Chapter Text
The yacht was beautiful. It stood tall when Hikaru approached the dock, it’s navy blue section half submerging in the water while the top part glistened under the bright sun. He could see the camera crew from here, their equipment jotted out all over the place as they tried to figure out the best way to film them as they enter the yacht.
For the first time in his life, Hikaru was happy that he was shorter than average. It wasn’t like he didn’t like the attention; it was just weird to have a camera shoved up in his face so early in the morning.
It was already odd that they were being filmed. Hikaru almost had the shock of his life when he read that part, which said that everything will be live-streamed the entire time. In fact, he remembered calling Danny in the middle of the night just to make sure that what he was reading was real.
Now that he was there, he could see it. There was even a setup for the chat to fly through on the monitor, he wondered if that was what the broadcast supposed to look like.
“Hikaru!” The host, or so he assumed, immediately called out to him the moment Hikaru stepped onto the platform of the yacht.
“Hey,” there was nothing he hated more than small talks. What’s worse was that it looked like Hikaru was the first one to arrive. Screw him for being a punctual person, he guessed.
“How are you on the fine morning?”
“Wonderful, wonderful. I—”
“Are you excited to spend the next 2 weeks with your colleagues?” The interviewer looked like he was trying to make sure that this so-called interview was done as quick as possible.
Well, that’s not a problem for Hikaru. He, too, would like this entire thing to be done as soon as possible. The only reason he had said yes to it in the first place was because the appearance fee was simply too hard to decline.
“As excited as any other tournament,” he laughed. Maybe he shouldn’t be too hard on this young kid. The day was young, and he probably had to deal with many more odd people…like Magnus.
A small chuckle escaped his lips at that thought. Hikaru had always loved to watch Magnus swindle the camera and charmed the interviewers. There’s just something unexplainable about the way that the other man talked.
So, even if the cruise had nothing else to offer, he should still be entertained by Magnus flirting with the bartender or something. That would be funny, he actually couldn’t wait to see it.
“Ohhh, strong words from our first player…” The host continued as Hikaru walked away.
With the help of the staff, he quickly found his way to his suite, where Hikaru equally quickly discovered that it was a shared room.
“It has a bath,” the staff, Mary, informed him. She was giddy, a bit too smiley for his taste, which could only mean that something very unpleasant was about to happen or has already happened.
“I will take the non-bath suite if it means that I don’t have to share,” he was already dragging his small carry-on back out of the suite, but she stopped him.
“Everyone is sharing a room, actually.” She put a hand on his, stopping him from dragging the bags out further.
Hehe, Hikaru trying not to socialise
It looks like it has one bed though LMAO
Lmao, poor Hikaru having to share a bed
“Okay, but this has one bed.” He pointed out to her, his hand raised in emphasis because Hikaru was a grown man, he wasn’t about to let anyone slide into bed with him without dinner first.
“Yes, but you see—”
“We walked past the other one, and it looked like it had two beds. I don’t mind sleeping in the smaller one if that’s okay.”
“Yes, but Mag—I mean, the sponsors really do prefer you in this room.” She tried to smile at the short, angry man in front of her, then grimace when she realised that Hikaru wasn’t planning to let go of the darn thing soon.
“I really don’t want—” He dragged the carry-on bags out further, pushing at the door.
“You get paid 1.5 times more if you sleep here!” She shouted unexpectedly, her face red, as she tried to find an excuse for Hikaru to stay in the room. It was life or death for the staff at this point. They, too, had received an email just two days ago, emphasising that Hikaru’s accommodation should be changed from the two-bedded room to the single one.
“Ohhh,” the grandmaster pondered, his face calculative. “I see…”
“Yes,” she nodded. “You’ll get paid more, but I have to ask you not to tell the others about this.” Her fellow staff nodded in agreement when Hikaru looked at them. It was imperative that the older man was already in agreement before his roommate arrived.
They bit the inside of their cheeks when Hikaru turned around to take another look at the queen-size bed that sat in the middle of the room.
“I guess it wouldn’t be too bad…” he finally let go of his bags, much to the staff relief. Hikaru then threw a pillow to the middle of the bed, as if tracing what was meant to be a fence between him and his potential roommate. “…not bad…”
“We’ll try to make this stay as comfortable as possible for you, Mr. Nakamura. It’s an honour, actually. Many of us are fans…” she spoke carefully, knowing that Hikaru was vulnerable to compliments and buttering ups.
“Just ‘Hikaru’ is fine,” the older man turned back to them, reaching for his bags once more. “You guys can leave now, I’ll unpack.”
“Yes!” One of them spoke a little too loud, then coughed to cover up their sound of relief. “Please get comfortable. The camera crew won’t disturb you here. Thank you, thank you…”
Byeby e, Hikaru
See you later, karu
They closed the door on their way out, and Hikaru heard their chatter slowly fade away until nothing at all. It was only then that he allowed himself to breath. Falling back against the carpeted floor of the yacht, Hikaru sighed then brought his hands to his face.
