#and then marc is obviously back to flinching when vale touches him and it's like they are starting from point 0 all over again

[kingofthering]

I was thinking about the forced coming out au and how @moonshynecybin said Marc would keep blowing Vale out hot & cold and I had thoughts for one of the hot days.

Essentially, it's about the two of them getting invited to an LGBTQ event -thinking a gala/fundraiser situation maybe- (could be towards the end of June for pride month or later in the year depending on the timeline, details).

I think this kind of event could truly be double-edged for Marc because everyone is telling him that they admire him for what he did and that he's helping change things and that so many kids are gonna feel encouraged by this and— well, on the one side it makes Marc feel sick of their lie because he didn't come out for ~the good reasons™️ (didn't even really choose to come out, even) but the event also makes him realize that in the grand scheme of things, he is (they are) having an impact on so many people.

Anyway, for once Marc's brain decides to let him focus on the good aspect of things and he lets himself be close to Valentino that night, invites him to dance, lean his head on his shoulder, hold onto his arm when they're speaking to people together, kissing his cheek before he leaves Valentino's side to grab them drinks, etc etc

Valentino— Valentino is surprised in ways he didn't expect. He's essentially been begging Marc to provide more efforts in their whole charade and yes, he's happy to have Marc cooperating but also he had forgotten how tender Marc could be with him and that's something to process as well. He used to be scared of those moments back when they were just friends with benefits in their early years [obviously not the PDA but the softs moments after they had fucked, Valentino letting Marc linger in his bed when he would have already thrown away any other hook-up, Marc kissing his cheek before leaving his motorhome, Marc having a coffee for him when they had to attend safety meetings together, Marc dusting off feathers of Valentino's suit on stage, etc etc]. Scared because he couldn't let this 20-something insane fast boy think this was more than unserious sex and scared because Valentino was into it [no, home boy is not that self aware but just a bit, you know].

Anyway, they have a great night and in the taxi to their hotel, Marc has his hand laying in the middle seat and Valentino grabs it, squeezes it and asks Marc if he had a great time tonight. Marc squeezes back and nods [this is a very self-indulgent moment in the midst of an otherwise pretty angsty universe, bye].

Obviously they were booked a single room with a king bed and they find each other in the huge bathroom, both facing the mirror and getting ready for bed. Then, it's Marc asking Vale to help him undo the knot of his tie. It's Valentino offering his wrists to Marc so he can undo his cufflinks. It's the two of them being in each other's space, suppressing the room between them inch by inch until Marc just has to tilt his head up to find Valentino's mouth with his own.

It's achingly slow, at first. It reminds Valentino of the kiss they shared earlier that night on the dance floor. Despite their audience, it hadn't felt performative back then, not really. Now that they are without an audience, Valentino feels even more exposed.

They sleep together (sex so sweet it could actually make teeth rot) and fall asleep wrapped around each other. The next morning, Valentino wakes up in cold sheet and a handwritten note that says :

changed my flight to get home earlier see you in [wherever their next race is] Marc

#rpf #4693 #forced coming out au #my writing #and then marc is obviously back to flinching when vale touches him and it's like they are starting from point 0 all over again