Chapter Text
*****Jamie*****
“Thanks, Kitman,” Beard said.
Jamie waited for him to be out of earshot.
“Do you mind him calling you that?”
“What?”
“Kit man,” Jamie repeated. “Instead of your name. If you don’t like it, he’ll stop.”
“Oh... no, he’s actually saying- well… that is my name. Will Kitman. It- doesn’t mean that. I mean, it’s from Old English, meaning the person in charge of a monastery kitchen. Which- I guess weren’t monks, or they wouldn’t have had kids to pass on the name to. Or there were some who weren’t very good monks, I guess- well, not very rule following-ones. I don’t judge consenting adults even if they’re maybe supposed to be monks. Or maybe they were just like hired help or servants or something.”
Kitman the kit man. That just sounded like a joke, but the lad was embarrassed, babbling on about his name. He couldn’t be as young as he looked.
“If anyone gives you shit over that, I can make ‘em stop. Can try anyway,” he amended. His say wasn’t what it used to be.
“Oh. Thanks,” the other man said, smiling. Like no one told him not to smile easy and big.
“How old are you?” Jamie blurted.
“What? Oh, twenty-one. I- hear that I look young a lot, but I’ll be twenty two in a couple of weeks. This is my first real job out of uni.”
“You went to uni?”
“Well, yeah. I would like to be in the business side of football, and sort of stumbled into this. Not exactly something that requires a degree, but I like it. I do some purchase orders, for new kit and such. If ah- well, sometimes Nate does it because-”
“Can’t let go of his old job?”
“Yeah, I guess. I- should go. Things to organise. Thanks for- looking out.”
“Yeah.”
*****Jamie*****
Maybe Jamie thought he could do that a bit- looking out. Not that he was needed. The lads seemed to like Will. His own place in the group was much more… like that drinking game of pulling the blocks and hoping they don’t fall. But they seemed to like Jamie alright after the tape thing.
Still, he could look out.
“Will, drinks? My treat.” It was a later training, and nothing the next day. Days like that were meant for drinks. Maybe food. Or more drinks.
“Oh ho! Drinks on Tartt!” Isaac celebrated.
“If you’ve blown your salary and can’t afford your drinks, you bought too nice of a fucking house.”
“I- you don’t have to buy my drinks either,” Will said, all nervous. Which weren’t what Jamie wanted at all. “And I should- probably finish up here.”
“Oi!” Jamie shouted to the room. “If Will can come, first two rounds for everyone are on me. Wipe your own damn boots, and don’ put anythin’ in the bag if it’s just sweaty, not stained. You’re just going to get it fucking sweaty again. You know, Man City has two kit mans just for the main team? And volunteers. It’s a lot of fucking work.”
“It is more ecologically friendly to do fewer loads of laundry,” Sam piped up.
“I don’t mind the work,” Will said, nervously.
Like maybe Jamie had fucked up. Trying to get him out of a job.
“Jamie’s trying to be a good person,” Isaac told Will, an arm thrown over his shoulders. “Don’ hold it against him if he’s crap at it from no practice.”
“Oi!” Jamie objected. But it were true.
“Wasn’t your plan to win us over again to buy everyone on the team a PS5?” Colin asked. Traitor. He’d said that in considerence.
“Yeah, where’s my PS5?” Isaac asked.
“You already got one,” Jamie shot back. “And Colin, if you need cash, sell the fucking Lambo. You’re a danger in it anyway. The doc says I need to stop buying friends. You’re supposed to like me for me personality.”
“And when that doesn’t work?” Colin asked. But he was cheerful, not afraid.
Jamie looked at Will instead, “Want a PS5?” If he was going to give one to someone...
“Hey!” Colin prosested.
“Lambo.”
“Oh- um- I have a PS4. That’s- I don’t need the new one. But thank you.”
Whatever.
He wouldn’t have to have loud thoughts with a few drinks.
Will stood up after one drink in two hours. Jamie wasn’t sure how many Jamie was on. Not too many, because he wasn’t sad yet.
“Hey, I’m- is everyone going to be okay getting home?” Will asked Jamie. Like Jamie was supposed to be the responsible one.
“Uber,” Jamie said. He’d left his car at Nelson Road. Wasn’t going to risk killing anyone. Or having his picture in the papers for drink-driving.
“Great, yeah.”
“Why ya leavin?” Jamie asked. Sounded weird.
“I er- don’t want to disturb someone coming in late.”
“Ya got a girl? Or flatmates?”
“Oh- um- I live at… home actually. I mean, I could be renting a place, but my parents are fine with me living at home and saving up. I- might just stay at home until I can afford a good downpayment and have an emergency fund. I- have a budget- five year plan and all that.”
