling a little awkward.

There's a soft smile on Charles' face as he looks down at the food he's making. You watch as he transfers his eggs onto a plate. "You look cute in my hoodie, by the way. Where'd you find it? I've been looking for that one all over; I swear."

"Oh, God," You can't help but feel embarrassed. "It was in Arthur's room- I'm sorry, I didn't know, I'll take it off n-"

"No, it's fine," Charles says quickly. "I haven't seen that hoodie in months. Not sure why it was in Arthur's room, but I don't mind. In fact, you can keep it if you want..."

"Oh, well, I don't know about that, but..." You trail off, not exactly sure what you were going to say next anyway. You glance to the refrigerator as you feel another pang of hunger in your stomach.

Charles seems to notice this and says, "Want some of my eggs? Here, I'll split them in half." He grabs a plate.

"Well I wouldn't want to take your food," you quickly say. "You made that for yourself."

But Charles shrugs, handing you the plate. "I made myself too much anyway. This will be enough." He leans against the kitchen counter and starts eating, so you shrug and stand next to him, starting to eat your own food.

"Thanks, Charles. This is good." It's really not good. Kind of bland and the texture is weird, but you don't complain. You're just happy he's feeding you.

"You're welcome," he says softly, staring out. His eyes are glazed over as if there's something bugging him. You're about to ask about it when he suddenly turns to you, that look gone from his eyes and replaced with a much brighter one. "Hey, Y/n." He speaks in an overly casual tone, and a little quickly. "I know you've probably figured this out by now, but I was just wondering-" He hesitates, and finished with a little smile, "Next Wednesday night, are you available? Sorry it's a random day- my upcoming week is pretty full, but..." He trails off, apparently deciding he's rambling too much now, and just looks at your face, waiting for an answer.

Only now do you realize how close his face is to yours. Only now do you see his constant sweet comments were more like flirting. Only now you notice the look in his eyes is less like the one of an older brother, and more like the one of a man who's interested. This shocks you. While of course you can't deny he's extremely handsome, and while of course you can't deny you're kind of a huge fan of his, and while of course you can't deny he has one of the sweetest personalities ever, it's never honestly really crossed your mind at all that he could like you in a way like that. And you know why this is. If you didn't have a boyfriend, you're sure you'd already have a huge crush on Charles by now. It would be a classic 'being into your best friend's hot older brother'.

But you feel so such feelings now. You swallow, meeting his glimmering eyes. "Are you asking me out?" You just want to be sure.

His face brightens, his little dimples showing with his smile. He nods. "Exactly."

You blink and look down. You carefully choose your words: "I'm very flattered, Charles. Thank you. I'm afraid I'll have to say no- You must not know that I already have a boyfriend."

Charles looks over and opens his mouth to say something, but suddenly the need wells up within you to quickly add, "I mean the reason why I'm not staying with my boyfriend tonight while so many of the rooms in my house are getting renovated is only because he's in the hospital right now so regularly I'd be doing that but you know he's gone so I was gonna just stay in my half-done flat but then Arthur and your mum suggested-"

Suddenly Charles very gently cuts off your anxious rambling, placing a hand on your arm, "I'm so sorry to hear that, Y/n. Sounds like... a lot's just kind of coming done on you, huh? I've been there. I... I'm sorry for bringing that up... you know, asking you out and all. I had no idea; I swear." He genuinely looks like he does feel bad for it.

"Oh, it's okay, Charles..." Your eyes meet his, and you can't help but realize how much of a sweetie he really is. "Thanks... It's fine. You didn't know. I just- yeah. Thanks for understanding. You probably know how it is- sometimes in hard times it's nice to just have a few people that have got your back." You hesitate, before finishing in nearly a whisper, "Honestly, Charles, you and your family feel like... You're all so dear to me. You're starting to feel more like home than my own family." Your own family who don't have your back right now, while the Leclerc's do.

He smiles and gently gives you probably the softest hug you've ever received. It's short, and he pulls away quickly, saying with a soft smile, "I should have assumed you have a boyfriend already. I can't imagine a woman as beautiful as you not." He winks.

You smile softly, staring at the kitchen floor. There was something about that hug... Just so needed. It was so comforting. Arthur is good at comforting too, but in a different way. He's not a hug type of guy. He just jokes and distracts and keeps your mind off your troubles. You weren't expecting such a sweet hug from Charles just now.

You chuckle and look back up to meet his eyes. "You are not smooth, you know," you tease, although in all honesty, he kind of is.

"Alright," he nods, clearly enjoying a little bit of teasing, "you keep telling yourself that."

Then Arthur comes in, saying, "Y/n, there you are! Let's go to my room; I'm done showering. I have some funny sh*t to show you."

You walk away with Arthur, but can't help but glance back at at Charles. He attempts at another wink, but ends up pretty much just blinking. You chuckle to yourself.

"What?" Arthur asks.

"Oh, nothing. Just your brother."

About three months later, Arthur stands up from the sofa in Charles flat when his phone starts ringing. "I've got to take this," Charles' younger brother comments, walking out of the room. He shuts the door to the hallway behind him. Charles really doesn't care and is about to take out his own phone and start scrolling, but his ears perk up when he hears his brother say, "Hey, Y/n. What's good?"

Charles knows he shouldn't, but can't help himself from listening to Arthur's half of your phone conversation, which is: "I'm good. Any reason you called?... What is it?... Oh, I'm sorry, Y/n. How are you taking it?... Oh? Why?... That's good, Y/n. The last thing you need is a broken heart, huh? Then I'd have to fix it up for you... No, I didn't mean it like that!" Arthur laughs. "...So, how's it feel to be a single woman again?" Charles' eyes stare at the door, his heart involuntarily beating faster. "...No, no, Y/n! That's not what I meant! Gosh, why do all the things I say sound so obnoxiously flirtatious? I'm not even trying to sound like that... Oh, yeah, I don't... Okay, hah... Oh, I'm just hanging out with Charles... No, no, he didn't. I'm out of the room. I know sometimes you have personal things to say... Why do you sound disappointed?... Oh, right, sorry... Alright, bye bye, Y/n... Bye." As soon as Charles hears the phone beep and the doorknob to the room starts to turn open again, he stares down back at his phone, trying to calm his nerves as best he can. He'd feel terribly bad if he knew Arthur had known he was eavesdropping.

"Who was it?" Charles asks, trying to sound as natural as possible, at the same time as trying not to sound obnoxious or nosy.

"Oh, just Y/n," Arthur says, and quickly moves on with another topic of conversation. But the whole time, Charles can't stop thinking about you.

There was no way you weren't going to be going to Abu Dhabi with the Leclerc boys. So here you are, Sunday race day, on the paddock for the last F1 race of the season.

Suddenly, though, you feel a distinct touch on your arm, different from all the other people bumping into you from around. You turn to that direction and fix your eyes on Charles Leclerc.

Oh God. Why is your heart suddenly racing like this? It's been about three months since cutting it off with your now ex-boyfriend, and pretty much the day after that, a little seed of liking for Charles that you had been keeping from nourishing for all this time sprouted.

It's like it's been an underlying feeling you've had for... Well, probably over a year now. And even before that, you certainly had a little fangirl crush on him; no doubt about that one.

His hair, which is in need of a little trim you think (not seriously bad) is slightly messed up, and he has the sweetest little shine in his honestly quite lovely eyes. He's recently shaved, and his little dimples are so defined right now in the outdoor light of the late afternoon. You can't help but notice how his defined jawline turns into his strong neck, and how broad and strong his shoulders are. And on top of it all his tight fireproof defines his pecs so clearly you-

God, why are you checking Charles out like this?

"Y/n?" Charles asks, "Did you hear me?" Apparently, you'd been so taken away by his appearance (which is literally how he looks pretty much every race weekend...?) that you hadn't even heard him the first time.

You blush. "Oh, right, sorry. Yes?"

His lip twitches, and he seems to study you now, before leaning close and saying as soft as possible while still having you hear, "I was wondering... When we get back to Monaco, could I take you out to eat? It's just that I heard you broke up with-"

"Yes," you blurt, and kind of want to slap yourself. Just a little bit.

But his face lights up at your seemingly extreme willingness. "Really? So do you feel the same way?"

"Well," you put a teasing smile on, "I'd have to know how you feel about me first before answering that."

"You know..."

"Then say it."

"Well, I have feelings for you."

"Well, then maybe I have feelings for you, too." Your heart is pounding.

"So that means you'd like to go out to eat with me?"

You smirk softly. "I guess it does."

You open your door, wearing your best. Charles insisted on bringing you to a very nice, expensive place. You weren't so sure- that's not quite your type of environment- but agreed to it.

And, well, he looks amazing.

He wears a fitting black tuxedo, dress shoes, and a lovely smile on his face. Lovely dimples.

But he says, "Oh my God, Y/n." Intense feelings briefly flash in his eyes. "That dress... those shoes... your makeup... your hair. You look... gorgeous."

"Oh, stop," you murmur, smiling softly, looking away.

"Well, then, princess," he takes your hand in his, gently in his and kisses it, before walking to his Ferrari with you, still holding your hand. Despite how cheesy and cliché this really is, you can't help but be charmed.

He opens the car door for you and you get in. He shuts it and when he starts driving, takes your hand in his again. "Y/n," he says softly, "I'm going to make this the best date you've ever experienced and treat you like the princess you are."

[charlesswife]

times that charles and y/n showed they are couple but keep saying they are not - video

pairing: charles leclerc x f1 driver! reader

summary: after their public kiss, fans went crazy, one of them made a youtube compilation of your favorites formula one drivers being a wholesome couple but saying they are just friends

lowercase indeed

[intro with monotone voice]

hello friends, in this video i'm going to show you how charles lechair and my queen y/n y/l/n are a couple, they can't really deny it, they are so obvious they make me sick, specially after the kiss they had on tv.

[cuts to the video playing in slow mo with the intro of careless whisper]

anyways here we go

we start at the 2022 Met Gala, where our queen decided to bless us with her presence, and who is a few feet from her? Charlito. They both looked stunning as how it is and absolutely angelical together.

they both approach one of the interviewers and while the interviewer was asking y/n about what she was wearing, charles was only giving y/n heart eyes, only looking at her.

you ain't fooling anyone charles, you love her.

"We are here with celebrity icon and Formula One driver y/n y/l/n" the interviewer started, "alongside her, it's Charles Leclerc"

"Hello" I greeted her.

"So tell us a bit about your outfit, who are you wearing?"

I said what I had memorized before the MET, explaining about the dress, the collaboration with the designer, and what the theme means to me. typical questions with typical answers.

"I see you came with Charles Leclerc, was that planned?"

I wasn't surprised about the question, I knew people were gonna ask about Charles, but she was so bold for it. I looked at Charles, who was already looking at me.

"He begged me to come," I said, "he almost cried like a baby," I laughed. Just as I did that, a piece of my hair got in front of my face, before I could fix it, Charles' hand was already doing the job.

"Well, we are glad you did. You guys definitely look good together"

[cuts to second clip]

if you thought that pierre and charles were the gossipers of the grid, you are wrong. it's y/n and charles. whenever they are in the same room, they just look at each other and the telepathy starts.

"it's crazy the way Charles and Y/n understand each other" Lando said to his twitch chat, "like they just know what the other is thinking it's scary."

