I reread the fic about Kimi and Max, and now I'm wondering what about Gabi? I mean, how does Max view his relationship with Nico and their age gap(not necessarily in a romantic way, but they flirt so damn much)
Gabi
800 words
Gabi is not naive. He may be a rookie, but he feels older than the others. He is to a few, but he still fits within their age bracket. He just… feels older sometimes.
It's probably because of his brother. It's definitely because of his brother. But… Gabi is not naive.
“You and Nico,” Max starts one day, attempting to keep his voice neutral but already a hint of something that makes Gabriel bristle. “what is going on there?”
“What do you mean?” He thinks he knows. But Max of all people has no right to pass judgment on his less than traditional relationship with an older teammate.
Max shrugs, “You seem close, that is all.”
“Is this a bad thing?”
“No… I was just wondering.”
Max seems unsure of himself. This is odd. Max is always sure of himself. Especially when speaking with Gabi. There's a long stretch of silence before, “I have always liked Nico. He always has been kind.” Gabi let's the silence sit. Max will get to his point when he is ready. “But I know that kind people are not always good in their heart.” That was… an odd thing to say.
“Nico is not a bad person.”
Max looks at him. Look is a soft word. Max stares at him, squinting like he's trying to figure something out. “I believe you.” He finally says, relaxing slightly.
“Max?”
“You are different form the other rookies.”
It's an odd thing to say. A nervous laugh slips out, “Yes? In what way?”
“I do not have to worry for you as much. I know this.” Gabi nods slowly, an agreement but still unsure of what he means. “But-” and there it was. Whatever the actual point is. “I do not want you to think that because of this you cannot come to me. I am still here for you as I am the others.”
Gabi frowns, “I know.”
“Good.”
Silence settles, but it's not the normal, comfortable silence that rests between them. It feels heavy. Tense. “Max…”
“Hm?”
“Is something wrong?”
Max smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. “No, why do you ask?”
But something is wrong. Something happened. “I know Nico is older than me and it may be odd for us to be so close but it is nothing bad. I do not mind that he is older.”
Max is studying him again. Blue eyes piercing and discerning and looking so… old. He must find whatever he was looking for, because he nods again. “That is good. It is not wrong to want that. I just want to make sure you do. That is all.”
Gabi has questions he knows better than to ask. It's on the tip of his tongue. Did something happen with Daniel? Is it just that things ended bad or is it something more? And many others. But the most glaring question that Gabi knows he could never ever ask, Who hurt you? Who made you this way? Because he had been friends with Max for a long time now. And he sees the cracks. He sees the isolation and the true belief that his presence is barely tolerated, never wanted. And he can guess where this comes from. From his father. From the old guard of drivers. From a lot of people.
But this? He's been hurt. Gabi can tell.
He's heard similar things from Enzo. Warnings about the kind of people in motorsports. Things his brother had seen and heard and experienced that he would do anything to keep Gabi from experiencing. He knew to be careful in any power imbalance. That things could spiral out of control very quickly and be used against you. So he was careful. He knew he had to be.
Maybe it is just like that. Things Max has seen. Gabi can see how from the outside his and Nico’s relationship could be grounds for concern, but there really is no reason for it. Gabi is not an idiot. So maybe Max has just seen things in the past and wants to make sure everything is okay. Maybe Max had been approached by someone when he and Daniel had gotten so close and he was simply returning the favor.
Or maybe… maybe Max was speaking from personal experience.
But even if that were true, what could Gabi do about it?
Maybe he would check with Enzo. See if Max had ever said anything to him.
“I appreciate it.” Gabi finally says instead of all of the thoughts running through his head. “But I am okay. I would tell you if I was not.”
“That is, of course, all I ask.” Then as of snapping on a mask and becoming an entirely different version of himself, he claps his hands together. “Now tonight, did you want to play FIFA or COD?”
