This is the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. take on the swell rom-com that is 2004's Wimbledon. The characters belong to Marvel and the plot is inspired by the film (with some minor to major tweaks to better suit Fitz and Simmons) so credit must be given to both. This sucker is unbetaed so apologies for any egregious or barely noticeable errors.
When he pulls up to his mother's cottage, the porch light is on and Fitz can't help but smile at the literal beacon calling him home. Parking his car in the drive, Fitz sits and stares at the picturesque house for a few minutes before clambering out and making his way towards the front door.
Walking into the cottage, he's surprised to find it mostly dark. His mother, though certainly more of a morning person than a night owl, usually goes to bed fairly late, which makes the fact that she's not currently curled up in her favorite chair with a cuppa fairly odd. Glancing around the darkened living room, Fitz makes his way through the hallways and into the kitchen to confirm that his mother is nowhere in the ground floor. When he still doesn't find her, Fitz follows the lone source of light to the stairwell and begins clambering his way to the second floor.
Once at the landing, he turns in the direction of his mother's room before a familiar noise at the end of the hallway catches his attention and brings him to a halt.
The grunts and moans, though muffled by the bedroom door, are still entirely audible and Fitz smacks his head at his friend's inability to watch more appropriate films in his mother's presence. Striding down the hallway, Fitz grabs the doorknob of the guest bedroom and gives it a yank as he says, "For Christ sake Hunter, I hope you know how weird it is that you watch this stuff with my mum aro… what the hell?!"
Slapping his hands over his eyes before he sees more of Hunter's pasty arse, Fitz pivots around and silently thanks whichever deity had spared him from a frontal view of his best mate. Gagging at the thought he barely has time to register the surprised, and oddly excited voice that calls out, "Fitz!" before Hunter is remarking, "Jeez mate, don't you knock?"
He turns around at that, hands still firmly pressed against his face, and hopes that enough of his mouth is uncovered that the occupants of the bed can see it's gaping at the comment.
"It's my house!"
The exclamation pulls an immediate snort of laughter from Hunter that has Fitz shooting him a glare despite the fact that it's entirely hidden by his hands.
"Please, it's your mum's house. And you can quit acting like a prude and take your hands off your face, we're decent."
Knowing full well that his friend's definition of decent is drastically different than his own, Fitz tilts his head towards the bed's other occupant and questions, "Are you actually decent?"
It's silent for a moment save for a bit of rustling before the woman calls out, "Ish."
While he can't actually see her, he knows that the comment has been paired with a shrug and Fitz can't help but grin at the familiarity of the gesture. Slowly pulling his hands from his face and cracking his eyes open, Fitz lets out a small sigh of relief at the sight of a now boxer-clad Hunter and Bobbi covered by the bed-sheet. Shivering at the reminder of what he'd walked in on, Fitz blanches in Bobbi's direction while gesturing towards Hunter.
"I can never unsee this."
"Why would you want to? We're fit!"
Hunter holds out his hand for a high-five and promptly has it swatted away by Bobbi. Though she's glaring at her seemingly on-again, ex-husband, there's enough mirth in her expression to make it clear to Fitz that the warning look is more feigned than anything- as though she agrees with Hunter but has no intention of agreeing with Hunter.
A pretty common aspect of their relationship that's likely been the source of a handful of their break-ups over the years. Though, Hunter's gloating when he is proven right likely led to a fair share of separations as well.
After a moment, Bobbi's smile softens and she turns her gaze on him with a pleased, "Hi, Fitz.
He can't stop his own grin from blooming at Bobbi's look of fondness and sends out another silent thank you that his friends have reconciled. While he still makes a point to see and speak with each of them during their frequent breaks, he far prefers being able to chat with both Bobbi and Hunter when they're together. Each has been instrumental to him, both personally and professionally, and he's never enjoyed the feeling of walking on eggshells to avoid mentioning one while spending time with the other. The two, though wholly combative and more argumentative than any people he's met in his life, are magnets that will inevitably find their way back to each other. Luckily the magnetic fields seemed to draw them back right when he needs them both- the sage wisdom of Bobbi combined with Hunter's willingness to drop most things for a pint might actually manage to make him feel slightly less pummeled.
