Written for: The Crownless Queen. I really hope you like this. :)
Gift Giving Extravaganza - February - Prompts used: Charlie/Draco, Blaise/Hermione and any kind of AU!
Word Count - 1639
Dragon Ink
Tattoo Artist!AU & Muggle!AU
Blaise Zabini adjusted his jacket before pushing open the door of the tattoo-parlour. His eyes fell on the curly-haired receptionist and she looked up at the sound of the bell, their eyes meeting.
A smile appeared on her lips.
"Let me guess? You've finally picked out the tattoo that you want?"
He strode in and leaned on the counter. "Not even close. Do you have any ideas?" He replied.
She shook her head. "You've exhausted all of my ideas already Blaise."
"How's your college work coming along?" He asked.
"Not too bad, I've completed it all, I'm just waiting for it to be marked," she replied. "Do you want Charlie to come up with some ideas?"
Blaise stepped back away from the counter. "No, I'm good," he said. "I'll just go and have another think about it."
Hermione watched in amusement as he left as quickly as he arrived. A second later, Charlie appeared in the doorway.
"You do know that poor guy is just trying to get up the nerve to ask you out, right?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He's come in here every few days for months now. If he wanted to ask me out, he would have done it."
"Or maybe you intimidate him -"
"I'm not very intimidating," Hermione interrupted with a small laugh. "You on the other hand..."
Charlie shrugged. "I'm the least intimidating bloke there is."
"Of course you are," Hermione replied, sarcasm in her tone. "That dragon tattoo is especially reassuring."
Charlie grinned at her. "Smart-mouth," he muttered fondly. "Any appointments today?"
She glanced down at the book. "One, but he was supposed to arrive a few minutes ago. I've called him but he's not answering. No show."
"Deposit?"
Hermione shook her head. "I only pencilled him him because your day was bare. He might still show."
Charlie shrugged. "Well, do you want to take a look at my latest designs - I need to update the book and all the stuff is on the computer. Could you pick the more female friendly for the ladies book?"
"Sure," she replied.
...oOo...
"You gotta help me talk to her," Blaise insisted.
"I can't help you there," Draco replied, amused at seeing his friend struggling for once to get a date with a girl.
"Come on Draco," Blaise pushed. "You know if it were you, I'd back you up."
Draco shrugged. "So, where does she work?"
"The tattoo parlour -"
"Are you insane, she's one of those ones that are covered in tattoos and piercings and -"
"She works there whilst at college," Blaise interrupted. "One hold in each ear... that I know about. I don't see any tattoos either."
"Fine," Draco replied. "When do you want to do this?"
"Are you free now?"
...oOo...
Blaise pushed open the door to the tattoo parlour and his gaze met Hermione's. She smiled at him and her gaze moved to Draco. The pair walked over.
"Are you finally getting a tattoo?" She asked. "Or is your friend here to help you, or maybe to hold your hand when you have it done?"
Blaise shook his head. "I have no trouble with needles," he said. "Draco was just going to help me pick something.
Hermione nodded. "Well, we've updated the books with some new designs, how about I get you the book to look through?"
"Sure."
They watched Hermione disappear into the back room.
"I don't get what the trouble is, she talks to you, is friendly towards you..."
"I just can't seem to ask her out," Blaise said.
"Why not?" Draco asked.
She came back, holding a large folder and placed it on the counter.
"Do you want any help?" She asked.
The pair shook their heads and Blaise picked up the folder, leading the way to the chairs in the corner.
Hermione let her gaze travel down Blaise's body, landing on his arse as he walked away.
...oOo...
Ten minutes later, and Blaise was done. He had a few he liked, but he still didn't know about getting a tattoo. It was curiosity about them more than anything that had him wandering into the tattoo parlour in the first place.
"Hermione," Charlie said, walking out of the back room. "What do you think if I extended the Dragon's tail to go down my back and around my stomach?"
Draco's mouth dropped open at the sight of the topless redhead. He couldn't pull his eyes away from the man. Since when did he find tattoos sexy? But this man... the dragon covering part of his back and around his side was gorgeous.
They watched Hermione walk around the counter and look at the picture the man was holding, the pair talking in quiet voices, no doubt about the tattoo.
Finally the man glanced over, his eyes locking with Draco's own. "Are you here for a tattoo?" he asked.
"Blaise wanted my help," Draco replied. "But I've developed a recent liking... to tattoos."
