Originally written for the Christmas QAF Gift Exchange 2013 on Livejournal. Being posted on my account for the first time.
To: mander3_swish
From: Lupin111
Beta: Xrifree
Gift Request: Fic. AU, angst maybe?, lots of sexual tension/chemistry. tattoo artist Justin. Brian comes in for a back piece (or whatever)...could even be a giant set of wings ;) Why Brian is getting the tattoo is up to you. [I'd imagine he'd have to be there for multiple sittings]
Other Specifications: some making out/body worship would be nice, but PWP definitely NOT a requirement...what whatever you're comfortable with. Could speak to the ink on Justin's body as well.
Author's original message: I hope this is close to what you wanted. I didn't think it would be so hard to start writing again, but it was, and I struggled and missed about four deadlines. I hope the story is somewhere in the vague area of what you expected. If it is, I will do an angst-filled Part Two/extended epilogue. Merry Christmas, and I wish you all the very, very best for 2014. May it be full of wonder, joy and magic.
Christmas-time
"It's a super slow day, Cody. Two cancellations and no walk-ins." Justin groused. He turned up the volume on the radio, and then stretched. Then he glared at Cody, who was technically Justin's boss, seeing as how he owned and managed the tattoo parlour and body piercing studio where Justin worked as a tattoo artist.
"Well, it's almost 4.30 now. You have a customer due in twenty minutes. Are you still whining because I made you come in this morning?" Cody didn't bother looking up from what he was doing, which looked to Justin like the daily crossword. Or maybe he was circling the adult classifieds.
Justin sighed, walking back to the counter where he was working on a design. Cody looked up from the sofa he was on, at the front of the store.
"Justin, would you quit that?"
"I just don't understand why I had to be here all morning, to mind an empty shop."
"Parlour. This is a tattoo parlour, not a shop."
"Touché."
"Fuck, you are in some mood today." Cody put down the newspaper. "Look, don't you need the money? And the distraction?"
"I always need a distraction."
"Justin, you are in charge of tattoos. You do it better than all of us. You know people come here for your designs. I don't pay you more than anyone else so you can sit at home at and stare out the window."
"Yes well, this morning's bookings were for Shelly, and they all cancelled."
"Shelly's a fucking cunt." Cody stated.
"She still works here, so cunt or…worse than cunt, she's the one who should've been here."
"Not any more she doesn't. I caught her taking money from the cash register last night. She's lucky I didn't rearrange her face. She looks like a pit-bull anyway, it would've been a favour. I told her to get the fuck out, and that if she ever came anywhere near here again, I'd put a bullet between her eyes and throw her body into the river."
"Jesus fuck, why didn't you tell me? Did you call the cops?" Justin was secretly glad. He had always loathed Shelly.
Cody rolled his eyes. "Do you really want the cops snooping around here? And I would've told you. Eventually. At the same time I would've told you that you're going to have to pick up all her clients this week, since Matt is on vacation until next Monday. And then we'll split them until I find a replacement."
"Whydo I have to do all of them? You are a tattoo artist too, you know."
"Yes, but I don't like her shit designs, and I can't be bothered to tweak them. Plus, I'm moving this week, remember? I don't have the time."
"Just find a decent replacement, please. No more heroin-snorting, new-agey, chi-balancing, pseudo-intellectual, fake artists."
"Oh, do tell us what you really think of her." Cody sing-songed. "I knew your mood would improve once the good news set in. What are you doing?" He asked, as Justin started printing some designs.
"I'm going to improve her designs for next week, once I finish what I'm working on." Justin would rather get a root canal than have to use Shelly's designs to disfigure some poor sap with no taste. "Anyway, sorry for bitching about today. It's just that I was supposed to see Dr. Lai, and now I had to reschedule it for Saturday. And his assistant bitched endlessly about cutting it so close to Christmas and all." Justin concentrated on the design that he was presently perfecting, even while he spoke.
At that, Cody looked up. " ? Your therapist? You don't need a fucking shrink, Justin."
Justin grimaced. "Feel free to tell that to my parole officer."
"He's a dick."
"You can tell him that as well." Truth be told, Justin didn't really mind his parole officer as a person. However, the fact that he had a parole officer was a huge thorn in his side.
"Are you guys open?"
"So says the sign on the door." Justin didn't bother looking up at the male voice. Anyone who asked that was coming out of curiosity, not for a real tattoo or piercing.
"My, aren't we friendly for an empty store."
Justin still did not look up. "Parlour. This is a tattoo parlour, not a store."
"Excuse him, he has Tourette's." Cody interjected. "How can I help you?"