“What the fuck have you gotten yourself into, Hikaru?” He bemoaned. “Gosh, but the money…”
With the thought of his bank account in mind, Hikaru began to unpack, unloading his bags and one luggage until the closet was mostly filled up with his belongings. He could convince his roommate to allow that, surely.
Not many people have said no to him before. Hikaru doubted that it would start now.
While Hikaru was unpacking his stuff, more people were arriving on the main floor. One of them was Alireza, who was glaring at the sun like it had personally insulted his family. “And people say that climate change isn’t real,” he said to the camera as soon as it turned towards him.
So realllll, ali…
Omg, we love an environmentally friendly king.
He probably hates all of you, let’s be fr here.
Giving the audience a smile, the young grandmaster looked away and took in the view of the sea and the amenities. He frowned, “So much for good appearance fee. This is the best that they can offer us?”
“I know,” Ian came up from behind him like a ghost, making Alireza hiss. “They better serve fantastical food or something, huh?”
“For sure,” he nodded, suddenly feeling flustered because he didn’t really say that to anyone else but the camera. It was enough that some already thought that he didn’t take chess seriously, he didn’t want to have Hikaru’s fame of being a diva too.
“It’s nice to see you,” Ian smirked in that mischievous way of him. “Almost thought that you were too cool to be with us oldies.”
“There are things to learn,” he grinned, “It’s why they study fossils after all.”
“What?” The older man looked amused when Alireza brushed past him. “Say that again to my face! Or better yet, say that when we play each other next time!”
Fights already ohhhhh this is about to be interesting
Ian will win this, no issues
“Odd guy, eh?” He shrugged in front of the camera.
Ian looked around a bit before he also got led into his room by the staff. Then, after about 5 minutes, a yell could be heard from downstairs: “I’m supposed to share the room?!” Ian repeated.
The camera shook as the cameramen tried their best to make their way down as fast as they could. They manged to catch up to them when Ian was waving his hands around in a room that looked identical to the one that Hikaru was in, except there was no Hikaru nor Hikaru’s stuff.
“What’s this?” He asked the staff again, then looked over across the hall to find Hikaru peering out of his door to check out the commotion.
“Does he also have to share a room?” Ian pointed to Hikaru, who immediately gasped as if he had been insulted. “Or does everyone else have to suffer while the chess mafia get to live the comfy life again.”
That made Hikaru’s face turn red, “You fuck! Stop talking about the chess mafia, you’re making the rumour worse!”
Chess mafia? What’s that? Do they just kidnap pawns or something
It’s actually very real lol it’s people like magkaru who get all the benefit
Ian laughed, “Oh yeah? Then fucking tell me if you are sharing a room or not!”
“I’m sharing it, you ass! I have the same room as you!”
What’s a magkaru?
Magkaru – the most powerful couple in chess
There’s such thing as a chess power couple? How much power could two people who push pawns around have?
“With one bed too?” He raised his brow, between them, the cameramen who were stuck in the hallway looked on with an entertained look. They could see the chat, and it was the most alive that the chatters had been since the stream started.
Many were just hypothesising what Magkaru had to do with a mafia group, though. And many, like the cameramen, were confused as to what a ‘Magkaru’ even was.
“Exactly,” Hikaru rolled his eyes. “So, get off your high horse, Ian.”
“That’s not the right way to say that phrase, Nakamura.”
“Shut up, Nepoman.”
“What did you just call me?” He made a face. Then, Ian grinned. “Why don’t we just share the room, huh? I’d rather it be you than anyone else here, to be honest. Would make a nice pillow with all your…curves.”
“Fuck you,” Hikaru grumbled, then slammed the door shut, letting Ian look at the wooden door.
“…so,” The Russian looked back at the staff. “How much do I have to pay to move myself into that gremlin’s room.”
“It’s been filled,” one of them said, looking concerned.
“By who?”
“…It’s classified.”
“Bullshit,” he shook his head. “Why are you guys acting like I’m not about to find out anyway?”
It could be ali
No way they make hika sleep wit ali
could be magnus
lol no way magnus sleeps with any of them, im willing to bet that he has a room all to himself.
“It’s meant to be a surprise for everyone, Nepo.”
Ian rolled his eyes, then thought about the eye-roll that Hikaru just did. Fuck, he needed to stop thinking about that man soon. It wasn’t a healthy habit at all. “I don’t care. Who’s my roomie then?”
“Can’t tell you that either, Ian.” They smiled at him.
“Then get out,” he closed the door on everyone’s face.
Ohhh, new to chess but I already love this guy
Alireza poked his head out while the two older grandmasters were shouting at each other. He was lucky enough to be put in the room with 2 beds, and he honestly didn’t mind sleeping on either one, as long as his roommate was quiet.
It was funny, seeing the two argue like that. It was also very entertaining when the shouts from Hikaru weren’t directed at him, it felt entertaining.
