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Jamie Tartt kind of really hated Christmas. He didn't talk about it much; didn't want to ruin everyone else's fun, but it just wasn't a good time for him.
As a kid, Christmas was one of the worst days of the year. Something would always set his dad off. Always. Might be that dinner was a bit late, or the gifts he got weren't good enough (even though he gave crap ones) or the weather was wrong. Sooner or later, his dad would get mad, get drunk, and get violent. When his parents split, it weren't any better, as he still had to see him on Christmas, or the thing his dad would be mad about would be that he couldn't see his own son on Christmas due to his bitch ex. Even when he was grown, it was like his dad's ghost haunted the holiday, just lingering in the corner of his eye and waiting to strike. No matter what, Christmas to Jamie Tartt was just a fancy day of waiting for the shoe to drop.
Honestly, one of the things that Jamie liked best about being loaned to Richmond in the beginning, other than getting to be the star, was that he had an excuse to avoid the holidays altogether. He told his family he couldn't travel up to them when he'd have a match the next day, and he told the team he went to see his family and came back on the late train. And because nobody would willingly spend Christmas alone, eating takeaway and playing FIFA; plus, nobody really liked him that much, so no one questioned him.
At least, no one until Dani Rojas joined the team. Dani always wanted to hear about Jamie's holidays. Which, honestly weren't that weird; Dani wanted to hear about everything Jamie did. And Jamie wanted to know about everything Dani did, too, just part of being best mates and all. But it meant that for once, he had to come up with actual lies about his Christmas. But he managed it, just told Dani he did whatever he would have done if his dad weren't lingering around like the ghost of Christmas Shouting Matches.
But then he and Dani got a place together. Dani hated living in a flat, thought it was too small, but felt that buying a house or hell, even signing a long-term lease would jinx him and he'd be traded. And Jamie hated living in a house alone, always felt like he was rattling around in too much space. Jan Maas had been the one to point out the solution.
"I do not understand." He said after his third round at The Crown & Anchor. "If you have too much space–" he pointed at Jamie– "and you don't have enough space" – he gestured at Dani– "then why don't you just share space? You share everything else. I've seen you share underwear."
"Shut the fuck up, Jan Maas." Jamie barked out, mostly because he was right. In fact, he was pretty sure he was wearing Dani's brief's as he spoke. Dani was too polite to say it, but he did nod into Jamie's shoulder as he said so, so he knew the other man agreed.
The next day, they admitted Jan was right, and Dani was moved in by the end of the week. Dani felt like he could fully settle in and decorate the way he wanted, because if he got traded he could trust Jamie to post him his shit, and Jamie got to have company to keep the thoughts of loneliness and unlovability at bay without picking up randos in bars. Plus, they could carpool and split the chores! It worked out like an absolute dream.
But all dreams have to end, and Jamie's ended on November 1, when Dani announced he wanted to get a jump on decorating for Christmas, so where were Jamie's decorations?
Turns out, it's hard to hide that you own no Christmas tat from someone who lives in your house.
Jamie awkwardly confessed his past lies to a heartbroken Dani, who thankfully was overlooking Jamie lying to him for years in favor of zeroing in on Jamie saying he'd never had a good Christmas. Apparently, that was something the striker could not tolerate.
"I won't let that pendejo who calls himself your father take any more from you, muchacho!" Dani declared. "I will teach you how to have a good Christmas!"
Jamie found himself dragged to the car to acquire all the bits and bobs Dani said you needed for a proper Christmas. Five hours later, he found himself decorating the new, ten-foot tree Dani had insisted was needed for their living room. Well, Dani would say decorating. Jamie categorized his actions as "waging war on fake pine needles and strings of lights with his bare hands".
"Fuck! What the fucking christ is this goddamn light caught on?" Jamie bit out as he tugged on a string that wasn't reaching the branch he needed it on, even though it was long enough five seconds ago, what the actual fuck. "Dani, mate, I don't think Operation: Decent Holiday is off to a good start."
Dani glanced up at him from where he was winding lights 'round the bottom of the tree, which Jamie had to admit was a very pretty picture that about made up for how bad the fake pine needles had ripped his hands up. Seriously, those things should be against the general convention or summat. "What makes you say that?"
