Archive of Our Own

The first time it happened they ignored it, no one had mentioned it before, even though all their friends had thought about it on more than one occasion, it seemed that everyone just ignored it but it wasn't until Charles mentioned it that it seemed to spark everyone to do so.

Charles had won an exchange scholarship to a very prestigious university in England and without a moment's hesitation he had accepted it, packed his things, said goodbye to his family in Monaco and boarded a flight to the new big city. He had arrived in England without any problems and his old childhood friend, Max Verstappen, had picked him up at the airport. They hugged tightly whispering soft 'I missed you so much' in each other's ears and walked to Max's car who drove him around the big city.

Charles told him that he was a little nervous because his assigned roommate on the college campus was a senior in the same major as him, Max comforted him saying not to worry and told him that he had a very close friend from that college and that he could tell him that he would help him with any problems he had. Charles smiled in appreciation and the rest of the trip to the deparment complex was in silence with Charles playing music on the radio.

Max helped him carry his luggage downstairs and carried the heavier ones to the reception desk where Charles gave his details and a key was handed to him. It wasn't until they reached the third floor that Max ventured to ask which room he had been assigned.

"Oh, it's 04C," Charles replied with a smile as he stepped out of the elevator with Max following close behind.

"04C!? Wow, looks like you'll be meeting my friend sooner than planned," Max said with a smile on his face.

"What do you mean?" Charles asked.

"That's Carlos' room number," Max said simply as he stopped in front of the door with the number 04C on it. Charles swallowed dryly, now he was a little nervous actually.

Max turned the knob on the door and Charles was a little surprised to see that it was open. Max let out a small laugh and motioned for his friend to go through first. Charles nervously tightened the strap of his bag and walked into his new flat, Max following close behind with his luggage.

The living room of the flat had a small mousetrap table with a bowl that was supposed to have held popcorn in the past, there were two dirty glasses. The kitchen was to the left and then a small hallway connected the two bedrooms and a shared bathroom at the back. Not too small but not too big either, the atmosphere pleased Charles.

"Carlos? Are you back? I'm starving," the voice startled both newcomers though for different reasons.

The door to one of the rooms was opened revealing a curly haired boy who was carving his eyes, his voice was heavy with sleepiness so they both assumed he had just woken up, he was wearing a t-shirt maybe two sizes bigger than him that had the number 55 in large letters next to the name Sainz that reached just below mid-thigh barely revealing the shorts he was wearing. When he looked up and his eyes met Charles' his expression went from sleepy to surprised and then confusion.

"Good morning," was the first thing Charles said in a soft, nervous tone. "My name is Charles Leclerc, I'm your new roommate."

"Lando?" this time it was Max who spoke and it was until that moment that the boy seemed to notice his friend's presence.

"Max!" Lando said with a smile approaching the two of them, now a little more awake. "Nice to meet you, my name is Lando Norris, your roommate is out shopping for breakfast," he introduced himself to the new guy and smiled at him to which Charles relaxed a little at the positive energy Lando was giving off.

"What are you doing here?" Max asked curiously.

"I stayed over yesterday because it got late and I didn't want to go to my flat because Oscar is with Logan," he explained as they heard the door being opened, "oh, looks like your roommate is back," Lando smiled walking past the boys.

"I'm back," a new voice was heard and Charles became a little nervous again.

"Carlos!" Lando said lunging at Carlos hugging him by the neck who was barely able to catch him because of the bags of food he was carrying in his hands.

"Cabron, be careful," Carlos scolded.

"Why didn't you tell me your new roommate was arriving today!? You didn't tell me he's straight out of a magazine either!" Lando growled and Sainz's eyes widened in surprise.

"Mierda," he exclaimed, "I totally forgot it was today, is he here yet?" Carlos asked pushing Lando away with a gentle push and walking into the small living room of the flat running into his friend Max and his new roommate, Charles.

Lando followed close behind and taking Carlos' arm said. "Charlie, this is Carlos Sainz, your roommate, Carlos, this is Charles Leclerc, my replacement since you don't want to continue with me, and I'm sure you already know Max," Lando introduced with amusement and Charles smiled nervously extending his hand to Carlos.

"Please ignore Lando, he's an idiot, it's an honour to meet you," Charles smiled politely accepting the handshake.

"The honour is mine," Charles replied.

"What's Max doing here?" Carlos asked as he headed for the kitchen with the bags.

"Charles and I have known each other since childhood, I offered to bring him here and show him around a bit, I was telling him that I had a friend in his same career who could help him and it was a coincidence that they just happened to share a room," Max explained.

Lando seemed to remember something and without thinking said. “Is he the one you've been telling us about non-stop these days? The guy you're in-?” Lando couldn't finish his sentence because Max had let go of Charles' lugagge and had rushed towards his friend's mouth covering it with his hands and looking at him as if he was about to kill him.

"Awww, you talk about me to your friends, how romantic" Charles joked and Max felt his cheeks flush.

"Oh shut your mouth, you do the same thing, Pierre told me," Max accused and this time it was Charles who blushed.

"Why don't you leave your bags in the room while I get breakfast ready for everyone, Max, will you stay for breakfast?" Carlos interjected not wanting to put up with a fight between Lando and Max so early in the morning.

"Of course!" the Dutchman said with a smile, Carlos' food was the best.

"Lando, help Charles show him to the room that belongs to him," Carlos said.

"You still want me to help my replacement?" Lando joked and Carlos sighed rolling his eyes with no real anger behind it.

"Why does Lando say Carlos is replacing him?" Charles asked just for Max but apparently he didn't say it as softly as he expected because Lando was the one who answered.

"Because this asshole switched colleges just to be away from me! Plus he's found himself a cute roommate to replace me," Lando said, even though his tone was hurt, it was a notorious joke.

"I used to attend the same university as Lando and we were roommates but I was offered a scholarship at this university and I took it, I hadn't had a roommate for a year and that's why Lando now says I'm replacing him," Carlos explained.

"If it makes you feel any better, Lando, the university assigns you roommates, besides Carlos is not my type, I won't steal your boyfriend," Charles joked with a smile but Lando's reaction was not a laugh or a joke, no, Lando's cheeks turned pink and even Carlos stopped what he was doing to look at Charles between surprised, confused and embarrassed. Max just let out a laugh.

"Oh, my God, Charles," Max said with a chuckle and Charles looked at him in confusion.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked confused and nervous.

"Carlos and I are not boyfriends!" Lando said a little too loudly, with a big blush covering his cheeks.

Charles opened his eyes in surprise and brought his hands to his mouth covering it. "I- I'm sorry- I thought-." Charles was speechless.

"Lando, you can't say you don't look like boyfriends when you're literally wearing Carlos' team t-shirt and you came out of his room which means you clearly slept together and knowing each other, cuddling," Max accused with a chuckle and that brought a more pronounced blush to Carlos' face as Lando looked at him offended.

