Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You’ve got that exactly right sir! We’re more excited to have him than T.rex on a trampoline! And as we all know, that’s pretty dang excited!”

Trent smiled to himself, Ted as always letting out a steady stream of nonsense, the poor reporter on the phone stammering as they tried to regain control of the conversation and get Ted back on track.

It had taken a bit of herding, but Trent had managed to get Ted freshened up and transported to KBPR within the promised hour, his boyfriend currently sitting at the conference table and blabbering to a speakerphone, one of Keeley’s newer hires in control of the tech bits.

Trent could have left, and maybe he should have left, but he loved it when Ted talked to reporters.

It was a little mean, but it was so entertaining to watch the uninitiated deal with Ted’s particular brand of weaponised silliness for the first time, handling him its own artform, getting a straight answer out of Ted what separated the great from the mediocre when it came to sports journalism.

“Trent!” Trent turned, a slight flush rising in his cheeks when he became aware that Keeley had caught him lingering in the doorway, the woman in question coming towards him with two cups of tea. “Come on, walk with me.”

Trent shot one last look in Ted’s direction, a tiny bit of anxiety gnawing at him, but Ted seemed to be totally relaxed and utterly comfortable, Trent unfortunately not catching the name of his… For a lack of a better word, handler.

He followed behind Keeley, the clank of her chunky heels against the floor, Trent continually in awe of how Keeley managed to keep her ankles intact, though her wedged shoes were very different from the Louboutins Lilian favored. 

Keeley let him into her office, holding the door open with her elbow until Trent had stepped inside.

“Here you go,” Keeley held out a cup of what smelled like peach tea, which somehow made so much sense. It was in a white cup that was so big it was practically a soup bowl, pink polka dots and a golden rim making it unmistakingly Keeley’s.

In fact, everything surrounding Keeley tended to be unmistakingly her.

Trent had figured his group chat with Rebecca and Keeley would fizzle out, that they’d grow bored of him, but they had gone to lunch here and there, Trent still a little unsure why someone as… Keeley, as Keeley would want to willingly spend time with him.

“Thank you so much for helping out, I knew I could count on you,” Keeley smiled, the door closing behind her, “I owe you, big time.”

“I’ve barely done anything.” Trent looked around Keeley’s office, her plush sofas so very tempting, but his attention got caught by the big whiteboard with her calendar on it, Trent tilting his head as he read, a question coming to mind.

“Are you taking Jamie to Fashion Week?”

“Oh yeah, he loves it.” Keeley grinned, “Lets me dress him up and parade him around, and it’s so hot to be the one who has the arm candy, instead of being the arm candy!” Keeley fanned herself, Trent chuckling at her antics. 

“I have to make sure he doesn’t get overwhelmed, but you know how it is,” she bumped Trent’s arm with her own, Trent almost spilling his tea, “our subs need enrichment, some time out of the enclosure.”

“Mmh.” Trent was sure Keeley had to have misspoken, what she had just said sounding like she was implying that he himself had a sub, when she should have referred to Jamie as her and Roy’s submissive.

Which was truly not something Trent felt like he was supposed to know.

In so many ways, Trent considered his guest pass to Girl Talk an honor, but his occasional visits also meant that he now had a frightening amount of information about the sex lives of Jamie Tart and Roy Kent, Trent pretty confident he could have lived a full and happy life without knowing that Jamie liked to wear lace panties, and that Roy had a lactation kink.

Keeley shared freely and without an ounce of shame or even a second thought, her and Rebecca completely candid with each other, Keeley once guiding Rebecca through how to attempt squirting while Trent had finished eating a croissant. 

It had been bordering on bizarre, but neither of them blamed Trent for the fact that he didn’t share, that he kept a tight lip on anything regarding Ted’s preferences and bedroom behavior.

Trent liked that they respected Ted’s privacy, that they didn’t push at Ted’s boundaries. Unfortunately, he was well aware that Rebecca’s friend Sassy had run her mouth, Keeley and Rebecca both obviously and intimately aware of just how well endowed Ted was, Keeley sometimes looking at him with a smirk and a wiggle of her brow that made Trent wonder exactly what Sassy had told them.  

Trent was about to take a sip of his tea, and ask about how on earth Keeley had managed to get invited to watch Alexander McQueen, when the door to the office opened.

“There you are!” Rebecca stood tall and gorgeous, a vision in pale blue, “I was afraid I had been abandoned and would be forced to have my tea with Barbara!”

“Rebecca!” Keeley put her cup down, clacking across the floor to throw herself at Rebecca. “You made it!”

