Hotel Ferrero (Chapter 33)
Title: Hotel Ferrero
Pairings: Gasquet/Nadal, Djokovic/Roddick, Federer/Moya, Safin/Ferrero
Other characters: Ancic, Baghdatis, Tipsarevic, Robredo, A. Murray, Henman
Rating: PG
Warnings: Vampires, mentions of blood.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and this is a fiction.
Summary: Two U.S. Open final matches take place; Rafael vs. Roger and Carlos vs. Novak.
From the previous chapter:
Richard had told Juan Carlos that he had drunk his boyfriend but had trouble drinking more than a few drops. Marcos’ experiment with his new herb had ended up with an explosion and Janko wanted to look good to Mario so that he could have a chance to meet Haas. Rafael, Roger, Carlos and Novak had prepared themselves for the U.S. Open final.
Chapter 33: The U.S. Open
Carlos was pacing around the hallway right outside the locker rooms, anxious to meet Roger’s elder sister.
‘What’s taking him so long? Ah, he’s probably making his hair look pretty. He always takes half an hour on his hair on Slam finals. Maybe I should ask him to do my hair too.’
The vampire wished that his lover would come out already so that he wouldn’t have to face Diana alone.
“Hey, you look like a puppy that needs to go to the bathroom.” Roger laughed, as he closed the door to the locker room.
“Ah, finally, you’re out!”
“She’s not here yet?” Roger looked around.
“No, I don’t think so. How do I look? Do I look like Roger Federer’s boyfriend?” Carlos put on a nervous grin.
“Haha, is that smiling?” The Swiss showed him how to smile and added, “I think she already knows what you look like. She must’ve seen you on papers or on TV.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I could always look better.” Carlos tried to relax his facial muscles.
“Oh, Rogi boy!” A cheerful female voice rang in the air and both players turned their heads.
“Diana!” Roger was happy to see his family.
Carlos watched the siblings share a hug and a kiss on the cheek until they both remembered that he was there.
“Sis, I’d like you to meet my one and only, Carlos Moya.” Roger’s voice was full of proud and affection which made Carlos and Diana smile.
“So I finally get to meet the cradle-robber? Ahhahaha.” Diana turned her face and Carlos kissed her in horror.
“Um, sis, he’s a vamp. The age difference is natural.” Roger explained with a very persuasive face.
“I know, dear. It was a joke but apparently, it didn’t work.”
“Ahahaha.” Diana looked up at the Spaniard who tried to laugh desperately at the one-minute old joke.
“Aww, aren’t you kind? Apparently, Rogi boy here has lost his sense of humor. Oh, well, it’s an important day so I forgive you.” She smiled brightly and the icicles in the air slowly melt away.
Carlos was feeling much better after chattering with Diana while Roger went back into the locker room to get prepared. She didn’t ask any questions about him being a vampire and only asked a little about how they were doing these days. She seemed to be quite open-minded and Carlos had appreciated her effort to talk. He could clearly sense that she was very nervous as well.
Carlos was now seated safely in the vampire-only section of the stadium. Roger and he had been donating a considerable amount of prize money to allow vampires more access to human tennis.
“This is great. I sat in this section in Wimbledon too and it was great.” Richard smiled, seated right next to the great tennis champion.
“It’s good to know that you feel great. Young ones like you should be able to watch tennis in the daytime too. No need to worry in here.” Carlos smiled back, rather worried about whether they should be sitting next to each other when they supported different players.
And, soon after, his worries came true.
“Go Rafa!! Great shot!” Richard yelled and clapped his hands three times per second.
“Come on Roger!!” Carlos didn’t like to lose. He shouted as well, relieved that their voice were much less audible than from normal seats.
“Rafa!!”
“Roger!!”
“Rafa, you’re the best!!”
“Rog, there’s only one champion and it’s you!”
After quite some heavy cheering, Carlos was suddenly torn.
