Chapter Text
The day Charles left for university he knew his life would never be the same. His mother had hugged him tight at the airport like he may never return from may never return from London. His brothers had hugged him just as tight and told him that he had to send lots of photos and ring everyday.
Charles knew that for them this is a big moment in their family story. The first omega boy in the family in over fifty years and here he was moving across Europe all alone. He shared their sadness and he had sadness of his own but he also felt such feelings of excitement.
So he boarded the plane, three suitcases hauled off the belt on the other side and a deep feeling of homesickness but the same amount of excitement. The streets of London were the same as he remembered, busy, loud and so full of that city charm he had wanted.
He hadn’t really anticipated how hard hauling three suitcases through London would be however and also how far his accommodation is from the tube but he guesses this is what he signed up for.
The room he gets is…
Shit. To put it simply.
The bed is tiny, Charles isn’t really big but his legs almost dangle off the bed and he can barely turn over in bed without falling off. The wardrobe is tiny with hardly any space for his clothes, forget about putting any coats in there. The ‘ensuite’ is tiny too with the smallest shower cubicle that Charles has ever encountered. He isn't sure he can even raise his arms to wash his hair in there. But it is his for the year and it has and will cost him a small fortune and so he just unpacks and tries his best to overcome the slight disappointment he feels .
He doesn’t hear or see any of his flatmates that first day. For a while he thinks that maybe they are just out but no one returns that night so he concludes that they must have not moved in yet.
It isn’t until he comes home the next night that he realises that there is a problem. In the kitchen there is a man, that's not the problem. The man in question is an Alpha. Charles stops dead in his tracks as he smells the scent in the air, he thinks for a second that he is just making things up but as he sniffs again he knows he isn’t.
“Oh hello, I didn’t hear you come in! You must be one of my housemates.” The Alpha says, his face a picture of happiness and kindness but Charles can’t think past the fact he is an Alpha.
He rushes off to his room instead of answering, his heart is racing as he fumbles for the key card to his room. Rushing like the man is chasing him. He isn’t, the Alpha hasn’t moved a single muscle and instead just looks and smells confused.
The thing is, the flat is meant to be an Omega only flat. He chose this one specifically because his mother had been so worried about him being alone at uni but also partly because Charles is so susceptible to the Alpha voice. For years Charles had been blissfully naive to Alphas, he had never felt scared of them and he had never really had any issues. But one day Charles went to a birthday party where an Alpha wouldn’t leave him alone and he tried to rush off and avoid this Alpha. This hadn’t gone so well, most Omegas can fight it and can go against what the Alpha demands but Charles simply could not. When the Alpha had told him to get down onto his knees Charles had just fallen like a sack of potatoes. He had been lucky that day to be found by Lorenzo before the Alpha had done anything. He had been shook up and even now when he thinks about it he feels the same fear. It was his mother who had since never felt safe letting Charles out alone, but she knew resisting letting Charles go to uni was futile. The omega only flat had been her main term of letting him go.
Charles spends a bit thinning about what just happened. He isn’t sure how he feels about it yet. So many questions run through his head like ‘what if he goes into heat?’ ‘What if this Alpha uses the voice against him?’ ‘What if the whole flat are Alphas and he can’t protect himself?’ and for a long time he just swims in thoughts like these.
Time ticks by and Charles feels frozen. His thoughts don’t slow and his fear doesn’t subside. He knows he is not scared of Alphas as such. He isn’t scared of them in public or at school but there he is protected. There he will be seen or heard and saved, just like with Lorenzo. Here in the flat however he doesn’t feel the same, this Alpha could do whatever he wants and no one would save him.
He doesn’t think he can ever leave his room again. He starts to think about how he will rot away in this tiny room. He can’t stop thinking about how he thought this was a new start but he has already fucked that up.
He hears the knock on his door, it makes him jump slightly and gasp but he doersn’t answer. If this Alpha wants to hurt him then he will have to try a little harder. Charles reaches out slowly, quietly for his phone which is across the bed. Ready to call 999 at any given second.
But the banging on the door he was expecting never comes. The shouting never comes either. Instead he watches a piece of paper slowly appear through the crack between his door and the floor and then the sounds of the man walking away. Charles waits with his breath held but nothing ever comes. So Charles carefully tiptoes to the door with his breath held still. Any slight sound he makes, he feels panic.
