Chapter Text
Where does he start to arrange his thoughts? 24 hours ago he was on a cruise ship with the man of his dreams but now that man could be dead and his entire life could be a big lie. How does anyone process that? He questions everything, doubts every last detail until his head hurts and he doesn’t know what is the difference between the truth and lies anymore.
There was never a question of his loyalty and love to his family and Ferrari. He was born in Monaco but raised in Maranello under the bright sunrays and taught to one day lead them into glory. The ‘Sun of Maranello’, they praise and call upon his name. He worked hard despite being second in command to his elder brother and Charles knew that he would someday be destined to do something greater… he never once doubted himself until now.
Franz Hermann— A fake name, he should’ve guessed but he was so mesmerized by those golden locks, bright sea blue eyes and charming smile that he fell right into a trap. He felt so right, sounded so real and smelled so sweet. Everything about that man is alluring; his broad shoulders, his lean waist, muscled thighs, the way he dresses, the way he talks on and on, the way he smiles, everything is endearing and captivating. When he first got close to Franz, the fleeting thought of ‘Such a man can’t possibly exist’ turned out to be true.
How ironic.
It was a ruse to bed him and it worked. What came over him? Was it weakness? Loneliness? Or did Franz really have such a magnetic pull towards him? He blames it on how it happened, so naturally and slowly that anyone would’ve fallen for the blonde Alpha. He never rushed him, never asked more of him and always seem so defenseless and sweet—
Turns out it was a lion waiting in the shadows.
The encounter was puzzling but what’s worse is the revelation that came after. Charles doesn’t know which is more shocking; the fact that his alleged ‘mate’ drugged and said he’s an Omega or the fact that his ‘Family’ is the reason why his secondary gender is wrong in the first place.
When he was younger he didn’t question the rules set in place, he didn’t question his meals or ask why he couldn’t hang out with other Alphas aside from his brothers. It wasn’t important, he figured there were rules for a reason. Getting older, he was curious why his ruts were different, why he never had a knot before but his family doctor reassures him that his body is normal and some Alphas just get it later in life. He wasn’t exactly rushing to find his mate so he didn’t care… he never once suspected his own gang for doing this to him. That thought never occurred.
He doesn’t know who to believe and he’s still very tired from the entire ordeal but Charles is a man who trusts evidence and facts. He rummages through his pocket and finds the USB still there, according to Franz, Ferrari has been drugging him since he was young and altering his biology. He doesn’t believe it but Charles stills reaches for his laptop on the bed side table and places it on his lap before he plugs the device in.
As loyal as he is, he’s not a man of blind fate.
Multiple folders load up, he clicks on the first and finds drug prescriptions, and monitoring results with his name on it. All the personal details are correct. Digging deeper, he finds pictures of himself taken from distant angles, along with notes of his progress; scent changing, appetite issues, mood instability. There’s too many folders labeled with years and months, very specific notes about him and the people who are close to him.
The more he reads, the more his heart and head hurts. He doesn’t react on the outside, not that he doesn’t want to cry or scream but simply because he is far too tired to really give a reaction. Before he can fully process this, he then thinks about Franz— or should he say, Max. Max Verstappen. Their last argument fresh in his mind, the way he shouted, the way he cursed and when they were back in the room he wished the other would just fucking disappear—
Moments later, Max really did disappear… from his vision, from his life and he doesn’t even know if the man is alright. Does he care? He shouldn’t care. Max lied to him, deceived and hurt him in ways someone who claimed to be his mate should never have but then the question hits:
If Ferrari hadn’t forcefully altered him from an Omega to an Alpha, Charles would’ve been able to recognize his own mate and Max wouldn’t need to go to such lengths either… but then again, what Max did really was too cruel.
The Monegasque thinks he would’ve listened to Franz if one night Franz told him that he was actually an Omega and then proceeded to show him files and folders of evidence— instead Max decided to drug him, made him question and fight with himself internal, sleep with him and then dumping the truth on him.
Charles’ conclusion; both Max and the Ferrari team members involved are terrible people.
He looks at his own hands and finds it in his heart to hate both parties right now. After everything, he’s in the most terrible state mentally and physically but he will not lose. He is still the Sun of Maranello, he is still the feared and loved Charles Leclerc, his second gender holds no bounds against him; should he decide to lay waste on his enemies, then it shall happen.
Closing the laptop, taking the device out to safely store it in his pocket for safe-keeping, Charles slowly gets out of the bed. Everywhere hurts and he is physically in need of more rest but he knows no good slumber will ever reach his mental state, not until he confronts his brother for the truth. He walks out the room slowly, limping and leaning against the wall when necessary, ignoring help from Bryan and his other helpers waiting on him,
Charles makes it to his brother’s room, doesn’t bother to knock this time, he simply walks in and finds Lorenzo sitting by his table with a grim expression on his face.
“Brother.” He calls and the man looks up, instantly he’s up on his feet and speed-walking towards Charles to help him to stand but Charles stops him with a slow raise of his palm. “I’m fine.”
“What are you doing here? You should be resting…”
“I need to talk to you… Is M— the Dutch Lion… is he alive?”
