Chapter Text
As expected he has a good night's rest with Charles on-top of him, the Monegasque moving very minimal with soft snores and little grunts that make Max worry if he’s having a nightmare or something but every time he opens his eyes he’s greeted with a peaceful sleeping beauty that puts his concerns to rest.
The sun rises a little too fast for his liking, he pretends to sleep as long as the brunette. When Charles wakes, there’s a bit of confusion, awkwardness and embarrassment; he clears his throat, he backs away, he mutters a soft apology and makes a joke about drooling. Max being the fake sweetheart that he is also apologizes for letting it all happen and again overstaying his welcome. They share a knowing look, before it all gets too heavy and Charles avert his glance first.
Max straightens his clothes, button-up a few extra opened ones from last night before combing his hair with his fingers. He mutters again a quick apology, a small smile before he leaves the room. They’ve slept on the same bed together but last night on the couch in that position was a little more intimate so Max acts like it was an honest mistake, but his expression changes in a heartbeat as soon as the door closes.
He’s back to being the ever calculating and manipulative Dutch Lion. Returning to his room, he takes a long cold shower, he calls for room service and actually picks up a book to read and kills his time. He will not be heading out of his room today, he doesn’t want a chance to run into Charles. Why?
Some say ‘absences makes the heart grow fonder’
He’s doing it again and if he’s lucky, Charles will miss him; his company, his voice, his smell, his laugh, his everything and Max can play the role of an Alpha falling in love– he’ll be the one extending the hand, making it simple, playing the first moves so Charles can just plop in his arms and be thankful on how easy it is to love Max Verstappen. Like it was meant to be— according to Max, it is meant to be, they are mates after all. This is what it’s supposed to be. This is what is right.
So, he doesn’t leave his room until it’s dark outside and he needs to stretch his legs a little. He picks something very casual to go out in, T-shirt, jacket and knee-length shorts, he figures he may or may not run into Charles so there isn’t any need to put in more effort. Max makes his rounds at the common area, with each place checked out of his mental list, he starts to wonder if maybe Charles had headed back to his room to rest.
It wouldn’t matter to him either way, he could see the Monegasque tomorrow and gauge if his plans are working the way he wants them to. Just as he thinks this, Charles’ scent fills his nose and Max immediately sinks into that heavenly-sent scent. He’s stargazing outside, the wind is heavy and cold in the night, Max finds himself walking towards him like a magnetic pull.
And it’s like Charles scents him too, turning his head and meeting Max’s gaze instantly.
“Franz… I didn’t see you all day.” He sounds almost disappointed, Max feels his heart squeeze even if it was his entire plan to start with.
“Yeah. I was… reading a book in my room.”
“Oh.”
“What about you, Charles?”
“I… uh… went for a swim and just… sat around..”
“Is that why you’re here?” Max doesn’t acknowledge the loneliness, not yet.
“Yeah. I… uh… I don’t quite know what to do…today.”
It was boring wasn’t it? It was different from having so much company and then suddenly none…even though just like the first few days, Charles could find new friends and new companionship but it all dulls in comparison doesn’t it? They don’t have the same connection. Not on the same wavelength. It is different. It isn’t the same. Whoever that is doesn’t hold the same level of thoughts, doesn’t always take his heart…unlike Max or should he say… Franz.
“I could lend you a book? Or recommend some movie titles?”
“...” Charles doesn’t respond to it, his green eyes just continue looking ahead, as if he’s confused with the feelings in his heart right now, not a right word to describe the growing turmoil. They are both Alphas, this attraction isn’t normal. Did he miss Max that much?
“Charles?”
“...O-Oh, sure. That’s nice of you, Franz.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll lend you a book tomorrow… but for now…” Max shrugs off his jacket and he wraps it around Charles’ shoulder, watching the way the brunette’s eyes glaze over him with such sparkling intensity. “Take my jacket… it’s cold outside… and the wind is strong.” he says very softly.
There will be no one else in this world who cares about Charles, more than Max. The Dutch Lion can only wish he can read minds right now because his mate is giving him a look that makes him want to kiss him senseless.
“...I should go… don’t stay out too late, Charles.” He smiles warmly and leaves even when his heart really wants to stay there with Charles forever.
It does hurt a little bit to watch his mate suffer in some confusion; logically, Charles is trying to balance the boundaries while also realizing how good Max really is. The hormone pills must also be working to his favor and his scent must be a lot sweeter to his mate. This goes against everything Charles used to believe, and what he was taught by Ferrari. This isn’t at all normal to him but he must also really want Max to be around— that would be the only logical explanation for it.
The next day when Max finds Charles in the afternoon to pass over a book, he’s very pleasantly surprised that Charles does not have his jacket in hand to return to him unlike the first time he attempts this plan. To reward his mate for being so obedient, Max takes the seat beside him and eats lunch with him, he even rests his arm around Charles’ chair, very nonchalantly they’re back to their closed proximity again.
“I saw a smoothie bar down the line, gonna go get one, do you want one?” He offers, halfway leaving his seat and the Monegasque nods his head even without thinking too much about it.
Because anything to keep Max around right? If it pleases him… if it’ll make him stay a little longer… if that will help them feel less uncomfortable or at least in the meantime help Charles sort his messy thoughts out.
“What would you like?”
“Uh… whatever you’re having.”
“Perfect.” Max smiles widely before he makes his way to the fruit area.
The hormone pills are good because they’re silent, dissolving very quickly in liquid, no taste but they’re tiny in dosages so for Charles’ case, it is good to start with pills so his body doesn’t detect it, so things feel normal over a course of a few days. The liquid format is the opposite, needs oral administration as well but it has a strong taste and smell. Given his senses, he’d be able to detect it in a heartbeat… not unless of course it’s heavily mixed with something else.
