tennis slash - The International Diner (7)
Title: The International Diner (7)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Pairings: Andy Roddick/Marat Safin/Roger Federer, Mardy Fish/Juan Martin Del Potro
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: This did not happen.
Summary: AU. ATP at a diner.
Author's Note: Rest assured, I didn't forget about the date. I decided to separate this into two chapters to improve the flow of the story (still working on the other chapter). The (relatively) serious stuff is in this chapter, the next more lighthearted.
Chapter 7 - You Don't Know Me At All
Mardy does not appear the least bit thrilled to see Andy and Roger enter the hospital room. He complains, "I can't believe my mom called you."
"Hey," Roger says. "Is it so horrible for people to care?"
"Well, if by 'care', you mean Sam calling to ask if I was truly out of my mind to consider auditioning for a musical when I am apparently rhythmically challenged." Mardy sighs as he watches Roger recoil. He wishes Andy came alone, or at least not with their boss, because he wants to complain to his best friend without seeming ungrateful for everything Roger has done. At least Marat had the good sense to simply call him on the phone, claiming he had family visiting but also admitting he's just not comfortable with hospitals and was glad Mardy wouldn't be there long.
Andy turns to the window, not wanting to admit he happens to agree with Sam. Sure, as a waiter, Mardy is graceful, but he can't move to music without appearing robotic and off the beat.
Roger sees this and speaks quickly before Mardy notices. "Sam knows nothing. He doesn't have a filter. I mean, he cares, it's just..."
"He's Sam. I know." Mardy closes his eyes, pain shooting up his leg. The doctor hadn't been back with the results of the tests yet and Mardy was trying not to react too much to the pain in front of them. He's seen both Andy and Roger when stuff like this happens and he really doesn't want two additional parents.
Even so, when Andy turns back around, he can tell. "Consider me your personal servant. Anything you need."
Mardy shakes his head but doesn't get a chance to say anything because they're interrupted by the sound of a cart. "Good evening, sir. Interested in a snack?"
"No thanks," Mardy says automatically.
"If you won't, I..." Andy stops as he sees the guy's stunned reaction then his look to the bed. Andy's jaw drops then breaks into a smile, definitely not expecting this as the way to reunite these two. "This is a nice surprise."
The guy who's so shy in the diner returns, saying, "Hi Mardy."
Mardy opens his eyes and jolts up too quickly, now that he recognizes Juan Martin's voice. "You work here?"
Roger looks back and forth between them. Mardy appears so tense right now. He has this sneaking suspicion, between that and Andy's smile, that this is the kid.
Juan Martin asks, "What happened?"
Andy looks to Mardy, who has retreated back down on the pillow but is in no mood to talk. "His ankle lost to a staircase. You have cookies?"
Juan Martin nods then hands a pack of Oreos to Andy and leaves another on the table next to Mardy.
Roger shakes his head, muttering to Andy, "Your damn sweet tooth." Even though Roger is now sure of his identity, he's still rather get confirmation. "How do you all know each other?"
Mardy glances sideways at Roger, not buying the routine but knows he has to answer. "Fine. Juan Martin is a customer at the diner. Juan, this is Roger, the owner."
This information turns Juan Martin unusually talkative. "Pleasure to meet you, sir. You have a very nice diner. Nice staff," glancing at Mardy. Then turning to Andy, because he knows he'll get nervous if he faces Mardy, he says, "I didn't get a chance to tell you why I was there yesterday. I had gotten my driver's license earlier in the morning but you, I mean, he, was off. I hope to get to the diner more often now, even if it's just using my brother's car, now that I don't always need David to give me a ride to work."
Mardy says, "You came by yesterday," glancing at Andy.
Andy sighs loudly. He should have figured Mardy would ignore that he told Andy not to even mention the kid anymore. "You would have caught him if you hadn't been spewing lines and twisting over your two left feet at the audition. So at least you hear it now."
Juan Martin asks, "You're an actor?" He suddenly appears apprehensive, likely thinking about what Guillermo and David said about Mardy.
Andy doesn't catch on. "Oh yeah, he is. How could you have missed the award-winning comedy In the Den of Madness? It went direct to DVD in Germany. Tough movie to find."
"Shut up," Mardy grumbles. He can take a joke regarding his acting credits but not when he can see Juan Martin cringing at every second of it.
"Then there's the play that travelled the elementary school circuit. That was fun because my nephew got to say to his friends 'That's my Unca Mardy in the overalls and straw hat'."
Roger is carefully watching Mardy through this explanation, trying to warn, "Andy..." Mardy has his eyes shut and is clenching his fist under the sheet, nails digging into his skin. The pain has returned, it feeling even worse than inadvertently ruining the mystique and making Juan Martin want to cower away from the room.
"What was this one? A musical Off-Off-Off-Broadway? With a creaky staircase?"
"Get out."
Andy grins. "Oh come on, Fishie. It's an impressive resume."
"Everybody GET OUT! GET OUT!" Mardy buries his head in the pillow, repeating in a lower muffled voice, "Get out!"
