Max Verstappen x Alex Albon
♡
Just For You
°°°
Max entered the red bull hospitality and immediately his attention was on Alex who was sitting alone and looking gloomy. He was holding his phone, but his attention was elsewhere.
Max was about to approach Alex when Christian tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey. Are you free?" he asked. Max glanced at Alex again, then nodded.
"Well yeah. I just got here. What's up?"
Cristian nodded, then motioned for Max to follow him. Max obeyed and followed him without asking anything.
It turned out that Christian had invited him for a quick casual meeting. Max tried to focus and divert his attention from Alex who looked very sad.
This isn't the first time Max has found his teammate under pressure like that. But somehow, seeing Alex in such a situation made him restless and can't calm down.
***
Alex decided to stand up and back to the hotel room. He sighed and left the hospitality. He walked slowly when someone called him. He turned around and saw Max running towards him.
"Hey." Max greeted. Alex smiled. "Hey Max. Where are you going?" Max caught his breath, then chuckled.
"Go to you." Alex raised his eyebrows in confusion. "To me?"
"Yeah. Do you have time, or are you in a hurry? Where are you going?" Ask Max. Alex looks confused. Instantly he saw Max's expression change from enthusiastic to embarrassed.
---
Max seeing Alex's confused face when he heard what he said immediately realized his mistake.
What is he doing exactly? Why did he come to Alex? Why did he ask if Alex had time? Why does he care?
Even though all this time he has always maintained all relationships here as a professional. No personal feelings interfering. But why was his body suddenly moving faster than his brain? Why did his lips speak and reveal the secrets of his heart so easily?
He immediately waved his hand and laughed. To get rid of the awkwardness.
"Sorry! I shouldn't be asking questions like that! Just continue on your way. I want to go back-" when Max was about to turn around, Alex held his arm.
Max was surprised when he turned around and now Alex's expression looks happy. His eyes shone and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Uhh thanks. I mean - I was going back to the hotel. But I don't have any specific plans. So I guess I have plenty of time. What's up?" Max was still surprised by Alex's enthusiasm from hearing his question.
At first he just wanted to ask if everything was okay. But after seeing Alex this enthusiastic, he couldn't bear it.
"Ahaha. That's good. I want to ask you to relax at the cafe for a bit." Max said spontaneously. The twinkle in Alex's eyes grew even brighter.
"Really? Do you have time?" Alex asked hopefully.
"Of course. That's why I asked you." Alex nodded enthusiastically. Max cursed to himself.
Relaxing at the cafe? What the hell is that? Alex is right. Does he even have time for that? Even though it's better for him to go back to practice in the simulator.
But somehow he was happy because the words just slipped from his lips.
But now the problem is which cafe will he take Alex to? He really doesn't know the ins and outs here.
"Wait. I'll make a quick call." Alex nodded. Then Max walked a bit away and took out his phone.
He searched for a good cafe near there. And soon he cursed to himself. According to the internet, because it was race week, the cafe near here was full. And that's not good. They wouldn't be able to relax if the cafe was filled with fans.
With a heavy heart, he back to Alex who was now looking down at his phone.
"Max!"
"Yeah?"
"Can I choose the place?" Max was stunned. He immediately nodded.
"Of course. Do you know a good place here?" Alex shows his phone to Max.
"Cat cafe. It's a bit far. But it looks very comfortable and quiet. What do you think?" Max stared at the cafe review photo that Alex mentioned. It is true that the place looks very comfortable and quiet.
He glanced at the clock on his phone and nodded.
"I think we can relax there for a while. We deserve it." Alex squeaked happily. Then he put his phone in his pocket.
"Alright it's decided! Let's go!"
Max chuckled, then followed Alex from behind.
For some reason, his heart, which had been restless and sad when he saw Alex was gloomy, Now felt very happy because he saw Alex was enthusiastically walking in front of him.
What is going on?
What really happened to him?
***
The trip to the cafe was so fun. Max has never felt this close and comfortable with his teammates. He has always instilled the mindset that teammates are colleagues. Therefore all that is related to them is only limited to work.
Likewise with Alex. Previously, he could only sigh when he was told that his teammate was being replaced again. He thought that his relationship with Alex would be no different from his relationship with his former teammates.
But why is he now driving casually while laughing out loud because he heard Alex's funny story?
Why did he feel calm and happy when he could take Alex away from a place that was causing him so much stress?
***
The cafe is really comfortable and quiet. Exactly as they said on the internet. They spend their time laughing at the cat's antics, or scrambling to pet a new cat that comes to them. Both of them really like cats. So the cat cafe is really the right choice.
"Max," Alex called in a soft quiet voice. Max, who was stroking the cat, turned his head.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." Max was stunned. Then he chuckled.
"For what? This place you found it yourself." Alex shook his head.
"For your time. Thank you. I really enjoyed it." Now Max was completely speechless. His hand that was stroking the cat, now stopped in midair.
"Mate, it's nothing. I just realized we need some time to ourselves. Even if it's just a bit, before heading into a busy weekend." Alex nodded, then took the gray cat and kept it on his lap.
"Right. You think it's a small thing. But for me, it's really big." Now Max's attention completely turned to Alex.
"Just an hour ago I really felt broken. For some reason, I always expected that F1 would indeed have more pressure. But when faced directly with that pressure, instantly my mentality felt crushed little by little. And it seems like relaxing like this with people who makes me calm, really can make my mental recovery quickly."
Alex smiled, looking at the cat purring in his lap. Max stared at Alex without saying anything.
"Me? Keep you calm?" Alex's face was red.
