Chapter Text
Galra Rentals was an old shop that had been open for thirty years. Nowadays, there aren't many customers since people prefer watching pirated movies online, end up watching movies on Netflix, or some other media-service provider. However, Galra Rentals still has a few loyal customers, mostly older people, people who couldn't afford to have a fancy tv that supported apps like Netflix, or people who simply enjoyed the process of renting movies. The small shop only had a couple of aisles carrying all types of films from animated movies like Shrek to adult videos. The place was open from ten in the morning to eleven at night, seven days a week, with only four employees and one of those employees was none other than Keith Kogane.
Keith Kogane was a quiet guy who could care less about other people, except for his brother Shiro, the only family he had left since their mother had died in war and his father dying much earlier than that. He supposed he cared about Adam too, who was Shiro’s husband, but he still hadn’t warmed up to him fully yet. Adam and Shiro had been together for years but married for two, and they were very much in love. Keith wouldn’t say he was jealous because no matter how many people would come into his life, he would never find someone who loved him. Why would they? Keith didn’t bring anything to the table besides maybe being somewhat handsome, but he’d scare anyone away when he’d open his mouth to speak, which was hardly ever. In his twenty-one years of living, or more like just existing, Keith had never once had someone he’d call a friend. Senior high consisted of him getting into fights, talking back to teachers, and having crushes on guys he knew he could never be with. He was a sad lonely boy.
Since Keith had refused to attend college, he had an online job as game reviewer, where he played various video games and reviewed them for money. The job paid well and he never had to leave the house. After a couple of months of never leaving his room, only for necessary things like eating or showering, his older brother had had enough.
One day while Keith was in the shower, his brother had gone to his room and hid all of Keith’s game consoles, saying Keith would get them back when he got out and found a real job. Of course Keith argued and complained. The game reviewing was a real job, it provided a decent amount of money that went to paying bills. Why couldn’t he just continue to do something he enjoyed? Keith didn’t see a problem with it and still doesn’t. Adam suggested, which he had no right to do according to Keith, that he should work at Galra Rentals, a small place with few customers. Although Keith very much protested the idea, he was forced to apply, and to his bad luck, he was hired instantly even though he had no experience.
So this bring us to the now, to Keith standing behind the register, glaring at every person who walks in. If he can get the people to leave without renting anything then he wouldn’t have to interact with them. He even rearranges the films to make it seem like they only offer boring or sexual ones. It scares off people with children which Keith despises the most, not that kids aren't cool or anything, but they are loud and make messes all the time.
It was around ten thirty on a Friday, half an hour before closing time, he was so ready to leave, when someone walked in. Just fucking great he thought to himself, never lifting his eyes from the motorcycle magazine he had been reading. Whoever it was that had entered knew exactly what they were renting as it took them about six minutes to walk up to the register.
“Just this one.” He heard the voice say, a male one, as he sighed closing the magazine, setting it aside.
Keith reached for the blu-ray version of How to Be a Latin Lover and scanned the barcode, never once looking at the man who wished to rent the film. The man had already placed his membership card next to the blu-ray, so Keith didn’t have to ask for it.
“Monday.” Is all Keith said as he gave the man the blu-ray and his membership card without looking at him.
“Return by Monday? Got it.” The man said as he grabbed his things. “I like your hair, not everyone can pull off a mullet.” He heard the man say when he didn’t leave the register.
Keith wasn’t sure if it was meant as a compliment or an insult but faced the owner of the voice nonetheless. The owner of the voice was a tall guy with what looked like soft brownish skin, freckles across his face, and his eyes were bluer than any ocean Keith had ever seen. When he smiled, Keith swore he felt a switch is his chest, that had been off for years, turn on.
When Keith didn’t reply because he had actually been staring, the guy, who looked to be around Keith’s age, winked, making Keith lose his shit. He had never seen anyone more handsome yet absolutely adorable at the same time, and he had no idea what to do, let alone say, so he just stood there silent.
“Well, uh...” The beautiful brunet in front of him was starting to feel awkward. “I’ll bring this back by Monday.” He turned around and left the store.
Keith watched as the door closed behind the most beautiful guy he had ever laid eyes on and took a deep breath. “What the actual fuck?” He said to himself. Had he really just stood there and stared? Why didn’t he say anything? For the first time in a long time, Keith had actually wanted to make conversation with another living, breathing human being, and all he did was just stand there. The guy had actually complimented —maybe insulted, he still wasn’t sure— his hair. He was trying to make conversation and Keith just stared.
As he continued to panic, he heard the door open once again, and Mr. Beautiful had returned, this time on the phone. Keith couldn’t understand what he was saying because it sounded like he was speaking in spanish and man, if it didn’t sound sexy.
Keith tried to compose himself. This time he would say something, he was sure of it.
Mr. Beautiful walked to the register—finished with his phone call— with three animated movies in his hand, placing them on the counter along with his membership card, which Keith noticed wasn’t used often.
“Monday.” Keith said again.
“Mhm.” Was all Mr. Beautiful said.
Now Keith thought. Now was his chance to say something—anything. He cleared his throat getting Mr. Beautiful to look at him. “Uhh” Keith gazed into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes, those types of eyes you could get lost into, cliché but Keith didn’t care.
