tennis slash - Smart People (19)
Title: Smart People (19)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Players: Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Ernests Gulbis, Marin Cilic, Dinara Safina, Robin Soderling, Andy Roddick
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: This did not happen.
Summary: College AU. Richard and Rafael are geniuses who are roommates in a suite, though they’re different as could be. Inspired by the movie Real Genius. This chapter: Dinara calls out both Ernie and Marin; Andy and Rafa aren’t good at keeping their new discovery quiet; Richie deals with Roddick
Chapter 19 - The Real Deal
Marin has to admit this might not have been the best time to agree to a plan of Ernie’s. He’s at the poker table, sitting next to his idiot of a roommate, as the other Russians make him feel like a five year old unable to understand adult conversation at dinner. Part of that is being the only one who doesn’t speak a word of Russian; although the conversation is mostly in English, there’s just enough Russian thrown in to completely confuse him. Ernie may be a freshman but he’s experienced life in a way that the others in this room have and Marin has not.
They’re not in the Russian suite in their building, instead at… well, he doesn’t actually know which building this is, other than it’s on the opposite side of campus and he knows it’s a ladies’ room. Mikhail’s girlfriend Dinara is the host and she’s the big winner, but Maria is using her feminine guile to win off the guys at the table as well. Marin is fortunate to be breaking even but Ernie has already lost his share and has resorted to throwing out random comments in the background while drinking too much.
Still, all would have been okay except Dinara suddenly exclaims, “I thought I knew you from somewhere. You’re the guy on the video!”
Ernie scoffs, “Given that Dmitry records everything, you’ll have to be more specific.”
Marin really hopes Dinara isn’t going to mention what he thinks she will. No such luck. “The video with Andy singing the Queen song. Marat showed it to me. It begins with you…” She stops as she notes Marin glaring at her. “Okay, you know the video. Sorry.”
Ernie chuckles, then says, “Yeah, do not mention karaoke to him. I’m sure if you tape him singing in the shower…”
Marin says coldly, “I do not do that.” He doesn’t really know Dinara, other than her interference regarding Andy and Marat, but he despises being called out in front of the group and having no way to stop her.
“You should!” Ernie exclaims. Marin rolls his eyes at the thought, which prods Ernie to continue. “What is the worst thing that can happen? You suck as a singer? Andy is downright tolerable in comparison to Novak. He is possibly the worst singer I’ve ever heard who is actually happy to sing on a regular basis. He knows way too many TV theme songs...”
Dinara snaps, “Cram it, Gulbis. Can’t you see… forget it. You’re like a younger version of my brother and it makes me sick. You fucking like Novak but you’d rather posture, push and joke around until he gives up.” Marin doesn’t want to laugh at the stunned look on Ernie’s face but he can’t help it. Neither can anyone else in the room, actually.
Ernie protests, “That is not what I do!” Marin shakes his head, even though he does agree and the laughing goes along with that.
Dinara is studying him, deep in thought before she asks, “What is so bad about having fun?”
“What?”
“I suspect you don’t do that enough. You’re so concerned about what everyone else sees that you hold back. I will bet you,” glancing at her chips, then picks up a red one worth five dollars, giving it serious consideration before declaring, “Actually I will leave it in your hands. I would pick but I want to see you pick something dumb. You have one week. The key is I have to hear about it from someone other than you.”
Marin is still bugged by the journal comments, which makes him say, “Okay.” He glances toward Ernie, realizing from the slightly devilish smile shining back at him that he’ll most likely need his roommate’s approval in order to win this bet. Not good at all.
* * * * *
Rafael, Andy and Novak are standing outside the building next to theirs. This time the alarm is for a slightly more significant problem than burnt popcorn; they can see something smoking up near the kitchen area. A window is open but the smell is even worse than popcorn. Though it’ll be under control eventually, this will keep everyone outside in the cold for awhile.
“We could go get ice cream,” Novak suggests. He wishes Ernie was home because he has no ally with Rafael and Andy around.
“I’d settle for something warm, not cold,” Andy mutters, wishing he had worn his sweats over Rafael’s shorts. At least he had thrown one of Rafael’s warm-up jackets on over the sleeveless tee but he assumed it would be a quick drill and they’d be back inside. Twenty minutes have already passed, many having wandered elsewhere for a snack or to visit neighbors in other buildings.
“Hello guys,” Robin says, having just come from class and spotting the smoke. “Which one of you did this?”