"Do you want to talk about it, while your childhood best friend is present?" Lando threatened and Max stopped laughing while this time Carlos was the one who let out a laugh.

"Lando, just help Charles settle in while I get breakfast ready," Carlos said, the red in his cheeks almost gone but still present.

Lando took Charles' suitcase and walked with the boy to his room, leaving the suitcase there and patting the new boy's shoulder. "This is your room, enjoy it and make it your own, Charlie," Lando smiled.

"Sorry about earlier, I misread things," Charles apologised but Lando just laughed softly and dismissed it with his hand.

"Don't worry, there's nothing to be sorry about, it was funny if I'm honest." Lando mentioned and left the room to annoy Max and Carlos as Charles began to settle in.

Although the first time it was more of a mistake on the new boy's part, it was something that later triggered a lot of jokes among their group of friends although they didn't go beyond that, simple jokes that made Lando and Carlos blush while the Brit tried to deflect the subject and the Spaniard simply preferred not to comment anything because it would only increase the comments of his friends.

However, the second time they discussed it a little more seriously was at a meeting with their friends. Charles had integrated very well into the group and had even become close to Lando, plus he already knew Max and spending 24/7 with Carlos because they were roommates might have made it a little easier for him to get along with the rest of the friend group.

Lando, Max, Charles and Logan were sitting on the floor in front of the TV in the small living room in an intense F1 battle while Carlos was in charge of cooking dinner for everyone so they could stay as late as they wanted, George and Oscar were sitting on the couch cheering and laughing at the witticisms of those who were playing because as they didn't have enough controls for everyone to play they had to take turns and George and Oscar had lost at rock, paper, scissors.

"Fuck off, Max!" shouted Charles almost throwing the controller but stopping himself because if he did so Lando would surely kill him so he opted to punch Max's arm.

"Learn to lose, Charles," Max taunted.

"You literally finished in second place, losing terribly to Lando," Logan said with an amused grin.

"Fourth place finishers have no say in this discussion," Max immediately attacked.

"I lost because of Oscar!" the American snarled back.

"Hey! Don't bring me into your fight!" Oscar threw his hands up in the air to take the blame.

"You were literally kissing his neck and whispering obscene things in his ear," George sneered.

"Shut your mouth, George! I wasn't whispering obscene things, you fucking pervert!" Oscar hit him with a sofa cushion.

"Hey! Don't ruin those! They're new!" Charles snatched the cushion from him.

"Why are you yelling so much? You're going to make the neighbours complain about us... Again," Carlos said from the kitchen.

Lando stood up from his seat with a huge grin and stretched his limbs as he walked to the kitchen saying proudly. "These guys are sore losers, I beat them for the third time in a row."

Carlos let out a laugh from the kitchen as he watched his best friend walk in with a victorious smile. "Maybe I should wipe that smile off your face and beat you."

"You wish, Sainz, I could beat you even with my eyes closed," Lando stood in front of the older man with a challenging look on his face and a cocky grin.

"It would be fun to see you try," Carlos said crouching down just a little to be level with Lando and look him in the eye.

The others watched them from the living room. They had unconsciously always thought that Lando and Carlos looked like boyfriends on many occasions but it had never been something they had commented on out loud until Max told them how Charles had confused them as boyfriends and everyone had made it the joke of the moment however, it was moments like that that now they really thought with a little more seriousness that Lando and Carlos really did look like boyfriends.

Especially in that moment when Lando ends up pushing Carlos away and comes over to the kitchen asking what he had made because it smelled spectacular to which Carlos replied with a soft smile that he was simply making tortillas españolas because it was something easy for everyone to make and some patatas bravas because he had been craving them, Lando says those were always his favourite from when they lived together and Carlos playfully nudges him with his shoulder saying he hasn't died and he can come over to eat whenever he wants as if he doesn't do that on a regular basis.

"They… They really look like a married couple in love," Max says only to the boys who turn to look at him and then at the couple in the kitchen.

"How come we never noticed? We're idiots," George says as he looks away from the kitchen as if he doesn't want to interrupt his friends' moment.

“For some reason, if Charles hadn't mentioned it I don't think I'd be thinking about it," Logan confesses.

"I think it's because you guys got used to it, you've known each other for years, haven't you? I guess you just got used to it and never thought about it again," Charles said looking sideways at the two boys in the kitchen.

"When I first got into college and was assigned with Lando I thought they were something or at least on the way to becoming something until I realized they were just friends and since no one said anything I guess I just accepted it," Oscar mentioned taking a sip of his drink.

They are silent for a few more seconds as they undisguisedly turn to see the couple in the kitchen again and this time, Lando is gravitating close to Carlos talking about something that they can't hear clearly because he says it in a soft tone of voice as if it's a secret just between the two of them. Carlos looks at him for seconds with such a loving and attentive gaze on Lando that the others really wonder why it went unnoticed for so long.

"For God's sake, kiss the hell out of each other!" Max says loud enough for the other two to hear and that seems to burst their bubble.

Lando stops talking and both of their cheeks turn red. "Shut the fuck up Max, why don't you go annoy your boyfriend? Oh, I forgot" Lando fights back and Carlos just sighs.

Max gives him a dirty look but before he can say anything back Carlos interrupts him. "Food will be ready in a few moments, clean up that mess," he says trying to divert attention which he succeeds because their stomachs growl and they start to clean up.

The subject is momentarily forgotten again. No one comments again beyond simple banter until they stop almost completely with Max being the only one to continue it occasionally but now for the purpose of making his friends realise the obvious — even though he himself has only realised it because of Charles—.

That is until Alex also realises that something is up. They are in Lando and Oscar's shared flat when the subject is brought up again. Alex was aware of the situation because he was there when Max told them about Charles confusing them with boyfriends, he had laughed along with the others, had made jokes and had annoyed his friends but he had simply ignored the subject and because he had been too busy the last few days he hadn't been able to witness what his friends and his boyfriend —specifically— were referring to.

Until he had the opportunity —or misfortune— to realise what George had told him a few weeks ago about how Lando and Carlos always act like a couple of cheesy, fucking domestic lovers who made your teeth ache with sweetness.

Oscar had invited them to play F1 but due to scheduling issues the only ones who had attended were Logan, George and Alex. At first it was just the four young men in the flat, litter of snacks all over the floor and part of the table, four glasses some emptier than others while George and Oscar were on the sofa and Alex and Logan on the floor, the four of them in an intense F1 battle where Oscar was leading the way.

They had been playing for about two hours when the front door opened and the laughter of Carlos and Lando could be heard as they entered the flat. The boys didn't even stop their game with Oscar looking up momentarily to verify that it was his roommate and not a stranger entering even though Lando's laughter was unmistakable.