“Of course!” Rebecca held Keeley to her chest, the two of them slotting together instantly, Keeley cuddling in while Rebecca let her. “Anyone up for lunch?”

~~~

Rebecca always felt like she had been run over by a train at the end of the transfer window, but Keeley had texted and asked her to please come visit and to bring lunch, so she had put on mascara and a bra, and even heels, and marched on. 

January was exhausting, but it was also a great reminder that she had one of the biggest dicks in the business, getting to negotiate contracts and go full Fucking Bitch a thrill.

It made her feel sexy and powerful, and Matthijs had already been instructed to be ready to go once he touched down in London next week. 

Lunch had been a gleeful affair, Ted let out of his long list of interviews to refuel, though his mouth certainly hadn’t needed it, Ted happily blabbering away through the entirety of their meal, Trent nudging his elbow here and there to remind him to continue eating. 

Their little group had broken up when a photographer showed up, Keeley apparently booking him when Ted had actually shown up at KBPR, a makeshift photo studio hurriedly put together to get a few updated shots of their gaffer for external and internal press.

“All I’m saying,” Trent didn’t sound annoyed, but his arms were crossed, his voice kept low as he talked to Keeley, “is that I could have brought a change of clothes for him if you had warned me.”

“Don’t be such a sourpuss,” Keeley wormed a hand in between Trent’s chest and elbow, holding his arm in hers. “I like him in that sweater! It’s his little uniform.”

Rebecca swallowed a snort, Ted up front with the photographer who guided him through a series of poses, Ted a good sport about it, though it was also obvious that he wasn’t exactly comfortable in front of the camera.

“It’s all about signature looks babes!”

Trent raised an eyebrow, but Keeley just grinned widely, the two of them clearly sizing each other up, Trent the first one to break with an exasperated sigh.

“Fine,” Trent squeezed Keeley’s hand with his elbow, allowing it to stay as he refocused his attention on Ted, “but he’s not even wearing his favorite pair of white sneakers.”

“Ted has a favorite pair of white sneakers?” Rebecca hadn’t exactly expected that, though she should have learned by now that Ted continued to defy expectations, even the one that came from her.

“Ted has a system.” Trent watched as Angela handed Ted a football, Keeley’s employee showing him a few poses, “Remind me to show you the next time you come visit. There’s an entire shelving unit.”

“Actually, speaking of Ted-” Keeley pulled Trent in, and Rebecca took a step too, turning her back to the photosession, Keeley lowering her voice in a way that usually guaranteed dirt, “How is he? After everything?”

“Well, he appears to be doing decently, but I can only provide an educated guess-“ 

“Come off of it gorgeous,” Keeley rolled her eyes, and Rebecca had to agree. She liked to think that she knew Ted, that she was someone he trusted, Rebecca allowed to guide him through his panic attacks, but no one knew him like Trent, except maybe Beard. “And I’m just wondering. A transfer window can be a lot.”

“Mmh,” Trent bit his lip, clearly contemplating Keeley’s words. It was one of those things Rebecca truly liked about him, Trent never rushing to answer a question if he needed time to think. “I believe that he’s tired, but that he’ll be okay.”

Rebecca let out a breath she didn’t even realise she had been holding, her old fears about Ted leaving them all once more raising their ugly head at the most inopportune time. 

Ted leaving had destroyed her the first time, but if he left her again, she wasn’t sure she’d survive it.

She loved him too much for that, Ted not her best mate like Flo, or even her soul sister like Keeley, he was just… Her Ted… 

He was the first person she turned to when life became unbearable, the only man she trusted completely, Matthjis wonderful and perfect and sexy and funny, but he wasn’t Ted. 

“That’s good, because I’m afraid Sky Sports might assassinate me if I keep dodging their calls!”

