Chapter Text
It was a cold, miserable, rainy day and Richard had awoken in the wee hours of the morning due to the sound of rain pounding against his window. He rubbed his eyes and sat at the edge of his bed. Reaching for his phone, he remembered that it was 2 in the morning and only a complete mentalist would be awake at this time. Pushing that thought to the back of his head, he kept the phone in his hand and got out of bed, found a cosy jumper to put on, and went downstairs.
The house was lonely and quiet, much like Richard had been after his divorce nearly 4 years ago. He wasn’t sad about it, like most people expected him to be, he felt more relieved now that he didn’t have to hide who he really was. He was full of love but he just wished he had someone to share it with. Well, he did, but not really. He didn’t know if the person he loved, loved him back. And he sure as well wasn’t going to ask.
He fixed himself a cup of earl grey tea and sat on his couch, looking out the window at the dark sky and clouds, sipping the hot beverage every minute or so. He was thinking; he’d been doing a lot of that lately since he recently got a year older. After finishing off his cuppa and going to rinse the mug, his phone buzzed on the table. Setting the mug down, he unlocked his phone revealing a text message. From him.
“Emergency! Mate, I know it’s bleeding early but I’ve got myself in a… predicament and I need your help now! Come to the pub on Woodrose St. and dress in some… tight clothes… play along with what I say. I promise I will explain later. Please, mate. ASAP. -James”
Richard’s eyes lit up and he typed his response quickly, but without wanting to sound too eager.
“Better be a bloody good explanation. Will be there in 10 minutes. -Richard”
He dashed upstairs and put on a pair of jeans that hugged his legs and bum rather nicely. He pulled on a white Henley style shirt and tucked it into his jeans, adding a belt. Since it was raining outside, he decided to wear a leather jacket. Black. With zips. His favourite. He slipped on some black trainers, his Converse, and stepped into the bathroom. Finally, he splashed some water on his face, tousled his hair, dashed downstairs, and grabbed his keys.
The rain had subsided a bit, the sky wasn’t ominously dark, and the air was crisp. Speeding down the street to the pub, he found a good parking spot a little while later and ran inside, shielding himself from the rain meanwhile. His eyes darted around the room, searching for James. They made eye contact from across the room and Richard saw the predicament he was in. He was with two other men, flaming homosexuals, he could already tell.
Richard groaned and walked toward James.
James acknowledged him and stood up, rushing over and grabbing Richard’s arm.
“Look, here he is. This is my boyfriend. I don’t think he’d appreciated how you’re acting towards me.” James explained to the men. They were standing, cross-armed and unamused, in front of the “couple”.
Richard tensed up and tried to play along. “Have they been bothering you?” Richard asked sweetly, wrapping one arm around James’ waist. James nodded and opened his mouth to start explaining but he was cut off by Richard. “Listen, mates, he’s mine and I don’t know or want to know what you’re trying to do with him, but he’s not up for grabs.” Richard said sternly.
The two other men rolled their eyes. One spoke up and said, “Fine, whatever, but let me give you out number in case things don’t work out with… you two.” He said rudely, gesturing to Richard.
Richard stepped closer to the other men, anger in his eyes, “I think this is the part where you lot sod off.” He barked, grabbing James’ hand and leading him out of the pub. Sneaking a quick glance at James, he could have sworn he saw him blush.
When they got outside, their hands lingered for just a moment until James realised their hands were still connected, he quickly pulled his hand down to his side and looked at the ground.
Richard crossed his arms and looked at James, expectantly.
James drew in a deep breath and began to talk. “Alright, so I’ll tell you what happened, but not here. It’s cold and I want some tea.” He cocked his head and looked at Richard with a soft expression on his face. “Mine or yours?”
“Come on, you. Let’s go.” Richard smiled and sighed, grabbing James’ hand again to run across the car park to his car.
The drive was a bit awkward, with Richard questioning why James had been at a gay bar. James just shrugged his shoulders, not making eye contact, and made a non-committal sound in response to the question.
After lightening the mood with some soft rock music on the radio, they listened and drove in comfortable silence.
Richard parked his car inside his garage and led James inside his house. He’d been here so many times so he made himself at home by flopping down on the couch.