"It's good to see you both. I'd like to have seen a bit less but…"
Bobbi lets out a loud laugh at that before tugging the sheet more firmly around her torso and rising from the bed. "On that note, I think I'll go shower."
The statement immediately has Hunter opening his mouth but Bobbi is vehemently shaking her head before he can get a word out. "Alone."
She moves towards the door and Fitz shifts out of the way to let her pass. Reaching out to ruffle his hair, Bobbi gives him another affectionate smile and warmly says, "I've missed you Fitz."
Ducking to avoid any potential noogies, Fits swats his friend's hand away with a laugh and an eye roll that is all in good fun. "You too Bobbi. I'd hug you and all but…"
He lets his words trail off as he gestures towards her state of undress and nods towards Hunter with a grimace. The gesture pulls another laugh from Bobbi and she nods her head in understanding. "Shower first, hug later, and chat after that."
She gives him a look that makes it clear she has a pretty good idea what caused this impromptu trip home, raising a brow and staring him down with an expression scary similar to his mother's. Fitz lets out a hum, pulling his eyes towards his shoes and nodding his head in acknowledgment. She squeezes his arm as she moves past him into the hallway, calling out over her shoulder as she works her way towards the bathroom. "Your mom's at her book club by the way, should be back in a bit."
Smacking his head for his forgetfulness, Fitz yells, "Thanks Bobbi," as she disappears around the corner before making his way further into the room. He's normally quite good at remembering his mother's bi-weekly book club, typically calling the following day to ask what she and her cohort had read that fortnight, and can't help but wonder how muddled his head is that he could forget something that has been firmly branded in his mum's schedule for nearly a decade.
Lost in thought, Fitz forgets that he's not the only one in the room until a pillow is colliding with his face. Snatching it from the air before it hits the ground, he shoots his friend a startled glare. "What the…"
Hunter flops on the bed, stretching out his feet and giving him an expectant look as he waves his hand dismissively. "I asked what you're doing here mate."
Though he's actually heard the question this time around, Fitz still doesn't answer immediately. The true answer is that he's been feeling very much the boy in need of his mother but, while such a confession is one that Hunter would understand completely, Fitz still finds himself wanting to hold off delving into his relationship woes just yet. So, instead of confessing to the main reason he's come home, Fitz reaches into his back pocket and pulls out the passes to the Wimbledon finals that he'd tucked away. Tossing them to his friend, Fitz moves to collapse in the armchair situated in the far corner of the room.
"Lucky I brought an extra, Bobbi'd probably be a bit miffed if she couldn't tag along."
Hunter looks at the lanyards before letting out a low whistle and shaking his head as he holds them up and stares at Fitz with a look. Brows furrowing in confusion, Fitz looks at Hunter and waits for his friend to say whatever it is he's thinking. When Hunter does nothing but stare at him expectantly, Fitz finally breaks and asks, "What?"
Letting the passes drop to the bed, Hunter gives a small shrug before crossing his arms over his chest with a raised brow. "Nothing, just… she must have done a real number on you if you're willing to actually let us come see you play."
Fitz feels his mouth drop slightly in surprise at how easily Hunter has read the situation and he sinks further into the chair as though the extra few inches of space will serve as protection from his friend's newfound inquisitiveness.
"I don't know what you mea..."
"Mate, contrary to what you and my she-devil ex-wife believe, I do read. Though gotta say I'm a bit miffed that I had to hear about you and Jemma Simmons from the Mirror instead of you but…"
Fitz's groan cuts off the rest of Hunter's comment and he lets his head fall back atop the cushion as his fingers move to rub at the building pressure behind his eyes. While he knows that his friend is mostly joking, Fitz knows that any explanation of why he'd kept his relationship with Jemma under wraps will lead to conversations that he's not quite ready to have. Still, the expectant look on Hunter's face when Fitz returns his gaze to him makes it clear that he won't be able to evade the questions for long.
