You're Kind of a Shitty Person

DisOrientation

“All right Daniel, you behave yourself,” Brad said as he started towards the door.

“Wait, where the hell do you think you're going?” Daniel's face was a mix of confusion and disbelief. “You can't just leave me here. I don't have my phone or wallet. How the hell am I gonna get back to the apartment?”

“Aw, sounds like he already misses you, Bradley.” Ralph joked. Brad stopped and turned to stare at Daniel. Both men stood there for a few seconds, trying to gauge each other’s expressions. After a moment of silence, the muscular Jock bounded toward Daniel. The smaller man was caught off guard and for a second fully expected to be on the receiving end of a physical assault.

Daniel closed his eyes, bracing his whole body for impact. “This is it. The dumb ass finally snapped,” was the only thing his brain could muster. When Brad’s arms finally made contact, Daniel was too relieved to be properly upset. “Get the fuck off me!” Daniel yelled as he pushed out of Brad's embrace. The blonde Jock was partially kneeling, now able to look at his neighbor eye-to-eye. An image of Daniel's father flickered through his mind before his brain could repress the thought.

“It’s ok Dannie, I’ll be back at the end of the day to pick you up. I know you’ll do great.”

“I don't give a shit what you do. I am a grown-ass-man and I don’t need anyone's help” Daniel crossed his arms and turned around, leaving Brad to stare at his back. After a few seconds, he felt Brad’s hand fiddling at his butt.

“I never said that you did…” Brad said, lightly tugging the legs of Daniel’s shorts dislodging the boy’s wedgie from his cheeks. Daniel just ignored him. At this point, he had started to adjust to Brad's handsy personality. He waited, back still turned, for Brad to say something.

Ralph broke the silence. “You’re lucky. He wasn’t always that patient.”

“What?” Daniel said turning around. He hadn’t even noticed Brad leave, but sure enough, he was gone.

“All right let me get you a uniform unless you wanna stay in that getup...” Daniel shifted uncomfortably at the phrase getup. Ralph looked the fidgeting man up and down, asking, "What are you? An extra small?".

“Just give me a small.” Daniel’s response was cold but not confrontational. He wasn't great at eye contact and couldn't bring himself to look the older brunette in his eyes.

“Let me check if weeee-“ Ralph trailed, pulling a box from under his desk. Over the desk, Daniel could see him flipping through a stack of branded shirts. He also noticed Ralph counting under his breath. “-XL, XL, L, L, L, M… Ah, here we go.” Ralph pulled out a second box, presumably full of gym shorts, and resumed counting.

‘I guess he seems friendly.’ Daniel thought, ‘Though not nearly as gullible as Brad.’ Daniel could tell Ralph was less likely to put up with his attitude, but Daniel wondered exactly where his line was. For the moment, Daniel would try to stay on Ralph’s good side- as long as the boy could bear it. But Daniel intended to figure out exactly what buttons he could push.

“Alrighty,” Ralph said swinging his arms over the desk. He held out a shirt and a pair of shorts for Daniel. “I had the tee, but these shorts might be a bit snug. I don't think you'll mind though.” Ralph smiled nodding down to Daniel’s current track shorts.

‘Yeah, I’m gonna enjoy knocking him down a peg.’ Daniel thought, teeth clenched. He managed a “thanks," poorly attempting to hide his contempt. Daniel grabbed the stack of clothes from Ralph but stopped when he felt resistance. He looked up, hands still firmly grasping the clothes. Why wasn't Ralph letting go? For the first time since the two were alone, Daniel met Ralph’s gaze. The muscular receptionist was leaning over his desk, his glaring face only a foot away from Daniel’s own. Daniel froze, wishing desperately that the tight clothes he wore were loose enough to sink into. It wasn’t the proximity that terrified Daniel, it was the expression on Ralph’s face. Ralph’s eyes cut through Daniel with an intensity that he hadn’t even seen from his own father.

