Chapter Text
You never had to tell Charlie anything twice. Sure sometimes it seemed like he didn't hear you the first time but, that was never really true. He'd learned to hear things said to, about, and around him and filter out what he should hear, and what he should pretend he hadn't. It had kept him and Jeff safe on numerous occasions inside and out of that wretched place they had been raised.
Now though? Now he regretted ever cultivating that skill. Babe didn't want him anymore. Had told Charlie to leave him alone, had yelled it for the whole world to hear it seemed. And he was so mad. Mad at him ; and Charlie had no idea why. He was sure he hadn't done anything wrong. He wasn't particularly clingy, or overly emotional or affectionate, and he always let Babe lead in everything. He wanted Babe to feel safe with him, to be Babe's safe space. But he had done something. Something so egregious that Babe had…Babe had sent Charlie away. And he had meant it. Charlie had felt that he meant it.
And Charlie could pretend he hadn't heard Babe all he wanted, but he had. He had heard the thinly veiled contempt in his voice, he had heard the truth in every syllable that had slipped past his lips. And he had felt his heartbreak.
You see, in the beginning, Charlie hadn't thought Babe would fall in love, or even in like, with him. He had even had the thought to bet on how long he would last with P’Sonic, P’North, and lung Alan. But he didn't think that would be... acceptable behavior.
But then, against all odds, he and Babe had miraculously come together as an actual couple. They cared about each other's safety and all aspects of their well beings and…Charlie had started to see forever. After all the Tony stuff was wrapped up of course, but, forever nonetheless. And... he had thought Babe had seen it too.
But now Babe was ignoring his calls, not texting him back, and he even changed the code to his door. He even pretended Charlie wasn't there when they were at the garage at the same time. Even when he was training Charlie it was like Charlie didn't actually exist. That, more than anything, made Charlie realize that this fairy tale he had sold himself had just crashed and burned. And, somehow, he only had himself to blame. He should've seen it coming. He eventually ruined everything he touched, other than Jeff that is; why did he think this would be any different?
So, he pulled back. He stopped calling, he stopped texting, he stopped going by their- Babe’s home. He didn't interact with Babe at the garage unless he absolutely had to and he gave the other as much space as he could if they were ever in the same room together. He was glad to have Jeff to lean on in these moments. He was the only person who loved Charlie unconditionally. That may have been because Charlie basically raised him but… Jeff’s love was never something he questioned. And because of that, he felt like the world's most despicable person for what he was about to put his nong chai through.
It was the day of the big race, a race Babe shouldn't be in since he was still recovering. And when Charlie tried to say something about it he was met with disdain and words that tore at the very fiber of his being. He wasn't looking down on Babe or anything, he just… Babe was still hurt! Charlie could see him limping! He shouldn't have been allowed to race. But he was the Pit Babe, and Charlie guessed that meant more than a doctor's recommendation, or the evidence staring them right in the fucking face!
Charlie took a deep breath. It didn't matter. In a few moments, nothing would matter anymore. Not to him anyway. And his only regret…well, the only one that mattered, would be not telling Jeff goodbye properly. Charlie pulled on his gloves and helmet and got into his car. He clutched the wheel and had to blink back tears as he thought about what was about to happen.
Jeff squinted at the image on the screen in the garage. Everyone else was cheering on the fact that Babe had gone from last place to first in such little time, which was cheerworthy. However, when Babe had passed Charlie's car something had been…off. And Jeff didn't like it. He swiftly made his way towards where the team owner stood, headset on.
“P’Alan?"
He had the man's full attention instantly. Jeff would unpack how that made him feel later. For now though;
“Do you think I could talk to Charlie really quickly?” he asked, pointing at the man's headset. The man's shoulders seemed to slump imperceptibly.
“Can this wait N’Jeff?" he asked with clear exasperation.
“If it could, I wouldn't have asked." Jeff knew he was being a bit snippy but a feeling of dread was welling within him. Jeff cleared his throat and tried again.
“Please P’Alan, it can't wait.”
He must've looked suitably pitiful because Alan sighed, seemed to switch channels on the headset, and handed it over.
"Be quick.”
Jeff nodded his thanks and quickly donned the headset.
"Charlie? Can you hear me?"
There was silence then;
“I can."
“What's wrong? You're driving weird."
The question seemed to cause Alan to pay more attention to the screen but he couldn't see any difference in Charlie's driving. Maybe it was because they were so close that Jeff saw it??
“Nothing wrong Jeff, I'm driving perfectly fine."
“ Don’t lie to me, Charlie. You promised me you wouldn't. "
More silence, then;
“Have I told you lately that I love you, Jeff? Frankly, I don't think I do it enough."
"Do it more then. You have time.”
Charlie laughed, it was a sad thing that sent terror up his spine.
"Charlie-”
"Do you love me, Jeff?”
Jeff felt a heat at the back of his eyes. Charlie never questioned his love. Not even when Jeff was being a brat.
“Of course I love you, Charlie, how could you-"
“I love you too Jeff, forever and always."
"Then say it to my face, Charlie! Pull in now!”
"I can't do that. I'm sorry Jeff. I love you.”
"IF YOU LOVE ME PULL IN!”
The loudness of the statement caused everyone within hearing radius to jolt a bit and look towards Jeff, none more so than Alan.
“Okay Jeff I think that's enough, give me the headset."
Jeff dodged Alan’s reach.
“Charlie ple-"
That's when it happened. That's when Charlie’s car seems to take on a life of its own. Jeff watched in horror as the car jerked off the track and crashed, flipping multiple times before coming to a stop on its hood.
“CHARLIE!!!"
Jeff began to run blindly toward the crash, other cars be damned because this wasn't supposed to happen! Not yet! And not to his hia! A set of arms snagged his waist and he struggled against it, reaching toward the car that was now covered by smoke.
“HIAA!!!!!”
The arms loosen enough at that, that Jeff is able to break free but he doesn't get far before he's caught again and lifted from his feet, still screaming, struggling, because Charlie is all he has, and he can't…he can't.
He doesn't even realize the scene he's making, or the tears pouring down his face. He wouldn't care if he did. He'd just seen everything good in his life go up in flames.
“CHARLIE!!!!”