The comments started to flow, chat wanted examples.

"Like the other day, some of the drivers, we were all talking and out of nowhere Charles just hands her like a hair tie? no idea where he got it from but apparently y/n made this 'face'" he quoted with his fingers, "that she was hot, he's such a simp, he says he always has one for emergencies"

after a few seconds he started ranting again about Charles and Y/n

"they like to judge people too, they might laugh and deny it but it's true-- last week Carlos was doing this dance move thing and immediately charles and y/n look at each other and it looked like they were having a mental conversation, mate they are crazy together," he reads the chat, who was asking more about their relationship, "I don't think they are just friends as they say, but whatever"

[cuts to third clip]

In the picture of Formula One first day, Y/n said her favorite song is Ready for it? by Taylor Swift.

The social media person in charge of Tiktok, Sarah (idk their names this is just made up), followed Charles with a tiny mic and asked him

"Excuse me, what are you listening to?"

Charles took out one of the headphones and asked, "What?"

"The fans want to know what you are listening to"

"Oh! I'm listening to Taylor Swift" he giggled as he showed the screen to the camera. The song being Ready for it?

There is a speed up walk to Y/n in her red suit drinking water. She sees Sarah with camera in hand and waves at her.

She repeated the same question from before, "Excuse me, what song are you listening to?"

"I'm listening to my girl Taylor! Look What You Made Me Do from the Reputation album," as she showed the screen, a message notification could be seen 'Charles ❤️ - iMessage' she turned her phone back to her to take out the notification, "Oops" she turned the phone back to the screen, "Here we go" she said with a smile.

The caption of the video was 'Our ferrari drivers being Taylor fans is a big slay'

[back to main screen]

i rest my case, but we cannot forget about this iconic moment from charles and y/n, this moment lives rent free in my head.

"So for today we are going to give you boards, and we are gonna go who's most likely"

As Y/n got her board, she said, "this should be fun, we know each other pretty well,"

Charles nodded, "I think I know more about you than you about me"

"Is this a challenge, lord Perceval?"

He laughed, "I mean that's the whole point of the video."

"Bring it on, big boy"

The camera was recording the whole interaction. As Charles was doing the intro for the video and explaining what they were doing, Y/n was doodling in her board and erasing stuff.

"I am so ready to crush you," she said.

"Let the best racer win"

"Who's most likely to want to do something spontaneous during the weekend"

Y/n started writing her anser, "Guys, this is pretty obvious," she turned her board around and the words Charles were on it. Charles had the same answer.

"Me. 100%"

"Charles is always wanting to do something over the weekend, I just wanna chill at home with my cat," she explained as she erased the board.

"So true, I have to drag her out of her house sometimes"

"Which reminds me that I need to change my lock or take away your key," with her comment, Charles rolled his eyes.

It went on like that for a few more rounds until the game was other.

"I think we did a good job," Y/n says.

"I think so too," Charles agrred.

"High five," she put her hand up for him so high five her, as he did, he grabbed her hand and pulled her chair closer to him.

The scene was repeated in slow motion with Careless Whisper in the back again.

[outro]

i really need charles and y/n to confirm their relationship so i can be have a nice good night sleep.

dont forget to share, like and comment for more videos of charles and y/n.

----------------------------------------------------------------

is this...? a new series...? anyways, enjoy this while i start to write the new chapter of UNEM, which i'm hoping to upload by monday.

let me know what you think about this imagine and if youd like to see more of charles x f1 driver! reader! because it is definitely fun writing about it.

@fandomxs1 @teti-menchon0604 @moonclaine @amsofftrack @fandoms-stuff @mac-daddy-210 @bisexual-desi @miureiz @diasnohibng @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @im-just-here-toread @tyskills @rafaaoli @heavengirls111 @lighttsoutlewis @leclerc13 @c4ssi4-luv @ynbutbetter @marigoldgasly @vita-di-moda @sbrn0905 @leclercsbae @bhiees @empathypostsf1 @marauderlover22 @ushygushybaby @zendayabelova @lord_leclerc @itsmesofia @sebbybucky12 @notleclerc @dicaprio-leo @starkeyellow @spngi @mskeisha69 @prrttyposts @vex-et-soleil @dessxoxsworld @thesurielscheesecake @severenswife @livsans @67-angelofthelordme-67 @booksobsess @buckleyverse

[gayf1hoe]

Part 13

Pacing around the streets of Hungary I'm practically cursing Max for having this hold over me. I can only think about how easy my life would be right now if I didn't get involved with him and what my life could have been if I didn't join Sauber. My friends had always told me not to get in a tangle with my feelings about a man yet here we are that ship had sailed and sank the second I arrived in the paddock.

I think of all the places he would go but trying to get in the mindset of Max Verstappen isn't easily done. He's a very…. well let's say a peculiar person. 

I decided to head to the place Lando took me to previously as he described it as the “go to place to be alone” although if it's thto"go to place” surely that means everyone goes there but when I tried explaining it to Lando he looked very confused. Eventually I get to the spot and I can see a dark figure looking out to the city below as the sun begins to set casting a slight darkness over the tree shrouded spot. 

As I get closer the dim street lights make it possible to work out that it is indeed Max. 

I take a seat next to him letting out a sigh, whilst opening a can of red bull, placing a spare one on the bench and pushing it towards Max. 

“Here” I say, pushing it closer. 

He picks it up and takes a sip after opening it, he lets out a slight sigh and places it down. 

“So what brings you up here?” I ask after a brief interlude of silence. 

“I didn't want to spoil your celebration” 

“You got a podium as well Max it's your celebration as well” I add in a reasoning manner. 

“Y/N I ruin everything I do for you and you don't deserve everything I have done to you. I just ruin everything your F1 career has been so stressful because of me”

“No Max it's not because of you my F1 carer has been stressful I joined a team that had a shit year last year and suddenly found performance which meant I had to prove myself even more, I slept with a Mercedes junior driver, signed with another junior team despite me being a grand prix winner my career is looking pretty bleak and I have one person to blame and that's myself.” 

“You slept with Kimi” 

“How do you know it was Kimi I could have slept with Mick or Fred” 

“Trust me Kimi followed you around like a golden retirement it was pretty obvious” 

“Anyway you've got a girlfriend so no need to judge me” 

“I had a girlfriend” 

“What do you mean?” I ask. 

“We split up before you ask why I will just tell you. We didn't get on and I realised that she wasn't the one that I wanted to spend my life with.”

“I'm sorry” I say in the most apoplectic tone I can muster up. 

“Why it's not as if it was your fault I jumped into a premature relationship”  Max’s voice was soft but firm, as if the weight of what he was saying was finally settling in. 

The cool evening air, mixed with the hum of distant city sounds, hung around us as I processed his words. I shifted, feeling the awkwardness creep in. 

“I guess we’re both a bit of a mess then, huh?” I said, breaking the silence, trying to make light of the conversation, but deep down, the rawness of it all still tugged at me. I wasn’t sure if I was sad, frustrated, or just tired of trying to make sense of everything that me and Max have been through. 

“But in a way, that’s sort of... comforting.” I add on. 

Max looked at me, his expression unreadable. His eyes were narrowed, contemplating, as if he was trying to decipher my words. “Comforting?” he echoed softly followed by “How?”

“Yeah, well,” I shrugged, turning my body slightly toward him, “I mean, if we both know how messed up our lives are, at least it’s not just me. We’re both trying to figure things out, aren’t we?” 

Max let out a small, quiet laugh, shaking his head. “I don’t think you understand how much I’ve ruined for you,” he murmured. The way he said it made it sound as though he truly believed it, and I could feel the frustration building in me. He wasn’t the only one who was dealing with a mess of his own making.

“Max,” I said gently, my voice softening.

 “You didn’t ruin anything for me. I’ve made my own choices, and I’ve had my own share of mistakes. But I think you forget something. I chose this, didn’t I? I chose to be part of this world, this life, even if it’s not what I expected.”

He was quiet again, staring down at the can of Red Bull in his hand. He looked almost lost in thought, and I could tell he was battling some inner conflict, as he always did. It was that relentless drive of his, that obsession with perfection, that made him so... Max. But it also made him painfully difficult to talk to when he was in one of these moods. If anyone is to blame for Max's self criticism and constant tirade of personal lament it's Jos. 

“So,” I continued, nudging his shoulder lightly, trying to shift the tone, “you still haven’t answered my question. Why are you up here? Is this how you celebrate a podium? Hiding away from everyone else?”

He didn’t look at me at first, but when he did, his lips quivered into the faintest of smiles. “It’s easier this way,” he said simply, his voice quieter now. “Sometimes, I don’t know how to deal with... everything, you know?”

I nodded. I understood that more than I cared to admit. “I get that,” I said, meeting his gaze. “But you don’t have to do it alone, Max. You don’t have to hide. You can talk to me.”

Max was silent again, and this time, it wasn’t just the usual quiet he carried. It was as if he was actually contemplating what I said, and it struck me how much he didn’t know how to lean on someone. I guess since his childhood he's never had someone he can depend on. Whereas everyone has depended on him like Red Bull. How much he kept hidden behind that mask of indifference and stubbornness. The man I’d gotten to know in these past months was more vulnerable than anyone would give him credit for, and yet he was so afraid of showing it.

“I don’t know what to say to you,” Max finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Just say what you feel, Max,” I replied, my heart aching for him. “Say what’s on your mind. You don’t have to hold it all in.”

There was a long pause, the weight of the words hanging between us as the last rays of sunlight dipped behind the horizon, casting shadows of darkness across the park. Max’s breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might say something, but then he shifted, as if moving away from the moment entirely.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Y/N,” he said, the words carrying an air of finality that stung. “I don’t know if I’m ready to take a step forward with anyone.”

I felt a pang in my chest at his words. Was this his way of pulling away? Was he telling me he wasn’t ready for anything between us, even after everything we’d shared? 

“You don’t have to be ready, Max,” I said, my voice firm. “You don’t have to rush into anything. You’ve been through a lot, and I get it. But don’t shut me out. I’m not asking for anything from you, except for the chance to be there, to help you through whatever it is that’s weighing you down.”

For a long while, he didn’t respond. It was as if he was thinking over every word I’d said. The only sound was the distant hum of the city, and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind.

Finally, Max turned his body toward mine, looking me in the eyes. There was something in his gaze, something vulnerable, that I hadn’t seen before. “You don’t make this easy, you know that?” he said quietly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Maybe I don’t want it to be easy,” I replied softly, my breath catching as I leaned in just a little closer, feeling the heat between us grow. “Maybe I want something real.”

Max’s eyes flickered down to my lips, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was a shift in the air, a current running between us that neither of us could ignore. Slowly, he moved closer, and before I could think, his lips met mine in a kiss that was gentle at first, testing, as if he was waiting for me to pull away. 

But I didn’t. I kissed him back, just as carefully, just as uncertain. It was a moment of hesitation, of letting go, and it felt like both the beginning and the end of something.

When we finally pulled away, Max’s face was inches from mine, and I could see the vulnerability there, the uncertainty that mirrored my own. We stayed like that for a moment, neither of us speaking, simply breathing in the same space.

“I think we need to take things slow,” I said softly, my hand gently resting on his arm. 

