Pairing: Carlos Sainz Jr x OC (Elena Vasilakis)

Summary: A big move and starting over, not quite Monaco like she was originally planning, but close enough for Alex to show up at her door and demand a little walk around town. Along with a run-in with a suspicious friend aswell.

Disclaimer: Charles being suspicious, Alex talking about being taken off the grid

Author Note: I did not get to do my usual second readthrough of this chapter, as I did my first edit review last night. (I also wrote it on my phone so its a little choppy.) My apologies if there are any issues, lmk if there are any glaring ones.

See the masterlist for AOTA here.

ENJOY!! Please comment and like! It makes me all excited for people to enjoy something as much as I do.

January 2021, Monaco

One of the first things Elena learned when she got to Monaco was that a four month old Maine Coon kitten could fit inside a small dog harness.

The second thing she learned was that Toro considered this a privilege.

"Get down."

Toro ignored her, pawing at some loose packing tape.

"Toro."

The kitten perched proudly on top of a half unpacked moving box, tail flicking as he surveyed his  brand new kingdom. One they had been in for hardly a couple days. His kingdom currently consisted of one couch, three lamps, two hundred cardboard boxes, and Elena sitting cross-legged on the floor trying to figure out where she'd packed her coffee maker as she fought the late afternoon sleepiness.

The apartment was beautiful. After doing some research she had decided, that despite all her drivers encouraging her to be in the country, that for as much as she’d be traveling it was not worth paying half her income in rent every month. She could manage, but Elena wanted to be able to retire someday. So instead, she found a perfect location in Cap-d’Ail. About a 10 minute walk from the Princess Grace gardens in Fontvieille, perfect distance from everything. 

She had a small balcony that overlooked the streets below, not much of a view but there were charms, if she leaned over the railing and looked down the road she could see a park and being rather high up, it meant the sun came in nicely for an hour or so every afternoon before disappearing behind the next row of buildings. 

The interior was nice, a two bedroom one bath, but the second bedroom was just a loft upstairs that overlooked her living room. She was planning on making that her office and sim space. 

It was perfect, and also a disaster. She had been unpacking for nearly three days and yet every time she turned around the boxes seemed to multiply. It was January, pre season testing didn’t start until early march. She spared a glance at the calendar she pinned to the wall in the kitchen. Important dates scribbled along the side for the next couple months. March 12th. She’d go back to work in a few weeks and start preparing for the new season.

Toro launched himself from the moving box to the couch. Then in a single bound he was sliding onto and across the glass coffee table, and in a last ditch effort to save himself, he flung himself up and into another box. The crash echoed through the rest of the apartment. 

Elena sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know, this isn’t a china shop.” A twitch of her lip curled up at her own joke. “You are so lucky that you are cute.” 

A buzz came from the door panel and Toro lept from the box and sprinted towards the sound. The cat loved guests, she was convinced if someone broke into her apartment he would give her up for a couple head scratches and a treat. 

Traitor. 

Elena pushed herself to her feet and stepped around a stack of kitchen boxes.

Alex stood outside wearing a pair of sunglasses perched on top of his head. Holding a bag of what Elena could only assume was some sort of food, probably because she had mentioned to him earlier that day she couldn’t remember where she packed her pots and pans. 

"You look terrible."

She stared at him with her lips pressed into a firm line, "You could have started with hello."

"I figured honesty was more useful." He squeezed past her into the apartment, careful to not let the cat make a mad dash out. Instead he placed the bag on the counter and bent down to pet the furball. "So, I brought some basics, and a small pan since you packed like a whirlwind.” 

“Thank You Alex”

"You're welcome."

Alex glanced over her shoulder into the apartment, then down at Toro, then back at the apartment.

"Wow."

"It's not that bad."

"It looks like a natural disaster."

Toro chose that moment to sprint down the hallway carrying what appeared to be a roll of packing tape. Alex watched him disappear into her bedroom

"Well at least you won’t be needing the tape for a while."

“He’s building a treasure trove of all my moving supplies. Earlier he took my labels too.” Toro reappeared in the hallway and trotted back towards them, strutting like this apartment was his, and he had signed the lease. 

Alex scratched behind Toros ears then looked up from his spot on the floor.  "So."

"So?"

"You're done unpacking for today."

She laughed, it was an absurd concept, she’d be packing half way into the night. "I'm absolutely not."

