Work Text:
"Max, How does it feel to come back to racing after an year long gap?"
And that was the thousandth time he was asked the same question. If not for Silvia, he would have headbutted at least half the reporters. Even killed some. They say he has no self-restraint.
He coughs lightly, his cue to indicate annoyance to whoever is 'PR-sitting' him today "Very good, the car is very good. Last year in the same regs, so, we are also hoping for good feedback for next year."
The reporter leaned forward, his beige cap casting a shadow on his face, "How was testing today? Your body must feel a little different after the baby?"
God. He was so fucking tired. Could the Chinese GP not come faster through sheer will? If not he is also willing to invest in black magic.
"No." He stares straight at the reporter.
The beige cap man shuffles uncomfortably "Alright then, Thank you Max."
He rolled his eyes, The 'PR-sitter' of the day talked to the next reporter, nothing Max heard, next he is being called out of the media room, he is more than happy to leave.
The 'PR-sitter' matches his pace, much to Max's annoyance, he wants to talk, The youngling grinned brightly "As Ms. Silvia told, I asked them to relieve you of the media when you coughed! I hope it was the PR cough and not, you know, cough-cough."
He smiles tightly at the Alpha, nice kid, still sounds like an overexcited pup, he'd be nicer if he wasn't so wired "You did great…?"
"Connor!"
"Good job Connor." He pats the young Alpha's shoulder lightly and watches his eyes grow as big as saucer plates
"Um." The boy blushed "Thank you Mr. Verstappen."
He spots his Aston and power walks towards it "Max is fine." He waved the kid off, hoping he'll go. The car lets out a small click, indicating that it's unlocked. He slips into the driver's seat and eyes the kid, he is still standing, looking at him earnestly. Max groans and lowers his window "What?"
Sue him. He is tired and pissed. A day full of entitled pricks asking him how being an omega has changed him-- as if he hadn't been one since, you know, the fucking beginning. That- that and all the wrong questions, things people have no right to ask. He has to answer to keep tight with the sponsors. His eyes screw shut momentarily.
"It is just-- Sorry but you will have to finish the rest tomorrow." The kid smiles nervously.
Self-restraint is the key to discipline and has kept Max on top of his game over years. It also kept him from driving his Aston Martin off a cliff.
He parks his car into the garage and makes way to the bedroom through the tiny elevator connecting their basement to the main level. His Alpha's scent hits his nostrils, he welcomes the familiarity of their house to engulf him, taking off his scent blocking patch, his scent mingles with that of his mate and their Pup. The living room is just as he left, No sound echoing through the walls, a strong scent of ocean breeze carries his feet towards their bedroom.
He finds his husband spread-out on his nest, their baby's head resting on the Monégasque's chest, her tiny fingers bunching the red fabric of Charles' shirt in her hand. His heart melted at the sight. His mate, his child, in his nest. Max threw his cap on the ground next to their floor bed, He knew of Charles' dislike on not having access to his 'Goldie-locks'. He slipped under the blanket next to his sleeping Alpha, his arms resting on Charles' waist, right under their Pup's tiny feet, head nuzzled into the Monégasque's neck.
"Hey sweetheart."
He feels the Alpha's lips pressing on his hairs and grumbles lightly into his neck "I woke you up?"
"It's okay."
A palm cups his jaw pulling him out of the comfortable spot that is the crook of his mate's neck, a whine leaves him at the sudden absence of warmth, Charles' lips find his, settling him down.
"Are you okay, Mon cœur?"
He snuggles back into the Alpha's neck, nuzzling at his scent gland "I am fine." the words lost on his mate's soft skin.
"But you smell distressed, baby."
Max dislodges himself from where he was tucked, the scent is lightly sour, he looks down to find the baby's nose scrunched up where she lie's on her father's chest.
He closes his eyes again, he cannot bring this to his nest, to his pup "M'Sorry" Max clambers on his arms to slip out of the nest as a hand locks around his wrist.
"Hey, No. I am not mad, you are not hurting her. She had been crying for you all morning." The alpha loosens his grip and pulls lightly "Tell me?"
Max lets his body get dragged down on the bed, he presses next to his mate's body, "Media was so shit Charles." he feels the hand on his waist pull him closer "All the questions about who my mate is, if a child has decreased my capability to race, if-" He shakes his head "So many stupid things. Only Nico was tolerable." He eyes at their daughter's sleeping form, caressing her hairs "I am not the first Omega to race in F1, not even the first one to win a championship and yet they treat my return as some sort of-" a harsh breath escapes him in annoyance "miracle. I am not supposed to be there. It is not my place. I should not have made it. That it is wrong, that I have fucked my way up the team, I do not deserve any of it."
He feels Charles kiss his head again, The Alpha's hand splayed at the bottom of his ribs, pressing down lightly "You have showed them who you are Max. There is nothing to prove. You have won. If they fail to see it, they do not deserve the honour to speak with you." the pressure disappears, replaced by a soothing motion at the same spot, "You have made history, No matter what they do, what they say, you did it. No one can take that away." the hand stops caressing "We can speak to Horner and Marko?"
Max raises his head from where it lay on his Alpha's shoulders to look at him "You sound so sure Schatz. They cannot do more." a sigh wrecks through his body "I thought, after the third, I would not have to prove myself, I hate-"He huffs, Charles' hold tighten again "Jules is lucky to be born an Alpha."
"Max" His voice cracks, Max looks up to find Charles' eyes glistening with unshed tears "Don't do this. Don't let them take this away from you."
A sudden wave of warmth seizes his heart, what a life, he has an Alpha upset on his behalf, upset that he used to think less of himself because of his designation, his mate cries for his pain, shoulders through his storm. They call him the Sun of Maranello, The Sun, Max thinks, is not bright enough.
"Schatz" He leans to kiss Charles' cheek, without jostling their baby "I am fine, I don't believe that Omegas are any less. Not anymore. However, I cannot help but be grateful that she won't have to go through any of what I did."
Charles' nostrils flares before he composes himself "Okay." he kisses Max's forehead "Okay." He leans his cheek against Max's head.
Max purrs slowly "Did you feed her?"
Charles chuckles "Yes, Papa. Could you take her though? She had been crying for you all day, she'd like your scent."
"Not me?" Max giggles at his Alpha's spluttering, taking Jules in his hand without waking her up. She must have exhausted herself with the crying to not wake up from that. His heart breaks a little.
"You know," Charles sits against the headboard, beckoning Max next to him "Carlos and Lando came by. Carlos was confused with the baby's name before Lando politely informed him that 'Max does not give a fuck. Get over it.'"
"Ah" Max grins, settling their daughter on his chest, her tiny face smudged into his neck "So they are doing the weird foreplay with our baby's name?"
Charles scrunches his nose "Call it flirting." He pulls Max against his chest "Are you sure, still, that you want to name her Jules? Not Juliette or something?"
"Maybe her middle name can 'Ette' so we can keep with the Verstappen theme. You know, 'Max Emilian', 'Julie Ette', but then we'll have to name her 'Julie'."
He feels Charles' hairs brush against his ear as the Alpha kisses his daughter's crown "Har Har. Absolutely not."
Max giggles and closes his eyes
Surrounded by his mate's ocean breeze, his daughter's faint citrus, he lets the day wash away.