Saturday, 7th January 2023 – Part One

Richmond FC 4 def. Manchester City 1

"Karaoke," Roy called out, the team getting louder than they'd been so far even in the moment the buzzer had sounded marking their win over City. They'd knocked those blue bastards out of the FA Cup and now they were going to celebrate. "Even you, Mr Fucking Hat Trick!"

Sam and Dani slapped Jamie on the back from either side of him. Jamie had won them the game with his hat-tick and the masterful way that he'd played the central cog role.

"I've booked us a room at Karaoke Epoc," Roy said. "Be there by 7, drinks are on me for the night."

The team whooped and jumped around the room.

"Fucking good game," Roy told them, stepping back into the manager's office. The door opened again a few beats later.

Roy turned to look and found Jamie standing there, hands tucked into his kit top.

"What's wrong?" Roy asked.

Jamie shrugged. "I feel a bit bad about…we knocked them out of the FA Cup."

Roy nodded and stood, walking over. "They're your team."

"Richmond's my team."

"Not for," Roy sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "There's the team that you decided for yourself but there's the team that you watched first, sitting next to your grandad or whoever it was for you."

"Me uncles," Jamie said. "Dad left Mummy when I was a sexy little baby but his brothers were right into City too. I'd only see him when I was with them mostly."

"Then they're always going to be your team even if Richmond has your…heart or loyalty right now. You can still love something even when it's no longer there for you."

Jamie nodded. "I'm really glad we won."

"I fucking know that," Roy said. "No one would doubt it."

"We're going to win the fucking FA Cup, Roy."

"Fucking right."

Jamie smiled and turned, leaving Roy to return to his team.

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Roy walked over to the DJ and started scrawling on the piece of paper.

"I can't read that, mate," the DJ said when he handed it over.

Roy laughed and leaned over to explain his request. The DJ scribbled it down for him and then Roy asked him for one more request before heading to the bar.

"You singing a song?" Jamie asked, taking the drink that Roy had handed him a few moments before.

"Fuck no."

Jamie laughed. "I'm turning off my fucking alarm now."

"I already did," Roy told him.

Jamie sipped at the drink with a smile. "I'm getting drunk…okay?"

"You can do whatever you want tonight, Jamie."

Jamie knew he wasn't being watched so he moved slightly closer and leered at Roy. "I'm going to remember that when I get you in bed later."

Roy felt the flush of heat across his ears and shoulders. The look on Jamie's face went directly to his cock. Roy took a deep swallow of his drink.

"Good," he growled out and stepped away.

Jamie laughed behind him.

Twenty minutes later, after Beard had belted out some Lady Gaga and Sam had attempted a song by Blur, Jamie realised just what Roy had been doing.

"And next up is Jamie, with an oldie but a goodie…Moon River," their MC announced.

Jamie turned to Roy and slapped him. "What did you do."

"You're the one that always fucking sings in the bath," Roy grumbled at him quietly.

Jamie threw his head back and laughed as he stood up. "Prepare for a fucking show, everyone."

The team booed and laughed as Jamie climbed onto the stage and took the mic. He let his tongue out and winked at Roy as the music started.

"Moon River, wider than a mile

I'm crossing you in style someday

Oh, dream maker

You heartbreaker…"

Jamie watched Roy's face completely shut down, a look of awe on his face. Jamie felt his chest tighten at the look and he forced himself to look away and at the rest of the team who were all whooping as he sang. Jamie had sung this song at his mum and Simon's wedding. He knew Roy couldn't know that, couldn't know his mum used to sing this to him when he was little, didn't know his uncle had been in a garage band when he was a kid, didn't know that Jamie had been their singer a couple of times.

"…Moon river
Moon river
Moon river…"

The team started hollering and whooping and Jamie bounced on his toes as he beamed at the team.

"Bet Roy-o thought I would butcher that," Jamie said, laughing. "That backfired didn't it, Gaffer?"

Roy rolled his eyes affectionately. "Fucking muppet."

Jamie laughed and handed the mic back, but the MC shook his head.

"You're signed up for another song, but he didn't pick it for you."

Jamie bit his lip…he knew what he wanted to sing but…

"Something Stupid," Rebecca said standing and smoothing her dress. "I'm singing it with you."

Jamie shook his head. "I can't sing with you; you're a proper fucking singer."