"You are."

"Alex-"

"You moved to…” Gestured to the window. “Basically Psudo Monaco. I live in Monaco. It's my civic duty to show you around."

"You have civic duties?"

"No."

"Thought so."

Alex stood and scooped Toro up effortlessly and went for the little harnass that was hanging on a hook by the door.

"Come on. Sunlight will do you good."

"You're kidnapping my cat."

"He likes me."

Toro immediately started purring as he got into the harnass. Walks were his favorite part of the day, Elena usually took him on one in the morning, so an afternoon one was a treat.

Elena looked betrayed as her cat was placed down and trotted out the door on his leash the second the door opened. 

"Fine."

"Great."

Alex headed for the elevator and Elena, after quickly slipping on her trainers, followed him. The boxes would still be there later. Unfortunately.

The weather outside was simply perfect. Which felt deeply unfair considering how much of her life currently was in chaos. Monaco (and her little border of France) seemed determined to be beautiful at all times.

Alex led them through narrow streets and winding slopes that Elena was convinced she would never remember.

"Coffee shop." He pointed toward a corner café with stripped awnings and a total of 3 tables outside for 2. "Best espresso in Monaco, other stuff isn’t bad either."

It took them a total of 5 minutes to order and be back on their walk with coffees in hand. Monaco was small but Alex had lots to share.

"Harbor." He directed as they breached the end of a street that gave way to the massive rows infront of them on the water. "Very expensive boats."

"Insightful."

"I know."

Toro walked in pace with the two, occasionally weaving between them, his tail swishing in the air, turning his head to watch people pass. Nobody seemed remotely surprised by the giant kitten. Which made a lot of sense considering where they were. 

"Never try driving through this area during race week."

"Noted."

"Actually don't drive anywhere during race week."

"Also noted."

The water glittered beneath the afternoon sun. Slowing to a stop just near a set of benches, they both decided to take a breath, both to finish their coffee and let Toro bound about on the empty benches. 

For a moment neither of them spoke. It was nice and peaceful. Alex was always like that, he kept everyone’s heads on their shoulders while also being incredibly genuine.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. "At least I won't have to deal with traffic this year."

Elena glanced at him. The comment was casual and light. The sort of thing someone said when they didn't want a conversation but he had tried to minimize the situation when it happened, and Elena cared about him too much to not check on him. 

"How are you doing?"

Alex shrugged, "Fine."

"Mostly."

She waited, knowing that he’d continue if she left him in the quiet long enough. 

"Different."

That at least felt honest. Not a bad thing but definitely not great.

"Yeah? That’s a step.” 

He smiled, "I guess it’s not terrible though."

"No?"

"No."

His gaze drifted toward the little yacht on the inner side of a dock. Not small by any means but in comparison with the ones that lined the harbor, it paled in comparison.

"I finally know where my apartment is."

Elena laughed, "That's your silver lining?"

"You'd be surprised how often I forgot."

"Fair."

Alex nudged her shoulder, it was probably rather obvious that she was trying to choose the right words.

"I'll be back eventually."

The confidence wasn't forced, it wasn’t bravado put on to impress. Just a confidence that Elena admired, and she believed him. 

"You will."

They walked another block towards where Alex claimed his favorite restaurant was located. Before they even got there Alex groaned. "Oh God."

"What?"

He pointed toward an old photograph displayed in a restaurant window. Some promotional image from years ago. “The owners have been putting up monthly photos of me since I got into f1. I come here far too much but they make fantastic pad krapow.” 

Elena squinted to see the photo in the window, then immediately burst out laughing.

The haircut. The awful, tragic haircut. Far too short, not doing any favors for his forehead.

"Oh no."

"It was a bad look for winter testing."

Elena shook her head and pointed at the photo “Actually, that was just between your f2 win and your signing with f1."

Alex froze.

Elena froze.

It felt like the world froze for a long moment. Then slowly, very slowly, Alex turned towards had in disbelief.

"What?"

"What?"

Elena's stomach dropped immediately into the center of the earth. The kind of drop usually reserved for roller coasters and realizing you'd sent an email to the wrong person.

 Shit πιάστηκα.

"Nothing."

Alex narrowed his eyes.

"No."

She resumed walking, tugging Toro's leash to move down the street ahead of Alex. The universal signal for this conversation is over. Unfortunately, Alex had known her for years and wasn’t going to take that as an answer.