‘Oh! What if she can see me from her seat? I’m sitting in the front row here. I don’t want to look like a wild beast and scare her away.’
But then, a guy just behind him shouted something that sounded like Russian which had Rafael’s name in.
‘Okay, I don’t care about how I look. This is what I do. I cheer for my boy when he needs me the most.’
So he poured every ounce of his heart into his favorite tennis player in the world.
“Allez Roger!!”
“Game, Federer. Two sets all.”
Roger put on a contented smile while he walked back to his bench. It was never easy battling against Rafael but this time, he was doing much better than in Wimbledon.
‘Okay, I just need one more set which is only six games. I have the ability to do it and I have the will to do it.’
Being the probably greatest tennis champion ever in human history, he certainly knew how to control his mind.
‘And, today, I’ve got him. I will not lose.’
The Swiss looked up at the vampire-only box and smiled with his eyes. He had no doubt in his mind that Carlos could feel his smile.
Meanwhile, Rafael was busy checking the same box as well.
‘Ah, he looked especially cute today, no? He’s so adorable when he’s sleepy.’
The Spaniard changed his T-shirt, hoping that Richard’s eyes were good enough to enjoy his strip tease.
“Oh, please.” Richard let out a sigh and shook his head, trying not to yawn again.
“What’s wrong?” Carlos asked, eyes still glued to his beautiful boyfriend.
“He’s teasing me. I know it.”
“Who’s teasing you? Rafa?”
“Yes, he’s taking way more time changing his shirt. What a mature thing to do on a Slam final.” The stringer pouted, fidgeting with some extra strings for both Roger and Rafael in case they wanted their racquets restrung during the match.
The elder vampire found Richard’s complaint cute. He didn’t think that Roger and he had such cute moments.
“Oh, well, we’re too hot to be cute.”
“Excuse me?” Richard laughed at Carlos’ mumble.
“Did I say it out loud?” The Spaniard let out a frustrated sound which only made Richard laugh harder.
“Hey, they’re about to start the last set. Look.” Carlos pointed at the court, hoping that his stringer would stop laughing.
“Haha, it’s okay. Please don’t feel embarrassed. I admit that you are hot. Spaniards are very hot, no?” The imitation of his boyfriend made Carlos laugh now.
But the two could only enjoy each other’s company for a short period of time.
“Come on, Rafa!!”
“Come on, Roger!!”
And, after a blood-draining fifth set, it was Carlos who stood up with his arms in the air.
“Game, set, match, Federer. 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 8-6.”
The crowd roared and Roger couldn’t be any happier. He had just defended his title and saved his sinking season in front of his lover and sister’s eyes.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the gentlemen’s single champion of the U.S. Open 2008, Roger Federer!”
Spectators showered both players with rounds of applause and gave them a standing ovation but Roger was too busy making his way up to the vampire box. He had barely hugged his sister and his team and was running up the stairs to reach his love.
‘I’m almost there, Carlos. I’m almost there.’
His breathing grew heavier but his heart became lighter. He felt like he was skipping on soft mounds of cloud which had his lover’s name written all over.
‘Just a few more stairs and I’ll be in your arms.’
Roger picked up his speed and yanked the door open.
“Roger!!”
“Carlos!!”
Their embrace was violent as if they hadn’t seen each other for decades.
“Congrats, my champion. You were simply the best.” Carlos planted a kiss on his lover’s forehead.
Vampires inside the box made some cheerful noise and Roger’s smile lit up the whole box.
“Hey, we’re supposed to stay away from all that light.” Richard hugged his customer, relieved that neither of them needed to restring their racquets.
“Thanks, Richie. I owe you.” Roger hugged his favorite stringer back, not forgetting to add a word of comfort, “I’m sorry for Rafa. But I’m sure you’re very proud of him.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you.”
Richard gave the Swiss back to Carlos and the Spaniard kissed him on the lips. If there was one good thing about their open relationship, it was that they could freely kiss each other even in front of the press.
