Max picks at his cuticles, tugs at the skin until it blooms an awful red, striking against the paleness of his skin. He hates things like this, the dreaded normality of the reaping. His breathing remains steadied the best he can, chest moving up and down in time with the overhead clock.Â
He isn't nervous.Â
Except that he is, every record of the past 3 months speeds through Maxâs mind as he tries to come to some number of the likelihood. Some dreaded statistic for how many times his name might be in that pool.Â
He pulls his hands apart with an exhale as he lands on a reasonable number. Its never enough to feel safe, nothing is overly safe here, everyone is conditioned to the leaving at any given moment, but its low enough to warrant a breath.Â
His shoulders relax.Â
Up there some woman is rummaging around, feeling for the slip of paper that will forever change someoneâs fate.Â
The seconds stretch to hours, a lump growing ever larger in Maxâs throat.Â
Finally the suspension breaks, it isn't his name, and Max can finally relax. A deep set guilt shortly put aside for whomever is so unlucky. Except the crowd is looking at him, pairs of eyes and heads turned to focus on where he is standing. It's then that his hearing returns, head swiveling to the space beside him.Â
Fuck.Â
Victoria.Â
Max has no time to think, he grabs her wrist from where she begins to move forward through the crowd, voice raw as it emerges through his throat.Â
âI volunteer! I volunteer myself as tribute!âÂ
He cannot turn to look at his mother, nor can he meet his sisterâs eyes.
The crowd is silent, seemingly weighing his fate, the dreaded clock keeps ticking.Â
An eternity passes in a second and the woman is beckoning him forward with a shrill laughter. It makes him dizzy with nausea.Â
-
Max quickly learns there is no pity in the games, he doesn't get to say goodbye before he is swept off his feet and on a train to the capitol. It's been years since he has been back here, more unease layering his stomach as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat.Â
He knows in theory how these things work, knows that he has a mentor waiting for him, knows he has to gain attention to survive. Max also knows there is no point in making friends, he is going to have to kill these people afterall.Â
-Â
Daniel is half way into a ditch when he is found, scooped up by two larger guards as he is returned to the grandeur of the center call. He isnt nearly drunk enough to feel care free about the request - if you could call it that - but nowhere near sober enough to remember to hold his tongue.Â
Words thick like molasses as they spill from his mouth.Â
âYou want me to mentor? Hell no.â
It's a miracle they can understand him.Â
âYou don't get a choice Mr. Ricciardo, I'm afraid as the winner of the 33rd Hunger Games you are a perfect candidate.â
He squints his eyes, pushing a hand to his temple in order to ease the ringing that's beginning.Â
âAnd who the fuck am I going to be draging around?â
âMax Verstappen, the presidentâs estranged son.âÂ
Content warning: mild sexual content (well an attempt at least)
đ«Ł please do NOT perceive me after this.
Most of the time Daniel enjoys his job.
Heâs the personal driver to Max Verstappen, the CEO of some multimillion company.
It pays well, so well that he managed to move out from his shared 4 bed 2 bath apartment and into a 2 bed 2 bath on the outskirts of the city.
Max is quiet a lot, especially on the days where he has meetings back to back. He uses the drive in between destinations to rest his head on the window and stare blankly at the passing scenery, muttering a quick âthank youâ when Daniel opens the door for him.
Other days heâs friendly with Daniel. Indulging in whatever story Daniel has brought forth.
Sometimes instead of asking Daniel to wait for him as he grabs lunch, he invites him inside to eat with him. Itâs always pleasant and he wonât complain about not having to pick up the bill.
Thereâs days where Max is tense. So wound up that he doesnât bother letting Daniel get the door for him. Just slams it with fury.
Daniel would catch his eye in the rearview before Max would scoff and put the partition up, blocking Daniel out.
Sometimes heâd eventually calm down and bring it back down with a deep sigh. Other times he leaves it up happy to pretend that Daniel is simply gone.
Itâs on those days where Danielâs gps would lead him to a club where Max would pick up someone and bring them to the back seat.
Max would make him pull round back and force him to wait outside as he did his business.
Heâd pretend he doesnât feel the car rocking and counts the stars instead.
~
Recently Max has started initiating the conversations between the two of them.
Asking about Danielâs life and if he likes his apartment.
Daniel doesnât take it as strange and figures this is Maxs way of apologizing.
Daniel indulges him and tells him all about his tiny apartment and the cat he kind of adopted last week.
Max frowns a bit before continuing the conversation.
At the end of the week when heâs dropping Max at his very expensive apartment building, right in the heart of the city with the penthouse overlooking the skyline, he asks him to join him upstairs.
Though a bit confused as to why, Daniel follows him upstairs.
They get in the private elevator and go all the way to the top.
When Daniel steps into the threshold of the glorious apartment, Max turns to him and hands him a key.
