Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Roy did actually enjoy doing the meet and greets, despite his general demeanour. He couldn't stand the press. He hated having his picture taken. And he hated talking to people. But seeing the look on the kids' faces when they got to meet the footballers they loved, that was worth it all. And Roy was fine with kids ... to a point. As long as they could talk back Roy was fine with kids. However as soon as you introduced a toddler Roy struggled. It was bad enough when he was having to try and look after Phoebe and she would start crying and Roy wouldn’t know what was wrong or what to do. And that was Phoebe! His Phoebe! So whenever the meet and greets happened Roy was happy to be involved, chat with the kids, give them a tour, sign stuff … as long as they weren’t toddlers.

This specific child wanted to meet Sam Obisanya, well didn’t everyone. His name was Danny, he was nine and he had been diagnosed with Huntington’s a couple of months ago. His favourite team was Richmond and he loved Sam, well didn’t everyone. So Higgin’s had arranged for his family to have a meet and greet with Sam and Roy, a tour of the facility and a kickabout with Sam out on the pitch. Danny came in and was a little ball of joy that Sam immediately bonded with and the pair were chatting away. Danny’s mum and dad hung back with a toddler in the mum’s arms. Roy left Sam to entertaining his new groupie and walked over to shake the hands of the poor parents. “Thank you for this Mr Kent. It’s been,” the mum started to explain but the words caught in her throat as her eyes misted.

“It’s been rough but the team going well has done a lot for Danny’s morale,” the dad continued also fighting back the tears.

“Of course, I can’t imagine what you all are going through. My niece is a couple of years younger than Danny and,” Roy’s voice faded away as he couldn’t find the words to explain. The parents nodded though, they understood. The toddler started to squirm and demand to be put down on the floor.

“Sorry, Elise is a bit fidgety with all the new sounds. Is it ok if she has a run around?”

“Oh yeah, sure,” Roy shrugged, stepping back. Elise was placed down on the floor, dummy in her mouth. She got up onto her feet unsteadily and immediately toddled to Roy and gripped onto his trouser leg.

Fuck.

“Hey, child” Roy muttered weakly and guided her hands away. They immediately gripped back on. Fuck.

“She likes you,” Danny’s mum laughed and Roy hoarsely laughed along.

“I should go check on Danny and Sam,” Roy forced a likely very creepy smile to his face and hurried in the opposite direction to the child. However when he turned around she was toddling after him. Roy was above running away in fear from this child, he was better than that. However it was determined and followed him wherever he went. In the end he excused himself and pretended to go grab something from the treatment room. With a deep breath he sat down on the treatment bench to get a moment of respite. And then there was a little tug on his trousers leg. It took all the restraint Roy had to not reflexively kick out and accidentally punt it. 

No matter where Roy went, that child was following him. Her parents seemed to have decided that Roy was doing a good enough job of entertaining the little girl and were sat over with Sam and Danny as Sam signed some stuff and they chatted about the upcoming match that weekend.

“Hey there little buddy,” a familiar prick like voice laughed, and Roy thought this situation couldn’t get any worse. Jamie stood leaning against the doorframe with his patented smirk etched onto his face.

“Piss off Tartt,” Roy growled, staring at the offending infant that was now gripping onto his trouser leg again. It was staring up at him with those big Disney eyes and dopey smile. The dummy had got lost somewhere on its big adventure and now drool was dropping onto his trouser leg.

