Chapter Text
The dark clouds looming above depict his mood and Max for once thinks of his father; the man who abused him for years before his coming of age, people used to say he has his father’s aggression but as years go on, the narrative changes. Max Verstappen wouldn’t lash out with blinded anger and ferocity, he was calm, quiet, but his strikes were deadlier. Maybe if all those years he didn’t meet his beautiful mate when he was a child, he would’ve died a long time ago. It was the thought of his mate that kept him going, that made him want to be stronger, that made him the man he is today.
And today he has a score to settle.
Arriving at the location, his trusted team sets out first to take out the guards, giving Max the luxury to load his gun slowly while walking in the large gate of the estate. Everyone works quietly and efficiently; the lowlife stationed members will get a swift death, Binotto and the other higher ups will get no such grace.
Max thinks of the most brutal way to kill, it brings a smile on his lips but he’s no happier without his beloved Charles.
He enters the first room after bodies fall to his feet, clearing the zone so he can move on but some papers on the table makes him pause. The edge of a photograph sticks out and when Max picks it up, he sees Charles— his Charles, looking tired, face partially hidden behind the wall as it looks like he was rushing elsewhere. So it’s true, Ferrari did find him first. They’ve been hot on his trail. For that reason alone, the next unlucky person he meets receives a couple more stab wounds with his blade.
The Alpha is cruel enough to stab at a non vital point, twist his knife, watch his victim’s face scrunch up in pain, in a silent scream, “Where’s Binotto?” he whispers the question. The sheer fear in the man is apparent, the way he shakes, cries and begs for his life. “Where?”
“D-down… b-b-basement… p-please! Please–”
“Shhhh….” He coos with a smile, dragging the helpless body over until he finds the sealed door, “Code.” he requests and the man is already bleeding out.
“N-no… no… my child—” Max puts another carefully placed knife wound, smirking, “Your children? What about mine?” The blue in his eyes are icy cold, devoid of human emotions.
“2..7… 2….8……..1…….6…..”
Useful.
He settles with a quick slit of the throat, putting the man out of his misery before he presses the number pad and the door unlocks with a soft click. What did Max expect coming here? The worst. Charles being tied up and injected with the new formula. Him injured or dead. Losing their puppies. Losing his mate. He came out of his hiding because Charles is running from Ferrari and Ferrari is actively trying to hurt him so he really doesn’t expect the sight of Binotto caressing Charles’ cheek affectionately.
“It is a blessing you are safe, Charles.”
“I didn’t know who I could trust because they kept infiltrating Ferrari… I would only show it if it's you… I know you would come for me.” he smiles sweetly, not at all looking like a man on the run.
“Of course. Maranello cannot be without its sun. Will return as soon as our men clear the route… they have been…. Troublesome. Have you seen the Dutch Lion?”
Max’s breathing stops at the mention.
“No.”
The reply is swift and empty, almost as if it was trained out of him.
“So, they captured you and you escaped?”
This is new to Max by entirety and Binotto should know that if the Dutch Lion ever gets his claws on Ferrari’s sun again, he would not have let him go, not without a price anyway. It seems the elder man doesn’t at all buy Charles’ entirety of being alive, physically unharmed and standing right in front of him.
“...We fought when I tried to escape but he wouldn’t hurt me… or perhaps… couldn’t because I am his mate.” The words are said with such simplicity but Binotto’s body flinches before freezing with a calculated stare. “When he told me… I didn’t believe him… how could an Alpha be my mate? I’m an Alpha too… right? He didn’t spare the details… but maybe you can tell me… you’ll tell me… won’t you?” Charles’ tone gets colder with each word, the softness in his face completely gone with a hard stare in return.
“...He is lying.” Binotto’s reply is easy. “The Dutch Lion has an obsession towards you. We’ve been trying to keep you safe. He plans to turn you into his Omega bitch, do not trust a word he says, Charles. He is deceitful.” A hand touches Charles’ shoulder and Max’s finger twitches on the trigger.
The way Binotto is touching him shows years of slow conditioning; a warm hand on his shoulder, a reassuring smile, words of promise and hope about a future which he wants. “You were always destined for greatness, Charles. You are Ferrari’s hope and Verstappen has always been jealous that you are our pride and joy. He’s threatened by your position and hopes to bitch you to be his Omega. I was very worried when I got news he was on the cruise with you, luckily you returned to us well.” The hand moves to now cup Charles’ cheek, tilting his head so his green eyes would look straight into Binotto’s, “You are Sun of Maranello, Charles. You are an Alpha. You are—”
“Can I come home?” Charles asks with sincerity, eyes glossy with tears, “...With no exceptions… with no more conditions. No more drugs. No more ‘vitamins’, or ‘injections’ that I don’t need. Just as I am… Can I return to Ferrari?”
Realization dawns on the leader when he hears those words. Charles has chosen to believe the Dutch Lion and he knows of it all. Years of experimentation on him, an incomplete project just waiting for a suitable timing. A vessel. A shell. An exploitation.
