Work Text:
Bought not Owned
by luvsbitca
Jamie yanked at the collar around his neck, Rupert Mannion's man always put it on too tight.
"Stop it!" George said, yanking on the leash attached to Jamie's collar.
Jamie dropped his head, gave himself over to the pull of the lead as he was moved into the line-up.
The door at the end opened and Rupert Mannion walked out, striding forward with a woman walking one step behind him, she was young – blonde hair and a heavily pregnant belly making her gait slow. Rupert walked along the line of them, he'd purchased the team they had all been indentured to and now he was selling them off to the highest bidder so he could bring in new players from his lands. He stopped in front of Jamie, looking him over.
"You should fetch me a good price, Tartt," Rupert said. "Either for playing or someone will pay for your arse."
Jamie froze but refused to react more than that. James Tartt had said similar things to him when he was growing up – willing to sell his son for his next fix until Georgie had proven to be a stronger fighter and had taken James' left eye and his claim to them. Jamie's talent on the football field should have meant he'd never be sold like this, but Rupert Mannion was a sneaky bastard who found a loophole way to get back into the Football Association that his wife had taken from him. Now, here he was, about to be auctioned off and he could only hope that he managed to get picked up for his abilities.
George started leading them out, one by one, each member of the team sold. Jamie was mid-range; good enough to be expected to fetch a good price but not so good that he was going to make Rupert enough money to pay off the people Rupert would need to buy off. It had been fodder for the news for months when his ex-wife took his leg, just below the hip, and his football team in the divorce. The images of her standing over him, battle-axe in hand, with blood splattered over her face and dripping from her blade had been everywhere. Rupert had been trying to claw his way back to the Premier League and its pathway to dominance since.
"Jamie Tartt," the emcee called out. "Twenty-two, from Manchester, a striker who came up through the Manchester City Academy and was loaned out to AFC Wimbledon but is now owned by Rupert Mannion as part of his take-over. Brown hair, grey eyes, 5'10 tall and currently 80kgs but average playing weight is 84kgs. Tattooed on right arm, he is an ascendancy player and likely to develop in skill in the coming years should he be worked as a footballer. His stats are available in the auction sheet. Jamie is bisexual and from his impressive physique and stubborn streak he could be an asset to someone looking for a stallion as well."
Jamie walked out onto the stage, the lights bright and overwhelming. He squinted but didn't look away from the raised seats. The first row was reserved for the owners of the Premier League – even Rebecca Welton was there; Rupert wasn't yet powerful enough to snub her. Jamie let his eyes track past her fast and then stopped cold, standing at her left was a man anyone would recognise; Roy Kent. Jamie tried not to stare but when he'd been younger he'd watched Roy Kent play. Roy Kent had been his idol.
"We'll start the bidding at…"
Jamie saw Roy Kent lean over and whisper something in Rebecca's ear, she nodded and then held up her right hand and someone stepped forward to say something in her other ear. She sat back and watched the bidding; bouncing between the owners of Man U and Chelsea which at least made him feel confident that he was being purchased for football. As the bidding slowed, a man in the second row with a sly look in his eyes offered his own bid. Jamie felt his skin crawl as the man looked him over. He watched as Man U waved themselves out of the running. Chelsea offered one more bid but bowed out when the man upped the bid again. Jamie tried not to show his revulsion.
Rebecca made a slight move of her hand and suddenly the owner of Tottenham lifted his hand and upped the offer. Roy Kent was no longer at Rebecca's side and Jamie held his breath to see if the other man would bid again but there was nothing from anyone.
The auctioneer was talking again. "Going once, that's a bid to Tottenham, going twice, any final bids? Going three times…and sold to Tottenham. Please visit the payment office for information and a set of keys to your new property's locks."
Jamie's collar yanked tight when the leash around his neck was pulled. The last thing he saw before he was led off stage was Roy Kent reemerging from the shadows next to Rebecca.
Jamie was thrown into the holding room with the rest of the purchased property and the leash was attached to the wall, giving Jamie limited movement. Jamie watched as the rest of the rings around the room were filled with his ex-teammates. When the room was full, the guards started coming back for them, one by one, as their owners purchased them. Jamie was still sitting there with only the couple of players who'd been purchased by Championship League clubs. Only one player had been bought by someone not associated with a football club; he was older and was probably going to be put to work as a stallion or to train up recruits from the area where he was heading.