Andy stops, finally turning back to his friend. He then notices Juan Martin's stunned silence and it clicks way too late what he just did. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"I know you didn't mean it. I'll see you tomorrow. Just get the fuck out of here. Please."
Roger guides Andy out of the room. They're barely out the door when they hear a muffled scream. Roger says, "I wouldn't be too concerned about pissing him off. He looked about ready to explode before you even started on the subject."
"Fair enough but I didn't mean to screw things up with him," pointing to the cart, positioned at the next room.
Roger shrugs. "It's not as if we were going to hide that information. If we get them alone..." He trails off, walking to the cart, waiting. When Juan Martin returns to the hallway, Roger mumbles low enough so Mardy can't hear, "Return when you're done with your rounds. Okay?" Juan Martin nods, appearing confused to even have Roger speaking to him.
* * * * *
When Roger pulls up to the parking lot of Andy's apartment, Andy asks timidly, “Can you come inside for awhile?”
“You know I have to head back to the diner. Mardy was supposed to work tonight and we were already short-handed thanks to Nicolas having the flu.”
“I know. I just thought…”
Roger shakes his head, knowing he’s going to give in despite his better judgment. Andy has been acting strange the last few days, as if afraid Roger would leave him behind. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” Roger wraps an arm around Andy. “It’s been a long day. I’ll stay for a little while.”
“Thanks, Roger.” Andy leans in to give Roger a quick kiss on the cheek.
Roger doesn't want to pull away so fast. "I'm not going anywhere. I mean, yeah, I'm not staying too long now because no reason for Other Andy to be working double shift when I told him I'd take over. But I'm not looking elsewhere. You understand?"
"I'm not entirely sure why," Andy says softly.
"You drive me crazy."
"So does Marat."
"No, Marat drives me mad. Insane asylum mad. He's an addiction I can't kick. No, with you, I wish everything was simpler. So that there would never be a doubt in your mind that you're the one that I want."
"You think a line from a Grease song is going to sway me?" Andy breaks out into a broad grin. "You really like your cheesy pop music, Rog."
"I'm not coming inside. In fact, you're not going to make it into the building, either." Roger surprises Andy by twisting around so that part of his body is in front of Andy's and begins tickling his side while kissing him.
* * * * *
Later that evening, Juan Martin knocks on the door, announcing, “You’re not kicking me out this time. I told the desk to ignore your buzzer. If something serious happens, we’ll use your roommate’s.”
Mardy looks him over warily, then returns his focus to the television. He’s so worn out that he’s not even in the mood to fight this conversation. “Sorry about before. The painkillers weren’t doing the job in that moment.”
“I bet. So is it…”
“No surgery. Still, though, have this cast for the next eight weeks.”
“Hmm. That does take away from the diner visits.”
“Right. Then again, you need that frittata first thing in the morning.”
“Well, when your job involves hospital food and seeing what was thrown up, the diner don’t seem so bad. But if I can’t handle this, no reason to go to school to become a doctor." Juan Martin’s English isn’t as bad as everyone thinks. The roles are reversed in the hospital - Mardy is essentially a customer at Juan Martin’s job - so maybe that’s why he seems less nervous.
“Wow. I never would have pegged you for any of this.”
“I didn’t peg you for being an actor so… you know, both full of surprises.”
“Well, I wish I was an actor. Just…” Mardy shakes his head, not wanting to go down that road. He stares up at the ceiling, trying to calm down. “I’m not a tease. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Juan Martin pulls a chair over to the bed. “I admit I was surprised, not sure what to think. Probably why your friends suggested returning tonight. They want you to be happy. That’s the thing I notice in the diner. They were so quick to defend you that day. Maybe it began with a pleasant smile in the morning but I don’t mind that it’s become a little deeper. It’s a shame you don’t hear any of that.”
When he stops, Mardy is staring right at him. The bright-eyed demeanor Juan Martin is accustomed to seeing isn’t there, replaced with exhaustion from life. Mardy wasn’t going to say it but now it feels necessary. “I guess I’m frustrated that the acting thing hasn’t really gone so well. That was what bothered me the most about what happened with your friends. I was supposed to be an actor who waited tables to pay the bills. Not reduced to a waiter who puts on a show for a quick buck.”
Juan Martin lifts his hand up, stopping midway as he realizes he has no business trying to console Mardy. “You’re not. Maybe you’re right and I really don’t know much. Nobody knows every little thing about a person immediately upon first meeting. Or even after the fifteenth meeting.”
Mardy sees the awkward position Juan Martin is holding and breaks out into a grin. He grabs onto Juan Martin’s hand, getting a firm grip as he uses it to raise himself enough to balance his weight on the rail of the bed. “You think you can handle a flighty-waiter-slash-failed-actor who is currently unable to do either?”
Juan Martin leans in closer, initially glaring at him then breaking out into a smirk. “I’d certainly like to try. At least I know you can’t run away from me so easily. Hobble away, maybe, but it would be a slow race...”
Mardy jolts forward to give him a kiss on the cheek, then settles back on the bed and watches as Juan Martin is stunned into silence. Mardy chuckles, then says, "This could be fun."
Chapter 8 - The Date and the Non-Date (French Invasion)