Sixteen-going-on seventeen-year-old part-timer Keigo Takami flushed. "But...I've never conducted an interview before," he protested.

The current store manager of Spencers, Redi Nagan, playfully ruffled his hair. "You'll be great. Besides, you're gonna need to know how to do this after I'm gone."

"But - "

" - Gotta run, Angelcakes. Good luck!"

Keigo glared indignantly as he watched the soon-to-be-grad student frolic out of the store's entrance as if she were heading to Disneyland.

"You're bailing on me and making me do your job," Keigo grumbled under his breath. If anyone should be trying to find her replacement, it should be her, not him. He was just a high schooler working there to save up for a car.

He nervously grabbed the paperwork for their last applicant. Dabi Himura, he read curiously. Just turned eighteen. Before this, he'd worked for two years at…

"Saks Fifth Avenue?!" Keigo gasped.

And not just any Saks Fifth Avenue. The Saks Fifth Avenue. On 611 Fifth Ave in New York City. After working at a place like that...what possessed him to apply at a rinky-dink mall store in the middle of Happy Valley, Oregon?

Over-qualified doesn't cover it, Keigo thought. Now he felt even more intimidated. Crap I can't do this. He'd just tell the guy to come back tomorrow and -

"Hey."

Keigo looked up from the applicant's file and froze.

A man with spiky jet-black hair and teal-blue eyes looked down at him. He wore a long-sleeved ebony sweater that looked expensive, as well as form-fitting jeans that matched. His ears had silver cuffs, and his nails were a midnight blue.

He was also a complete and total knock-out.

"Hey," Keigo echoed quietly.

The man gave him a wickedly fast once-over while biting his bottom lip. "What's your name?"

Keigo searched through his mental filing cabinet for the information the unreasonably attractive man asked of him. But after a few seconds, he realized he didn't even remember the question.

The man's face twitched as he tried not to smile. "Oh, it's Keigo."

Keigo felt his hands get clammy. How did he -

"Your name tag," the man said, answering his unasked question.

"Oh! Yeah, my uh...yeah." Keigo ran a hand through his hair nervously as he felt heat rise to his face.

The man held out his hand. "My name is Dabi. I'm here a little early, but I have an interview."

Keigo's heart jumped. He's...he's the -

"If it's a bad time I can come back - "

" - No!" Keigo exclaimed, grabbing Dabi's hand in both of his.

They both stood there frozen like that for a few seconds.

"I mean...um…" Keigo let go, crossing his arms. "No. It's not a bad time. Uh...Follow me."

Keigo walked in and out of the storeroom of Spencers fifty times during each shift. That was the only reason his body made it there for the interview. His brain had officially clocked out.

"Are you the current manager?" Dabi asked.

Keigo sat cross-legged on top of a card table like he did on his breaks while Dabi sat in the chair against the wall, facing him. "No, she left for the day. I'm just a cashier."

Dabi crossed his legs and wove his fingers together. "Oh. Are you the one who usually interviews new applicants?"

Keigo shrunk in on himself. "No," he answered honestly. "This is my first time."

Dabi smiled coyly. "I see. Then I'll do my best to be gentle."

Keigo flushed even redder. Is he...flirting with me?

The applicant laughed softly. "Whenever you're ready."

Why do I feel like I'm the one being interviewed and not the other way around? Keigo cleared his throat. "Okay, um...it says here you have two years of experience at Saks in Manhattan."

Suddenly a dark expression fell over Dabi's face. "Yes."

"What made you leave your previous job?"

His good humor seemed to vanish completely. "I needed a change. My employer's expectations surpassed what I was capable of doing. The stresses of the job became too much."

"That's understandable. I bet working in New York City can be overwhelming."

Dabi frowned. "Yeah. Overwhelming. That's a good word for it."

"So you wanted something more lowkey."

"Yes," he answered, looking off to the side. He seemed distracted all of a sudden.

Keigo stopped looking down at the questions sheet. He was asking his own questions now. "Out of all the stores at Loav & Sechz, what made you want to apply here?"

Dabi looked back at Keigo, brought back to earth. "Is it so surprising?"

Keigo scoffed. "I mean...yeah. Saying Spencers is a step down is an understatement."

He shrugged. "Most of the other jobs available in the area are part-time. I need an occupation that offers forty hours a week to cover all my expenses."

Well, he certainly doesn't beat around the bush, Keigo thought. Honest and practical. Those were good qualities, right? "Like that?"

"Car insurance. Rent, once I find an apartment - "

" - You're moving?" Keigo asked.

"I just moved here," Dabi explained.

"From New York," Keigo realized out loud.

"Yes."

"Do you have anywhere to stay until you find a place?" Keigo asked, hoping the answer was no.

Dabi waved his hand dismissively. "Yes. I've been at the Golden Shore Hotel."

Keigo pressed his lips together so his jaw wouldn't drop. You have to be loaded just to walk through the door of that place. He clearly has money, so why is he looking for a job?

"Thank you for asking," Dabi added, his voice warm again. "That was very kind of you."

Keigo averted his gaze. "I should apologize. I'm not asking the right questions for an interview."

"I don't mind," Dabi said with half-lidded eyes. "I'm happy to answer any questions you have for me."

Keigo flushed. Are you single? "If we decide not to give you the managerial position, would you prefer manning the floor or working behind a register?"

Dabi leaned back in his chair, tilting his head back so it leaned against the wall. "I like to try all kinds of locations. Keeps things exciting."

He held back a shudder. He has to be flirting with me. He has to be. But for the sake of his sanity, he needed to remain professional. Or at least try. "It doesn't specify on your paperwork whether or not you've been a manager before. Would this position be daunting for you?"

