Chapter Text
Carlos couldn’t sleep.
His wrist felt sore like it had for the past days, he missed the tournament : games,the noise,the mess that tournaments gave him, he missed the crowd,his racket and Jannick. Especially Jannick
They had called not too long ago but he still missed him.
His laugh, the light blush that appeared on his cheeks when Carlos made a flirty joke.
He wished Janni was here…
Jannick sat on his plane seat, hat pulled low, headphones in.
So far no one had recognised him and if they had no one had said anything.
He was scrolling on instagram watching old interviews when Simone texted in the group chat.
Simone
Did you find a flight ?
Darren
What flight?!
Jannick assumed that Simone had told Darren about his Murcia flight: he was wrong
Jannick
I’m on a flight
Jannick
To murcia
Darren
WHAT
Simone
Sorry , I meant to call you
Darren
I MEANT TO CAll you ?!
SIMONE WHAT
Darren
Jannick, why are you going to Murcia ?!
The tournament has not started yet
Jannick
well...
Darren
No.
Darren
Jannick I swear if your going for what I think you are
Simone
He’s going exactly for that
Jannick
I didn’t say anything
Darren
It’s for Carlos isn’t it
Jannick
…. No …?
Darren
Liar
Jannick
Sorry text you later, we’re boarding
Darren
Jannik your so dead
Simone
Bring souvenirs
Darren
Please don’t do stupid shit
Simone
Too late
Jannick rolled his eyes, he loved his coaches plus they supported his weird ideas (most times).
The flight was 2 hours but it felt longer.
He spent his time trying to (not so successfully) listen to music, his brain was too loud. Questions crowded his brain
What if Carlos didn’t want him there ?
If Carlos sent him away ?
If someone leaked that, where togheder ?
Jannick was pulled from his brain by a kind hostess who told him they were about to land
“Oh thank you “ he answered, still half asleep.
“No worries sir, please turn off your headphones”
Jannick did so, he fixed his hair and pulled his cap lower.
He checked the time on his watch 12:26am
Jannick wondered if Carlos was awake ..
Carlos could not sleep. He was staring out the window of his private home in el palmar.
He loved his family a lot but they understood that he needed space.
When Carlos was injured he felt like a burden so that’s why stayed in his home.
His family visited and called daily, which was great because cooking with only one arm available was a pain (and Carlos already wasn’t the best cook) and his mother was an angel (and a great cook too) who brought him food everyday.
Carlos stared at the sky which was covered in stars that reminded Carlos of Jannick, a freakeles.
Wow, injuries made Carlos poetic uh ?
Jannick rushed off the plane as fast as he was physically able.
He rushed to the front desk.
“Hi sorry “ Jannick panted lightly
“Hello sir, how can I help you ?” A young lady asked him “what’s the quickest way to get to el palmar?”
“That would be by car, do you need to get to el palmar center?” The woman asked “no no “ Jannick said probably too quickly “ no just uhm outside”
“Alright, do you have an address ?” The woman asked “yes, el palmar street five” . The receptionist looked at his recognition and said “oh ,ok can I have a name for the car ?” The Italian considered giving a fake name “Jannick sinner”
And now he was sure the woman had recognised him
“Ok mr sinner your car will be here in 5 minutes”
“ thank you so much “ Jannick got out his wallet and paid for the car leaving a 20 euros tip.
The woman smiled politely recognising his attempt to make sure she didn’t say anything.
He wasn’t one for bribery but extreme times Called for extreme measures.(said extreme times being visiting his boyfriend after an injury)
Jannick hoped it worked.
The car arrived and Jannick basically threw himself in the back seat which wasn’t suspicious at all…
(smooth Jannick smooth).
The driver looked at him through the rareview mirror, his eyebrow slightly lifted.
“Jannick sinner to el palmar street 5 ?”
“Yes” Jannick looked at his watch at 12:54, great “sorry uh how long is the drive?”
“About 2 and 30 minutes sir “ Jannick did the math in his head . He should arrive around 3 am, well if his coaches didn't kill him first than Carlos probably would.
Jannick stared out the car window, headphones on again half asleep.
He had already texted his coaches that he’d arrived.
Now all that was left was waiting.
Which Jannick hated.
It was almost three in the morning and Carlos was still awake.
Carlos usually didn’t have a problem with sleeping but his wrist made everything complicated: even sleeping.
So he was on the couch, windows open letting the fresh breeze through.
Some boring baking show was playing on tv.
One of those where everyone was yelling and cussing at each other while dramatic music played.
That reminded him of tennis in a weird way. Well maybe just the more chaotic part.
He looked at his phone at 3:17 am.
Great ,Carlos was not sleeping tonight.
The doorbell rang.
That made Carlos jump, spilling out all the curses he knew.
Who the hell would visit him at this time ?!
Maybe Alvaro had heard that Carlos was awake somehow ..?
He got up nonetheless, maybe it was a serial killer, well at least he would put him out of the misery that was missing the madrid opentwo years in a row.
Carlos opened the door: on the other side there wasn’t a serial killer or Alvaro.
There was the last person he expected, and to one he wanted the most:
“Janny…?” Carlos whispered unsure if he was real or the meds were making him hallucinate.
“Hi charly”
Carlos threw himself and buried his head into the Italians neck
Jannick hugged back tightly while softly kissing his hair.
“Are you really here …?” Carlos whispered into Jannik Troath “ sì tesoro , im really here” the Italian hugged tighter.
Carlos didn’t let him go, afraid that if he did so Jannick would disappear.
The Italian moved his hand over his spine in a soothing manner “amore..” Jannik whispered softly,
Carlos slowly pulled back sniffling softly his face was red, tears stained his face and clinged to his lashes “hey hey..” Jannik brought his hand up to his lover's face wiping the tears away “ I’m here and I’m not going anywhere” Jannik grabbed the other boy's hands in his.
Carlos noticed the bag Jannick was carrying and his heart skipped a beat: he planned on staying.
“What .. how are you even here..? And why are you here ..? the tournament hasn’t started yet “ the Spaniard asked, voice rough from crying “I was worried about you..” the other said his hand on his lover's face “you sounded so sad Tesoro … I expected that but … it was worse”.
Carlos sniffilled “ sorry ..” the Italian wrapped his arms around the other's body “ no baby no … don’t apologise it’s not your fault..”
They both held onto each other tightly afraid of letting go.
Janni knew the feeling: the feeling you're a burden to everyone because you can’t play.
It makes you feel empty like you lost yourself ,like a failure because the only thing you're supposed to be good at fails.
It’s like your disappointmenting everyone.
He was well acquainted with the feeling.
“Come on,” Jannik said, dragging Carlos into the house.
Which was ironic since it was his own house.
By the time they both were settled in bed it was almost 4 in the morning, still they got ready.
“Can I see your wrist ?” jannick asked softly, he had just got out of the bathroom pajamas on.
Carlos turned confused “ why..?” The Spaniard mumbled “I want to see how it's healing” Carlos didnt expect this “it's ugly jan…” part of him wanted to show Jannik his wrist and part wanted to hide it and pretend it was ok “Carlos.. I don't think anything about you can be ugly” the Italian raised his hand to caress his face.
“If you really want to…” Carlos put his wrist out to jannick, the other touched it with so much care.
Then the Italian kissed his injured wrist.
“Janni what…. ?”
“See i told you, bellisimo”
They both settled in the shared warmth of the blankets and as Jannik was holding carols, the soft smell of his shampoo mixed with the linen of the sheets made him realize that after all it was worth it.