“We can’t rush into anything, Max. Not when we both have so much to figure out.”

He didn’t say anything at first, but I could see the way his gaze softened, the way he seemed to understand what I meant. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I get that.”

I smiled, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere, Max. But we need to be honest with each other. We need to take our time.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment longer before he looked away, as if processing everything. There was still that edge of uncertainty in him, that reluctance to open up fully, but I could see the shift. I could feel the change.

“We’ll take it slow,” he said again, this time with more conviction. “But I’m not going to let you go, Y/N. Not after all this.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. We didn’t have to figure everything out tonight. We didn’t have to rush. 

“Now let's go and get absolutely hammered,” I say, grabbing his soft hands and dragging him back down the trail. 

As we walked down the trail that I trudged at sunset, my fingers still laced in Max's, I could feel the tension in the air starting to loosen. The evening had started so heavy, but now there was an unspoken promise between us, something that made the entire world outside of that quiet park feel distant, like it didn't matter. All I wanted was to forget everything for a few hours, and if getting drunk was the way to do it, so be it. We finally reached the club, the neon lights blinking to life as we approached the entrance. The bass from the music vibrated in the air, and I could hear the faint laughter and chatter of people already inside. I gave Max’s hand a gentle squeeze, pulling him inside with me. 

The moment we stepped into the club, I could feel the change in atmosphere: loud music, flashing lights, bodies moving in sync to the beat. I couldn’t help but grin. This was the perfect escape from everything. I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to dancing, drinking, or simply losing myself in the crowd, but one thing was for sure it was just what we needed. Max followed me through the bustling crowd, his expression slightly more relaxed than when we first arrived. 

“Over here!” I shouted over the music, waving at Charles, who was sitting at a table by the bar with a few other drivers. Max and I made our way toward them, Charles’ eyes lighting up when he saw us.

“Y/N! Max!” Charles greeted us, grinning as he waved us over. “What’s up, you two?”

Max raised an eyebrow, clearly unsure of what he was walking into. 

“What’s going on here?” he asked, scanning the table as he sat down next to me. “

“You know, just the usual,” Charles replied with a chuckle, nodding to the drinks in front of him. “Catching up, letting off some steam.”

I sat down, nudging Max to sit beside me. The club was loud, but here by the bar, it was easier to hear the conversation. I glanced at Charles, noting how his eyes seemed to linger just a bit longer on Max and me, like he was trying to piece something together.

“So, where have you two been?” Charles asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Hiding away from the party or something?”

Max let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, clearly not in the mood to explain the intricacies of his life. 

“Just… needed some space,” he muttered, a touch of annoyance in his tone. “A lot on my mind.”

“Ahh, I get that,” Charles nodded sympathetically. “But it seems like you two are in better spirits now.” His eyes flickered between Max and me for a second longer than necessary, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat. “A little private chat, was it?”

“Something like that,” I answered, trying to steer the conversation in a less personal direction. “It’s been a long day. We’re just here to relax.”

Charles smirked again, obviously enjoying his role as the observant one.

 “Sure, sure. You two are looking a little... chummy.” He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“What’s going on there, huh?”

Max didn’t seem to catch on immediately, but I could see the shift in his body language. He tensed up slightly, obviously not eager to engage in that kind of conversation. 

“Nothing to see here, Charles,” Max said with a flat tone. “We’re just here to have fun.”

Charles raised his hands in mock surrender. 

“Hey, I’m just saying, I don’t mind a little gossip now and then. Anyway, drink?” he offered, pulling a bottle of something dark from the table and handing it to me.

I took the bottle without hesitation, pouring myself a generous shot before pushing it toward Max. 

“You sure you don’t want one?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.

Max shook his head, but a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m good for now,” he said, but I could see him eyeing the drink longingly. 

“I’ll drink to that,” I muttered, before taking a long sip, feeling the warmth spread through me as I quickly passed the bottle around the table. 

“So what’s the deal with you two, really?” Charles asked, his voice a little quieter now, trying to be sly as he leaned in closer. He clearly wasn’t going to let it drop, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I could keep dodging the question without raising suspicion.

I shot Max a quick look, unsure if he was okay with Charles’ probing, but he seemed to shrug it off. 

“We’re just two people trying to figure things out,” I said, keeping it vague. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

Charles seemed satisfied for the moment, nodding as he took a drink himself. “Fair enough. But I can see the way you two are looking at each other,” he said with a wink.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve had a few too many already, haven’t you?”

Charles only laughed in response, raising his glass to us. “Well, maybe,” he admitted. “But you two are giving me ideas.”

Max shot him a quick look, clearly sensing the shift in tone. “Charles, keep your thoughts to yourself,” he muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice, a tiny smirk playing on his lips.

“You know you love me,” Charles teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m just trying to keep things interesting.”

We all chuckled, the tension between Max and me momentarily forgotten as the alcohol started to hit. The conversation drifted to random topics like racing, the constant media buzz, life away from home. The more I drank, the more relaxed I felt. The weight of everything, of the strange connection between Max and me, seemed to slip away, and I found myself laughing more freely, talking less about the past, and more about the trivial things in life.

A few hours later, the club’s atmosphere had shifted. The music was louder, people were dancing, and Max and I had long since lost track of time. Our drinks had been replaced multiple times, and Charles had disappeared with other drivers, leaving me and Max to sit at the bar. My head was spinning from the alcohol, and the laughter between us had turned into something more comfortable, more at ease. We had fallen into a rhythm, the easy banter flowing effortlessly, like we were old friends.

“I think we’ve had enough,” I said, my voice thick from the alcohol, the world slightly spinning around me. “I’m about to pass out.”

Max smirked, his hand brushing mine as he pushed his empty glass aside. “You’re right,” he agreed, his voice also carrying the weight of a few too many drinks. “Let’s get out of here before we end up in trouble.”

We both stood, my legs slightly unsteady, and I grasped Max’s arm for support. The world outside was cool and refreshing compared to the warmth of the club, and the night air felt like a welcome relief. We stumbled out onto the street, laughter bubbling between us as we tried to find our bearings. The distance to the hotel seemed longer than it should have been, but with Max’s steady presence next to me, I felt assured.

“We really need to take it slow,” I muttered, the alcohol slurring my words as I leaned against him for support.

Max chuckled, his arm around my shoulders to keep me steady. “Yeah, I know. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”

We walked in silence for a while, the buzz from the club still coursing through us, and before long, we were at the door of the hotel, both slightly tipsy and laughing at nothing in particular.

“Are you getting in?” Max asked, his voice quiet, the hint of playfulness still lingering.

I nodded, still smiling. “Yeah, I’m not going anywhere. Just... not yet,” I said with a wink before pushing open the door to the hotel lobby.

Max followed me in, his footsteps slower now, both of us feeling the weight of the night catching up to us.

“I’ll see you in the morning?” I asked, pausing in front of the elevators.

“Definitely,” he replied with a grin. “We’ll see how much we can remember.”

The next morning I wake up with the worst headache imaginable, everything is a haze, my vision is blurred and I can smell the lingering alcohol on my breath. I gather enough energy to rise from my slumber and take a moment to steady myself as everything plunges into darkness momentarily and a wave of nausea sweeps over me. 

The curtains thankfully are closed preventing the piercing midday light from shining into my eyes. I brush my teeth, have a shower and put on some clean clothes before sitting on the end of the bed and flopping backwards. I lie staring blankly up at the ceiling and it's blank design when there's a knock on the door. 

I whine as I sit up and my brain feels like it's sloshing about. Opening the door I'm greeted by Ollie who is practically smiling ear to ear with a tray of food and a glass of orange juice. 

“I thought you could use this,” he says, barging past me into the room, setting down the tray on the bedside table before walking around the bed to open the curtains, letting in the sun. 

“Are you a psychopath?” I say covering my eyes with my forearm. “Do you like causing me pain”

“Hush it's 12:35 and you have barely awoken with a hangover so I brought you paracetamol, toast and orange juice” he says proudly.

“Thanks but I can't stomach eating anything” 

“Well I have a lot to speak to speak you about so close the door and sit down” 

I sit down on a small couch in the corner of the room and put a pair of sunglasses on. 

“So Charles tells me that you and Max came back after a while last night and that you were both looking really happy and you spent the whole night looking at each other and that he brought you back, so I want to know everything.”

I slouch further back into my seat and sigh, necking the paracetamol and orange juice. 

 “I remember that we sort of made up. If you can call it that and then that's it everything after that's a blur” 

“Is that it” ollie says looking underwhelmed and deprived of gossip.

I have a shower and get into some proper clothes and rummage around my draws to find a pair of sunglasses to shield my eyes from the blinding lights. 

Downstairs I find Lando and Charles in a deep conversation, that is until they notice me. 

“Good night” they say in unison. 

“Piss off” I sigh under my breath. 

“Morning” a husky voice whispers into my ear, causing me to jump a little before realising it's just Max. 

“Morning” I say. 

“So my sister is here and she wants to meet you so I said I would ask” 

“sure I would love to meet her I can't wait to hear stories of little Maxie” 

Max’s face falls showing his instantaneous regret, so we take a short walk to a local cafe where we meet Victoria. 

When we walk in the smell of coffee practically hits me and in the midst of a hangover still it causes me to feel a little sick as it's so overpowering but I decide that Victoria's first impression of me can't be me throwing up. 

We take our seats and she immediately starts a conversation with me ignoring her brother who looks offended yet happy that we get along. 

I make her tell me all the embarrassing stories of Max when he was a kid and all the funny and weird things he would do but he was actually quite a normal child.

After meeting her I have to say I'm loving the Verstappen family more and more asides from Jos but if his own son doesn't like him I see no reason for me to like him. 

We decide to play padel for most of the day but I team up with George instead of Max as he's a little bit better but he's also a better teacher Max gets too stressed out and angry when he has to teach someone something and we have only just made up. 

[goldielia]

when jack met cassy

a part of: untouchable au

when cassy entered the mclaren garage on sunday to start getting ready for the canadian grand prix, she firstly found their social media admin and one of her closest friends in the paddock, anne.

mclaren had a close-knit group of girls consisting of cassy, anne, her girlfriend sabrina who was one of two team photographers and charlotte, who was a law student currently doing an internship at mclaren.

it had become a routine for the four of them to sit on the step to the pit wall for a second to chat before any grand prix. it was also usually the time cassy got to ask anne about the vip guests of the weekend which she did first things first ever since she missed when tom holland visited.

“uh, there’s not much going on today. some hockey players should show up though, you know, charlie’s brother and them”, anne looped her in while staring at her ipad. “eh, alright.” cassy murmured, slightly disappointed.

with a last tap of her own papaya-coloured high top converse against anne’s white and orange air force she got up to start getting ready for the race.

jack couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. he was going to see his sister again AND his first f1 race. lottie usually worked for mclaren during the summer break of the academic year, being located in cambridge for her studies, so when she invited him to see both her and the race in canada he instantly said yes.

they agreed to meet just before the entrance to the paddock so she could give him, cole and trevor (who she graciously invited as well) their passes. jack had been jittery the whole way there, not having seen his twin since christmas.

leaning onto a lamp post in front of the gate was a blonde girl, wearing black mom jeans, a mclaren t-shirt tucked into them and orange old school vans. he instantly ran towards her, charlotte barely being able to save the binder she held before jack tackled her into a crushingly tight hug that she returned with equal force.

after she’d given cole and trevor a side hug each and handed each of them a garage pass, the group entered through the gate and lottie talked them through the paddock on the way to the mclaren garage.

after she showed them their spots and told them about the screens and headsets she caught up with jack for a bit before a whirlwind of red curls brushed past them, grabbed her wrist and whisked her away to the steps in front of the pit wall where anne and sabrina had claimed their place already.