âWhatâs this?â
Max shrugs âThis place is large enough. Id rather you here than your old placeâ he says simply
Daniel is about to protest but Max cuts him off with the simple raise of his hand âIt will be much easier to pick me up if youre already so closeâ
Daniel says nothing, but gapes widely at the key in his palm.
âThe cat can come too of course. If youâre so worriedâ
Max politely escorts him around and to his quarters before leaving him alone with his thoughts.
As Daniel lays back on the plush bed, he clutches the key to his chest so tight that it leaves an imprint in his palm.
~
Nothing much changes after Danielâs sudden living change.
He still drives Max around and they still have lunch.
Itâs just that now they go home together.
One day at lunch Max tells him his next meeting might be long, and that he doesnât want him waiting in the car.
Daniel nods and says that itâs no problem. That heâll just find something to do.
Max shakes his head and says heâll join him upstairs.
Daniel just shakes his head. He doesnât protest. It seems like one of those days for Max and he doesnât want to make it worse by denying his request.
They eat the rest of their meal in silence.
-
Max situates him in his office and then he leaves for his meeting.
Daniel walks around the space and snoops a bit at the books on the shelves.
3 picture frames occupy a space on one of the shelves.
One is of Max and a blonde woman. He recognizes her as Maxs sister, Victoria. Theyâre both smiling widely.
The next seems to be a family photo. Max, Victoria, and in between them, their mother.
Max has his head on his motherâs shoulder and heâs clutching her arm tightly. Victoria does the same.
The third one is of Max and his father.
Jos is sat at a wooden desk, similar to the one in the office, with Max standing beside him.
Jos is smiling brightly while Max maintains a stoic expression.
Theyâre not touching in any way, and with the way that Max has his hands clenched infront of him, it seems that he preferred it that way.
He walks around a bit more before growing bored and decides to sit on the couch and mess around on his phone.
Time flies and his phone dies. He curses himself before shoving it in his pocket and standing to crack his back.
Itâs dark now and the lowlight of the office makes him feel cozy.
Daniel walks to the floor to ceiling glass windows and presses his hand against the glass as he takes in the city below.
âItâs nice isnât it?â A voice says from behind him.
He jumps and spins around to come face to face with Max.
âSorry I-â he clears his throat âI didnât hear you come in. How was the meeting?â
Max draws his lips into a line and shrugs.
Not good then, Daniel thinks. He wonders if it will be one of those days.
Max walks towards him and stands by his side. Together they watch the city lights in silence.
Something then catches Maxs eye and he tilts his head.
He grabs Danielâs hand and places it back on the glass where he had it previously.
âYou left a markâ he says flatly.
âOhâ Daniel tries to move his hand away to see and hopefully wipe it away, but Max keeps his hand there firmly with his own.
He covers Danielâs hand with his and steps closer to Daniel and brings his lips to his ear,
âClean itâ
The words brush the shell of his ear and Daniel forces himself not to shiver.
Daniel nods and goes to move his hand again. This time heâs successful as Max moves his hand away.
He doesnât step back though. He stays behind Daniel and watches as he grabs his handkerchief from his jacket pocket and clean away the mark.
It doesnât get rid of the mark completely, infact it might have just made it worse.
When heâs done he turns to face Max.
He just stares him up and down before turning and exiting the office.
Daniel follows him, hot on his heels.
Itâs clearly one of those days.
Daniel pulls up to the club and Max goes and gets his fun for the night.
Itâs always for the night. He doesnât let it get any further than that.
When Max gets back before he puts up the partition, he tells Daniel to bring them back to the apartment.
He does just that and the three of them cram into the private elevator.
Daniel stands towards the front and tries to ignore the sounds coming from the men behind him.
He focuses his attention on his shoes (a gift from Max. âYouâre my employee. You need to look the partâ)
He counts the floors in his head and lifts it in anticipation for theirs.
As he does so he catches Maxs eyes in the mirrored walls of the elevator.
Theyâre trained on him even though heâs clearly getting a handjob.
Daniel canât move his eyes away. Heâs entranced.
His eyes flicker to Maxs lips as they contort to let out a moan.
The doors open and Daniel shakes his head and steps out.
The two men follow suit and Max leads him and his friend to his bedroom, leaving Daniel standing out in the open.
Daniel rubs his palms against his thighs and turns to go to his own room.
~
Two weeks pass and Daniel has tried and failed to forget about what happened in the elevator.
Heâs found himself waking up in a sweat and a tent in his pants most days.
He says heâll forget about it eventually, even as he rubs one out in the shower and comes into his fist with a groan.
He tells himself that he shouldnât be thinking about his boss that way, when heâs at dinner with Max.
It was just a one time thing he says quietly, as he hears the slap of skin on skin coming from Maxs room when he gets up to drink water at night.
It wonât happen again.