“Come in,” he yelled when he heard a knock on the door. Alireza’s smile widened when he saw who his roommate was.
“Hello,” Ding muttered. He gave Alireza a smile when he walked in, putting down his bags at the same time.
“Hello, Mr. World Champion.”
“Former, actually.”
“A world champion is a world champion, sir. It’s a pleasure to room with you,” he offered his hand.
Ding looked up with a frown on his face, “Thanks uhh…you’re nice today.”
“Bro, I’m nice all the time.” Alireza said smugly. To his amusement, Ding looked unconvinced. Well, that’s okay. He had about 2 weeks to convince the older man otherwise.
And if it wouldn’t work? Then Alireza could still find entertainment in annoying the fuck out of Hikaru. God knows he loved to make that man agitated. He believed that there was nothing on Earth more fun to watch than Hikaru when he got all judgemental and sensitive.
So easy to poke. There were so many ways to poke that man. He looked out of the small cabin windows, wondering if it was possible to push Hikaru into the water at one point of the trip. That would surely be entertaining.
“I’m going to go up for some sea breeze,” Ding announced after what he listened to what sounded a lot like a voice mail from Rapport.
They’re not close enough for Alireza to poke yet, so he stayed quiet. But rest assured, he was noting it down in his head. It’s only a matter of time before him and ding become best pals. Maybe even better than Ding and Rapport.
Okay, maybe not. He grinned, “Mind if I join you?”
“Oh, thank god.” Danya breathed a sigh of relief when he opened the door of his suite. It was a big one, with two beds. But nothing made him feel better than seeing the look on a familiar face, “I was so scared that I was going to get someone else.”
“I figured,” Esipenko grinned. “No way that they’d let me pair with the likes of Hikaru and Magnus…and the only person that I know here is you.”
“Dude,” Danya slapped his hand over his face, sitting down dramatically on the queen bed. “I totally thought that I was going to room with Hikaru…I was so scared.”
“Scared? You mean ‘fantasised’, that’s the right word here.”
“Shut up.”
“What?!” Hikaru yelped when the door to his suite open to reveal the one and only, Magnus Carlsen. He put his hands on his head, “You…oh my god, this is horrible. Surely, someone like you would not stand for this.”
“Stand for what?” Magnus asked nonchalantly, tugging his carry-ons into the room like he was content with the situation.
Hikaru was too busy being shocked that he failed to notice how the other man wasn’t accompanied by anyone in the crew. He looked around wildly, “What…what…”
“I see that you’ve made yourself quite comfortable,” the younger man grinned at Hikaru, who was sitting on the bed. He then unzipped his bags and began to unpack like nothing was wrong.
Hikaru had to admit; it was weirdly hot. Domestically hot. It felt like they were on some sort of honeymoon and Magnus was unpacking everything because he wanted Hikaru to rest…because he loved him that much.
His toes curled, “Don’t you want a room to yourself?”
“Nope,” Magnus popped the ‘p’ charmingly. His eyes brightening up as he took his clothes out. Hikaru watched in anticipation as the he approached the closet and whipped it open. The other man visibly deflated, “Oh.”
“You should ask for a different roommate,” he helpfully added.
“Not to worry,” Magnus turned to him, suddenly walking so close that Hikaru had to back up against the headboard. He smiled, the charming, wide smile that he was so familiar with. “I’ll just ask for a steamer for my clothes, won’t I?”
“What are you saying?” Hikaru mumbled, scared that if Magnus got any closer, he would lose his cool and kiss him. Screw Magnus and his beauty.
“Nothing.”
Magnus then proceeded to change. To change! Right in front of Hikaru’s eyes. He took off his shirt, which didn’t look like it had anything out of the ordinary, just to pull out a softer looking version and threw it on.
Hikaru was simply too shocked to say anything. He only found the nerve to close his eyes when Magnus unbuckled his belt and slid down his jeans.
“You can look; I don’t mind.” He heard the other man say. Hikaru could hear the sound of the jeans hitting the carpet floor. Then the sound of Magnus sliding something over his legs.
When he opened his eyes again, Magnus was right in front of his face. Their noses were touching and when Magnus spoke again, his lips brushed against his with every words.
“Heh, do you mind if I get in?” He asked, his fingers brushing against Hikaru’s ones, which were holding onto the blanket for dear life.
“I…no,” Hikaru found his words.
Magnus smelt like…like money and power. What was he playing at here? He had been pestering Hikaru online for a while now. But to do so like this? It was nothing better than bullying. Surely, he was going to let go when the cameras were on them.
“Nice,” the younger man said when he slid under the blanket. He sighed contently, as if he had been travelling on his foot all day. “I’m so tired.”
“Me too.” Hikaru was still recovering from the shock of his life. It might be an even bigger shock than when he learnt that 4D chess was a real thing.
“What’s this?” Magnus brought up the pillows that Hikaru had put as a fence between them. Frowning, he threw them to the floor, “We don’t need these. That’s too many pillows.”