“Yeah?” The owner of the blue eyes said with a puzzled expression.
Keith could feel the heat in his cheeks rise, partially because he was going to speak to an attractive guy, and partially because he had to speak without coming off as rude. “Uhh...a-about earlier...”
“Oh, I was just giving you a compliment but I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.” The brunet reached for his membership card putting it back in his wallet.
So it was a compliment. Keith didn’t know what to say, the only people who had ever complimented him was his brother and sometimes Adam would too. Should Keith thank him or maybe just smile? Mr. Beautiful was about to leave but looked at Keith one more time, expecting him to say something. Keith panicked, instead of thanking him or smiling, Keith did what Keith does best and glared.
“Okay, you’re not into dudes, message received.” He sounded hurt as he left the shop.
“Way to go dumbass, now he thinks you’re straight.” Keith let out a long sigh, closing up shop, even if there were still ten minutes until closing.
Not only did Keith make the pretty brunet believe that he was straight—which was plain ridiculous, considering the fact that Keith was gay as hell—but he felt like he had hurt his feelings too. Then again, it didn’t matter anyways, Keith always scared people away. No one has ever tried to get to know Keith, no one has ever come back after Keith's glare, no one ever considered Keith's feelings, so what makes this one attractive guy different? Nothing, nothing makes him different, he was just like all the other people Keith hated, even if he had made Keith's heart feel things.
****
Keith took the long way home, he needed to cool his head by taking a drive on his motorcycle.
At home, Adam was waiting for him in the kitchen, like those parents in the movies when their kid comes home past their curfew. Whatever face Keith was making must have worried Adam because as soon as he saw him, Adam stood. “Everything okay?” He asked like if Keith was an injured baby animal.
“Dandy.” Keith still didn't fully like Adam, although they've known each other for years, he'd never given Adam a chance. Deep down, Keith knew Adam was a good guy, he knew Adam somewhat cared about him, he knew that if he opened up to Adam, he would accept him, but even knowing all that, Keith didn't. He cared about Adam only because he was married to his brother, and if something ever happened to him, Shiro would be devastated.
“You don't look dandy.” Adam closed the distance between them placing his palm on Keith's forehead. “You don't seem to have a fever.”
“I'm fine.” Keith grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge chugging it down.
“Then why are you home so late? It's almost one in the morning and last time I checked you clock out at eleven.” Adam furrowed his brows, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Why does it matter? Last time I checked I can do whatever the fuck I want.” Keith glared.
Adam sighed. “You could at least give us a heads up if you're going to be late so we know you're okay.”
“We? I don't see Shiro here.”
“He had a long day at work so I told him I'd wait for you so he could rest. You know how tired he gets.”
“Yeah.” Keith frowned.
“Keith, talk to me. What’s bothering you?” Adam placed his hand on Keith’s shoulder, lightly squeezing it.
Keith was tired and had had enough human interaction for one day, but he didn’t feel like pushing Adam away in that moment, instead he sighed.
“Come on.” Adam headed toward the table, pulling out a chair to sit on as Keith followed him. “So? Someone bother you at work?”
“Kind of, I’ll tell you but if you laugh I swear I won’t tell you anything ever again.” He furrowed his brow.
“I promise I won’t.” Adam pressed his hand against his chest for emphasis.
“This guy came into work thirty minutes before closing and you know, I ignored him like I do to everyone else, but then he says he likes my hair, so of course, I finally looked at him. Adam, he was so goddamn pretty, like you should have seen him, so fucking beautiful. “ He clenched his fists on the table. “So what do I do after he said he liked my hair? I didn’t know what to fucking say. I didn’t know if he meant it as a compliment or an insult. So guess what I said?” He makes eye contact to the man in front of him, listening.
“Did you say ‘thanks’ or did you flirt back?” He smirked.
“Nothing, I said nothing, fucking nothing. This hot dude comes up to me, says I have nice hair, and I just stand there, staring until he leaves.”
“Whoa, well maybe he’ll come back later and you could try to talk to him.”
“The story doesn’t end there. He comes back within five minutes for more movies that his family probably asked him for, anyways, I think to myself that this is my chance, so I try to talk to him. Long story short, he tells me he’s sorry if he made me uncomfortable so I glared at him and now he thinks I’m straight.” Keith sighed running his fingers through his hair.
Keith could tell that Adam was trying his best to not laugh. “Why did you glare at him?” Adam finally said.
“I don’t know, instinct.” He shrugged.
“Well, he has to return the movies someday, so when he does, flirt with him or casually mention you’re gay, and say that you were just nervous last time.”
“How do you just casually mention your gay?”
“When he comes again just say ‘hey sorry about last time, I was just lost in your eyes, you know, because I’m gay’ like that.” Adam smiled playfully.
“Right, sure.” Keith rolled his eyes.
“Things will work out, Keith, I promise.” Adam stood “Now go to bed young man.” He smiled.
“Okay.” Keith stood heading for the stairs. “Thanks for listening.” He said in a low whisper, but he knew Adam had heard him because he looked surprised.