~
Itâs NOT one of those days the next time it happens.
He and Max had just gotten dinner and Max makes him go to the club again.
Instead of going back to the apartment, Max makes him go around back and park.
Daniel thinks itâs just like the times before so he moves to exit the vehicle.
As he does so Max joins him and tells him to get back inside.
âWhat?â Daniel asks, thereâs a flush on his cheeks.
Max pulls him by his tie. He grips it tightly as he pulls Danielâs face to his.
âGet back insideâ Max whispers against his lips.
They stay like that for maybe a few seconds before Daniel nods and pulls away to go back inside.
Max yanks his tie one more time before getting into the back seat and locks the door.
Daniel collects himself and enters the drivers seat.
Itâs then he realizes that the partition is down and the guy is on his knees infront of Max mouthing at his crotch.
Max snaps his fingers and points to the rearview.
Daniel turns his head and forces his gaze to the rearview mirror.
âGood boyâ Max says, and Daniel is certain heâs not talking to the man in between his legs.
Daniel watches as Max gets a blowjob, keeping his own hands in his lap avoiding his dick.
He groans softly at every noise Max makes and bites his lip when he gets too loud and Max narrows his eyes at him.
Heâs sure he draws blood when he bites his lip particularly hard as Max comes with a loud moan.
His heart rate is up and heâs breathing heavily even after the other man has left the vehicle.
Max stays there, pants unbuckled.
âDid you touch yourself?â Max asks
âNoâ Daniel manages. It comes out almost like a whisper.
Max hums and fixes himself. Itâs only when heâs all tucked away and looking presentable, that he pays Daniel any attention.
âYou can nowâ he says simply.
And so Daniel does.
-
When theyâre on their way back to the apartment Daniel tries not to think about the almost bored look Max seemed to give him.
He tries not to think about it because it turns him on.
âââ
And scene. If this is horrible it might be because I wrote it on a whim after listening to Frank Ocean lol.
There are most definitely errors and maybe Iâll go back and fix them. Maybe
Also I titled this âWowzaâ in my notes app. Idk mehnnn
where vampire!Max is a sleepwalker. Daniel knows this. Max knows this. However one day he starts hunting people while he sleepwalks. So it becomes a common occurrence where he will call Daniel asking for help because heâs in an alley somewhere with a body next to him. Or maybe he wakes up in his tub covered in blood and panics because he KNOWS thereâs a body somewhere.
Daniel answers every time to help him.
Maybe one time Daniel suggests that he stay with Max to help his issues. However he sleeps on the couch (cause feelings) and he hears Max wake up and walk away. Chase ensues.
Next time he stays on the couch he wakes to find Max looming over him. Mouth open just enough that he can see his fangs. And heâs shirtless and panting. He stays still. Max crawls on top of him and the n oh m y god heâs licking his neck. No biting tho. (Hot) (no thatâs his friend) (could kill him) (Hot)
Conversations donât happen then they do.
The night Daniel sleeps in the bed itâs all good.
This is unfinished. But the finished version would look something like going through Danielâs career. The days(leaving Redbull), the weeks(Silverstone test), the months(retirement). Maybe Iâll get back to this who knows
ââ
The days after Redbull announced that Daniel would be leaving areâŠweird.
The press crowd him every chance they get but thatâs to be expected. The other drivers give him looks but whatever, itâs his contract not theirs.
No. The weirdness comes from Max.
Daniel gets cornered by him on his way to the garage, âWhy are you really leaving?â
Daniel huffs, âYouâve read my statement havenât you?â He tries to move to the side but Max does the same.
âThat statement was for the press,â Max narrows his eyes, âWhatâs the actual reason?â
Daniel licks his lips and averts his gaze.
You, he wants to say.
You, the racing genius whoâs going to put me out of a career if I donât do something about it.
âWell Max,â Daniel quickly glances at Maxs lips before bringing them back up, âI already gave my statementâ
Max frowns. Daniel pushes past him, âExcuse meâ
You, the reason for the ache in my chest that I keep trying to ignore.
The next day Max finds him as heâs leaving his drivers room. He shoves an energy bar into his hand. âItâs not the money is it?â Max asks
âGood Morning Daniel, How are you? Iâm good thanks for askingâ Daniel says annoyed, but not really.
Max rolls his eyes, âGood Morning Daniel ,hereâs a snackâ
They walk together to meet Christian. Daniel opens the energy bar and takes a bite.
âNo itâs not the moneyâ he says after he swallows.
âThen what is it?â Max asks annoyed.
Daniel sighs. âYouâ
He spots Christian. Good. The conversation will end.
âWhat?â
Daniel stuffs the rest of the bar in his mouth and gestures to Max with the wrapper.
Sorry canât answer, food in mouth.
Max frowns and leaves him be.
He finds him again when heâs leaving the track on his way to his vehicle.
