Chapter Text
People are talking, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under cover
I'll just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
Stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing something we don't, darlin'...
...Let's give 'em something to talk about, babe
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give 'em something to talk about
How about love?
Bonnie Raitt - Somethin' To Talk About
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Jamie was still sullen about Ted taking him out of the game. He had treated Jamie like a schoolboy, punishing him for some unknown “bad behaviour” bullshit by sending him to the corner. It was an embarrassment in front of a stadium full of spectators and cameras. Rodeo clown. Fuck ‘em all. They didn’t pay him millions to suck up to the coach and teammates. They paid him millions to score and get the job done while none of the other mediocre players could.
He’d shown up to the club that day intent on continuing his hostility. If he was going to be pulled out of a game, why not pull himself out of training? He was hurt. Yeah. Hurt. Holding an iced coffee, he was about to turn the corner to the main hallway from the café when he heard Keeley’s cheerful voice.
“Oi! Hold up! Roy! Hold on a second!”
The fuck? Jamie had intended to chat, to try to convince Keeley into a friends-with-benefits arrangement again, now that she was working at the club. It was convenient after all. But knowing Roy was there kept him at bay. He climbed a couple of stairs and hid behind a post, slyly leaning over to watch the interaction.
“Hi Keeley.” Roy’s chin jutted out, his face impassive, as usual.
“Hi! Forgot to tell you the other night, probably because you freaked me out, that you had a great game. That was a wicked pass to Sam.”
Keeley's cheerful compliment had Jamie rolling his eyes but he looked back to notice a slight change in Roy’s demeanour, he could see his eyebrows twitching in surprise at Keeley's comment, but he quickly recovered.
“Sam’s a good player. He earned that goal.”
“Oh, totally. It was brilliant. I just noticed you coulda taken the shot yourself.” Keeley seemed quite affected by this action.
He probably woulda missed, Jamie huffed.
“Coulda, yeah. He had the open shot though.” Roy nodded slightly as if this was a given.
“Was just really impressed, yeah? Shows your experience, looking out for the right play.” Keeley beamed at Roy. Jamie thought she was laying the praise on thick, and wondered if she’d caught sight of him snooping. Probably wanted to bring him down a peg by complimenting Roy’s skills.
Roy looked down, as if bashful at hearing the compliment. It made Jamie want to puke up his entire breakfast.
“A teammate like Sam knows how to put himself in the right position,” Roy answered quietly.
“A teammate like you puts the team first. It showed out there. Like I said, great pass. Great game.” Her smile was genuine, her wide eyes were sparkling.
“Thanks,” Roy answered with a much gentler voice and kinder face than usual. It reminded Jamie of the night of the auction when Keeley apologized to Roy. Those two confused him when they were talking to each other. It wasn’t just Roy that acted strangely with Keeley, Keeley somehow seemed different around him too.
It was weird.
“No problem! Iss the truth though, and you deserve to hear it, Captain!” Keeley grinned and playfully punched his arm. “Might see you after training now that I’m around here more.”
“Right, yeah, right,” Roy nodded. And did his mouth twitch into a half-smile? Jamie thought that maybe the old man was just having a small stroke, but he’d never know for sure as Roy quickly turned away, heading into the change room, hiding his reaction from Keeley.
Jamie watched Keeley watch Roy leave. Fuck, why is she so nice to that old fart? Probably thinks I’d be jealous. Probably wants to joke about me behind my back. At least she wouldn’t shag him for revenge, though… too old for her.
Not wanting to be caught spying, he turned back to the café. He wasn’t going to training anyway. He was hurt, after all.
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A few days later…
Higgins arrived in the car park, cheerfully whistling as his morning had gone rather smoothly. He'd surprised Julie by getting up early to make breakfast for her and lunches for the boys for Valentine's. She'd been tickled pink and very appreciative. He'd make sure to also pick up a bouquet for her tonight on the way home. As he opened his door his whistling abruptly stopped, noticing Roy Kent aggressively fiddling with the windscreen wiper of his own vehicle. He wasn’t going to interrupt, preferring to keep a wide berth from the man when he was concentrating on a task that might darken his already constantly dark mood.
“Morning Roy! Happy Valentine’s Day!” He heard Keeley's happy voice, but couldn't see her; her car and her body obviously obscured by Roy’s G-Wagon.
“Hi Keeley,” Roy paused before asking, “Is it?”
Higgins saw Keeley emerge from behind Roy’s vehicle, an explosion of pink and red. She stopped in her tracks to give Roy a faux-hurt look, lower lip pouting in disappointment.
“Alright, alright… Happy Valentine’s Day.” He humoured her, with a little less edge than Higgins expected.
“You heading in?”
“Yeah, I was,” Roy replied calmly. Higgins noticed Roy had completely forgotten about whatever was wrong with the wiper, dropping it to join Keeley.
“I’m gonna grab a tea at the café, whattaboutchou?”
“Tha’s just where I was headed.” He cocked his head and though Higgins couldn’t see Roy’s face, he could see Keeley’s smile grow brighter.
“Join me then, yeah? My treat! For Valentine’s!” Her eyes sparkled.
“There’s no charge for tea at the café, Keeley,” Roy corrected her as they walked to the door, and if Higgins wasn’t mistaken, there was some actual - merriment? was that the right word? – in Roy Kent’s voice.
“Why d’ya think I’m offering?” Keeley turned to Roy and winked as he opened the door for her. “Gotta love a cheap Valentine!”
“I’m your fucking Valentine now?”
“Got no one else this year. You’ll do in a pinch.” Keeley shrugged and smirked, checking him out from head to toe.
“So much flattery. You’re a real charmer,” Roy answered dryly and Keeley laughed, obviously enjoying their back-and-forth. As she walked into the club, Higgins noticed Roy’s hand lightly touch her back to guide her from behind, like an old-fashioned gentleman.
He stood for a moment, confused at Roy’s demeanour. He’d never seen him so pleasant and well-mannered, and Keeley was obviously unperturbed by his reputation. He walked up to Roy’s vehicle and checked out the windscreen wiper. Nothing seemed amiss.
Well now, this is interesting, he said out loud to the lot of cars, chuckled, and began whistling again. This time his cheerfulness was tinged with amusement at the possibilities the overheard conversation implied, until he suddenly realized that such a situation would only add flames to the already heated animosity between Jamie and Roy. He would keep it to himself for now, and hope for the best, whatever that may be.