Will was more of an adult than he was. Budgets and emergency fund. Five year plan.
Jamie must’ve been staring, because Will went on, “They don’t try to keep me from staying out late, or anything. Or from not coming home at all. Though I’d send them a text so they wouldn’t worry. I just- don’t want to bother anyone. And I’ve got my car here, so I want to be able to drive it, which maybe wasn’t the best planning. I saw some people leave them at Nelson Road-”
“S’okay. Don’ have to stay,” Jamie interrupted.
“I really appreciate being invited. So much,” Will said. He did that. Big-eyed honest-like.
“Night.”
“Goodnight.”
*****Jamie*****
“You had your birthday yet?” Jamie asked. Casual-like. He shouldn’t have, because a week and a half wasn’t ‘a couple weeks’.
Maybe Jamie had gotten him a gift or two.
“Sunday.”
“Got plans?” Jamie didn’t know why he asked. Jamie didn’t know how to make plans that weren’t to bars or clubs, and Will hadn’t seemed to really like that. Jamie was better at gifts. Because he had money for whatever.
“Just a dinner at home- my grandmothers and my step- grandfather are coming over,” Will explained.
“Sounds nice,” Jamie said. And fuck if that wasn’t the truth.
“Do you want to come?” Will asked.
What?
“Wha? I can’t- crash your family dinner, mate.”
“It’s not crashing if you’re invited, and you are.”
“Can’t do that to your mum.”
“There’s always too much food, because my grandparents bring things, and mum and dad overcook. Not that you have to come. I realise that could just- be a polite way to say that that sounds weird and you don’t want to- which is fine… but if you wanted to come, you’d be welcome. I’ve invited a friend or two some years, and haven’t this year- until I am right now, obviously. Though my littlest two siblings might bother you some- which I’d try to get them to not- but- yeah. So you probably wouldn’t enjoy it.”
“Alright,” Jamie found himself saying. “I could come… if you wanted.”
“Yeah? Cool.”
Jamie just nodded.
*****Jamie*****
On the day of Will’s family birthday dinner that somehow also included Jamie, Jamie followed Will’s car over from Nelson Road, even though he got the address. Even though Jamie hadn’t technically had any team obligations that day. He went because he liked their gym. And he didn’t like being alone at his place.
He felt like if Will’s car got out of sight, Jamie might not keep following with no one watching him. Will was easy to follow. Careful driver.
“Will!” A heavy, middle-aged man shouted as soon as Will got out of his car, and was hugging Will a moment later. Father, must be, though Jamie didn’t see much of a resemblance.
Jamie stumbled into the man’s sudden hug after.
“Oh! Hope that’s alright?” the man asked. Jamie must have seemed weird about it.
“S'alright.”
“I’m just so pleased you’ve joined us. You know Will, I have never met a kid who loved football more. And he certainly didn’t get it from me. I was always more of a ‘know barely enough for a conversation at work’ kind of man. Of course, I picked more up with his interest. But his mother and I were still worried with him going to work for a team.”
“Dad!” Will hissed.
“Not that I don’t think you are fully capable of doing an incredible job and handling any issue that arises, son, but you know the reputation the league has.”
“Dad! Please stop.”
“Okay, Will, I’ll try not to be too embarrassing, but can’t a father be excited to meet the new man in your life?”
“He’s not-”
“I swear I won’t even Google him as soon as your back is turned. Though, sorry, my boy, I do know your name and the chant already. I hear it often enough. Not from Will- with him being at the matches and all. But we watch them all- some of them from the stands. Our youngest is going to be jealous.”
“Dad, it is not like that. Jamie is a friend. A friend I haven’t actually told I’m gay.”
The man had an expressive face. “I’m so sorry.” He reminded Jamie of Coach Lasso. Even though they didn’t look or sound anything alike. “I’m so sorry, Will- both of you. I-”
“It’s fine,” Jamie managed. “M’ not a homophobe. Not gonna tease him or tell anyone.”
“You’re a good man, Mr. Tartt.” He wasn’t Mr. Tartt.
“Jamie,” he corrected.
“Jamie,” Will’s dad repeated. “I’m Charlie- or Mr. Kitman if you prefer. Whichever, really. Will’s mum is Carrie- or Mrs. Kitman. Welcome to our home, Jamie. You’re welcome any time. Really, anytime you want a home cooked meal- well, sometimes we do frozen or take away, but you get the idea. Any friend of Will’s is welcome any time.”
“Thank you- ah- Charlie,” Jamie decided, and wondered if he picked wrong.
The man smiled in a way that said he knew. It made Jamie feel like a kid, but he didn’t hate it so much.