"Cause I don't think a good Christmas should have this much swearing." Jamie shrugged. "Just feels un-Jesus-y."
Dani let out a laugh, one that shook his whole body and lit up his face even more than usual, which always surprised Jamie when it happened, because Dani glowed like the sun as his default setting. "Of course you swear when putting on the lights! My mama always says that it's not Christmas until she says 'puta' three times in a sentence."
"Then why–" Jamie started, but Dani cut him off.
"It only takes a couple hours for the lights. Then the ornaments are fun, and we have something nice to look at for two months." He explained.
Jamie frowned as a thought passed through his mind. "Is that why we're doing this in November? So we get maximum enjoyment from the pain?"
"Si." Dani nodded. "Plus, I ordered a custom nativity set that's arriving tomorrow, and I want to set it up so we can post first and make everyone else jealous."
Jamie laughed, but he knew Dani was serious. Seasonal decorating brought out a very dark side of Dani, one that usually only came out for international football. It freaked everyone else out, but Jamie just thought it were hot. Or he would have, if he had a crush on Dani. Which he didn't, obviously.
The next day, the promised nativity set arrived. Jamie had been expecting something bright and colorful, to honor Dani's Mexican heritage in the sea of grey that was English winter. Instead, he got–
"A Richmond nativity scene?" He asked.
"For the seventh time, si." Came the annoyed response. "Now help me set up the holy family!"
It was actually proper clever, Jamie had to admit. The wise men were Keeley, Sam, and Dr Sharon, obviously. Roy, Nate, and Beard were the shepherds, Trent Crimm was the angel, and the players made up the animals and such. He and Dani made sure to put everyone with their friends, so Jan was with Richard, Colin with Isaac, and the two of them as well. No, as far as Jamie was concerned, the only flaw was the holy family, and not even the people Dani picked as much as their reaction.
"You do know that Ms. Welton is going to kill you, right?" Jamie says as he positions the life-size figurine across from Ted, who's filling in for Joseph, before adding the football to the manger.
Dani just shrugs. "Some things are worth dying for."
Jamie isn't sure how he feels about a life-size Richmond nativity on his yard being that thing for him, but if it makes Dani happy, he supposes it's alright. "Fine. But we need to hurry before we lose the light for the Insta pics."
When Dani had expressed his plans for Jamie to finally have a good Christmas, he thought that the decorations and trees and presents were all that he meant. Add in a dinner where no one starts shouting and that would honestly be the best he'd ever had. But Dani is Dani, and Dani is an overachiever. So he really wasn't that surprised when Dani grabbed him after practice and took him to a toy store.
"Christmas is about being generous, appreciating what you have and giving to those with less." Dani explained. "We have so much, we can easily be the magic for someone else! So I asked Ms Welton if we could help with her toy charity this year."
"That, and you needed back in her good books after the nativity fiasco." Jamie snarked.
"Si." The Mexican agreed. "I do not know why she was so mad! She is the mama of the team! I just wanted to acknowledge her role in our lives."
"Yeah, but you also made her acknowledge the thing between her and Ted, and she weren't ready for that." Jamie reminded him. "Still, we did get the most likes and comments out of any Premier Leaguer's Christmas decoration posts."
Dani smiled at him. "That is true. Keeley even gave me some good tequila as thanks! But we cannot give that to the kids. Now, should we split our list in half, or go together?"
Jamie looped his arm through Dani's and gestured at the toy shop's doors. "Together, muchacho. Always."
It took three weeks of after practice excursions, including a 7-hour shopping marathon, several debates, three shouting matches, and one clothing store employee with the patience of a saint, but in the end, Dani and Jamie had filled out the wish lists of 2 dozen children in Richmond. They also decided to drop off the gifts early, so no one would think they wouldn't get anything for Chrstmas, but like Ms Welton, made sure to deliver everything themselves.
Jamie remembered being little, seeing just one gift under the tree, usually a football or new cleats, so getting to see the light in these kid's eyes as they took in the horde of presents, just for them, made his heart feel warm and fuzzy, the same way looking at Dani did when the brunet started running in circles on the pitch because he was just happy to be there.
He and Dani posed for pictures, signed autographs, and answered questions about why Santa was having two footballers deliver presents two weeks early.