“charlotte-i-don’t-know-your-middle-name-hughes! tell me your brother’s not the one in the middle, please” cassy looked at charlotte with wide eyes. “uh, my middle name’s ruby, actually. but yeah, that’s jack. left is cole, right is trevor.” charlotte answered, confusion evident on her face.

cassy only groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “are all your brothers that pretty? your parents must be like greek gods or somethin’” she mumbled into her hands. sabrina smirked, looking at them over her shoulder as she was walking back to the garage with anne, both of them having to work some more before the grand prix. “i think our cass just experienced love at first sight”

charlie gasped and smiled teasingly at that, prying cassy’s hands away from her face. “you gonna make a move?“

“would you like, be okay with that? and are you sure he’s single?” “of course i’m okay with that, cass! i’m not blind you know. also he’s been staring at you like ever since you grabbed me.” cassy tore her eyes away from charlie and towards the garage instead.

the pretty boy from earlier, jack hughes as she now knew, was indeed staring at her. “also, he’s definitely single. i can-” charlie’s sentence and cassy’s staring were interrupted by lando’s voice. “jonesy, hughesy, come on we need to do the rule run down!”

fortunately for jack and less so for cassy, her workspace wasn’t far from the guest area. which meant he could watch her and she couldn’t concentrate because she felt his eyes on her.

the grand prix itself wasn’t too eventful, 11th place for oscar and 13th for lando. both cassy and charlie were needed after the race though, to review the penalty lando had gotten for “unsportsmanlike behaviour”.

charlie’s department handled the rules for each grand prix as well as topics like filing lawsuits over penalties. cassy as one of lando’s engineers was tasked with reviewing all the video material she could get her hands on to find something that could have the penalty taken back, or at least reviewed.

on her way to the conference room though, when cassy passed by jack, she slipped a tiny piece of paper into his hand, catching his eyes quickly to smirk at him.

he wanted to chat her up at least but she was rushed along before his brain could form a single word. instead, he opened the note. it read “you’re really pretty. text me?” with a little heart and a number, presumably her phone number on it.

before he could even try folding the paper back up he was already fighting for balance, both cole and trevor having read the note and started teasingly nudging him with their elbows, matching excited grins on their faces.

“did jacky get himself a girlfrieeeend?” trevor sing-songed into his ear. before he could continue though, charlie apprared in front of them, index finger poking jack’s chest.

“i love you but if you fuck this up i’m not guaranteeing for anything” she warned, serious blue eyes drilling into his identical ones to make sure he understood her. he grabbed her hand, eyes just as serious as hers, and spoke “if i find a way to fuck this up, lottie, please make sure i regret it.”

[desomniis]

to ask for your hand (I just pray that its mine) | Chapter 4 excerpt

After clinching his third career win at the Vegas GP, Carlos wakes up to a wedding band on his finger and his teammate, Charles, wearing the exact match.

WIP | 4/5 | 28,797 words | Accidental Drunk Marriage in Vegas AU | Fluff | Angst | Drama

Down below, the circuit was a bright outline against the night. Another season, another gruelling race in Singapore.

The skyline was an architectural marvel. It was stunning during the day, but at night? it looked like a rare jewel sparkling against the black velvet night. To witness such magnificence on top of the Marina Bay Sands—dipped in the infinity pool, no less—with no one else around was a indeed privilege.

In his mind, he traced the track, imagining his car passing through Anderson bridge, making the tight left at 13 to the Esplanade Drive. Then the apex at 14, then 15, 16—a splash from the other end of the pool startled him. Charles?

Carlos was pretty sure it was Charles, the rookie this season. They never really ‘talked’ before. Their conversations always happened in passing, going along the lines off, ‘How are you? Good? How’s your car? Not good on the tires.’ He knew little about him—only that he was from Monaco and that he was set to replace Kimi at Ferrari next year. A rookie replacing a world champion. Unheard of. This kid must be a huge deal.

“It’s a beautiful city, no?” Carlos ventured. He winced inside, remembering Papá's advice about small talk and F1 drivers.

Charles jolted, his hand flying to his chest, accidentally splashing water to his own face. “Oh my god, you scared me.”

Carlos chuckled. “You’re quite jumpy, eh?” he teased, settling on the ledge next to him.

“A little,” Charles admitted with a sheepish smile. “What are you doing here? It’s a bit late, no?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“I didn’t get much sleep on the flight here.”

“Tell me about it. 20 hour flights are no joke.”

“True,” Charles said. “Any tips for tomorrow? I’ve never raced here before. My first time. So, I’m a little nervous.”

A smirk crept up Carlos lips. “Have you passed out in a race before?”

“Uh, no? I don’t think so.”

“Well, here, try not to. It’s almost guaranteed.”

”What? That’s impossible.”

“Also, you might drive blind on some corners.”

“Why—”

“Don’t even get me started about the rain. Singapore is a totally different race if it rains.”

Worry flitted through Charles' eyes, swallowing a lump on his throat. “Oh yeah?” he said, trying to hide his discomfort.

Carlos held onto his laughter. He nodded seriously, “yeah. Seven DNF’s last year.”

Charles visibly got more anxious, the horrors of last year’s race flashing in his eyes. “Ah, putain,” he muttered under his breath.

Carlos’ laughter eventually bubbled forth.

“What? Why are you laughing?” Charles questioned, his brows knitting together.

“I was kidding. It’s not that bad, I promise.”

“I—Oh… you were trying to scare me.” Charles smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. “Making fun of the rookie, I see.”

“Don’t worry,” Carlos wiped the tears from his eyes. “Vettel and Fernando did it to me in my rookie year too. Except they waited a day before telling me it’s not that bad. I remember not sleeping that night.”

Charles laughed, and Carlos was struck. There was something about his laugh that resonated deep in Carlos’ chest, like the melody of his childhood summers spent racing bicycles down sun-dappled streets, the wind tousling his hair as he pedalled faster. It was the echo of his first karting victory, the taste of victory sweet on his tongue as he stood atop the podium, trophy held high, amid deafening cheers and applause. It was Miguel’s call, on his last day, asking him to meet at the lake so that he could steal another kiss from Carlos. There was something in Charles’ laugh that made Carlos yearn to hear it more.

“Well, I guess I’ll consider myself lucky that it was not Vettel or Fernando then,” Charles said.

“Yeah. Lucky. Just sleep well and drink lots of water before the race and you’ll do fine. I’ve seen you drive. You’re good. I trust that you can make it.”

Charles's eyebrows lifted, his head tilting slightly to the left like a puppy hearing something strange. “Really?” he asked, “you think I’m good?”

Carlos can count in one hand the amount of times he complimented another driver. It wasn't that he didn't recognise talent in others—if he was being honest, there were plenty of drivers far better than him. But he rarely voiced such acknowledgements. It’s like offering your enemy an edge.

So when he did compliment Charles, it surprised him, almost catching him off guard. There was no logical explanation for it.

Perhaps it was because Charles was young and it was his first year in F1. He could vividly recall his own struggles as a rookie. Maybe, in his own way, it was him trying to help his younger self.

Or perhaps it was how easily Charles just opened up to Carlos. Paired with his dimples, the sheepish smile, and those earnest blue eyes pleading for advice. Carlos felt an instinctual urge to protect Charles.

Or perhaps, it was something else entirely.

“You don’t?” Carlos dodged the question.

"I do. It's just that... It's rare to hear it from another driver. Everyone else says I'm good, you know? 'You're so talented, Charles. So fast. You are destined to be in F1,'" he recounted. "But they say it from the outside looking in. They don’t really get it. But when another driver say it, it means a lot more. Because they understand. You understand."

Carlos nodded slowly, the weight of Charles' words settling on him. He knew that feeling all too well. The constant need to prove his own worth, that he deserved to compete with the best of the world, that it wasn’t all because of a privileged upbringing.

“Of course,” he said idly. “So, how does this feel? All of it—the hype, the pressure, the Ferrari seat next year?”

A hesitant smile touched Charles' lips, fleeting as the Monegasque breeze. “When I drove for practice for them last year, I felt like I was going to explode in the car. I felt buzzing in my ears and my hand couldn’t stop shaking. I thought I would crash. I’m quite happy that I didn’t.

“But what’s interesting was how it all felt strange to me. All my life I’ve dreamed of driving and winning in that red car. Not only me, my father and my godfather too. I carry all their dreams with me. Now that I have the chance to do that… it’s…” Charles trailed off, searching for the right words.

“Overwhelming," Carlos offered, a hint of longing creeping into his voice. "Being in that red car… it’s something else."

The last sentence hung heavy in the air, the weight of his secret, of his father's expectation, sat heavy in his gut.

Charles chuckled, a soft, nervous sound. "Yeah. It's like everyone expects me to be a champion overnight. But then there's the pressure from myself too, you know? Like I have to live up to all these expectations, not just mine but everyone else's too." He ran a hand through his hair, anxiety swimming in his eyes.

Carlos leaned back on the ledge of the pool, studying Charles. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that surprised him. This young prodigy, who seemed to have it all figured out, was wrestling with self-doubt just like everyone else.

"Hey," Carlos said gently, "You'll be alright. You're here for a reason. You have the talent, the drive... you'll get there eventually.”

A flicker of gratitude sparked in Charles' eyes. "Thanks, Carlos. I appreciate that. Coming from you, it means a lot."

The compliment hung in the air for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them. Carlos couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about Charles disarmed him.

"Are you hungry?" Carlos finally asked, surprising even himself with the question. "Do you want to have dinner with me?"

Charles’ eyes sparkled and his lips curved up, making Carlos’ chest feel warm, like it was about to blow open. Whether it was a good or bad sign, it didn’t matter because there was only one thing he was sure of:

He wanted to see Charles smile again.

Read the whole chapter here. Ask me questions!

[valyrfia]

Some anons didn't start watching F1 until 2022 at the earliest, and it shows. Losing their minds and spreading negativity like it's a new plague this early in the season is actually insane.

We're literally at round 4...there are TWENTY other races after this. Immediately making sweeping generalisations about the rest of the season at this point is ridiculous. We have many rounds of upgrades to get through and indeed many more races before we can start to even try and pick out a pattern.

One or two races can often be outliers. When this starts being a consistent pattern for 4+ races then maybe we can revisit this conversation. For now, I'm just sitting back and observing and examining past patterns.

[elisysd]

I like me better - Lauv

Masterlist - Previously - Next Chapter

I knew from the first time I'd stay for a long time 'cause I like me better when I like me better when I'm with you

Lyanna was able to tie loose ends in New York sooner than what she anticipated and was able to make it to Austin on Friday, right on time for the free practices. She had not told Charles that she would be here, wanting to surprise him. It was her first time alone in an F1 paddock and it came as no surprise that after a few minutes of wandering the aisles in search of Ferrari hospitality, she found herself completely lost.

