Chapter Text
As time flies by Max doesn’t know for sure if Charles is pretending to be his Omega or if he’s starting to accept the truth. All their mornings start with their bodies tangled in the sheets, simple greetings, soft kisses and a yearning to stay in bed. Charles also becomes more vocal in his questions, often inquiring about Max’s schedule and what time he’ll be back again. Maybe to think of his escape plan but the Alpha likes to believe it’s his lover just worried about him.
They talk a lot more about the future; Charles keeping tabs on Ferrari’s movements and Max telling him of his expansion plans. The day will eventually come… Charles will need to take his rightful place at the top of Ferrari even when his rightful place is actually right next to Max.
Surprisingly the Omega never asks when that day will be. He doesn’t pester about his freedom nor does he nag Max about it. Maybe the understanding is clear but Max likes to delude himself into thinking his mate also likes being by his side like this and they’re both just trying to make sense of this entire mess.
He wonders if he should ask for forgiveness but it doesn’t feel right since Max firmly believes he has done nothing wrong. He also wonders if he should ask for an apology afterall, Charles did use him for the grand scheme of things. What will it take for them to be on equal ground again? Or in his mate’s eyes… have they restarted the entire ordeal?
Max doesn’t know.
All he knows is that Charles is smiling again, laughing with him, eating with him, talking with him, bantering with him and sleeping with him.
For once he feels at peace… How long will this peace really last?
“When will you tell me…?”
The question comes right after sex when Max is the most smitten with his Omega. It is truly unfair and cunning of Charles to corner him right after their heated session but Max doesn’t blame him for it is the correct strategy afterall. He doesn’t even need to complete that question for the Alpha to guess what he means but still he holds onto a little hope that he’s wrong and acts dumb, “Tell you what?”
“You. Everything about you. You stalked me for years but for the better part of my life I didn’t know you existed…”
“There’s not much to say.”
“What? You’re not trying to get any pity-points from me?”
Max chuckles fondly, it seems his mate will always hold a grudge for his low-handed tactics on the cruise ship. “I don’t want you to know the days when I was just a weak…helpless… useless mate.”
When silence falls after his reply, it says everything. Charles shifts closer to Max, an exasperated huffs escapes him, “Don’t ever say that. You were a child… like me… there was… nothing more we could’ve done.” The admission of ‘we’ tells Max that Charles has accepted the view of his innocence or at least believe every bad deed Max did was due to being provoked and not him just being evil.
Knowing his eventual defeat to his mate, Max sighs loudly, closing his eyes briefly to rest while he recalls back the old memory, “What I told you before wasn’t all a lie… My father is a cruel man… I overthrew him to take control of the gang. I don’t know a life outside of The Dutch Lion, this has always been my purpose. I have a mother, a sister–”
“The ones who got you that ticket to the cruise.” Charles cuts in with a sarcastic tone, Max fights back a smile, he just nods so he doesn’t agitate his beloved anymore.
“They are far from this kind of life… I get monthly reports on their whereabouts for security reasons… and I send them sufficient funds to live a good life.”
“But you don’t see them?”
“No. It’s good enough to know they are living well. I have cute nephews and nieces too.”
“And yet you deprive them of meeting their Uncle Max?”
“It’s better this way… less complicated.”
“Worry you can’t protect them?”
“Yes. When I first started out I knew it would take a lot to fight Ferrari… I became someone my mother isn’t proud of… it just made sense to have them far away from me.”
“...Did… giving up on me ever cross your mind? Because it sounds like you could’ve lived a long and happy life with them…”
“I'd rather die.” That’s his conviction, the truth then and the truth now.
“How… did… you know it was me?”
“I saw you from afar and my entire being just knew...I ran towards you… there was a crowd of people… I was so worried I’d never see you again. I wanted to scream but I didn’t know your name… I reached out but my father grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. You… never turned around… you didn’t know I was there… but apparently I got close enough for you to scent me and that’s how I triggered the prime Omega inside you.”
“Did you look for me afterwards?”
“Every day.” Max sighs, “I never forgave my father for stopping me… we fought on countless occasions… until he broke my leg so I couldn’t keep searching for you… I remember he said a mate only brings weakness and liabilities. I learned a valuable lesson that day… to protect what’s mine I can only be better.”
“...I cannot believe that happened… we were the same age… you must’ve been no taller than me…”
“It was tough but it was worth it.”
“...” Charles looks up, eyes deep with worry, “Was it?”
“Yes.” Max answers firmly before he kisses his mate softly, “Because I have you now… in my arms… safe, alive… mine.”
“It hurts to know you've been through hell.”
“I’d go through it again if you needed me to.”
