maruru

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Max is almost always first to arrive. He doesn’t know if it’s in his nature, in his genetic code, or he was raised this way, but he’s glad to be first this time. He chooses his place and puts up his phone where Spa qualification is starting in fifteen minutes. Sound’s off but does someone really believe that Max Verstappen needs comms? He feels like he can survive this dinner.

The door opens and ruins his peace because it’s George. Why does it have to be George? He’s been behaving strangely since last season making Max uncomfortable. At first, Max was sure that George hates him. It was obvious after Qatar 2024, wasn’t it? George put some elaborate scheme to dirty him in the public eye. How different was he in the stewards' office and in front of cameras! Max can’t stand fake people so he was ready to stand his ground in this fight but 2025 came and nothing escalated. He still heard snide remarks coming his way but they were relatively innocent - he’s dangerous and aggressive - nothing he hasn’t heard before, so why pay them any mind? They haven’t mended their relationship, although it’s strange talking about mending if there wasn’t anything to mend in the first place. However, Max’s calm didn’t last long – Spain happened. Even though he was more frustrated with the team and angry at the situation itself, people started making assumptions about his relationship with George. Honestly, he didn’t care about the media that much but George’s been behaving like a completely different person ever since. He has a wild glint in his eyes now which Max can’t decipher – does George want to kill him or to fuck him? Maybe if he gave Max clear signs instead of this confusing game which rules he doesn’t know, Max would be able to take necessary measures. Instead, he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter what he does, he won’t like the outcome. So he chooses to play nonchalant and greets George normally and promptly goes back to his phone. He has enough time to send a quick message to his boyfriends to wish them good luck. If George sees his bright and affectionate smile, then Max hopes he takes the hint and stops with his longing gazes.

The drivers pour in one by one and Max breathes a sigh of relief. Ollie and Gabi are sitting on his left and engaging him in their conversation. He’s glad. Even though he likes Kimi, supports him and is ready to defend from noisy journalists, media tends to exaggerate their relationship. In fact, Bubbles was and - as long as he has a say in it - will be his favourite duckling. For obvious reasons, he can’t broadcast this information through the paddock. What he can do is to be there for Gabi when he needs Max. So Max directs his attention to Gabi and Ollie discussing an upcoming race as well as Spa. He gets teased by Gabi every two minutes because the latter is aware of his relationship with Jules and Dani and can’t miss an opportunity to laugh at him a little bit.

Max’s having a good time – all smiley and giggly – until he notices George staring at him while dawning the next glass of his cocktail. While Max is sure that George’s team takes good care of him, he’s convinced that someone has to step in and take alcohol from him. They drink after the race, not before. This someone isn’t going to be him, though. Carlos and George aren’t friends per se but George doesn’t behave like a madman around Carlos, so Max can try inciting Carlos against his alcoholic escapades. The place next to him – previously occupied by Carlos – is now empty. Such a good excuse to leave the table and George’s intense stare.

He heads to restrooms and walks with a spring in his step – he’s escaped. Or so he thought, until he hears not so innocent sounds which he definitely doesn’t want to hear. The dinner is a private affair, so people behind the door aren’t some random employees who’s decided Formula 1 paddock is a place to explore their exhibitionism kink. Behind the doors are drivers. And Max knows their voices. He checks the table for a good measure and sees Charles talking to Pierre. Why is he so calm? He might’ve noticed that both Carlos and Lando are absent from the table. Either they’re in some stupid kind of open relationship or he doesn’t know that Carlos is cheating on him. Goodness, is he the only one who knows? He didn’t sign up for that many responsibilities. He needs to tell Charles but then what if Charles knows – he’s going to make a fool of himself. No, he needs a better plan. Firstly, he sends a quick message to the group chat with his boyfriends, promising to spill some tea. It gives him a minute to collect himself and start eavesdropping – he’s already here, might use the situation to his advantage.

“Missed you so much, bebé.” Then some rustling, he presumes they’re undressing which is – not a good idea in the slightest. Don’t they know there’s only one men's restroom? They can get caught so easily. They need to hurry up and drop some interesting gossip. Otherwise, Max would’ve wasted his time here. More rustling and kissing follow. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t meet during the break. Charles was adamant on spending time with our families. Agh,” So Lando doesn’t like hearing about Charles, he leaves this thought for later. “I think he knows, agh, he knows.”

Next two minutes Max listens to them passionately kissing and – when there’s no sign of conversation and a huge red sign of more explicit things happening – decides to check out. His circus, but definitely not his monkeys – TikTok and Crane taught him that.

His best bet and the right option from the start is Alex.Don’t get him wrong, he likes Alex. He’s easy-going but not shallow, thoughtful, respectful, with a good sense of humour, and a great driver. But, there’s always a but. Max is aware that George might not hate him but, on the contrary, harbours romantic feelings for him. It’s all nice and good until you learn about the most bizarre and at the same time the most normal foursome Max knows which both Alex and George are part of. Actually, that’s why Max denies George’s affections for him – he doesn’t want to open the can of worms of him possibly being the reason for their breakup. He sees Lily and Carmen in the paddock but he doesn’t interact with them so he doesn’t have to look guiltily into their eyes, even though it’s not his fault whatsoever. Dani said that he can’t be blamed for being his charming self whereas Jules kissed his neck to distract him from overthinking. Still, he can’t shake up this feeling from his shoulders when he finds his way to Alex.

“Alex, mate, don’t wanna spoil your evening but you have to check on George, he’s really going at it with cocktails.” There, he said it and even looked Alex in the eyes. Alex looks confused for a second, then understanding dawns on him and he suddenly has a resigned look. It doesn’t suit him. Max winces. “Sorry, mate, if I’ve seen someone from his team, I wouldn’t have dumped it on you.”

“That’s alright, Max, thank you for telling me.” He gathers his thoughts and goes to George. Max is at loss. He just doesn’t get: George is loved, not even by one person but three. Alex always wears an adoring look around George and he understands how George operates and what he needs – why is it not enough? What’s more he needs to stop looking around and just accept love which is generously poured over him.

Max stops his musings when he notices the look on Charles’ face. Well. He completely forgot about Charles and now needs to act fast. His conscience will eat him alive if he keeps silent about Carlos’ fling with Lando but he of course doesn’t want to be between them choosing sides. It hinders his access to good gossip. Nevertheless, he can’t stop himself from blurting out ‘Carlos has a secret from you’. He panicked, okay? It’s a good phrase, secrets can be good so he can’t be in Carlos' bad graces but he also warned Charles. Actually, he did an excellent job. Charles looks at him with a knowing smile, it’s small and there are wrinkles around his eyes, he looks very pleased.

“A secret? Unfortunately for him, I know already.”