She had chosen the right day to get lost. Kika wasn't there and she was the only person who could have helped her. Resigned to the idea of having to walk around for an uncertain amount of time, she sighed. Fortunately, she'd had the good idea not to wear heels. As she strolled along the aisles, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Lyanna Michel? If it is not a surprise. What are you doing here?”

“Lewis? Oh my God, you don’t even know how happy I am to see you. I’m lost.”

“I can see that. You can come with me; I was on my way to Mercedes facility. We are not far away from Ferrari which I assume you were heading to.”

“How do you know?” she genuinely asked.

“Charles has not stopped talking about you, every chance he got. It’s starting to get annoying. At first, I didn’t know it was you, the few times we met you did not strike me as a F1 fan, so imagine my surprise when I finally connected the dots.”

“Yeah, still not a fan. It’s my first real experience at a Grand Prix but yeah… Charles and I, it’s pretty new.”

“How long has it been?”

“Knowing him or relationship?”

“Both.”

“Three months, something like that. And just a few weeks of relationship. Like I said, pretty new.”

“Pretty new indeed, but pretty boy is in love.”

“Yeah… me too. Oh God, it’s still so weird to say it out loud!” she exclaimed while putting her hands on her face and shaking her head.

The pair finally arrived in front of the Mercedes hospitality, where Lewis showed Lyanna the exact route to the Ferrari unit without risking getting lost.

“Well it was nice seeing you! We should definitely hang out more often. Not that I don’t think we won’t, assuming there is a high possibility that I see you around the paddocks now. But if you ever feel tired of seeing red, the door of Mercedes will always be open for you. If you want to see winning cars as well.” He joked, winking at her.

She laughed and waved goodbye before heading off to Ferrari. When she entered, all eyes were on her and she quickly felt uncomfortable and out of place. She made her way to a table at the back of the room and sat down, hoping she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. From where she was, she had a good view of the screens, which were starting to broadcast images of the mechanics and the cars as they waited for FP2 to start in around twenty minutes.

She did her best to ignore the insistent stares from the Ferrari staff and happily welcomed the start of FP2, which kept everyone busy. The hour passed fairly quickly and soon everyone was back to business. This was without considering a sudden sensation behind Lyanna's back which made her instantly stiffen.

“I think it’s time to have a little discussion between you and I.” the woman told her straight out.

“And could I know who I’m talking about?” asked Lyanna warily.

“Sorry. I’m Mia Djacic media and PR officer for Ferrari.”

Lyanna could vaguely recall this name, heard once or twice in the midst of a conversation with Charles.

“And what can I do for you?”

“I knew you were supposed to come, but I thought you told Charles that it would be tomorrow. And if I have not turned completely crazy, we are not tomorrow.”

“I wanted to surprise him, is that such a bad thing?”

“Well we’re lucky no one saw you. We have to think on how we are going to introduce your couple to the world. We have to think of a PR strategy and…”

“Wait, wait, wait…” cut Lyanna. “PR strategy? Introducing our couple to the world? What do you mean exactly? I came here for Charles not to be part of a marketing program.”

“Lyanna, we are Ferrari, Charles is our number one driver. He is il predestinato. The one who is supposed to restore Ferrari’s glory, okay. What Charles does, who Charles is seen with, who Charles talks to… all is done under Ferrari’s supervision. Everything that he does reflects on the brand. We can’t let you guys roam around without control or authorization.” Explained Mia.

“And what are you hoping to achieve exactly? Our relationship is ours; we won’t let you interfere.”

“I’m not saying that we are going to control every single aspect of your relationship, we want to avoid scandals which seem to follow you around quite a lot.”

“In that case keep the media away from us and problem solved.”

“We could also benefit from your fame.”

“Here we go… You should have started with that…” she sighed.

“Charles’ season doesn’t go exactly as planned. Tifosi are disappointed and angry at us. Offering them a Charles happy in a cute relationship might be just what we need to make them forget everything.”

“I’m not a F1 expert but aren’t the sportive performances more interesting for fans than the drivers’ private lives?”

“F1 is an all. People love the sport, the races, and the competition but the political aspects, what is happening inside the teams, and they like to keep up with drivers’ lives.”

“No.” said Lyanna firmly, looking at Mia straight in the eyes.

“No what?”

“I’m not going to be a pretty toy for you to use to make Charles shines. I’m not going to participate in whatever you are thinking of doing.”

Mia sighed as she leaned back.

“How much do you want?”

Lyanna did not understand what was implied.

“Money wise. How much do you want for you to let us use yours and Charles’ public image?”

Lyanna couldn't believe her ears. Not wanting to make a scene, she heaved a deep sigh and rose from her chair.

“I don’t want to be bought. I want to live my relationship in peace. So thank you but no thanks, keep your money, I don’t want it.”

Just as she was about to step out of the door to get some fresh air, Mia called out to her.

“Charles agrees, you know. The social media team is already planning posts to use as soon as you are okay with it. I can have you a contract ready to sign and to send to your agent by tomorrow.”

She was surprised to find Joris on the small terrace in front of the hospitality, a coffee in one hand and a ton of paperwork in the other. Too busy reading what she presumed were contracts for Charles, he didn't hear her sit down next to him. She cleared her throat to let him know she was there, which startled him.

“Lyanna! Oh my gosh, don’t do that, I almost got a heart attack.” He dramatically said.

“Are you playing Charles’s secretary?”

“More or less, yes. Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?”

“New York took less time than anticipated.”

There must have been a look of annoyance and tiredness on her face as Joris asked her if everything was all right and if she didn't want him to take her to the hotel where Charles was staying so that she could get some rest. She could always surprise Charles in the hotel room, he explained, arching his eyebrows evocatively.

“I’m fine. Can I as you a question?”

“Shoot.”

“Did Charles tell you about Ferrari’s want to use our couple for PR purposes?”

“Did you meet Mia, by any chance?” asked Joris in return after a little silent pause.

“Yep. But you are not answering the question.”

“She can be a lot to handle when you don’t know her. She is incredibly talented at her job. She has Ferrari best interests at heart and sometimes she can be a little too much. She is not an evil witch. But to answer you, I think she just tried to trap you by saying that Charles knew. Classic strategy move. If it can make you feel better, I don’t think Charles would be okay with that. He values his privacy too much and he loves you too much to take part of that.”

She nodded; half reassured. They chatted a little while waiting for Charles who was caught up in interviews and meetings with the staff. She liked Joris, he was kind and funny and he was Charles’ best friend. It was nice to hear him talk about the driver and telling her about stupid anecdotes they both went through like the time when Charles almost rolled over someone while leaving Maranello because he was completely caught up in talking with fans and signing things and didn't realise he was pressing down on the accelerator. She was laughing so hard she did not notice straight away an all too familiar red racing suit rushing in their direction.

“Lyanna? Weren’t…” started Charles but was cut by Lyanna who sighed while rolling her eye.

“You supposed to come tomorrow, yes, yes, I know. You are like the third person to tell me that.”

But Charles didn't care, he was far too happy to see her, especially as the weekend wasn't shaping up very well: practice hadn't been conclusive and the car wasn't behaving very well. He had the impression that he was losing the rear end at every bend and that was penalising his race pace. He spent the hour and a half following the media interviews trying to understand why and find a solution for the following day. He was exhausted and dreamt of going back to the hotel and crawling under the sheets. Having Lyanna with him today lifted his spirits a little and brightened up a gloomy day for the red team. He took the actress in his arms before giving her a kiss on her cheek and pecking her lips.

“Charles you are sweaty.” She said to him while trying to get away from his grip.

“I did not have time to take a shower.” He confessed.

“I can smell that.”

“The perks of dating a driver, baby. Smelling like kerosene and sweat and burned tyres. You’ll get used to it.”

“You can still run away Lyanna, it’s not too late.” Jokingly added Joris.

“I’m afraid I’m in too deep, now.”  Said Lyanna while looking lovingly at Charles.

“You guys are gross. Can’t you go eye-fucked each other elsewhere? Preferably away from me?” complained Joris as he was looking at the couple who was smiling stupidly at each other.

“You are just jealous, mate.”

As soon as they walked through the door of Charles's hotel room, he couldn't hold back any longer before pinning the young woman against the wall and pressing her body against his. His hands were all over her, making her head spin. With disconcerting agility Charles got rid of the top Lyanna was wearing before treating her jeans to the same fate. His lips danced along her jaw, before nibbling her right ear and moving down her neck and body. Lyanna didn't know where she was, and she was nothing more than a puddle in his hands. Between moans and gasps, they reached the bedroom, where Charles gave Lyanna no time to come to her senses before throwing her onto the bed and joining her there before resuming his gentle touches.

A moment later, as they were enjoying the calm and warmth of their naked bodies under the sheets, Charles broke the silence.

“I missed you.”

“You just made that very clear. She told him as she was leaving small kisses on his chest. “I missed you too.”

 “I don’t think you completely felt how much I missed you though.” He said as he positioned himself above her before gently bumping his nose against hers and letting his hands roam her body, making her shiver instantly.

“You’re insatiable.” She laughed slapping slightly his chest to get him away from her.

Charles laughed as well before rolling over.

“You were just what I needed to relax today. I’ve had a shit day and you managed to make it better.”

“Ferrari is ferrariying again?”

“Yeah, let’s call it that way. I just hope that whatever was making the car jumpy and weird can be solved tomorrow. Maybe you’ll bring me luck.”

Lyanna listened to him rant about the car for a whole 30 minutes. She did not understand half the things he was talking about but was pretending to, gasping when it was needed and adding angry “no ways” when Charles was saying something that was pissing him off. By the end of the discussion he felt better.

As the room fell into a comfortable silence, she absent-mindedly traced small pattern on his body, lost in her thoughts. Her conversation with Mia was replaying in her head and she internally debating whether or not it would be a good idea to talk to Charles about it. Feeling his girlfriend's thoughts wander. Charles turned his head towards her and brushed his lips against her forehead.

“Where did your mind go?”

She stiffened slightly before looking at him.

“I’ve met Mia today. I don’t think it went well.”

“Care to tell me more?”

“It’s not a big deal. I don’t want you to worry. You have enough on your plate.” She tried to justify.

“If it’s bothering you, it’s bothering me. And you said a bit too much, now I’m starting to worry.”

“It’s just… Did she talk to you about PR things related to us?”

Charles sighed, understanding what was going on.

“Vaguely. What did she tell you exactly?”

“She didn’t get into details. She just said that it might be a good idea to use us to make Tifosi forget how shitty your season is. A distraction. She implied that you would be okay with it.”

She sat cross-legged on the bed, wrapping herself in the sheet.

“I don’t want that, Charles. I really don’t. I’m not saying that we have to keep our relationship a secret, but I don’t want to overexposed us.”

“I don’t want that too, my love. Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll talk to her.”

“I’m sorry I give you problems. That’s the last thing I want.”

“Lya, listen to me, okay? You really have to stop saying sorry to me every time that something goes wrong. You are not responsible. You are not a burden.”

“Sorry, old habits die hard.”

He stared at her; an eyebrow raised.

“So…”

“No. Don’t finish it.”

“I’m going to work on that, I promise.”