He slips back onto the bed, the old springs in it creak as he does and he cringes a bit at the sound but again no movement from the Alpha. So he unfolds the bit of paper to see what the man has said.
Hi, I am really sorry that I scared you! My name is Pierre and I think maybe I scared you because I am an Alpha. I know that I look scary and you have every right to be scared of me. You can totally say no or not turn up but if you would like to meet in a more public space, I will be waiting at the Cafe next door at 10am. This way we can meet where you will feel a little safer. I am super sorry about scaring you.
Pierre
For a second Charles thinks this is some sort of sick trick to make him feel safe but the more he thinks about it the more he realises that this is probably just a nice gesture. He doesn’t think a bad Alpha would go to such effort. The more he thinks as well the more he considers that this man gave him no reason not to trust him. He didn’t try to chase him or use his voice and all he did was try to be nice.
So in the morning Charles wakes up early to sneak to the kitchen to make breakfast and then he goes back to his room to get ready to meet Pierre properly. He wanted to give him a chance, Charles had seen the bad in people but he had also seen the good and he would have no life if he only saw the bad. He dresses simply, loose jeans and a hoodie. In his head he says it is because it is comfy but he also thinks it hides his body enough that it won’t turn any heads.
The cafe is busy and Charles spots him immediately. In his head Charles has just been calling him ‘the Alpha’ even after he learnt his name. Charles thinks that might be because attaching a name to someone who is a threat makes him a little too close to human.
“Hi.” Charles says awkwardly as he sits opposite Pierre. He notes the weetabix colour of Pierre's hair, he smiles a little internally. His mother always called this colour of hair that and whilst Charles has never actually tried weetabix, he always called it that still.
“Hey, I know I said it in my note but again I am sorry for the scare,” Pierre pauses for a sec as he finds his words, “I had hoped this would help you feel a little less scared, I don’t know you of course but my brother is an omega and he doesn’t like meeting new Alphas when alone and trapped so I thought this would help ease any nerves. You can ask me anything to help you feel better and I will do my very best to answer.” The smile on Pierres face is kind, the type of smile that you give to children. His eyes matched the same gentle look, Charles knows the eyes of someone who has bad intentions and Pierres aren’t them. He knows in that moment that he was completely wrong about him.
“You are french?” Is the first thing that comes to his mind, they are currently conversing in English but why struggle if they both share the same mother tongue.
“Yes, I grew up in Normandy and moved here a few years ago to boarding school.” A long way from Charles then but France nonetheless.
“Me too, well actually I am from Monaco so not France and I have only just moved here but yeah.” He cuts himself off, a second ago he was scared of this man and now he is waffling on.
“Ah, a bit warmer over there. What do you study?” Pierre asks. He thinks for a second about what he thinks Pierre studies before he answers himself, just for fun.
“Architecture, what about you?” Charles always gets looks of surprise when he tells people what he studies, he doesn’t know why. He must just look like someone who studies something else, sometimes he gets told he looks like he studies English Literature which he doesn’t get.
“Global humanitarian studies,” Charles can’ school the surprise on his face, he doesn’t even really know what that is but he had been expecting something to do with STEM, “an odd one I know but I totally fell in love with the course after I stumbled upon it, so here I am.”
“Well that does sound cool, I was not expecting that at all but that's cool.” Charles can’t help but let out a little giggle and he sees a new kind of smile on Pierres face. A more raw and real smile, the nerves seem to be gone.
“I get that one often.” Pierre says as he joins in the laughter of Charles.
“I am sorry for how I reacted yesterday, I think I got the wrong flat because it was meant to be omega only and obviously you were there so I just panicked.” Charles says seriously. He knows that he needs to take some accountability in this situation, yes he was scared but Pierre seems so harmless and Charles must have made him feel so guilty.
“Don’t worry about it, it is all sorted now and I hope that we can be friends.” Pierres smile becomes easy and Charles thinks he can see a beautiful friendship blossoming from this.
–
Over the next few weeks they become much closer. Pierre is nothing but kind and gentle towards him and Charles has never felt safe with an Alpha like that. They have also made friends with the other four people in the flat, there is Lando who is also an Omega, then there's Max who’s an Alpha and George and Alex who are both Betas. Charles finds that any time spent with them is good. He didn’t expect to like his flatmates but they became his closest friends. There's also the extended group with Daniel who is Max’s friend (and biggest crush) and then Carlos who is Lando’s Alpha.
