@killingevie wrote this caption to the photo of Charles watching Max's on-screen kiss post qualifying. Given how I am absolutely obsessed with her and would give my left lung to make her happy, I wrote a little something.
---
Crashing out in Q3 feels bad enough on its own.
But standing on the side of the track, watching as Max steps down from his car and approaching the Red Bull team by the barries only to see her stepping out from behind some of the engineers and pulling Max into a kiss, is a million times worse.
Charles' heart plummets into the pit of his stomach as he watches the — albeit brief, thank fuck — moment on the big screen.
Look, it's not like Charles doesn't understand. It's not like he's not painfully aware of the situation and the arrangement Max has going on with the woman, and why. After all, Charles Leclerc is no stranger to PR relationships. But having to stand there and watch as Max kisses lips that aren't Charles' will never stop hurting. Will never stop breaking his fucking heart.
No matter how undeniably well Charles understands.
It is unreasonable? Yes. Does Charles care? Absolutely fucking not.
---
Later that evening, the rain is back, heavy raindrops pounding against the window of his hotel room. Charles is sitting on the small couch right next to it, looking out into the increasing darkness of the night, trying to ignore the heaviness in his chest. Trying to ignore the way his mind keeps going back to the feeling of his car crashing into the barriers, and how that still wasn't nearly as devastating as that moment on the big screen afterwards.
The sound of three rapid tap tap tap's on the door brings him out of his trance-like state. Charles doesn't need to wonder who it is as he gets to his feet with a sigh and crosses the hotel room — doesn't need to look through the peephole to make sure it's somebody he actually wants to see before he turns the lock and pulls the door open.
He doesn't wait for Max to step into the room before he's turning back around and retreating further into the room.
"Hello to you too," Max greets sarcastically and Charles knows without looking that his eyebrows are furrowed together in a frown as the door clicks shut behind him.
"Drink?" Charles asks with his back to Max, already pulling two glass bottles of Coke out of the minibar.
They've done this enough that Charles knows he doesn't actually need to ask, just like Max knows he doesn't actually need to answer. And yet...
"Yeah," Max says, as he follows Charles into the room, coming to a halt by the edge of the bed behind Charles.
Charles opens one of the bottles and hands it to Max without looking at him, before he opens the other.
The room is silent for a long moment. It's Max who eventually speaks.
"What, you're not even going to look at me?"
Charles takes a deep breath, before he reluctantly turns to face the Dutchman, holding the bottle of Coke loosely between his thumb and index finger. He forces a smile that is nowhere near lookng sincere as he meets Max's gaze.
"Congratulations on pole," the Monégasque manages to sound more sincere than he looks.
Max cocks an eyebrow, unconvinced.
"Sorry about your crash," he counters, and the sympathy in his voice — on his face — is genuine.
Charles doesn't know why that makes the ache in his chest intensify slightly. But then again, he doesn't really understand most of his feelings for Max, even on a good day. And today is definitely not a good day.
"Good kiss?" Charles asks then, unable to help himself. The look on Max's face says one thing:
'There it is.'
"Charles," Max sighs, rubbing the hand that isn't holding his bottle of Coke over his face.
"What? Surely I should be allowed to ask questions about things I have to watch on the big screen," Charles counters, forcing his tone of voice to sound a lot more cheerful than he actually feels.
Max gives him a look, which would make Charles feel guilty in any other situation. Now, though? Not so much. Not when the image of Max kissing her after qualifying is burned into his brain.
"How's Alexandra?" Max shoots back, stepping closer to put the bottle of Coke on the desk next to Charles and proceeding to fold his arms across his chest.
Charles snorts.
"At least I'm not making you watch me kiss her."
Max throws his head back in exasperation. When he looks back at Charles, he unfolds his arms and holds them out at his sides, helpless.
"For fuck's sake, Charles, what was I supposed to do?" Max asks, the frustration in his voice clear as day. "You knew she'd be here this weekend."
"I didn't know she'd be there!" Charles spits back, feeling the anger he's been trying so hard to push down, down, down all evening return to the surface. "I didn't know that was part of the arrangement this weekend!"