===========

author's note: Do I smell drama incoming? Did you really thought that hardships were over for Lyanna and Charles hehe? Let's see what the furture had in store for our favourite couple. And we have finally Lewis introduction in this chapter and I'm so happy about it! I love him. Stay tuned for more Lewis and Lyanna's intercations in the future. And also Roscoe... 👀 As usual, all comments, likes and reblogs are appreciated . It supports a lot the author and helps stay motivated.

taglist:

@zendayabelova @purplephantomwolf @ru-kru @dakotali @blueflorals @aundercover @ruleroftheuniverse @fangirlika @writerscurse @elijahmikaelsonbitch @leclerc13 @heeseung-baby

If you are tagged but did not receive any notifications, please check your settings because it means that Tumblr didn't let me tag you.

[totowlff]

chapter thirty-eight — on the cover

➝ check now the new issue of karriere by der standard magazine!

➝ word count: 2,6k

➝ warnings: none

➝ author’s note: well, the hiatus is over. after a few turbulent months in my personal life, with a layoff and a hiring involved, in addition to depressive episodes, i am finally back in front of the keyboard to continue writing my stories. i appreciate the kind messages i received from everyone who still wanted to read more about elisabeth and cassie. they were of paramount importance for me to go ahead. i hope you like this chapter.

SEPTEMBER, 2017

A Flower Blooms On The Asphalt 

Toto Wolff and Elisabeth Lauda talk about business, family and the next step in the relationship that rocked the world of Formula 1

By Rosa Winkler-Hermaden

They say that first impressions are lasting impressions, and the first impression one gets when watching Elisabeth Lauda and Toto Wolff together is that they are not your average couple. Both possess a presence that's impossible to ignore, courtesy of his tall stature and her piercing blue eyes, and the sense of poise and seriousness both of them exude, even in a setting as relaxed as this one.

Watching the two settle down on the sofa for the conversation, held in the couple's penthouse located in the Innere Stadt, it's hard not to not get the impression that the two of them are indeed “Austrian motorsport’s royalty”, a nickname given to the couple by the reporter Ted Kravitz, of Sky Sports F1. Considering who we're talking about, it's a very apt way to describe the couple, even though they vehemently deny it.

“It's a definition that I find funny, but I don’t necessarily agree with it. Neither Elisabeth nor I expect things to be done for us, let alone have figurative roles on the team. We are two completely normal people, we work and strive to provide the best working environment for everyone on the team”, Toto says, while holding his partner's hand.

“I think who my father is lends itself to the description, but I don’t really think it’s an accurate view of who Toto and I are as people. Like he said, we are completely normal people. We were just lucky enough to find each other in the middle of all this mess”, Elisabeth tells me, which makes Toto smile, his dark eyes glued to the small diamond sparkling on her left ring finger. The mess she is referring to, of course, is Formula 1, a world that today is the backdrop for, according to magazines and newspapers across Europe, “the greatest love story in sport to date”.

It’s a story that all starts in downtown Vienna.

Mixing business with pleasure

As her surname suggests, Elisabeth Lauda is the youngest daughter of three-time Formula 1 champion Niki Lauda and his wife of over 40 years, Marlene. With her beauty inherited from her mother and the acerbic personality of her father, she grew up between Austria and Ibiza, with a period in Italy in the 1990s when Niki worked for Ferrari. With a life between the Spanish island and her home country, as well as a few years studying at the Lycée Français in Vienna made her a polyglot. In addition to her native German, she speaks Catalan, Italian, French and English. “We're even on this one, we both know five languages apiece”, Toto comments, with a mischievous smile.

With two business degrees and an MBA from the University of Vienna, Liesl, as Toto calls her, was never interested in the world of motorsport. She says that she always preferred to work together with her father in his business outside of racing; the management of airlines and other investments he’d made in the early 2000’s. 

“My father always said that, for matters related to Formula 1, he was in charge. I was never even tempted to delve into that world, that was something he did with my brothers. Things started to change when he received an invitation from Daimler to buy shares in Mercedes-Benz GP, which meant he would take the position of non-executive director of the team. He asked me if I wanted to help him with the project, and so, Formula 1 became another business interest of mine”, Elisabeth says.

Unlike his partner, Toto Wolff fell in love with speed in his late teens. He didn’t grow up watching racing, despite the fact that he does recall watching his father-in-law compete on television. After watching Philipp Peter, a friend of his from Vienna, compete in German Formula 3, the young man became convinced that this was what he wanted to do with his life. However, his reality was quite different.

Growing up in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Vienna, his life changed drastically when his father, Sven, was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. It wasn't long before the business went bankrupt and his parents separated. Joanna, his mother, was left having to care for Toto and his sister, Lili, as a single mother. The dream of being a driver seemed distant, especially with his family’s financial difficulties. However, by pooling the savings from some Christmas and birthday gifts, Toto was able to buy (ironically) a SEAT Ibiza to start racing in Austria. 

However, his fairy tale was short-lived. After a few unpromising seasons in Formula Ford and without the support of his main sponsor, who pulled out after the death of Roland Ratzenberger in 1994, he found himself taking another path.

“I entered university in a Business course, but ended up dropping out after I got an internship at a bank in Warsaw. I thought I would learn more in the real world, so I dove in. It's not something I really recommend, but, at the time, it seemed like a good idea. I learned a lot about investments and how to read the markets there, so that was a good thing” ,Toto says. He built some wealth by making lucky investments in early tech startups, which gave Wolff the chance to fulfill another dream: owning a Formula 1 team. 

He became an investor first in HWA, a motorsport supplier that ran the Mercedes DTM factory team, which eventually led to him investing in the storied Williams F1 team. His work with Williams caught the eye of Wolfgang Bernhard, part of the board of directors of Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes, in the summer of 2012. Mercedes had re-entered Formula 1 in 2010 after taking over the Brawn GP outfit, and struggled in its first two seasons back in the sport. After a meeting with Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board, he was invited to buy shares, along with Niki Lauda. “The turning point”, according to Wolff.

The couple's first contact was in September 2012, at a dinner at the Edvard restaurant, in downtown Vienna. Elisabeth laughs as she remembers arriving at the place with her father after an unexpected delay, as well as the moment she saw Wolff for the first time.

“My father arrived at the table, started greeting everyone and I started to ask myself why I was there, since I didn't know anyone, I hadn't participated in any meetings, I wasn't directly involved in the operation. Until he”, Elisabeth says, turning her head toward Toto. “He got up to talk to my dad and all I could think about was how beautiful his smile was”.

Wolff is more direct about his first impression of Elisabeth. "I'm a bit of a pessimistic man and particularly skeptical about love. I've been married and divorced once, so I figured the whole “romance” thing wasn't for me. And then she walks into the restaurant and it's like my heart said 'wait, I think we can try again'. And I decided to give it a try".

Although they didn't really talk much during that first dinner, they did get a chance to grow closer over lunch in Singapore. “The way he told me about his life, the details, the twinkle in his eye, that enchanted me. It felt like I was talking to someone I had known forever. There was a feeling of familiarity, of comfort. It was like I had finally found my home”, Elisabeth says, as Toto kisses her on the hand.

However, the couple took a while to get together. There was some hesitation on her part, especially considering her involvement in the team’s operations, given who her father is. “I feared how our involvement might look to others, especially investors. As much as we had a known and public friendship, at the negotiation table it could sound as if we were in collusion, which was not true”, she says.

That hesitation meant that each of them stepped back from their burgeoning relationship. Toto even had an affair with a French model in the meantime, but it didn't last long. “I couldn’t get Elisabeth out of my head,” Wolff explains, a shy smile on his face. Shortly thereafter, the two kicked off their relationship, which was surprisingly well-received by both of their families.

“Everyone’s reaction was something between 'finally' and 'I already knew', so I think we were just postponing something that was going to happen one way or another all this time", Elisabeth says. “You were putting it off”, Toto says, as Elisabeth shakes her head. “I wasn't”, she replies, while Wolff smiles mischievously.

The harmony between them is visible, even when they disagree on something. And that is a key element for the results that this partnership has achieved.

Communication as the key to success

Since 2014, the team commanded by the couple has won the Formula 1 constructors’ title three years in a row. The championship for individual drivers — the World Drivers’ Championship — has been won by a Mercedes driver since 2014 as well. At this point, history is set to repeat itself, though both Elisabeth and Toto deny that it is a certainty at this point.

“The results of the last few years have been incredible, but that doesn't mean we have everything in our hands, this year was proof of that. We weren’t as consistent during the first part of the season as in previous years, which cost us points in several races”, Toto says. "Ferrari did an excellent job this year and we had to fight to recover, especially after what happened in Monaco with Lewis’ car".

When asked if she agrees with her partner's assessment, Elisabeth smiles. “Yes, at this point, I agree. Nothing we have achieved came on a golden platter, it is the result of the effort of more than two thousand people in Brackley and Brixworth. The results belong to everyone, not just to those on the podium with the trophy”, she says. They seem to be mostly in agreement on everything, a picture of teamwork and harmony. I ask about it.

“Definitely not all the time”, he says, stifling a laugh. “Toto likes to say that he fell in love with the most headstrong woman in Austria, which is accurate, I think. Contrary to what many people think, I have firm positions on things. I'm not easily influenced, especially when it comes to business”, Elisabeth explains. Despite sounding like a source of conflict, the two cite their ability to communicate as their major strength together.

“Elisabeth and I had very different lives and paths until we met. It's completely normal and expected that we have different opinions and views on things, but we talk a lot and we always try to reach a middle ground”, Toto says. “Of course, when it comes to Mercedes, given the fact that Elisabeth is a representative of her father and not necessarily a shareholder, sometimes the conversation needs to be with Niki and not with her. But we always work with dialogue, on all fronts”, he completes, while his companion nods positively.

Of course, they can’t avoid all conflict, and Elisabeth confirms this herself. “We are still a normal couple. We argue, we try to understand each other, and we try to put our best vision on the table. But the fact that we managed to make our relationship work both in the workplace and at home is a sign of our maturity, I think”.

When asked if dialogue is the key to the team's success, the couple looks at each other, smiling. “It's difficult to attribute all the success of recent years to a single factor. But, I believe that communication, not just between the two of us, but within the organization, is extremely important”, Toto responds.

At this point, Elisabeth says that she wants a cup of coffee, and offers one to her partner and me. Toto refuses, giving his partner a good-natured jab about her caffeine intake. “I only appreciate the finer things in life”, she replies, planting a kiss on his cheek before getting up and heading to the kitchen.

A bright future

As we enjoy an espresso together, the couple talks about housekeeping and decorating. I ask about the pictures on the mantel above the fireplace. There are pictures of the couple by themselves, pictures of Toto’s two children from his previous marriage, and pictures of the Lauda family. Looking at all of it at once, it is impossible not to admire how the two of them have created a brilliant professional and personal life.

But, what about the future?

“We both intend to stay at Mercedes for a few more years. It's a long-term project, for both of us”, Elisabeth responds. "We renewed our contracts at the beginning of this year, until 2020 at least, then we will remain in the paddock for a few more seasons".

“We're both on the same page in that regard. We both have ambitions and desires in common and we know that, together, we will be able to achieve them”, completes Toto. When asked what those ambitions might be, he smiles. “We want to take Mercedes to the top, make everyone recognize it for the greatness it has. The brand has spent a long time away from Formula 1 and we both want to recover the lost decades. So far, I think we’re succeeding”.