“I am the Sun of Maranello. I am Il Predestinato. I am Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc… and I am a perfect prime Omega.” he sucks in a breath, “And what of it? That does not diminish any of my achievements. That does not change my years of loyalty to the family! I have given everything! Tell me it is enough. That I am enough— That I can go home without worrying that you’ll poison my meals and water!”
With the outburst, he pushes the hand off his cheek, slapping it away to show his discomfort, “Tell me I have given enough.”
“...” Silence falls for a long time, Binotto is shocked by how much Charles truly knows but he composes himself “Since you know… then I must tell you that the damage done is irreversible. You are no longer a perfect prime Omega. An Omega, yes… maybe but no longer perfect. We had tried to preserve and maintain it for a lineage plan… but… you are a rare kind and mistakes–”
“It was a failure. You all fucked up. That’s what it is.” Charles calls him out on the sugar-coating, “I was a child! I had a mate!”
“You were an Omega! And they have no place in the–” “I still am!!!” Charles shouts even louder, “When I killed for Ferrari, I was an Omega. When I fought for Ferrari, I was an Omega. When I took every fucking territory asked of me, I was still an Omega.”
“Do you think you could’ve accomplished all that without Alpha hormones injected into you? You think people would bow down in your presence? That you walked into the room and commanded it? Do you think your stupid Omega brain could think of anything except wanting to be bred? Don’t fool yourself, Charles! This stupidity is unlike you! If you had your heats, you’d be laying in bed begging to be fucked instead of out there fighting for the family. A whore at best is what you would be!!”
Instead of matching anger, Charles laughs instead. Like a mad man who has lost his mind, he chuckles as if he’s heard the funniest joke in the world with tears in his eyes and a deranged smile on his lips.
“That is what you think of me?” he takes a step back to put some distance, “A useless Omega who can’t do anything except make children? And even that… you have robbed me of a fate with my mate.”
Binotto snarls at him, “You and what mate? That bastard Verstappen? He’s just like his father. An abuser. If anything I saved you from a fate worse than death.”
With the fiery exchange, Max realizes Charles’ plan is falling into place. Both Binotto and him were part of a plan he made and they’re simply chess pieces made to meet right here right now according to Charles’ will and needs. He was used. And Max smiles like the deranged Alpha that he is because he’s proud that Charles is using him.
“...You can come back Charles…” Binotto takes out the syringe he was hiding, “...Ferrari needs their sun… we can do this right again… we can even make you forget all the bad memories… everything will be as it is… perfect… again.”
Charles’ eyes dart up to the steps where it’s dark and their eyes meet for a brief second. Max understands it, he slowly descends the steps, ignoring the ridiculous monologue Binotto is making, some stupid ass plan he’s trying to soap opera it to Charles Leclerc.
“We can rise together again! Be unstoppable!! Relinquish your Omega and be the leader Ferrari needs—”
Charles smiles as a response, “Thank you Binotto… for making this easier.”
Just as he says so with the sweetest of smiles, Max’s blade comes from behind in a grueling stab into Binotto’s back. The man feels the pain, he looks down to see the blood seeping through his shirt before he reacts with a pained scream. He fights back but Max grabs his wrist, the same one that dared touched Charles’ cheek, and he severs it with the blade and his Alpha strength. Lots of blood on the floor with Binotto backing away, screaming, shouting, reaching for his gun but Max stabs his palm and drags the sharp blade across rendering him useless and falling to the floor.
“T-The Dutch Lion!! Charles!!! Save m-me! Charles! Shoot him!! Kill him!!!” He wails for help, begs with his eyes to the brunette just standing there with the same smile from earlier. When he realizes what is happening, fear gets overpowered by anger and betrayal “You set me up!!!! You betrayed Ferrari!!!!!! They’ll kill you when they find out and your family will die!! You betrayed—”
“...Did I?” Charles tilts his head innocently, “No. That’s not what happened. Binotto… you were maimed and killed brutally by the Dutch Lion. By Max.”
Max feels his heart skip a beat at the mention of his name in Charles’ voice.
“...But before he kills you… you got so terrified… you begged for mercy and you gave out all of Ferrari’s secrets…. You told him where our bases are at… our safehouses… you betrayed Ferrari and because of that… Max is able to cause so much harm and terror. He took so many territories… killed all of the people you used to work with. Cleaned up. And when Ferrari’s power is diminishing, it is Charles Leclerc… who comes and saves it all. As he should.” Charles takes a step closer and closer, smirking “You were right, Binotto. I am the Sun of Maranello. I am destined. Ferrari will see a new dawn… with me.”
“No… no… no!! You fucking—!” He lets out another piercing scream when Max lands another blow to his thigh, blood pools on the ground but it’s not enough.
“I will put an end to the needless bloodshed, I will make Ferrari stronger than ever. I will unite both gangs and drown your legacy in nothing but shame and betrayal. They will only remember my name…” He bends down just slightly to admire Binotto’s terrified eyes as he bleeds out slowly, “Just a useless Omega you say? With nothing but being fucked in my mind? Those can be your last words.”
“No!! No! I am the one who made Ferrari strong! They’ll never believe you! I am the one who has the power!! I gave you everything, Charles! I believed you! I made you who you are! You’re nothing but an Omega mutt if it weren’t for me!!! Nothing!! You have no legacy! No history! No future!!!!”
