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“Oi! Tartt, Boot room. Now!” Roy yelled before walking down the hall not turning around because he knew that Jamie would follow him.
“This is not the week for your mister fucking humble, great teammate bullshit. We got City on Saturday, so we need you to be the prickiest prick you've ever been in your little prick life. You understand? So I don't want you…” but before Roy could finish Jamie broke into tears Roy froze not knowing how to respond Jamie was always one to show his emotions on his sleeve but he had never looked quite so broken down and Roy was not good at handling crying people older than Phoebe. “Whoa. What is wrong?”
Jamie just spun around and shook his hands out trying to calm himself down or get himself together, “I don't... I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.”
He was freaking Roy out “Are you fucking dying or some shit?” Jamie didn't even have the energy to scoff at the absurdity of that question “No. No. I'm... No. I'm just... I'm just tired. But I can't sleep, and I can't eat. And I wash me hair, but I don't use any conditioner anymore 'cause I… Like, what's the fucking point?” Roy was still frozen so Jamie continued on “I feel like the guy in the Red Bull commercial who's pu... who's pushing that big rock up the hill, but... but he's lost his wings. Roy, I feel like... I feel like I've lost me wings, Roy. Where the fuck are my wings, Roy?” After his speech, Jamie just broke and fell into Roy's open arms and he reciprocated with a hug much like the last time he had witnessed Jamie this low in Wembley.
Will walked in and Roy immediately sent him away to tell Ted and Beard that they would be a tad late to training.
After a few minutes of Jamie sobbing, he started to calm down so Roy moved them to the bench and they sat down, no longer hugging but still close enough for one to feel the body heat radiating off of the other. “Tartt, look at me. What’s going on?”
Jamie shook it off and wiped his tears away “It's nothing sorry coach just tired, a bit of an off day” “Jamie” Jamie’s eyes shot up, Roy had never called him his real name, normally it was just little prick, or dickhead, or Tartt, never Jamie “I… I'm fine I’m just stressed” Roy was not so easily convinced “and?”
“Fine, and I'm a little depressed and feel like I’m shite at football when I'm definitely not and I miss me mum and Simon and I haven't heard from my dad since Wembley and it's really freaking me out, and ever since ZAVA left we have been doing great but I know that he would be so mad at me for not making all of the goals. And I haven't spent time with Keeley recently since she’s got that fancy new job and is trying to get over Jack and it still feels weird between me and the boys on the team and I feel guilty, so so guilty. It's been years and I'm still feeling bad about it.”
“Well that's a lot to take in, I'm sure we can figure it out and you don't have to worry about your dad you know I- we would never let him touch you. But what are you feeling so guilty about?”
Jamie shook his head not ready to release that information but Roy was persistent “Fine, I'm guilty cause I fucked it up for you I fucked everything up, and now we're friends and your training me and I just feel so guilty I feel like I don’t deserve any of it because you can’t have it because of me and you know me well enough to know when to pull me aside immediately and I know you but how could you really like me or want to know me after what I did to you? You hugged me and I didn’t deserve it, im sorry, ill go” and Jamie started walking towards the door “What the fuck do you mean you fucked it up for me?” “…” “Do you mean my knee because that was in no way your fault”
Jamie scoffed “Yes it was I didn't do it on purpose but I still did it and it's my fault that you had to stop playing, you were my hero, have been since I was a kid and I stopped you from playing so I tried everything to make up for it, I quit and my dad found me and I didn't do anything to stop him because I deserved it and I went on that show and hated every moment of it but it was fine because you weren’t playing so I weren't either and then I came back here and tried to get back to playing to help Richmond get back and at least fix relegating them but then you came back and weren’t mad at me so I tried and you trained me and I just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and it didn't so then I started feeling bad again because you never… I don't know, I'm just so so sorry coach so sorry. Sorry for breaking down on you like that. Can you just tell Ted I'm sick I promise I'll be here tomorrow morning bright and early wouldn’t want to miss the city match”
Roy stood up to follow him but before he could come up with anything to say Jamie was already halfway down the hall heading home. “Fuck”
The next thing Roy knows he’s heading to Keeley's office.
“You want my help with Jamie?” Keeley sounded surprised. “Well yeah you’re so good at emotions and stuff and I’m not.” Keeley smirked, “And you also wanted an excuse to see me?”
“No, well maybe, but I also need your help with Jamie, he’s all fucked in the head and upset which is fair but he’s also still guilty for my knee which isn't his fault but he thinks it is and he doesn't believe me so I need you to tell him as well so he can be back to his normal prick self by the city match. You’re coming to Manchester, right? Maybe you can come in the bus with the lads and talk to Jamie before movie night?”
Roy was pacing around so Keeley moved him over to her couch and they sat down together “Jesus Roy that was a lot of information but yeah of course I can help I knew there was something up with Jamie he’s seemed off recently and I’d love to hang out with the team just let me know what time I have to be there. Now I'm not trying to kick you out but if I'm leaving early tomorrow I have a lot of work to do but I’ll see you tomorrow bye babe” “Bye Keeles”
The next morning Jamie looked even worse, he showed up on time but looked like he hadn’t slept a wink the night before. He was also acting even more off than the day before because and didn't talk to anyone before getting on the bus, putting on headphones, and pulling his hoodie up. When everyone was getting on the coach he seemed so out of it that he didn't even notice Keeley or Roy trying to say hi to him.