“Want anything to drink? I believe you mentioned tea?” Smirking to himself, Richard didn’t even wait for James’ response after saying that; he’d already got the kettle boiling.
Richard walked over to his couch and shoved James’ legs off. “Oi, I need somewhere to sit too.” They both let out a small laugh and sat together. James turned to Richard and sighed.
“So, I guess you want the, uh, explanation?” James said hesitantly, and Richard could tell it was something James was nervous about.
Richard shook his head, “You can tell me only if you want to tell me, mate. I won’t force you to tell me anything.” He shot a comforting smile toward his friend and placed a comforting hand on James’ shoulder as he got up to fix their teas. Bringing them over with a big smile on his face, Richard sat down and started sipping. James ran his fingers through his long, silver hair and brought his mug to his lips. Richard found himself entranced. Fingers through the hair, those lips, those eyes… he thought. Richard shook himself back to reality.
“Alright, well, I guess there isn’t an easy way to say this, and it’s only a matter of time before you tell Jeremy and he goes blabbing to the Daily Mail so I’ll say it. I am a ‘homosexualist’” James sneered, signalling air quotations when he said it, “as you guys so politely say.” He looked down at the floor with an expression of defeat and hurt on his face.
Silence.
Richard broke the silence with his tiny voice. “James, I won’t tell anyone.” He said, scooting closer to James and putting an arm around him. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, mate” Richard smiled softly and James brought his head up directly in front of Richard’s.
“You won’t tell anyone? Not even Jeremy?” James’ expression was one of worry, and Richard found it endearing.
Richard shook his head and pulled James in for a hug. “Not even Jeremy.”
The hug lasted a few moments longer than a friendly hug should last, but neither were complaining. After breaking the hug and finishing their teas, James seemed to not want to leave.
“Are you gonna stay the night, mate? You’re gonna need some pyjamas.” Richard chuckled.
“Oh, will you let me stay?” James looked down at what he was wearing and smiled sheepishly.
“Course I will. The rain is starting to pick up again and I can’t have my best mate sopping wet outside.” Richard began to go upstairs and gestured for James to follow. “Let’s see what I’ve got for you to wear. Can’t sleep in those uncomfortable jeans.”
They stopped in front of what was supposed to be a linen closet, but instead was full of clothes, mostly sleepwear. Richard pulled various things down from the shelves and unfolding them, assessing the size if it would be fine for James to wear. After a couple minutes, Richard had handed James a folded pair of grey sweatpants and a thick, black, long-sleeved shirt.
“Thanks, Rich. I’ll get changed into these, grab a few blankets, and set myself up on the couch.” James smiled at Richard and turned away, looking for the bathroom.
Richard went into his room and had changed into his pyjama pants. They were dark purple and fuzzy. He didn’t bother to put on one of his shirts, because he had the shirt he wanted to wear in mind. And it was downstairs. Stepping out of the bathroom shirtless, Richard dashed down the stairs and saw it on the couch. The purple and pink striped jumper. He grabbed it and ran up the stairs while putting it on. Pulling it over his head and reaching the top of the stairs, he came face-to-face with James, who had a puzzled expression on his face. Richard’s smile faded into a worried frown.
“I-I just wanted t-to bring it up for… you?” Richard stammered, trying to cover up his intentions, but it was no use.
James was amused. “Then why did you give me this shirt, hm?” he said, pointing to the black shirt he had on, which Richard had given him earlier.
Richard felt a blush creep up his cheeks, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes softened as he looked at his taller friend with a loving expression. “I guess I thought it was the next best thing…” He trailed off, stepping closer to James, “Next best thing than being close to you.” He took a final step forward and wrapped his short arms around the taller man’s waist. James was taken a bit aback by this sudden display of affection, but he reciprocated, wrapping his arms around Richard and resting his head on top of the short man’s head. James smiled and let out a contented sigh.
The moment of happiness was cut short. Richard had begun quietly sobbing on James’ chest. James didn’t notice until he felt a wet patch on his shirt. He immediately became concerned and pulled himself away from Richard, sitting them both down on the top step of the stairs.
“Richard? Have I done something wrong? Said something?” James frantically asked, worrying about his friend.
Tears rolled down Richard’s cheeks. “No, mate. You’re fine. It’s just… something I… realised or remembered, I guess.” He gasped in between sobs and spoke hesitantly.