“Woah there Kent, language in front of the little one,” Jamie laughed but stepped in and swooped the toddler off the floor and into his arms in one effortless motion. Roy, for a moment, panicked. Jamie Tartt holding a baby, what if he fucking dropped it. What if his phone rang or something and he got distracted and the demon got hurt. “I don’t think Royo here wants to be your friend kiddo,” Jamie laughed, poking the kid on the nose and earning a little giggle for his troubles. Roy froze. The kid seemed … happy? With Tartt? Elise was balanced on his hip with a supporting arm around her waist tucking her in close. Roy knew he was gawping as Jamie practically glowed with sunshine pulling faces at her. Elise made grabby hands towards Jamie’s face and after a moment he tilted his head closer and she grabbed onto the brim of his stupid hat. “Oh you want this. Well ok then,” Jamie smiled, placing his hat on Elise’s far smaller head. It slid down over her eyes and she giggled as she pulled it up so she could see. Jamie hummed, patting his chin dramatically and thoughtfully. “Oh this is better,” he spun it around on her head and she giggled, clapping her little hands. “Much better ain’t it love,” Jamie laughed. Only then did he look over to where Roy was sat awe struck. “I’ll take her for a little wander, no not that little miss,” Jamie started talking to Roy but effortlessly guided Elise’s hands away from where she started to tug on his dangly shiny earring. “I’ll tell her folks and meet you guys out on the pitch.”

“Hell no. You ain’t kidnapping a child,” Roy growled. Jamie’s lips pursed and an eyebrow rose.

“I ain’t kidnapping. Jesus didn’t realise your hearing was going as well. I’m just going to entertain the little one while you and Obisanya do the actual PR bullshit. Looked like you were bricking it. Who knew, big man Roy Kent’s fatal flaw is toddlers,” Jamie laughed and the toddler in his arms mirrored the abrasive sound. Jamie grinned at her, holding his hand up and being awarded a little high five. Roy growled, how had his day descended into being bullied by two infants.

“You can’t be trusted with a kid!” Roy shouted, like he was the kid having the tantrum. Jamie stilled and the smile slowly slid off his face.

“Fudge you twat, you don’t know me Kent. So leave off,” Jamie growled back, the censor nearly causing a bubble of laughter to well in Roy’s chest. And then they were gone. Roy left sat there with his mouth open.

Roy headed out onto the pitch with Danny and Sam and they started in a little kick about. "There you are," the mum cooed as Elise trotted out of the tunnel with Jamie Tartt in tow. She was still wearing his hat but now had on a little Tartt shirt over her romper and a Richmond teddy clutched in her grip. "Thank you for watching her Mr Tartt," the mum smiled as Elise babbled and showed her parents the bear. 

"Oh call me Jamie and it was no trouble at all. She’s a little angel," Jamie smiled, words like honey winning over all those around him. Tartt could manipulate people with the best of them; whether it was to love him by using a little dimpled smile and a few kind words, or to loath him with a flick of that infernal tongue and an insult with a bite. She continued to toddle forwards and was quickly pulled up into her mum’s arms. There was little fuss from the tired child until her mum tried to give Jamie his hat back. The screeching pierced Roy's ear drums like air raid sirens as both parents took turns trying to wrestle the purloined hat off the determined toddler. Her hands with tightly gripped onto the brim and anyone that got close was at the risk of coming on the receiving end of a flying foot. Grass was now woven into her hair from the writhing on the pitch befitting of a premier league superstar. Sam had moved Danny away to go get some pictures by the goals as the battle continued.

“Elise love come on. That’s not yours,” her mum groaned, dodge a shoe projectile.

“Hey, it really doesn’t matter. She can have it, brand deal innit. I’ve got a bucket load back at the house,” Jamie blurted out, hands raised in surrender.

“Really?”

“Yeah course, anything for me littlest fan,” Jamie’s smile returned when the parents let go of the hat. The sobs and screams quieted to little sad sniffles and Roy’s shoulders slumped in relief. Jamie was quickly wrapped up in a hug from Elise’s mum. He stood stiff as a rod, hands slightly outstretched with a look of panic that brought Roy a tiny bit of joy.

“You’ve been such a help Jamie. Days like this, I never want to leave her with a sitter but it’s Danny’s day,” the mother rambled, and that eased some of the tension out of Jamie.