Once they got to Manchester and everyone was sent to unpack, Keeley went looking for Jamie “Hi. Jamie, I just wanted to come and see how you're doing.” “Roy told you.” “Well, he's worried about you. Is that okay?” Jamie shrugged, “Yeah. Yeah, it's fine. I'm fine. I'm... I'm good. I'm... I'm great. In fact, I think I'm the best that I've ever been. You know? There's something so sad about a suitcase. Do you know what I mean? It's like… It's like a drawer without a home.” Jamie was falling apart right in front of Keeley's eyes and she couldn’t do anything so she tried to calm him down the best she could to keep him from hyperventilating “Hey, Jamie. Look at me. You've got a lot going on right now.”
“Mm-hmm. There's a lot going on, yeah.” Keeley continued, “This is the first time you've played back home since you left. The crowd's gonna hate you. And the person who's gonna be booing the loudest in the crowd is your dad.” Jamie paled “I didn't think of that. Yeah.” “And I know a lot of people are shit-talking your hair online.” “They're what?” “No! Think about it. If you guys win tomorrow, then you will be on the precipice of achieving everything that you've ever dreamed of.”
“Oh, my God. I was so worried about everything else I didn’t even think about that fuck Keeley. Are people really talking shit about my hair? I’m trying but it's hard to get it right when I'm not using conditioner” “Babe why aren't you using conditioner?” “I don’t deserve it, I fucked Roy’s whole career, and it's all my fault, and I feel like death and I have no energy and I miss you and Roy has been so nice to me and I love it I really do but I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop and I don't know what to do because I need him to coach me and its great but I feel so anxious whenever I'm around him and he said he forgave me but I don't know if I believe him” Keeley reached forwards to give him a hug “Oh babes, of course, you deserve conditioner what the fuck are you thinking, you deserve the whole world and I'm sorry I reminded you of your dad I shouldn't have done that and I think your hair looks so hot lately I don’t know what the people online are talking about. And for the Roy thing, I think that he loves coaching you just as much as you love him there because he is always talking so happily about you which also proves that he forgives you. I was there the night he got hurt and there was not a single moment that he blamed you. Not one single moment and I need you to believe that okay we need you to believe that because you deserve so much better than being eaten alive with guilt about something that happened years ago that he isn't even mad about. “Thanks, babe” “Of course, and also how sure are you that the nervousness you are feeling isn't just the sexual tension because honestly, I could cut it with a knife” Jamie stumbled “Keeley whoa, shit!” and then fell face first into the bed “Sorry, Jamie. Ooh! I'll give you a minute to think about that”
A few minutes later when the whole team was sitting for the movie night Roy slid closer to Keeley to ask “How'd it go with Jamie?” “Yeah, I fucked it. I made it worse.” “Ah, shit.”
After the movie Roy and Keeley watched Jamie sneak out and followed him to his mum's house. While Jamie was downstairs talking to his mum Simon gave them the grand tour which ended in Jamie’s childhood bedroom which neither of them had ever dreamed of seeing.
“Whoa,” Keeley said as soon as she saw the poster “fucking hell” Roy added but Simon just smiled “Ah, yes Many posters have come and gone over the years. Henry, Gerrard, Ronaldo. But Roy Kent always remains…Oh! Meat pies are done. Excuse me.” and then Simon left and closed the two into Jamie's bedroom which showed them the hidden poster of Keeley ``Whoa.” “f*cking hell, I want Jamie to come up and see us both here next to our pictures. I think the little prick would just die" "What do you mean?” “Oh come on Roy” “No really I get him seeing you I mean you’re totally hot and clearly his teenage dream but why both of us” “Really Roy I refuse to believe you don't know how much he likes you and I guess if your poster was here first it makes even more sense that he would die seeing you in here”
“Are you saying you think Jamie likes me like he liked you?” “Umm yes” “Okay why are you telling me this? Weren't we subtly not so subtly moving towards being more than friends again?” “I mean we totally have, I can't argue with that” Roy looked confused “Do you really want to try again?” “Of course, I do” “What if I coddle you too much again and you hate me?” Keeley laughed at him “First off I could never hate you and Well I can think of someone else you can coddle who will never get annoyed by it” “fuck… that's what you meant. Are you suggesting a threeway?”
“I mean if that's what you want to call it but I was suggesting a romantic and sexual polyamorous relationship between me you and Jamie” They both jumped when they heard a gasp from the door “You’re suggesting what? Is this a coma dream?” Roy was frozen so Keeley jumped in first “Oh hi babe didn't see you there”
“Umm is this a joke because of the posters because it's not funny? Especially with the week I've had it’s kinda mean” Jamie seemed to shrink in on himself before Keeley confirmed his dream come true “No love it's not a joke, We haven’t really talked about it so I think we all need some time to think before we seriously consider it but it seems like you’d be interested” “Of course I’m bloody interested, Roy?”
