1.5k of hunting you! this is the same verse as my ao3 fic "Blood Moon (Hunting You)" and also has a ficlet or two over here! max pov, arvid pov. featuring some rookies, a den, and threats to call pascale.
It doesn't often get cold in Monaco, but there's been an unnatural cold front sweeping through, and there's frost on the railing of Max's balcony. Rico is in the Netherlands to handle some business, and Max is feeling a bit small by himself in the den, no matter how many blankets he shoves in it.
He tugs at a loose thread with one finger, trying to ignore how he feels restless, muscles not quite fitting right under his skin.
He doesn't have to fully shift every moon the way Rico doesâ he doesn't need it. He chooses to do it anyways, because it's fun to chase Rico through the woods and go tumbling into the creek, or to pin him down in the den and scent him until the only thing he can smell is them.
But Rico isn't here, so he's not sure why he's getting the urge to den down, or why he doesn't quite feel right, and he's not entirely sure what to do about it, which really only leaves him one option.
Charles is not happy about being up in the middle of the morning. Max doesn't need heightened senses to know that, because Charles' glare is telling him all he needs to know.
"Let me be clear, you woke me up because youâ"
Charles raises an eyebrow, fingers lifted as he preforms quote marks.
Max chucks a throw pillow at him, displeased when Charles ducks.
Charles' head pops back up from where he'd dropped behind the couch, staring incredulously at him.
"Fix it? Why do I have to fix your weird wolf problem? Don't you have a mate for that?"
Max feels his lip curl, and there's a weird itch starting to form in his throat.
"Coven, Charles. Don't make me text Maman."
Charles' mouth drops open, eyes narrowing.
"Oh forâ don't text Maman. Merde. I'll figure it out, just sit there."
Max makes himself comfortable on the couch, grinning politely at Charles as the vampire flips him off. He can hear him rummaging in the kitchen, and he starts tugging at the blankets and pillows until he's a bit more satisfied, pausing for a moment when he catches Ollie's scent.
More of that. He turns, trying to figure out if he can catch any other hints of younger driver's scent, but he's not picking up on anything.
There's a muffled curse from the kitchen, and then Charles is stalking back into the living room, hands on his hips.
Max is holding the blanket with Ollie's scent between his fingers, flexing and uncurling against the fabric.
The corner of Charles' mouth twitches.
"And why is that? Finally giving in to your mother hen reputation?"
Max is not a mother hen, he just remembers how hard it was to be a rookie, and it doesn't matter that they aren't technically rookies anymore, he's still allowed to care.
"It's cold, Charles. What if he doesn't have enough things at home?"
His eyes widen. There's frost outside, Ollie is too young to know he needs to leave water dripping for his pipes, and oh what about Kimi? Or Gabi? Or any of the other young drivers? He lurches up from the couch, gripping at Charles' arms as he squawks in surprise, shaking him.
"Charlie, they are going to explodeâ"
Arvid had messaged Isack when he'd been brought into his F1 seat, mostly because he had a few questions, but also just for advice.
Isack had given him plentyâ don't ask about Nico Rosberg where Lewis can hear you, don't mention papaya rules, Alex and George are Alex and George, don't talk to Oscar about DRS, and if you get offered a calendar by Valtteri it's rude not to accept it.
Isack had not mentioned that he would be getting a text message from Charles Leclerc with an address and an ominous message to bring comfortable clothes and some food.
He tentatively opens a chat with Oliver Bearman.
Arvid: hey man I just got a text from someone saying they're charles
Arvid: [image attachment]
Oliver: yes I got the same text
Oliver: idk what it's about but that's definitely charles
Oliver: maybe we're having a slumber party :)
Arvid does not feel even remotely close enough with Charles Leclerc to be going to a slumber party with him, but the fact that someone else got the same message makes him feel slightly better.
When he runs into Kimi and Gabi in the elevator into Charles' building is when he starts to really get suspicious. They've clearly also just come over, cheeks and ears pink with the chill, and Kimi has his hands stuffed into his pockets, nose tucked into the collar of his Mercedes jacket.
Arvid lifts his container of stir fry like a peace offering.
Kimi nods down by his feet where there are paper grocery bags.
Gabi pulls a face, brushing a hand through his hair.
"I messaged Max to see if he knows anything, but I've not heard back."
Kimi seems alarmed at that, although Arvid isn't entirely sure whyâ it's only been about an hour since Charles messaged them.
Or maybe Max is normally a fast responder.
The elevator dings as they step out, and it's Kimi who reaches forward to knock on the door first, only for it to fly open before his knuckles hit the wood. Charles seems slightly frazzled on the other side, gaze flicking over the three of them before he nods, clearly satisfied.
"Good. Come inside, I hope you had nowhere else to be. Max! I have your puppies."
He shouts the last bit over his shoulder as he tugs the three of them inside, and Arvid can see Oliver's head pop up over the back of the couch, grinning at them. A moment later, Max's disgruntled expression also appears, and Arvid's eyes widen when he spots the narrow golden ears sprouting out of his disheveled hair, one of them twitching as he glares at Charles.
"Stop calling them that."
His expression softens when he looks at the three of them, head cocking to the side.
"Come den? It is so cold out,"
His lips twist into a small frown as he looks them over intently.
"âand I would hate for you to be all alone at home."
Charles scrubs a hand across his face with a heavy sigh.
"He is asking, but I am not. Give me the food and go den with him before I lose my mind, merci."
Arvid feels stunned as he passes over his food before slipping off his shoes and circling the couch. Max has transformed the area, and he has Oliver tucked under one arm. He catches a glimpse of furry blond near his hip before it disappears under a blanket, and then Kimi is stepping past him to snuggle right into Max's other side, and Gabi makes an offended noise.
"Why do you get to be there?"
"I got here first. And I am his favorite."
Both Gabi and Oliver make a strangled sounding noise before Max ruffles Kimi's hair, shoving his head down gently.
"I don't have favorites, Kimi."
Kimi cracks one eye to look smugly at the rest of them, and Arvid suddenly understands the game they're playing, lunging forward to secure his own spot across Max's chest before Oliver starts shouting about foul play.
Max wakes up warm. There are cool fingers scratching gently at the base of his ear, cold in the way only vampires can manage, but he has heavy warmth across his legs and curled against his chest, and his ear twitches as he cracks an eye, glancing upwards to meet Charles' amused gaze.
Charles' voice is soft, careful to make sure he doesn't wake the younger drivers, and Max can't deny that having his den so full makes his heart swell. He tilts his head further into Charles' hand, hearing a soft huff of laughter before there's a thumb rubbing circles in exactly the right spot. His leg twitches.
"I sent so many pictures to Maman and Lorenzo."
It takes a second for the words to register, and then Max freezes, leg falling still.
He keeps his betrayed hiss downâ there's no need to wake up the puppies. Not puppies. They're not puppies.
Charles smiles sweetly down at him before tweaking his ear.
"This is what you get for making your motherhenning my problem."
He flashes a hint of fang at Max, smug.
"Because we're coven, remember?"
Max narrows his eyes, but Charles just rolls his own before moving to pet gently at his other ear, and he can't help the way he leans into it.
Charles huffs another laugh, scratching lightly through his hair as his leg twitches again.
"Oui. But I am the dickhead who sent a cute picture to your mate."
Max blinks. Rico likes to tease him about the younger drivers, no matter how many times Max has told him it's not like that.
"Charlie, he's going to get baby fever."
Charles smirks, ruffling his hair before straightening back up.
