this has slowly become a royjamie account

After the failed dinner where phoebe told roy that jamie t was sad, roy asks beard and nate if they've noticed jamie t being sad and they just sort of look at each other and ask if maybe this is one for the diamond dogs. so the dogs are called and even ted all the way in kansas knows about what's been going on and roy just can't figure out why it's such a big deal that he has a new friend. the diamond dogs are suitably incredulous at Roy's obliviousness (everyone with eyes and a brain cell can see what is happening)

Then maybe they have a few days off from training/matches but jamie c is away so roy decides to spend some time with his good friend jamie tartt! except when he goes to jamie (t)'s house, he isn't there. roy calls and texts him but he doesn't reply and he ends up having to ask one of the lads (maybe sam or dani) who tell roy that jamie is in manchester visiting his mum. they're suprised that roy didn't know because jamie has been excited about this trip for weeks and has mentioned it loads and roy genuinely can't remember hearing about it a single time. so roy gets off the phone with sam/dani and he's sat on jamie t's doorstep and has an 'oh, this is what it feels like' moment.

jamie t, up in manchester, sees that roy has texted and tried to call him and then he gets a text from sam/dani telling him about their conversation with roy and jamie isn't even surprised that roy didn't know. after the dinner with roy and phoebe, jamie has sort of just resigned himself to not being an important part of roy's life anymore and he hasn't really tried to talk to roy outside of work and roy just...hasn't noticed.

having gone back to his jamie-less (c or t) house, roy is forced to spend time alone and it forces him to confront the fact that he's /lost/ something. he's going through his fridge to grab something for lunch and there's (nutritionally approved) snacks in there that he bought for jamie t but they're weeks out of date - usually he can't restock fast enough, they're jamie t's favourite. he catches sight of the kunt jersey from uncle's day and something in his chest clenches tight and won't release. he puts on a show on tv and thinks up a joke he'd tell jamie t (based on an inside joke between them, no one else would get it) but jamie isn't there. roy realises he /misses/ jamie t so much it hurts and he doesn't understand how he didn't realise how silent his house was.

It all comes to a head a few days later when they're all back at the club. Roy drags jamie t into the boot room and (he isn't really sure how it happens) but jamie is having another breakdown. This is when it really hits roy, though, because unlike every time before jamie doesn't reach for him, doesn't cling to him or cry into his neck, he just curls into himself and roy has never seen jamie t look so small.

(will lets out a few sobs in solidarity with jamie but neither he nor roy notice him crouched by the washing machine)

anon! your back 🤍 this hurts my heart so much! i love it 😭💓 yes! yes! yes! to it all. there’s something so heartbreaking about jamie not seeking comfort from roy! i just know it would hurt roy just as much as it’s hurting me haha.

@fanficfanattic left this amazing comment on the last reply, which im canonising in this universe and i recon you’ll agree! to quote it:

jamie c says to roy “you know when we started hanging out you kept telling me all about what The Prick said to make you laugh. And everything reminded you of something Tartt!™ had recently done.

When you stopped doing that, I thought maybe you’d done it in purpose. Like you thought I was annoyed by it. I didn’t realize it was because you just /stopped/ spending any time with him at all outside of work.”

Roy’s single emotion at a time crashes into what he now assumes is his only singular brain cell because no he did not do that on purpose and actually cannot think of the last Not Work thing he’d done with Tartt before the disaster dinner. In a long while. Too long.

“Fuuuuuuuu-”

(chefs kiss 🙂‍↕️ all credit rightfully to @fanficfanattic!)

im imagining after this conversation/ realisation roy decides he needs to show jamie he still cares about him. so he amps up his acts of service (let’s be real roy’s love language is definitely acts of service mixed with quality time!)

step one: start bringing jamie the ‘disgustingly sweet monstrosity’ he calls coffee before work, to remind him that roy cares. (it only hurts a little when the barista looks surprised to see roy, “i thought you and your boyfriend broke up…” roy grunts and doesn’t correct them.)

step two: make sure jamie’s warm by remembering to bring the extra jumper he use to carry around for jamie. (“my upstairs gets cold but my downstairs gets hot”). turns out jamie’s taken to bring his own since roy’s stopped being readily available (jamie’s new jumper isn’t as warm or have the perfect pockets for wrapping his hands in.) jamie still declines.

step three: positive reinforcement and check ins! because as much as roy’s uncomfortable giving out compliments jamie thrives off them! he needs to be called a good boy as much as he needs food to survive.

all this attention after being neglected leads to the boot room confrontation mentioned above! jamie’s confused, hurt and pissed off that roy ’suddenly cares’.

imagine jamie curled up twisting his hands in the bottom of his shirt, taking them out every so often to flap them, but decidedly not opening up to roy. both waiting each other out. after too long, roy decides, fuck it, he’s going to initiate a hug! he knows jamie is a tactile person, has seen first hand how touch soothes jamie. (eg. in manchester with georgie and roy himself in the very room they’re standing in!)

but this time when roy reaches for him, jamie flinches away, reacting as if he’s been burnt.

