Sleepless In London (Maylor)

Little Drummer Boy

Roger wasn't one to listen to late night radio shows. He found them tacky, so staged and nosey into peoples lives. But right now, here he was in his car listening to this damn radio station at near midnight on his way home from work.

"Freddie Mercury" Roger repeated off the radio, rolling his eyes. That sounded like a fake name. This has to be good.

"But I'm calling to find my dear Brian the love of his life." Well... that was unexpected.

"Calling to find his friend a shag?" His eyebrows furrowed as he shook his head. Really, who is this guy?

"Well, Freddie, can you tell us a little bit about your friend?" The overly sweet host pressed. Roger scoffed, rolling his eyes at the woman.

"You see, Brian had a girlfriend of six years who broke his heart. They were childhood sweethearts, started dating when they were only sixteen! Then one day, Brian came home from his classes in uni to find his love with another man! In their bed, no less!" Freddie retold the story with such theatrics that if it weren't so damn depressing, Roger would've laughed.

Instead, Roger found himself staring intently at the road ahead as his hands tightened around the wheel. Who could do something like that? Throw away such a long relationship for a quick fuck?

"Oh, dear... That's just awful!" The host cooed, tsking at the thought alone.

"Well, yes, of course it was terrible!" Freddie scoffed, "Poor boy didn't stop crying for days. His heart was shattered." His voice showed genuine anguish at the memory, Roger couldn't help but actually believe it.

"Well, why don't we get Brian on the phone then? Hear what he has to say." The host suggested, obviously feeling like this story will get the lonely ladies out there listening.

Roger rolled his eyes. Poor guy has been through enough, now you're making him go on your radio show?

"That's a damn good idea!" You could hear that Freddie was grinning over the phone. "Just give me a moment and I'll get him!" The phone went silent after a loud 'clunk' of it hitting what's most likely a counter. "Brian, darling! You have a phone call!" Freddie said, suggestively.

"Huh? Freddie, it's midnight! Who would be calling at this hour?" Brian's voice could be heard in the background as he (presumably) entered the room.

"Poor guy, probably just wanted to go to bed at this point." Roger mused, feeling an immense amount of pity for the guy.

"Hello? Brian speaking." His voice came through the phone, Roger smiled at how formal he sounded. He wondered if he was going to get pissed at what his friend did.

"Yes, this is Anna from Rhye Radio at Night!" Anna calm voice rang out, obviously a bit excited.

"Uh... hello? May I ask why you're calling?" Brian's voice was skeptical, causing the blind to snort.

"We didn't call you, dear, your friend called us! Freddie, was it? He's in search of a new 'love of your life' for you." Anna feigned innocence.

'Clunk', the phone was put roughly on the counter.

"Freddie, what the hell?" Brian's voice came through the phone, a bit faint due to the distance.

"What? Darling, you've been single for so long! Your dry spell is even making me depressed!" Freddie shot back, amusement evident in his voice.

"Um, hello?" Anna called out to the two, "Brian, we don't want to upset you, we just want you to be happy."

"You don't even know him!"

"You don't even know me, ma'am." Brian was back on the phone with an unimpressed tone to his voice.

They both said at the same time, causing Roger to let out a small laugh.

"Why don't you tell us about your last relationship? What was her name?" Anna's voice was soft, but had a prying tone.

There was a sad little sigh on the other line, then a few moments of silence. "Her name was Chrissie." He said quietly. "She was... absolutely perfect, in every way. But... she didn't agree with my life choices, so she found someone new. They just got engaged." There was a bitter laugh, no humor to his words, Roger heart ached at the tone.
"I told her we could work it out after I found them together. That I could forgive her and we could move on." He swallowed thickly. "But she said no. She said she wouldn't be with 'someone like me'. She wanted a real man, not a disgusting f*g." Brian's voice cracked a bit, Roger hardly even noticed the tears in his eyes until they trailed down his cheeks.

"Oh, Brian... You deserve so much better. It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight. She had no right to break your heart like that." Anna said soothingly.

"You're damn right he deserves better." Freddie scoffed.

Roger wiped his face, shaking his head. What the hell was he doing? Crying over a stranger in the middle of the night?

"I don't know... Maybe I had it coming. I should've kept it to myself, maybe then she wouldn't have left me." His musings were quiet, the heartbreak still evident in his voice.

"I was going to propose that night." He said suddenly, his voice wavering. "I had the ring in my pocket and I had reservations at her favorite restaurant in London." Anna gasped at his words.

"Oh my. Well, she's definitely missing out without you." She sighed, pity dripping from her words.

"No, she has Mark. Mark from fucking resources." Brian said bitterly. Roger let out a small breathy laugh, his calm voice cursing was just... humorous. A bit hot too, but Roger pushed that thought away.

"He's a prick!" Freddie added, obviously just as humored by Brian's words.

"Brian, moving in from her will help you so much. There are so many people out there that would just love you. But you need it let them in." Anna's soothing voice came back, and even Roger agreed.

'I'd love him' Roger though suddenly before scrunching his nose. What the hell? He didn't even know this man!

"I'd like to. I'm just... I'm waiting for the right person. Someone who will accept me and love me as much as I love them." Brian's words were sweet and Roger sighed.

How was he already falling for a guy just from hearing his voice? What if this Brian guy was a total creep? Roger shook his head. He lived in London too. Maybe they'd run into each other someday.

"Alright, well, we have to bid you adieu for the night, we have just about a million callers just about you!" Anna's cheerful voice was back. Well, she got what she wanted. More listeners.

"Alright, bye, Anna. Thanks for uh... letting me complain." Brian said awkwardly.

"Of course, love! Don't be afraid to call back, we'd love to hear more about you."

"I bet you would." Roger rolled his eyes, pulling into his parking spot, sitting in his car to hear the last bit of the conversation.

"Will do. Goodnight." And with that, Brian hung up, leaving a strange empty feeling in Rogers stomach.

"Alright, everyone! That was Sleepless in London!" Anna's cheerful tone was back in full swing. "All you single people out there better start lining up because-" Roger cut her off by turning his key and getting out of his car.

He lazily made his way up the stairs and into his flat, yawning before dropping in his bed. He hadn't expected to be out this late.

Hell, he had an audition early tomorrow for a band.