Chapter 3 – Desperate Times
Roman was back at the restaurant at 10 am after 6 hours of sleep and an hour at the gym.
He really needed to hire people so he prepared an ad and searched the newspapers himself. Nothing. He found like three other restaurants that were hiring. Seemed like not enough good people were out there at the moment.
But he needed a sous chef or someone at least a little more experienced than Damien. Someone who kept his cool under pressure. He was really getting desperate. He had told Tony that he had already hired someone. And he only got two weeks to teach a new cook his recipes.
He pushed a hand through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts. What should he do? Tapping his pencil against his lower lip he stared at a copy of his menu. Fish…Steak…Vegetables…Didn't call desperate times for desperate measures? What did he have to lose?
He got up and walked outside looking up and down the alley. He saw a pair of boots sticking out from next to his dumpster and he walked up and kicked said boots.
"Hey, wake up. I have a proposal." Granted that could have sounded a little nicer but Roman was on edge about this whole deal and his nerves clearly showed in his tone.
The homeless guy grunted and pushed his hood off of his face revealing a mob of dirty blonde hair. Roman was not sure how much of the hair was just dirty blonde in its natural color or just dirty.
His face was scruffy and he had amazing blue eyes shining out underneath strands of hair on his forehead.
He was ruggedly handsome Roman supposed and was surprised by this.
"So?" the guy asked gruffly when Roman just stared. Right, Roman was here for a reason, not to stare and muse about if that messy hair was all soft. Roman cleared his throat clearly a little embarrassed he was caught staring.
"You seem to know a thing or two about food. I need help. Why don't you try out for me?"
The guy put his head to the side studying the big guy in front of him.
"That a joke?"
"No. Let's give it a week. You work for me and I hire you permanently if it works out, residence or not. For the time being you could sleep at my place I guess. So what do you say?"
"I say you are stupid. You don't even know my name. You don't know if I don't rob your place or kill you in your sleep."
It actually hit Roman for the first time that the guy was right. He needed to come up with some sort of explanation so the guy didn't think he was desperate (which he clearly was) or naïve (which was maybe true as well). So Roman started with an introduction.
"I am Roman Reigns. And you are?"
"Dean." the other man grumbled. "Dean Ambrose."
Roman hesitated for a moment when he heard the name but brushed the thought aside quickly.
"Nice to meet you Dean. As for the other things. If you would be a thief you wouldn't live on the streets. As for a killer...if you would be your clothes would be bloody and you have no real chance to wash them." Ha, how was that for an explanation?
Dean smirked now. "What if I like to snap people's necks? Not bloody at all." He twisted his own head around on his neck once.
"Let's say...I trust you." Roman replied shrugging not really happy that Dean won this round.
Dean shook his head mumbling under his breath about desperate, naive people but he grabbed his backpack.
"How do we want to play this? I am sure you will not let me into your kitchen looking like this."
Roman crossed his arms over his massive chest and pushed his lower lip forward thinking about it.
"I have a couple of hours till I have to be back. You can shower at my place, we get you a haircut and some clothes afterwards and you start today. Let's go."
Roman caught Dean brushing his hand over his unruly hair.
"What's wrong with the hair? I like it. It has this out of bed chiq."
Roman chuckled. Dean was right. He looked like he came just out of bed and his lover had grabbed his hair in a passionate lovemaking just minutes before. Shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts Roman replied instead: "That may be true but it needs a cut. Desperately."
"While we are at it will you cut your hair as well? That mane needs trimming."
Roman stopped and pointed his index finger at Dean threateningly. "No touching my hair. Stay out of it."
Dean raised his hands in defeat. "Got it. Man you are touchy about your hair, huh?"
"Its...I just like it the way it is. And in the restaurant I put it together in a ponytail so it isn't in the way."
"What do you do about the smell?"
Roman knew what he meant. The scents of the kitchen liked to cling to clothes and hair.
"I wash it daily."
Dean huffed. "Do you have too much free time?"
"No but I am willing to put up with it." It amused Roman that he discussed his hair with Dean like that and he was entertained. This friendly bantering seemed natural somehow. Much like it had with Tony before playful banter turned into serious arguments and hurtful words.
"Here we are." Roman stopped in front of an old but well-kept building and opened the front door. He led Dean up the stairs to the third floor.
"Sorry it has no elevator which I like. Helps me keep in shape."
Dean studied him bluntly from head to toe.
"Must be magic stairs. Bet I will look like you in no time." he told Roman dead serious.
For a second Roman thought he was serious but when a grin appeared on his scruffy face Roman laughed out.
"You are a nutcase Ambrose."
"I object. I am a lunatic at least."
Roman pointed beside the couch for Dean to put his backpack while the other man studied his surroundings.
"Nice place. Not like I suspected."
"What did you suspect?"
Dean shrugged. "A man cave? Like six or twelve girls hanging around in lingerie. Playboy calendar on the wall. Big entertainment system. Stuff like that."
Roman chuckled and walked ahead to show Dean around.
He pushed aside a panel on the wall to reveal a 60' TV screen with two gaming consoles beneath it. While Dean eyed it with an open mouth Roman decided to correct him on his previous musing as well.
"It would be a Playgirl calendar." he told Dean quietly.
"Come again?" the homeless man asked astonished turning his eyes from the TV back to Roman.
"Playgirl..as in.."
"Naked men. Yeah yeah I am familiar with the title just wouldn't have pictured you to swing for the other team as well."
Roman studied him with his light silver eyes gauging if what Dean had implied was in fact what he had wanted to imply.
Dean got impatient with the stare and walked into the room Roman waited in front of now.
"I swing both ways. That the bathroom I suppose?"
He had changed the topic so fast that Romans head spun and he had to collect himself for a second before answering Dean.
"Look at you, you are a smart one, huh? Yes. That is the bathroom. Shower gel, soap and shampoo are in the shower, a spare razor is under the sink as well as a toothbrush and towels are in that closet. I will get you something to wear. You are not as bulky as I am but at least we have the same height...roughly at least."
To Romans surprise Dean was even an inch taller if he stood upright and was not slugging.
"Cool. Thank you." Dean replied and started to take off his dirty clothes making Roman blush and leaving the room rather quickly.
Dean was astonished to say the least about this guy Roman and most everything about him.
He had seen him a couple of times at the restaurant since he had opened it but before last night Roman had never actively registered him much like everyone else turned a blind eye on homeless people. Dean was fine with that he hated those stares and the drunk kids who thought they could treat homeless people like the garbage they searched their food in.
Roman at least let him stay in the alley and let him raid his dumpster. He was at least sure that Roman had noticed that he was there and what he did each night after closing time.
He often found fruits...still too fresh to throw away but not good enough for paying customers in a separate garbage bag on the top of the dumpster so he could pick it up and store elsewhere.
Roman even hadn't mind when Dean had taken one large carton box from when his equipment had been delivered to put beside the dumpster to sleep in.
Now he was in his bathroom and he would step into his shower in a second and step out smelling like him. He sniffed the shower gel, soap and shampoo, each top notch and liked the smell well enough to use it.
A/N:
So yes, I am very predictable. But thank you for playing.
So what do you think? Did Roman put too much trust into Dean? Was there really no better choice than the grumpy homeless guy? Or maybe, just maybe Roman will luck out with his choice?