"It's always part of the fucking arrangement, Charles!"
"Yeah, well, that doesn't mean I have to fucking like it, Max!"
Charles is borderline shouting now, storms in his eyes as he glares at Max. As if this is his fault. As if Charles isn't the one to blame for this whole thing — this whole arrangement. It's immature and irrational and so very unfair, Charles knows, but he just can't help himself. Can't help how much it fucking hurts to see Max with someone else, even if he knows, deep down, that it's not real.
Max runs a hand through his hair, messing it up and making it stick up and out in every possible direction. It shouldn't make Charles want to pull him close and kiss him, but it does. It always fucking does.
"You're the one who didn't want to come out. You're the one who insisted on keeping this —," Max pauses to gesture between the two of them. "— us, a fucking secret. I'm just doing what you asked, Charles! And it's really unfair of you to throw it back in my face like this when all I'm trying to do is keep you happy!"
Charles stares at him, watching the way Max's chest and shoulders rise and fall with his slightly labored breathing, and he knows Max is right. Knows that if it hadn't been for Charles not being ready to come out, — to risk both their careers and their relationship — they wouldn't even be in this position. They've been together for close to three years already, and Charles knows how important having PR relationships is in order to maintain their cover. He just thought it would have become a lot less painful to deal with by now.
And yet...
The Monégasque deflates slightly at that — is never able to hold on to his anger, his hurt, when Max is throwing reason and logic at him.
Watching the fury seep out of Charles' green eyes is enough to make Max deflate, too, and his shoulders slump slightly, eyes softening.
"I'm sorry," Charles says, putting his bottle on the desk behind him and looking at the floor. "I just — I fucking hate this, Max. I hate having to see you with her."
Max sighs, and then he's right in front of Charles, pushing his finger under Charles' chin, forcing the Monégasque's head back and up — forcing Charles to meet his eyes. When he does, he looks tired and sad, like he has done so often this season.
"I know," the Dutchman says, moving his hand so that he's cupping Charles' jaw instead. "I'm sorry you had to watch that. I'll do what I can to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Charles knows that it's not possible to avoid a repeat of the kiss in the future — knows that as long as he needs to keep up the appearance of being in a relationship with someone who isn't Charles, there are going to be moments like this. Times in which Charles has to have his heart break all over again as he watches the man he loves pretend to love someone else. But, he appreciates the sentiment nevertheless, and he knows Max will do what he can to limit the amount of times it will happen in the future. And it's enough. It has to be.
At least for now.
Taking a deep breath, Charles leans into Max's touch as his own hands come to settle on the other man's waist, sneaking their way under the fabric of Max's hoodie and t-shirt, thumbs brushing against the skin underneath.
"Am I at least a better kisser?" he asks with a small smile that's a lot more sincere now.
A surprised laugh slips out of Max at the question. He reaches behind Charles with his free hand, settling it on the base of the Monégasque's spine.
"Absolutely," Max tells him. "The fact that you're the only one I actually want to kiss doesn't hurt either."
Charles huffs. "I'm going to need you to prove that?"
"Yeah? How?"
Charles doesn't answer, just rolls his eyes in mock annoyance as he leans in and presses their lips together in a firm kiss.
And when Max kisses him back as if his fucking life depends on it, all tongue and teeth and desperation, the hand on his jaw moving up and back, fingers gripping tightly at dark strands and making Charles groan helplessly into his mouth, Charles supposes he can safely take Max's word for it.
Hello my beautiful girl, let’s go to the chapel and get married! Time to share my brainrots, I call them”things I’d like to read after this tacky Las Vegas week”, let’s go:
Max freaking out, asking for Charles’ hand in marriage and running to the chapel dressed as blonde Elvis.
Lando playing pranks on them so they finally get their head out of their asses and hook up
Nightclub extravaganza with shots of tequila, dancing, seduction, kisses on an alley, getting handsy etc
Drunk sex, waking up hungover with Max by his side and totally losing his marbles because he was such a dirty slut on top of max but now he’s so embarrassed he might die
Max literally camping outside Charles’s hotel to fancy him with his Elvis abilities of awfully singing
The Steve support group catching them on yet another compromising position and discussing how to proceed since the trauma of seeing them naked scared even the most professional of Steve’s: checo.