Oh, right. Magnus was doing that all because he didn’t want to share space with some unused pillows, Hikaru reasoned to himself.
“I still want some barrier between us, though.” He shifted away slightly. Hissing when Magnus’ hands found his thighs, naked thighs, because he was wearing his comfortable shorts. He swatted his hands away, then slapped them when Magnus only tightened his hold. “What are you doing?”
“Seeking some warmth, duh?”
“Magnus!” He slapped the hands again. And this time, Magnus let go.
Did Hikaru want to be kissed and pampered? Yes. But to do it so soon….? And when he was about 96% sure that Magnus was just fucking with him? Well, that was just rude.
“Oh, come on.” Magnus threw his head back against the headboard and closed his eyes, “It’s been years. Hikaru. Surely, you know—”
“Surprise!” Magnus got cut off by the camera crew, who burst in like they owned the place. The host, the young interviewer whom he talked to earlier, came in and started pointing a camera at them. Then, when noticing that the two were in bed, quickly shoved the camera down.
It was too late, though. The stream already broadcasted Magnus and Hikaru on the same bed. Some how possibly cuddling before they got in.
What
Omg???
IS THIS WHAT THE CHESS MAFIA IS ABOUT
did we interrupt wow
“Uh,” the host stumbled on his words for a while. He looked at what he thought were two people who were possibly naked from the waist down. He glurped, “Do you guys need…uh…do you want us to—”
“What is it?” Magnus asked. His voice, which just now was soft and warm, suddenly turned cold and bitter.
“We want…wanted to conduct an impromptu interview,” there was as slight tremor in the host’s voice. It made Hikaru feel bad for him, but at the same time…Magnus was about to say something! How could they just interrupt them like that?
It was Magnus’ fault too. Wasn’t he supposed to have some sort of influence? What’s the point of power if Magnus wasn’t going to use it to keep people out of their bedroom?
“So do it,” Magnus got out of bed and walked to the other side, but not before drawing the blanket up to Hikaru’s neck. “Only with me, though. Hikaru needs his beauty sleep.”
It was about 11 am, but who was Hikaru to disagree when a man imply that he was pretty? He shuffled deeper under the blanket. Then, like a lover who was waiting for his lover to return home, turned to look at Magnus as he talked to the interviewer.
A million things must have been said, but Hikaru heard none of it. And whenever Magnus turned to look at him in between his answers? Hikaru felt himself blushing like he did all those years ago all over again.
Chapter Text
“Welcome, everyone.” The host, Steven, smiled gleefully when they approached the lounge.
Everyone else were already there, Magnus observed happily. His feet were wobbling slightly. He had been standing for a bit too long. Beside him, Hikaru was sighing and shaking his head, a typical show that he loved to put on whenever he knew that he was going through something embarrassing.
He wanted to put his arms around him, or maybe behind his back to gently lead him to the sofa. That would be the cream to an already good day. He recalled the last few hours with a small smile on his lips. His rival was already putty in his hands, and he couldn’t wait to land the final blow.
Per Magnus’ gentle insistence, Hikaru had spent nearly an hour on the bed, listening (or rather, gawking) at his supposed rival. It was oddly calming, and it wasn’t like it was new. Magnus had watched him while he got interviewed before, much to Hikaru’s delight, he’s pretty sure.
The older man had always loved attention and praises. It made him needy and annoying, but that’s okay. It’s something that Magnus could handle.
He would complain if he didn’t enjoy it so much.
Magkaru coming in together hehe
lol they’re not even keeping it a secret
“After you,” he gestured to the couch, nodding for Hikaru to take a seat between himself and Ian, because surely, his older friend couldn’t possibly be also into Hikaru. That’s not something that he could say about others.
Magnus looked up to find the usual suspect looking at him. He couldn’t tell if it was love or hate, simply too drunk on the floaty feeling of just sharing a bed with someone he’s been pining for, for the last few years, to notice anymore more.
“Thanks,” Hikaru grumbled bitterly, as if he was ashamed that the two of them were caught together.
He wondered if the rest of them knew. The news should travel fast enough. Magnus shifted on his seat, pressing his thigh against Hikaru’s until the older man shot him a glare.
“You guys missed the introduction…but that’s okay!” Steven picked up the tone immediately, smiling down at them like he was sharing some sort of secret in a small circle. “For the rest of today, you guys can relax. And since we’re so nice around here, it’s only from tomorrow that you guys have to do activities with us.”
“With you guys?” Fabiano spoke from the other side of the lounge, looking like he was doubting everything the host was saying.
“Well, y’know, in a way.” Steven grinned, “It’s mostly just you guys doing the things, and us watching and filming you. You know how that goes.”
Distracted, the host walked to the side of the yacht where Fabiano was, then began to discuss the ethics of filming chess players in their natural habitat with the man. Magnus could hear Alireza jumping in after a while, talking about how their appearance fee should be raised if he was expected to be half-naked at the pool.