His brother’s mood turns sound at the mere mention of the Dutchman.
“We don’t know. Our sources are still checking.”
It isn’t a positive nor negative answer but Charles still finds himself upset with the lack of answers. The room stays silent for a beat longer before Lorenzo finally asks him “Are you alright? Did… he… do anything to you?”
Charles’ eyes meet his brothers, hoping he’d confess his wrong doings but Lorenzo remains waiting for his reply instead.
“I’ll tell you if you tell me…” He gives a fake short smile “When were you going to tell me…? That I’m an Omega… that I was drugged without my knowledge? That I was just some plan to Ferrari? How long… have… you known… and don’t tell me you didn’t because you only shot Max because what he said made you feel guilty! You never lose your temper… certainly not at men like him.”
Lorenzo struggles to find the words, fighting between arguing and apologizing. “...I… I didn’t…- Charles… please…Ferrari… they threatened… us… and I would’ve lost both you and Arthur if I didn’t….”
“No. No. You do not get to pretend to be a good brother. If you did this for our sake when we were younger, I’d believe you. I’d do the same. But I am 28 now… you could’ve told me, and we could’ve done something. I’d forgive you because you had no choice and you wanted us to survive. But you kept this for so long… that it isn’t the same anymore. You are no better than Ferrari, no better than Max….”
“Charles… I am so sorry…. It wasn’t meant to be like this. I… I couldn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d hate me… that I had no choice, that I was weak and we had nothing! When Papa died, we were so young… and if it wasn’t for Ferrari… we’d…. We’d be dead. It was not right to keep this from you but I needed more time for our family to be stable here and when I have real power to protect you…”
Too many ‘what-ifs’, too many ‘maybes’ that it isn’t worth considering anymore.
The damage is done but it is not over… yet.
“Please… I hid the truth but I was not part of Ferrari’s plan… and if I knew the Dutch Lion was on that cruise, I would’ve never sent you there… please, Charles… you must believe me.”
Charles takes a deep breath, “You’re right. I can’t blame you for what Ferrari did to me… nor can I blame you for what Max did to me…” his gaze, a dagger that freezes his brother on the spot “But I can blame you for killing MY mate.”
The first admission verbally, not because he wants to admit but because if Max used him then he will use him too.
Lorenzo’s jaw goes slack before the denial starts “No, no, no, no, no. It cannot be! He’s lying-”
“I can’t confirm it, can I? Because I’m barely an Omega anymore…” Charles chuckles pitifully, stringing along his brother’s emotions for his pathetic act “I saw the files. I’m useless. Can’t scent my mate, can’t do any Omega functions right… probably can’t even have pups… What does the Dutch Lion gain from lying to me? Why does he even want a useless Omega like me?”
When he says it out loud like that, it really does give him a bit of perspective.
“...I’m not done with him…” Charles takes a step closer to Lorenzo, “...and you are going to help me with this mess because that is the only way I’ll even consider forgiving you. We will continue to lie to Ferrari until I have more information and you are going to send every man you have to find the Dutch Lion… and he….” his voice shakes for a second when he considers death, but only for a moment before he carries on strong as always “...and Max better be alive, Lorenzo. You better find him alive, well, and ready to fight me….because I am not done with him, with you, with Ferrari.”
Omega or not, he is the Sun of Maranello and all will bend to him.
“I will handle Ferrari.” he boldly says before turning around, leaving for the door before Lorenzo calls his name to stop him.
“He’s not your mate, Charles. He can’t be. If he was, he would've claimed you with a bite.”
True. That remains puzzling. Why did he sleep with him but not claim him? If he had just given Charles a bite, the Omega would be able to sense whether he is alive or dead… did the Dutch Lion foresee his own fate? Or did he simply not wish to bind Charles in a much more literal sense? Why? He could’ve. Charles would’ve allowed him during their time together in bed, he would’ve welcomed it too but Max made no mention, no attempt and no reason to even try.
He could’ve. He really had every opportunity… but there is no bite…
The Omega chuckles, hiding his uncertainty “Maybe. But I want him groveling at my feet admitting that then.”
He walks off, shuts the door and heads back to his room, there is so much to do that he cannot rest even when he so dearly needs it. He finds Bryan waiting for him outside his room door, looking worried as always. Instead of resting, he barks his next orders for tomorrow; he is back, and nothing is wrong.
Charles Leclerc is back like he never left.
He isn’t weak, he isn’t scared, he isn’t worried.
“Find everything about Ferrari and hormone drugs… every last connection…I want files, people, photos, bribery statement, whatever the fuck you can find.”
“Yes, sir!”
Bryan runs along to start on his task, leaving Charles alone to go into his room to complete silence again. With a heavy hand on his heart, he feels it beating calmly, slowly he slides his hand down to his stomach, resting for moments too long to be considered normal.
The dream of it was fleeting, those feverish moments on his back with the Alpha on top of him, kissing him, cherishing him, worshipping him. The words he muttered by his ear, a vision he thought they had shared.
Gone, sunken to the bottom of the ocean like his heart but just like something that has touched the ocean floor, it remains still, for however long it takes…waiting.