“I am not doing that for you, no way Lando.” Charles tries to get up from where he has been cornered by Lando. He had been blissfully unaware that he was about to get Lando in his face with a begging look on his face.
“Please, I can’t do it by myself.” Lando says again.
“No, I love you but I am not helping you wax your pussy.” He says again.
“Come on, my heat is soon and I want to look good for Carlos.” Lando begs, Charles thinks that this is all a little too much information but that's Lando for you. There is no sense of privacy when it comes to Lando.
“Will Carlos even care?” Charles tries. He doesn’t personally know if Alpha’s really care that much, they will stick it anywhere as far as he is concerned.
“I don’t know but I don’t want him to think I am disgusting or anything.” Landos face drops a little and Charles sees how worried Lando is about this. It does make him feel a little bad.
“Okay I will help you but only because I love you. And just so you know, Carlos loves you and I don’t think anything you could do would stop that and if he says anything Me and Max will make him regret it.”
“Not Pierre?” Lando jokes.
“Pierre couldn’t hurt a fly.” Charles replies, he may look scary but Charles has learnt that Pierre has the most gentle soul. He even picks up spiders and puts them out the window rather than scaring them.
“He would make a good mate.” Lando smirks and gives him a look. A look that means he is trying to play cupid.
Lando is right, Pierre would be the perfect mate. He is tidy, he likes to cook, he is gentle and so caring. He never complains about Charles and his messiness. He always smiles at babies in the streets and he always stops to say hi to dogs. Charles thinks he will make Pierre an Omega very happy one day but it will never be Charles. Pierre has been nothing but proper towards him and there is no indication that he even thinks of Charles like that.
“He will make a lucky Omega very happy one day.” Charles says simply, he doesn’t want to even think about it.
“It could be you.”
“No it couldn’t.”
“Why not? I have seen how he looks at you, like a man in love.” Charles sighs at Landos words. They aren’t true, Pierre is just nice to Charles because he knows that Charles is fragile. That is not the same as love and it makes him feel emotions he is not ready to address. Charles doesn’t need no Alpha to be happy and successful.
“Just drop it Lando.” He snaps, ending that conversation straight away.
—
Charles doesn’t think anymore about Lando’s words.
Well.
Only when he’s laid in bed at night, the sounds of a still busy London in his background and the feelings of deep sadness. Homesickness is getting to him and the loneliness along with that is making it all that bit harder to not yearn for him.
And sometimes he thinks about him when he is showering, not like he can do much else. He only lets himself envision Pierre with their pups, playing with them in the garden or helping them put on their coats or other little idyllic moments.
Okay, also maybe a few times when he is bored in a lecture but who can blame him. Charles thinks about how Pierre would be such a loving partner, both in a sexual way but also just in the small moments. He thinks about how Pierre would give him his jacket if he got cold, or about how he would care so tenderly for Charles if he was sick or pregnant. Soft touches, gentle kisses and whatever Charles desires.
But Pierre is not his and he never will be.
—
“My parents are coming down in a few days and they are desperate to meet you. Would you be able to come? It is fine if not, I know it is a big ask.” Pierre’s hands are twitching like he is nervous to ask as if Charles would say no to that.
“Of course I will, I would love to.”
“Thank god, it's on Thursday at 7. I will text you the restaurant.” Pierre says before he's rushing out the door. Charles is good at meeting his friends' parents, he knows the rules to follow. Be quiet unless spoken to, be polite when you do speak to them, conservative clothes that say ‘I am nice and smart and proper’, no swear words and appear as a good influence. He has got this.
“Meeting the parents huh?” Lando says from his doorway and Charles jumps a little bit, he forgot Lando was even here still.
“Fuck off, it isn’t like that.” Charles sighs, he is meeting the parents but not in the way he wants. He doesn’t need Lando to torment him about this, it will only make it worse.
—
The restaurant is nice, nicer than Charles and his family could ever afford, and Pierres parents are so lovely. They greet him with such big smiles on their faces and give him such a tight hug that it feels like his own family are there. All the nerves he had disappear in minutes of meeting them.
“So Pierre, how is it going with that lovely girl you were telling us about?” Pierres father asks at one point and Charles can’t hold back the look of shock on his face. Pierre hadn’t mentioned this to him at any point, he wasn’t even sure if Pierre liked girls.