"You guys play F1 and I wasn't invited?" was the first thing Lando said as he finished entering his flat and sat down next to George on the couch where the three boys could barely fit so he was half-seated in George's lap.

"I literally posted a message in the group and told you yesterday that I would invite the boys, you told me you had an important date," Oscar accused.

"I didn't say date! I said revenge!" Lando said with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"I beat you anyway so I don't think it did you much good," Carlos laughed looking at the screen to see Oscar finish first, Alex second, George third and Logan fourth. "Wow, Oscar really swept the floor with you guys," Carlos joked and the others groaned.

"This kid's gotten so addicted that sometimes we don't even notice the time," Lando laughed.

"Is that why you send me goodnight messages at three in the morning?" Carlos looks at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Maybe," Lando laughs as he gets up from the couch. "I'm starving, why don't you cook me something?" he asks taking Carlos' arm and walking to the small kitchen of the flat.

Because the race was over, George tapped his foot lightly on Alex to get his attention who turned to look at him confused but turned to look at the couple at George's gesture. Logan and George did the same out of pure curiosity, even Oscar looked at them furtively as if to confirm what everyone was saying even though he was just as used to it as Charles because they were both his roommates, but since that conversation with the rest of them he couldn't help but give them slight glances, getting more and more surprised at how he let it pass.

Lando jabbers on about how next time he will definitely beat him at golf and Carlos laughs saying he wants to see him try. The two continue to talk about golf but what catches Alex's attention, in particular, is the way these two look at each other. It's as if they need to have their eyes on each other, Lando is sitting on the kitchen counter while Carlos is cutting some things next to him but while Lando is talking he never takes his eyes off Carlos and every now and then, the Spaniard raises his gaze looking to connect with the Brit.

Alex feels that those are too much of an idiot if they don't notice how they look at each other. Lando looks at him with an affection and love so palpable in the air that it's even illogical that Carlos doesn't notice but when Alex watches Carlos' eyes search Lando's as if he needs to see him, with such attention as if drinking in his expressions, as if he doesn't want to forget any detail of Lando's face he realises that they are simply two hopeless cases.

"See what I mean?" George says to his boyfriend who turns to look at him.

"How long have they been looking at each other like that?" Alex asks.

"I'm pretty sure they've always looked at each other like that, we just didn't pay attention to it until someone else did," Oscar says turning to look at his friends in the kitchen.

"How often does Carlos come over to cook? How often does Lando go over to Carlos'?" Logan asks, now curious of all they've missed.

"More often than you think, I'm sure if Carlos could, he would cook every day for Lando, I'm not complaining, his food is very good," Oscar says because he benefits from it.

"What are you talking about?" Lando asks, Carlos following close behind after leaving who knows what in the kitchen.

"About how you guys look like a married couple," Alex says and he knows his voice isn't laden with the normal joking tone he normally has when he makes the joke, now he sounds a little more sincere and it causes the other two to blush.

Lando opens and closes his mouth like a fish for a few seconds as if he wants to say something but can't find his voice. Carlos looks at them all and notices that they all seem to be really serious about what they are saying, he feels strangely nervous about being the centre of attention from one moment to the next and averts his gaze from his friends.

"Stop that, we're not like Charles and Max who don't realise their feelings," Lando says but his voice is shaky with nervousness.

"I don't see Carlos denying it," George says mockingly.

"If I pay attention to your jokes they'll only escalate, it's best to ignore them," he replies but his voice sounds just as nervous as Lando's.

"Oh, Alex, you made the married couple nervous," George jokes.

"Shut your mouth, George, I'll kick you out of my flat," Lando growls.

"I invited them, you can't kick my guests out," Oscar says with a smirk.

"Sure I can," Lando says.

The banter continued for a few more minutes until Carlos had to go back to the kitchen while Lando, a little embarrassed to go after him knowing that his friends would never stop with the banter, stayed on the couch pushing George again to steal his control and start a new game of F1 wanting to shake off the embarrassment he had just gone through.

Their friends dropped the subject for a while, they had made a little internal bet on when these two would finally end up together, Charles said that if they haven't figured it out by now he doubts they will later, Max bet they would figure it out long after they were old and talking about their loves and finally confess, Oscar bet they would realise before they got old and had a little more faith, George said they wouldn't even realise and would just act like a couple —more than they already do— kissing and holding hands, deny they love each other but end up married without even knowing it. Logan and Alex preferred not to comment because they had given up on long ago.

The jokes got weaker as the weeks went by and became simple comments like "your boyfriend says" "your boyfriend wants" "your boyfriend" and Carlos and Lando tired of denying it just let their friends say what they wanted and ignored them, they said it was for their own mental health.

The day the subject came up again was on a casual outing —double date, Charles had said but Carlos and Lando had ignored him—. They had just finished finals week and Charles as a thank you had invited Carlos to lunch for all the help he had given him but Carlos had refused saying he had promised Lando he would go with him to buy some things and Charles' mind was quick to tell him he would invite Max who also needed to buy some things and the four of them could go out. Lando agreed to the change of plans because of finals he hadn't seen his friends and Max didn't have much to do so he went along with the plan.

So now they were walking through the mall with Carlos carrying Lando's shopping bags who was jumping up and down like a child full of joy because weeks ago he had been so stressed he felt like he was going to die, Max was carrying only one bag while Charles helped him —he had snatched it from him— with a bag while chattering to Lando about how that week had been the worst. The four of them headed for a small cafe that was cosy and they had been to on past occasions.

They entered the small café and first found a seat near the window because they were Charles' favourite, they left all their stuff on the table while Charles stopped Max from getting his wallet out. "This one’s on me! As a celebration that we've all passed our exams! And also, thanks Carlos for the help" Charles said cheerfully.

"You don't have to thank, cabrón," Carlos said with a soft smile.

"The usual, Max?" Charles asked and his, now, boyfriend nodded knowing that even if he wanted to he wasn't going to be able to convince Charles to let him pay.

"Come on, I'll help you with the trays," Carlos said and they both headed towards the cafeteria counter to order their food. Max looked quizzically at Lando who was going through his purchases as if he were a small child.

"You didn't order anything," Max mentioned to his friend who turned to look at him.

"Carlos will order for me," he said so simply that Max couldn't help but be surprised.

Carlos knows what I like, was implicit. It was said so matter-of-factly, as if it were obvious and Max had just asked the most absurd question. Lando trusted Carlos' decision not even bothering to look at the menu to give Carlos an idea, because Carlos would do it for him, Carlos knew what things he liked and what he didn't, Carlos knew him so well that he could order for him and Lando would enjoy his meal.

"Has anyone ever told you guys that you act like a couple in love?" Max says and although it's a joke there is a lot of truth in his words and Lando sure noticed because his cheeks instantly burn.

"God, not now, Max, please," Lando growls hiding his face behind his hands.