"Jamie Tartt," Rebecca said sternly. "You have a beautiful voice and Roy here is going to film it for us."

Roy nodded slowly and pulled his phone back out; he didn't realise anyone had noticed him recording Jamie's previous song.

Jamie looked at Roy and smiled. "I don't…okay, let's do this."

"You are amazing, Jamie Tartt," Dani called out.

Rebecca stood next to Jamie and took the second mic. "You've been hiding quite a skill there, Jamie."

Jamie looked down and smile. "Thank you, Rebecca."

"I know I stand in line

Until you think you have the time

To spend an evening with me

And if we go some place to dance

I know that there's a chance

You won't be leaving with me…" Rebecca and Jamie started.

Jamie meant to keep looking at Rebecca like she was with him, but he found his eyes passing straight past her to Roy who was still looking at him with something that made Jamie's chest too tight.

They came to the last lines, the song fading out and Jamie realised he needed to stop looking at Roy as he sang those words but couldn't tear his eyes away.

"I love you," The song ended, and Jamie looked back at Rebecca with a wide smile.

As soon as the music ended, he looked at Roy again to find the other man standing and striding for the bar. He turned to the crowd and smiled at the celebration of his teammates, falling into Dani's side when he stepped off the stage and then moving along the line of teammates until he ended up on Isaac's lap, laughing. Isaac shoved him off with a grunt and chuckle. Jamie bounced up to his feet and headed over to the bar. He froze a step away and listened to the barmaid hitting on Roy.

"What are you up to after karaoke?" she asked him, pouring a drink.

"Going home," Roy said with a shrug.

"I finish about the same time as your booking…"

"I don't think my partner would like that very much."

"What!" Jamie yelled, surprising himself with the volume he reached. "What the fuck?"

The music behind him went silent.

"Jamie?" Roy asked, voice soft, as he turned around, eyes fearful. Jamie could barely breath…all this time Roy had been…

"We live together, how the fuck do you have a fucking partner?"

Roy looked confused for a beat and then his face did something confusing.

"And you," Jamie said, pointing at the bar staff. "He's mine so hands off."

She looked at him with startled wide eyes. "You just said you weren't his partner."

"I know, he's…just because he doesn't want me to be his fucking partner doesn't mean that you can have him."

"What the fuck is going on," Colin whispered to Isaac who shrugged.

"Do they not know they are in a relationship?" Dani asked Sam.

"But they're so in love," Cockburn muttered.

Roy stepped closer to Jamie. "Jamie, what the fuck are you talking about? We've been dating for six months, and I know you don't want it to be anything more than that but-"

"Fuck off." Jamie growled out.

"You fuck off." Roy bit back at him, looking crestfallen.

"No, you fuck off," Jamie told him. "You would only come over on fucking weekends and you-"

"Roy, Jamie," Rebecca's voice cut through everything and made both men turn to her.

Jamie realised the entire room was silent and everyone was watching them.

"Fuck," Roy muttered.

"Perhaps," Rebecca said. "You should take a moment to find a different place to have this conversation?"

"You thought we were dating?" Jamie asked, voice soft.

"You fucking didn't think we were?" Roy asked back.

"My driver is outside," Rebecca offered.

"Fuck!" Roy growled. He stepped away from Jamie and looked at the team. "Have a fucking excellent night."

"Did you all think we were dating?" Jamie asked the room at large.

The team nodded slowly, eyes wide.

"Fuckin' 'ell," Jamie said, turning and fleeing outside.

Roy grabbed Jamie's stupid little bag and took off after him.

"Jamie," Roy said, stopping next to him. "I thought you knew and didn't want it to be anything permanent."

"Why the fuck wouldn't I want this forever?" Jamie growled, getting into Roy's space.

"You told me you were going to move."

"You didn't tell me we were dating…I thought you only wanted me there to keep me safe."

"I do fucking want to keep you safe."

Jamie stalked towards where Rebecca's car was parked and ducked his head down to look at the driver.

The man wound down the window. "Ms Welton informed me I am to take you wherever you need to go."

"There are two stops," Jamie told him, Jamie rattled off the address of Platypus Green.

"Two stops?" Roy asked, looking at Jamie as the younger man climbed into the back of the car.

Jamie turned and looked at him. "Get in."

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