They have more intimate, family-related desires as well. “We want to provide the best environment for them”, Elisabeth says, pointing to one of the photos of her stepchildren. “Have the best experiences and be happy. We make a great effort to have as normal a family life as possible, considering their routine, their mother's and ours. Fortunately, we are also having success”.

However, it is not their only wish. “We're also thinking of expanding the family”, Toto comments quietly, as Elisabeth jabs him with her elbow. Laughing, he explains. “If it were up to me, we'd already have a little boy running around the house, but Liesl is more traditional. First love, then marriage, then the baby”, Toto says, while Elisabeth blushes.

Asked about motherhood, she gives a shy smile. “I have a big family and I already have two nephews, so having kids has always been on my mind. After my stepchildren came into my life, I felt that desire grow even more. But it's not something immediate, especially considering our routine”. “And the fact that we aren’t married”, Toto adds, smiling.

When I ask about the ring on Elisabeth’s finger, she and Toto look at each other with knowing smiles, almost as if they were deciding whether or not to share the news. “Yes, we’ve taken the first step. We are engaged”, Toto finally responds. “Personally, I never imagined that I would be engaged after forty, but life hides some admirable surprises, and one of them was Liesl”.

When I ask her about the proposal, Elisabeth gives me a smile. “It wasn't traditionally romantic, but it was extremely meaningful for both of us”, she says. “I had thought about proposing during the days we spent in Ibiza, but I ended up not getting it. It ended up being here in the penthouse, inside the office, which was still meaningful for us”, Toto says, his thumb stroking the skin of her hand.

They don’t yet have a date or venue in mind, but both of them agree that it will be a small, private affair. “It's something we agreed on regarding the event. No crowds or spotlights. It will be something private, for us to share this moment with the ones we love, nothing more”, Elisabeth explains.

Asked if they feel that is the logical step to be taken in the relationship, Toto is adamant. “Yes. There is no one else I would want to be with in this world”, he replies, before putting his arm around her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. 

It is impossible to doubt him.

[redsnowdrop]

Sainz: "I understand Ferrari, but Hamilton is not better than me"

Federico Mariani

23 July - MILAN

Source: Gazzetta dello sport (it)

To my -> F1 Masterlist <-

The Spaniard, in an interview with GQ Magazine Spain, analyzes his farewell to the Maranello team:

“I took my opportunities when the car was competitive. Future? Williams, Red Bull and Mercedes are options."

Carlos Sainz's future is still to be defined, but the Spaniard can already outline an initial assessment of his experience at Ferrari, the team he will leave to make room for Lewis Hamilton in 2025. The farewell will take place after four embellished seasons, for now, by three successes, the first in F1. Satisfactory results in the eyes of the son of art, as admitted during an interview with GQ Magazine Spain. And during this conversation there was no shortage of significant passages about the farewell to the Italian team and the inevitable comparison with his cumbersome successor.

FERRARI - Arriving in 2021 in place of Sebastian Vettel, Sainz has stood out at Ferrari thanks to continuous performance. The results were excellent, even if they were insufficient to fight for and win the world title. Carlos, however, still feels satisfied: "The year started in a complicated way between my non-renewal and Hamilton's arrival.

Then the appendicitis operation.

However, after the victory in Australia the season went rather well." No regrets looking at the overall experience with the Italian team: "It happens when you realize you don't have the means to win a World Championship. Otherwise it would have been more difficult to accept not having taken advantage of the opportunity. Indeed, analyzing the individual races, when I had the winning car, I didn't make any mistakes."

SAINZ AND HAMILTON— The other big issue concerns Ferrari's choice to replace him to make room for Hamilton. But, after this change, does Sainz feel inferior to Hamilton? Carlos is blunt: “Obviously I would say no. But I think any other driver would say the same. I think I'm the best option for any Formula 1 team because, if I didn't have this mentality, I wouldn't be a driver and I wouldn't have such a competitive soul." However, Carlos admits: “However, I obviously understand Ferrari's decision, the opportunity to sign a seven-time world champion and what it can mean for a team. That's why, when I analyzed everything carefully, I didn't feel bad." And he adds: "After all, I won't be replaced by just any driver, but by the best in history or by one of the greatest in this sport." A great tribute to the greatness of Hamilton.

SAINZ FUTURE— And now what will be Carlos' next moves, still officially without a seat for 2025? Sainz does not hide: “Williams is a historic team in F1. It's true, it's one of the few I have left. The same goes for Red Bull and Mercedes. There are two or three stables to evaluate. The future still seems quite uncertain. I raced in five different teams during these ten years, keeping a wonderful memory of each team. I wouldn't rule out returning if the opportunity arises." But first there is the experience in Ferrari to finish: “We need to take advantage of the opportunities to get on the podium in the next races. Also because I don't know if I will have similar chances next year."

[georgieluz]

hello! when you get this, list some mutuals you love to see around and then ask someone else! spread the love!!

hello! sorry about the incredibly late reply, work has been hectic, but i can indeed throw some love and affection at my lovely mutuals!

first up: my best friend, favourite person, and overall saint of a human for putting up with all my ramblings, @footprintsinthesxnd! jess, i love you to bits and i'm so lucky to have you in my life! you're a ray of sunshine and a constant safe space in my life. you're so talented, and genuinely kind, and you deserve all the happiness in the world! thank you for being my friend <3 ily a lot!!!!

next we have @ep6bastogne! bel, you make me laugh on the daily.. like literally all the time.. and it's just so easy to talk with you, whether it's about something silly or serious, i just feel like you completely get me. i love our conversations and how similar we are! you and your big brain posts make my dashboard and it genuinely feels a lil bit empty when you're not around. you've got me lowkey crushing on hockey men i don't even know for no good reason but i love it!

@lamialamia bc we always have great conversations and i love how we can discuss everything about hbo war from in-depth meta all the way to the silliest stuff ever. whenever i'm watching something or posting about something it's always so fun to talk about it with you! i hope we have many more interesting conversations!

@theflyingfin you were one of the first people i started talking to when i first came back to tumblr and it really made me feel a lot more comfortable being back here and in the fandom! i love all our chats about andyeddie and f1 stuff and you're just an awesome person who makes my tumblr experience a lot better :)

@merriell-allesandro-shelton for always checking in on me (and everyone else in the fandom). you're such a fun and engaging presence here, and i feel like you bring a lot of people out of their shells, which in turn, makes them feel a lot more comfortable being more interactive in the fandom. you're such a caring friend and i love all the conversations we have and how open and honest we can be with each other! very glad we met and became friends!

@jump-wings and @yeahcurrahhe-e you guys were actually two of my first mutuals on this new account and i love seeing you both on my dash or in my interactions! it's kinda comforting if that makes sense? since you were here when i started this acc

@thewayisset you have such beautiful art!! and it makes me smile every single time i see it on my dashboard!!

some more people i love to see on my dash and whose posts i pretty much adore reading regardless of the topic: @hellofanidea @lewis-winters @jenkil @almost-a-class-act you guys itch a certain spot in my brain with your meta and headcanons that i really dig!

@cody-helix02 @mads-weasley @heystovepipeboys too, i love seeing your posts and i always feel happy seeing you guys pop up in my activity notifications!!

honestly, all of my mutuals are really special to me. if you're a mutual of mine, or even if we just talk on posts outside of following each other, please consider yourself loved and appreciated!

[f0point5]

has bernie ecclestone "urging horner to resign" changed your mind about whether or not he's actually leaving/the reasoning behind the whole thing

I’ve got to say, Im very skeptical about the story of Bernie and Liberty media intervening in the investigation. This hasn’t been corroborated by any reliable source and Red Bull have been right lipped about the whole thing since their brief comment at the start of this.

If the Bernie story is real, who leaked it? Christian wouldn’t have, it’s embarrassing for him. RB wouldn’t necessarily have known about it, because it would have been a private conversation between Christian and his friend. So, Bernie leaked it? To what end? And then it is packaged together with the story that Liberty Media and F1 itself has now become involved, which nobody would want the public to know. So, I guess my question is…who is the source? No one seems to benefit from that information other than the publications getting the clicks.

If indeed it is true, it wouldn’t change my opinion on the situation. Because realistically, anyone who is Christian’s friend would probably tell him “they want you out, just go before this gets hostile”. It’s probably an awful time for his marriage, his family, and for RBR. Maybe if it was RB that leaked that story I would be more inclined to believe they really are trying to push him out, so my view on that would change, but then it would be clear they are relying on pressuring him to resign because they don’t have a case for dismissal. As for Liberty getting involved, you’ll never get me to believe that if they did get in contact, it was not to plead Horner’s case. They take nothing more seriously than the show, and Horner is a main character.

So in short, if the story is true, I guess I would believe that they really do want Christian out, but it wouldn’t affect my opinion on why they started this in the first place. But also, I’m not sure I believe it happened

[devilsainz]

It all started with a joke (Charlos one-shot)

second time trying to make sense of these charlos thoughts in my head. I dont take myself seriously so no one should take my writing skills either. I do these mostly for me, when i feel like it. English is not my first language either and i barely reviewed what i wrote so... read at your own risk.

.....

It all started with a joke.

"Hey, did you heard what everyone is saying about us? That we are the most handsome driver pairing in f1 history." Carlos said with a teasing smile that only handsome men that know theyre handsome men know, while he was scrolling through his phone, sitting in that red couch, in the free time they found when working together .

Charles giggled in return while he was in a distance from him, "come on, lets focus on the performance on the car for now, carlos, please!"

"No i was just saying, cabron, i think it might give us a boost, you know? in our confidence, and even better our ~performance~"

"you just love yourself too much dont you?" Charles said shaking his head lightly.

"Ehm... ok, now ill be serious. But its quite funny, i guess. i still feel flustered by it, actually, when the girls call me guapo out loud sometimes... i just try to get used to it joking, you know".

"I mean, theyre not lying. Youre indeed a very handsome, aaah- how do you say it? Cabron. A very handsome cabron, i'll give you that."

"Ok connoisseur of beauty, gracias for the compliment even though you just called me a bastardo"

"I cant make you get used to much to it, mate.-"

"Maaate! What are these people on?" Carlos said with a cackle in his throat.

"Ok, now you got me curious, bastardo, let me see what are you-"

"~he looks at him like he wanna kiss him so bad~" carlos said mocking in a over sweet toned voice.

"Oooh my god, these people are really going crazy nowadays" Charles commented between their shared laughter.

"Look at this one: 'i want someone to look at me like he is looking at Charlie's lips' -now where am i even look-"

"To be fair, it really looks like it, Carlos, sorry" he let escape a shy laugh.

"Shut the fuck"

"You have to look at the picture, carlos... try to understand their narrative, its very simple, come on"

Charles zoomed in the picture and showed carlo's eyes darting in the direction of his lips.

"Eh, cabron, now that looked really weird, to be fair" he grimaced. They looked into each other and there was a awkward silence until they broke into laughter again.

"Look, we have this effect on people apparently... cause we are so handsome, these weirdos just want us to start making out in front of the camera! I guess its something in their brain chemicals" Carlos said moving his fingers like trying to explain a magic trick.