"Tartt!"
Jamie looked up and then grunted and sat back so that collar wasn't choking him anymore.
The owner of Tottenham was standing on the other side of the bars watching him. The guard yanked Jamie up by the collar and over to the other man. He handed the leash over to Jamie's owner and Jamie could only hope everything that he'd heard about Tottenham was true and they'd give him the opportunity to earn his freedom.
Rupert Mannion was standing next to the desk, watching the money changing hands. He looked happy so he'd probably earned enough to keep Wimbledon in the Championship League for an opportunity to earn back a place in the Premier League.
Rupert was looking down at him, eyes on the hold Marcus had on Jamie's leash.
"You need to break this one," Rupert said. "Too cocky."
"I'm looking for a player who knows how to be cocky," Marcus told him. "You might have purchased Wimbledon to get back into the League, Rupert, but no one actually misses you."
Rupert bared his teeth at Marcus.
Marcus smiled. "We all know you lost your teeth when Rebecca took your leg."
Rupert stepped forward. "I will be back in the Premier League, Marcus, and then you will see how sharp my teeth are."
Marcus laughed and started out of the room, his hold on Jamie loose but not slack. When they made it outside into the sun, Marcus directed Jamie into the back of the van and then climbed in while his driver started moving. A few minutes later, the van stopped. Jamie frowned but then the back door opened and Roy Kent was standing, arms crossed, leaning against a sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom. Roy stood when Marcus climbed out of the car. Rebecca climbed out of the car next to Roy and them stepped forward.
"Rebecca."
"Marcus."
"This concludes my debt?"
Rebecca nodded. "The fee plus 10% and the files have been deleted."
Marcus nodded. "He's all yours."
Jamie didn't know what was happening but Roy Kent strode over and grabbed his lead.
"Hurry up," the Captain of AFC Richmond said, giving a short yank on the leash. "Out."
Jamie scrambled out of the van and followed Roy across the space between cars.
"What's happenin'?" Jamie asked.
Rebecca turned to look at him. "Marcus owed me a favour and his debt is repaid. He saved me a bit of money by purchasing you in my place. You are now the property of AFC Richmond."
"Yeah?"
Rebecca stared at him.
"Mint."
Roy growled at him; Jamie made himself smaller at the sound.
"Get in the car," Roy instructed. Jamie nodded and climbed in.
"You have your work cut out for you, Kent," Rebecca said, sliding elegantly into the car after swapping bag and paperwork with Marcus. "He's never been owned before."
Roy grunted his agreement.
"But you've been good for my club so you deserved a reward."
Jamie's heart and stomach clenched; he hadn't been bought to play – just as a reward for Roy Kent. Once, the opportunity to be in Roy's bed would have excited him but not like this. Rebecca was right…in a way, he'd never been owned but he knew, from his father, how owners treated their property. His mother had raised him to be independent, to not be a slave, to fight tooth and nail and eyeball to make sure he wasn't owned. His indenture to AFC Wimbledon wasn't slavery and shouldn't have ever led him here.
The car ride was smooth and silent. They stopped in front of a nice house, two guards at the front wearing all black; no logo to show who they worked for. Roy climbed out of the car; he didn't grab Jamie's lead.
"Out!" he barked at Jamie. Jamie climbed out of the car and stood next to Roy. "Thanks," Roy told Rebecca, saluting at her.
Rebecca drove away.
"Do I need to use your leash?" Roy asked. "There's no point in running."
Jamie shook his head.
"Good."
Roy turned and started walking towards the house. Jamie followed behind him looking at the windows – all with expensive and subtle bars and the exits.
"Do you understand how this works?" Roy asked.
"You own me."
Roy made a noise and walked through the house stopping at a bedroom. "This is your room, shower and come to the kitchen for some food."
Jamie nodded. Roy undid the collar around his neck and walked out of the room. Jamie knew even if he ran the guards would stop him and the chance of them injuring him and ending any chance he had of convincing Roy he was worth more than his arse. He showered, missing his normal products but at least he was clean. He finished and found a set of clothes on the bed. Jamie put them on and stepped out of the room, following the path Roy had walked to find the older man in the kitchen.
"Sit down," Roy told him.
Jamie took the seat on the other side of the kitchen island and watched as Roy transferred pasta from the pot to the frypan.
"Are you allergic to anything?" Roy asked.
"No."