“So polite. Carrie’s waiting inside, but it’s not quite set up, so I’m tasked with stalling Will a bit. I entrust that to you now. I’ll open the door when we’re ready.”
Jamie wondered if the man made that up to give them a minute alone.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Jamie promised when the door closed behind the older man.
“I- I mean, I don’t blame my dad for being surprised you didn’t know. I’ve literally never been closeted. I had my first boyfriend in second grade. We like held hands, and I kissed his cheek once, completely adorable. I- wouldn’t care if everyone knew I’m gay, except… I’m sort of afraid I’d lose my job? You know, if people don’t want me around showers and changing rooms. I swear I don’t stare at anyone. I try to minimize time I’m around people who aren’t dressed, just- it’s kind of part of the job, you know?”
“Keeley’s bi- well, she says she’s a two on the Kinsey scale- which she taught me about- And Rebecca likes when Keeley flirts with her. I don’t know if Rebecca actually likes women, but I’m sure she wouldn’t let you be fired for being gay. If they could even do that. Isn’t that illegal? I- we could talk to Keeley if you want?”
“That- um, maybe, yeah.”
That was confusing.
“Maybe or yeah?”
“Yeah. Yes. Thank you.”
“In person or text?”
“Text? It gets it over with, and- I know she’ll be nice.”
“Probably try to hug you next she sees you.”
“That’s- um, fine if Roy wouldn’t get the wrong idea.”
“Wouldn’t be fun to have Roy Kent jealous of you?”
“Uh- maybe a little, but seems unwise, and I don’t want-”
“Keeley wouldn’t let that happen.”
Will Kitman is gay and worried people will be shit about him being around naked blokes if they find out.
Jamie read it twice before sending, looking for errors.
He almost never had to wait long for Keeley to respond.
Should he have not said Will’s name? He didn’t think of that.
Oh, that sweet baby angel. We would never let anything bad happen to him for that. I promise. But I do think the lads are too good for that. If anyone gave him shit, the coaches would stop it before Rebecca even had to. Jamie, I am so proud of you for being a friend to him.
Thanks.
For the promise, not for the last bit.
Proud of him.
That was weird.
‘Proud of you’ from Keeley always meant he was getting a blow job.
But she was dating someone now, so that wouldn’t happen. And Roy was his coach. His coach who had finally started actually coaching him. So reading that just felt weird.
“Keeley says it’s okay,” he said, holding out the phone.
“Are you really handing me your phone with your history of text conversation with your ex-girlfriend pulled up?” Will asked.
Jamie frowned, “That was ages ago. Nothin’ sexy ‘less you scroll back months. She’s… my friend.” Had been his only one when he first came back to Richmond. And it had mostly been over text, so there were a lot of texts.
Will looked at the screen without scrolling at all.
“Thanks, Jamie,” Will said when he handed it back. That big smile. “Ready to meet my family?” he asked.
If it had gone okay with his dad, there wouldn’t be any problems, right?
“Sure.”
“Lewis and Mary might pester you a bit- they’re the youngest two. Sorry if someone pulls out an autograph book or sings at you. Ryan will be fine. He’s just two- well, two and a half- years younger than me. Then there’s a five year gap, then Lewis, then Mary just a year after. So, they’re thirteen, fourteen, and nineteen. Ryan’s taking a gap year before uni. Or, at least he says he’s still going to do uni. My parents would never try to make him. I think he’d like an apprenticeship better. Not that he couldn’t do uni if he wanted.”
Will was already finished with uni. Jamie wasn’t sure if that was fast or not, but he knew Will was smart.
The door opened slightly with no one there.
“That’s their sign for us to come in,” Will explained. “They’ll probably shout surprise.”
“This supposed to be a surprise?”
“Nope.”
The room was dark.
“Surprise!” voices shouted after Jamie stepped through behind Will. Jamie was glad for the warning. The light clicked on.
The house was nice. Or nice enough. Jamie didn’t know houses.
It was clean enough anyway.
Will must look like his mum, because she had to be the short, plump woman hugging him. Not that Will was either of those, just- something about the face.
“Jamie, we’re glad you could come. Would you like a hug?” the woman asked. Jamie wondered if Will’s dad had mentioned.
“Alright.”
She hugged as tightly as Will’s dad.
“Here, let me introduce you to everyone,” Will said, hand on Jamie’s upper back. “Nanny is my dad’s mom, and her husband, Grandpa George. Oh, Nanny’s name is Mary.”
“Just Nanny is better. Wouldn’t want to confuse me with little Mary.”
“I’m not little anymore!” Mary objected.