“We’re not forcing you to wear or not wear anything, sir.” Steven chuckled nervously.
“Yeah, but what if I want to go topless by the pool, but don’t want a camera in my face?”
“Then…we’ll just show someone else in the meantime?”
The conversation continued, and Magnus was about to say something witty when he felt something landing on the side of his shoulder.
“I’m so tired,” Hikaru mumbled, snuggling close. He yawned, stretching languidly as he practically leaned on Magnus for support. He looked around to see that no camera was pointing at them. Then, gently, put his arm around Hikaru’s shoulder to lock him in the position.
“You wanna go back down to sleep?” He nudged, smiling down at the older man.
Hikaru’s head fell into place against his chest, his face resting right under the nook of his armpit. It made Magnus swoon, it was easier than he had thought. “I’ve already slept enough,” he scoffed, his nose scrunching up. “It’s your fault.”
“Oh, what have we got here?” It was only then that Ian turned his attention back to them. And upon seeing Hikaru laying on Magnus’ chest, grinned widely, “Tired already, Naka?”
“Shut it,” Hikaru frowned, burying his face in the nook of Magnus’ armpit to ignore the Russian. “I hate you,” he mumbled, huffing a puff of warmth against his clothed skin.
Naka? A nickname? Since when did the two of them got close enough for a nickname? Magnus was the only one who had a nickname for him, and even then, he didn’t even gather enough courage to call him that in front of his face yet.
“Naka?” Magnus frowned, leaning close to plant a small kiss on the top of Hikaru’s head.
“Yes, Naka.” Ian’s playful tone turned slightly bitter, and it almost made Magnus doubt his assumption about him not being into Hikaru. “What’s got you so tired, hmm? Did Magnus bother you too much?”
“Go away, Nepoman.” Hikaru waved his friend away with a dismissive hand, “I don’t want to listen to you so early in the morning.”
“Well, it’s not anyone’s problem if I want to be half-naked by the floor!” Alireza’s shout could be heard from across the room.
“Okay, but I don’t wanna see anyone’s nipples in front of my face while I eat.” Danya interrupted, “So it’s better not be happening in the dining room.”
“It’s noon, Naka.”
It made Magnus uncomfortable, which was something that he would never describe about himself in any situation besides a losing endgame. He shifted, pressing Hikaru closer to him, even though his face was already pressing into his body like a second skin.
Magnus wanted to kiss him, those sweet lips were right there, already pressing against a part of him. But Steven was already turning back to them with the cameras, and Hikaru was already so tired of Ian’s bullshit enough to open his eyes.
“Shut up, Magnus.” Hikaru pushed his face away. Magnus didn’t even realise that had been lowering his head down so close to the other man. “What are you doing?” He frowned at him, turning away to further frown at Ian for also crowding his space. “Stop invading my personal space!”
“Hey!” Magnus raised his voice. “You’re the one who leaned into me!”
“Well, you should have pushed me away!”
“What’s going on, gentlemen?” Steven smiled at them, happy to catch some drama after the long disagreement he had with the others, which had somehow turned into an argument about what constitute a shirt in the first place.
“Nothing,” Hikaru was glared at the host, his eyes twitching as he struggled to push himself away from Magnus.
Ohhh, lovers quarrel???
Nepo third-wheeling lol
Hika looks so comfy in the middle of them aweeee
“Well, if it is nothing…” Magnus had a feeling that Steven was going to have a hard time dealing with Hikaru. The man already looked scared and traumatised from exactly two interactions so far, well, the two that Magnus got to see anyway. “Let’s get some food for all of you!”
“Thank God,” Hikaru looked at the array of food that was listed as part of the menu. He was starving. It was all Magnus’ fault, actually. He had fallen asleep after the first few minutes of the interview, and the other man had happily let him sleep there, despite his clear preference for food over sleeping.
Okay, maybe not. Sleeping in and missing breakfast is actually one of his favourite pastimes. He groaned happily when the lovely scent of food hit his nose. His eyes glittering as he looked at the tables.
“Careful,” Magnus was leading him around again, his hand stayed at his lower back as he gently nudged him towards a seat that was very clearly far away from the others.
“I wanna talk to Fabi,” he protested, trying to veer away from Magnus to go his own way. He didn’t know what had got into him, but it felt like Magnus was trying to bully him via exclusion.
“He’s clearly occupied,” Magnus was doing everything but carrying Hikaru to the seats by the corner at that point.
Hikaru turned around to find that it was true, his friend was busy chatting away with Esipenko, probably about some opening lines that Hikaru hadn’t bothered to look at yet. He mumbled to himself, then turned the other way.
“I want Danya instead, then.” He pushed ahead, and made way for the Russian at the other side of the dining hall. Fortunately, this time, he made his way far enough from Magnus, as the younger man was stopped by some cameras. “Yes,” he smiled to himself, already imagining the taste of the delicious food in his mouth.