“fuck off you hairy fucking has-been!”jamie roars. “what the fuck do you want from me” there’s a quiet gasp from behind the washing machine, but neither of them hear it. “you’re not fucking ted! so stop with this, i care, bullshit! you’re a shit gaffer, who was chosen because no one trusts nate!” roy’s stomach plummets. jamie’s just recited almost every insecurity roy’s had since being promoted. the same fears jamie told him were bullshit a month ago.

roy stares at him silently. when jamie’s hurt, his words cut to kill. how could he have left it get to this point, somethings really wrong if jamie’s lashing out like this.

roy knows he doesn’t mean it but fuck if it doesn’t hurt to hear. he doesn’t know what to say so he remains silent.

“fucking say something! yell at me! fucking throw something at me! just stop sta—” jamie breaks off into a sob, curling into himself. he grabs a fist full of his hair.

“FUCK! i… i didn’t mean that sorry. fuck! please! im sorry— im fine.” jamie is wailing now. his hands scrubbing roughly at the tears running down his face. roy wants to hold his hands before he tears his skin off.

“i don’t know what’s wrong with me”. jamie is choking on his sobs, gasping as he tries to hold back his cries. it’s not working. fuck it’s bad. his face is blotchy and roy’s beginning to worry that he’ll make himself throw up.

“jamie, you need to breathe” roy doesn’t reach for him. he wants to. “come on, you can do it, just take a deep breath.”

jamie can’t focus, he’s not listening.

“oi tartt, fucking breathe!” the response is instantaneous. “okay, good! that’s it breathe.” roy takes a step forward but jamie takes one back. roy’s chest aches but this isn’t about him. “it’s okay, ill stay here but i need you to sit down down… perfect, good! we’re going sit here quietly and breathe until you’re ready.”

they sit there for god knows how long, roy sneaking glances at jamie every so often.

eventually jamie gets up, swaying ever so slightly before turning towards roy. here it is! jamie’s going to tell roy what’s wrong, so he can fix it… “thanks, coach” jamie mumbles before walking out.

roy’s eyes burn. “will?” he croaks. waiting for the kitman to appear. will just nods wiping at his eyes before shuffling out of the boot room.

once the coast is clear, roy’s tears fall silently.

oh! i just had a visceral reaction to the thought of phoebe sadly asking roy if he likes ‘new jamie’ better than ‘old jamie’ and roy shocked into silence! phoebe misunderstands his silence and mumbles that “she likes old jamie better and new jamie should stop stealing uncle roy and making her jamie sad!” roy in turn is confused because, sure they haven’t been spending as mush time together, but they’re both busy… right? jamie’s in his 20’s surly he has better things to do than eat nutritionally approved meals on the roy’s sofa, watching obscure documentaries… right?

im imagine jamie finally organises some one on one time with roy for the first night in a while! he’s been begging roy for weeks now to come over and finish the documentary they started before jamie c showed up. roy’s going to make jamie’s favourite nutritionally approved meal and jamie’s really excited! things are feeling more normal!

roy has blown him off a couple times already for plans he’s had with jamie c! so jamie (t) is about to make the most of this night!

jamie (t) realised a couple weeks back that he can’t just show up at roy’s anymore. it took jamie sitting on roy’s porch for 2 hours in the rain before roy responded to his text saying he’s out…

they usually have dinner together after yoga on tuesday night. jamie (t) later finds out roy was with jamie (c)… and that jamie c met the yoga mums… jamie t hasn’t been allowed to meet them yet.

jamie doesn’t know why he’s so nervous, but tonight seems important! almost like if he can’t keep roy’s attention on him the voice in his head is telling the truth; “jamie was just a place holder after keely until roy found someone better to spend his time with…”

on a good day jamie struggles to sit still, tonight he thinks his heart might bust through his chest if he doesn’t move! he’s bounce around on the balls of his feet and wraps/ unwraps his fists in his hoodie relentlessly! jamie ‘knows’ he’s being annoying but he feels so disconnected from his body right now.

in the end roy won’t shut up about jamie c, “jamie said… jamie and i did… jamie told me… jamie jamie jamie” it’s only when ruth (roy’s sister) calls saying she’s needs to drop phoebe off that jamie (t) feels like he can breathe again.

yes he’s a little disappointed that it’s no longer just him a roy tonight but he likes spending time with phoebe, plus surly roy will talk about something else now that phoebe’s here… jamie is wrong.

eventually jamie goes to the bathroom and phoebe asks the question, jamie overhears and also misinterprets roy’s silence. jamie (t) comes up with an excuse and leaves early that night. roy’s head is still spinning over phoebe saying jamie’s sad.