"Good, you'll be on my meal plan then."
"Yes, Sir."
Roy turned and glared at him. "Do not call me that."
"Okay," Jamie agreed, nodding.
Roy plated up their food and nodded Jamie towards the table. Jamie sat across from him and took a bite of the pasta…pausing the savour the flavour. He moaned his appreciation.
"This is amazing," Jamie told him.
Roy grunted his agreement.
Jamie wasn't completely surprised by the fact that Roy was taciturn because he'd followed Roy's whole career. He settled in to eat in silence. When they were done, Roy packed the dishwasher and took them into the lounge room, throwing Jamie the remote and grabbing the book off the side table.
"What do you like to watch?" Jamie asked.
"You choose."
Jamie turned the TV on, flicked until he found something inoffensive. He sat quietly as Roy read next to him, occasionally exclaiming aloud.
"Whatcha readin'?"
"Seven Ancient Wonders," Roy told him.
Jamie wanted to ask a question but then he spotted the Richmond colours collar in a box next to Roy. Roy followed his gaze.
"You don't have to wear it to bed," Roy told him. "But outside of the house it's required."
Jamie nodded. "I can sleep in it."
It would be a reminder that even though tonight had been pleasant, they weren't going to be friends – he was Roy's property. Roy nodded and grabbed the collar. Jamie dropped down to his knees in front of Roy, arching his neck for the other man. Roy stared at him there and Jamie started to feel vulnerable. He caught Roy's eye and the other man jolted before reaching out for the collar. He undid it with elegant fingers. Jamie couldn't stop watching them, the leather looked supple and the colours managed to not be garish against the dark, dark brown leather. Roy wrapped it around his neck and fastened it, sliding two fingers below the leather to check and make sure it wasn't too tight. Jamie didn't feel like he had when George Carrick had done this, there was an unusual feeling bubbling in his belly that he didn't know how to name. Roy's fingers slid out from under the collar.
"It's bedtime," Roy told him.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed, climbing to his feet and following Roy as the other man checked the house and turned out the lights.
Roy stopped Jamie as he was trying to follow Roy up the stairs.
"What are you doing?"
"Following you."
"Why?"
Jamie paused. "Don't you want me upstairs with you?"
"If you're going to try and hurt me to get out of this contract," Roy said, slamming Jamie back into the wall with one finger against the younger man's chest.
Jamie growled and pushed back. "I'm not going to hurt you, grandad."
Roy shoved again. "Then what?"
"If you want to fuck me but don't want me upstairs, where do you want to do it then…"
Roy stepped back. "What?"
"Rebecca bought me for you so where do you fucking want me?"
"On the fucking pitch."
Jamie froze.
"You think I need a fucking sex slave?"
"Rebecca said I was a reward."
"You're a prick of a player," Roy said.
"Fuck you," Jamie said.
"But I said you'd be good for Richmond," Roy growled. "She didn't want you because you were owned by Mannion, she agreed because I'm her Captain and she wants to fuck Mannion in the arse with Richmond's first Premier League trophy."
"You don't want to have sex with me?"
Roy paused just a beat and then growled at Jamie. Jamie knew that pause. "I'm your Captain and only your fucking football Captain. I'm going to do what I have to do to make you part of this fucking team. If you do your job and play for Rebecca, she'll make you indentured instead of owned. If you don't, she'll sell you on. It's up to you, but I don't have sex with slaves."
Jamie didn't know what to make of this. He'd always known if he became property, even if it was for his football ability, it would also be for his arse, for his cock, for his pretty face and good body. Jamie's dad had never hidden the truth of the world from his son and Jamie had seen it in the way James treated his mother. He'd grown up around a lot of people who thought just like James – who treated everyone like property if they were smaller or weaker and were rewarded for it.
"I was bought to play football?"
Roy grunted in agreement.
"4am is football training?"
"Yes," Roy said, turning his back and heading for the stairs. Jamie watched him for a moment; he could do it, rush the older man and hope he won. Take his knee out or go for his back, something that would incapacitate him and allow Jamie to dominate. If he did, Jamie would take this house, the people Roy employed, everything of Roy's would become his. It wouldn't guarantee his freedom though; Rebecca held his contract so after beating Roy, Jamie would have to go and try it and beat her as well. Jamie wasn't sure he'd be able to beat Roy let alone Rebecca; he was strong but all it would take would be one blow and his usefulness on the pitch would be gone. If he was no good on the pitch who knows where he would end up. He could bid his time, wait to see what happened and whether that pause of Roy's would mean the other man might be lying about his willingness to fuck a slave.