“Hikaru,” as always, Danya greeted him with a hesitant smile. “Never thought you would ever make your way to me.”
“Ugh, you don’t understand.” Hikaru rolled his eyes dramatically, pulling a chair and slumping down on it. “I don’t even know what made me so exhausted, but the people…Magnus…and now, Ian…I just…I feel like they’re trying to prank me or something.”
“Poor thing,” Danya sympathised with him, as always. Being respectful, he offered his hands, placing them palms up on the table between them. “You’re rooming with Magnus, right?”
“Yeah,” Hikaru grabbed his hands, fiddling with his knuckles. He sighed, “I don’t understand. We’re like the two least likely to get along there. If anything, I should be rooming with you or Fabi. Or maybe even Firouzja, I want to get closer to my teammate too.”
The mention of his own name pleasantly surprised him, but Danya felt a slight burn in the pit of his stomach when the two other names were mentioned. He tightened his grip on Hikaru’s hands a bit, not noticing the cameras on the surrounding wall.
Hikaru wants to be with DANYA? I KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME
Danya’s accent oh my god
They’re holding hands, can someone call Magnus
“Who are you with, anyway?” Hikaru took his hands away when the food arrived. He closed his eyes when the scent hit his nose. God, he couldn’t wait to dive in.
“Esipenko.”
“They put the Russians together? How creative.” The older man rolled his eyes. He dug into the food grumpily, his lips already forming into a pout. He really wanted to stay with someone he knew, someone he could complain about things with.
Danya also knew how he slept, and the younger man had always been so accommodating to him during his stays in Charlotte. “Tsk,” he clicked his tongue, his bottom lips protruding out unconsciously. “I hate it here.”
“You’ve barely been here a day, Hikaru.” Danya chuckled, “It’ll get better.”
“Hmph,” Hikaru took a bite of the fish and winced, it wasn’t what he expected at all. A little too dry for his taste. “How is Esipenko, anyway?”
“He’s nice.”
“That’s it?”
“He’s a kid, Hikaru.” Danya looked at Esipenko, who looked like he was having a hard time trying to hold liquor. “He wants to impress, so he’s going to be nice to everyone.”
“Really? I never did that when I was young.”
“I know that,” an amused smile came on Danya’s lips. He forked Hikaru’s fish from his plate, “Everyone knows that, Hikaru.”
“Oh, please.” He smiled when a piece of Danya’s chicken chop landed on his own plate. “People like me like that.”
“Mhm, милый.” (cute).
“Don’t ‘mhm’ me! I’m older than you!” He pierced the chicken with his fork so hard that it made a sound at the bottom of his plate. It caught a few looks from their colleagues, and Hikaru looked down. “I hate you.”
“So difficult,” Danya took a sip of the beer, “Does your roommate know how difficult you can be?”
Hikaru rolled his eyes at the comment. He looked around again, watching with a frown as Fabiano laughed that someone that Ian said. He wondered when the two got so close. Perhaps it was after the Candidates in that faithful year. It’s upsetting. Hikaru had always favoured himself as Fabiano’s closest companion in their circuit.
Right in front of him, Danya felt the wave of solemnity washing over him once more. It was always like that. Hikaru had a special knack for making him feel like someone, just to take it all away in the next breath. He reached for the older man’s hand again, but stopped midway.
“Do you want to go?” He asked, resigning his position. Maybe that’s where he belonged, staying back and watching idly as someone else comes to take Hikaru away all over again.
“Go where?” Hikaru tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. “Do you not want me next to you?”
It was confusing, the way that Danya had been behaving the last few months. Whenever Hikaru tried to get close to me, Danya would always pull away before he could get too close. It was like some preemptive measures that were put in just so that Hikaru could never tempt him too much.
It irked him. Danya had always been putty in his hands, but now, it seemed like the other man was keen on throwing him away like some yesterday’s trash.
“I just,” Danya leaned back and looked at him like he did something wrong. It made Hikaru want to cry. “I just thought you would enjoy the atmosphere at the other side more.”
The sentence didn’t make sense to Hikaru, but he didn’t say anything about it. He merely picked on the chicken, tossing it around on the now empty plate, as he tried to not think about how Danya no longer cared about him. If there was someone else, he would like to know.
It was selfish, he knew. Hikaru wanted to be adored and loved, but he wanted it in a specific way. He wanted to be chased, to be adored the moment that he entered the room. But he also didn’t want to commit to something that would tie him down forever.
Perhaps Danya had known about it already, and that’s why he was pulling away. Maybe his junior was tired of being used, too exhausted to try to keep up with his endless needs anymore.
“Hey, don’t pout.” Hikaru looked up when Danya nudged his foot. “Is it something I said?”
“No,” his voice quivered, and Hikaru looked away to hide how he was already slightly choking up on the idea of being let go for someone else. It could be Fabiano, or maybe Esipenko, maybe that’s why the crew paired them up. Who was he to be so braved as to approach that table anyway?