“Totally,” Jamie nodded. He was released from the awkward hug and bent down to be child height instead. “See you around kiddo,” Jamie grinned, opening up his arms. “You look after that hat for me alright,” he added, despite Elise already chewing on the brim. She toddled forwards, swaying precariously on the grass and burrowed her head into Jamie’s stupid hoodie. Roy grunted and turned to head back inside. Yet as he walked away the image of Jamie on his haunches with only the little brown braids of a tiny body visible in his soft embrace was seared into his mind. And he was having a fucking feeling about it.

“What crawled up your arse and died?” Jamie huffed as Roy walked past the water fountain sporting what he was sure was a quite impressive glower.

“Fucks it your business Tartt,” Roy growls, stopping suddenly to turn and glare at where Jamie was refilling his water bottle.

“Fine, don’t fucking care anyway,” Jamie shrugged, taking a slow torturous drink. This was an out, Jamie didn’t give a shit, Roy didn’t give a shit about what Jamie thought.

“Why are you even here anyway?” Roy yelled, now fully turning to stand awkwardly close to his nemesis.

“Thought you didn’t care lad,” Jamie scoffed rolling his eyes. “Why are you here anyway? The kid wanted Obisanya not an escapee from the retirement home.”

“I’m the captain.”

Jamie mock gasped, holding a hand to his chest, “wow that’s the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Why are you here prick?” Roy growled again.

“Well if my captain insists I inform him,” Jamie smirked and Roy wanted nothing more to punch that look right off his face, “I’m waiting for my agent to come back was a better sponsorship deal and I have to be here to sign with Mannion and his lapdog. Saw you and that poor kid and had to step in. Even if it was her brother’s day it’s shit to be ignored. Hell maybe she’s a future footballer and I’ll be mentioned in her biography.”

“Self centred little prick,” Roy mutters under his breath as Jamie pushes past him.

“Am I free to go oh captain my captain?” Jamie hisses as they are side to side. His shoes are grass stained from the kickabout. His cheeks slightly flushed from the cold. But the worst bit was his hair, Roy’s eyes kept on flickering up to the soft waves that were free from their usual prison, probably because he was planning on wearing that stupid hat all day. Roy didn’t think he had ever seen Jamie’s hair unstyled before. Roy berated himself internally, why did he care what Jamie did with his hair? That information was so far down his list of priorities. Jamie scoffs and doesn’t wait for the permission to be given to leave.

Fucking prick.

Even if he was surprisingly nice to that kid.

Chapter Text

“Coach?” Jamie knocked on the door nervously as Ted pulled on his Richmond jacket and prepared for his pregame speech. Roy didn’t think he had ever seen Jamie Tartt nervous before. It was unsettling. Roy was laid on the treatment table getting his knee taped but as long as the door was open he was in prime snooping position to hear what he finally managed to rattle the unshakable.

“What’s up there Jamie? Everything alright for the match?” Ted frowned, gesturing for Jamie to come in further. He didn’t. He stood in the door way, all sharp lines and tension. Jamie’s hands were plunged deep into the pockets of his warm up jacket and his shoulders were hunched.

“Yeah, match is fine,” Jamie fired out, but then paused, worrying his bottom lip. “I don’t know who here to talk to about a, favour,” Jamie bit out the last word like it physically pained him.

“Oh,” Ted lit up like a Christmas tree at the momentary vulnerability from his little pet project. Roy scoffed under his breath as Gail manipulated the muscle.  “Of course Jamie, whatever we can do to help!”

“I, yeah, back at City I met this little gal. City fan from birth and all that. She had to have both of her legs amputated and has a bone disease and all she wanted to do before she died was walk out for a City match,” Jamie mumbled, so quiet Roy had to strain to hear. “She liked me, wanted to be with me and I’ve kept up with her folks. She’s here today and I know it’s short notice,” Jamie rambled.

“Of course she can walk out with you Jay. God that’s so good of you,” Ted cooed, ignoring the increasing intensity of Jamie’s glower.

“Mint,” Jamie barked out and then prowled out of the changing room leaving Ted looking like all his dreams had come true all at once. Roy rolled his eyes and scoffed what sort of kid would like Jamie Tartt when there was literally anybody else available in the world to be a fan of.