Dabi smiled. "Not at all. I'm used to being someone who calls the shots. But I wouldn't mind serving you in other ways, either. I'm familiar with lots of different...positions."

Keigo's hard-on throbbed when a brief image of this man promptly bending him over the table he currently sat flashed through his mind. Please don't notice please don't notice please don't notice - "In one word, how would your previous employer describe you?" he asked, his voice cracking.

He didn't hesitate. "Thorough," he purred.

Keigo just barely suppressed a whine.

Dabi looked him up and down. "If you don't mind my asking...how many...managers have you had?"

By the heady look in Dabi's eyes, Keigo immediately understood they weren't talking about work anymore. "One or two," he answered quietly.

"So you wouldn't consider yourself very experienced."

Oh crap. A knot formed in Keigo's stomach. How can I be shot down when I didn't even take off? "No," he answered dejectedly.

But his sex drive did a somersault when Dabi smirked and whispered, "That's okay. If we end up working together, I'd be thrilled to teach you what I know."

He likes me back! He doesn't care that I'm new at this. Hope surged through him. "I learn fast. Shouldn't take me too long to pick things up."

Dabi got up from his chair to stand in front of him. Suddenly their faces were only inches apart. "And, if I may ask...how will my success here be measured?"

Keigo shuddered. "That depends on whether I use the metric system or imperial."

Dabi snickered, his eyes warm as they gazed at him. "I see you're eager to get started. Is it safe to say I'm hired?"

"Yes," Keigo sighed, unconsciously leaning in closer.

Dabi closed his eyes as their noses brushed each other. "Then tell me," he whispered, "what should my first act as manager be?"

Riding me like a horse at a derby. "I'd say...breaking in your new coworker," he whispered back.

Dabi gently brushed a thumb along Keigo's jaw, raising goosebumps. "We'll work up to that after we've established what you can handle."

Keigo squirmed, growing more turned on by the second. He'd barely been touched but he couldn't stop thinking about how good he could be feeling right now. "Anything," he gasped.

Dabi's gaze turned skeptical. "What's the biggest shipment you've had?"

I...oh we're...we're really talking about this. "Uh...um...five or s….five."

His eyes widened and he pulled away. "Shit. You need some training before we go any further."

"I do?" Keigo squeaked.

"Definitely," Dabi said, nodding vigorously.

He flushed shyly. "Oh."

Dabi winked. "My shipment is much bigger than that."

Keigo felt a rush of anticipation, like the way a kid felt the night before Christmas. "How...how big are we talking?"

"Nine," he said with a smirk.

I think I'm in love. "I'm excited for the challenge."

"I can tell," Dabi replied, grinning.

Keigo quickly rested the manila folder over his lap, flushing with embarrassment.

"It's a good thing," Dabi assured. "You want this as much as I do."

"Yes," Keigo answered, glancing away. There was no point in lying anymore. Or ignoring the desire he was feeling. "When can you start?" he asked.

"Whenever you're ready," Dabi answered, leaning in close again. "How bout you?"

Keigo stared at Dabi's mouth. "Immediately."

"Good." Dabi closed the distance between them and captured Keigo's mouth in a kiss. Keigo groaned as the more experienced out of the two slipped his tongue into his mouth.

I've never made out like this before. Keigo wrapped his legs around Dabi's waist, not caring when the paperwork fell off the table and onto the floor.

Dabi gently lowered Keigo onto his back on the card table, continuing to kiss him. Mercifully, he pressed a hand to Keigo's crotch and started rubbing up and down.

He cried out and threw his head back as the friction almost immediately made him cum. Dabi kept rubbing, drawing out Keigo's release as long as possible. When it ran its course, Keigo placed a hand on top of Dabi's to stop it and his face in his chest.

"Are you okay?" Dabi asked.

Keigo was surprised to hear Dabi's heart quicken against his ear. "I...I came."

Dabi chuckled, planting a soft kiss on Keigo's cheek. "Yeah, I know. And?"

"It was too fast."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"No," Keigo began, feeling even more self-conscious. "I mean I was too fast."

"I don't care."

Keigo looked up with surprise. "You don't?"

Dabi shook his head. "No. I'm just glad I made you feel good."

He's so...straight-up about this kinda stuff, Keigo thought, mortified.

"It felt good...right?"

"Beyond good," Keigo answered. "I just wish I lasted longer."

Dabi kissed the tip of Keigo's nose. "Like I said, we'll work you up to the bigger stuff."

Keigo flushed, gazing into Dabi's eyes. "When?"

Dabi rolled his eyes but he was smiling. "When are you free?"

"Tonight," he answered in a rush.

Dabi grinned. "It's cute how quickly you want to start." Dabi placed a piece of Keigo's hair behind his ear. "What's your curfew?"

Keigo shook his head. "Don't have one."

He raised an eyebrow. "Your parents don't - "

" - My mom doesn't care and my dad's in prison."

Dabi's expression became puzzled. But after waiting for a punchline that didn't come, he shrugged and said, "Fair enough."

Keigo rested his chin on Dabi's shoulder, cuddling into him.

Dabi stiffened, caught off guard. But after a few seconds, he relaxed, hesitantly wrapping an arm around Keigo. "I understand if you need a few days to decide whether I'm the right candidate for - "

" - No," Keigo answered, snuggling closer.

Dabi blinked, dumbfounded. "What about other applicants?"

"I don't have any others," Keigo declared. "I don't want any others."

"I didn't apply anywhere else either," Dabi whispered, nuzzling into Keigo's neck. "I guess it's settled then. I'm your new manager." All too quickly Dabi let go and helped Keigo to his feet. "What time do you get done?"

Keigo's stomach filled with butterflies. I'm really doing this. "Ten."

Dabi titled Keigo's chin up and planted one more kiss, softer this time, before pulling away. "I'll pick you up."