“Bradley tells me you have a bit of an attitude problem. To be frank, I don’t give a shit whether you keep this job or not, but he seems to think this experience will be to your benefit.” Ralph tugged on the stack of clothes pulling Daniel’s terrified face eye-to-eye with his own. “I intend to say this once- and only once- so I advise you to listen carefully. “I do not tolerate being disrespected, I will not tolerate you disrespecting members, and it is your -SOLE- priority to cater to the needs and desires of our customers.” Daniel would've done just about anything to escape the moment, but his hands wouldn't let go of the shirt. “I am a patient man but not a forgiving one. I have promised Brad that I will not fire you, but if you get even a single complaint from a customer, or I feel your behavior is unbecoming of gym staff, I will not hesitate to put you in your place. Do I make myself clear?” Daniel barely even noticed the moisture forming in his eyes or the beads dropping from his exposed pits.

“Y-yes.” Daniel choked, still caught wide-eyed like a deer in headlights. His raspy voice was barely audible, lost somewhere between a whimper and a cough. He wasn't even sure if Ralph heard him, but as if a switch had flipped, Daniel stumbled backward. They hadn't broken eye contact and yet the man that was just threatening Daniel was gone. Ralph’s smiling face now beamed at Daniel. The man’s expression was completely void of hostility.

“No worries, kid. I believe yah.” Ralph chuckled plopping back into his chair. “I don't like to throw my weight around, but it's important to establish who’s in charge from the beginning. I didn't think I’d scare you that bad.” Daniel watched Ralph sheepishly shrug, unable to fully process the emotional vacuum he just experienced. He didn't quite understand Ralph’s choice of words. What did he mean by ‘that bad?’ Yeah, he was scared shitless but wasn't that the point? Daniel touched his face and realized he was crying. Not sobbing, just silently crying. He couldn't even explain why he was crying. The interaction was far less emasculating than Brad’s little arm game, and Daniel was too dazed to feel sad or upset.

“I know your financial situation. It can be hard starting a new job and I don't want you to feel isolated or trapped.” Ralph slid open a desk drawer clearly looking for something specific. “Now I can't give you the money you need upfront. But I have talked to Bradley and we have agreed that when your lease ends you can alternate between sleeping at his apartment and sleeping at the gym.” Finding what he was searching for, Ralph closed the drawer and slid four items across the desk. Daniel just stared down at the items, his brain still trying to catch up with the current conversation. In front of him sat a house key, two smaller metal keys, and a plastic ID card on a lanyard.

Daniel was pretty sure all three keys were different. He picked up the card. The front read, ‘Daniel Paganelli, Junior Staff Member.’ He flipped the card over. On the back Training, Reach, and Progress was printed over a magstripe.

“These three keys govern your new life as a T.R.A.P. employee. The largest key locks and unlocks the front door, the staff spaces, and the staff locker room.” Ralph picked up one of the smaller keys. “This is your locker key. Nobody else has a copy, so don't lose it.” Daniel had stopped crying. His brain had finally caught up He gripped the ID card, trying to actively suppress his rising anger and embarrassment. “Lastly you're holding your staff key card which scans you pass the gate, manages your staff rating, and most importantly tracks your time so you get paid.”

“Where’s the locker room? I wanna get changed…” Daniel’s voice was once again cold.

“It’s over th-“ Ralph pointed towards the back of the gym, but before he could finish his sentence Daniel was bounding towards the door with all four keys in hand. Ralph just sat back and smiled. He couldn't help but chuckle at the boy practically running from his desk. He watched as Daniel’s shorts lovingly wedged themselves back up the boy’s crack. Daniel didn’t stop this time and Ralph could make out each cheek bounce as they strained against their nylon gag. Ralph turned his attention back to his work, giving his newest employee one last thought.

“You'll be a good boy when I'm done with you. Just you wait Daniel… Just you wait.”