C++ Return values from std::thread

I've see other posts that ask a similar question, though I didn't see how the answers could help in my situation.

I've looked into using future and async, but all examples replace std::thread with it which I can't do because I'm using std::thread to run two functions at the same time.

char key;
int asciiValue;

while(1)
{
    int timer;
    int reset = 0;
    std::thread x(Counter, reset);
    std::thread y(getch);
    /*
    I need timer = Counter(reset); 
    I need key = getch();
    */
    asciiValue = key;
    if(asciiValue == 97)
    {
        std::cout << "a was pressed" << std::endl;

        /*
        Call Counter(reset); and getch(); again somehow
        */
    }
}

How can I get

timer = std::thread x(Counter, reset);

and

key = std::thread y(getch);

to work?