âIf itâs my racing style then you can just adapt. You do that wellâ Max says in lieu of a greeting. It scares Daniel and makes him drop his keys.
âHell Maxyâ Daniel picks up his keys and continues walking.
âOr is this because of Baku? I apologizedâ Max follows him.
âItâs not about Baku. Or your driving style,â
They reach the car. Max stands near the door.
âThen what? Is it the âMad Maxâ? Iâm aggressive? I know I am but this is Formula Oneâ
Daniel sighs, âMax youâre perfect. Thatâs allâ
He shoves Max and gets inside and starts the car. Max still hasnât moved so Daniel rolls the window down.
âI have my own thing going on and- You-â Daniel rambles, Max listens intently.
Heâs not about to confess his feelings in a parking lot. Come on Dan, youâre an adult.
idk what this au is. ignore me. It came to me in a dream (I lied I was waiting at the doctors office)
â-
Before Daniel went to bed on Thursday night he made tea. Though he doesnât usually drink it, he decided to finish up the box of chamomile that sat dusty in his cupboard. It belonged to Max. And according to his friends he should âtry and move onâ.
He died. The love of Danielâs life died and they want him to âmove onâ.
He brings his tea to his bedside table to cool and shucks on a shirt. Also belonged to Max. Two years gone it longer smells like him, but..
but.
He gets in bed and lies on his side eyeing the cup. The steam rises and disappears into nothing. He brings the blanket up to his eyes and just watches the cup.
His eyes droop lower and lower before they shut.
When Daniel went to bed on Thursday night, he was wearing Maxs shirt. He fell asleep staring at Maxs cup which held Maxs tea
When Daniel woke up on Friday morning he was still wearing Maxs shirt but instead of staring at a chipped cat mug, he was on a bench on a subway platform.
He sat up straighter confused and worried.
A million thoughts ran through his head.
This must be a dream.
He hears footsteps and voices coming down the stairs and Daniel jumps to his feet.
Still only in sleep shorts, socks, and Maxs shirt he moves to the stairs to see who walks down.
âI for sure thought that round would last foreverâ
âYeah. The last guy was hiding in a treeâ
Two men pass him without glancing an eye. Daniel turns to face their backs wondering if in the dream (cause it must be) heâs invisible.
They turn back to face him both with confused looks on their faces.
âWhoâre you?â
âWho is who?â Says a voice from behind.
Daniel would know that voice anywhere. He can picture the movement of the mouth as the words come out.
A hand is placed on his shoulder and heâs being turned around.
âMaxâ Daniel says in whispered horror.
His face twists in confusion before he smiles, âNo, thatâs my name. Unless itâs also yoursâ
First meet would be something boring. Like thereâs a wedding abroad and they have seats next to each other. A quick hi and thatâs it. They see each other at the wedding but thatâs about it. At the end they each wish the couple well and Go their separate ways.
Second time theyâre at lunch. Max gets there first waiting for the rest of the party. Daniel arrives second already apologizing for his tardiness only to see itâs just Max, who then explains that mutual friend (donât know who it could be) is running late.
âLater than me? Impossibleâ Daniel tries to joke. âObviouslyâ Max replies.
Daniel shuts up and orders a drink. They sit in silence till [mutual friend] gets there.
Third time they have to share a hotel room for whatever reason.
âHey itâs you! Max right? From that thing a while backâ
Max says very little and they try not to be in the room at the same time to prevent the awkwardness. Till one night they go out, have a couple drinks and stumble back into the room chatting it up.
They share a hangover the next morning and Max makes a joke that has Daniel laughing despite the pain radiating behind his eyes.
They start talking more after that.
They check out without exchanging numbers.
Next couple of times theyâre at weddings because theyâre at that age where all their friends get married at the same time.
At one particular ceremony, thereâs an objection and a runaway. They side eye each other âdid that just happen?â
They enjoy the reception and sneak off into the gardens. They have the best night (Iâm thinking this is a turning point maybe?)
They exchange numbers and âooh and aweâ at the fireworks that people forgot were scheduled.
??? Time Max doesnât actually get invited to this thing. Heâs not close with whoever so heâs justâŠnot there obviously. However Daniel sends him a text asking if he would be his plus one.
He says yes (obviously) and they rent a vehicle and drive to the location. Daniel made a playlist.
They get there and have fun. They dance.
TheyâŠkiss.
Daniel apologizes. Max thinks he regrets it(he doesnât). The drive back is quiet.
Daniel drops him off, says a quiet âsorryâ and drives off.
They donât see each other for a while after that.
Maybe a Christmas or New Yearâs party.
Itâs kind of stilted.
They try to apologize at the same time.
Confessions and realizations happen.
Boom bam. Itâs all fixed.
Theyâre each otherâs plus one forever now. Obviously.