“Oh umm yeah I haven’t put serious thought into this like you both have but I’m definitely intrigued by the idea. How about we go back and sleep on it and then meet up after the game back in Richmond?” Roy said which brightened the smiles on Jamie and Keeley’s faces who were not expecting such an optimistic answer.
The next day the game was great for everyone but Jamie. Everyone was booing and he was paranoid about his father being there but Richmond was still playing strong. But when Jamie got hurt everyone seemed to freeze for a moment. Keeley reached for Rebecca, but Roy just stared, watching Jamie struggle to get up.
The second Jamie was on the sidelines Roy ran over to talk to him. Jamie was insistent that with pain meds he could go back on he was just anxious about his dad, “Listen, Tartt, you do not have to go back if you can’t I don’t want to see you get hurt worse” “I’ll be okay grandad I just need a minute for the meds to kick in and to block out the booing and I think it would definitely help if I could find my prick of a father in the stands because it’s I can't find him and It's freaking me the fuck out.” Jamie said while rubbing his ankle and looking around seemingly still trying to find James Tartt Sr.
Roy took a deep breath trying to think of what to say before turning to Jamie, “Why are you looking for him? I know me saying this doesn't change anything for you but he isn't anything to you anymore. He was a shit parent who did nothing but hurt you and you are looking for his approval still but fuck him he sucks and I hate him, wish Beard didn’t pull him out so fast at Wembley so I could have got a few punches in. You have an amazing mum and Simon didn’t seem too bad so do this for them, do this for yourself, do it for me, don’t make all of my coaching go to waste. Don’t do it for that piece of garbage. Win for yourself and who cares if they are booing. Don’t focus on them focus on Richmond and Ted and Beard and Rebecca and Keeley of course who are all cheering for you. I'm so proud of you Jamie and I know that you can do it so if you’re feeling okay for one last goal go out there and be the little prick we both know you are” Jamie smiled “You're what?” Roy rolled his eyes at him, “So incredibly proud you dick” “I know mate I’m Jamie fucking Tartt”
“Tartt” Jamie chuckled “Sorry coach I don't know how to react to praise from older men in my life” “Older?” “Sorry, but thanks, coach. You’re right I should win for myself and the team, not that piece of shit”
Jamie Tartt Do, do, do, do, do, do is heard throughout the stadium as he makes his way back into the game.
And Jamie Tartt all but clinches the win for Richmond with a spectacular solo goal! And listen to this response from the City supporters, an ovation for a visiting player who was also one of their own. You don't hear this every day. Just think of what it means for Tartt to hear this. And what it means for his family.
And it really meant everything to Jamie in that moment when he was at his lowest less than 24 hours before. And now he was on top of the world.
The whole coach ride back was spent celebrating their win against Man City and the first moment of quiet Jamie had all night was in the treatment room. He was beyond happy and finally realized that there was no way Roy was upset with him so he had nothing to be guilty about, he was so worried about his father but honestly, the man wasn’t in his life and he hadn’t seen him since Wembley and had no plan to see him any time soon so it shouldn't matter what he thought about him. He had been so stressed about it becoming weird with Roy or him losing Keeley as a friend but now Jamie was almost certain they both wanted to be with him so he was on top of the world, felt like he was floating with everything suddenly off his shoulders. He was feeling better than he had in months and the smile only got wider when there was a knock at the door.
Roy and Keeley walked in with champagne “Hi.” “Hey. What are you guys doing?” “We thought we'd come and keep you company.” “fucking celebrate” “‘Cause that was fucking amazing, Jamie.” “Right. What the fuck happened, man? Did I look sexy?” “Course babe, that's also what we wanted to talk about, We promised tonight we would and I think Roy has something to say” “Oh come on Keeley don't make me say it” “Roy”
“Fine, yes Jamie you were proper fucking sexy out there” “I knew it. I knew you liked me, you know how? I knew there was something else behind the ropes coach. Is it something kinky you want to try out because I'd be down and I have a feeling Keeley wouldn't have any complaints? Huh, Keeles?” “What ropes?” Roy tried to change the conversation, “It's nothing we’ll talk about it later” “I KNEW IT” Keeley just laughed at them “Jamie now is not the time, maybe later. So back to the main point, who’s up for trying out this polyamory stuff?”
They talked for hours and ended up going to Roy’s house once the lights at Richmond went off for the night. They got changed and Jamie showered off the game only to be given one of Roy’s old kits to wear to sleep. They moved to Roy’s bed to help elevate Jamie’s ankle and after agreeing to start dating slowly and not publicly they fell asleep cuddled together with Jamie in the middle”
The next morning Roy woke up with Jamie pressed along his front and Keeley on Jamie's other side a bit further away because she hated to be trapped in the night. He watched his partners slowly wake up both looking happier than he had seen them in months and he felt equally as giddy he just hid it a little bit better because he had a reputation to uphold. So he left them upstairs to be sappy and went to the kitchen to make them both breakfast in bed and bring Jamie some ice for his ankle. When he showed up with omelets and pancakes he was rewarded with kisses and sweet words and had never been happier.