"Ah um, I mean. Well, yeah. I don't know why when you're around, my anxiety just goes away." Max frowned.
"Aren't I the source of all the pressure you're getting?" Alex lifted his face and met Max's gaze who was looking straight at him.
"What do you mean?" Max sighed.
"You know what I mean." Max shifted.
"Almost all of my previous teammates were always compared to me. And that's what always made our relationship tenuous. So if you feel pressured, then I'm sure the reason you feel pressured is because of me. I'm the one who is always used as a reference for you to reach, or at least on par with me."
Alex laughed. Max frowned in confusion.
"Oh my god yeah that's right. I should be anxious and uncomfortable when I see you, right?" Seeing Alex who was laughing, Max couldn't hold back his own laughter.
"Yeah, of course. What's wrong with you?"
***
The two drivers' trip without the knowledge of the team annoyed Marko and Christian.
The next morning Alex was immediately summoned to meet Marko and Christian. Marko immediately scolds him about his and Max's sudden trip.
Marko blames him and considers him a bad influence on Max.
"Max has changed. Now he argues more and against his own team. All that happened after you were here!" Alex shook his head. He couldn't believe that he made Max change even to his own team. He did not feel he give any influence on Max.
After that Marko kept badgering him and blaming him about the trip they had yesterday.
Alex tries to explain that their trip was agreed by both parties. But Marko didn't believe it and said that Max would definitely prefer being in the simulator than hanging out with his teammate.
Alex fell silent. It is true. The Max he knew would indeed do that. But why was the Max from yesterday so gentle and caring about him?
What's wrong with Max?
Not that Max is a cold person who doesn't care about other people. But he is a very hard working person and values time. So, chilling out for hours with him is hard to believe.
After discussing the incident yesterday when they left, Marko immediately discussed his performance on the track.
"How come you're always so far below Max? You guys share the same machine. There shouldn't be any reason other than that you just, can't. Unable." Alex swallowed hard.
His heart had ached many times when he heard Marko speak. But this time it felt like the words had cut him alive.
"I'll need some time to settle into the car, and find a driving style that suits me. Then I'll try to catch up with Max and get myself on par." Marko scoff. As if mocking.
"Don't think stupidly like that. We won't slow down to wait for you. But you should be the one running to catch up to us." Alex looked down. Very painful. But what he said was true.
"If you can't run with us then we will look for a driver who can run fast consistently, until he can catch up with us."
***
Max was told that he was called by Marko and Christian. He's already uncomfortable. They must have been talking about him leaving with Alex yesterday.
He didn't care if they were mad at him. But what he was worried about was that they would scold Alex, and make Alex stay away from him like his previous teammates.
Somehow the image of Alex moving away from him was scarier than Marko's sharp glare scolding him.
Max sighed, quickening his pace. He arrived at the door of Marko's room when he heard Marko's annoyed and loud voice.
He heard how Marko indirectly threatened Alex that if he didn't equal Max immediately, then he would be replaced.
Max felt very annoyed. According to him, this is not what must be done to increase driver performance.
He really wanted to rush in, swear at Marko who was rude to Alex, and calm Alex who at this time must be holding back his tears.
But he knew better.
Alex would definitely be very offended if he decided to butt in. And maybe he'll think that Max thinks he's weak, that's why he needs Max's help.
Because of that thought, he returned to the hall on the right, and sat there, until he heard the door open, and Alex walked quickly through the hall. He got up and looked in the direction Alex had disappeared, then he head into the office.
***
Alex thought he was stronger than this. But in fact he's not.
He felt like he wanted to just go home and hug his mother, and hear his mother saying that everything would be fine.
Alex walked into his hotel room and plopped down on his bed. Needless to say, the tears just flowed.
***
Max couldn't stand Marko's ramblings, which he thought were exaggerated.
Annoyed, he reversed Marko's words, and told him that he would follow Alex if his treatment of Alex didn't change.
After letting out all his frustration, Max left the room casually. Leaving Marko with his thoughts.
Christian arrives at the front door when Max opens the door with a bang, then quickly disappears down the corridor.
"Sorry I'm late. By the way what's wrong?" Marko sighed, then leaned back in his chair.
***
Max stood awkwardly in front of Alex's room.
Why is he here? Didn't he intend to go to the park to cool his head for a while? Then why did his feet bring him here?
Finally he decided to knock on the door.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door softly. Soon, Alex was seen peeking through the hole in the door, and the door opened to reveal his puffy eyes, which he was trying to cover up.
"Max?"
"Are you okay?" He had so many words he wanted to say, but why did those come out? Alex's eyes widened. He stepped back and covered his face with his hands, and shook his head.
Max enters the room and closed the door.
"Sorry. Sorry I'm acting weird for crying like this. I-"
"Hey. It's okay. Don't rush. I'll be waiting here."
Instead of being calmer, after hearing that Alex's crying broke even more. Max was shocked.
He approached slowly while stretching his arms, wanting to hug Alex. But stopped when he was actually in front of Alex.
Doubt filled him.
After hearing Alex's sobs again, Max finally pulled Alex into his arms. Unexpectedly, Alex melted easily into his arms. Alex is taller than Max, but Max feels Alex is very small and frail in his arms.
"Thank you. For everything. I know you did something wrong, for me, did something you don't have to do, for me. And I didn't realize it, until now." Max paused, then remembered everything he had done for Alex.
It turned out that this was not the only time he cared about Alex. If he remember correctly, he fought more with the team because defending Alex.
Max didn't answer, he just stroked Alex's head gently.
"I never said thank you."
"And you'll never have to."
Max answered softly. The gentlest tone he'd ever spoken.
~~~
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