Letting out a sigh, Fitz cards his fingers through his hair and starts talking. "I wanted to tell you. But everything got so crazy and it was already so new I didn't… I didn't even have a chance to before it was over."
"Is it?"
He shifts his gaze to Hunter who's now leaning forward on the bed and staring at him speculatively. Furrowing his brows in confusion, Fitz tiredly rubs at his neck as he asks, "Is it what?"
"Over."
Pausing at Hunter's question, Fitz reflects back on the past few days and lets out another tired sigh as he nods his head. "Yeah I… I'm pretty sure it is. She was furious with me."
At that, Hunter lets out an amused snort and waves his hand dismissively at his words. "Take it from me mate, a mid-fight break-up isn't permanent until someone confirms it is."
He knows that his friend knows better than most the accuracy of that statement, but Fitz knows that the relationship between Bobbi and Hunter is wholly unique to them as individuals as well as a couple. Their naturally combative personalities mean that their fights, and subsequent break-ups, are all par for the course in the long run. Not to mention, they've been together, on and off, for nearly a decade, meaning their spats are infinitely less destructive than those had by a pseudo, sort-of, not quite, couple.
Rubbing his hands over his face, Fitz shakes his head and says, "I dunno Hunter. It's different with you and Bobbi. Jemma and I… we were just getting started. I don't think…"
The rest of his sentence is cut off by a muffled shout coming from down stairs, "Is that Leo's car I see out front?"
Fitz's gaze shifts to the door at the sound of his mother's voice and he springs up from the chair, making a quick exit from the room before bounding down the stairs. Rounding the corner he nearly barrels into her in his enthusiasm to see her and has to throw out a hand to slow himself down. Catching him around the waist, his mum lets out a loud laugh before tugging him into a hug that he's sorely needed.
Burrowing into the crook of her neck, Fitz lets out a long sigh that doesn't go unnoticed by his mum. Pulling back, she grabs his face in her hands and stares at him for a long moment, likely seeing every thought and problem written clearly on his face, before giving him a sympathetic look, "Come on love, let's have some tea and choccy biscuits. You can tell me all about it."
-O-
Three cups of tea, nine biscuits, two new additions to the table, and one long-winded story later, Fitz finds himself trying to suss out the varying pieces of advice that have been, and are still being, thrown in his direction
"Just call her mate. And if she won't pick up, just leave her a million voice messages until she does!"
Bobbi swats Hunter upside the head and gives him a stern look before turning back to Fitz and vehemently saying, "Do not do that."
Even his mum is shaking her head at that one and Fitz lets his head fall to the table with a thud, feeling somehow more confused about his situation than before. He'd thought some outside guidance might help sort out his head before the finals but feels infinitely more overwhelmed now that the advice is pouring in.
"You said it yourself Fitz, the reason Jemma's upset, or is saying she's upset, is because you did the one thing she asked you not to do."
Letting out another groan, Fitz rubs at his temples as he nods his head at Bobbi's words. "Ugh, I know. I know it's my fault that everything's mucked up but…"
He's cut off before he can finish and glances down at the feeling of Bobbi's hand laying atop his own. "That's not what I'm saying, Fitz. Jemma didn't lose because of you, we know that, you know that, and she probably knows it as well. But you going against her wishes again is frankly a terrible idea considering what happened last time."
His mother wraps an arm around him, tugging him into her side and resting her head against his shoulder as she hums in agreement. "Barbara's right son. From what you've told me, Jemma's quite the rational woman but it also seems that she's infinitely more emotional than you might have originally given her credit for. Give her some time, let her work out her own feelings first. This is new to her Fitz. All she needs is time."
He lets out another sigh at that, staring gloomily at his thumbs where they're fiddling atop the table. "Yeah I just… I think with enough time she'll realize how much better she can do than me. I don't want her to… I dunno."
His voiced insecurities pull three scoffs from the others at the table and Fitz glances up to see mirrored expressions of mild outrage on their faces. He expects Bobbi or his mother to speak up in his defense, to immediately chastise him for thinking that he's undeserving of the single most extraordinary woman in the world, and finds himself utterly shocked when it's actually Hunter who speaks first.