“Don’t even,” Rafael says. “I can cook. I just choose not to do it here.”
Robin rolls his eyes but then he notices what Andy is wearing. “So you’re now exchanging clothes? I say it’s about time since you share everything else. Did you add the sleeveless shirt too?”
Andy looks down, realizing he picked up the jacket that went with the shorts in his haste. Nobody outside the suite was supposed to see this outfit. “I was dared,” he says fruitlessly.
“Of course you were. It doesn’t look too bad.” Robin looks around and spots Roddick. “I’m going to someone who may know some answers.”
When Robin is gone, Novak glances incredulously at Andy, then says, “I may be wrong but I think that was Robin’s twisted way of flirting.”
Andy says, “Keep in mind he’s only doing that because Rafa is standing here.”
Novak nods but throws in, “It’s still creepy to witness.” As Novak is looking for a way out of this topic, he notices Richard has just shown up and he breathes a sigh of relief. He calls out, “Hey, Richie. Over here.”
Richard follows the voice and walks over. “Hey. So who’s the suspect?”
Rafael says, “If you ask Robin, it’s me even though you know I can cook. It kind of smells like Italian food so I’d check to see if Starace is around.”
Andy points out, “Starace hasn’t struck since finals week in the spring. I thought he’d moved out but spotted him about a week ago in the kitchen. He’s long overdue.”
“Uh huh,” Richard mutters but he’s craning his neck, looking around.
Novak says, “We’re going to Roth Hall to warm up. Wanna join?” He sees Richard isn’t paying attention so he waves a hand in front of his face. “Who you looking for?”
“Roddick.”
“The RAs are together,” Rafael supplies, gesturing toward the fence. “Are you still avoiding him?”
Richard shakes his head, then walks in that direction.
Andy and Rafael exchange glances, then Rafael says, “Is it my imagination or did he seem kind of… what’s the word?”
“Scared?” Andy supplies.
Rafael considers that, then says, “Yeah.”
* * * * *
“Hey Richard,” Robin says. Roddick immediately looks up from his book, then resumes reading. “Haven’t seen you lately. Been in hiding?”
“Kinda,” Richard mutters, looking down as he feels the cold shoulder he’s getting from Roddick. He shuts his eyes and struggles to get out, “Can I talk to you privately?”
Robin exclaims, “I fucking knew you’d get in trouble again. It’s been too quiet so you need your buddy Roddick to bail you out again!”
Roddick barks out, “Can you even face me when you ask that?” He has no intention of moving until Richard gives him a reason to move. “In fact, can you talk to me at all?”
Robin glances from Roddick to Richard, then asks, “What the hell are you on? I know Frenchie is a pain but the attitude is a bit harsh. Isn’t he talking to you right now?”
“Roddick, please,” Richard says impatiently.
Roddick says, “You know what? No. Anything you need to say can be said right here. I am tired of playing games.”
Robin chimes in, “You’d better make it worthwhile. Roddick is not in a good mood. He got screwed over by someone and everyone else shall pay.”
Roddick rolls his eyes, snapping, “You are such a jerk. No wonder nobody on your floor asks for your help.”
“Excuse me. Just because you’re suffering from relationship drama with your hidden lover doesn’t give you the right to be rude to everyone! You were so much more tolerable when you were getting laid on a regular basis.”
Richard says softly, “I’m sorry I’m fucked up.” While the RAs are still sniping at each other, he bows his head and begins to walk away.
Roddick has a retort ready to go but something stops him. He senses Richard actually did say something but all he sees is his back. “What was that? Oh damn it. Richie?” He chases through the crowd, soon close enough to grab onto the sleeve of Richard’s jacket. “Don’t leave, please. What did you…” Roddick’s foot connects with a rock. He stumbles, causing him to fall forward and crash into Richard. Both of them land on the dirt. “At least that got you to stop moving. What did you say?”
“I said,” Richard says too loudly as he hurries to stand up, making a concerted effort not to face him. “I am sorry I am fucked up! I wish that I could have just said that to you but I couldn’t no matter how hard I wanted to tell you!” He takes two steps away, then stops and turns around to wait for Roddick to get off the ground, just in case he’s injured.
Roddick brushes dirt off his jeans. As he’s getting ready to stand up, he raises his head and sees Richard is close to breaking and they need to get out of here now. Roddick says softly, “Let’s get over to my car.”