@anon i don’t really think that answers your question at all but you totally unlocked a whole chapter in my brain so i hope you like it 🥹💓 but to actually answer i 100% agree that roy can be pretty oblivious, so i think phoebe’s comment wouldn’t be enough for a “fuuuuck” reaction! so im definitely coining your idea and jamie c has to spell it out for roy. im thinking roy finally gets the two jamie’s to meet and jamie (t) enters hardcore prick mode, he’s bratty, vicious and wants nothing to do with jamie c!

its after jamie t storms off, after roy calls him a prick that jamie c turns to roy and says “i think your boyfriend might be mad your spending all your time with another man” roy splutters looking at jamie c like he’s crazy. jamie c rolls his eyes “mate that kids fucking in love with you!”

in reference to this stunning fanart!

ok so i just googled jamie carragher, and he’s hot and dilf-y! (keep in mind i know nothing else about this man!) and now i have a royjamie fic idea!

imagine early season 4, jamie carragher sends flowers to roy again to congratulate him on becoming head coach and all the greyhounds start oohing and awing causing roy to blush hard telling them to fuck off! which only prompts the boys to giggle about his secret “girlfriend” more!

all the greyhounds BUT one: jamie tartt!

instead we a jealous/insecure jamie who is trying to figure out who roy’s new partner is. because as far as he knew roy wasn’t interested in dating anyone at the moment, especially after their equally colossal fuck up with keely! roy said that! those words to jamie! but maybe he was lying, maybe when jamie was in brazil roy met someone an— jamie’s thoughts are spiralling! he spends pretty much every day with roy, even tho it’s a little be less now that roy’s gaffer but still! he’d know… wouldn’t he…

since jamie carragher has now reached out to roy twice, roy decides to meet the man for dinner and they become friends! roy starts spending more time with jamie c, going out for dinner, going to women’s league games, they even start hiking together. i wouldn’t be mad if roy has a little crush on him, i mean mans is hot!

jamie t is pissed but mostly just sad. especially when he finds out it’s jamie carragher roy’s spending time with. jamie tartt has bratty ripped twunk going for him! he knows he will never have sugar daddy dilf energy. he’s just surprised that’s apparently roy’s type after all. (maybe jamie t starts trying to act older, more “sophisticated” he even starts buying roy nice things to compete with jamie c. roy find it concerning and asks him to cut it the fuck out hahaha. eg funny scene where jamie begs roy for a wine at dinner and after wearing down roy he agrees to one (1) and jamie takes a sip and subtly tries to spit it back into the glass pretending to enjoy it!

i love angst, so im imagining something like, jamie thought he and roy were heading towards something serious but now he’s “dating” another man.

it all comes to head when jamie t’s dad relapses and roy’s out with jamie c.

jamie (t) has called roy a couple times that night but after the 3rd call in a row, roy puts his phone on silent. jamie’s been “a moody little bitch lately” roy explains to jamie c, cranky and snapping at roy. roy’s assumes jamie’s either calling him to apologise for their argument earlier that day or to yell at him some more… he doesn’t realise how wrong he is until he comes home.

flushed from just the right amount of beer, arm slung around jamie c as they stumble towards the front door, laughing hysterically at each others stupid jokes. he doesn’t notice jamie t sitting on the front steps until the security light flicks on.

he sobers the moment his eyes meet jamie’s bloodshot ones. his gaze drifting to bruise sitting colourfully over jamie’s left eye.

“jamie what the fuck happened” roy steps forward shucking off jamie c to reach his jamie.

jamie won’t look at him “i called you 8 times” he mumbles, sniffling and wiping the blood and snot from his nose.

when roy finally tries to reach for him, jamie flinches back. roy reeks of stale beer… he smells exactly like his dad.

this fic would need to be hurt/comfort because i can’t deal with unhappy endings! but honestly dealers choice!

also let’s not paint jamie carragher as the bad guy in this fic! he’s just a hot unknowing bystander who didn’t realise how messy these boys are.