Max let out a laugh but then turned to look at Carlos and Charles. They were talking animatedly as they ordered their food but Max caught the exact moment when Carlos turned to sneak a glance at Lando as Charles dictated the order, his smile turned soft and then he turned to whoever was taking his order and finished dictating the order. Then, Max turned to look at Lando who was now looking at Carlos through his fingers and glowering at him as if he could watch his best friend all his life and could never get tired of it.

"Lando," Max said, this time his tone was soft and his friend turned to look at him.

"Yeah?"

"You like Carlos," he says, he doesn't ask, he affirms. Lando seems to go through all the emotions in a matter of seconds. Cheeks, ears and even neck turn red, he opens and closes his mouth like a fish for a few seconds, turns to look at Carlos as if he's afraid he might hear them and then just looks at Max nervously.

"This joke has gone too far, don't you think, Max?" Lando says in barely a whisper.

"Lando, you need to be honest with yourself, do you like Carlos?"

"I'm honest with myself Max, I don't like him, it would be dumb, we're just best friends," Lando says the last in barely a whisper.

"Lando, the way you guys look at each other is not how two best friends do it, I don't go to my best friend's house to cook every chance I get, I don't know my friend's order by heart, I don't go on dates with my friend," Max says, softly, as if he wants Lando to understand his own feelings.

"I've known him for years, we're best friends, we were roommates, we've been through a lot," Lando says but his tone is shaky, as if the one he wants to convince is not Max but himself.

"I won't judge you, Lan, but you should be honest with yourself, think about it, do you feel the same with me as you do with Carlos? We have slept together, is it the same as with Carlos? Compare our friendship with Carlos and tell me, does it feel the same?" Max asks, not expecting an answer from Lando, but hoping to help his friend realize his feelings or at least accept them.

"Even if it's not the same feeling, that doesn't mean anything," Lando says but doesn't dare look Max in the eye. "Even if I liked him, we can't be together, Carlos is... Carlos, and I'm just his friend, don't create ideas in your head, I don't like him and even if I did it's not going to happen because Carlos wouldn't date someone like me."

"You're a complete idiot if you think Carlos wouldn't date you, seriously, you should tell him."

"I don't like Carlos," Lando says as if the more times he says it the more real it becomes even if it doesn’t. Max was about to say something else but he watched Charles and Carlos approach and didn't want to make the meal awkward so he dropped the subject.

Charles put the tray on the table and handed out the things he had brought with him, taking a seat immediately next to his boyfriend while Carlos did the same and sat down next to Lando, looking at him for a few seconds.

"Are you feeling alright? You're red and a little warm," Carlos said as he sat down next to him and put a hand on Lando's cheek who took his hand and pulled it away but didn't let go.

"I am, don't worry," he said in a soft tone as he looked sideways at Max as if accusing him of what was going on. Carlos looked at him for a few more seconds but nodded, stroking his hand with his thumb before releasing him and handing him the food he ordered for him.

"Max, when we get married, I want us to be like them," Charles joked and Carlos rolled his eyes feigning anger as Lando practically hid at Carlos' side who simply put his arm around Lando as he told his friend to eat quietly, Max let out a laugh and then the conversation simply turned to anything else but now Lando's mind was wandering over what Max had told him.

The next time it is mentioned is when they all get together. It's not even a surprise that they mention it because when they all get together it's more common for the joke to come up but Lando and Carlos prefer to just leave them even as their cheeks turn red with embarrassment.

They meet up at Carlos and Charles' flat to do what they love most; play F1 and eat the delicious snacks that Carlos was preparing. They had finished their exams and were now starting their holidays so to celebrate they had decided to get together to play until they got tired and eat Carlos's delicious food. The option to order food was also present but it wasn't one they really took up because there was always more than enough with what Carlos prepared.

Those currently playing were Lando, Max, Charles, George and Alex who had been given a new controller by his mother and that increased a new player in F1. Carlos was in the kitchen finishing off the snacks for everyone with Oscar by his side helping him because he had said he wanted to improve his culinary skills and Carlos was more than happy to help him. Logan was also in the kitchen but his only role was to look at his boyfriend smiling like a fool as he tried to pinch the food and was being slapped by Carlos.

"If you're not going to be any help then stop getting in the way of my cooking," Carlos says after pushing Logan's hand away again.

"You let your boyfriend taste the food," Logan argues but leaves the kitchen after stealing a mozzarella stick from Oscar and walks over to the small couch sitting next to George and annoying him by making him lose his third place that he had worked so hard to keep. Carlos says nothing at his friend's comment but Oscar looks at him as if expecting another reaction, Carlos turns at his friend's intense stare and raises a curious eyebrow.

"Have you ever thought about your relationship with Lando?" Oscar asks.

"We're not dating," Carlos sighs.

"I didn't say you were, I just asked if you've given any thought to your relationship, you're very close," Oscar mentions.

Carlos is quiet for a few seconds thinking about his friend's words. "No? Yes? I mean, Lando is my best friend, I guess at some point I have thought about our relationship but nothing really deep?" he replies a little confused.

"I'm just curious, haven't you ever questioned your feelings for him? If it hadn't been for Lando I surely wouldn't have and Logan and I wouldn't be boyfriends," Oscar explains his point, there's no mockery in his voice and actually the sincerity in his tone is what makes Carlos think about his words but he doesn't say anything, he doesn't know what to say really. "Do you like Lando?" he asks.

Carlos wants to answer no, to say that it's absurd and that he's just getting ideas, that the joke has gone so far that all his friends are starting to believe it, that he's talking nonsense and that Lando would never date someone like him. But nothing comes out of his mouth and Oscar doesn't press and turns momentarily to look at his friends playing.

"I'm just saying, you may not really have feelings for him but I believed that until I got to thinking about my relationship with Logan, I'm not saying it's your situation but there's always the option, I'm just curious," Oscar finishes saying without pushing the older man any further. He simply leaves the kitchen with glasses and the drink in his hands, leaves it on the small rattan table and sits down next to Alex on the floor.

Carlos looks at the snack tray and then at his friends. His gaze immediately falls on Lando who brags about his first place from the previous race in the face of Max who tries to shake him off as Charles encourages the banter even though he had finished third.

His friendship with Lando was always different but he never really thought about what made it different. He thought about the possibility of a relationship with Lando and is surprised to realise that it's not an idea he dislikes, however, he shakes his head at the thought, he doesn't think it's the time or place to think about it. He picks up the tray of snacks and heads to his friends who are celebrating the arrival of the meal.

The rest of the evening passes quietly. They decide to watch movies to end the night after they start to bicker —between jokes and teasing— about how they cheat with each other and not wanting to end up in an endless F1 war, they decide it's time to stop and watch movies. Max and Charles take over the sofa kicking George off when he was complaining about how Logan had distracted him and ends up sitting on his boyfriend's legs who comforts him with laughter.