Max shoves cuts of pineapple and passionfruit into the blender; both acidic and very fragrant fruits. Then, he finishes with mango because it’ll add thickness to mask any texture. Sweet and tangy, thick enough to go down without any speculations. The liquid concoction will do a lot more than the pills, almost 5 times more effective, he pours the entire vial in when no one is looking and presses the button to roar the machine to life.
The blonde stares as it all mixes together, a satisfying feeling erupting in his chest while he duplicates the recipe except without the drug for himself. He heads back to the table and passes Charles the poisoned glass.
“I hope you like it… it’s an original one…” Max chuckles, hoping the personalized thought process will make Charles appreciate it more or even if he dislikes it, he’ll down it easy just to make Max happy.
The Monegasque stares at the glass, he brings it close to his nose and sniffs it experimentally. He furrows his brows like something is amiss and Max feels his palm sweat as he waits for Charles to say something.
“Mango?”
Max laughs to hide his worries “Yeah. There’s mango in there.” He takes a sip of his own one while Charles slowly puts his mouth on the edge, tilting his head back and slushing the liquid into his mouth.
‘Good boy.’ Max thinks in his head as he watches the other taste the drink, humming at the deliciousness, praising Max for it and finishing the entire smoothie quickly.
Max is pleased. Very pleased.
“It’s really healthy… and it energizes your morning too. If you’d like… I could make it for you every other day? I mean… if you want to.” So, he dangles the certainty that if Charles agrees he’ll get to see Max every other day even by minimum chance. And it gives Max every opportunity to drug him every other day.
“It’s not too much trouble?”
“Of course not, I make myself one too! It’s just more fruits and it’ll taste even better.”
“Sure, why not? Thank you, Franz.”
“My pleasure, Charles.”
-O-O-O-
1 week of pills.
2 weeks on the liquid version.
That’s 3 weeks down on this 2 month luxury cruise. Max sees Charles every day he delivers the drink, they hang out at his suite, Max does find his jacket but the Monegasque never made any attempts to return it to him so he doesn’t ask either, they also spend a lot of outdoor time together; swimming, padel, bowling, drinking, and just simple things like sharing their meals.
There’s still some boundaries after that night on the sofa; Max never stayed overnight in his suite anymore no matter how late and Charles doesn’t ask him to but this way with the physical aspect out of play, they’re starting to fall in love for real.
No biological needs, just the version of themselves they can show each other. No longing physical burden, just their plain conversation and shared interest. Just like that is enough to fuel their friendship, which Max thinks it’ll soon turn into a relationship.
Charles trusts him now; with his drinks, his meals, his personal space. There’s no reserve anymore when he drinks a bit too much and ends up leaning on Max for support. There’s no longer any questions floating around when the Dutchman picks all the food out from the buffet while Charles just waits at the table. Max knows his likes, his dislikes and whatever new thing he has is something Charles would like anyway.
The dependency grows apparent, and with that Charles starts to see Max in a different light. Almost love-striken, pink tinted frames; Max is an ideal partner. He understands him, listens to him, takes care of him, and checks out everything except for the fact that he is an Alpha. A strong one too.
This is the most puzzling part because Max can see how much Charles is interested in him and he’s made himself verbal with his interest as well. The only issue is Alpha-Alpha won’t work, someone has to give way, and it must be chipping away at Charles’ sanity to wonder why did the Gods send him the perfect man if he couldn’t have him?
All part of the plan.
Charles needs to want Max that way; at the core mentally but also physically. He needs to ask himself those questions, face the raging storm in his heart, the more confused he is, the easier it’ll be for him to run to Max because Max has all the answers, doesn’t he? He’s always there. Always safe, always sweet, always just waiting for Charles to ask him.
“Franz.”
“Yeah?” Max turns back to look at Charles standing behind him, eyes honest and scent even sweeter than ever.
“Stay the night?”
“...Of course.”
Max lets the door close, he lets his hand snake around the brunette’s waist, “A movie? Or… would you like to read with me?”
“Mhm. Okay.”
He doesn’t know but he wants. He wants Max. That’s what this is. He wants his mate.
They take their showers separately, changed and cleaned before both get under the warm covers. Max takes a book in hand, he was half way reading it and he inches himself closer to Charles who helps set the fluffy pillows in the right place.
“Franz?”
“What is it?”
“....When this cruise ends, promise me we’ll still be like this? Friends.”
Friends don’t share each other’s beds like this but whatever. Max will go with it.
“Anything you want, Charles.”
“You make me feel… different.”
Max smiles, looking over to the mentally perplexed Monegasque.
“You make me feel happy.” Max justifies with his own feelings, trying to change Charles’ mindset to believe that the confusion is temporary. He’s happy with Max, he wants Max and every past teaching to not love another Alpha should be overridden simply because Max makes him happy. That’s it. There is no complication, all he needs to do is choose Max.
The thought is too much for the night, there is no response, Charles just flips the book in Max’s hand open and starts reading the lines.
When they’re both too tired to continue, he sets the book away, Charles’ eyes heavy and drooping as he fully relaxed.
“Should I go?”
“....Stay.” Charles whispers softly; yearning, pleading, wanting.
“Sweet dreams, Charles.” Max pulls the blanket higher over their bodies and watches his Omega drift off to dreamland.
The night would’ve been perfect but there’s a click at the door and Max remembers that he didn’t set the swing bar lock; too distracted with Charles’ invite that he just allows it to close slowly behind him.
Someone is here.
Here for Charles.
And maybe what’s worse for the Dutch Lion to know is that…
Whoever it is, has been on this ship with them the entire time.