"Elena."

"Alex."

"How do you know that?"

"Know what?"

"The haircut."

She shrugged, averting her eyes to the skyline above the buildings to avoid staring directly at Alex. 

"It was a bad haircut."

"Everyone knows it was a bad haircut."

He pointed accusingly.

"Nobody knows it was between the seasons and my debut."

She decided to just keep walking, faster. Elena decided that if she continued walking he couldn’t continue asking questions. Maybe if she walked fast enough she'd reach Italy.

"You googled it." Alex sounded unconvinced by his own suggestion.

"Exactly." She jumped on, deciding stalking was better than the truthful answer.

"It wasn’t a time with PR, so it wasn’t online."

"Everything is online."

"It literally wasn't until-“

Elena risked a glance toward him and that was her biggest mistake because Alex was looking at her the way a detective looked at a suspect five minutes before an arrest.

"Oh my God."

"No."

"Oh my God."

"No."

His eyes widened like the pieces were starting to connect somewhere in his brain. Infact, Elena could practically see them sliding into place.

"No."

Alex stopped walking entirely, but she kept going. The farther she could get the better. Three steps, four, five- 

“ELENA.” 

People whipped around to look at the commotion and she groaned, turning on her heel to face him. Toro got yoinked back from the abrupt stop. 

"Lower your voice."

"You."

Alex pointed dramatically at her. "Are hiding something."

Really. Genius detecting, all that and he only had figured out she was hiding something. Still didn’t know what it was she was hiding. So Elena continued to play the game.

"I'm not."

"You're lying."

"I'm really not."

"You absolutely are."

She sighed, Alright enough of playing the game. 

"Alex."

"No."

"Alex."

"NO."

He was already pulling out his phone. Which somehow made everything worse because now he knew where he was going to look for proof. Great. 

"What are you doing?"

"Research."

"That isn’t going to help you, do you know how much data is on the internet?”

He didn’t answer, face down on his phone, looking for something very specific apparently. 

"Alex."

It was too late though, his thumbs tapped across the screen and then he switched to his pointer finger to scroll, and scroll, and scroll. Then there was a dangerous kind of silence as he stared. Which meant he found something. 

"Oh."

Elena closed her eyes tightly, so much for three years of covert operations. 

"No."

Alex looked up slowly, bringing the phone up to face her, he jabbed a finger at the screen. 

"You posted the Victorian orphan comparison."

"What?"

"You posted the awful young year photos of George Lando and I."

She laughed despite herself as she pictured the post in her head, because honestly? Any of the young drivers photos had been funny.

"I'm not admitting to anything."

"That was many f1 fans first impression of us. You absolutely did."

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I didn't."

Alex shoved his phone toward her face. The ancient Grid Gremlin post filled the screen. A side-by-side of all three of the rookies, with the caption ‘Just a reminder that these are the rookies for the 2019 season.’

"That's circumstantial."

"Elena."

"That's not evidence."

"ELENA."

She laughed harder, scanning the bottom of the post, oh how her follower count had changed since that point. Alex looked personally offended at her giggling.

"You ruined my life."

"Oh, come on."

"The post has over got fifty thousand likes at the moment."

Toro meowed loudly at the fact they had been standing still for far too long. He started weaving between Elena’s legs which would become hell if she didn’t check the leash before she started walking. 

Alex pointed at the cat. "See, even he is disappointed in your posting behavior."

Toro blinked up at them, just before starting to lick his paws, staying a neutral party. Clever boy.  Alex went back to scrolling.

"Oh my God."

"What now?"

His expression became increasingly horrified , then increasingly delighted, then somehow both simultaneously. Oh no what had he found now. 

"YOU called my haircut a human rights violation."

"It was."

"You can't just say that."

"I did."

"You did."

"I did."

Alex stared at her for a brief moment then burst out laughing. The sound echoed down the street and drew more attention than him shouting her name earlier. Somehow that made Elena laugh too.

Years. She had kept the account mostly secret for years. Besides Cami, and on occasion someone being a bit suspicious she had been successful. And somehow Alex had figured it out because she'd accidentally identified a bad haircut from 2018.

Unbelievable.

"You are unbelievable."

"You looked like a groomed dog in the summertime."

"I was twenty."