In the end, George ends up sitting sideways on Alex's lap and Alex caresses his back and places one of his hands on his thigh, drawing him to his chest, causing him to relax almost immediately. Max ends up half lying on the sofa, using the armrest as a support for Charles to take his place between his legs, face down and chest to chest with Max stroking his hair. Oscar, for his part finds his comfort between Logan's legs with his back against his chest and playing with his hands around his stomach, Logan kisses the crown of his head and rests his chin on Oscar's shoulder.

Carlos and Lando at first simply sit side by side, their shoulders touching as they watch the film. Lando hugs his legs looking at the screen but when Carlos stretches out about halfway through the second film resting his arm on the edge of the sofa with his hand brushing against Lando's shoulder and without realising it their bodies come closer together.

Lando settles into place and leans his back against Carlos's side resting his head on Carlos's shoulder who wraps his arm around his shoulders and rests his hand on Lando's chest who now seems more comfortable than seconds before. Carlos rests his head against Lando's and the scent of coconut shampoo immediately enters his nostrils relaxing Carlos instantly.

Everyone is relaxed but it's getting later and later and it's not until the fourth film is over that George yawns, hiding his face in Alex's neck who smiles lovingly. "Sleepy, love?" George just nods with his eyes starting to close.

"It's a bit late, actually," says Logan who holds a very sleepy Oscar. Alex nods at his words and the others agree. But no one makes any attempt to get up.

Charles, who was in charge of the remote control also makes no attempt to put on another movie or stop the current one and Max is sure he spent half the movie asleep. Lando drops his head onto Carlos's chest and settles in slightly, burying his head in Carlos's neck where the manly lotion he loves so much floods him instantly, he's also tired and thinks it's time to sleep.

"Can I sleep in your flat tonight?" George asks in a sleepy whisper to Alex.

"Of course, but may I ask the reason," Alex asks brushing a strand of hair away from George's face.

"Lewis is trying to patch things up with Nico and I don't want to get with them arguing or having sex, both scenarios are very possible," George says and the others let out soft amused giggles.

"If George is staying in your flat, why don't you sleep in my flat? It's alone and I don't want to wake up to George's moans as an alarm if we sleep in yours," Oscar says now a little more awake but ready to fall asleep at any second.

"Excuse me, Piastri?" George grunts.

"Yes, excuse me, Piastri?" Lando also said coming out of the comfort of Carlos's neck to give his roommate a dirty look.

"You weren't planning on going back to the flat, were you? Guess you were going to sleep over with Carlos," Oscar shrugs.

"Lando seems to live in this apartment more than I do," Charles jokes.

"I can say the same for Max," it's Carlos' turn to accuse.

"If Lando lives here then Carlos is Lando's personal chef because of the amount of time he spends in our flat cooking," Oscar accuses.

"I'm not interested in your couple fights, shut up," George complains.

"Get out of my apartment before I kick you all out," Carlos jokes and the others laugh.

They get up against their wills. They start to pack up their things and the first to leave the flat are Logan and Oscar who looks like he'll fall asleep the second he sits in Logan's car on the way back to his flat. A few minutes later George and Alex say goodbye and Charles jokes that they should use protection, George's cheeks turn red and he curses Charles as he closes the door to the flat.

In the living room there is only Max who picks up all the bigger rubbish, Charles who is putting away the console and the controllers. Carlos is putting away the leftover snacks that he is sure will be devoured in the morning by Lando and Charles while Lando picks up all the dishes they took and piles it up to take it to the kitchen where he meets Carlos. Taking advantage of the absence of his other two friends, Charles sits on the couch for a few seconds watching his boyfriend stab the rubbish in the corner. In the morning they would clean up properly.

"Are you staying over?" Charles asks.

"I wasn't planning on leaving and if I did I'm taking you with me," Max says with a soft smile on his face. Charles smiles as he stands up and leaves a soft kiss on Max's lips.

"You can take some of my clothes if you want to change," Charles offers.

"Can't I take the clothes that belong to me that I know you stole?" Max jokes.

"Oh, you can borrow those clothes too," Charles jokes and then lets out a yawn.

"I'll finish helping Carlos, go change and I'll join you in a few seconds." Charles says nothing more, nods, kisses Max's lips again and leaves the room.

Lando, meanwhile, enters the kitchen and leaves the dishes in the wash. Carlos approaches him as he chews one of the leftover spring rolls and brings it to Lando's mouth, who opens and bites into it, enjoying the taste. Carlos takes the last bite of the roll and when he finishes chewing, he says.

"I assume you're staying over," he jokes with a smile.

"I got kicked out of my own flat, can you believe it? Absurd," Lando complains but has a soft smile on his face. Carlos can see his tired eyes and knows the moment he lies down he will fall asleep.

"Well, you know where my clothes are, you can take whatever you want and your brush is in the usual place," Carlos says.

"Let me help you," Lando says and Carlos denies with a soft smile.

"Don't worry, Charles and Max took care of the living room and here I'll just arrange a few things and then go to sleep, go get some rest," Carlos said as he wrapped his arms around Lando in a soft hug.

Lando hid his face in Carlos's chest for a few seconds letting himself drift off and when his eyes closed he felt all the tiredness of the day. He nodded at Carlos's words and looked up connecting his gaze with the other's and for a moment, just a few seconds he thought about what it would be like to kiss Carlos, to ignore any thoughts and just kiss him, however, he pushed the thought away.

"Don't be long," he finishes in a whisper and breaks away from the embrace and leaves the kitchen.

Max enters the kitchen at that moment and says goodnight to a sleepy Lando who smiles at him and says goodnight in kind. Carlos picks up all the dirty dishes and puts them in the sink, Max helps him to superficially clean the kitchen and put things away.

"So Lando did stay over," Max mentions after a few seconds with an amused smile.

"Well, he was practically kicked out of his apartment, he didn't have much choice," Carlos says and they both let out light chuckles. "And I guess you're not planning on leaving either," he mentions and Max nods.

"I was going to give you and Lando some privacy but I'm tired enough that I don't want to drive to my flat," Max jokes.

"I just don't want to wake up to strange sounds coming from Charles' room," Carlos empathize the strange turned to look at his friend after he finished cleaning up and Max laughed at that.

"No promises."

They were quiet for a few seconds. They had finished the superficial cleaning and in the morning they would take care of the dishes and deep clean but for now, they were fine. They heard the bathroom door being opened, a short conversation between Charles and Lando wishing each other goodnight and the doors to the rooms being closed. Max and Carlos were still in the kitchen as if they both wanted to say something but no one was saying anything.

"Max, can I ask you something?" Carlos was the first to speak and his friend looked at him curiously.

"Sure, tell me."

