Work Text:
Max didn’t have a normal childhood. Everyone knows that. So it shouldn’t come as such a surprise for Charles when his boyfriend tells him that he has no fucking clue how to ride a bike. But Charles is shocked, he just stands there, mouth agape and eyes wide staring directly at Max.
”Close your mouth before you swallow a fly Charlie” Max says with a dry tone. Clearly not amused that his incapability do such a normal thing is so shocking to Charles.
Charles in turn snaps his mouth shut quickly, still not saying anything and just staring at Max.
Charles’s brain takes a second to start working again, when it finally does he says ”Max I’m going to teach you how to ride a bike”
Max lets out a snort, giggling a little as he says ”yes sure Charlie, just continue peeling those potatoes so we can eat dinner sometime this evening”
Max had forgotten about the entire conversation, but Charles clearly hadn’t. It was three weeks later, Tuesday after the race in Spain and Charles was standing in the hallway of their shared apartment calling out Max’s name. Max, who had been pretty content snuggled up with the cats and dogs on the couch, got up with a sigh and made his way to his boyfriend who was clutching a big helmet in his hands with a huge grin plastered on his face. Max stopped in front of him and kept his eyes on the helmet.
”What the hell is that”
”It’s your helmet for learning to ride a bike of course!”
”Charles that’s not a bike helmet”
”I know but it covers all of your beautiful head, see?” Charles said as he promptly plopped the helmet onto Max’s head. It engulfed the entirety of his head and smushed his cheeks a bit, reminiscent of his racing helmet.
”Charles I feel ridiculous”
”But you look so adorable mon ange”
”Its squishing my cheeks”
”That just means it’s secure!”
”Charles I don’t even own a bike”
”But I do! It’s downstairs I was thinking we could go to the park”
Max sighed defeated, there was no way to get out of something Charles had set his mind on.
”Fine, but if you laugh at me even once we’re going home and you’re not allowed to cuddle me for the entire night”
Charles nodded so intensely Max was afraid his head would fall off.
The park was empty except for a family of ducks languidly floating around in the pond. Charles smiled at Max while he helped him put the helmet on, clasping the strap closed under his chin. Before he pulled away he plopped a kiss on top of Max’s slightly pouted lips.
”Now, you just take a seat on here” he said with a pat on top of the seat of the bike.
Max glared at Charles in response.
”Charles I know that you actually need to sit on the bike to ride it I’m not dumb”
”Mon amor I know you’re not dumb”
Charles answered with a sulky pout. Max sighed heavily as he sat down on the bike, he knew he looked like a fool on the red and white striped thing with a blue helmet that was way bigger than needed.
Charles instructed him to put his feet on the pedals and to begin pedaling while holding the back of the seat.
”Charles don’t you dare let go”
”I’m not I’m right here!”
Well that was a big fat lie, because Charles did let go and Max started moving the steering erratically and he ended up in the bushes.
Charles was trying his hardest not to giggle at the sight of Max standing up with leaves sticking out of the top of his helmet.
”You said you weren’t going to let go”
”I’m sorry baby I won’t do it again!”
”This is a death machine I’m not doing that again”
”Oh come on Max baby please”
”No I will end up dying and then you will have to sleep without me to cuddle”
”Eh I have the animals”
Max slapped the back of his hand against Charles’s chest in a quick motion.
”I’m kidding I’m kidding I would be devastated not to have you to cuddle up to every night!” Charles spat out quickly with a giggle. Max’s stern expression quickly melted away and he started laughing too.
”Okay one more time but I swear Charles if you let go this time I’m breaking up with you and I’m taking the pets”
”Yes my dear I promise I’m not letting go”
After a quick roll of his eyes, Max got back up on the bike and started pedaling. After a while he started to get the hang of it and looked back to tell Charles he could let go but to his horror the little devil was not there. Charles was standing a few feet back with a big smile and a thumbs up.
”You weren’t supposed to let go!”
”Max-”
”No you said you would hold on!”
”Max, baby-”
”Don’t argue with me-”
”Max you’re riding the bike!”
And- oh. He was. Max was actually biking all by himself.
”Charles I’m riding a bike!”
”Yes mon petite lion, yes you are”
Charles was smiling with all teeth.
”Charles I need to buy a bike”
”Yeah I thought so”