"Exactly! And in my defense, I was saying you look way better with your current hair than that haircut."

She covered her face and Alex looked moments away from collapsing. Though she couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment or glee that he figured out his years long quest. 

"You made a bibliography of references for a post about my hair."

"I'm committed to quality."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"No." Alex grinned, shaking his head at her before linking his arm in hers, "I really don't." He started walking again, down towards the gardens, and towards the buildings that most of the drivers stayed in. 

For a while they walked, talking about stories, theories from the fans, Alex brought up many posts, and Elena had to defend herself for every one of them. It felt good to finally get to talk about it, with a close friend. It felt easy, which seemed to be the way things were with Alex.

"You know everyone is going to lose their minds if they ever find out."

Her smile faded slightly, giving his arm a little squeeze, "That is exactly why nobody can."

The joking disappeared instantly, Alex understood because despite all the teasing, he knew what the account actually was. A corner of the sport that belonged entirely to her. It was something that she had built all by herself. Not because of team allegiances, of driver favoritism, or because of politics, it was all her and the silly photos she had taken of her friends over nearly 6 years of the sport.

"Alex."

His expression softened, understanding the question she was about to ask "I won't tell anyone."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"Not Lando."

"Okay."

"Not George."

"Okay."

"Not Carlos."

"Okay."

She studied him carefully.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Elena exhaled, feeling like her secret was finally locked away nice and safe between three people now. Her. Cami. And now Alex. "Thank you."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Only to be broken by an idea, Alex opened his mouth, “You know… technically, as the grid gremlin-“ 

"Charles?” The two had rounded the corner of a high rise and ran directly into a familiar face. There were very few people capable of looking suspicious while simply standing still. Charles Leclerc was one of them.

He wore a hoodie, in 23 degree weather, a hat baseball had pulled down, and sunglasses tucked under that. It was the sort of disguise that only made someone significantly more noticeable. The kind that only worked in super hero movies. 

Alex squinted at the figure who Elena could only assume was pretending to be a vampire hiding from the sun. 

"Charles."

"Alex."

Charles nodded toward Elena.

"Elena."

"Charles."

Alex didn’t let the awkward silence hang too long, instead hiding a twitch of his lips. "You look normal."

Charles looked offended. "I am normal. So, incredibly normal. This is how I dress."

"Sure."

"I'm serious."

"Right."

Charles adjusted the brim of his hat, trying to seem like someone who was definitely not sneaking around Monaco. Which naturally made him look exactly like someone sneaking around Monaco.

Elena bit the inside of her cheek, and Alex looked seconds away from saying something. Charles looked seconds away from defending himself. Neither outcome would improve the situation.

"What are you two doing?" Charles asked finally obviously trying to change the conversation away from his escapades. 

Alex answered immediately. "Nothing."

Charles narrowed his eyes, and Elena’s stomach sunk. Had Charles overheard Alex talking about the grid gremlin? Did Charles now know one of her deepest secrets? 

"That sounds suspicious."

"It's not."

Now Charles turned his attention to Elena and repeated the line of questioning.  "It sounds suspicious."

"It's not." She mimicked Alex.  Charles looked between them. Alex. Elena. Back to Alex. Back to Elena. Then finally, something flickered across his face. A dangerous curiosity, the kind that had gotten him into trouble since childhood. The kind that would make him put the overheard conversation together. He was thinking, connecting dots, the exact thing Elena didn't want him doing.

"Right." Charles smiled and then turned his attention to escaping the conversation before the topic turned to him and why he was sneaking around Monaco like some marvel actor on a set. "Well." He took a step backward. "Enjoy your walk." Then another. Then another. Until he was about eight paces away before he turned towards the apartment buildings that overlooked the harbor. The building he didn’t live in. At least Elena didn’t think he did. 

Definitely not suspicious.

Elena watched him disappear, then looked at Alex. "So much for keeping it a secret huh.” She scowled at the man who had in an instant flipped to being a kid being scolded. 

"It slipped out."

"It slipped out."

"It slipped out."

"You are the worst."

"I know."

By the time Elena made it back to her apartment, the sun had disappeared behind the buildings of the beach side French town. The city glittered outside her windows, the golden lights reflected off the windows across the way.

From her deck everything looked impossibly beautiful. Which would have been easier to appreciate if Toro wasn't currently halfway inside a kitchen cabinet.

