tennis slash - The Unlucky Roger Federer (10)
Title: The Unlucky Roger Federer (10)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Pairing: Roger Federer/Andy Roddick
Other Characters: Mirka Vavrinec, Marat Safin
Disclaimer: This definitely did not happen.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU. What if Roger Federer wasn't the great champion? What if his career was plagued by injuries, bad luck and constantly losing to a certain American?
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Thank you all for sticking with this.
Part 10
"Meaning?" Roger mumbled into Marat's shoulder.
"You're 2 for 3. Andy and I are not really dating," Marat said. "Don't get me wrong, we've had some really fun nights. He's great in bed. Even better when we bring someone back to join us. It's just passing time for him and I am not objecting."
"There are many guys on the tour who would want to be in Andy's position."
Marat grinned proudly. "Well, thank you. The thing is the boy is not good at sending out signals. If there's someone he is truly interested in, he becomes this shy bumbling idiot. Endearing, yes, but it means he's not getting anywhere. I try to push him to be aggressive toward what he wants but... no." He waited for Roger to have a response to that but he stayed still in Marat's arms. "Even though Mirka doesn't want to be within ten feet of Andy for fear of the photographers, she was willing to speak to me."
This time, Roger did break away from his grasp. "Did she say why she kissed him?"
"To send you a message."
"I knew that."
"Okay, but do you understand the message? Let me ask you a question: are you more upset that Mirka kissed another guy or that the guy was Andy?"
"She deliberately picked the person who would have the greatest impact on my career."
"Do you wish you were the one kissing Andy?"
"What? No. I'm not gay or bi or... no. Of course not. My girlfriend was the one who kissed him."
"Andy is a very good kisser. Even when he's resisting drunken women."
"I'm sure you would know, first hand knowledge."
Marat shook his head. "Okay then, Roger. Andy is sorry you're going through this but obviously it's difficult for you two to even be in the same room in England without some headline." He patted Roger on the back. "Good luck."
* * * * *
This was when the situation began to get fuzzy. Before, Roger could say he was in the dark about everything. Now, there were pieces but the picture wasn't quite clear.
He didn't play the month of July because of a lingering wrist injury. It gave him time to sit back and think. Watch tennis, of course, but really time to think.
Roger was now more aware of Marat's past actions, for one thing. He was wrong about Marat being flirty toward him that day but he was flirty toward practically everyone else on the tour. Marat and Andy in particular, now seemed so obvious in those club outings. It could be a stray photo in the gossip page, inevitably with a sentence about trolling for women. A locker room moment that now appeared too close, both lingering as they waited to have the place to themselves.
When Roger returned for the two Masters Series events in August, he never did see either one of them. In both cases, they were on the opposite side of the draw and neither lasted long in the tournament. It would have been nice to settle any issue with Andy at a smaller tournament.
Instead, it would have to be the US Open. The draw was very generous: a bunch of qualifiers, the 3rd round seed losing to a wild card, and Wimbledon's second biggest annoyance Gasquet withdrawing to a wild card. This time Roger was in shape for the event, having had success at those Masters events, so he hoped he wouldn't be lulled into thinking about the Andy possibility in the quarterfinals.
Okay, so Roger did get a kick out of America's version of Karlovic winning a set and the crowd celebrating as if he'd won the match. It was nice to know that, even with all the struggles, there were up-and-coming players who saw him as a big deal even if he never won the big one.
It turned out Andy's draw wasn't much tougher. Two match retirements, one real retirement and a fading former Grand Slam champ. So at least they were at about equal footing for the match.
* * * * *
By this time, Roger should have expected something odd to happen before the match. This time wasn't quite as distracting but equally off.
It was a note left under his hotel room door the morning of the match.
Roger,
Win or lose, let's meet up for breakfast tomorrow.
Marat
Roger no longer questioned why Marat was still in town. Even though he hadn't seen Marat around since the day he was eliminated from the tournament and there were no sightings in the gossip pages, it didn't mean much. After all, Andy could have easily stashed him in his room.
The first two sets went to tiebreaks. Roger couldn't help but notice that Andy wasn't quite on his game. Sure, it was still impossible to break Andy's serve but it wasn't as if Roger was being challenged either. Roger had the chances, but as usual, had trouble capitalizing.
The tiebreaks were close but Andy was able to string a few points together and win both of them. A most disheartening feeling as Roger was working so hard and still be down two sets to none. The third set was basically an afterthought.
It wasn't until Roger was back in the hotel room checking e-mails - in particular, business transactions with Mirka - when he thought seriously about the note. It was as if Marat knew this result would happen. Again.
This time, Roger wasn't angry. More resigned than anything else. Two really good sets and he'd lost them both at the crucial points. What else was there to say about it? Did Marat want to console him over this?
There had been nothing more to the note, explaining where to meet. That meant the meeting must be starting at the hotel room.
That also meant that Roger would make sure to be nowhere near his hotel room that morning. He decided to take the opportunity to sightsee. Maybe not the best thing to do alone but anything to keep away from Marat and any other nonsense he may spout regarding Andy Roddick.
Roger's cell phone rang as he was finishing the walk. "Hello?"
"Hi." Mirka. "I just want to say in advance that you need this breakfast so don't get mad."
"What are you... how do you know about that?"
"Marat and I still talk. Good luck."
Roger groaned into the silence at the other end, then rushed back to the hotel. He scurried to get his room card, suspicious of what the Russian was planning.
There was nobody outside the room so he quickly swiped the card, calling out, "Marat, I don't care what you have to say..." No Marat. In fact, he didn't see anybody.
A muffled voice called out from the bathroom, "He left the country a week ago. Said he'd rather go climb a mountain than be in the middle of this mess any longer." The door opened, revealing Andy with his shirt in his hand, trying to get a stain out.
Part 11