Work Text:
It’s another wonderful day in retail. Stocking shelves, ringing the register, helping customers find things- the usual.
On your worst days the goal is pretty much “don’t let the store burn down around you and stay sane until it’s time to go home.”
Luckily, today has actually been pretty decent so far. You came in to find that one of your coworkers had already done a difficult planogram that you had been dreading tackling and you’re actually in a pretty good mood.
You give the pretty soccer mom you just finished ringing up her change and smile at her two little kids before she grabs her bags, and they leave.
Since there’s no one else waiting to be rung up you take the opportunity to straighten up some of the stuff under the counter. It’s a huge mess of cleaning supplies, extra bags, crap that your coworkers stashed away to buy later. There’s that damn blue hoodie that everyone claims isn’t theirs, but the store has never sold any like it, and someone had to have stuffed it down there.
You’re thinking about staying a little late tonight to tear everything out of there and at the very least vacuum up all the dust that’s accumulated, when you hear someone clear their throat.
“If you should happen to get a moment, I could use some assistance.”
Though his words are innocuous enough, the man’s voice is cutting.
You give yourself a moment to roll your eyes beneath the counter before standing up.
“I apologize, sir. How can I help you?” You look at the dark-haired man. He’d be handsome if it wasn’t for the stony look on his face.
Before he can answer, a second man with fiery orange hair and a mischievous look on his face steps up and claps him on the shoulder.
“Excuse my cousin. Thorin’s just a wee bit cranky because his boyfriend ignored him this morning.”
Thorin glares at his cousin. “Bilbo isn’t my boyfriend, and he wasn’t ignoring me. He was simply too busy to talk.”
“Aye, but you want him to be.” Thorin scowls and he snickers at the look on his face. He leans against the counter and shoots you a grin. “Do you have anything that might make a good gift for said ‘not boyfriend’? Nerdy type, quiet, his idea of an exciting night is cracking open a fresh book.” His tone is teasing and he gleefully side-eyes the increasingly bitchy look on his cousin’s face.
At this point you couldn’t keep from smiling if you tried, a fact which seems to please the shorter man. “We have a display of collectors addition books and different accessories like cool bookmarks and stuff like that over there.” You point out the display for the men.
Seemingly sensing that the only thing to be gained by remaining in this conversation is more teasing, Thorin walks off in the direction you’d indicated.
You watch him walk away for a moment before turning back to the other who is still standing across from you.
“Finally, the third wheel is gone” he winks. “I’m Dain, what’s your name?”
You can’t help but be charmed by this strange man who seems to positively exude confidence. You glance down at the name tag pinned to your shirt, eyes lingering for a few seconds to make sure he notices before flicking your eyes back up to meet his and saying your name.
“I wouldn’t want to assume” Dain shrugs, and you laugh at the absurdity. He grins and leans in close like as if he’s about to let you in on a secret. “What do you say, you and I ditch my grumpy cousin and get out of here?”
You raise an eyebrow, amused. “I’m in the middle of my shift, I can’t leave.”
“So what I’m hearing is that’s the only thing stopping you from saying yes, good to know.”
“You’re hard to ignore, I’ll give you that.”
The man beams. He’s very handsome- doubly so when he’s smiling which you get the feeling is his default state. “I’ve managed to work with less in the past, so I think I like my chances!”
“Dain, stop harassing the cashier.” Thorin sets a hard cover edition of Shel Silverstein’s Falling Up with a glossy copper colored dust jacket on the counter.
You ring up the book and Thorin gives his cousin a stern look before telling him that he needs to call someone names Dís and that he’ll be waiting for Dain outside the store.
Dain waves him off before looking at you expectantly. “Give it to me straight- what are my chances?” His eyes are sparkling with good humor, and you get the idea that if you told him to get lost, he would do so with no hard feelings and no questions asked.
You pretend to sigh. “I guess I could let you take me on a date.” You pause for a moment. “Thorin can’t come, though.”
Dain laughs loudly. “No cousins, promise. When do you get off work?”
You look at the time before telling him that you still have a couple hours to go before you can leave, but that you’re free after that.
“Great! I’ll meet you back here then. Gives me time to go home and freshen up for our date.”
You exchange numbers just in case you need to get ahold of each other before then and Dain leaves with a final farewell.
Already knowing that you’re going to be staring at the clock in anticipation for the rest of your shift, you smile. You have a feeling that this date is actually going to be really fun.