"It's like i'm dropping you off at daycare." Aiden laughs. He and Sara stand outside the business of 'Quintessential Tattoo'. He often made of fun of the clever name when Tegan first opened the shop right out of high school, but now he wouldn't dare. Tegan was one of the best, and well known tattoo artists in Vancouver and the surrounding areas.
"Aren't you so funny." Sara deadpans, tugging on the straps of her black canvas backpack. She stuffed her pens and four sketchbooks into it this morning. Three of them she would let Tegan look through but not the other one, which no one was allowed to see. She was hoping Tegan would get bored of her or something and tell her to go home so Sara could wander about the city to find a nice park to draw in.
They walk in, the bells on the door jingling. Tegan looks up from her place behind the counter, smiling. "Hey guys!"
"Good morning," Aiden says, glancing down at his watch. "Well i'll be late if I don't get going. You'll make sure she gets home safe, yeah Tegan?"
"Yeah, sure." She waves him off, now distracted by a stack of papers on her desk.
Aiden turns to Sara, leaning down to kiss her, and whispering in her ear, "I'll see you later. Don't take anything she says or does too seriously, okay? Just have fun. I love you."
"Okay. Love you too." Sara gives him one more kiss before he leaves.
Tegan is still distracted by whatever it is she's looking for. Sara shifts awkwardly from foot to foot in silence, feeling out of place and unsure of what to do or say. She coughs quietly, getting Tegan's attention.
"Oh, hey, sorry. I just need to find something real quick. Just chill on the couch and i'll be back in a couple minutes." Tegan says hurriedly, pointing behind Sara. She opens the door to the back room and disappears.
Sara turns around, walking to the black leather couch. She shrugs her backpack off before sitting down, setting it on her lap, and clutching it with both hands. She takes the time to observe the room, trying to get a sense of Tegan's style.
Each wall is painted a different shade of blue. On one wall is a numerous amount of frames filled with various certificates, magazine and newspaper articles, and pictures of Tegan with what Sara assumes are other well known tattoo artists. The rest of the walls are decorated with abstract illustrations done on large pieces of wood. If Tegan was the one who had done them, Sara was absolutely impressed. She would love to do art at that scale. She picks up one of the photo albums stacked on the coffee table in front of her, flipping through Tegan's tattoo work until she hears her come back in.
"Sorry about that. Running your own business can get pretty hectic." Tegan apologizes, flopping down onto the couch right next to Sara. She crosses her legs, her knee grazing Sara's, and throws her arm on the back of the couch behind Sara. "So, show me what'cha got."
Sara can feel and smell Tegan's warm pepperminty breath against her cheek as she unsnaps her bag and pulls out her sketchbooks. Tegan reaches for one right out of Sara's grasp before they're even fully out of her bag. She flips it open to a random page, only to have it ripped out of her grip by hands with cat like reflexes.
"No!" Sara cries. She tucks the comic sketchbook under her thigh, away from Tegan's reach.
"Ooh, is that the smutty one?" Tegan reaches across Sara's lap, their chests almost touching. Sara scoots away, swatting at Tegan's hand.
"No!" Her cheeks feel as if they're on fire.
"Oh come on, we all have one. No need to be ashamed about being a sexual being."
"I don't, and i'm not."
"Ashamed, or sexual?"
Sara ignores the question. She was sexual, and not ashamed about it but she feels no need for her future sister-in-law to know about anything she did in the privacy of her own bedroom. Especially since she felt that it would come back to bite her in the ass if she did.
"So Aiden's sweet little Sara doesn't have a bad side?"
"No." She replies curtly.
"Liar. No one as quiet as you isn't going around hiding something." Tegan goads.
Sara has had enough and she starts to pack her bag back up. She'll go to Aiden's office, tell him she tried, but Tegan was just too much and he was insane for ever thinking they would ever be friends. Then she would go back home, and be alone just how she prefers it.
"Wait, wait! Aiden had to have told you to not listen to anything I say or something like that, right?" Tegan grabs onto Sara's wrist, pulling her back onto the couch.
Sara gives a quick nod, trying to stand back up,
"Well, listen to him then! I'll try to tone it down a little, alright? I really would love to see your work though." Tegan asks with puppy dog eyes. It always worked on her parents, hopefully it'll work on Sara. "Please?"
"Fine." She pulls out only one book this time, handing it to Tegan. Tegan flips through it silently, admiring Sara's ability at drawing realistically. She herself liked to be a little bit more creative with her art.
"You're good. Really good." Tegan compliments her, closing the book and handing it back.
"Thanks." Sara replies, blushing and pushing her hair from her eyes.
"Now I know you've been eyeing that door like it's the holy grail but i've been super swamped lately and I could give you a few client's pieces to draw out so I don't have to if you want. I'd pay you, of course."
"That would be really cool. Thanks" Sara smiles for the first time that morning in only Tegan's presence.
"See? I'm not so bad. So did you want to show me more or..?"
Sara grabs the other two 'safe' sketchbooks, showing Tegan. Tegan praises her on the things she likes and gives pointers on what she thinks Sara can improve on. As they continue to talk, Sara can feel herself slowly start to relax. They discuss how Tegan got into tattooing, her personal art, and that she in fact did do all the work that's hanging on the walls. Sara thinks Tegan's pretty okay. When she's not letting crude comments spill from her mouth, she's actually really interesting and intellectual.
