Work Text:
It was a moment that rarely happens to Checo, he was alone on the paddock during a race weekend, no Jo, no Alice, not even Max was with him. So Checo decided to take a moment to center himself before FP3 and sat down on an empty bench. He held onto the gold cross he wears and bowed his head in prayer. While all the races are important this one specifically held a little more meaning as it was the home race for Red Bull and despite not being Austrian, this race meant a lot to the company and to him as well. When Checo finished praying he kissed the cross and before putting it back under his shirt he was startled when he opened his eyes and realized that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was sitting right next to him.
Toto: Hello Checo, sorry for scaring you.
Checo: Haha, it’s okay Toto. Hello, to you too.
Toto: What are you doing here by yourself? Are you okay? I saw you with your head lowered and thought something was wrong.
Checo: I’m okay, thank you Toto. I found myself alone for the first time this week and decided to take a moment and say a quick prayer. This race is important for Red Bull, and praying helps me focus.
Toto gently squeezed Checo’s bicep before continuing: I’m happy that you are okay. If you ever want a more private place to pray, feel free to come to Mercedes and use my office…
Checo suddenly feels another arm on his body, this time on his shoulder, gently squeeze him. Before looking up to see who had joined them Toto said the person’s name while also not letting go of Checo.
Toto: Mark, good afternoon.
It was Mark Mateschitz, co-owner of the Red Bull company and Checo’s boss.
Mark: Hello Checo, finally I found you. Troger.
Checo looks up and gives him a friendly smile: Hello, Mr. Mateschitz, sorry for making you look for me.
Mark: Don’t worry about it Checo and just call me Mark. I saw you were praying and never want you to feel like you can’t have a moment to yourself. I had already seen you and wanted to give you a moment alone.
Checo and Toto stand up from the bench and face Mark. Checo knows he is short but standing in-between these 2 Austrian giants make Checo feel like a damsel in distress. Toto and Mark start conversing in German and, Checo regret not taking his lessons seriously when he was younger and living in Germany. All he could pick up on was the occasional mention of his name.
****The following dialogue is meant to be in German. I took a few semesters back in college and the best I can do is ich weiss nicht ****
Mark: You can leave now Troger, I’m sure you have more important things to do besides bothering my driver.
Toto: Bothering? I wasn’t bothering him. You can ask Checo himself. I was simply showing him some support and kindness, something your team could learn to do more often.
Mark: Oh Troger, don’t believe all those rumors. Checo has Red Bull’s full support and..
Toto interrupting Mark: Yeah, sure he does. I’m sure Checo must really enjoy Helmut’s support.
Mark: What are you trying to say Troger?
Toto: I think you know what I’m trying to say. Red Bull isn’t known for looking out for their 2nd driver and I’ve known Checo a long time and am simply looking out for someone I hold a lot of esteem to.
Mark: Leave my driver alone Wolff. He has Red Bull’s and my personal support 100 %, unlike Mercedes who destroyed Rosberg and Bottas when they were your #2 drivers.
Toto: Oh, please Mark, be serious, Rosberg won a championship and Valtteri got into his own head. Mercedes treats both drivers the same and him and him and Lewis get along a lot better than Checo ever will with Max.
Mark: Yeah, I know of Checo’s and Lewis’s history. I also know that what Checo and Max have is stronger than what him and Lewis ever had.
While still confused Checo could pick up that Toto and Mark were arguing, and just as he was about to say something, he felt someone’s arm wrap around his shoulders. It was Nico Hulkenberg, and he joined the conversation in German.
Nico: Gentlemen, I think that’s enough. I’ve known Checo the longest and know for certain that he wouldn’t like the conversation you two just had. Now lucky for you my German lessons with Checo always ended up with us not sticking to the lesson plan if you know what I mean.
***In English***
Nico: Hello, Checo, Toto, Mark so nice to see you three.
Checo: Hey Nico.
Mark: Hello Nico.
Toto: Hulk.
Nico: Checo, let’s go, George called a drivers’ meeting.
Before walking away, Toto gently pats Checo’s back and says: Don’t forget what I said Checo…
Mark interrupts Toto: Lets go Troger, they shouldn’t be late… [turning to Checo and squeezes his shoulder] I’ll see you in the garage.
Walking away with Nico, Checo turns to Nico hoping he could clear up some of the confusion.
Checo: So, what is the meeting about?
Nico: There is no meeting.
Checo: Oh, so why did you...
Nico interrupting Checo: How much German do you remember from our lessons back in the day?
Checo: Honestly, nothing.
Nico laughs: Oh, Checo if only you understood… hey I remember that necklace, I thought you had lost it.
Checo: I did lose it, but when I won Monaco, Carlos gifted me an exact replica.
Nico: Carlos gifted you a necklace. Didnt you beat him?
Checo: Oh, I meant Slim not Sainz. You remember my sponsor Carlos Slim right?
Nico: How could I forget, Mr. Slim. One of the richest persons in the world. Say you wouldn’t happen to have an extra billionaire in your pocket?
**insert confused Checo face/noise***
Nico: Oh Checo, only you would have 3 billionaires trying to get your attention and not realize it. Good luck hope we both have a nice weekend.
Checo: Wait you really are not going to tell me what they said?
Nico: Nope, you should paid more attention when I tried to teach you German.
Checo: You were always more then willing to mess around, ey Professor Hulkenberg, I’ve always been a good student.
Before Nico is able to respond, Alice popped up and scolded Checo for disappearing.
…………
Checo forgets about the conversation between Mark and Toto until Max shows him a series of pictures of Checo looking tiny and confused standing in between Mark, Toto and Nico. While at first Max jealously questions why Checo had let all of them touch him, his jealously quickly went away when Checo explained how he had no idea what was said since they all spoke in German. Max knew his boyfriend was not lying about being confused, but that didn’t stop him from keeping Checo glued to his side the rest of the weekend.