"Absolutely not."

The kitten ignored her and a spoon immediately clattered onto the floor, then another, then a third. Elena stared at the furball, and clearly he had become immune to her scowl even at four months, because he simply stared back, neither of them moved. 

Then he slowly opened his mouth and grabbed the packet of instant ramen flavoring from the counter and jumped down, sprinting away. 

"Why?"

Toro vanished around the corner and she heard a thud into a wall. Followed by a pause, then the sound of tiny paws running at full speed once again.

Elena dropped her forehead against the counter. The evening passed slowly, the walk had taken a lot out of Toro apparently because about an hour later he crawled up on the cat tree she built for him, curled up, and lazily watched her unpack. 

She sorted kitchen supplies, hung and folded closed, found a few things that she had honestly forgot she owned, then lost things she had been holding thirty seconds ago. As is moving.

The apartment steadily became more livable and less like a storage facility. It was becoming more of her home, a place she could imagine spending her off time. 

The thought probably should have felt heavier. The whole moving countries, starting over, leaving England behind, leaving Marco behind, leaving all the ugly memories behind.

Instead she found herself thinking about Alex laughing so hard he'd nearly dropped his phone, about Charles' suspicious behavior, and about the fact that somehow, after years of secrecy, she'd managed to expose herself because of a haircut.

The universe had a cruel sense of humor.

It wasn’t the first time she started over completely, she did it once when she was much younger, when she decided to tell her family she wanted to attend university in England, and not stay where she called home all her life. She did it then, and she could do it now. Only now she didn't just have her families support, she had a whole community behind her.

Her phone buzzed.

Elena glanced down automatically to catch a glimpse of the message. It was Max. Or rather, as she had him in her phone The Child 🇳🇱.

It was the contact name she'd assigned him years ago after one particularly chaotic race, and a story from Charles about yet another inchident.

 The message contained exactly three words.

you're grid gremlin

Elena leaned over on the counter so quickly she almost hit her head trying to get closer to the screen. Even Toro raised his head from his comfy perch. She ignored him and intensely stared at the screen. Then read it again, and again.

There there was absolutely no reason Max Verstappen should know that.

None.

Zero.

Impossible.

Unless… no. No that was a stupid idea. 

Alex? Alex wouldn't, he had promised. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.

how do you know that

The typing bubble appeared, disappeared, appeared yet again, then vanished entirely.

A couple seconds passed and there was nothing. She narrowed her eyes as if demanding that the bubble return. Then as if obeying her demands another message arrived.

who else got a photo of me flipping them off from a window

Elena stared at the message. Well shit. It was just a stupid photo she had taken over a year ago, Max was chucking redbulls out a window. It was a media thing. And she had yelled up to him to ask if she could get one. Got that in response. 

She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on the cool marble. Today of all days. Right after she had told Alex, and after Charles had potentially overheard and…

Very slowly she lifted her head and started to type again.

you are unbelievable

Three dots appeared instantly.

it was obvious

it was not obvious

it really was

Max 

I’ve heard enough from people to put it together.

Another message came through seconds later. 

some of them are actually very funny

Of all the responses she expected from Max Verstappen, compliments were not one of them. Somehow that felt more alarming than him figuring it out. She and Max had lots of history, but they always had to throw jabs at eachother. It was their thing. Another notification.

don't get excited

Elena barked out a laugh, of course Max could read her mind, sense her disbelief. There he was, back to normal for the most part. She typed back immediately.

you literally complimented me

don't make it weird

too late

Several seconds passed before Max responded with. 

i won't tell anyone

The smile slipped from her face, because despite everything, that is what mattered to her. That she could trust her friends to keep that small however chaotic corner of the internet as hers. 

thank you

There wasn’t a message for a very long time, Then her phone buzzed one final time.

Charles may have overheard you though. 

She paused, what the fuck? That, she decided, was not a problem for Elena today. That, would be next week Elena’s problem. Instead she placed her phone back on the charger and walked back to a couple of boxes. After a bit more unpacking she ended up lying on her couch at midnight wondering how many Formula One drivers knew about her secret meme account.

Which felt ridiculous, udderly ridiculous. And yet? So incredibly entertaining. A list had formed that day of drivers who now knew and she had a feeling that it was going to grow. 

Lord help her. The season hadn't even started yet.