“Aww, isn’t that a lovely scene.” Diana poked Roger’s physiotherapist in the ribs.
“Sure, it is.” The guy was busy wiping his eyes with her handkerchief. “I can’t believe Roger really won! Boohoohoo…”
Diana bit her lips not to laugh and offered him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“Thanks for taking care of him. It must’ve been a hard year for you as well.”
“You have no idea. Boohoo…” All sorts of painful memories throughout the year hit him hard and he couldn’t stop crying.
“He… he… had mono but we didn’t… know that it was mono… and…. I… kept telling him that… he wasn’t eating enough… boohoohoo…”
Diana hugged him, hoping that one of his baby brother’s saviors would calm down. It was comforting to know how much love Roger was getting on a daily basis. While patting the guy’s back, she looked up once more at the shining couple.
‘Oh, well, it’s so obvious that he loves you and you love him back. There’s absolutely no reason for me to worry, right?’
She smiled just like her brother did and said a prayer.
‘Thank you God. He is happy.’
There was another human who was very happy today even if he was not in the final.
“Hey, kid, relax. You’ll get tons of support. I invited some of my friends who have the loudest voice on Earth. You can count each one of them as hundred people.” Andy winked at his vampire who was obviously nervous and saw him laugh.
“Haha, Andy, that’s very nice of you.”
“God, I’m a great boyfriend. You know that? I can always make you feel better, always.” Andy boasted, sticking his head out like a proud ostrich that found something big to eat.
Novak giggled and gave his awesome boyfriend a peck on the cheek.
“I’m waiting.” Andy put his hands behind his ears.
“For what?”
“Oh, come on, I know you want to point out that I’m being so modest.”
“Wow. You are a great boyfriend who even has a sixth sense. Damn, how could I ever even imagine leaving you?” Novak played along.
“I know. Cruel, huh? And the more you think about me, the more you want to get me that Cup. You know how much I’ve been fantasizing about that Cup. Ah, I can only imagine touching his smooth skin.”
“Bwahahaha.” Novak burst into giggles and slapped his boyfriend on the arm. “You should’ve told me earlier that you had a trophy fetish. I have the right to know about your fantasies.”
“That’s so true but I think I’ll let you discover them one by one. It’s more fun that way.”
“Wow, how many fantasies do you have? I think I already know… let’s see, I’ll have to count.” And, he started counting with his fingers, mumbling all sorts of secret fantasies the American had.
“Twelve! I think I already know twelve!”
“Okay, but I don’t think you should yell that in the middle of the locker room.” Andy didn’t really mind it. He just wanted to see Novak’s cheeks turn red.
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry about that. I don’t want anyone else to fulfill your fantasies anyway.”
“Aww, isn’t that what I wanted to hear? And, trust me, you know only twelve of them. I’m sorry to tell you that you’ll have to date me until I die. Now come here.”
Andy pulled his boyfriend into a soothing hug and kissed him until he felt the world number two completely relax in his arms.
“I love you, kid. And, I trust what you can do. So don’t doubt yourself out there. Whatever shot you want to make, it’s going to work. And, you know better not to try my racquet murdering and umpire bugging, right?”
Novak nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Good. Then, I guess you’re ready now. I’ll be in your box so when you feel tight, look at me, all right?”
Seeing the Serb nod, Andy patted him on the back a couple of times.
“I’m ready.” The tennis player had his game face on and Andy was proud of him.
“Remember, I’ll still love you exactly the same whatever happens and I’m sure your fans will do the same.”
“I know that. You’re a great boyfriend, remember?” Novak put on a confident smile and Andy knew that he was more than ready.
“Oh, what about here? I like the angle!” Marcos used his hands to show his friends how great that section was. “See? Ah, this angle is truly artistic!”
“Yeah, whatever. So we sit down here?” Mario asked, a little annoyed, since they had been moving seats for the third time already. The Cypriot had been insisting that they needed an artistic view.