Roy didn’t think about Jamie’s request again until it was time to go out onto the pitch. Lasso did his speech. Roy’s brain had started substituting Lasso’s voice with white noise pretty quickly after the first motivational speech that he had no clue what was being said. It wouldn’t be helpful anyway. They did their little believe break down and then it was time to go to the tunnel. At the end of the corridor were the clusters of children that had paid or been selected to be their mascots for this pointless fixture against Bournemouth. Roy forced his shoulders to relax at the sight of the huddle of excited children. They all looked excited to be there but Roy’s eyes were drawn to one little girl. She looked about Phoebe’s age with the same long blonde hair braided into little plaits with blue ribbon through each plait. Her face was flushed pink and a beaming smile broke out as soon as the players emerged. She was slightly hidden behind a women who Roy presumed was her mum. Her hand raised in a little wave and she stepped out into the line. It was then Roy saw the double prosthetics replacing her legs from just above the knee. She was unsteady on them but her confidence grew and she started wobbling forwards. Roy turned to see Jamie with a massive grin on his face and dropping down to one knee with his arms wide open. She moved as quickly as she could into Jamie’s arms and he swept her up into a hug against his chest. Roy had never seen Jamie so happy, and so tender. No goal or win had got this reaction that an ill little girl had. “How’s it hanging sweetheart?” Jamie squeezed her tight and then carried on walking but his whole focus was on her.

“Good,” she whispered, clutching onto Jamie’s warm up jacket tightly and staring at him like he had hung the stars.

“I’ll take a good,” Jamie nodded. He headed over to the mother and wrapped her in a one arm embrace and pressed a little kiss to the top of her head. “Hey love, thanks for coming,” Jamie smiled softly.

“We’re at GOS for the fortnight and when this little munchkin heard her favourite person was playing in London we just had to make the trip,” the mum explained with a fond eye roll. Jamie’s smile grew even wider as he looked back at the now embarrassed girl in his arms.

“Of course! I’d have been hurt if you hadn’t. And your dad even let you buy a Richmond shirt!” Jamie mock gasped.

“He said that it better not be worn in his house or he’d burn it. He wanted me to come in your City one but I said that would be rude,” the little girl explained. Jamie laughed and it lit up the room. The soft genuine sound was in direct contrast to the usual forced abrasive laughter that followed a Jamie Tartt patented taunt. Roy knew he was staring but this felt like a rarity. It felt like they were all seeing something that was precious. One sound or movement could break this moment where Jamie wasn’t a prick with a chip on his shoulder. He was a kid talking to people he cared about.

“Oh we better keep it safe then. I don’t think my team over there would appreciate me walking out with a beauty in a City shirt,” Jamie mock whispered. The girl’s face lit up even brighter and she let out a little excited squeal.

“I get to come out with you?” she asked breathily.

“Course, you’re my good luck charm ain’t ya. I promised, every game you’re at you get to come out onto the pitch with me,” Jamie beamed as little arms were thrown around his neck. He turned with her in his arms to get into the line and caught Roy’s stare. His smile hardened instantaneously and Roy felt the Tartt induced twisting in his gut return. Jamie’s chin jutted out in challenge as he stared down Roy. His glower was daring Roy to say something, or to make a joke. Roy would never, but Jamie had no way of knowing that. They had immediately both gone for the jugular upon meeting and had never missed an opportunity to make a joke at the other’s expense. Children were off limits though, at least for Roy and after what he had seen these past couple of months they probably were for Jamie as well.

Eventually Roy did have to turn his attention to Benjamin, the child who was walking out at the front of their line with their captain. But all the way through their conversation Roy was on autopilot. Because he was thinking about Jamie Tartt, which was an annoyingly frequent occurrence at the moment. Roy hated every second of it. His brain was betraying him and he couldn’t find the off switch. There was this sweet little child who was going through something traumatic and she had latched onto her hero in the way children often do, like he would come flying in through the window and make everything better. However, unlike the heroes of story, Jamie Tartt had tried. He couldn’t fix her. But he tried to make her life better, he tried to be her friend, he tried to support her family. That didn’t fit with the image of the Prince Prick of all Pricks, which was fucking with Roy’s brain.