~~~

“Now, what we’re about to do today, it might feel scary, but it’s not, because we got each other, okay? I trust each and every one of you, to go out there and give it your all, because that's what I know you’re capable of. We’re going to, politely, give Leicester such a slapping to that they’ll never ever forget about it, and everyone will know that we are motherfucking Richmond! Now come on up Isaac, and count us off Captain!”

~~~

“What a fuckin shit show.”

Trent was glad he didn’t have the kids with him this week, the stadium stands buzzing with an electric but strange energy.

Richmond had won 1-0, so everyone should be happy, Jamie breaking free in the 36th minute to hammer home a goal from the halfway line, but the fans were aggravated, Trent witnessing the kind of football that could potentially go down as a game to remember.

“Waste of my goddamn money! That’s what that was!”

Trent stayed in his seat, the stadium emptying out around him.

“Those wankers could barely even get a goal!”

For some reason, Richmond had played the entire game with the tightest defense Trent had ever witnessed from them. 

“Load of pussies!”

They had been downright merciless, each Leicester player tracked with meticulous attention. The ball had barely left Richmonds half, the possession with Leicester throughout the game, but they had been helpless to do anything with it.

The statistics from the match would be a mess on paper, Richmond’s strategy not making any sense, but it was clear that everything had been intentional. 

Trent had witnessed a stunning display of dominance, Richmond forcing Leicester into a headlock and keeping them there, Richmond in complete control until the final whistle blew, Leicester made to be the fools.

It was so unlikely Richmond’s normal playstyle and Trent understood why the fans were annoyed, why the boos and yells had started up during the second half,  but as a sports journalist, Trent had instantly recognised the tactic.

Richmond had reminded the other clubs that they weren’t a team to be messed with, that their place in the top 4 wasn’t a fluke, and that they were willing to fight for it.

It was a warning shot, and Trent knew it’d reverberate throughout the league. 

~~~

“And then, when that man tried to get past Richard! And he just cut him off like that!” Henry clapped his hands together, and Ted grinned. 

Michelle and Henry had come down once the game was over, Henry instantly glued to his side, his son even coming into the press room with him, though he had stuck to the back, Henry staying put next to Holly, Ted willingly getting into the hot seat.

Richmond had won, but the press conference had been a bit of a minefield, Ted sensing a grumbling respect for their chosen tactic, though no one seemed happy about it either, not that the press were able to fault their defensive play.

The majority of the questions were about how and why they had chosen that tactic, Ted gladly giving the entirety of the credit to Travis.

Ted didn’t usually like to be as aggressive as they were today, but Travis had reminded him that February was essentially March, which was essentially April, which was essentially May, the end of the season not that far off, especially since Richmond had managed to stay between 5th and 3rd in the league.

It wasn’t as if they n-e-e-d-e-d to finish fourth, but whenever he stopped to think about it, Ted felt the heavy weight of countless expectations on his shoulders.

The pre-season prediction for Richmond had considered their fourth place placement last year and their second place placement before that to be miracles, everyone sure they’d be in the middle of the table.

That tuned had changed though, and now, it seemed like everyone was convinced that Richmond deserved to make it into the Champions League, the expectations the kind that could crush a man if he left it.

“I’m glad you liked the game bud,” Ted kept a hand on Henry’s shoulder, the two of them walking down the hall and back towards the locker room. 

Ted had managed to have a word with about half of the players, so he still needed to check in here and there, to make sure he gave direct feedback, that he praised what needed to be praised and corrected what had to be corrected, that his boys knew that he saw them from his spot on the sidelines, that Ted was right in it with them.

Especially since they’d have some new players coming soon.

“It was awesome!” Henry led the way as they walked through the double doors, “Do you think Dani can teach me how to do that trick-“

“I think you might need to ask Dani if Dani can teach you-“

“Really?” Henry’s eyes widened, and Ted became painfully aware that he wasn’t entirely sure what he had just agreed to. “Thanks Dad!”

Henry ran off, probably to find Dani, Ted making a mental note to himself to check up on whenever or not his son was about to be taught something actually dangerous.

They had won, but the backstage area was on the relaxed side, the hallway a lot more active than the locker room since the players were taking their showers and talking with the medical staff, everyone ready to get home.

Ted hadn’t had a chance to talk to Trent before he got whisked away to do press, and the wiggles in his stomach were growing more and more insistent, Ted longing to see his boyfriend with an intensity that could rival a teenage girls.

He finally spotted him, Trent all the way in the back by the doors to the gym, the wiggles in Ted’s stomach tied up in an immediate knot when he spotted that Trent was talking to Michelle.

Trent looked relaxed to the untrained eye, the two of them easily chatting, but by the set of his shoulders, he was obviously still tense, Ted a little ashamed of how willfully ignorant he had been, to have believed that Trent and Michelle got along when she first moved to London, how blind he had been to what was happening right in front of his nose.

Ted had never meant to make Trent feel unimportant, to have him think of himself as second rate or second best, Ted learning his lesson the hard way back in December. 

Trent had been violently hungover after their heart to heart, drinking an entire bottle of vodka at 46 enough to make sure he had spent the entire day bent over the toilet, Ted telling a fib to the kids about how Trent had caught a stomach bug.

It might have been a blessing in disguise though, that Trent couldn’t clearly recall the entirety of their conversation, his British boyfriend already beyond mortified at the bits he did remember, Trent actually blushing a bright red whenever anything related to that night came up.

