Chapter Text
Ted, in shambles from his never ending journey across an ocean, lays with his head resting back on Trent's chest, the hot tub water somewhere at his chin, knees exposed. He has finally gotten the wiggles out and Trent is sweetly tracing his eyebrows with a wet finger. The urge to close his eyes and drift away is only held at bay by the distracting flicker of candle light up the walls, the gentle movement of water, the feeling that he's still landing every time he closes his eyes, and the chin tucked into his wet hair, singing. Ted really can't tell what Trent's singing, but he certainly doesn't let that stop him from enjoying the fact that he can feel it everywhere but his knees.
"I'm gonna fall asleep if you don't cut that out."
"You've been awake for nearly twenty-four hours. If you didn't, I'd be more surprised. I'm honestly shocked you agreed to the bath instead of a nap." Trent's knuckles move to his cheek and Ted's eyelids cannot help but flutter at the welcome pleasure of it. Until he spots a pencil? In the bath? Well, not in the bath.
"Yeah, well. Truth be told, I don't plan on letting you more than five feet from me for a good long while."
"That is very specific."
"I've negotiated myself down. I was going to move right into your pocket. Climb into your trousers like a baby kangaroo and never leave."
"My, you are sleepy."
"Yeah, no. That's not my best work." Ted reaches up to the inset shelf for the pencil and does a magic little thumb around before giving it a closer look. "Is this a grease pencil? I don't even remember the last time I've seen one of these."
Trent chuckles underneath him. "I do my best thinking in here. Makes sense to have something to write with."
"Hm."
Ted touches the pencil to the wall and begins to write "Ted Lasso loves Trent Crimm" before doodling his signature mustache smiley with hearts for eyes. Feels one of Trent's arms slip around him to anchor them together while he snuggles closer. Feels as Trent asks into his hair, "Poetry. Has anyone ever told you you have a way with words?" Ted can hear the smile in it and suddenly he isn't so sleepy.
Ted angles his head back to get a good look at the shimmering candle light reflected in Trent's eyes. "I do, y'know? I love you."
Trent strokes dripping fingers along Ted's wrist to gingerly remove the pencil from his hand and adds, next to his, "Trent Crimm loves Ted Lasso" to the wall. Ted barely lets him finish his little portrait before he hauls him out of the tub to dry him off and take Trent to bed.