"Can you keep a secret?" He asked the little boy who'd asked. When he nodded furiously, Jamie knelt down to whisper. "I were on the naughty list last year. So, I'm doing community service. Otherwise I don't get any presents this year."
"What about Dani Rojas? Is he naughty too?" the boy asked, pointing at where the other man was playing tea party with a girl a little older.
Jamie laughed. "Oh, no. Dani's always on the nice list. He's watching me, to make sure I do it right."
Dani, well acquainted with the routine by then, took out a notebook and scribbled something, supposedly taking notes on Jamie's performance. In reality, it were just ideas on what to get Bumbercatch for Christmas. The Swiss was a nightmare to shop for.
The Sunday before Christmas, Jamie figured he and Dani could have a bit of a lie-in. However, Dani had other plans, brandishing tickets at him and telling him to dress nice, their ride would be here in half an hour.
"The Nutcracker?" Jamie read the tickets. "Why are we seeing The Nutcracker? Ain't that an American thing."
Dani shrugged as he searched in vain for his favorite gloves. Jamie swore Dani had ten pairs, but he were constantly losing them, and always somewhere in the house. Dani just blamed gremlins.
"Oh, si. But my Tia Julia is American, and she introduced us to it." Dani swore as he gave up and grabbed one of the backup pairs Jamie started keeping for him.
"That's the retired ballerina, right?" Jamie did his best to keep track of Dani's sprawling family. He may or may not have made a chart and had a dedicated study session once a month. "Came to Mexico City for a tour, but fell in love with the bodyguard assigned to her–"
"And never left, opening her own school instead, yes." Dani nodded. "She made sure I appreciated ballet. There's a lot of strength in ballet, and movement, just like football. And the passion! For the dancers, it is life like football is for us. I love watching it."
As the show went on, Jamie had to admit Dani was right. Ballerina's might look all frail and dainty, but the things they did! Standing on one foot, the other leg up by their head or turning in circles so much that Jamie got dizzy watching them but they were fine or their feet moving so fast Jamie could barely see them, but he knew that every movement was made on purpose, for a greater goal. It was like watching a perfect play of total football, a million parts making a gorgeous whole.
And the men! They jumped so high that Jamie felt sure they could have leaped over him if they wanted, then hoisted the ballerina's over their heads without breaking a sweat. And they did it all with tights putting their packages on full display, for everyone to see. That took a level of confidence that Jamie could admit he didn't quite have.
Jamie admitted as much over coffee after the show, both men preferring to let the traffic die down before trying to get a cab home.
"It takes cojones, that's for sure." Dani agreed. "It was the hardest part of Tia Julia's lessons when I was a teen."
Jamie stopped, his mind filled with images of Dani in tights and no top, his hair pulled up to let the strong lines of his neck show. It was a nice picture, he had to admit. But he couldn't dwell on that right now, not when they were about to climb into the backseat of a honda civic and stay there for 40 minutes. "You did ballet as a kid?"
Dani smiled and nodded, a faraway look in his eyes that he often got when talking about his family. "She thought it would help me improve my footwork and balance, to learn how to move my feet while my body stayed still."
Jamie thought about Dani's playing, about how graceful he was, how effortless his control seemed. "She was a smart woman. After all, you are the star striker."
"Only because you passed it up." Dani reminded him; the argument an old one. Which was stupid, because obviously Dani was the better footballer.
Suddenly, both their phones got an Insta notification. Then another. Then another. Then they started pinging so much Jamie was worried they'd vibrate off the table in order to end their suffering.
Dani opened his first, his social media addiction giving him the edge. "Apparently some fans saw us at the show!"
He held out his phone, and Jamie looked to see he was right. Someone had posted a poorly lit photo of him and Dani, tucked together as Dani explained the plot because Jamie didn't read the program and hadn't realized there weren't any words. The caption read "Am I nuts, or are there Premier League champions at my Nutcracker performance?"
The comments underneath were blowing up, getting added faster than Jamie could read them.
Yeah, that's @theonlyjamietartt and @footballislife. Somehow.
This is definitely a "you're chocolate is in my peanut butter" moment.
Well, this explains who was doing the sports whooping and cheering after every solo.