“Oh, Hikaru.” Danya pushed himself off the seat. The younger man offered him a hand, “Do you want a walk outside? Feel the sea breeze?”
“With you?”
“Of course, кошечка (kitten).” He tugged Hikaru out of the dining room, his hand clenching onto the older man’s fingers.
“What does that mean?” Hikaru took a breather the moment they were out. The sea was beautiful. The waves fluttered by the yacht, lightly singing as they splattered against the metal surface. “The word you said just now.”
Im russian, it means shit
Omg, Danya called Hikaru his little shit?
It means kitten, you dumbasses
“Nothing, just a word of affection.” The waves continued to crash against the yacht, but Danya couldn’t care less about them nor the sound. He leaned against the railing with his back to the sea, “You look very good under the ocean sun, Hikaru.”
“Thank you, you don’t look bad yourself.” Hikaru blushed. He was about to say something else when Ding and Alireza walked out.
“Wow, are we interrupting something?” Alireza grinned. It was funny to him, how Hikaru was already sort of the punching bag for some sort of romance on the yacht. He looked at their postures, how Hikaru looked like he was just about to tiptoe and give Danya a kiss.
A wicked idea formed in his mind. Alireza spoke before Ding could get his introduction in, “Just a few hours after sleeping with Magnus, too. Woah, Hikaru. You’re moving fast, eh?”
“What?!” The older man turned to look at him with red cheeks. He was flustered. Danya must not have known about it, and now that Alireza knew, he could push it a little further. Just to see the Russian a little tilted, of course. Nothing too serious.
“Well, y’know. Just let me have a taste too, okay? I’m your teammate after all, it’s not nice to not share.”
Danya frowned, looking between him and Hikaru, then checking out the breezy outfit that Hikaru had on. He removed himself from the railing, then immediately excused himself. “I should let you guys catch up,” he mumbled, brushing Hikaru away when he tried to reach for his hand to explain himself.
“Why would you say that?” Hikaru turned to Alireza in anger. The older man was just about to make a move to Danya too. He huffed angrily, his face burning from embarrassment and anger.
“It’s just funny,” Alireza would later say to the camera, long after everyone went to sleep. He shrugged, looking like someone who was just there to fuck shit up and have fun. “Don’t you think so? Hikaru clearly has so many of these people on edge, I’m just out here pushing them over the ledge.”
But back to reality, Hikaru was still glaring at the younger man like he owed him his life. Dramatically, he ignored Alireza, even though he was the one who had asked the question. Hikaru opted to talk to Ding instead, trying to strike up a conversation with the quiet man before giving up halfway when he realised that Ding wasn’t as interested in him as the others.
“Well, I should go fix things up anyway.” He muttered to himself. Before leaving, Hikaru made sure to spare Alireza one last dirty look and a kick to the shin.
“Ow! What the fuck!” The younger man hunched over in pain, dramatically wincing even after Hikaru walked away.
Hehe, like a lovers fight
Dw hika, ali is just jealous that you slept with Magnus before him ;)
Ding looked at him curiously, then poked him at the same area that Hikaru just kicked, “Does it hurt that bad?”
“What the fuck, Ding?” He bemoaned, rolling over to emphasise how the little touch hurt him. “It hurts.”
“It didn’t look like he hit you that hard,” Ding replied flatly. “It just—”
“Well, it still hurts!”
The so-called pain lasted about 2 hours, and Alireza could still be heard complaining about his shin and wounded heart to Ding until the sun set.
“Annoying,” Magnus mumbled to no one as he watched Hikaru hurried downstairs. His eyes narrowed, lips pursed into a thin line. It wasn’t optimal that Hikaru wasn’t close to him, but he could let that pass for a while. After all, they were going to have the entire night to themselves.
Surely, Hikaru was someone whose company was better enjoyed in small doses. He still frowned, though. Especially when Hikaru’s face was beet red and his eyes looked like he was upset. He liked him like that. For a moment, Magnus wanted to follow him, but even then, he was rational to realise that it would be jarring for the audience.
He could court and be the shoulder for Hikaru to cry on some other time.
“Is everything fine?” One of the crew members asked him after seeing Magnus wandering to the corner by himself.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” He grumbled. The cameras weren’t pointing at them, so he was comfortable enough to relax and asked the crew, “What happened out there?”
“Firouzja was trigger-happy to mention you and Hikaru being in the same bed,” the crew smiled. “It sounded like a joke, but Hikaru was flustered enough to leave anyway.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t worry. Someone is checking up on Hikaru.”
“I’m not worried, he knows how to handle himself.” Magnus shook his head, looking up to find that Ian was once again laughing with someone else in the room.
The crew walked away at his words. Unsettled, that was the word that he had in mind. Ian talked and seemed a little too close to everyone these days. It never bothered him. His friend getting along with their colleagues had nothing to do with Magnus.
But to share nicknames with Hikaru? Especially when the two were notorious for being enemies over and off the board? That was just ridiculous. Magnus had never confided with Ian about his little affection for Hikaru, and maybe that was his fault. But to his credit, he had never thought that the two were that close either.
