Ficlet: Comfort (G, Andy Roddick/Mardy Fish) Title: Comfort Rating: G Pairing: Andy Roddick/Mardy Fish Summary: Mardy can’t sleep until Andy surprises him. Notes: Inspired completely by this picture from Mardy’s website. Not idea how old they are, I’m guessing maybe around nineteen, twenty-ish. Disclaimer: Did you honestly think they were mine? Because they most definitely aren't.
Comfort
Mardy didn’t really know how long he’d been sleeping. Training and the tournament and staying up later than he should each night with Andy had all combined to make him tired, so much that everything felt heavy, arms like dead weights and his eyelids refusing to open even when he ordered them to. Exhaustion tangible enough to be a thick blanket, wrapping around him and making him wish he could just snuggle down and sleep it off with the TV a comfortingly low buzz in the background, drowning out the little sounds that kept dragging him back awake. His eyes flickered open at the creak of the door but there was no one there and he couldn’t keep them open more than a second, even though he knew something would wake him again in a few minutes. He was too tired to sleep, too tired not to. It was driving him crazy.
He knew his family was in the house, wandering in and out to check on him every once in a while and he also knew he should be happier to see them than he was. He was so rarely at home anymore and it was sort of nice to see relatives he’d half forgotten, to tease Meredith for fussing with her hair and let his mom feed him the cookies he wasn’t supposed to have but at the same time… he was really tired. All he wanted to do was curl up with the dogs, currently draped over his legs like wriggling hot water bottles and sleep. It didn’t sound like a lot to ask but he couldn’t bring himself to tell them to leave him alone. They just didn’t understand, not like another player would, not like Andy would.
Thinking of Andy made him feel worse, missing the other American’s warmth pressed against him and Mardy pushed the thoughts away. He’d grown used to having Andy there to snuggle against when he wanted to sleep. Sydney and Domino were warm and soft, making little snuffling noises as they slept but dogs just weren’t the same and he missed Andy, a sharp ache of want in his chest at the thought of the other American. Maybe he could fly to Texas tomorrow. His family would understand. Even as he thought it, he knew it wouldn’t be fair, not when he’d only seen them for a day in the last month and he’d slept through most of that.
Another creak and he couldn’t even look, closer to sleep than being awake and it was probably just his mom coming to take another photo anyway. She’d been snapping them all afternoon and Mardy had made her promise to burn the negatives, because the last thing he wanted was pictures of himself, sleep-rumpled and exhausted, showing up to embarrass him in a few years time. He could barely summon a groan of irritation at the click of the camera.
“Mom, I’m sleeping,” he mumbled, pressing his face deeper into the pillows but the answering soft chuckle had him looking up, shock forcing his eyes open. Andy snapped a picture of an expression Mardy knew must be blank with exhaustion, too tired to even show his disbelief.
“Andy, what...?”
The other American put the camera on the coffee table and walked over to the sofa-bed Mardy was stretched out on, sitting on the end. Domino whined at the sudden dip of the cushions and Andy stroked him, letting his hand slide over the dog onto Mardy’s thigh, rubbing gently up and down.
“Got halfway to Texas, realised I missed you.”
“But weren’t you going to see someone or…?” Mardy was too tired to finish his sentences. Andy smiled, sliding his hand in small circles down Mardy’s calf to tickle his foot and Mardy twitched away with a whine. “Andy…”
“Friends I was going to see, they understood. Said you’re welcome to tag along when I finally make it out there.” Andy shifted round the end of the bed and lay down behind Mardy who was too exhausted to know what to say. He could only lean back against Andy’s chest, strong arms wrapping around him and pulling him even closer. Warm lips brushed Mardy’s cheek and Andy made a soft sound of pleasure. “I know it’s only been two days but… I really missed you Mardy.”
“I missed you too.” Mardy shifted reluctantly, ignoring the growl of protest from all three of his sleeping companions, two dogs and Andy. “Andy, we shouldn’t… everyone’s here.”
“I talked to your mom. This room is off limits for at least four hours.” Andy leaned over a little further, a chaste kiss pressed to Mardy’s mouth with both of them too tired to make it anything more. “Get some sleep.”
“But-“ Mardy tried to follow Andy’s mouth with his as the other American drew back, settling his head on the pillows behind Mardy. “You didn’t have to ruin your holiday for me. I was fine.”
“I know, dumbass. I wanted to.” Andy pressed his face into the crook of Mardy’s neck, muffling his words. “Now go to sleep.”
Mardy closed his eyes, opening them again hurriedly to check he hadn’t dreamed the whole thing but Andy was still there, glancing up to watch him with a patient expression. “Andy you know I love you, right?”
“I know. Love you too.” Andy lifted an eyebrow, clearly trying not to smile. “Now will you get some sleep?”
“Yeah.” Mardy kissed him and laid his head back down, closing his eyes and grinning with happiness as he sank into sleep, Andy’s arms wrapped around him. “Now you’re here, I’ll sleep.”