* * * * *
Rafael says, “On one hand, I don’t want to spy, especially given his reaction when I joked about recording them. On the other, something had definitely happened before Richie got here.”
Andy nods in agreement but Novak glances at both of them, insisting, “You are wrong. Yeah, of course I’m curious since I can’t believe they’re actually together but...” Rafael and Andy have already headed toward the parking lot, ignoring his argument. Novak shakes his head, then relents and follows the pair’s pursuit.
* * * * *
Roddick leans against his car, waiting. Richard paces back and forth in front of him, trying to formulate the words while knowing they need to have this conversation. After a few minutes, Richard stops moving, staring at the ground with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His voice barely fills the silence when he finally does speak. “You are an amazing person and you deserve better than dealing with my problems. I know about your talk with Professor Henman, even after we had the fight, and I can’t believe you went for the journals. That you believed me about that, even as you were… are mad and think I was… am using you, is unbelievable… above and beyond. I heard you turning Marin away with the CD so you didn’t even hear my attempt at explaining so I don’t know...”
“Actually,” Roddick interrupts at this point, holding up his hand. “Leo started reading an entry of Federer’s about Marin. As he was speaking, I realized there was no way I could hear Federer’s words about you. I stopped him, dropped the journals off at Henman’s, then listened to the CD. I wanted to hear your version, not his. Good thing as I probably would have wanted to kill him if I’d read the journal regarding you.”
“Are you serious?” Richard finally faces Roddick, who confirms with a nod, then carefully takes steps to close the distance. “I shouldn’t have hidden what we had but I thought you’d break up with me once you found out I wasn’t the person you thought I was. He made me feel I had to keep my guard up so that I couldn’t get hurt again. But when you walked out that day, I knew I was the cause for not getting the truth out sooner and I realized how important you were… are to me and I am so sorry and I don’t deserve you sacrificing your future just to break into the office…”
As an answer, Roddick brings his arms around Richard’s waist and pulls him in close. A normally rejected gesture, this time Richard buries his face under Roddick’s chin and clutches on to his jacket, his body trembling as the tears fall. Roddick whispers into Richard’s hair, “It was the right thing to do, regardless of whether we were together or not, but I missed you and I admit I was hoping...”
Roddick stops talking as Richard raises his head, hands moving to cup Roddick’s cheek. Richard gives a bright smile, even as tears still linger in his eyes, and says, “I missed you too. I promise I will no longer keep us a secret,” then goes in for a kiss.
While Roddick gladly accepts the kiss, he also notices people moving in the distance. In between kisses, he grabs onto Richard’s shoulder and says, “Hold on a sec.” Richard breaks away, the wall going back up as he erroneously believes he’s being rejected. Roddick quickly says, “No, not that. I see…” He squints at the figure ducking behind the car, then declares, “Somebody with black spiky hair is watching us.”
Richard cringes as he says, “Novak isn’t good at being quiet. Good thing we’re not sneaking around anymore but they’re so meddlesome. He’s going to make you wish we’d stayed out of sight.”
* * * * *
“Should we have left Novak stranded in the parking lot like that?” Andy wonders aloud as Rafael drags him toward the building which holds the food court.
“We did what we’d intended. I couldn’t stand watching them together in what was clearly a private moment. Believe me, Richie will give the play by play later, except this will be the first time I’ll actually be aware of whom he’s talking about.”
Once they’re finally inside the building, Rafael leads Andy toward the wall and looms over, pinning him in place.
Andy starts, “Rafa, what are we…” but is stopped by Rafael’s mouth covering his.
Rafael says, “I realized that I never did kiss you back before. Just wanted to make sure you were aware I agreed with your earlier proposal,” as he works his fingers under the jacket.
“You are an idiot,” Andy maintains but he smiles brightly.
“No, I know you’re analytical to a fault and, the longer we waited, the more likely you would start questioning what just happened. By the time I actually confront you when we return to the suite, you would have convinced yourself that you wrecked everything and that’s not true. So I got you alone instead.”
“While I am pleased to hear that, can we actually get something to eat? I don’t want to do this here, where anyone can be watching,” looking over Rafael’s shoulder at Feliciano and Fernando standing there with bags of food, both stunned silent. Andy gives them a defiant stare, which has Feliciano give a sheepish wave then they walk away.
Rafael turns around just in time to see the pair’s back to them. He glances back at Andy, who is feigning innocence about it, then smiles as he retorts, “You vindictive bastard. I like it.”