“It is going well, we are both quite busy lately with all the January deadlines but she could be the one.” Pierre says simply like he hasn’t just shattered Charles’s heart into a thousand tiny pieces. Why hadn’t Pierre told him? Were they not as close as Charles had thought? Has he been a fool this whole time?
“And Charles, what do you think of her?” Pierre’s mother asks him and whilst Charles had no clue about this girl but he isn’t a dick. So he does the only thing he could think to do.
“She is lovely, a perfect match for him.” He says, his voice trembles a little as he does and he wishes mow that he had never come to this godforsaken dinner. He wishes he had never come to this godforsaken country.
“Well that is wonderful then, we will look forward to seeing her.” Pierre's father says with a grin that suggests he is pleased with this girl.
The rest of the dinner is nice but all that Charles can think of is this girl. Charles just can’t fathom why Pierre would keep this a secret from him, it is so strange. Maybe he knows about Charles’s silly little crush and he doesn’t want to let him down or make things awkward.
Charles thinks she is probably everything he isn’t.
A woman.
Blonde.
Skinny.
Smart.
Interesting enough but not as quirky and weird as Charles is.
When Charles thinks about it he knew that Pierre would never choose him and that he had been silly to ever think he ever would. Pierre wants a girl he can parade around who isn’t almost as tall as him and who he can tuck into his side as he shows her off. Charles could never be that.
—
“My parents loved you Charles.” Pierre says on the tube home, his voice and face the picture of joy. Charles can’t even find it in him to answer Pierre, if his parents weren’t there at dinner he would have left. He would have gotten up and ran as far as his manly, too long legs would allow him. “Charles, is everything okay?” Pierre asks when he didn’t answer.
“Yeah.” Is all he gets out without his voice cracking. Pierre doesn’t get to answer because a loud voice cuts through their conversation.
“If he doesn’t make you happy omega, I wouldn’t mind a go.” The voice says from across from them. Charles looks up at the man, he looks evil. He looks like the man from that night.
His heart speeds up as the man looks at him with hunger. He doesn’t know what to do, there is nowhere to run and he is trapped again. He needs to get out. He needs to get back to his flat.
“No one asked for you to butt in or for your opinion.” Pierre snarls, Charles in his panic he had forgotten he was even there.
“You clearly aren’t doing it for him, not even a bite on his neck and no obedience. IF he was mine he would be getting a punishment for behaviour like this.” The alpha says, his bitter scent stinking up the train car and his cold voice ringing in Charles’s ears.
“Leave us the fuck alone, no one asked for your opinion so why don’t you fuck off.” Pierres voice is more severe and cold than Charles has ever heard.
“Yeah, and what are you going to do if I don’t?” The Alpha taunts.
“I will rip your fucking throat out, you don’t talk to any Omega like that but especially no my Omega.” Pierre growls and jumps towards the man, teeth bared and his scent projecting pure primal aggression. Charles jumps up too, finally unfrozen and pulls back Pierre before he can get himself into any trouble,
“This is our stop Pierre, he is not worth it.” He whispers.
“Be a good boy and listen to your Omega.” The man says in jest and Pierre growls loudly again but follows Charles’s instructions.
—
They didn't talk that night. Charles goes off to his room to process it all and Pierre being the good Alpha he is says that is fine and to text him if he needs anything.
He does however that night get the urge to nest. Something he has never really done, not like Lando who had the most majestic nest Charles has ever seen. Charles doesn’t even really have enough stuff to make a nice nest but his Omega won’t rest until he is in one.
He cries himself to sleep that night, quiet sobs that he stifles using the walls of his nest. His sleep is fitful and he feels so so warm. The heat feels like it is pouring straight from him like the hot lava of a volcano. He doesn’t know what to do so he just forces himself to fall back to sleep.
He wakes up early, the heat still consuming him and slick, lots of it, pours out of him as he stumbles to his feet. He doesn’t know what is wrong with him. He just feels this overwhelming urge for Pierre, he needs Pierre there, he needs him IN him.
“Pierre, Alpha, I need you.” He says against the door to Pierre's room. His voice was broken and begging.
“Charlie? What is wrong?” Pierre opens the door to the sight of a very sweaty Charles on the floor in front of him. His scent is sweeter than Pierre has ever smelt and his pyjamas are soaked.
He watches in slight shock as Charles pushes himself to his knees and reaches towards Pierre's trousers.