“...History… and legacy… are written by its victors.” Charles straightens his back, eyes the man on the floor one last time, he turns and finally looks at his mate “As for the future… only the ones who live can say what happens next.”
Max gives him a smile; affection and wants bubbles up but he needs to finish the job first.
Charles ascends the stairs, tells Max to take his sweet time because he’s not rushing and the Dutch Lion laughs maniacally, smirking at Binotto who’s already in tears; finally, he can do whatever he wants to this sick man for taking his mate away. After all the years he imagined it, all the nights he dreamt of the cruelest way to end his life.
Finally…. Finally… Finally….
Revenge belongs to the Dutch Lion.
-O-O-O-
When Max finally steps back out of the basement, he’s bloodied everywhere, none of the blood belongs to him though. With each step, he leaves behind a red shoe print. A weight is lifted off his shoulders and he feels even better when he sees Charles sitting by the large window, gazing outside, just waiting for him.
“...Charles…” Max calls out, walks a few steps closer but the Monegasque puts his hand out to stop him. “No.”
The Dutch Lion freezes, deflated like a scolded puppy.
“...You’re covered in blood. Don’t get that on me.”
Max shrugs off his jacket, eyes focused on Charles when he also unbuttons his top and takes it off.
“Charles…” again, he calls out.
“...You don’t even have a gun wound from where Lorenzo ‘shot’ you.”
“You don’t smell pregnant either.”
Max clicks his tongue; truly disappointed but not angry.
“You lied about being dead… I-I was worried. I thought… fuck…. Max I hated you and I thought you died— after saying everything…. You just left me?”
The Alpha closes the distance to his Omega, close enough he leans to give a peck on his forehead, “...And you lied about being pregnant… you were the one sending me little souvenirs to rile me up and get me here… made me do all the dirty work to kill and ‘clean up’ Ferrari for you…”
“You were going to do that anyway.”
Fair.
Max leans his head on Charles’ shoulder, tongue peeking out to lick the skin of his scent gland, “There is no corner of this world you could run to that I wouldn’t follow you like a shadow, Charles.”
“You heard him… the damage cannot be reversed. I don’t even know if I can call myself an Omega. If you came here all dire for your ‘puppies’... that’s just a pipe dream, Max. Not now… not ever.” Even now he’s being his strong self and Max hates that Ferrari drilled all these needless expectations into him.
“I don’t care. About the gangs, the babies… the glory… whatever it is. I don’t give a fuck. I only care about you, Charlie. Only you… always you. You are my priority, my love, my life. You can ask me to leave this all behind and run away with you and I’d follow you in a heartbeat. If you want to stay and play out your plan then I will be your blade to kill anyone who stands in your way. You can do whatever you want, Charles… so long as you do it within my sight… within my hold… my reach. Mine.”
Years of obsession bleeds into him again, especially after all the emotions his inner wolf had to go through, Max is particularly not in the right mind now.
“If I say I need time… will you respect my wishes?”
“No.” Max answers flat out, his bloodied and bruised hands snaking around Charles’ waist, holding him close, “Of course not. You are coming with me… I made a promise to myself that I would never let you go. You’ll be chained to my bed… and loved every day… until I kill everyone responsible for all the pain they’ve caused us… but even after that I will never let you go, Charles. Do you understand? The only way you’ll ever have full freedom again is to kill me.”
It is a simple concept, yes? Max kisses Charles on the cheek sweetly as if he did not just say something only a deranged psycho would say.
Instead of fighting again, the Omega leans his head on Max; tired and worn from everything and there’s still so much to do.
A better lover would give Charles space and time, a sweeter lover would understand but Max finds himself incapable to do such. His hand comes up to cup Charles’ cheek, angling it just so that the Omega would present his neck to him. Max eyes the spot that makes his teeth ache, he kisses the area again, tongue darting out to lick the sensitive gland before he mouths in hungrily, holding Charles who squirms and attempts to push him away.
“Where will you go, Charles? My mate. Where will you run to? Where will you hide? My love. My schatje. My Omega. Where will you leave me?”
“M-Max– w-wait—”
The Alpha doesn’t hesitate to sink his teeth on the gland, sealing their damning fates together. A loud whimper rips out of Charles’ throat, he claws Max’s arms, desperate to pull away from the grip but a mating bite is a force so strong that even he cannot fight against. For whatever little bits of prime perfect Omega Charles has left in him, his legs feel like jelly and his entire body gives out to his Alpha, pushing his entire weight on Max alone who holds him easily and gently like he’s the most precious thing.
He gasps, panting, having difficult breathing because his body with so much mutated Alpha genetics is getting a primal biology call from his Omega side.
“Let’s go home, schatje.”
When Charles’ body slumps unconscious in his arms, Max knows he has won. He squeezes him tightly in a hug, licks the wound and spends his sweet time nuzzling and cuddling his Omega. His beautiful perfect Omega. Max feels like crying which is unlike him, but his emotions are just too strong. He kisses Charles’ lips, cradles him gently, “Let’s go home.” He repeats it in finality.