what it wants

word count: 12k | tedtrent, mutual pining, trent centric

[READ ON AO3]

Trent starts seeing the perfect man, so of course he wants to break up with him.
All because he can’t stop pining for Ted Lasso.
Or,
It takes some work, but they get there in the end.

Unlike his past dalliances since coming out, Trent doesn’t meet Hugo Willoughby on an app.

He’d call it a proper meet-cute if he dared. He doesn’t.

.

Their meeting goes like so.

.

It’s late one evening, and Trent is running to the Tesco by his place in his rattiest band tee, his hair thrown up in a greasy bun.

Nellie is at her mother’s place tonight, and although his daughter’s absence feels like his lungs can’t expand to their full extent and he’s always one breath away from choking on air, it also allows him to get more writing done that he would have otherwise.

His bout of inspiration carried him for hours and when it left, he only then realised how famished he was, and that he desperately needed to so some grocery shopping. Hence the late night supermarket visit.

Trent is longing for a quick, easy meal before falling into bed and sleep for a few blissful hours.

He reaches for the pre-made chicken tikka masala as the exact same moment someone else does. His fingers brush against the stranger’s though neither let go of the box.

Tired and hungry, Trent turns to the stranger, ready to tell them off. His words catch in his throat when his gaze meets the bluest eyes he’s ever seen.

The man before him is strikingly handsome, sharp-jawed and golden-skinned. He’s taller than Trent and much more muscular, but with the form of someone who is naturally predisposed to build up rather than spending all his time at the gym.

“Oh,” the man laughs. “I see we both want the same thing.”

His voice is deep and warm, and it does something to Trent’s belly when he hears it.

“You can have it,” he says despite the rumbling in his stomach.

What can he say? He’s got a weakness for tall men with great voices, that much he can admit.

“We could trade,” the stranger offers. “I’ll let you have the meal, and in exchange you buy me a drink.”

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