For the rest of the night, Max indulges in Charles’ endless questions about the life he has never seen before. It’s not easy to summarize the many years of struggle and pain to finally plot himself on that cruise but Max retells it to his perfect memory while Charles remains quiet to the end. Just when he thought it was over, the Omega surprises him by asking lighthearted questions like he’s trying to know him as a person. His favorite color? Blue. Favorite car brand? Aston Martin. Favorite food? Any kind of meat. Favorite drink? Gin and tonic.
“Favourite thing in the world?”
“You.”
“What do you want most?”
“For you to get pregnant.”
“...What’s your 5 year goal?”
“2 puppies.”
“.......10 year goal?”
“5 puppies.”
Charles’ glare and the roll of his eyes made Max chuckle and then the Omega elbowed him, pushing him away, deciding that he doesn’t want any more hugs or cuddles but the Alpha persists in holding him, cooing with sweet praises and neediness until the brunette settle down again.
“I’m not going to give you any puppies.” He grumbles with no real venom, “There’s no way I get pregnant… Nobody is optimistic about it, except you but you’re a psycho so it doesn’t count.”
No offense is taken for that jab, if believing his mate will have his puppies is psychotic then he’ll gladly take the role.
“Let’s work harder then.” Max says before he lightly pounces on the Omega who giggles and attempts to fight him off but no real strength presses against him and soon he drowns his beloved with kisses and embraces alike.
-O-O-O-
It takes another month for Ferrari to completely crumble to the point where things get worrisome and Max knows he can’t hide the Sun of Maranello any longer. That morning he wakes up with dread, he spends another hour in bed just watching his Omega before he lays little kisses on his forehead as a wake-up call. Charles doesn’t know it yet but today he redeems his freedom and tomorrow he will be the head of Ferrari.
He gets the chef to serve Charles’ favorite, Max feeds him more bites than usual, his hand intertwines with Charles’ whenever he gets the chance; just to feel the warmth and to remember that this is real.
As much as he hates it, the seconds tick by and just as the sun sets, Max passes a loaded gun on the table to his mate. “...There’s a car waiting in the garage to take you back…” He doesn’t say the word ‘home’ because home isn’t where the Leclerc brothers are at, ‘home’ is where Max is.
“...Ferrari needs you.” He continues with a sigh, “I have… cleared the necessary souls… things are escalating beyond my control now… it would be… unwise and risky to leave you out of it. I hear there is a power struggle now…you need to be victorious as planned.” Max doesn’t hide the grim tone in his voice, he wants his mate to know he doesn’t want this but he also understands this must happen.
Slowly he watches Charles reach for the weapon, he inspects it for a moment before silently nodding. He remains stoic, neutral, unreadable—
When Charles takes over Ferrari, it will take him months to rebuild it but once the empire is back to its former glory and power, there is a chance he’ll become untouchable. He could spend the rest of his days out of Max’s reach and then what will happen? A dark thought forms in the Dutch Lion’s head, he stares straight into those beautiful greens and believes he’ll annihilate Ferrari a second time if Charles chooses the gang and not him.
As if his mate could sense his killer instinct, he quickly says “Ferrari needs me.”
“I need you more.” Max says equally as fast.
His eyes look down to the gun in Charles’ hand, “The pain in my heart… I wish you would just shoot me instead. Make it swift because it feels like I’m losing you again.”
Instead of pity, the brunette merely raises the gun towards his mate, aiming it right for Max’s heart and the Alpha sits there waiting for his demise. Charles stands up, hand still outstretched with the gun as he rounds the table to stand in front of Max as if his aim wasn’t already perfect.
The Monegasque straddles his mate, plops his ass right on his lap, “Dying is easy, Max… living is harder.” He grabs a fistful of the Alpha’s shirt and yanks him forward to crash their lips together. The scent hits first, angry, possessive, passionate– Charles slides his tongue inside Max’s willing mouth, tasting all of him until he doesn’t want to anymore then he pulls Max’s hair back to separate them.
Max attempts to chase after his lips but Charles just yanks him back like a bad dog on a leash. The look of yearning in the Alpha’s eyes gives him the confidence to grind his hips down and sure enough he feels the hard tent poking at him.
“Let me go…” he says breathlessly, “No dirty tricks this time, Max… I need to save my brothers, my team, everyone else that’s precious to me.”
“What about me? What will I do?”
“Just wait. Don’t get involved. Just… wait.”
“...You’ll come back? I’m supposed to believe your words?”
“Would you rather believe me or… should I just shoot you and end your misery?”
“Shoot me.” Max utters the reply, eyes raking the body in front of him while his cock aches for the warm heat again. Just a moment longer, the sweet scent he’s been addicted to fills his nostrils and Max boldly sets both hands on Charles, waist, marveling the dip, fingers sneaking under the shirt to touch skin before he yanks both the bottoms and the underwear down over his ass, stretching the fabric around his thighs. Partially exposed but Charles lets it happen, he watches Max work on his own pants now, the belt first and a quick tug that his cock springs free.
They’re both sick in the head, psychos both them.