Not that it hadn’t healed something between them, Trent showing up to Christmas with a smile on his face and his hand in Ted’s, Ted given the amazing gift of a Christmas with his family all together, though Trent had drawn the line at matching pajamas.

“Howdy!” Ted sped up his steps, walking towards Trent and Michelle, twin heads turning towards him, “You got room for another Space Cadet on this ride? Where’re we heading? And is there any in flight entertainment?”

~~~

“And on Wednesday, I’ll hop online and play some Roblox-“

Michelle watched as Ted was bent forwards, both hands clasped on Henry’s shoulders, Ted’s voice so painfully earnest it hurt her heart a little, her boys clearly missing each other. 

It wasn’t as if Michelle minded spending her Saturdays on soccer, not when she could sit in VIP and feel a part of something, the entire Richmond crew beyond welcoming. It had become part of the routine to come down after the match, but today, she had let Henry linger, the two of them staying a lot longer than she’d usually allow since they had to go home, dinner and bedtime awaiting them. 

“Dad-“

“Minecraft. Right, right, Roblox is a baby game, I’m sorry, I forgot. We’ll play some Minecraft, or maybe even some FIFA, okay?”

“Yeah,” Henry nodded, a small smile on his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes, sadness rolling off of him in waves even though he tried to hide it. “That’d be cool.”

“Right…” Ted swallowed, tightening his grip on Henry’s shoulders, Michelle unfortunately able to pinpoint the moment Ted’s heart broke in half.

January had been… Difficult, to get through. 

Ted had been busy before, but Henry had never experienced it in the way he had this year, Richmonds schedule somehow matching up with their custody agreement in the worst possible way, Richmonds home games consistently landing on weekdays, which meant that Ted had been gone most weekends.

Michelle had done her best to support Henry, to help him deal with his feelings and his frustration, but it had obviously hurt, her sweet little boy losing a tiny bit of his faith in his Dad.

It had to happen someday, Henry a preteen now, but it was tragic to watch, her little boy growing up whenever he wanted to or not.

Maybe, Michelle should have asked if Henry wanted to spend the weekend with Ted and Trent, but she had a feeling he would have said no, Henry practically glued to her side for the entirety of yesterday.

At least, Michelle no longer felt like Trent was actively ignoring her, the two of them now regularly texting and even saying consistent hellos and goodbyes, which was a massive improvement.

“I’ll call you tonight, okay big guy?” Ted pulled Henry in for a hug, Michelle watching as Henry clung to his Dad, the nugget of worry in her stomach still there, Ted kissing Henry’s hair.

~~~

Trent hummed along with the record he had put on as he was ironing Isabella’s school uniforms. It was tedious work, but necessary, the pile of shirts, trousers, blazers and dresses growing dangerously high.

Ted had asked if they could get Indian for dinner, Trent readily agreeing, Ted practically melting into the couch as soon as Trent had popped on La La Land. 

They had eaten without saying much, Ted barely even commenting on the movie, which was a sign of how exhausted he was. Trent had planned to get Ted in the shower with him, but Henry had called about halfway through the movie, Ted jumping to answer, which was when Trent had figured he’d turn to the ironing.

Trent hadn’t seen where Ted had scurried off to, but he heard steps on the stairs, and looked up to see Ted come down.

“Hello darling.” Trent smiled, but he paused what he was doing right away, Ted looking-

“Ted-“ Trent put the iron down, pulling it from the socket, making his way across the living room, “Ted, what’s-“

Ted took a shaky breath, and Trent realized with a flash of horror that Ted was right on the verge of a breakdown, his brown eyes practically black with unshed tears, pain plain on his face. 

“Hey, hey-“ Trent reached out, grabbing Ted’s face, holding it in his hands. “Ted-“

“Please-“ Ted took a step forward, pressing his forehead to Trent’s, their bodies slotting together, Trent’s hands still on Ted’s cheeks. Trent quickly let go, putting both arms around Ted’s neck instead, hugging him close, a sob escaping Ted, Trent a little shaken.

Ted had been okay earlier, tired, but okay, but right now, he felt broken.

“Ssh,” Trent held Ted tight, Ted’s arms coming up to loop around Trent’s waist as he buried his face in his neck. “Sssh, you’re okay, you’re okay.”

Trent didn’t know what was going on, or if he was even telling the truth, but Ted had to become okay again eventually, Trent right there with him, Ted’s fingers buried in his sweater.

It didn’t feel like Ted was having a panic attack, his shoulders shaking as he cried, but there were no shortness of breath, no desperate clinging, Ted simply crying in his arms.

