Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Charles was 8, he won his first karting championship. Seven years later, he crashed into Max Verstappen. Max was absolutely furious. The moment young Leclerc was asked, what exactly happened there, he simply answered that it was just an accident, that those kind of stuff happen in racing. It was also the first time he lied.

He told himself it was the last lie he would tell. But he got addicted, he created this good boy persona. Everybody liked him. Even Max, came around and even became friends with him after years.

Everything changed in 2017. The year his father died. Weeks before he passed away, Charles, his precious son, has lied to him. He has never lied to his father. He could make a fool even out of the most important people in FIA, but not his dad. However, till the day that he died, he believed Charles has signed a contract with Ferrari. The truth was, he will not be joining the F1 grid until 2019.

After that event, he promised himself, he would never lie again. And he kept that promise, until 2021. The year Carlos Sainz, became his teammate.

El matador, Carlos Sainz Sr. son, Mclaren’s golden boy. From their first race together, Charles knew he was a competition. His patience ended, on the day of Monaco grand prix. His own race, first season for Carlos in Ferrari. It was like someone was doing it on purpose, or maybe his team just hated him.

He felt something boil in his blood, watching Carlos on podium, from the garage, his home race, and he didn’t even finish. Ridiculous.

He had enough of trying to like Carlos Sainz. He will not try from this moment, he will act friendly, on cameras and when someone is watching. But inside, he will be loathing.

With that thought, he walked up to Carlos who just left the podium and was now taking a photo with the team. He hugged him and when they let go of each other, he whispered:

“Congratulations Carlos, you’ve earned it” Carlos simply smiled at his teammate, feeling grateful and completely oblivious. How could he know, it was only the start of lies he would hear from Charles.

Chapter Text

“I want to give this to you” Charles wasn’t looking at him “from my fan, to me, for you, so you remember me for the rest of your life” Carlos handed him a chili plushie, why the fuck was he giving him presents? Was he out of his mind?

“A chili” Charles said dragging the “i”. He could already see it in the trash.
“For our post teammate era” Carlos looked at him with a half smile on his face, was he trying to stir him up or something?
“Come on, we’re only starting the season” the Monegasque laughed light heartedly. God, he was an amazing actor.

As he stared at his teammate face, so innocent and looking at him with expectation, he just wanted to throw the chili out the window and never speak of it again. But he couldn’t, he had to be the PR dream, the perfect driver. He couldn’t risk losing his public appearance, so he said:
“It’s cute, it’s a mix between a chili and a carrot” he turned the toy around in his hands, Carlos just chuckled at that.

The first thing Charles did when they got out of the car was look for a trash can. He was this close to throwing the chili away when he realized something. It was Bahrain, first race of the season, if he got rid of it right away, Carlos would question it for the rest of the season. It was one of the things Charles hated about him, the Spaniard was nosy, and too curious, and following him like a dog trying to start a conversation. Charles hated it.

Then a thought occurred to him, he could give Ferrari fans what they want. And they want more Charlos content, as they call it. So the second he walked into the paddock he called Carlos and threw him the chili.
“It’s for stress, when you hate me you can just-“ he did a squeezing gesture with his hand. Oh how close he was to the truth, but the chili would be so damaged already if Charles was to squeeze it every time he hated his teammate. He couldn’t say it tho, not in front of the cameras.
“I’m not a very stressed guy” he shrugged and looked at the chili, which was reminding him of Sainz a little too much.

Quali went great for him. He got P2, and what made it even better was the fact that Carlos qualified P4. Charles was so excited to walk out of the car and see an upset look on his face, however he was disappointed to find out, that his teammate wasn’t upset. He wasn’t even unbothered, he looked happy. Why was he happy about almost making on the podium but not being good enough? Something wet poured on Charles’ shoe, he looked down and realized, he was squeezing his water bottle so hard it broke. Even more furious than he was, Charles went to take a shower. Oh he is so winning the race tomorrow.

Oh he was so not winning the race. In fact, he ended up on P4, how did it happen? How could he lose to Carlos? Who by the way, overtook him and finished on P3. He couldn’t bear the thought of being worse than the Spaniard, he was never worse than him, he was either the same or better. Much better.

The world started to spin, Charles was so mad his eye started twitching. The podium celebrations were fucking annoying, Carlos with a smile on his face, pouring champagne on Max and Checo. He should’ve been up there with them. He was the winner, he was destined for the championship.

Charles didn’t even wait until it was over, he just took a shower in his drivers room and went straight to the hotel. Sure, Fred messaged him why haven’t he shown up on the debrief, but Charles ignored him. He ordered pizza to his room, and called Alexandra.

“Hi sweetheart” he greeted her in french, his girlfriend was seating on the couch, with Leo in her lap, it looked so adorable, it made his lose a little less bitter.
“Hi Charles, sorry for the P4, but I think you did great anyway” Alex responded encouraging.
“P4 would’ve been fine… it’s just, I started from P2, and ended up so low, besides-“ Charles hesitated, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to share his loathing with Alex, she would start questioning him and speaking about that you have to give everyone a chance, so he said.
“Besides, it’s Bahrain, first race of the season, I was kinda excited for this one” he sighed and Alex showed her support, he asked her about her day and they chatted for a bit before disconnecting.

It was already after midnight when someone knocked on his door. Charles still half asleep stood up and stumbled on his clothes on the floor. His eyes went wide when he saw the person on the other side of the door.
“Carlos? What are you doing here? It’s midnight!” Charles rubbed his eyes with his finger.
“I know, but we have to talk” Carlos exclaimed, waited for Charles to let him in, he didn’t tho.
“Aren’t you supposed to like… celebrate your podium or something?” Charles still confused and half in his dreams asked.

“I was at a club with Max, Checo and Lando, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it and Lando told me to go home”
“Thinking about what?” Charles frowned.
“About your race” Carlos stated, staring straight into the Monegasque eyes.
“What about my race?”
“You didn’t congratulate me, I didn’t even saw you at the debrief?”
“Congrats Carlos, you did amazing” Charles said with venom in his voice “Can I go to sleep now?”
“It’s not about the podium anymore!” Carlos said a little too loud, so he walked in and closed the door.

He sighed into his hands and calmed himself down.
“Why are you so envious Charles?”
“What?” Charles stared at him dumbfounded.
“Why can’t you handle the thought of losing to me?” Carlos waited for a response quietly

But Charles couldn’t give him the answer could he? Cause he didn’t really know himself.
“I don’t know okay?! Maybe it’s because Ferrari is suddenly so interested in you and I’m in the back trying to hold onto the track? Maybe it’s cause every time I look at you I wanna punch you in your pretty face?” Charles said with irony in his words.
“So what? I’m supposed to apologize? For being a good driver? That is fucked up cabron” Carlos was a little furious now.

“Just, don't bother me and I will stay out of your way, that sounds good?” Charles rolled his eyes.
“No Charles, it doesn’t sound good, after 3 years of constantly dealing with your bullshit I finally wanna sort this out, once and for all”
“Well I don’t, and I wanna go to sleep now, goodnight ferrari’s golden boy” he closed the door in his face and left Carlos standing alone in the corridor, with a racing heart and million thoughts in his head. Fine, if Charles doesn’t wanna do it by communicating, they will do it by force, nobody hates Carlos Sainz Jr. Right?