As Roy watched the pair walk out onto the pitch with the little Tartt fan grinning and waving at the Richmond fans as they sung Jamie’s song, he couldn’t find any hatred in his heart towards Richmond’s number nine. As Jamie stood smiling at her and jogging over the side to hand her back to her mum with a kiss to her crown and a wink, Roy didn’t know what he felt anymore.

Chapter Text

Ted Lasso joining Roy on his regular trips to help out with events at Phoebe’s school was not a one off occurrence for the press. Now that he knows more about Ted Lasso, Roy knew how naïve he was to believe that Ted would put on anything for the press. He is as candid as they come much to the bemusement of everyone around him. After the first few, Roy also started to not hate it. Watching Ted fumble his way around interactions with painfully blunt British children was the highlight of Roy’s day and it did take some pressure off Roy to talk to the kids and keep them entertained. Ted was a dad and often Roy forgot that, the man did know how to be around children.

Despite often having company on these trips, Roy still did a double take at the Aston Martin parked in the staff car park when he pulled in ready for Sports Day. This was a relatively posh school as far as community schools in London went but Roy knew that he was by far the richest adult that sent their kid to school here. No one else would have a car like that and you couldn’t even fit a car seat into that car. That was no parent’s car. The lingering sense of forboding settled over Roy’s shoulders. He knew that car.

“Oh for fucks sake,” Roy cursed as Jamie fucking Tartt clambered out of the drivers seat and pulled that stupid icon cap down over his still damp hair. He looked at his phone before turning around and locking eyes with Roy through the windscreen. A smile twitched at his lips and he raised his hand to do a stupid little finger wave. Then Roy’s phone pinged.

Prince Prick: We don’t have all day

“Why the fuck are you here?” Roy snarled across the car park as he opened the door.

“Woah language there Royo, we’re at a school. Would hate to see you get detention and miss out on the festivities,” Jamie chuckled, striding over from his car to lean on Roy’s bonnet.

“Why the fuck are you here?” Roy repeated, slamming his door and smiling as Jamie jumped.

“Ted’s brought in a community service way of working off fine money and I’m always down to save money you know,” Jamie shrugged.

“You could just not get fined?” Roy huffed.

“Where would the fun in that be?” Jamie smirked.

“Fuck off,” Roy growled heading towards main reception and growling at the fact that Jamie was hot on his heels.

“Can’t do that mate. In this for the long haul. Anyway can’t just leave the kids with grandad here, what fun would that be?”

Roy would get arrested and it would traumatise children if he murdered Jamie Tartt in a school carpark. Now was not the time to murder Jamie Tartt. And with that as a mantra, Roy headed into the reception.

The termly sports days were some of Phoebe’s favourite days of the year and that made them some of Roy’s favourite days too. Phoebe was sporty, she wasn’t as naturally talented as Roy was at her age, which he was eternally thankful for, but she was athletic and tried hard which made up for it. She had however inherited the fierce Kent competitiveness which made her bloodthirsty when there was any sort of prize involved. Roy was so proud of her. “Which one’s yours?” Tartt asked as they both grabbed a juice cartoon after helping to set up the races.

“Oi Pheebs!” Roy yelled and then pointed at Phoebe when she turned round.

“No offence and all that but she doesn’t look very Kent?” Jamie questioned, raising his hands in surrender when Roy growled.

“Her asshole father was very blonde, very pale,” he confessed. Why was he telling Tartt this shit? Why was he talking to Tartt at all?