Some jealous Kelly arguing about “so this is why you asked me to stay in Brazil and not to come to Vegas? You’re banging Charles???”
Everybody shitfaced jumping on the bellagio fountain
This is peak fiction, even if people write tiny dribbles, I’d fucking LOVE THEM. Vegas was tacky? Yes. But it gave us so much lestappen, I’ll never get tired of it. I’m not even regretting waking up at 3AM. See you soon my love 🫶🏻
Evie, my beloved, my beautiful angel, my universe, I will meet you at the chapel to go through with our long-overdue wedding. ❤️
Once again, my darling Evie, you bless me and everyone else reading this with your beautiful, wonderful, amazing Lestappen brainrots and I could honestly get on board with them all. So many potentially wonderful fics or drabbles could be written for every single one of these brainrots.
Lestappen truly has reached a point where they are practically writing fics for us and I am personally so here for it. And Vegas might have had it's definite downsides, but I will never forget the Lestappen content it brought up.
I adore you and love you with my entire being, my beautiful Evie. I hope you're having a wonderful day. 🫶
Good morning, my dear Mona!!! I need an answer: is it wrong to obsess over Max and Charles’ obsession over each other’s waists??? My mind likes to play with some silly scenarios like some yatch party, Charles being clumsy and tripping over someone’s feet and then Max grabs him by his waist. Also some dance floor scene where Charles thought it was just correct to spin Max around until they’re in some dark corner with his thighs locked in Max’s waist. Am i going insane?? Anyways, I hope you’re having a nice day, it’s 07 am here and I want to sleep, but it’s working hours 🥹🥹 I love u
Evie! Love of my life, good morning (afternoon now). ❤️
Pffft, I don't think it’s wrong at all. They can obsess over each other's waists and their constant need to hold on to them, and we can obsess over them obsessing over it. Circle of life and all that.
BABE, WHAT THE FUCK? Now I'm picturing that yacht party in extreme detail and ohhhh boy, now I need to sit down for a second.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful thoughts with me — please never stop. And I hope you're having/had a good day at work!
HELLO??? DID YOU SEE THIS FUCKING RACE IM GOING INSANE JENDLWPADNSLSKN
First: fuck your haters that spent their whole minimum wages to see max win, you had it coming, cry all you want.
Second: my heart hurts for Charles, honestly. He didn’t deserve that, it was supposed to be a nice battle between Charles and Max, I was so excited. (Also, Max calling him CHARLIE and offering a spot next to him??? Brazil is so theirs)
Third: Fernando????? Fernando alonso????? Holy shit I love that old man. The fact he’s very hated here made it even more special. Today the verlonso girlies WON.
Fourth: nice drive for Lando, he’s champion material
Fifth: seeing the Mercedes downfall right in front of the people’s eyes was just incredible, this is what you get when you’re just hostile to every single one of Max’s fans and threaten to burn or shred their flags and merch, there was even people being racist to Calum????? Are they imbecile??? Yes.
Sixth: I’m so fucking happy, this was an amazing race and the fact it happened here of all countries is comforting to me.
I hope you enjoyed the race just as much as I did, I love you so much!!!
Evie, my beautiful angel, I absolutely did see the race and what a crazy race is was!
It's so enjoyable, watching Max win in countries where he's so strongly disliked. You keep stunting on these hoes, Maxie!
Charles' DNS broke my heart into a billion little pieces, and I'm so, so sad for him. The pain in his eyes, in his voice, in his post-race interview is just unbearable. He was absolutely supposed to be fighting Max on that track and instead, we got this. I wonder how long he's going to put up with being in a team that doesn't give him what he needs and deserves.
But Alonso??? Hell yes for our old man war criminal! I've loved Fernando for so many years, and it makes me so happy to see him still able to do so well at this stage of his career!
Absolutely well done to Lando for an excellent drive today!
This was definitely a special race, and I'm so happy you're happy that you got such an eventful homerace, Evie! You definitely deserve that.