"How- How did you realize you liked Charles?" Carlos asked and Max looked at him in surprise but soon his eyes softened as well as his smile and he exhaled.

"I don't know, I mean, I guess I always knew my friendship with Charles was different, he always made me feel different and if I'm being honest I think I somehow always knew but I just ignored it... Maybe it hit me directly when one time I was listening to him talk and I thought 'wow, I wish I could kiss him right now' and then it just clicked in my head and I said 'oh, I like Charles," Max said, smile soft and eyes sparkling and then he turned to look at Carlos with his cheeks slightly red. "Sorry if that didn't help, I guess I'm not the best at that stuff, it took me years to confess too, you know that part of the story."

"Oscar told me that if it hadn't been for Lando then he wouldn't have realised his feelings for Logan," Carlos mentioned and Max nodded because he already knew that, they had all been at the beginning of Logan and Oscar's relationship. "When you talk about Charles your eyes light up in a different way," Carlos commented and Max looked at him a little surprised, his cheeks flushed red.

"I- I mean- Yeah, I've been told that, it was how my parents realised I liked Charles," Max admitted and Carlos let out a slight chuckle. After a few seconds, Max said. "But I understand what you mean... Your eyes light up when you look at Lando too," Max mentioned and Carlos looked at him in surprise.

They stood in silence for a few seconds, Carlos thinking about the whole conversation and Max letting him process everything he needed to. After a few seconds, Carlos spoke again in a soft tone, as if he didn't want to be discovered.

"I've been thinking about Lando lately but it's... complicated" Carlos admits.

"Feelings are always complicated mate, you can think calmly about your relationship, compare it to other friendships, think about what things you would do with Lando but with another one of our friends you can use Charles as an example considering you're roommates, does it feel the same as when you were Lando's roommate? Do you do the same things you did for Lando?" Max suggests, Carlos doesn't respond and Max doesn't expect him to.

"I- I'm a little tired... I think I'll go to sleep now," Carlos says and Max nods.

"Yeah, Charles will come looking for me if I don't go to sleep with him," Max says amused. "Rest up mate, don't get your head too much, I promise you the answer is closer than you expect."

"That I will, get some rest, cabrón," Carlos smiles at his friend who pats his shoulder.

"Have a nice night mate, if you find out your feelings please don't be loud with your boyfriend," Max jokes.

Carlos lets out a light laugh and the common joke relaxes him a little. "I'm warning you, if my alarm is fucking weird noises from Charles I'm going to run you out of my apartment," Carlos joked as they both walked out of the kitchen, Carlos headed to the bathroom while Max went into the room he shared with Charles wishing each other goodnight for the last time.

Carlos brushed his teeth, looked at himself in the mirror for several seconds, wet his face to dispel his worries and left the bathroom. He went into his room and as he was looking for a change of clothes Lando lifted his head out of the sheets, startling Carlos a little.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up, cariño?" Carlos asked and the nickname left his mouth unabashedly, something very common when they are together, just the two of them, where no one else could judge them.

Lando denies, his eyes feel heavy but he hadn't been asleep. "No, I couldn't sleep, I was waiting for you," he admits, because between them they could be honest.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, cariño, let me change and I'll join you," Carlos smiles and strokes Lando's cheek who nods.

Lando sits on the bed while Carlos looks for clothes to change into. Lando is wearing one of Carlos's t-shirts that is too big for him, causing the collar to slide down his shoulder, revealing part of his collarbone, his messy curls, sleepy eyes that seem to be fighting sleep and the soft smile he gives him makes Carlos think Lando looks beautiful and that's his first sign. He quickly changes and walks over to the bed where Lando pulls up the sheet so he can get comfortable.

They both lie down and at first, Lando is simply lying on his side with his chest against Carlos' arm almost occupying his shoulder as a pillow while Carlos is on his back thinking a bit about the conversation he had with Oscar, with Max and even a banal one he had with Charles many months ago. He looks at Lando who seems totally relaxed next to him and knows it won't be long before they end up cuddling, that's his second sign.

And he's right because Lando ends up cuddling closer to him and Carlos takes that as his cue. He settles back down now with Lando occupying his chest as a pillow, Carlos wraps one of his arms around him and rests his hand on Lando's waist who ends up pulling one of his legs up over Carlos's to place it between the Spaniard's who smiled at the comfort. He hid his face in Lando's hair and the scent of coconut shampoo filled his nose making him relax instantly. That's his third signal.

They stay in that position for a long time. Lando seems to hide in Carlos' neck so relaxed that it makes Carlos feel his heart warm and he realises he needs more of Lando, wants more of Lando, craves more of Lando. The only warning Lando gets at the next change of position is Carlos taking his neck so as not to disturb him too much and turns around. Lando doesn't complain, on the contrary, he seems to enjoy that position more and clings to Carlos wrapping one arm around him while occupying one of Carlos' arms as a pillow while Carlos' other arm wraps around his waist and rests on his lower back pressing his chest closer and Lando simply buries himself into Carlos' chest.

"Lando," Carlos calls many minutes later, it's a soft whisper as if he doesn't want anyone else to hear it even though it's just the two of them in the room, not expecting his friend to be awake but he's a little surprised when Lando mumbles against his chest.

"Hmmm?" mumbles but doesn't say anything and Carlos feels a little bad for disturbing his sleep.

"Everyone thinks we're a couple," Carlos mentions. They've never talked about it between them, they've always left the joke ignored and had come to silent agreements with just a glance but the subject has never been broached, until now.

Lando doesn't say anything immediately and Carlos thinks he's fallen asleep so he doesn't say anything either, however, after several seconds of silence, Lando whispers from his hiding place. "Does it bother you?" he asks and his voice is soft now with no trace of drowsiness but Carlos recognises the nervousness in his tone, fear even.

Carlos instantly denies it. "No, it doesn't," he says without thinking because he is sure of his answer. "You?" he asks giving Lando comfort by stroking his back with his hand up and down while the other strokes his neck and hair and he doesn't know what exactly relaxes Lando whether his stroking or his response but he doesn't stop.

"Me neither," Lando whispers and finally comes out of hiding.

They look into each other's eyes for several seconds and Carlos doesn't need another sign because Lando's eyes are his confirmation and he understands what Max, Charles, Oscar and all his friends are referring to regarding his relationship with Lando. Lando's eyes had a soft glow in them as if he adores Carlos and can see him all day long, still sleepy but more awake than a few minutes ago, thanks to the soft moonlight he can see the red spreading across his cheeks making him look cuter and Carlos can't help but look at his lips, pink and wet because Lando has just wet them nervously and Carlos feels like he can kiss him.

And so he does.

Carlos can't stop himself, he's probably not thinking clearly but never in his life has he felt so determined about something as the moment his hand cradled Lando's neck while the other rested on his lower back bringing their bodies closer together if that's even possible giving as his only warning his gaze first on Lando's eyes and then on his lips and the next thing is their lips on each other's.

