Work Text:
All charity auctions are the same. Every year, you know exactly who will donate some ugly abstract art (Tsitsipas), who will donate something cheap and trendy (Kyrgios), and who will donate something so extravagant as to make all other donors feel guilty (Federer). After making his rounds at the other tables, Jannik sits down and dedicates his time to looking beautiful, trying all the fancy cocktails, and valiantly staying awake.
He only perks up when it’s time for his donation to be auctioned off. Like previous years, he is offering a one month stay at his vacation home in Lake Lugano. It’s really only a formality, as he knows Aneke Rune will win. She basically has the month long vacation away from her family penciled in her calendar year after year. According to Aneke, there’s nothing like the feeling of chain-smoking by the lake with only birdsong for company. Honestly, if Jannik ever gave birth to a demon spawn like Holger, he’d probably do the same.
“We will start the bidding at 50,000. Do we have 50,000?” Mr. Lahyani, their usual auctioneer, asks directly to Aneke sitting two tables away.
Of course, Aneke raises her paddle.
“50,000. Do we have 60,000?”
The room hears a ping on the speakers and Mr. Lahyani continues, “Yes, we have a virtual bid for 60,000. Do we have 70,000?”
Jannik smiles down at his daiquiri. That would be Jack in London. Yes, he did pre-arrange it with Jack so Aneke would actually have to work a little to win. Sue him. Plus, there’s no possible way that his item would be soliciting one lone bid. How embarrassing!
They go back-and-forth a little more until Aneke’s bid goes up to 100,000. That should be the end of it then, as Jack is supposed to stop now.
“200,000!” Comes a voice from the back of the room.
Wait, this is not in the script.
Jannik turns around but from his vantage point, he can’t see who the voice belongs to. But what he can see is Aneke staring daggers at the poor auctioneer, steam practically coming out her nose.
“Do we have 210,000?” Mr. Lahyani, withering under the glare of a small angry lady, announces almost apologetically.
“Going once, going twice… sold! To guest number 59.”
——
Jannik excuses himself to Aneke, and heads to the toilet to freshen up. He’s not running away from her, if anyone’s asking. He just needs to get away for a little bit. Listening to her moan about having to find another rental is really dragging his mood down. His good mood, of course, stemming from the fact that he secured the biggest bag this year, even higher than Federer’s.
He opens the restroom door and immediately spots a paddle resting on the counter, number 59. Great, he’ll get to meet the man who’ll be staying in his house.
He’s leaning against the counter, texting Terence a list of snacks that absolutely needs to be in his kitchen by the time he gets home, when mystery man steps out.
Oh. Oh no.
“Adonis?” Jannik manages to croak out.
“Matteo, actually. But whatever you want to call me, princess.” Matteo says with a smirk, still devastatingly handsome.
Jannik gives himself a few seconds to compose himself as Matteo washes his hands. This really was the last person he expected to see, a stranger from a flight three months ago.
“How did you find me here?”
“How old do you think I am?” Matteo counters. “You really think I wouldn’t be able to find out who you are with a 10 second search? Jack Draper doesn’t even look anything like you.”
“Well… to be fair to myself, I couldn’t come up with an original name on the spot.”
Matteo chuckles in response. “Fine, I’ll forgive your lying ways. Especially since you are not even remotely good at it.”
Somehow, Jannik is a little offended. “One, not even sorry. Two, you caught me on a bad day. I was going through a lot, and I promise you I will be more mysterious in the future.”
Matteo just looks at him softly for a few moments.
“Ok, international ginger of mystery. I think we are supposed to exchange numbers for the auction.”
They exchange phones and Jannik puts in his number under “International Ginger of Mystery.” He also saves Terence’s number.
“I’m only giving you my number due to auction rules, even though it’s severely hurting my mysterious unreachable persona." Hoping he sounds at least a bit grateful, Jannik adds, "But seriously, my assistant Terence will contact you to arrange your stay.”
Matteo takes back his phone and says solemnly, “I will treat this gift with the care and respect it deserves.”
Jannik smiles at him brightly and is about to turn to rejoin the party, when Matteo asks, “I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to know, what with the name subterfuge and all, but did you manage to sort everything out with the foundation? Is your mom well?”
Knowing that he remembered is giving Jannik a strange feeling in his stomach. Could this be the world’s most considerate (and handsome) man alive?
“My trust fund is a little thinner now but we did restart the project and it’s going well so far. Mom is doing good, blissfully unaware that anything was amiss. I’m hoping we got through the worst of it. Let’s see what’s coming.”
——
Jannik is chatting with the elderly couple who successfully bid on Swiatek’s donation: a gigantic decorative plate, when his phone buzzes in his pocket.
Matteo Berrettini
SOS!! There’s a scary lady following me around trying to guilt-trip me into selling the Lugano stay and she won’t give up! She smells like smoke :(