“Woah, woah,” Pierre says as he makes a grab for Charles’s shaking hands before he can reach his trousers, “Charles, you are in heat?” He asks.
“I know I am disgusting and you have that omega that you are going to mate and of course you wouldn’t want me.” Charles sobs, Pierre frowns at the sight of the Omega. He has never seen him in such a state and in such despair.
“Oh Charlie, there is no Omega. I lied to my parents and I thought you knew because I winked at you,” He pauses to take a breath, “You are the only Omega I want, the most beautiful Omega I have ever seen.” He confesses.
“Me?” Charles says in a small voice.
“Of course, who wouldn’t love you.” Pierre scoops Charles up from the floor, he can’t watch the Omega on the cold hard floor. “Let's get you back to your nest.”
“Such a strong Alpha, I bet you have such a big knot. Will you fuck me now? I need you Alpha.” The Omega rambles as Pierre carries him. His hands are wandering all over Pierre and his strength to resist Charles is starting to weaken already but he knows he can’t do anything when the Omega can’t consent properly.
Pierre places him in his nest as carefully as he can, but Charles clings on as he tries. Pierre almost falls into the nest as he tries to put him down but Pierre is stronger than Charles and only stumbles a bit. Pierre expects a bit more of resistance or begging but Charles just turns and starts making soft sad sounds, a similar scent filling the air.
“What’s up baby?” He rubs Charles’s shoulder carefully, as not to scare him but also to try to soothe the upset omega.
“I know my nest is awful, I understand why you don’t want to get in it.” Charles sobs.
“No no baby, I just didn't want to get into a nest uninvited. I wouldn’t want to ruin your beautiful nest with my scent.” He explains, it is the norm to not get into a nest without explicit consent and Pierre is not going to disrespect Charles like that.
“In, I want you in.” Charles says as he grabs at Pierre.
“Okay calamar okay.” He says as he tries to climb into the nest without destroying the wall which is tricky with how small the bed is but he tries his best.
“Need your knot Alpha.” Charles moans as Pierre rearranges them to both fit better into the bed. He is grinding up against Pierre as he does.
“Calamar I know that you want to now but in the future you may not feel the same so why don’t we just cuddle for now and when you are more lucid we can talk.” Pierre hopes and prays that Charles doesn’t beg anymore or cry because Pierre doesn’t know what he will do.
He has wanted Charles since he first saw him that first day. He was beautiful, he was like one of those paintings of goddesses and Pierre could not forget about him. He did everything he could to show Charles how good of an Alpha he is but Charles never seemed fussed. Until today.
Pierre more than anything wants to help Charles out and mark him up and make him his but he doesn’t want Charles to regret it and he doesn’t want to do anything that will ever make Charles hate him. So for now he will just soothe him however he can.
“Please Alpha, I can’t wait.” Charles begs, the scent of his slick sitting heavy in the air as he tries to get even closer to Pierre.
“I know it must hurt mon bebe but as soon as you are lucid I will, lets just try to get some rest.” He says softly, Charles smells disappointed but Pierre knows this is the right thing deep down.
—-
The next time he wakes Charles seems like he is coming out of it. Pierre didn’t know if it would be a proper heat or not since it seemed to be a stress heat rather than a full length planned one. But he hadn’t been quite sure.
“Pierre?” Charles whispers.
“Yes my love.” He answers, Charles smells worried and Pierre just hopes that Charles doesn’t regret it. Maybe it had all been the heat talking and not Charles.
“Did you mean it?” His voice is quiet still and Pierre’s instincts are shouting at him to comfort his Omega and stop him being so worried.
“Yeah, I meant every word.” He did. He still does. He always will.
“Then why isn’t your knot in me?” Charles says in a sweet voice which has Pierre's dick quickly gaining interest but also him looking at Charles in shock. The smirk his face says it all and when Pierre looks at the clear green eyes of Charles. He expected them to still be hazy or clouded over but as he looks at them he can make out every shade of green in his eyes and he knows that this is Charles consenting.
“Patience Charlie, it's not all about the finish line.” Pierre drawls and he manhandles Charles onto his back.
