tennis slash - The Falcon (10)
Title: The Falcon (10)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Players: eventual Novak Djokovic/Andy Murray, David Ferrer/Juan Carlos Ferrero
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: Novak and Andy’s drunken confessional night.
Novak and Andy are sitting on the floor, the first bottle of wine started. Andy hasn’t taken a sip in the half hour since the wine was poured while Novak is on his second paper cup.
It takes time for Novak to figure exactly where to begin but he settles on, "The name you saw on my phone, Viktor Troicki, is someone I grew up with. We were best friends and my family basically treats him as a member. The thing is, since the book came out, he may have actually replaced me. They think Viktor and Jelena fit better together."
Andy frowns at the thought. "Even though you wrote a book professing your love for Jelena, your family prefers her with him? Wouldn’t they realize how much that hurts you? No wonder you left Serbia."
"Yeah, about that. See, the book was not exactly what you’d call non-fiction."
"I could’ve guessed. It’s a love story and real life doesn’t work the way it does in stories. I’d think your family would understand. That they could appreciate your ability to tell a story and get it published. I’d like to think you’re talented but I can’t read Serbian so I won’t heap that praise on you."
Novak smiles warmly at Andy’s words but knows this feeling will be fleeting upon hearing the rest. "They weren’t so happy upon reading the book and recognizing certain events. I twisted around anecdotes for a better story but the problem was the story wasn’t about my relationship with Jelena. It was using events involving Viktor."
Andy takes the cup in his hand and ponders its contents. As Novak suspected, that definitely changed the mood. Andy’s voice is unusually timid when he finally does speak, but the question takes Novak by surprise. "Were you in love with Jelena?"
"In some way, yes."
"Was she your first love?"
"No." Novak takes a sip then nods at Andy’s implied question. "That’s the problem."
"I see."
Novak leans against the wall, the cup lingering in the air as he contemplated what to say. "Jelena doesn’t know. Viktor’s call was about wanting to propose to Jelena but he thought it’d be best if I told her the truth first so he had no secrets. It’s a difficult conversation."
Andy takes a deep breath before asking, "Does she even know you like guys?"
"I’d guess not. My family is disappointed but that conversation hasn’t officially happened. Tough to say what they’re actually disappointed in. So once Viktor tells Jelena, it’s a given that any doubts they have disappear."
"I could see why you’d want to get away from that novel."
* * * * *
Cup number three for Novak is needed before he gets to the question that’s been on his mind since last night. "Do you still love Rafa?"
"No."
"Did you?"
"Possibly. Definitely infatuated."
"Did you drunk dial Rafa?"
"Sort of." It’s Andy’s turn to lean back. "He’d invite me to the video game contests wherever he was staying at that point. He doesn’t have many people his age to hang around. As a result, he kind of gravitated towards me because he could act like a kid. He plays off as innocent but he’s totally not." Novak watches carefully as Andy slouches forward, eyes cast downward as he finally takes a sip from his cup.
The more time that passes, the more aware Novak is that Andy has let the question itself linger. That said, he can sense Andy is figuring how to answer and doesn’t want to interrupt his thoughts.
Finally, Andy takes a deep breath and admits, "So, yeah. The drunk dial was intended for Rafa. He didn’t receive the call, however. Either I had the phone numbers mixed up," Andy shaking his head, showing he didn’t believe that story for a second, "or Rafa asked Richard Gasquet to answer his phone. He and Rafa are the same age. Now, as far as I know, they are not hooking up. Then again, they don’t really have a language in common so there’s no real reason they could hang out, either. Maybe video games worked out different for him."
"So Rafa doesn’t know about your confession because Richard never told him?"
"Yeah. Well, Richard claimed he didn’t understand what I was saying because of my accent but he totally knows and is playing dumb."
Novak has no idea what he’s aiming for when he blurts out, "As far as you’re concerned, then, he’s the villain."
Andy raises an eyebrow, then chuckles despite the prior seriousness of the conversation. "Actually, he’s your villain."
"Huh?"
"He’s your Philippe. I told you that drawing looked like a player on tour?" Andy refills the cup, even though it was still half full, allowing Novak time to fully process the meaning. When Novak gasps, Andy continues, "I just see how people get when they’re around Rafa. I’ve realized how I get around him. Like a lovesick puppy. It’s not healthy." Andy leans back, taking a gulp of the wine then staring at its remaining contents.
Novak studies Andy’s posture carefully, knowing that he’s no artist but he could visualize the pain from vocalizing that realization. Especially for Andy, who doesn’t tend to reveal personal stuff. "I have to think it does get better. Love does seem to hurt before it works out. For everyone else, anyway." He slides over to Andy’s side, wanting Andy not to close off.
Andy responds by edging toward Novak but not looking his way when he says, "It doesn’t really matter. It’s a lonely journey on the tour. I’ve felt that part already and it’s only the beginning."
* * * * *
While Novak was far ahead with the wine consumption at one point, he’s reasonably sure they’re nearing on level now. Or at least, however much Andy has consumed affects him as much as the larger amount does for Novak. Novak’s shoulder has become a leaning post, Andy sometimes appearing ready to doze off. At least the cup is safely sitting on the table next to him so there was no worry of a spill.
Andy sounds nearly asleep when he asks, "How far have you gotten with writing The Falcon?"
"Pretty far, actually. I know the plot and there’s roughly eighty pages typed up so far plus assorted scraps I’ve written that would be at least fifty pages on its own. I want to use David’s drawings in the front, as context, so it has the feel of a comic but it’s a novel."
"What are you going to do about school?"
"You know that’s not lasting." Andy has never talked about Novak in art school as anything more than a detour, even though Novak never claimed that’s what he was doing.
"Well, yeah, but what happens next?"
"I look for a job in Valencia, I suppose. I don’t specifically need David for the artwork until at the refining stage but he’s still useful as a sounding board. Maybe I can get a janitor job at the academy." Novak shrugs. "A little of that, waiting tables. I’ll find a way."
"Do you have to stay in Valencia?"
Novak doesn’t want to read too much into this question. He knows just how close Andy is. It wouldn’t require more than a slight turn of the head to read exactly what Andy means… or doesn’t mean. "A writer can do his trade anywhere. Not Belgrade, obviously with all the family drama there, but anywhere else. Why are you asking?"
"I… just don’t want you to lose your way. The Falcon is a great idea that should be finished." Andy drops a hand onto Novak’s hip and Novak feels a heavier weight on his shoulder.
"No other reason?"
"Hmm?"
"Andy, why exactly did you want me here?" Silence. "Andy? You awake?" Novak grumbles under his breath upon not getting a reply. It figures that Andy wouldn’t even stay awake to finish a drunken confession. "You want to go to bed?" Novak gently moves Andy’s head so he’s now resting against the foot of the bed. "You’ve had a crazy day. Time to get a good night’s sleep." Novak uses his strength to lift Andy off the floor so he can land at least partially on the bed. He drags Andy up toward the pillow, curly hair getting more messed up with each move.
Novak has just gotten Andy into something resembling a comfortable position when Andy says into the pillow, "Don’t want to be alone. Always will be alone."
"You’re not going to be alone." Novak sits down on the bed, running his fingers over curls on the back of his neck, hoping Andy will ease into a peaceful sleep.
Andy surprises Novak by swatting his hand then resting his own on top. "I won’t see you for a long time. I’ll miss you."
Novak wishes Andy would turn his head… or at least acknowledge he isn’t talking in his sleep… but twists around so that he’s able to lie next to Andy without disturbing him.