Max holds him close, positions the head of his cock against the wet rim that’s already so open and relaxed for him, it’s so much easier now, he thrusts upwards just as Charles sinks his weight down.
“...Fuck…Charles….Charles….My Omega.” The Alpha goes on a blabber of possession while Charles rides his thick cock, hand still tightly gripping the weapon in hand even when his face scrunches up in pleasure, lips falling open with a plea for more. Max gives him everything like their first time together, burying his head in his neck, getting his scent all over while fitting his cock just right inside him.
There’s a prominent bulge with every thrusts, Max’s eyes always look darker whenever he stares at it, something insatiable bubbles and he snaps his hips even harder, punching the air out of his mate, making Charles fall forward crying out his name.
“...I love you.” Max whispers tenderly, “I love you from the day we’ve met… I love you even when we’re apart… even when you don’t know my name. I know you have to go, I know you used me and this is the part I play but I don’t believe you’ll come back to me… I don’t believe you’ll choose me… even when I can only choose you. You don’t know what I’m thinking… how I want to make ‘me’ your only option… so you’ll have no one else. No family, no friends, nothing. Just me— just us……”
“Are you threatening me, Max Verstappen?”
The Alpha chuckles, sounding like he’s deranged which he probably is.
“It’s a proposal.”
A proposal of a lifetime. A saying ‘if you don’t come back, I’ll kill your brothers, your friends, your gang, your entire nation or at least die trying to do so’
The click of the safety rings clear in their ears, Charles smirks in the same deranged fashion while he moves faster, sliding the cock out and then sitting back down at a feverish pace; he’s using the Alpha’s cock like a dildo because he can, he will. He points the gun right under Max’s chin upwards, just one push of the trigger and they can end this pointless charade.
The Omega leans forward to his ear, kissing the shell of it, “Alpha~” he coos desperately and it drives the Alpha insane because Max’s nails are now bluntly digging into his hips, driving him down with precision against his prostate.
Max feels Charles’ head lean on his shoulder for support, he hears the soft cries and moans of his Omega, the spasming tells him he’s close, the index finger shaking against the trigger tells him this might be the end. He closes his eyes, “Omega…” he moans, feeling the heat inside him tipping over.
‘Shoot me. Pull it. Please.’ The Alpha pleads in his head.
When pain blooms into him, Max’s eyes shoot open, his heart skipping an actual beat. Charles’ body seizes up, his cock spurting cum over their clothes, coming just from his sensitive bruised prostate being bullied over and over again.
“Max!”
Blood stains their attire, flowing streaks of red.
It takes him a moment to realize that Charles just bit him.
He reciprocated the mating bite—
The Omega tosses the gun aside, hands cupping Max’s cheek, “I’ll come back to you.” His lips still bloodied yet Max rushes to kiss him, immediately tossing him down the couch to have him below with his legs wrapped around his waist instead. Max fucks hard like he’s never before, the bite fresh enough for him to feel the bond buzzing between them. His Prime Omega has accepted their fates… accepted him as the rightful Alpha.
There is no going back on a mutual bond.
This is forever.
This feels like real peace.
“Charles… Charles….” Max grunts by his ear, movements so erratic that some aren’t even full thrusts, he’s so gone from his animalistic head, he’s breeding his mate to the best of his ability, slamming to the deepest point, holding Charles tightly and finally, finally, ejaculates inside him.
“Charlie… Charles… My Charles… My beautiful, perfect, Omega…. schatje…”
“...I love you…” Charles wraps his arms around Max’s broad shoulder, smiles at him with tears in his eyes, “I cannot live without you. I’m sorry we’re like this… I’m sorry this is the best we can do. Since we met on the cruise, you’ve been nothing short of mine. I am your only option, Max Emilian Verstappen. It can only be me and no one else. I’ll always choose you… if it comes down to it… it’ll always be you… so, wait for me… you’ve killed the people involved but I’ll eradicate the roots that hurt us…I promise.”
His mate knows words are cheap so he sealed the promise with a mating bite and just like that, the Dutch Lion is smitten, is weak, is forever at his mercy…. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll come back to me?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll never love anyone else more?”
“Never.”
The doubt that once haunted him simmers down, Max can feel the pulse of the bite, he can hear the genuine tone in Charles’ voice, he can see the adoration in those beautiful eyes.
“I’ll do everything it takes to make things right again.”
After all the years of Max doing everything to find him, this is now Charles’ move to pave a future together.
“...I’ll wait.”
The Dutch Lion is subdued.
…For now…
Charles smiles, he inches forward to kiss Max’s lips, “People talk like you’re so scary… but you’re just a little Lion to me…no claws, no roars, no bearing your sharp teeth like you’re going to rip my head off.”
Max doesn’t know what to respond with; just minutes ago he was genuinely contemplating death or mass-murder and now he has a full mating bond with the only one he wants. He thinks for a moment longer, settling with a simple reply “Yours.”