“Fair.” At least Tartt had the sense not to probe any deeper. He had been surprisingly helpful in setting all of this up and once again that almost creepily kind side of Tartt had come out. He had answered every stupid question on of the little ones had and had picked up and given a five year old a piggy back when he fell and hurt his knee. It was just such a direct contrast. He was a completely different person when the cameras were gone and the bravado wasn’t needed anymore. He was an almost likeable person now.

“Uncle Roy,” Phoebe appeared at his side and tugged on his shirt until he squatted down to be her height. “Can you ask Jamie Tartt if he’ll be on my team for the races?” she whispered, looking at him nervously.

“Why’d you want him?” Roy frowned, ignoring Jamie’s little smile from where he was doing a pretty good job of pretending to not be able to hear their conversation.

“Because the other kids have banned you from being on my team again this year for the adults also races and I want to win. He’s fast and tall,” Phoebe explained and Roy found himself smiling. He knew that she preferred him, he was still winning in this stupid game that only he was playing. There was a little part of him that had been buried deep down that knew if she wanted to win then Jamie was a better option than Roy. But he still needed her to want him.

“Ok, why don’t you ask him yourself?” Roy asked.

“He’s more likely to say yes to you. You’re his captain,” she hissed. Roy scoffed. Jamie was not in the habit of listening to his captain on anything let alone things outside of club matters. The cruel irony of it was that from what Roy had learnt about Jamie he was much much more likely to dive headfirst into doing anything a child asked of him than do anything Ted or Roy wanted him to do. Jamie had fully committed to the statement that he was only there because he didn’t want to pay his fines but Roy could see through that flimsy disguise. Jamie was here because he wanted to have fun and make this a great day for the kids, no other reason.

“Nah I think he’s more likely to say yes to you. Go on give it a try,” Roy gently nudged Phoebe towards Jamie.

“Mr Jamie Tartt?” Phoebe asked nervously, kicking the grass with her trainer.

“Oh hello there,” Jamie pretended that he hadn’t just been listening to their full conversation. It was quite sweet actually. “You must be Miss Phoebe Kent. Pleasure is all mine,” Tartt squatted down to her height and offered his hand for her to shake.

“O’Sullivan actually,” Phoebe straightened herself up and shook his hand.

“O’Sullivan Kent, well that’s a unique name,” Jamie frowned, wrinkling his nose but couldn’t help smiling at Phoebe’s laugh. Neither could Roy.

“No Phoebe O’Sullivan,” she protested as Jamie made a face of realisation with his eyebrows raising.

“That makes a lot more sense. Now what can I do for you Miss Phoebe O’Sullivan?”

“For the adult also races will you be on my team?” she asked, all traces of hesitation gone.

“Of course I will. Gotta help the little greyhounds win ain’t I,” Jamie smiled, offering his hand for a high five which Phoebe enthusiastically accepted and used to grab onto his hand and pull him away from Roy and towards what Roy had to assume was Phoebe’s team.

“My uncle Roy says lots of mean things about you but I think you’re quite nice even if you are very silly …” Phoebe’s voice and Jamie’s laugh faded away as they wandered across the field.

“I’m knackered.”

Roy found Jamie laid on the grass once all other kids and parents had left. Ruth had managed to come and pick up Phoebe who had to be dragged away from a pick up football game with Jamie and some of the older kids. But only after she had jumped up to give him a massive hug around his waist and presented him with a first place rosette for helping their team win. The same first place rosette that he was still wearing as a badge of honour.

“I thought this would be easy but I feel like I’ve played a full ninety,” Jamie whined, gradually sitting up.

“I don’t think I ever had that much energy,” Roy chuckled.

“What have they been feeding them?” Jamie laughs back.

Roy extends his hand out to help Jamie to his feet. Jamie stares at it blankly, and then his brows furrow in confusion.

“I ain’t going to bite,” Roy growls.

Jamie rolls his eyes and uses Roy’s hand to get to his feet. “Thanks, not that I needed it though.”

“Course you didn’t,” Roy rolls his eyes.

“Course you’re too old to get involved so that’s why your arms still work.”

And with that normality snapped back into place.