tennis slash - The Falcon (5)
Title: The Falcon (5)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Players: eventual Novak Djokovic/Andy Murray, David Ferrer/Juan Carlos Ferrero, Feliciano Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Tommy Robredo, Marat Safin, Rafael Nadal
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: This did not happen.
Summary: AU. Novak goes to Spain to look for inspiration to create the Next Great Superhero. This chapter: The pursuit of a Love Interest for Novak's story while David deals with the torture associated being a pawn in Marat’s games.
David is normally the one who reserves the table for their lunch brainstorming sessions so it surprises Novak to see Juan Carlos instead. Novak hasn’t really dealt with Juan Carlos without David around and it’s rather intimidating.
Novak can count on Juan Carlos to comment on the flaws in the story. It is helpful to have someone fixed in reality balanced with Novak’s head-in-the-clouds ideas and David more interested in getting everything onto paper than actual input.
Even so, Novak is surprised that Juan Carlos starts the discussion. "You got to a love interest yet?"
"I was actually thinking along the lines of the Green Hornet movie. Generally with groupies around but focused on a woman who thinks little of his work."
Juan Carlos nods, then takes a glance over Novak’s shoulder before he says in a serious tone, "Is that the deal with the girl you wrote the book about? Not the groupies, obviously, but the second part?"
Novak can’t hide the shock from his face. "Jelena and I were an actual couple. It wasn’t me fantasizing from afar." He pauses, then his voice gets pitchy when he asks, "Did you think I made Jelena up?"
"I… no. It’s just that outside of mentioning the previous book as your experience as an author, you don’t mention her. Yet it sounds as if she saw you differently than you saw her."
"Oh," then stays silent as he ponders that. "I didn’t realize her feelings until I moved to Spain. I thought we’d spend the rest of our lives together. She thought the idea of me writing a book named after her was creepy, not romantic."
"Go figure."
"She took solace by hooking up with Viktor. Thought he was my friend but I was wrong about that, too."
That takes Juan Carlos by surprise, though doesn’t immediately say anything. Novak knows Juan Carlos well enough to realize this doesn’t mean the end of the topic. Finally, he goes in for the kill. "Is that why you deliberately directed David not to draw Andy, even if it’s clearly based on him?"
Novak mutters, "I don’t want to continue this conversation."
"He’s going to figure it out."
"Damn right he’s going to figure it out," David snaps, arms crossed and glaring down at Juan Carlos. "He’s going to figure out that people at the academy are plotting and you’ve gotten them all to decide on this new project."
Novak looks from the standing figure - who is surprisingly scary when he’s mad - to the sitting figure thrown by the venom. Juan Carlos starts, "David…"
"You fixed me up with Marcel? Hopeless-crush-on-Robredo Marcel? Younger-brother-mocks-him-on-the-court Marcel? You think he is dating material?"
Juan Carlos stands up, resting a hand on David’s shoulder as he coolly states, "You need to remember what dating is. He needs to realize Tommy is not the only fish in the sea. That is all. You are too good a person to not at least try."
David makes a concerted effort not to directly look at Juan Carlos. "Kissing my ass is not the way to get what you want out of me."
"If you say no, it’s Marcel, not me, you’re rejecting. I can handle rejection but I don’t know about him."
The silence lasts just long enough to warrant concern. Finally, David says, "Okay. I’ll give him a chance but I know there’s more going on you’re not telling me."
* * * * *
Love interest.
Novak sees the two words on the paper glaring back at him as he lays in bed, yet another night passing without having one in his life or his novel.
He doesn’t care what Jelena is doing right now… and definitely doesn’t care if she’s still doing Viktor. Novak knows her phone number by heart and wishes that information would just go away.
Viktor was practically family to Novak. If Novak called home, most likely whoever spoke would mention seeing Viktor at the supermarket or at the store. If it’s his mother speaking, she’d be careful enough not to mention Jelena unless Novak did first. If it’s one of his brothers, there would be no such reservation because neither read the book due to being too young.
Dad wouldn’t bother mentioning Jelena. Then again, Dad is more interested in knowing if his oldest son is still wasting time with silly writing ventures.
As a result, Novak is happy to let the answering machine capture most of their calls. He didn’t want to go back to Serbia but he would be lying to himself if he didn’t miss having family around. Even with all the criticism, they’re important and he doesn’t like this necessary distance.
The group that Novak now has is a welcome relief; they were already more observant that his former friends. Juan Carlos may have been good for snide comments but he was dead-on what he said about Andy. Novak had wondered if Juan Carlos merely put up with him for David’s benefit but apparently the guy had been listening more than he’d let on.
It’s hard to articulate exactly what it is about Andy that makes Novak worry about the Charlie role in the story. Novak has gotten glimpses into the kid who’d been alone in a new country and seen himself - but better because Andy had been here for three years and was improved for that experience.
Andy had invited him onto the tour. It had been done so casually that Novak almost missed it. As much as Andy may have complained, he truly did like having Novak around.
Love Interest
Ignore Pablo’s actual love interest in favor of flings. Pablo is more concerned about Charlie reacting to French-Swiss villain Philippe’s presence. Pablo harbors his strongest feelings toward his sidekick and wants to know why the villain gets to Charlie.
Novak takes that sheet of paper and rips it out of the notepad. He likes the idea but doesn’t want Juan Carlos and David to see it and read further into that than necessary.
More importantly, he doesn’t want Andy to find out and leave him behind.