“I got you,” Trent whispered, turning his head to press kisses against whatever bits of Ted’s head he could reach, “I’m here.”

Trent kissed the little cluster of snaky greys by Ted’s temple, lips on skin. “I’m here.”

Eventually, Ted started to calm down, Trent whispering sweet nothings, Ted slowly deflating until Trent was basically holding him up.

“‘M sorry,” Ted mumbled against Trent’s neck, Trent shaking his head.

“Don’t apologize. Don’t ever apologize for this.” He kissed Ted’s temple again, “You’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” Ted sighed, the exhale tickling Trent’s skin. Trent didn’t want to be the first to pull away, but he wanted to see Ted’s face, wanted to look into his eyes, wanted to at least attempt to make sense of what had happened.

Trent gave Ted’s hair a gentle tuck, Ted reluctantly coming out of his hiding place, Trent putting enough space between them so that he could look into Ted’s eyes.

There were tear tracks down Ted’s cheeks, droplets clinging to his eyelashes, his face flushed, his lips parted.

“What happened?” Trent almost didn’t dare ask, but he had to know, Ted going from exhausted to distressed in a span of about 35 minutes.

“I was talking to Henry, and I-“ Ted sniffled, Trent wiping his nose for him with his sleeve, Ted’s arms still around his waist, “I kept saying the wrong thing, kept- I tried, but no matter what we talked about it, it went all topsy turvy. I asked if he was excited about us getting back to the Percy Jackson books, and he just… He said he didn’t like them anymore.”

“Oh Ted,” Trent made sure to use a new bit of his sleeve, carefully wiping the tears off his cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“I had to change the subject, in case he suddenly decided to tell me he’s too old for a bedtime story.”

“Henry isn’t too old for a bedtime story,” Though Trent would have no way of truly knowing that, his own memories of being read to before bed entirely dependent on what Nanny he had had, “and I’m sure he isn’t too old for Percy Jackson either, or Roblox for that matter.”

“You think so?”

“I do,” Trent nodded, hoping and praying that he was telling the truth. “Listen, Ted, Henry is a good kid, it’s just been a difficult time for him, and looking at you, I think it’s been a difficult time for you too.”

“Maybe,” Ted looked down, avoiding Trent’s eyes, which Trent refused to accept.

“Ted,” Trent touched Ted’s chin, tilting his head up. “Keep trying, okay? Henry just needs you to keep trying. He loves you, and you love him, and it’ll be okay, alright?”

Ted didn’t nod, or give verbal confirmation, but he didn’t look away either, which Trent decided to take as enough of a win.

“Let’s get you to bed sweet boy,” Trent put a kiss to the tip of Ted’s nose, “You clearly need it.”

~~~

“Awh dang it.” Ted groaned as he finished rifling through the bottom shelf of the fridge.

“Everything alright dear?” It was Sunday morning, and Trent was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in one hand, the newspaper in the other.

“We’re out of bread, and we’re out of butter, and we’re out of eggs.” Ted had planned on making french toast, then  pancakes and finally eggs, but their fridge was practically empty.

“There’s a bit of milk left.” Trent gestured towards the carton on the table, his attention still on the newspaper “Saved you enough for a cuppa, or at least half of one.”

Ted took another look inside of the fridge, a sigh leaving him as it hadn’t magically filled since his last look, his stomach rumbling, a lone carrot the only thing in the vegetable drawer, a tiny piece of cheddar the only type of cheese they had, which just seemed wrong to Ted’s American sensibilities. He needed a selection, or at least some pepper jack and mozzarella and provolone.

There were leftovers from last night, but Ted wasn’t in the mood for butter chicken first thing in the morning.

They didn’t even have bacon.

These were truly dire circumstances.

“Hey Trent?” Ted looked over his shoulder, “What are you doing for breakfast?”

“I’m already having it,” Trent lifted his coffee cup. “I can’t wait to show Roy this match write-up, maybe he’ll finally stop calling Marcus Better-“

“That’s not breakfast.” Ted huffed, closing the fridge to cross his arms. “You need to eat something.”

“There’s full fat milk in here,” Trent flipped the page, “and I’m planning on giving you a blowjob later, so that’s protein covered as well.”

Ted felt his traitorous cock twitch, the fact that Trent wasn’t even looking at him while discussing sex stuff real hot in a confusing kind of way.

“You don’t seem very interested in the fact that I’m wasting away.” Ted meant it in a teasing way, but Trent only huffed.

“You’re old enough to fend for yourself, but if you insist on being difficult,” Trent finally looked up, his glasses in his hair, “There might be some of your waffles in the freezer.”