Hey, they got the spirit! They're a little confused, but they got the spirit.
There are hot footballers who like ballet, and they're dating each other? That's just unfair.
Jamie gave up after that, but one comment jumped out at him. "Um, Dani? Are you supposed to not loudly whoop and whistle and shit after impressive bits of ballet?"
Dani looked up at him like a deer in headlights. "No?"
Jamie just glared at him, and the other man crumpled. "Okay, fine! You're just supposed to clap."
"Dani!" Jamie cried in exasperation. "Why didn't you tell me to knock it off? I've never been to the ballet, and now I'll probably never be allowed again! Plus, I ruined those people's shifts at their jobs!"
"You were having so much fun, mi vida." Dani explained morosely. "I didn't want to ruin it. Besides, the dancers definitely liked knowing their hard work was appreciated."
They sat in silence for a minute, before Dani sat up straight. "Wait, are you upset that you think you won't be allowed back to the ballet?"
Jamie shrugged. "I mean, yeah? It were pretty cool to watch. I wouldn't mind seeing more."
Dani pulled out his phone. "They're doing Dracula around Valentine' Day, and we don't have any away matches. Want to go? Tia says it's one of the best new shows she's seen in a decade!"
"It's a date." Jamie agrees.
Christmas Eve, after the team secret Santa and party, Dani and Jamie have champagne before Dani dragged him to a midnight mass.
"I am not doing that again, mate." Jamie told Dani once they get home as ass o'clock in the morning.
Dani pouted. "But it is the whole reason for the holiday–"
"Why were they singing all seven verses of fourteen different hymns at 1 AM in the morning, Dani?" Jamie cut him off.
His raven haired golden retriever collapsed, as allowing himself to admit that the service was way too fucking long. "You have a point. I don't think Mary would have appreciated having to stay up that long after giving birth."
The last item on Operation: Decent Holiday was the AFC Richmond team party. That one took the least amount of convincing. A holiday meal that neither of them had to cook? Sold! Dani once again brought his ponche, while Jamie made jam thumbprints from scratch. They were his mum's favorite, and the warm, buttery cookie with their bright filling was easily the highlight of his Christmas memories.
The oddest bit was that no one seemed surprised to see Jamie accompanying Dani. They simply welcomed him and complimented his biscuits, as they got eaten two at a time. Luckily, Jamie had known his audience and brought six dozen. Dani had eagerly helped, though a slight mishap has resulted in him getting covered in flour at one point. And as Jamie had looked over at the other man, coated in white residue and laughing, he felt the last of his Christmas dislike melt away. That is what Christmas was about, having good times with the people you loved. And Dani had given him that, over and over and over.
And when they went around the tables (and surfboard, which confused Jamie but everyone else insisted was tradition and who was he to argue) to give their own Christmas toast, he said as much.
"I've, er," he started, fiddling with his ear, unfortunately with the hand holding his drink, so he sloshed it down himself, "never had a good Christmas. Me dad just– yeah, it weren't a good time. But this year, Dani Rojas took it upon himself to teach me the true meaning of Christmas. And he did a great job. So thanks, Dani, for being my own Christmas angel and teaching me about all the joys of the holiday."
"Not all of them." Sam broke it, a grin on his face. "Look up."
Jamie did, seeing a sprig of mistletoe in the archway above him and Dani that definitely hadn't been there before. He was sure of that because when he turned around, Jan Maas was standing there with greens in one hand and blue tack in the other. "You both are driving us crazy. I make no apologies." He shrugged. "Consider this our Christmas present."
Dani might not have included mistletoe on the list, but as they kissed under it, tasting of cookies and spices, and yes, some of the pre-cheekied ponche, Jamie felt like that that was a definite oversight.
In fact, getting to kiss his best mate in front of everyone, and run his fingers through Dani's silky hair, and know that this was not just mistletoe, but something bigger and realer, that they hadn't admitted to because what if they were wrong but they were both so right, was all Jamie needed for a good christmas. There was just one problem, he realized, as he and Dani pulled back for air, brushing his thumb over his boyfriend? Partner? Soulmate? Soulmate's kiss-swollen lips.
"What the fuck are we supposed to give the team next year?"