Although Carlos Sainz regrets many things in his life, kissing Lando Norris, his best friend, former roommate and soulmate, is not something he regrets. Not when Lando doesn't pull away and on the contrary seems to cling to his shirt. At first their lips are only on each other's, but when Carlos realises that Lando doesn't pull away, he starts to move them.

The first kiss is a little awkward, their teeth clash and it feels like it's their first time kissing someone but nerves make them clumsy, however, Carlos holds Lando's neck firmly as Lando cradles Carlos's face holding each other as if they never want to be apart and little by little the kiss starts to get better as the initial embarrassment passes now a little more needy, as if they had waited all their lives for this moment —they probably did, drinking from each other's mouths as if they were in a desert without a drop of water, clinging to each other as if their lives depended on it.

Until their lungs demanded air. They had been so focused on the kiss that for several minutes they forgot to breathe and that is what forces them to separate but they don't let go. Carlos still holds his neck firmly caressing his hair while Lando holds Carlos's face with both hands. They bring their foreheads together as they let the air into their lungs and say nothing for several minutes.

"I don't know how I could have gone so long without kissing you, cariño," Carlos says on a sigh and Lando smiles now returning to his hiding place in Carlos's neck hugging him around the neck.

They stay in that position for several seconds, just enjoying each other's company, both of them accepting their feelings and taking ownership of them and it is as if an incredible tension has been released from their shoulders. They feel so light and free that they curse themselves for not having realised it sooner, for having been so empty-headed and that it wasn't until their friends pushed them that they didn't accept that they were meant to be.

Lando comes out of hiding and seeks out Carlos's eyes that look at him with such intensity that it makes his stomach tingle and his heart race, he feels so beautiful under the Spaniard's gaze and he feels like a fool for never realizing how those eyes looked at him with such adoration. Lando initiates the second kiss and it's a little softer than the last one, now there is no rush and it's as if they want to communicate their feelings through that kiss, showing all that their hearts cry out and giving themselves to each other.

They don't need to say anything more, they understand each other with a simple look and a kiss, they know what the other feels and they don't need any more confirmation, they feel complete and as full of life as they have ever felt, but, even though they don't need to say anything more and they have expressed all their feelings in those kisses, those looks and that moment between them, they feel the need to say it out loud, they don't know if it is to finish convincing themselves or the other but the first one to speak is Carlos.

"I love you," he says in barely a whisper and Lando smiles so brightly that Carlos can't feel more in love.

"I love you too," Lando says and the words slip out so naturally that they both feel silly for not having realised the obvious and apparently they are thinking the same thing because they both laugh softly.

Because they were best friends, former roommates but also partners, boyfriends, lovers, soulmates. They were destined and even if it took them years to realise it, now that they know it, they don't want to let go and they won't because the other makes them feel complete and they can't live without each other.

+1

As the weeks passed, Charles and Max had started a new wager on how long it would take for the others to notice. Max had argued that they would notice soon because Carlos and Lando were never subtle about anything but Charles said that would be precisely why they wouldn't notice if they hadn't even noticed that the two of them loved each other they wouldn't notice if the two of them started dating because they would take it for granted. Max had a little faith in his friends.

And a month went by and the others didn't realize that they were official boyfriends and maybe Max was starting to realize that his friends were real idiots especially Oscar who shared a room with Lando and hadn't even brought it up even though Lando had practically spent every day at Carlos's flat and even though he wouldn't always stay over Carlos loved to drop him off and pick him up even though Lando had a car and the nights he stayed over the next day he would wake up with bite marks and hickey marks on his neck.

Charles teased his boyfriend, telling him that he had a lot of trust in his friends and that they were just oblivious to what was going on but if he was honest he also realised what fools they were and why it had taken them so long to start their relationships. So when they found out about their relationship then he wouldn't stop bothering them.

However, it wasn't until two months later that they realised it. Lando was running around the flat getting ready, it was about 11 a.m. when Oscar was just waking up watching his roommate looking for who knows what.

"Where are you going so early?" Oscar asked and Lando jumped in surprise when he didn't hear him.

"It's literally 11 o'clock in the morning, Osc," Lando said rolling his eyes.

"Oh, well," Oscar played it down and then repeated his initial question. "Where are you going?"

"Carlos and I have a date," he said simply.

"You're not going to the afternoon meeting? Charles got the new F1," Oscar reminded.

"Carlos gave Charles notice we'd be arriving later, Charles gave notice of the meeting yesterday, Carlos and I already had plans," Lando shrugged and smiled as he found what he was looking for. "I should go, Carlos will be coming for me in a few minutes, remember to lock the flat when you leave."

"Yeah, yeah, have fun with your boyfriend," Oscar said and Lando blushed slightly but said nothing more leaving the flat.

Oscar didn't think about the fact that Lando called his outing with Carlos a date, the fact that the hoodie he'd been looking for, for who knew how long belonged to Carlos, much less the fact that Carlos was going to pick Lando up even though he had a car, and ignored the fact that this time Lando didn't deny being Carlos's boyfriend. Oscar simply ignored it all and decided to get the leftovers from last night's dinner that Carlos had cooked for them.

Later, around 4pm, Carlos was walking into his flat with Lando, he wasn't surprised to find his friends in front of the TV playing F1, there were some empty pizza boxes and only one with a few pieces left over. When they entered the flat, Carlos let go of Lando's hand as he took off his hoodie while Lando entered the flat and found a seat on the floor next to Max.

Their friends greeted them as Carlos left the shopping he had done with Lando in the kitchen and ended up sitting on the floor next to Lando. After they finished the actual race with George in first place it was time for Lando to play without missing a beat stealing control from Max who complained but didn't try to take it back.

"How did your date go?" Charles asked as he stared at the screen.

"Lando is terrible at golf," Carlos mentioned amused as he grabbed a slice of pizza.

"Hey! That's not true!" Lando defended himself but wasn't really paying attention because he was concentrating on the screen.

What happened next was a simple disaster. Max tried to reach for another slice of pizza getting in Lando's view on purpose who yelled for him to move out of the way and tried to hit Max who grabbed a slice of pizza and tried to get back to his original position so fast he didn't notice and ended up knocking over a glass of soda which ended up falling on Lando wetting his trousers and shirt.

"Max Emilian Verstappen!" Lando shouted totally forgetting about the race and trying to get up hitting Carlos in the process with his elbow.

"Lando!" Carlos said as he felt the blow to his mouth which caused him to bite his lip and was now bleeding.

Lando froze at the sight of the blood on Carlos's lip and let go of his control, taking his boyfriend's face and cradling it in his hands, staring at the boy. "Oh my God, Carlos, I'm so sorry!" he apologised looking at him worriedly.

