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Charles hasn’t seen his mom in a while, despite having gone home to Monaco a few times this year. There just hasn’t been a right time, which shouldn't matter too much, he is a grown man after all. Yet not grown enough to let anyone else touch his hair. That is only reserved for her. The thing is, his hair is growing out, especially at the back, giving him a semi-mullet. His little curls are starting to form and others are starting to notice.
Carlos is the first one to mention anything. He famously also loves to let his hair run a little wild so seeing Charles do the same gives him the perfect teasing opportunity. As Charles passes by after practice, he ruffles the top of his head.
“Look at that , always following in my footsteps huh?”
Charles bats his hand away but smiles at him.
“I know, I need to get it cut, but maman hasn’t had time.”
“No time for her superstar son? Wooow.”
Charles shoves his shoulder playfully, but Carlos just takes it as another opportunity to ruffle his hair and run away. Charles rolls his eyes and passes a hand in his hair to fix it.
***
“You look so majestical right now.”
Daniel says as they stand in the wind, on the balcony above the paddock. Charles turns to him and raises his eyebrow.
“Is that even a word?”
Daniel shrugs his shoulders and frowns comically.
“Probably not. But right now, with the wind flowing through your hair, your wistful look…You look like a prince. Or maybe more like a princess waiting for her prince.”
Daniel makes a show of flipping his imaginary hair and pouting dramatically. Charles rolls his eyes as he sees him do this.
“Hey! First of all, not true. Second, it’s 2023 mate, a prince can also be waiting for his prince.”
Daniel laughs at that, bending over the railing.
“Haha, you are so right, sorry. And actually, I think I see your prince down there.”
He points down to the paddock. Charles follows his finger, confused, and catches Max quickly looking away, as if he’s been caught. Charles also definitely sees him blushing as he walks towards the Red Bull garage.
“Looks like you’ve got an admirer, Charles!”
It’s Charles' turn to blush at the comment.
***
Of course, Pierre was going to be the next one to say something. They are the best friends on the grid after all. He knew his Frenchie bestie wasn’t going to hold back either.
“Putain, t’es vraiment un beauf la. Coupe ce paillasson de ta tête le plus vite possible mec.”
Charles tuts and glares at him.
“Ouais parce que toi avec ta coupe au bol, c'est beaucoup moins ridicule hein?”
They keep trading back and forth insults always with grins plastered on their faces. Esteban who is sitting near them giggles a few times at the more creative ones. Eventually, Charles also turns to him and asks.
“Et toi, tu penses quoi Esteban?”
“Désolé Charles, mais chui d’accord avec Pierre. Pas ton meilleur look. Tu vas pas baiser grand monde avec ça.”
Pierre erupts in laughter and high-fives his teammate. At least it looks like the two are on better terms, even if it is just to make fun at Charles’ expense. He leaves them in their laughing fit to continue preparing for quali.
***
After Quali, Lando is the next one to mention it. Charles' hair is sweaty which ends up accentuating its new length. The young Brit, who qualifies right behind him in third place, is always quick to joke. He points at Charles and laughs.
“Oh my god mate! You nearly have a full-on mullet now. Don’t let Logan see you or he might mistake you for one of his own!”
As Charles is about to fire back, he hears someone come up behind him.
“Aww come on Lando, it’s not that bad! You have to be honest with your friends but not too honest!”
Max says with a grin. Charles is also about to fire back at him when he feels a hand on the back of his neck. Max fingers lightly brush at the sweaty curls, and observe him with his piercing blue eyes. Charles' cheeks heat up instantly.
“He might just need a good shower, right Sweaty?”
Charles crosses his arms but doesn’t move from Max’s grip.
“Of course, I’m sweaty after quali! And I take showers, unlike some people. My hair is just getting longer! Why does everyone mention it?”
Lando bites his tongue and laughs but Max gives him a sweet smile.
“Probably because you look like eagles should be screeching around you at all times”
“Probably because it’s really cute.”
They say at the same time. Charles is at a loss for words, so he just shakes his head. Max’s hand falls and he instantly misses the contact. Lando and Max get wrapped up in a conversation as they walk away. This leaves Charles standing alone. He puts a hand to his own hair, where Max’s had been a few moments ago. What should he do with this new hair? Keep it or get rid of it?
***
Charles finds out Logan is surprisingly strong as he desperately tries to escape his grip. He’s ruffling his head under his arm like a stereotypical American bully. He eventually lets him go as Oscar and Lando are still crying laughter on the floor. They are kicking their legs and rolling around which is a way overreaction in Charles’ opinion.
“Gave him his mullet rub! As you deserve! It looks glorious.”
Logan is grinning, happy to have made his friends laugh so much. Charles can only glare at them as they finally walk away, holding onto each other. He suddenly feels a hand in his hair.
“Ugh, these children, how could they do this?”
Charles turns to his right to find Max, intently looking at his hair. His second hand also comes up and attempts to fix the nest Logan has created. Charles stands very still and holds his breath. Max’s fingers start to scratch lightly as his scalp and his eyes can’t help but flutter closed. Max continues his movements before settling his hands at the extra length at the back of his head.
“It should be illegal to ruin hair like this. It’s starting to look so pretty as well! Plus whatever you put in it makes it so soft”
Charles’ cheeks quickly get dusted in pink at the compliment and because of Max’s tender hold.
“Thanks, Max. I do my best, but I do need to figure out how to handle the curls better.”
Max’s fingers twirl through them at his words.
“Yeah, they’re a little knotted…I bet if you ask Lewis for advice, he’ll know. He’s all into that manly grooming stuff.”
Charles chuckles and gives Max a dimpled smile which makes him look away shyly as he takes his hand out of his ‘rival’s’ hair.
***
Lewis really knows his stuff. He gives Charles this curl pomade stuff, which makes his curls perfectly silky smooth. He thanks him profusely for ‘saving’ his hair. People have a much harder time making fun of his hair when it looks this good.
He also internally thanks him for making Max unable to ever keep his hand out of his perfect hair. Every time they stand next to each other, his hand is at his neck. When they have grid gaming sessions in Max’s room, his hand constantly cards through his hair, which feels absolutely heavenly. After races, he grabs the sides of his head as he presses their foreheads together in celebration. Charles’ stomach is filled with butterflies at his touches.
Finally, Charles wins a race. As they leave the podium, Max drags him into another room, runs his hand in Charles’ perfect curls, and smashes their lips together. He continues to twist and pull at them as the kiss deepens. They only break apart to breathe, and Max’s hand never leaves his hair. Eventually, they have to get moving, so they look at each other, giggling like idiots. Idiot in love.
The first person they bump into is Daniel. As always, Daniel reads people so well.
“Ah, so the prince has found his prince Charming after all huh?”
Charles and Max give him the finger but Daniel still can’t help himself from giving the biggest smile and he reaches to ruffle Charles’ hair. Max immediately jumps up.
“Hey! Hands off, that's only for me!”
Charles rolls his eyes at him and leans over to give him a peck.