Chapter Text
When Carlos joined toro rosso, he didn't expect to get a best friend.
But when Max Verstappen knocked on his door, eyes glassy and red handprint on his cheek. Carlos knew he had to do something.
He let Max in, telling him to sit on the bed while he went to the bathroom to get a first aid kid. Max told him that it wasn't necessary but Carlos ignored him.
Carlos treated the little cuts Max had on his arms. Once he had done that, he made dinner for him and Max.
Max slept on Carlos's hotel room that day, clinging to him like a lifeline after he had cried on his teammates chest.
In the morning, neither of them mentioned it. But everytime Max had a bad race, he went to Carlos's room, even after Carlos left to Renault and Max to Red Bull.
In Carlos's room, Max could be himself, cry and express his emotions. He could be, not Verstappen, but just Max
When the first thing Max does after becoming World Champion is hugging Carlos, people think it's because of the raw emotion and happiness.
What they don't know is that that hug meant more for both of them. It was a thank you from Max to Carlos, for always looking out for him even when it got him into trouble with Max's father.