Anyway, Magnus still thought that it was peculiar that his childhood friend was so friendly with his rival. In the back of his mind, he tried to rationalise that it was just Ian being Ian, charming and teasing. But he couldn’t help but recalled how close his friend got, and how utterly domestic the two looked when Hikaru waved him away.
Those type of looks had always been meant for him. Everything. From the grimace to the frown, all the way to how Hikaru would roll his eyes when he saw him at the corner of the room. He used to hate it. Magnus had always seen it as some sort of ploy for Hikaru to gain more attention, but now that those looks were directed at someone else, it felt sour.
“Hello?”
Hikaru opened his door to find a fellow American there. He smiled grimly, happy to see the all familiar face, but still upset at the situation that had just unfolded. “Hey,” he invited Fabiano in, sniffling a little as he did so. Perhaps out of habit or sheer narcissism, Hikaru loved to make his peers know of his dissatisfaction. He frowned, “Alireza’s such a pain.”
“He’s young, that’s for sure.” Fabiano nodded, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. The younger man only wanted to come in to survey the scene, to see if the bedsheets were indeed crumpled, and if there was a lingering scent of love-making as Alireza had been telling everyone.
He was satisfied to find none of it. But then again, it could have been the housekeepers who took care of it while they were distracted with lunch. Fabiano clenched the blanket tightly in his grip, his eyes scanning Hikaru’s neck and face for any sign of kisses or marks.
Again, he found none. But Hikaru’s face was flushed, and his eyes were guilty.
“How can I help you, Fabi?” Hikaru finally looked away from his face, walking around to the other side of the room to find some mug to pour hot tea in. “Do you want tea? I have some earl grey.”
“How do you like staying with Magnus?” Fabiano asked before he could stop himself. He really wanted to be a better man, he really did.
Fabiano had contemplated being a bumbling fool, but a charming one, like Ian. When he was making his way up the yacht, he also thought about just being mean and teasing like Alireza was, just to mask his infatuation with Hikaru. But he just wasn’t raised that way.
Alireza could bully Hikaru until he was sniffling, Ian could use his humour to get away with anything, and Magnus could just use his power to push aside all his competitors until Hikaru had no choice but him. But Fabiano only had himself.
Hikaru looked slightly shocked and embarrassed by his question, which only made Fabiano more concerned about the validity of Alireza’s claim about Magnus and Hikaru’s affair.
“I…uhm,” the older man looked around. “It’s okay. I really wish that it could have been you, though.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Fabiano took the mug from Hikaru’s hand, inhaling deeply when Hikaru took a seat right to him. “I thought we came to an understanding about lies.”
“It’s not a total lie,” the other man insisted. He blew on the tea, his lips pouting. “I do rank you as a second roommate potential.”
“Behind who?”
“You don’t deserve to know, you just scolded me.”
He couldn’t believe that Hikaru was older than him. For far too many times, they had been presented with the same situation. Fabiano should cringe away. He should have grimaced at the thought of Hikaru pouting and trying to appear heartless when he knew otherwise.
But he came back every time, anyway. Fabiano chuckled to himself at the thought. It was so difficult to be in love and not be in denial about it. Had he been younger and more reckless, he would have just resorted to unabashed cruelty like Alireza.
If he was a little more heartless and ruthless, then he would have done everything in his way to corner Hikaru like Magnus did. His competitors were strong. But at least Fabiano was grateful that it didn’t account for everyone in the ship. Having to fight against two people was enough. He didn’t need to add any extras to his balancing sheet.
“Did you also hear that stupid rumour?” Hikaru finally spoke up after a while, “It’s not true, by the way. I like attention, but not…not that fast. And not like that.”
“But you’re not saying ‘No’ to Magnus.”
“Why does it matter to you?” Hikaru rolled his eyes. Almost angrily, he got up, then began pacing around the room as his anger built. “You can judge me however you want, Fabi. I’m happy. And yes, maybe sometimes it takes a lot of men’s attention to make me feel fulfilled, but I’m not hurting anyone, am I?”
“That’s not what I meant, Hikaru. Oh my god—”
“Oh,” Hikaru stopped midway, his eyes blown wide. “Sorry. I’m just…so stressed, Fabi.”
“I know,” he patted the bed again, sighing in contentment when Hikaru walked over to lay his head on his shoulder.
“It’s all Magnus’ fault. He made me sleep, so now, I’m all tired out…”
“It’s okay,” Fabiano slung his arm around his shoulder, drawing the older man close. Unlike before, when Magnus’ arm felt heavy and claiming. This one was comforting and warm, like a blanket on a cold night. “You can sleep until dinner.” He joked.
And at the door, which was left slightly ajar, a pair of hazel eyes narrowed.
Notes:
Hikaru totally loves the attention, btw. Even though, he probably doesn't believe that they're trying to court him.