He ignored the amused grin on Blaise's face.
"Brilliant. Maybe we could find one for you in that book," Charlie said. "Let me know if either of you decide to get done today, I've got some free time."
Draco looked down at the book and back at the man.
"Well, I have enough time," he said. "What do you think would suit me?"
Charlie stared at him for a minute. "That depends. Where do you want it?"
"Draco, are you sure -" Blaise started.
"Blaise," Draco hissed.
"Draco? If I'm not mistaken that means dragon," Charlie said, leaning against the doorframe. "It would be bad luck if your first tattoo wasn't a dragon."
"A dragon tattoo?" Draco repeated after him.
"Of course," Charlie said. "Bring the folder over, I know just the one."
Draco grabbed the folder out of Blaise's hands and walked over to the counter. He set it down between him and Charlie.
"This one. I can do a small one on your shoulder, a slightly larger one down your arm or a very large one on your back. What would you prefer?" Charlie asked.
Draco stared at the dragon for a few minutes, trying to picture how he'd look with it.
"It's a Chinese dragon," Charlie explained. "I only drew it yesterday morning, I have to say it's my best work."
"Can it be a different colour?" Draco asked. He didn't think the red was his colour.
"Of course, colour is easy," Charlie confirmed. "Green perhaps?"
Draco nodded. Green would be perfect.
He glanced back up at the tattoo artist who was looking more and more excited by the second. "So, are you ready now or would you like to book yourself in?" Charlie asked eagerly.
Draco found himself nodding in agreement. He handed the book to the receptionist and allowed himself to be led to the back room to get the tattoo done.
"Right, take off your top," Charlie said.
"What?" Draco squeaked.
"I... you need to take off your top. I need to see where you want the tattoo," Charlie said.
"Right," Draco said, pulling off his top.
"So, shoulder, back or arm?"
Draco decided he had gone this far already and Charlie looked amazing with a dragon tattoo...
"My back," he said, confidently.
His father was going to kill him.
...oOo...
"Okay, we're finished, you done really well for someone who has never had a tattoo before," Charlie said, offering Draco a hand to get up. Draco winced slightly.
"Also, if there are any problems with it here's the shop number. Feel free to call if you have any questions... any at all."
Just as Draco reached for the card, Charlie pulled it back, heading to the desk and grabbing a pen, scribbling something on the back.
"My mobile number, just in case it's an emergency," Charlie said, smiling at him and offering the card a second time.
"So... if I wanted to ask you to dinner?" Draco bravely asked. "Would it be okay to give you a call with that question?"
"It'd be more than okay, Draco," Charlie murmured. "You know, when I first saw you, I thought you were just another fan of Hermione's, trying to get her attention and never planning on getting a tattoo. I'm pleasantly surprised."
"I'm surprised too," Draco said, allowing Charlie to lead him to a mirror where he could see the tattoo.
"Would it be too much to ask if you'd come back when your back has healed and I could maybe take a picture of the tattoo to go with the drawing?"
"Sure," Draco said. "We can discuss that over dinner?"
"Tomorrow night?" Charlie suggested.
"Perfect," Draco agreed.
...oOo...
"So, that's the way to impress someone - get a tattoo?" Blaise asked, as him and Hermione looked through the doorway after the buzzing from the needle stopped.
"No, your friend is a moron," Hermione replied. "He should have got that tattoo because he wanted it, not to impress Charlie." She turned to Blaise. "Why are you getting a tattoo?"
"Uh... I don't know if I'm getting one, I'm still deciding," Blaise said.
"Because if you're getting one just to impress a girl, I'd be so disappointed in you."
Blaise smiled. "So how does a man go about impressing a girl like you?"
"By being straight with me and asking me out," Hermione replied. Maybe Charlie was right after all about Blaise being interested.
Blaise reached for her hand. "Hermione, what time do you finish work?"
"Ten minutes ago," she replied.
"Oh. Do you have any dinner plans?"
"None," Hermione said. "Unless you're offering."
"I am," Blaise said.
"Shouldn't you worry about getting your friend home?" Hermione asked.
"I'll make certain he gets home," Charlie replied, smirking at them both.
Hermione almost laughed at the look on Charlie's face. She wondered what time Draco would arrive home, she was sure it wouldn't be any time soon.
Thanks for the help Raybe.
Thank you all for reading. Please leave a review. :)