“Yes, we definitely sit down here. I knew it was worth moving.” Marcos grinned and took a seat.
Apart from Juan Carlos and Marat who were in Carlos’ box since the Spaniard was one of their oldest customers and Richard who was in Novak’s box since they were good friends, the other ones from the hotel crew had placed themselves in neutral seats.
Marcos was sitting between a sleepy Janko who wanted to cheer for his compatriot and a nervous Mario who was waiting for Tommy to show up.
“Aww, look at you, looking all pretty, waiting for his prince.” The chef was in a good mood even if he still hadn’t chosen his player.
“We’re just here to watch tennis, that’s all. I don’t have to look pretty in a tennis stadium.” Mario answered before checking his cell phone. Tommy was late without any messages.
“But you never know! He might want to take you out for dinner. And, come on, you can’t fool me. I know you wear that light grey sweater when you want to look cute.”
“No, I don’t need this sweater to look cute. He…” Mario closed his mouth but it was too late.
“Buwahahaha! He said that you look cute no matter what? Ahahahaha.”
Marcos’ laughter woke Janko up and Mario looked around to figure out if they had to move again for bothering their neighbors.
‘Wait a minute. What’s this scent?’
As he turned his head to the left, a rose was right under his nose.
“I hope you’re not allergic to roses.” Tommy waited until Mario took the rose before sitting down next to the Croatian.
“I’m not allergic but I’m not particularly fond of flowers.” Mario didn’t want to admit that he was happy. He couldn’t believe that he was enjoying someone else’s presence in his mind.
“They always say that.” The Spaniard smiled and Mario’s eyebrows shot up.
“Excuse me? Who are they?”
“Oh, Mario, someone who looks as good as Tommy must have had a whole harem for decades.” Marcos helped and shook the hand that Tommy had held out.
“Hey, please don’t be offended. There’s no one else but you right now.” Tommy explained and both Janko and Marcos grinned stupidly.
Mario tried his best not to blush, but by the look of his friends, he must have failed.
“People, we’re here to watch tennis tonight, not to tease me to death. You get to do that every day at the hotel, don’t you?”
“Yes, but it never gets boring.” The chef stuck out his tongue but Janko was there to save his friend.
“Let him enjoy his date. Who knows? If he feels generous, he might introduce us to some of Tommy’s hot vampire friends, right, Mario?”
Mario snorted and put his rose near his nose. He might be getting fond of flowers, he thought.
In Carlos’ box, Juan Carlos stole a glance at his lover and smiled a bitter smile. He had noticed that Marat had been staring at the empty court for a while.
“I know how much you miss all that.” He put a gentle hand on the Russian’s.
“No offense, but I don’t think you do. You’ve never been a player yourself.” Marat was in pain.
“You’re right. I was never a tennis player. But I’ve been one of your biggest fans when you played and I’ve been by your side for quite some time now, so I can dare say that I know you well. I know how you feel for the most of the time.”
Marat sighed and squeezed the Spaniard’s hand. “Yeah, you’re right. You know me so well.”
“Yes, that’s why I’m going to shamelessly give you a kiss right now, so that we can enjoy some great tennis without being sad, okay?”
“Okay.” Marat already felt a little bit better and threw himself into the kiss.
Meanwhile, in Novak’s box, Andy, Richard, Andrew and Tim were also waiting for the match to start. They were all very pleased that the one they cared about had reached the final after a somewhat disastrous summer.
“I’m so proud of him.” Andy announced.
“We are all proud of him.” Andrew insisted.
Richard and Tim looked at each other, knowing where this was heading.
“Sure, we’re all proud of him.” Tim smiled and everyone pretended that nothing had happened.
“He looks great tonight. Black suits him well.” The Scot liked Tim’s choice better than the last one.
“Yes, he definitely looks good tonight.” Richard agreed, holding extra strings for Carlos and Novak this time.
