Wrote this as a comment then thought maybe it should be an ask. Loved the newest motorcycle matchmaker installment, truly excellent, can't wait for part 4 and jealous Max (update since this is a resend, it was delicious)
There's some great immediate narrative potential for them being outed on their first kiss, like I can see Max freaking out and Charles comforting and reassuring him the day after when it registers for him properly and he's getting calls from his manager. Just cooing endearments and feeding him breakfast (ordered)
...whilst he's sat in his lap kissing gently at the marks he made
Charles taking the lead in the ensuing interviews and media knowing Max hates it and unapologetically loving him every time. Charles is the prince of ferrari and he'll make sure everyone treats his princess right
but also in their future I just see Charles being absolutely wild with his possessiveness without the constraint of having to hide, they always come into the paddock together with Max behind Charles on the bike, and like Max never has less than 3 visible hickeys and a piece of Charles' clothes on him past this point, in fact Charles will actively make new ones whilst they're both in interviews.
Charles comes up behind Max pulling him into his arms whilst Max is answering a question he starts mouthing at the back of his neck as Max increasingly stutters his answers out in between tiny hitches of breath. Giving the interviewer a chance to ask another question, Charles pauses a moment, his eyes flick up to meet the camera and he detaches his mouth from Max's skin to give the smuggest smirk and then buries his face back into Max's neck, back to marking his boy
"summer's in the air and, baby, heaven's in your eyes" by cozyleclerc
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47489047
Motorcycle Matchmaker AU: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Taking place after the events of Part 3 and Max and Charles's (very public) bistro kiss 😚
Max getting nonstop calls from Raymond, Paul (Director of Comms and Social Media), Alice and Madeline (Sr Comms Managers), followed by various texts from Gemma and one amused text from GP congratulating Max for finally getting his man 😉
All this happens after Max wakes up—he's in Charles's bed, the Monegasque driver cradling him in his arms, Max's head on his chest, and their legs tangled beneath the sheets. It's the warmest, happiest, and safest Max has ever felt and he just wants to block the outside world and stay in Charles's arms forever.
But he knows the he ignores his PR & Comms teams, the more they'll badger him.
So he reluctantly tries to sit up and start responding to his missed calls and frantic texts but he's quickly pulled back into Charles's arms. Alert green eyes and a mischievous smile greets him before Charles is wrapping Max in another embrace, lips pressing soft kisses to his temple and cheekbone. "Morning, chéri. Trying to escape my arms already?"
Max instinctively burrows his face back into Charles's chest, a happy hum filling the air. "Never, Charlie." He smiles as he hugs his boyfriend. "But I think everyone at Red Bull is kind of melting down right now. Because of the kiss." He adds a little shyly.
Charles doesn't seem the least bit embarrassed. "It was a very, very good kiss. Worthy of a repeat performance?"
Sunlight pours in through the open curtains as Max giggles, eagerly melting into his handsome, perfect, lovely boyfriend's enthusiastic kisses. His heart feels light as a feather—he can't believe he gets to have this, to have Charles.
He feels like he's living in a daydream as Charles carries him to the kitchen for breakfast. He completely ignores Max's protests, insisting he's too heavy and Charles doesn't need to, he doesn't want to be a bother—
"You're not too heavy, you're never a bother, and I love having you in my arms, mon amour." Charles informed him as he gently set Max down on the marble countertop. "Crepes, chéri?"
And so Max gets to sit there, sipping ice water with lemon as Charles expertly mixes the batter for crepes and cuts up strawberries and fresh cherries to accompany their breakfast.
Charles playfully dabs whipped cream on Max's nose and Max kisses Charles while his lips are stained with cherry juice.
It's only after they're seated at the breakfast table, Charles absolutely refusing to let Max sit anywhere else except his lap, that the phone calls start all over again.
And this time, Max is forced to accept the FaceTime calls.
He's nervous—unsure of what they might say—but he knows one thing:
He won't give Charles up, not for anyone or anything in the world.
He takes a deep breath and answers the first call from Alice—
"What in god's name were you thinking?" Is the first thing she asks.
Max winces. "Morning Alice, I know this is probably...a lot for you and everyone in Comms right now but—"
"A lot? Max, what are we supposed to even say? We have no plausible deniability whatsoever, our legal team is meeting with F1, the FIA, and the various countries where this kind of thing is frowned upon!"
A sudden rush of anger and defensiveness comes over Max. "Don't call it a 'thing', Alice. This isn't a 'thing'. This is my relationship—this is the man I love. Just because someone filmed me kissing Charles doesn't change the fact that I'm an F1 driver and a 4-time world champion."
Alice quiets, her face scrunching up in sympathy. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have worded it like that. I know nothing's changed but in the eyes of the media, everything has turned topsy turvy. We literally got phone calls from Oprah asking if you'd be interested in doing an interview discussing inclusive sexuality in Motorsport and we're kind of, well, we're a little stuck." She exhales, suddenly looking exhausted. "We don't want you make you uncomfortable or commit you to anything you don't want to do right now. You're in the driver's seat Max, and we'll support you."
The Senior Communications Manager at Red Bull Racing frowns. "Um, well, I...suppose since he is your partner now. But you know, Max, most of his PR is going to be handled by Ferrari...?"
"Yes, but I want to make sure we don't neglect Charles or paint him in a bad light while we're planning out our PR stuff." The Dutchman insists adamently.
From behind him, he feels Charles press a gentle kiss to the nape of his neck. His arms tighten around Max's waist and for the first time since the call started, Max feels himself starting to relax as he leans into his boyfriend's chest, a soft smile on his lips when he feels Charles playfully nip at his ear.
"...Charles is right behind you, isn't he?"
"Max you are blushing like a schoolgirl right now."
"Bonjour, Alice." Charles leans in slightly so he's now on camera. "Ravi de faire votre connaissance." He smiles, dimples on full display.
She rolls her eyes. "Alright, lay off the charm Leclerc, we're not going to be interfering in your relationship with Max."
"Excellent." He eyes twinkle. "But you couldn't have interfered even if you wanted to. Sylvia and Mia have had various contingency plans in place since 2022 when I told them I was in love with a certain Dutch driver and was going to date him."
The information is brand new to Max.
He turns, eyes wide. "You told your PR team that you wanted to date me in 2022?"
"Ferrari's an image conscious institution." Charles explains. "And I knew my...preferences would cause some fuss. So I let them know early and made it very, very clear that one day, I'd have the honor of calling Max Verstappen mine."
Tears well up in the blond driver's eyes, bottom lip quivering at the realization. "Oh mijn schatje..." He wraps his arms around Charles's neck and leans in, desperately needing to kiss his love and hold him and—
"Okay Max, I'm going to end the call now. Just a head's up, we'll get in contact with Ferrari and make a joint announcement about your relationship and how we support you but—alright, you're still kissing, I'm...just going to send this in an email."
(And yes!! I love that fic! The atmosphere is so dreamy and sun-drenched, it perfectly captures the luxurious blue-sky days in Monaco and the gentle way Charles takes cares of Max?? Chef's kiss 😘)