I love you more than there are stars in the sky, my lovely Evie. ❤️
Hello my beautiful princess, how are you?? I must say, there’s something in the Brazilian air, today was INSANE for us lestappies. It was incredible to see how they’re drawn to each other, max leaving the pole interview and waiting in the back for Charles, and then proceeding to talk and enthusiastically gesticulating to each other, Brazilian broadcast got me covered and never stopped filming. I swear, I’m so sure they thought “fuck lance stroll, focus on those two courting back there” and I’m so here for it. This is so much material, max knows the country, he even knows my state, I keep thinking about their escapades to the beach to see the sunset and kissing and enjoying the heat (it’s not enjoyable but we pretend for fiction purposes), I’m honestly glad they had that interactions, it distracted me from the booing. Also, Brazilian insights: the magically changing weather? Yes, it’s common as fuck here. Although i understand Charles’s shock, I’m so used to it I’m not even surprised anymore. More Brazilian culture? Hit me up. Sincerely, your Brazilian next door 🫶🏻
Evie, the gorgeous queen of my heart, my favorite Brazilian goddess, I'm good! How are you, my beautiful? 💕
Brazil has been feeding us Lestappies so well so far, and I hope that will continue for the rest of the weekend. Their dynamic recently is just on a whole new level, and I am absolutely ecstatic about it.
Honestly, babe, the camera people know. They know what the people want to see, and they are truly providing us with the content we deserve.
Evie, my love, I love your Lestappen brainrots so much, and they have truly made my Saturday ten times better already. Thank you so much for sharing. I adore you. ❤️
GOOD MORNING AMERICA 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅 I’m so happy for Logan, seriously, I posted him on my stories yesterday and then he got his first point 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 Ferrari is a little bitch, totally deprived us of lestappen podium (red bull DO SOMETHING). Also I got a little bit sad about Oscar’s race, my guy deserves the world. Any insights about the race? Brasil week is coming and the booing will get WORSE, gladly Max doesn’t give 2 fucks about it, he’s stronger than me. Have a nice day, sweetie 🖤
Evie, my darling, hello! ❤️
I'm happy for Logan too! Finally in the points. (Although I am a bit skeptical to the process that got Lewis and Charles disqualified, because they definitely should have checked more cars than they did if 50% of the ones they checked were in violation of the rules.)
I was so sad for Oscar, but he'll come back stronger.
As for the race in general: If you ignore shitty team strategies, Ferrari fucking Charles over once again, and questionable decisions from the stewards following the race, it was an exciting race! Seeing Max win always brings me so much joy, and he truly doesn't give a shit about booing at all so Brazil won't faze him.
I hope you're having a wonderful day, my lovely. 🖤
Hello my pretty girl, how are you? Enjoying summer? How are the beaches in Norway? Today I experienced 2 brainrots. The first one was Max taking Charles to explore Netherlands and giving him a tulip to formally ask him out. It was fine if it stayed like that but my mind likes the dirty shit so i thought about the drivers all high from the finest weed Holland has to offer and playing truth or dare. No need to say that Lando (always Lando) dares them to lap dance and dirty talk each other and they end up in bed, having the nastiest sex on earth. Am I insane?? Anyway, enjoy the rest of your summer, it’s race week again 🖤🖤
There she is, my light, my love, my universe. Good morning, my darling Evie. ❤️
To be honest, this past month of our Norwegian summer has been full of rain and flooding, so it could be better? But hey, at least we're not getting forest fires for the foreseeable future, so that's something. And we have some really nice beaches here in Norway - not as nice as the ones you have, but back where I'm from, there are actually a whole bunch of stunning ones. Google "Sola strand" or "Jæren strender", and you will see some pretty impressive images of them!
Babe, I love your brainrots so much, and I love that you share them with me even more? Like, the honor it is to be able to get a peek into how your beautiful Lestappen brain works. 😍
I am absolutely obsessed with both of your ideas, and I'm kind of wondering if maybe I should try to write something based on that filthy one? I mean, the last time I wrote PWP before a race we got a Lestappen podium, so maybe I should try another round of Lestappen PWP manifesting ahead of Monza? What do you think, darling?
