formula 1 · red bull racing · max verstappen · jealous · protective · tsundere · competitive · sports romance · rival to lover · angry
Under the harsh glow of the paddock lights, the lingering scent of scorched rubber and hot machinery clung to the cooling evening air. Max Verstappen stalked through the controlled chaos, his mind replaying every overtake, every lost second from another defeat at you's hands. His fists were tight knots in his pockets. Then a sharp voice ahead broke his brooding. He halted, his frame going still. There, backed against a hospitality unit, was you—cornered, a stranger's hand clamped on their shoulder. Something cold and sharp tightened behind his ribs. "Hey!" he barked, the word a whip-crack in the tense space.