a/n: hey guys! just in case you missed my announcement and havent seen the updated 'story structure' chapter, act iii: the final laps is about to end (in 1 or 2 more chapters). i originally wanted to end slipstream after this act ends but due to popular demand and my own unreadiness to let go of this book, i'm adding an additionalact iv: the podium finish. i hope you guys don't mind 🥹 i'm just kinda worried you guys might think i'm stretching the narrative too thin already LOL but i just really wanna go full-circle and get to the very end of andie and charles' story <333 anyway tho, enjoy the fluff and humor! this is another really long chapter so be forewarned 🫡
ps. also, a big thank you to @tellingF1stories for helping me piece things together for this chapter and for giving me inspiration to write one of the hottest scenes i've ever written 😮💨 might i recommend maneskin (for the whole chapter)? lol
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" leclerc,what happened to the handcuffs? "
_________
ENGINES WERE READY, TYRES WERE hot, the start lights were counting down, and the asphalt was ready to take on the friction of speed once more. Two souls were to battle it out for that top spot on the podium yet again... Their prides were on the line, ready to defend their honour with all their might.
Then the lights went out.
Andie Renaldi and Charles Leclerc floored it, their throttle pedals feeling the instant reactions of two of the finest drivers in Formula One history. They taunted each other in the corners, they got into each other's slipstreams, and they pulled some dirty moves here and there.
In those moments on track, they weren't lovers. They were racers.
And they raced to win...
"Ma dai! You almost took me out!"
...that karting race.
"Suck it, Leclerc!"
They fought hard against each other, often switching places every third or fifth turn of the track. This may have been an activity of leisure for some people but for these two, it was a neck-and-neck competition—just like how it was with everything else in their shared lives.
"Hey! That's moving under-braking!"
They were the only ones going around the track for that particular session, no one behind them to dare challenge for the win... but it was mostly because not much people were there at the speedway. It was perfect for Andie and Charles to spend some quality time together, away from prying eyes.