Justin sighed, and finally looked up. He had to try very hard to not have his jaw drop open. Three men had walked into the store, but it was the tallest of them, a brunette, who caught his attention. The face of god. That was it. This man had the face of god. A Greek god, not a Judeo-Christian god. And likely, the body of a Greek god underneath his impeccably tailored suit. He vaguely noted two other men hovering about.
"Brian Kinney." The man introduced himself to Cody. "I have to get a tattoo. I did some research and you guys are supposed to be one of the best."
"And I have a friend who's been here before." One of the other men piped up. He was the shortest of the three, and had an open, friendly face. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "I'm Michael. My friend, Brad, he said that there's a Justin Taylor here, who's supposed to be fabulous."
"Uh…I'm Justin Taylor."
Brian, the tall brunette raised his eyebrows, and looked at Cody. "Do you do tattoos? I have to get one." he repeated. "How long will it take?"
Justin bristled. "You don't have to get a tattoo. You have to get a vaccination shot. Or pay a parking ticket. You get a tattoo because you want to."
"Justin…" Cody's voice held a note of warning. "The Tourette is especially strong today" he told the three men with a smile. "We both do tattoos, as well as piercings. How long it takes depends on your design."
"It's not a design, just a phrase." The shorter man – Michael - supplied. "No apologies, no regrets."
Cody nodded. "What's the size? Where do you want it?"
"My forearm."
"The wrist." Michael and the other man declared in unison.
Brian rolled his eyes. "Fine, my wrist."
"Are you sure you want a tattoo?" Justin asked dubiously. "It's permanent, you know. If you're so disinterested in it, perhaps you shouldn't be getting one. Hair styles and $900 suits are things you can chase after because it's the latest style. Hair will grow back and you can always buy new clothes. A tattoo is forever."
"Did I ask you for your opinion?" Brian retorted.
"We provide a responsible service. That includes appropriately advising customers who have no idea what they're doing." Justin prissily replied.
The door opened.
"Hi Justin!"
"Hey Sean, you're a bit early." Justin smiled in relief as his client walked in. The tension of dealing with the increasingly annoying (and attractive) Brian was starting to get to him. "All ready?" Sean was a big, muscular man. He had wanted tattoos on both his arms, in memory of his two brothers, who had been killed in Iraq. His work was mostly finished; today was the last sitting, to add some final finishing touches.
"Man, am I excited! People already think it's amazing, and it isn't even finished! Mac and Joe would've loved it." Sean responded enthusiastically.
The three men looked on curiously.
"I tweaked the design a little bit; I wanted the outer frame to complement the colours inside. Look." Justin pulled the design from underneath the counter, and spread it out. Not just Sean, but Brian, Michael and the other man also came to the counter to have a look.
"Instead of the outline being in green, I think it'll be better to have it in this blue. It's softer, plus it blends in with the flag. But we can stick to the original, if you prefer."
"Blue. Definitely blue." Sean said.
"Fuck…that's really good." Brian said.
"Blue it is, then." Justin smiled at Sean. "Why don't you go on inside and get ready? I'll be right with you." Unwillingly, his good breeding came to the fore. He looked at Brian. "Thank you."
Brian smiled at him for the first time.
Something inside Justin did a turn. He smiled back at Brian vaguely. There was no point getting gooey-eyed over a customer; especially one who seemed so well-heeled.
"Maybe you should do my tattoo." Brian said, and then he glanced at Cody. "No offence."
Cody shrugged and smiled. "None taken. Justin is the best."
Brian looked back at the design that was done for Sean. "You know, something like this…I would be happy with that. This intricate and…artistic."
"If you tell me what you're looking for, I can come up with a design. But the wrist…that is a bit limiting in terms of space, unless you want to work it up your arm. Plus, my client is waiting, so I can't have that discussion with you right now. Perhaps you can make an appointment with Cody for a consult? We don't charge for those." For some reason, Justin didn't want to spend any more time with this man. His good looks were disconcerting, and Justin did not like the feeling of unbalance that the man inspired in him. Besides, his past experience warned him to stay away from men he found attractive, even if he came across them in the heart of Liberty Village.
Brian snorted. "Believe me, money is not an issue. Time, however, is. Aren't you free any time today?"
"Well…"
"How long will you take with Sean?" Cody asked.
"An hour, and then I have to clean up. I'll be free in another one and a half, maybe two hours."
"Brian, we could go to Woody's, grab a couple of beers, maybe play some pool, and then come back." the as-of-yet unidentified third man suggested.
"You play pool. I can think of more entertaining activities for myself. We'll be back in two hours."