"Oh mate, come on, get off of it now, this is too much junk for today" charles said with his breath apparently catching up now after laughing so much.

"Yeah, i think its enough, carlos closed the instagram app and put the phone in his pocket."

The awkward silence fell again.

Charles, desperate to break the unconfortableness, tried to start a conversation: "but like, imagine if there were actually, you know, gay-uh-lgbt people and they have to live a life like this, with people analyzing every move they make, in formula 1 in all places-"

"Yeah, you're right... like, we live in a such microscopic world already, and then having people to judge you because of, you know, something that is not even related to the job, like- yeah that must be though" Carlos complemented, now the conversation got into a more serious tone.

"I mean, that sucks. I heard about that guy called Adrian Sutil, and its not that i care, but i mean, we have no idea where he is now- i mean, good for him i guess- but its... i dont know how to explain but maybe its like these people dont even show themselves that much like we do you know?"

Carlos nods while listening and looking at what charles has to say intently as he speaks.

"Like, we and lando, we just go around kicking, punching ouselves in the groins all the time because we dont have to worry about it, you know?" Charles continued.

Carlos says now back to his joking tone: "Ah, this motherfucker is obsessed with my bal-"

Charles interrupts with his high pitched laughter as he squeezes carlos shoulders in his hand.

"No, but now im being serious: did you see how we went from joking, to then talking seriously, then we are just joking again?" Carlos said, self aware, like he just witnessed something he didnt before.

"yeah?"

"See, this is the ~chemistry~ Silvia keeps talking to us about... Cause we get along so good together and naturally... i think people just start to get, you know, hooked up on us! And... crazy, and to see we make out" He said very proud of himself and of charles while he gave some light pats on Charles back.

"Yeah... thats... true, carlos, thats true!" He said just realizing how actually good his relationship with his teammate was. "And ii meeann, we would make indeed a veryy- handsome couple!" Charles giggled as he always did when he feels like he just said something silly.

"But its true! You are a handsome fella. I mean i feel weird praising myself like this, but i am a handsome fella... we together, we would just be two handsome fellas, you know, its math" he said using his hands again, like someone enthusiastically explaining math.

"See, this is why i dont compliment you." Charles said with an harmless teasing smile. "But you ~are~ handsome, mate. If i was a girl- i'd problably try something with you, actually- not to sound weird or any-"

"Nah, dont worry, mate." Carlos gave a strong pat on charles back. "This is completely fine actually, i mean i think its nice that we dont have this uh, awkwardness, between each other, cause its very silly if we stop to think about it." Charles nodded agreeing. "And if i was a girl, i would try hitting up on you, too." Carlos said reassuringly, with a wink, which made Charles blush, not that its hard to make him blush, but...

"Thanks, mate".

"if you want a kiss, just tell me. These people may like it."

"Bastardo-"

Charlos kicked him in the shin, which carlos responded by grabbing and pulling, while charles tried to push his shoulders and get free off his arms holding his leg, making them fall off the sofa while carlos saw the opportunity to tickle him while he fell on top of Charles body.

"Stop mate, we are doing way too much in our free time" charles said trying to supress his giggles with the tickles.

"Stop what? Do you think ill kiss you or?"

Suddenly, the air in the room fell heavier.

The giggling stopped. Now Charles was staring at Carlos lips while he realized Carlos did the same with his.

"I dare you." The tone serious as his lust now.

Carlos went for it and kissed. Just like he kissed his girl for the first time, short and sweet, but now it was Charles. He pulled his head back, stared at charles for a brief moment, and realizing he was looking at him with that same look of discovery mixed with lust, kissed him again.

Charles just let himself be guided by the older man kiss, now going slower in rhythym, heavy with tongue, short in breath, thick in grunt.

After what felt somewhat between 15 hours or 15 seconds of a long kiss, they went back at staring each other, now the reality slowly bringing them back to their feet.

"Sorry, mate- i dont know what the fuck i-" Carlos said standing up

"No its fine i dont know either-" Charles stand up swiftly trying to make sense of what happened

"I just fucked up didn-"

"Pshh, dont say that. Its okay mate, its just a kiss. Nobody has to know."

"You really mean nobody, right? Like nobody."

"Of course, why the fuck would i do that"

"I dont know- i mean- i dont- i wouldnt think you'd tell anybody either way, i'm just-"

"And i wont." Charles said looking him in the eye and making him silent. "I give you my word. Nobody will know".

he extended his hand open in a handshake.

"I give you my word too, dont worry." He said back nodding, with a look that could only mean truth.

They shaked hands, firmly in their promise. After the silence settled in again..

"And... honestly... mate, your kiss was really good. I tell you that." Charles said all red as the ferrari color he was destined to wear, his face nervous but with a smile in his eyes that Carlos saw through.

"Thanks." Carlos said smiling shyly, blushing just as he did when people called him guapo in public.

And just like that, them standing in front of each other, there was two knocks on the door as a voice called "Carlos? Charles?". Time to go back to work.

[kloppinthekop]

꧁ hello! ꧂

amy ᝰ ❧ scorpio sun and moon, she/they, grey-ace, 30s

i support liverpool f.c. (epl) and mclaren (f1). faves include: dominik szoboszlai, lando norris, oscar piastri, and carlos sainz jr.

→ formula 1 sideblog: carlandoscars ←

i have a ph.d. in english literature, specializing in science fiction, but i really only write for fun these days.

other interests include: kate bush (queen of my heart), goth and post punk music/subculture, horror and sci-fi films, jane austen, mary shelley (i am always ready to bring frankenstein into any conversation), orphan black, star trek, studio ghibli, and more.

a masterlist of my fics and other scribblings are below the cut! a gentle reminder that i do not take requests for fics; however, headcanons are welcome and my askbox is open!

you can find most of my fics on archive of our own (ao3). some may be archive-locked (only viewable to users who are logged in on ao3). fics are sorted by type, ship/pairing, and then alphabetically listed within each category (for the most part). ratings are indicated in parentheses next to each title. if you are under the age of 18, please do not interact with any mature/explicit fics. full list of tags and any potential content warnings are available on ao3. masterlist to be updated periodically.

꧁DOMITRENT꧂ (dominik szoboszlai/trent alexander arnold)

dream come true (M, eventually E) 𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔰 ➾ [work in progress]

→ Dominik, whose dreams of becoming a professional football player ended years ago due to injury, has dedicated himself to a new passion: physiotherapy. After moving to Liverpool to complete his studies, he meets Trent, a local lad whose dream of playing in the first team is about to come true. But what if, in meeting one another, their dreams become intertwined?

⟡ by chapter: chapter one: skull and bones | chapter two: skeletons and secrets | chapter three: start of something | chapter four: sweet as sugar | chapter five: stay with me | chapter six: stuck on you | chapter seven: suddenly everything changes

꧁HENDOLLANA꧂ (jordan henderson/adam lallana)

borne in red (E; dubcon) → In a world where men have been discovered to be infertile, the few men who are not sterile are forced into service of Captains and their Wives. Adam Lallana is one of these "studs," also known as Reds. He is also, dangerously, in love with men. Over a course of Ceremonies, he discovers that his Captain has a secret, and that his proclivities may be indeed similar to Adam's own desires…

A Hendollana AU based on Margaret Atwood's novel, The Handmaid's Tale.

⟡ by chapter: chapter one: waiting | chapter two: discovering | chapter three: being | chapter four: waiting | chapter five: coda

꧁DOMITRENT꧂ (dominik szoboszlai/trent alexander arnold)

we lit the fire and it's burning bright (E) → After the Liverpool vs Manchester City game (where Trent scores the equaliser), Dom takes Trent back to his apartment and proceeds to take him apart with his hands and lips.

working on the riddle of your heart (E) → Dominik can’t stop thinking about Trent. Ever since pre-season training, he has been obsessed. God, Dominik wants to be possessed by Trent.

you're out there killing the game (E) → Trent gets his arse out for all to see, but Dom wants it to be just his.

꧁CARRAVILLE꧂ (jamie carragher/gary neville)

gary knows; or, gary the fool in liverpool (T) → Liverpool’s lost the league, and Gary’s lost his damn mind.

a christmas carraville (merry crimbo, ye big lug) (G) → God I love him, but my husband is an idiot, Jamie thinks. In which Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are married, but Gary doesn't know it yet.

champagne supernova (happy new year, ye tosser) (T) → It's New Year's Eve, and all Carra can think about is whether a certain Manc will kiss him at midnight. Maybe a little liquid courage will help light the way.

package deal (it's valentine's day, ye dimwit) (E) → Gary's got a Valentine’s date with an idiot.

꧁GERLONSO꧂ (steven gerrard/xabi alonso)

days of legends past (G) → "When you left, it broke my heart." Three vignettes related to various and sundry myths and legends.

꧁HENDOLLANA꧂ (jordan henderson/adam lallana)

fools in love (G; archive-locked) → aka, five times that other people noticed Jordan and Adam were dating before they did, and one time they finally realize that they’ve been a couple all along.

hounds of love (G; archive-locked) → Jordan's not sure what his soulmark will be yet, but what he does know is that he's terrified. A slow-burn soulmate AU.

merry to go 'round (G; archive-locked) → The lads buy a house together at the end of the 2026 World Cup campaign, and not a single one of their teammates (former teammates now) are surprised.

soft lad (E; archive-locked) → Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six-hundred minutes… it took a span of two pre-seasons for Hendo to realize that he was in love.

vignettes: tickertape (G; archive-locked) → After the trophy lift, Hendo searches for a tangible piece of memory…

vignettes: turf (G; archive-locked) → Lallana leaving LFC, but choosing a certain squad number for familiarity…

꧁OTHER SHIPS꧂

put myself on a pedestal - virgil van dijk/jarell quansah (E) → After the Union Saint-Gilloise match, Jarell says some things to the press that perhaps ought not to have been said. It's Virgil's job to educate him. But perhaps there are things that Virgil also ought not to say out loud… Then, Jarell comes over to his house one night after training, and Virgil finds a more effective way to stop Jarell from saying stupid things.

eu sou... - eric dier/dele alli (G; archive-locked) → Dele is um idiota but so is Eric. Pining ensues. footballers watch: eurovision 2019 - multi-ship (G; archive-locked) → What it says on the tin. [Pairings include: Carraville, Hendollana, Gerlonso, Deledier, and other random cameos.]

꧁GEN FICS꧂

klopp in the kop, forever - jürgen klopp (G) → Jürgen Klopp, the normal one, is about to live a normal life, for the first time in his life.

vignettes: takumi (G; archive-locked) → Second day at Anfield • Daemon!fic aka His Dark Materials/Football RPF

⟡ domitrent headcanon - who's naughtier, domi or trent?

⟡ domitrent headcanon - valentine's day

⟡ domitrent headcanon - who fell first

⟡ domitrent headcanon - dealing with injuries

⟡ domitrent headcanon - sex positions

⟡ domi and trent headcanons - fashion styles, shopping habits

⟡ domi, trent and jude headcanons - jealousy

⟡ trent and jude headcanons - food habits, sweet tooth

⟡ cheeky - domitrent

⟡ the prince and the scouser - domitrent

⟡ queen's gambit AU - domitrent

⟡ anfield is a cauldron - gen!fic

dividers created by @cafekitsune | other graphics resources