* * * * *
David suspected this date involved other parties, despite what Juan Carlos said. Even with the list of possibilities, Feliciano Lopez wasn’t even in the top ten. David has lived down the block from Feliciano his whole life. The only reason Juan Carlos ever talks to Feliciano is because he’s fascinated with the entertainment value from Feliciano’s dramatic relationships with both his girlfriend Maria and his roommate Fernando. For Juan Carlos to actually employ the guy’s help is a new low.
It’s now an hour before the date with Marcel and David has been putting up with Feliciano trashing practically everything in his wardrobe in an effort to, quoting Feliciano, "finding anything remotely wearable". So far, the only things that have passed are work boots ("the ruggedness works for him") and one faded pair of jeans that apparently fit "properly".
"Marcel isn’t going to care about any of this."
Feliciano is studying all angles of a denim shirt, determining if it can be salvaged with sandpaper. "I’m under orders to ignore any complaining from you."
"From Juan Carlos?"
"No. Marat wants you to get lucky so Juan Carlos will stop worrying about you being alone. Hence why I’ve been assigned to work on your entire wardrobe as opposed to just tonight’s date. I doubt anyone, possibly including Marcel, thinks tonight is going to work."
David stares at the assorted shirts on his bed. Laid out, he can sort of see Feliciano’s point. "I cannot afford new clothes."
"That’s why I’m dealing with what you have first and then figuring out a suitable attack." Feliciano holds up a white and blue striped button-up from David’s closet, wrinkling his nose. "The sad thing is I can picture this would have been your pick for tonight if I weren’t here. Okay, I know what we’ll do. Wear the work boots with the tolerable jeans." Feliciano then slips off his own shirt and hands it over to David. "Try this on. I’ll take this," picking up the white and blue and deliberately not buttoning it, "and distract Fer with my six-pack before safely torching it."
David works on the buttons of the shirt and looks in the mirror. The sleeves practically flounce on their own, the color reminds him of lilacs, and the material is rather flimsy. Even though Feliciano is five inches taller, David finds himself tugging at the hem.
None of this seems to be noticed by Feliciano, who stands behind David and wraps his arms around his waist as he pronounces, "Excellent start."
* * * * *
Andy is walking down the hallway when he spots the guitar leaning against the door of his room. It’s such a jarring sight that he drops his tennis bag immediately.
The note attached says: Had a meeting at the Academy for a sponsor so I thought I’d drop by. It’d be fun to hang out before I head to Mallorca for a few days.
"Where…" Andy looks around and sees someone standing in the doorway. He doesn’t want to react to this, not when he knows this is merely a friendly meeting and will never be anything more.
"So nice to see you, Andy," followed by one of his customary warm hugs.
Andy smiles despite what he really thinks of this sudden appearance. They haven’t been alone since that stupid phone call. "What’s with the guitar?"
A shrug but he doesn’t pull away. "Gift from sponsor. Not interested in travelling with it. Toni thinks he has a voice and I can’t take any more of his singing."
"What are you looking for?"
"Open the door and I’ll show you."
Andy stares at his sneakers, muttering, "I can’t do this, Rafa. I… have plans tonight. Sorry."
"Oh. Okay." Rafael lets go, giving a wry smile. "I hope I see you soon."
Andy unlocks the door and drags his bag and the guitar into the room, then collapses on the bed. As far as Andy is concerned, Rafael Nadal is the kryptonite to his heart.
* * * * *
David tries to relax and enjoy conversation with Marcel but it’s just not working. There’s nothing actually wrong with anything Marcel has done. The guy has even made sure not to mention Tommy, which is a bonus. The problem is that Tommy is there and Marcel doesn’t know it.
Literally. Marat, Tommy, and Juan Carlos are sitting in the corner of the restaurant spying on their date. The coaches are both facing David’s way but David is more concerned about the blond that’s ignoring everything. Marat doesn’t actually care all that much about David’s table; he’s more concerned about getting at least one of these guys to come home with him if what’s happening under the table is any indication.
"Does Juan Carlos abuse his power?"
David blinks, thrown by Marcel’s question. He hasn’t mentioned Juan Carlos once, even if his thoughts have been there. "What?"
"His father is the owner of the academy, after all. I would imagine he gets special privileges…"
"Juan Carlos likes tennis but he’s more interested in learning about the family business. He doesn’t want to become an elite player."
"But he’s got Coach Safin’s attention. He’s supposed to be helping those who do care. I’m barely holding on to Coach Robredo as it is because he’d rather deal with better prospects."
David sees Marat’s hand reach across the table toward Juan Carlos’ cheek. Even though Juan Carlos squirms away, it doesn’t really change that this is happening. Or that Tommy seems awfully interested in Marat and Juan Carlos’ interactions.
"I don’t think it’s as bad as you think," David says, trying to keep his mind off that other table even if his eyes are still focused there.
"Really? I mean, you’re a tennis outsider so have a better view than me."
Marat turns to Tommy, then motions towards Juan Carlos. Tommy appears to be sizing up the situation before nodding, then leaning across the table to surprise Juan Carlos with a kiss, then lingering to say something sexual. David assumes it’s something sexual from the proud reaction from Marat.
More importantly, there’s a nod from the blond hair then digging out money for the check. David absently grabs his glass of wine. He doesn’t remember filling it but is glad it’s been done. Better than snatching the entire bottle and downing it. He finally replies to Marcel, "I really don’t know what’s going on among those guys and I wish I didn’t know as much as I do."
Marcel finally notices the trio as they’re not-so-quietly leaving. In particular, watching Tommy wrapping an arm around Juan Carlos then nibbling on his ear. Once they’re out of the restaurant, Marcel tries for casualness but fails miserably when he says, "Guess better to realize you were distracted by the show than to realize I was a boring date."