—-
Things with Pierre went from zero to a hundred in just one day. Charles is not complaining at all though. Pierre has been nothing but amazing towards him. In the last four weeks he has taken Charles on more dates than he can count. Brought him nesting supplies so he could build a proper nest - at first Charles had been a little offended that Pierre had the nerve to suggest it wasn’t good but, when he was fully out of heat and his hormones were back to normal, he agreed that his nest was pretty sad looking. Pierre had also scented items for him to wear to lectures and out and about so he always felt a bit safer. And if Charles was completely honest the sex was to die for. He had never believed that he would be that desperate for a knot but he cant go more than a day now. Much to the disgust of his flatmates.
So yeah life is pretty great for him at the moment.
—
He wakes up to a feeling that he knows all too well. Nausea. He stumbles to his feet as he tries to make it to the toilet in time. After he throws up the contents of his stomach he brushes his teeth and stumbles back to bed where a concerned Pierre waits for him.
“Everything okay Calamar?” Pierre asks and for a moment Charles thinks about telling the truth. But his heart tells him not to, he doesn’t need to worry the Alpha.
“Yeah, just needed the toilet.” He lies and he clambers back into bed. His heart is still racing from being sick and also slightly from the guilt of lying.
—
It isn’t a one time thing however.
For the next two weeks he is sick multiple times a day. The sight of food repulses him and he doesn’t get what is wrong with him.
“Look, I am not suggesting anything,” Lando says slowly, it catches Charles off guard, “but I think you should take a pregnancy test. Just in case.” Lando is looking at him with intent and Charles instantly feels defensive. He isn’t pregnant, there is no way.
“I am not pregnant Lando, I am just sick. It is London and there are lots of bugs about.” He isn’t entertaining this at all.
“There is no harm done then, I have one in my room. We can do it and just double check.” Charles hates Landos scheming, he has too much audacity but he isn’t having Lando opening his big mouth to everyone about him possibly being pregnant and so he has no other choices.
So they do this test.
They wait the time that the box says to.
Then thinking nothing of it Charles lets Lando check.
The plastic stick clatters to the ground as Lando gasps and Charles can’t help but scramble to look at it himself. Even though Lando’s reaction has almost given it away.
Positive.
POSITIVE.
He can’t breathe. It can’t be.
“Fuck.” He says, throwing the test across the room. How has he managed to fuck up so bad? He takes birth control and yeah okay Pierre didn’t wear a condom but Charles thought they were safe. God what is Pierre going to say. How is he going to break this to him?
“Charles, are you okay?” Lando asks carefully.
“Yeah yeah, I need to pack. My flight is in the morning.” He stutters.
“What are you going to do about you know?” Lando nods towards his stomach.
“What is there to do?” He has no control over this, he has been stupid, he is pregnant, Pierre won’t want this baby and Charles will have to drop out to have the baby.
“I am here for you Charles, anything you need okay?” Charles just springs forward to hug Lando, he is angry and sad but that isn’t Lando’s fault. He needs a bit of comfort right now, his whole life is falling apart.
—
The moment he sees his Maman again he just bursts into tears. He can’t hold it in anymore, he has been putting on a brave face but he just can’t anymore.
“Oh, mon bebe. What is up?”
“I- I am pregnant.” Her sobs, it's the first time he has said it outloud.
“Oh baby, it is alright. It will all be alright.” She just holds him tight as he cries and tells it will all be alright. Charles doesn’t know if it will though. How can it be?
—
When Pierre comes home to the flat after the holidays he is dying to see Charles. He has hardly heard from his omega which has been killing him but Charles must be so busy with his family since he doesn’t see them much due to uni. So whilst he did miss him dearly, he didn’t want to ruin the time he gets with them.
But when Pierre gets home Charles isn’t there.
And after a day of waiting for a reply from Charles he starts to worry.
Another day passes and nothing.
Everyone is home but Charles.
“Lando, you saw Charles when he left right?”
“Yeah I did.”
“Did he say anything about staying for longer? He isn’t replying to me and I am worried.”
“Pierre,” Lando said in what can only be described as a solemn tone with a great look of guilt, “He isn’t coming back.” Lando admits.
“Huh?”
“He is transferring to a university closer to home, he isn’t coming back to London.” Lando explains with what is the quietest Lando has ever been with.
“Why?” Pierre shouts, his sadness converting to pure anger.
“I don’t know.” Lando says quietly. Pierre just stares into Lando's eyes, there is no joking in them. He is being serious, Charles is gone and Pierre doesn't know why.
Charles is gone.
He isn’t coming back.
Pierre has lost him before he even had him.