charlie, i have some space for you

hungarian heat

lestappen | rated e | 5.7k

Max has no idea how he managed a podium, but with how the season's going, he can't complain. He can't really celebrate either since he goes into heat a week early and has to rely on his friend and heat partner to get him through unexpectedly.

He just has to try not to ask Charles to bite him. Again.

--

Charles has spent years taking care of Max during his heats, and has been his friend for even longer. He's always there when he needs him, and a sudden heat is no different.

He just has to try not to bite Max when he asks. Again.

Kimi gives him an odd look as he sits down on the couch. He’s shocked he’s here, too, but there’s no need for that face. He’s struggling to cool off today, but it’s not unusual for the July and August races to be brutal like this. Maybe Kimi’s worried about him. “Hot one today,” he says as quietly as he can. He doesn’t want the microphones to pick up anything until Lando gets here. Even then, he wishes they could just actually cool off without eyes on them the entire time. “Got enough water?” “Yes, do you?” Kimi asks, still giving him a weird side-eye. “Of course.” Lando makes his way in and things kind of feel normal again. They watch highlights and Max notices that he’s a bit lightheaded. It’s not uncommon, but he really should be leveling out more by now. There’s AC and fans blowing on him and he’s definitely had plenty of water. They head to the podium and he feels a cramp settling deep in his lower back and hips. He knows what’s coming next. He can’t believe this is happening now.

what is mine

lestappen | rated e | chapters 3/3 | 15.5k

A sudden heat can change everything.

Max doesn't know what he's doing, and Charles isn't lucid enough to help him figure it out.

But sometimes instinct is all you need.

Max just has to let go of the control he's always had on himself and hope it doesn't lead to regret.

“Did you really want to break it?” Charles whispers. “Did you really want to keep it?” Max asks back. Charles turns his head so his nose is buried in Max’s neck. It’s not the side with his mating gland, but it still sends a shiver down his spine. Charles either doesn’t notice or doesn’t say anything about it. “It is very difficult for someone to lose so much control they mate someone who doesn’t want it,” Charles says quietly. His hand covers Max’s where it rests on his belly. “I just think we do not need to rush breaking it. We can get to know each other first. Maybe it is not a bad thing.”

what is mine

lestappen | rated e | chapters 2/3

A sudden heat can change everything.

Max doesn't know what he's doing, and Charles isn't lucid enough to help him figure it out.

But sometimes instinct is all you need.

Max just has to let go of the control he's always had on himself and hope it doesn't lead to regret.

Charles’ scent grows stronger in the car. It’s intoxicating. Through the sweetness of honey and sugar and caramel, there’s a hint of strawberry and citrus. It’s refreshing in the way a cold drink on the beaches of Monaco are, and Max needs more. There’s barely any distance between them in the backseat. Charles can’t sit in his lap for the drive, but he has one leg over Max’s and his face buried in his neck again. His arms are wrapped around one of Max’s, and every time Max tries to adjust in the seat, Charles squeezes him impossibly closer. The hotel isn’t far, but every minute that passes feels like hours. Max’s need to take care of Charles grows until it feels like a physical presence in the car. Neither of them speak. He’s not sure Charles can. Most of the noises he’s made since he said his name have just been small whimpers and groans. He must be in so much pain.

what is mine

lestappen | rated e | chapters 1/3

A sudden heat can change everything.

Max doesn't know what he's doing, and Charles isn't lucid enough to help him figure it out.

But sometimes instinct is all you need.

Max just has to let go of the control he's always had on himself and hope it doesn't lead to regret.

“What is that smell?” Max asks, nose crinkling up as he settles into his seat on his jet. He’s used to there being no scent other than the occasional smell of food or the fuel during takeoff. Not…whatever this is. It’s like burnt sugar and iron, a truly disgusting combination that has no place here. “Is something wrong with the plane?” “Dunno, mate,” Lando says as he settles across the aisle. He already has his headphones on and is scrolling through his phone for a playlist. He didn’t have a great weekend. Neither of them did. Max is just already in a phase of acceptance for his P6 finish, while Lando is growing more frustrated by the day with his endless P9-P12 finishes. “Maybe you should ask the pilot.” Max barely stops himself from rolling his eyes. He invited Lando knowing he’d be in a shitty mood; He can’t exactly throw an attitude back at him when he just wants to be left alone. “Excuse me?” Max sees the flight attendant rushing from the bathroom to the storage area in the back of the plane. He’s ignored. Maybe they didn’t hear him. He stands up and makes his way to the back, nearly gagging when the smell gets stronger and stronger. He can almost taste it, like copper and blood in the back of his throat. It’s terrible. “Excuse me. Is that smell something to do with the plane? Has some food gone bad?” Max asks the flight attendant facing away from him. It’s a man this time, a rare occurrence for his private flights. He seems tense and doesn’t turn when Max speaks. “I am sorry, we are handling it,” the man says, the lilt of a French accent present. “It will just be a minute.”

the birds, the bees, and help from gp

lestappen | rated e | 3.2k

Max looks to the one person he knows he can trust for advice about his first time. He's not given much to work with.

It turns out, it didn't matter much anyway.

Charles always finds ways to keep him on his toes.

welcome to miami

lestappen | rated e | 2.6k

fed love from silver spoons

lestappen | rated e | 8/8 | 52k

Max has always been jealous of Charles. His family loves him even when he loses, he's charming, he's pretty. He's the best, and maybe only, competition Max has.

But it's not just jealousy Max feels.

Even worse: Charles seems to feel it, too.

🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄

chapter 8: just feed me love and give it time

“You are panicking again,” Charles mutters against his skin. “It’s going to be okay. What is your biggest worry?” Max thinks about all of his worries. He has an ongoing list, one that has only grown since he read Charles’ journal: - Charles won’t feel the same once he wins a WDC - Charles will feel the same once he wins a WDC, but Max won’t - They will both feel the same, but their families/friends/teams/media/fans won’t allow them to be together - They are good at fucking, but not dating - They are good at dating, but get bored - They are bad at dating, and get bored with fucking - They have to stay a secret for so long they both resent each other - One of them does something stupid in a race - Both of them do something stupid in a race - They have to fight each other for a WDC and it ruins their relationship And more than all of those things combined, he worries that he will have to face his father and tell him the truth: That he has loved Charles Leclerc for a long time and would rather give up racing for the rest of his life than miss the chance to be with him.