James sat closer to Richard, placing his gentle hand on the crying man’s forearm. “Richard, you know you can tell me anything, right?” James looked at Richard with an expression of adoration.
Richard wiped away a tear. “I know. I just don’t know if I should tell you. Our lives and careers would be in jeopardy… and I don’t want to risk all that. I’m just angry with myself.” Richard looked down at the bottom of the stairs, sadly.
It hurt James to see Richard like this, it really hurt him.
James could start to feel his eyes well up with tears. “Richard, please tell me what’s going on.” Tears rolled down James’ cheeks and onto the sweatpants he was wearing, “I don’t like to see you like this. Did someone hurt you, Richard? Did someone harass you? Please tell me what happened! I can’t stand to see you like this, all hurt and broken! Please!” James started to raise his voice, which was uncommon since he was usually so calm.
“James, nothing of that matter has happened, I assure you.” Richard offered a comforting smile and placed his hand on James’ leg, “It’s just something I’ve been dealing with for the past, oh I don’t know, seven, eight years or so? Personal stuff…” Richard’s voice got quieter and trailed off, removing his hand from James’ leg.
James thought he understood. He thought Richard was talking about the divorce. “Oh… Richard. I’m so sorry. I guess I’d forgotten for a moment. I’m sorry about Mindy.” His voice was sincere.
Richard snapped his head up quickly to look James in the eye. There was anger in Richard’s eyes. “That’s not what I’m talking about! Do you even know why I divorced her? You only know the story I told you and Jeremy and the cameras, but it’s not true! I fell in love with someone else, James! And it destroyed my marriage, thinking I could be with that person! Completely tore me apart…” Richard stopped yelling and was reduced to tears once more. James wrapped his arms around Richard, attempting to console him.
“Mate, let’s find this girl and I’ll convince her that you’re worth it.” James was really trying to be helpful.
“James… the person I love… is a man.” Richard said quietly, not making eye contact with James.
James wasn’t fazed. “Oh, then let’s find that bloke and I’ll let him know you’re worth it!”
Richard sunk his head lower. “James… the person that I love… is you.” Richard sniffled. “James, I’ve loved you for so many years.” He tried to say it as quietly as he possibly could, but of course James heard.
James unwrapped his arms from Richard, looking the other man seriously in the face. “Richard, is that true?”
Richard nodded. “It all started the day you wore this damn jumper. I just realised everything about you was beautiful… your eyes, your hair, your lips, your fingers when you play piano…” The younger man was smiling fondly, he was almost trancelike.
He was snapped back to reality by the feeling of a pair of warm lips pressed against his forehead. James had kissed him lightly and then went on to respond. “I never thought I’d ever hear those words from you, Richard.” James was smiling, “I think you’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.” Not letting Richard answer, James pressed his lips against Richard’s, giving him a sweet, sincere kiss.
They broke apart, foreheads resting on each other for a few seconds before James stood up and pulled Richard up with him.
“So, I think we should get to sleep now.” James was exhausted; he’d had quite a day. “We need to head over and film at 11:00 and it’s probably like five in the morning right now.” Richard nodded his head in agreement. “Let me just grab a couple blankets and I’ll be out of your hair” James said with a small smile. Richard looked noticeably disappointed.
“Well, uh, we could just, um, share my bed? The couch probably isn’t all that comfortable and, uh, you might fall off or your legs will hang off the edge…” Richard was blabbering on, trying to convince James to share a bed.
But to no avail. James assured Richard he’d be fine with a gentle kiss and stepped downstairs with three blankets in his arms. “Good night, Richard.”
“Night, James.” Richard replied and made his way to his room, flopping down on his bed, feeling a bit sad James wasn’t with him. He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.
About half an hour later, Richard was awoken by a pair of arms wrapping around his waist. Immediately jumping up at this new sensation, Richard looked over to notice a sleepy James next to him. Richard sunk back down into his original position and welcomed the touch. James scooted closer to Richard, spooning him and whispering into his ear, “Is it okay if I stay like this? I got lonely.”
“Of course, please stay like this James… this feels so nice.” Richard whispered back. He was happy.
“By the way… you look really good in my jumper, Richard.” James then pressed a kiss to the back of Richard’s neck and nuzzled into him.