"It's nothing," Carlos said looking into Lando's eyes to let him know it was okay. Lando felt guilty but nodded and turned to see Max and hit him.

"Look what you did!" Lando hit his friend hard and he howled in pain.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Max apologized as he stroked the spot where he was hit.

"Lando, you're wet, come on, I'll lend you some clothes," Carlos said as he got up, he was going to the bathroom to check his wound because it was still bleeding. Lando hit his friend again before getting up and following Carlos to the Spaniard's room.

The others started to tease Max about the mess while the other two changed their clothes. Carlos was relieved to see that it wasn't anything serious and after applying pressure with toilet paper for a few seconds the blood stopped coming out, Lando walked into the bathroom looking at his boyfriend now wearing a Carlos t-shirt and shorts that didn't show because of how big the shirt fit.

"Sorry about your lip," Lando said walking into the bathroom and taking Carlos's hand.

Carlos smiled and placed a kiss on his boyfriend's forehead lovingly. "You're not to blame for anything, cariño, besides it didn't even hurt that much, blood is always scandalous," Carlos calmed his boyfriend down by taking him by the waist and kissing his lips sweetly.

When they broke apart, Lando joked. "Tastes like blood, hot," Carlos let out a laugh.

"Not as much as you in my clothes," Carlos said and was about to kiss his lips again when Max appeared in the bathroom doorway but when he saw them he made a disgusted gesture and turned away.

"God, use the damn room," Max growled and the other two rolled their eyes in amusement. "And I was feeling bad for you guys," Max said and turned around at the same time Carlos and Lando separated.

"You're to blame for all of this so you should feel bad," Carlos said unforcibly pounding his friend's chest with his fist as he walked out of the bathroom.

"I lost my career because of you!" Lando complained punching his friend in the arm.

"Oscar took your place and finished second, Alex was beating you anyway," Max played it down as they both walked back into the living room where Carlos was already sitting back down on the floor next to Charles both playing. Lando took a seat next to his boyfriend and Max next to Lando just so he could annoy him at the races. On the other side of Charles was Logan. Oscar and Alex were sitting on the couch while George was half lying down occupying the armrest as a support with his legs over the other two's laps.

It was when a new game was starting that Oscar noticed something unusual about Lando. His roommate was tapping Max with his shoulder to prevent him from winning as he played which caused the collar of his shirt to slip down his shoulder and then a bite mark that looked old but recent enough caught his attention. He opened his mouth in surprise as he grabbed Lando's shoulder pushing George's legs in the process who almost fell if it hadn't been for Alex who gripped his thighs tightly. Oscar turned Lando around and could see on his collarbone a bite mark and other marks that were no longer as reddish but he's sure they once were.

"Oscar!" Lando said as he wiggled out of the grip.

"Oscar, what the hell?!" George complained as well due to the fact that he lost his position and was now in fourth place and Lando in fifth now with Logan in third, Max in second and Carlos in first.

"Keep distracting him, Oscar," Max said amused.

Oscar had been in shock for a few minutes until he seemed to process the information. Lando had told him he was going on a date with Carlos, they now spent so much time together they seemed attached at the hip, how Carlos's hoodies now appeared more frequently in his flat, he can't remember the last time they ate something that wasn't made by Carlos and how it seemed like Lando only occupied his car when Carlos couldn't which was on very few occasions.

"Fuck you!" Lando yells in frustration as he finishes fifth at the same time Oscar yells.

"You're dating Carlos!" They all fell silent due to the fact that since they had yelled at the same time they had to process what they had said.

"What did you say, Osc?" Logan asked.

"Carlos and Lando are dating!" he said and everyone turned to look at the couple who had red cheeks but both with confused expressions and after a few seconds Charles and Max let out guffaws.

"What the-?" Carlos asked in confusion but was interrupted by George.

"Wait, what?!?!?"

"Carlos spends every waking moment with Lando! Whether it's in his flat or ours, he's been cooking for us practically every day, it almost looks like Carlos is the one living in my flat by the amount of clothes of his, Lando said he had a date with Carlos now," he said empathizing the word date, "plus Carlos is like Lando's personal driver now, he drives him everywhere and the marks on his neck!" he finally pointed out and Lando covered the mark with his hand with his cheeks getting redder and redder.

"They're dating!? Since when!?" Alex asked.

"You didn’t- You guys didn't know?" Carlos asked a little confused.

"No!" they all said in unison except for Charles and Max who were still laughing.

"What are you guys laughing about?" Lando looked accusingly at his friends.

"Two months! It took them two months to figure it out! Two!" Charles said and Max laughed harder.

"Two!?" Oscar looked at them in surprise.

"How come Charles and Max knew but we didn't? Why didn't you tell us?" Logan said.

"To be honest, we didn't tell anyone directly, some things happened and Max knew about it first and we just confirmed it when Charles asked... We assumed they were going to tell you..." Carlos replied.

"Carlos and I never tried to hide it... I mean Osc just mentioned that I said directly that I would have a date now with Carlos and when I came in Charles literally asked how it went," Lando said.

"We thought it was part of the usual banter!" Alex defended himself.

George pointed accusingly at Charles and Max. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Charles thought it would be funny to see how long it took and thanks to you guys I lost money because I bet it would take a month tops," Max growled.

"It took who knows how many years to realize those two liked each other and it wasn't until I noticed that everyone did, you had high hopes for them, Maxie," Charles laughed in amusement.

"I'm surprised it took Oscar this long though, Carlos and Lando were not subtle at all and I understand the others but Oscar? Come on mate, those two are too obvious, Lando is too obvious," Max emphasized and Lando hit his friend on the shoulder.

"I don't know, I thought it was normal, I didn't pay attention, Lando would sometimes mention that he would go on dates with Carlos but he called them friend dates, and it's not that uncommon for him to go for Lando, many times he did, I didn't notice when that escalated and became daily," Oscar excused himself.

"That proves my point that you guys are dumb, there are no such thing as friend dates that's called hanging out," Charles rolled his eyes.

"Okay, so, Carlos and Lando are oficials?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, about two months ago," Carlos said and Lando nodded.

Everyone began to celebrate and congratulate the new —not so new— couple that had formed. Joking and teasing each other about how obvious Carlos and Lando had been, how oblivious the others had been, especially Oscar, and what bad friends Max and Charles had been by not telling them that these two were now official.

That is until Oscar remembered something else and said. "They're boyfriends before they got old! I won the bet!" Oscar mentioned and everyone was quiet since they had forgotten about that bet but they soon started complaining.

"That's not fair! I already lost a bet with Charles! Now I have to pay Oscar back?" Max whined.

"Couldn't you waited a few more years?" George growled.

"I'm thankful I didn't bet on that one," Logan said and Alex nodded in agreement.

"Of course there was a bet!" Lando said and they all laughed.