“Well, every vampire looks good in black.” Tim pointed out, ignoring Andrew’s stare.
“Ah, tonight’s going to be so much fun.” Andy said in a cheerful tone, making sure that his black muffler was firmly around his neck. He liked Tim already.
“Oh, here they come!” Richard’s shout made everyone turn his attention to the entrance. Novak and Carlos were stepping on the center court.
‘Here we go, Nole. Time for you to shine.’ Andy took a deep breath and held on to his water bottle. He had to have some faith.
“Game and third set, Djokovic. Djokovic leads two sets to one.”
Novak looked up at the huge scoreboard and verified the scores. He had lost the first set but had clenched the next two.
‘This is just another match. I don’t have to feel any more pressure. I care about my game and I can make it work.’
Self-hypnotization usually worked well for him and he sat down and grabbed his water bottle. He was thirsty for water and hungry for victory.
“Game, Moya. Djokovic leads five games to four, fourth set.”
Novak sat down once again and looked over at his box. He could see Andy wave at him while chatting with Richard. He could also see Andrew pass one of his Bloodorade bottles to Tim.
‘Hmm, it looks like they somehow managed to watch this in peace. Good.’
“Time.”
Novak stood up and picked up his racquet, reminding himself that he just needed one more game under his belt.
‘I can serve it out and I will serve it out. I am not nervous. I am really not.’
“Come on, Andy’s boyfriend!!”
Someone shouted out so loud that Novak’s head automatically turned to the noise.
‘Ouch, he was right. They are loud.’
Some spectators chuckled and the Serb realized that Andy really knew how to make him feel better.
‘You want the Cup? Then, I’ll get it for you.’
And, when Carlos’ crosscourt backhand went into the net, Novak threw himself on the court, roaring with joy.
“Game, set, match, Djokovic. 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4.”
“Yaaayy!!” Richard was the first one to jump up from his seat.
“He did it! He really did it!!” Andy grabbed Richard in delight while Andrew and Tim shared a high-five.
Everyone in the box was happy.
“Great match. Congratulations. You deserve it.” Carlos had always been a gracious loser which made Novak admire him even more.
“Thanks, Carlos. Always an honor to play with you.”
The two players shared a handshake and a hug before moving to the courtside to shake the umpire’s hand.
“Waaa!!”
‘Thank you. Thank you very much.’
After expressing his gratitude to the crowd, Novak ran straight to his box. He climbed up the stairs and jumped over the railing.
“Come here, champ!” Andy opened his arms wide and Novak flew in.
“Andy.” He had a lump in his throat.
“I knew it! I knew my blood was better than Roger’s! I just knew it!”
Everyone laughed at Andy’s words but the human was too happy to hear anything else than his vampire’s breathing.
“You did well out there. But I still don’t have that Cup.”
“Haha, seriously, Andy.” Novak pulled back and shook his head.
“I’ll give you a really nice kiss so you can go down there and get that Cup. How does that sound?”
Novak quickly looked over at Andrew at the mention of a kiss and took a few steps to hug his friend. “Thanks for coming, Andrew. I know it must’ve been hard for you.”
“No problem. I didn’t have anything better to do.” The Scot hugged him tight before letting him go so he could shake everyone else’s hand in the box.
“Well done, Novak.”
“Thank you, Tim.”
“Way to go, Nole!”
“Thanks, Richie!”
Novak got a peck on the cheek from his friend and went back to his boyfriend.
“Ready for the awesome kiss?” Andy asked, wrapping his arms around the champion’s waist.
“Yes.” Novak’s heart started pumping more love.
As soon as the vampire closed his eyes, Andy gave him a gentle kiss that wouldn’t look bad even on the newspapers that used cheap ink.
And, when Novak went back down and lifted the shining trophy high above his head, Andy knew that he would be buying all those newspapers regardless of the quality of ink.
It was good to have a boyfriend. It was worth all his failed relationships. He was truly in love.