Jamie walked away, slinking through the dark house until he spotted an actual landline. He slipped over and picked it up, hearing the dial tone. Jamie quickly dialled his mother's number.
"Hello?" Simon's voice.
"Simon," Jamie said, keeping his voice as low as possible.
"Jamie!" Simon said, "oh, thank goodness, wait, Georgie!"
There was some talking on the other side.
"Jamie? Jamie? My sexy little baby, are you okay?"
"Mummy?" Jamie said, trying very hard not to cry. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, are you okay, where are you? I've been reading everything to work out what was happening."
"I've been bought by AFC Richmond."
Georgie started crying. Jamie felt the tears burning at his eyes but tried to hold it back; straining his ears to see if anyone was listening.
"Mummy," Jamie said, as Georgie's cries calmed down. "They want me to play. I'm in Roy Kent's house…if he's being honest, I might get back to being indentured by playing for them. I can't stay on the phone too long; they don't know I'm callin' you. I love you, Mummy, if I can I'll call again but I'm not in a stallion house or anything. I love you."
"I love you too, baby. Goodbye."
Jamie forced himself to hang up the phone. He slipped through the house as silently as he could until he was back in 'his' bedroom. He moved a chair in front of the door to give himself time to move if he needed to. He dragged the bedclothes off the bed and created a place to sleep on the far side of the room then got comfortable and tried to sleep.
There was a hard knock on his door the next morning. Jamie woke and jumped up, getting his back to the wall.
"What?"
"Wake up," Roy barked. "Protein shake is on the kitchen bench, make sure you warm up, be at the door in thirty minutes."
Jamie sagged. "Okay."
"Workout clothes are on the floor; I don't want to deal with whatever shit you set up to keep yourself safe."
Jamie looked at the chair in front of the door and got up to change, stretch, and get ready to go and drink the protein shake. Roy was standing drinking his own shake.
"It ain't even light yet."
Roy slid a headband torchlight across the bench. "Your sneakers up to training?"
"Yeah, they'll be alright."
Roy stared at him.
"What?"
"Don't fucking lie to me."
Jamie looked down at them. "Not long term but they'll be okay for today."
"Right, we'll go shopping after training."
"Shopping?"
Roy huffed out a growl. "You were fucking indentured not owned, why are you surprised by fucking shopping for proper shoes?"
"Because you bought me and being owned means you don't get treated like a person no more."
Roy growled and started moving. "You're still a fucking person."
Jamie started following Roy; that was the first fucking person who had ever said anything like that to him and Jamie couldn't stop thinking about it even two hours later when he was vomiting on Richmond Common. Jamie continued to mull the idea over through a shopping trip, lunch, another training session, dinner, and then being left alone to sleep again just like the night before. He woke the next day to put on clothes he'd purchased with Roy, shoes that fit him perfectly and were suitable for training.
Following their training a knock on the door heralded a delivery of Jamie's personal belongings.
"Fucking hell," Roy said, looking at the clothes. "You're going to have to store them in the second spare bedroom."
"I can keep my stuff?"
"Who fucking taught you this shit, in this fucking house pretend like your indentured again I can't deal with you expecting the fucking worst from me every moment of every fucking day."
"Can I get a lock on the bedroom door and a phone?"
"I'll call my guy."
Jamie stared at Roy's back as the other man walked to the phone and pulled a book out of the drawer under the phone to look up a number. Roy came back a few minutes later.
"It will be installed before dinner."
Jamei gaped at him.
"And the phone will be here in the hour."
"What the fuck?"
"Fuck off," Roy said. "I'm going out."
"You're leaving me here."
Roy didn't answer, just grabbed his keys and wallet and left, leaving the door unlocked on his way. Jamie waited five minutes and then went to the door and walked outside. The guards were different but they were still dressed the same, still standing in readiness.
"Can I leave?"
"One of us will follow you," the guard on the left said. "In case you run away."
"Are those your orders?"
"Yeah, to keep an eye on you."
Jamie closed the door behind him and walked down the street, then walked around the block and back to the house. He walked inside, locked the door and called his mother. Maybe he was being played but he was willing to chance it and believe Roy.
The End