Chapter Text
For the record, Rafael loves his mother. He loves her enough that when she’d asked him to come home for the summer before he starts law school, he’d agreed. He loves her enough to stay in his tiny childhood bedroom, which is far more cramped now than it was before he knew what space felt like.
He loves her so much that he’s standing at the corner convenience store on a Saturday morning, when all he wants to do is sleep in, because she ran out of tomatoes and wants to make him one of his favorite meals.
He’s been staring at the aisles of the convenience store for a few moments, just taking in the alone time and trying to wake himself up enough to put on a bright smile by the time he gets back. He knows he’s been zoned out, staring at a two-liter of Mountain Dew for far too long, when someone speaks from behind him.
“Can I help you find anything, sir?” The words come out slurred in a Staten Island accent, and Rafael immediately snaps out of his daze to comment on it.
That is until he turns around and sees one of the most beautiful men he’s ever laid eyes on. Instead of quipping back something about the trainwreck accent, he instead mutters, “Holy fuck, you’re gorgeous.” He doesn’t realize he’s uttered it out loud until the gorgeous face lights up in a breathtaking smile.
“Well, thank you, sir.” The smile fades into a smirk as Rafael takes the opportunity to check out the man in front of him. Lazily, he lets his eyes roam the tight-fitted white t-shirt, tattered skinny jeans, and beat-up black Converse before dragging his eyes back up to blue ones.
Rafael clears his throat once his inspection is complete, “I was just zoned out, sorry.”
The other man nods, “Well, I’m here if you need any help.” He walks away, back to the tiny cash register tucked behind a counter. Rafael follows shortly after grabbing a handful of tomatoes and a bottle of water, setting it on the counter. “My name’s Sonny,” the man introduces himself.
Rafael nearly rolls his eyes, “Of course it is.”
“Ay, what’s that supposed to mean?” Sonny sounds mildly offended, scanning Rafael’s items, “Your total is $15.40.” He says the last part quietly.
Rafael hands him a twenty note from his wallet, “Please ignore my commentary, I obviously haven’t fully woken up yet.” He makes eye contact again with Sonny, smiling slightly.
Sonny grins right back, “No worries, really.” He hands Rafael his change across the counter, and their fingers brush slightly. “Have a nice day, sir.” Sonny’s eyes twinkle in the sunlight streaming into the store from the large windows in front.
“My name is Rafael,” Rafael tells him on the way out. He isn’t sure why – probably has something to do with how good-looking Sonny is, Rafael ponders to himself.
“Rafael,” Sonny repeats, slowly curving the name across his accent, voice dark. “I’ll see you around, Rafael.” Rafael just nods quickly before departing.
That should have been the beginning and end of it.
However, Rafael finds himself outside of the convenience store down the block just a day later, his mother asking him to run and get some eggs for a meal she planned to make. Rafael thinks she’s just trying to keep him busy – maybe she regrets inviting him to stay for an entire summer, wanted some alone time.
Rafael could relate.
Sonny spots him as soon as he walks in and his face lights up, just like last time. There are a few other people inside of the store, but Sonny still greets him with a loud, “Hey, Rafael!”
Rafael just nods quietly, ignoring the other patrons when they look up to see what’s causing the noise. One of the other patrons is a mother of an old friend of Rafael’s, and she immediately walks over and gives him a strong hug, speaking rapid-fire Spanish to him while grabbing his cheeks, asking how he’s been, what he’s been up to.
He replies in earnest, explaining that he’s home for the summer before he starts at Harvard in the fall. She looks so proud that it brings a genuine smile to his face as she kisses his cheek and wishes him well. When she makes to leave, he bids her ado and begins his search for his own items.
He brings the eggs, as well as snacks for himself, up to the register where Sonny is still smiling largely at him. “How’s it going today?” He asks, scanning Rafael’s items. Rafael just shrugs, but Sonny continues as if he’d actually answered. “My day’s fine, thanks for asking.”
Rafael does roll his eyes at Sonny this time, “I’m glad to hear it.” Rafael slips another twenty note in Sonny’s direction and the man takes it, handing him his change.
“You always so sour?” Sonny asks him, smirking as he hands Rafael a bag of his items and shuts the register drawer with his hip.
Rafael snorts out a quick laugh, “Yes, actually.” Sonny nods, smirk still in place. “Have a good rest of your day?” Rafael tries in departure and Sonny laughs back at him.
“You too, Rafael.”
The third time he sees Sonny is his favorite, but he wouldn’t admit it even under certain death.
Rafael is exiting his mother’s apartment building, placing sunglasses on his face, and he begins to head north when a body slams into his and knocks him to his knees.
Rafael’s response is immediate, “What the fuck?!”
The person who ran into him reaches down with long arms and large palms, grabbing Rafael by the upper arms and picking him up. Rafael’s knee is skinned, and small droplets of blood have bubbled to the surface of his knee by the time he hears the thick accent say, “Sorry about that!”
Rafael turns around and watches as Sonny realizes who he’s run into. His face lights up, full lips pulling into a grin and his cheeks even turn a bit rosy. The man is once again wearing too tight of a shirt with skinny jeans and the same beat-up Converse. Rafael thinks he looks delicious, but can’t stop being angry at being pushed.
“Want to watch where you’re going?” Rafael huffs, but Sonny looks pleased as punch at the turn of events.
“I genuinely didn’t see you there,” Sonny tells him, and Rafael rolls his eyes. “Which is a damn shame, considering how delightful you look this afternoon, Rafael.” Sonny’s face is pulled into a smirk as he says it, and Rafael tries to will his face into not blushing.
Rafael begins to walk in the direction he was originally heading instead of replying, still huffy at being pushed. Sonny takes it as an invitation and falls in step beside him. “You following me now?” Rafael asks, feeling his annoyance slip into amusement as the other man takes steps that are visibly too small for his height in order to stay in line with Rafael.
“Where you going?” Sonny asks instead of answering, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
Rafael debates his answer before deciding to stick with the truth, “I’m going for a walk because my mother is driving me insane.” Sonny laughs out loud at this and Rafael takes a brief moment to appreciate the other man’s features. Strong jawline dusted with stubble, blond hair that looks unwashed hanging loosely around his face, and the brightest smile Rafael has had the pleasure to look at.
He wonders briefly how Sonny’s mouth might taste, but quickly rids those thoughts from his mind.
Sonny is quiet for a second before asking, “So, why are you here?”
Rafael is taken aback for a second, straightening his back and slowing his steps the smallest amount – why is Rafael here? He grew up here, his mother lives here, where else would he be? Then he remembers the multitude of dorm rooms and cheap apartments he’s lived in while in college the last four years and realizes the question isn’t as crazy as it seems. To Sonny, Rafael is the outsider.
“My mother asked me to move in for the summer before I start at Harvard in the fall. I’m nothing if not a doting son, so I couldn’t deny her.” Sonny nods, looking at Rafael even as they continue walking. “Why are you here?”
Sonny is quiet and radiates discomfort at the question before stating, “That’s a story for another time, Rafael.” The steps alongside Rafael’s have stopped, and Sonny is the slightest amount behind him when he says, “I’ll see you around.” And just as suddenly as he appeared, he walks off in a different direction, leaving behind a confused Rafael.
Huh, Rafael thinks to himself. Interesting.