“And Granny Pike- Deborah,” Will introduced next. She looked older. She just lifted a hand in acknowledgment and smiled before looking off. Jamie wondered if she was mentally all there. Maybe. He hadn’t been around old people much. “And, you met Mum and Dad. This is Ryan,” he said.
Jamie shook the offered hand.
Will’s nineteen year old brother was taller and more muscular than Will, and looked older. They didn’t look much alike. Jamie wondered what he lifted. His handshake wasn’t too tight. Jamie hated the people who wanted to test him.
“Hey, nice to meet you,” the younger man said.
“Yeah, you too,” Jamie answered.
“Can you sign my jersey?” the girl asked, Mary.
“Mary,” Will’s mother warned.
“This is Lewis,” Will said, ignoring the others.
Lewis looked a bit like Will, Jamie supposed.
“Mary wasn’t supposed to ask you,” Lewis said, shaking Jamie’s hand next.
“S’fine,” Jamie said to the girl. “Is it one of mine? Because I can’t sign someone else’s jersey.”
“It’s yours!” Mary shouted, running off.
“I need a new one because Roy Kent retired,” Lewis complained.
Jamie tried not to feel anything at that. It wasn’t his fault. Was Roy’s tackle, and Jamie didn’t do anything wrong. Wasn’t his fault. And Keeley said Roy didn’t even blame him.
“And we need new Jerseys anyway,” Mary called, coming back in “Because we had to tape them. And bantr seems way cooler.”
“You’re way too young to be caring about a dating app. And the tape is a good lesson. It’s meaningful,” Will’s dad said.
“Jamie was part of getting the whole team to use the tape,” Will spoke up.
“Was Sam,” Jamie objected. “And then Isaac.”
“Yeah, he started it. He said he couldn’t wear it because they were destroying land in Nigeria. Isaac asked for it next, and then Tommy. Isaac’s and Tommy’s mums are also Nigerian. I think Tommy lived there a long time too. Sam said he wasn’t going to pressure the team to do the same to their jerseys, but hoped they understood why the Nigerians had to. Jamie asked for the tape. He said that the team had to wear the same kit. It was awesome.”
“Was nothing,” Jamie denied. Because he didn’t deserve it. Was Sam, really. Even though it felt nice. “I can sign your jersey, Mary. Could ask Keeley to ask Roy to sign yours. Much more likely to work than if I ask him.”
“Is Keeley his girlfriend?” Lewis asked.
“Yep.”
“But you’re friends with her too?” the boy asked.
“Yeah, we’re friends.”
“They used to date,” Mary told the room. She was enough of a fan that she’d looked into his life outside of football. That was unfortunate. Hopefully she hadn’t seen that show.
“Yeah, but we’re friends now.”
Jamie signed Mary’s jersey with the offered marker.
“No pestering the poor lad,” Will’s mum insisted. “We’re having Will’s birthday dinner. Now, let’s eat.”
Will found him lingering over family pictures. Will had looked about the same as a teenager, with his younger siblings looking so much younger. Could tell Will was the oldest then.
Jamie hadn’t meant to delay coming back from the loo.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Wha? Course.”
“Just- I know they can kinda be a lot to be around. Especially since… you probably don’t get to see your mum much, and I’m really sorry about that.”
“Wha?”
“Oh- I guess I shouldn’t- I just- heard about what you said at the ghost’s night- which, maybe I shouldn’t have asked anyone about, because I wasn’t there then, so I wasn’t- part of it- but- it sounded like you didn’t get to see her much in Richmond, so I thought maybe she was in Manchester.”
Jamie shook his head, “She’s dead,” he whispered.
“Oh, Jamie,” Will said.
Will hugged just like his mum and dad.
Jamie had managed using his arms with Will’s mum, but he did it without even thinking with Will.
“Few years ago,” Jamie murmured. “Cancer.” His new money hadn’t been able to do anything. And he’d fucking tried.
“I’m so sorry,” Will said. Still hugging him.
“Not your fault.”
“I know, just… okay, sorry if this is overstepping and not helpful, but… you’ve been a good friend, and I know I didn’t get to meet your mum, but if she just wanted you to be a good man- then I know she’d be really proud of you now.”
Fuck.
Jamie wanted…
Jamie wanted…
“Thanks, mate,” Jamie said instead.
Will didn’t move until finally Jamie started to pull away first.
Jamie wanted…
“Got you a gift, mate. And you can’t complain, because it’s your birthday.”
“I won’t,” Will promised with a grin.
Really it was just the one gift.
The games were just bonus, because you couldn’t give a PS5 and expect them to just play old PS4 games on it. Wasn’t really a gift without at least a few games.