"Fitz, no girl whisks some random shag to a beachside house in a town that is more significant to her than anywhere else on the planet. She cares about you mate, give her a little time to cool down and then do what you did the first time: be the utterly charming bastard that you are and whisk her off her feet. Get married, have a bunch of English-Scottish hybrid babies, and live your life to the fullest. Don't settle for anything other than what you want."
Both his mother and Bobbi are looking at Hunter in surprise, their mouths slightly agape as the other man reaches for another biscuit. Turning to him slowly, Bobbi lets out a small chuff of laughter as she nods her head and points at her ex-husband.
" That I agree with."
-O-
The next morning, Fitz awakens to sunlight streaming in through his window and he stretches atop the bed with groan. The grey tint to the room makes it clear that it's just barely dawn, but he can hear puttering downstairs and knows that his mum has likely already been up for hours. Knowing full well that the same cannot be said for Hunter and Bobbi, Fitz tugs on a jumper before padding down the stairs for some time alone with his mother.
When he rounds the corner into the kitchen, Fitz pauses in the doorway and smiles at the sight of his mum cooking eggs and humming merrily as she does. He watches her for a few moments before the mouth-watering smells of the kitchen become too much to ignore.
"Enough for two?"
Glancing up at his question, his mother gives him a fond smile before shaking her head and saying, "With your stomach? I'd need to make enough for a dozen at least."
Fitz laughs at that, nodding his head in acquiescence and briefly thinking that Jemma would find this interaction hilarious. The reminder causes his smile to fade and he moves further into the room before his mum catches on to his change in mood. Giving her a quick kiss to the cheek, he ambles over to the counter and begins chopping the various ingredients that she's set aside for breakfast.
They work in a comfortable silence, Fitz diligently slicing and dicing as his mother adds to the pan and whips them up some omelettes. When their food is done, Fitz carries their plates to the small breakfast nook by the window and gratefully accepts the cup of tea that his mother places before him. Digging into their meals, Fitz makes it halfway through his eggs before reaching into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulling out the finals pass that he'd brought for his mum.
"Here, you should probably take this before Hunter tries to sell it on eBay."
He pushes the pass towards her along the table and smiles when her eyes catch sight of it. She plucks up the pass, eyes eagerly roving over the Wimbledon logo, but only a few seconds later her excited expression dims and she pushes the lanyard back in his direction.
"Oh Leo, I can't… I can't accept this. I'm bad luck."
Fitz scoffs, rolling his eyes at that before plucking up the lanyard and reaching forward to drape it over his mother's neck. "That's rubbish mum, and you've let me get away with that excuse way longer than you should've."
Giving her a smile as he pulls away, Fitz feels a warmth flood through him as his mother's hopeful excitement seems to return. He can tell that she's trying to keep it at bay, biting her lip in an attempt to contain her smile and giving him a questioning look as she asks, "Are you sure sweetheart?"
Nodding his head decisively, Fitz pats her hand with a grin before assuring her, "Tomorrow I'm playing the last match of my professional career and it's the Wimbledon finals. I want my mum cheering me on where I can see her."
His mother looks at him for a few long moments as if trying to determine how serious he's being before breaking out into a beaming grin and launching herself across the table to pull him into a back-breaking hug.
"The Wimbledon finals Leo! We're going to the Wimbledon finals."
When she pulls away, he can't help but smile at the sheer delight on his mum's face. Shaking his head at her words, he stares at her in astonishment as he says, "Hard to believe, isn't it?"
She shakes her head immediately, smiling at him with such tenderness as she replies, "Not in the least."
Hours later they're joined by a bleary-eyed Bobbi and Hunter who pad into the kitchen and collapse at the table with mumbles that Fitz thinks are meant to be morning greetings. They all eat and chat amicably before lazing around for the day, ambling through his mother's garden and lounging in the yard until late in the afternoon when Fitz and his mum hop into his car, Hunter and Bobbi following closely behind, and make their way towards London for the last match of the tournament, and the last match of his career.