"So really, what's in that other one?" Tegan pries. It's eating away at her that she can't know what this seemingly goody-two-shoes feels like she has to keep so private.
"Just doodles. It's really nothing exciting."
"Doodles of what?"
"Uhm, just comic based things."
"You like comics? Never would have pegged you as a nerd."
Sara shrugs, unsure of how to respond. She thought after being told that so many times by everyone that she didn't seem like the nerdy type she would have found something to say, but nope.
"I actually just did a sleeve that was all black and white comic panels on a dude. I've got photos on my computer, come on, i'll show you." Tegan takes hold of Sara's wrist, pulling her up, and walking her over to the computer behind the counter. She offers Sara the chair, kneeling next to her, searching through her folders on the desktop. She highlights each of the photos, double clicking. Sara is blown away by the tattoo, inspecting each panel and who's in it, noting the accuracy of each.
"Holy crap! This is so cool! You even got Jessica Jones in there? Amazing. So amazing." She utters in disbelief.
"Yeah, we were both really pleased with how it came out. It was featured in Inked magazine a few months back too." Tegan mentions, trying not to brag. She is really proud of it, though, and it does look amazing.
Ring-ring Ring-ring.
Tegan answers the phone, smiling and watching Sara continue to practically drool over the pictures.
"Quintessential Tattoo, this is Tegan... Uh huh... Nope... I do appointments only, sorry... You can come in, show me what you want, and I can see if I can work you in... Yup... No problem... Bye!" Click.
"If you're so swamped, why has no one come in all morning?" Sara questions, spinning in the chair and looking at Tegan, who didn't think Sara was paying attention.
"Technically I don't open until 1. I just work on business related things and tattoo outlines in the mornings. Speaking of.. what time is it?" Tegan hunts for the clock on her computer, never remembering where it is. 11:52. Better known to Tegan as lunchtime. "You wanna go grab lunch? I know a great sandwich place, my treat."
"Sure." Sara answers, checking her own watch. "Oh wow, that time went by fast."
"It's because you were so entranced by my charm, time just flew by." Tegan teases. "Sweet little Sara likes me, how cute!"
"Don't call me that." Sara gives her a death glare, and Tegan puts her hands up in mock surrender. Sara had been warming up to Tegan quickly, but it was still very easy for her to feel like she wanted to run back to the safety of Aiden.
"You don't mind do you?" Tegan asks, smacking her cigarette box against her open palm as they walk down the street.
"No, go ahead." Sara lies. She did mind, but she felt she didn't have the right to tell Tegan no to smoking in public.
They stood outside the restaurant, Tegan finishing up her cigarette. She always thought smoking was disgusting but Tegan almost made it look kind of cool. They way she would turn her head to the side and blow the smoke up, tilting her head. She turned back to Sara, smiling and putting the butt out in the ashtray. She held the door open for Sara, let her order first, and choose where they sat.
"This is really good." Sara gushes, taking another bite of her turkey and cheese sandwich.
"I know. That's why I brought you here."
"Thanks."
"Anytime. So how's the wedding planning going?"
"Alright. Everything's been a little stressful lately so we've put it on hold for now. I'm supposed to convince you to wear a dress though."
"That'll happen when Hell freezes over." Tegan states seriously.
"Why?"
"Really? Have you even looked at me? Everyone will be gawking at my tattoos to even focus on the beautiful bride."
Sara looks down, trying to hide her smile. She reflexively tucks her bangs behind her ear.
"Is that, like, a thing you do to be slutty or something?" Tegan smirks, mentally brushing her shoulder off at her successful attempt at flattering Sara without being scolded.
"What thing?" Sara asks, confused. She didn't even know she was doing it half the time.
"The thing with your hair."
"Oh, no. It's just something I do, I guess."
"Well it's cute."
"We should probably get going if you open at 1." Sara suggests, choosing to just ignore Tegan's comment this time. At least she was being less crude.
"If you want I can give you ride a back to your place quickly. I'm going to be pretty busy the rest of the day with clients, so." Tegan offers, handing a small pile of sketches and ideas for Sara to work on back at the shop.
"Sure, thanks." Sara packs the papers neatly into her backpack, following Tegan out through the back door. She spots the expensive looking motorcycle parked a few feet away and groans. She knew it.
"Scared?"
"Is it not obvious?"
Tegan chuckles, unlocking the back carrier, pulling out her helmet, "Aiden will kill me if I ruin your face." She pushes it down onto Sara's head, then gives it a light smack on the side, satisfied. Sara trips over her own feet, stumbling sideways. Tegan grabs her waist and steadies her, rolling her eyes. "What are you, a feather?"
Tegan gestures for Sara to get on and she swings her own leg over after her. She reaches behind her, grabbing Sara's hands. She loops them across her own stomach, telling Sara she better hang on tight. She starts the engine, the sound deafening to Sara, only adding to her fear. They pull out onto the street and pick up speed. Sara tightens her grip, turning her head sideways, resting it between Tegan's shoulders. She's so frightened right now, she couldn't care less whose body it was she was hugging and hanging onto for dear life. She thanks the heavens when they pull up to her apartment building in one piece. She gets off, lifting the helmet off her head, handing it back to Tegan.
"You okay?"
"Yeah.. yeah. Peachy."
"Hah. Well today was fun. There's an art gallery next week i'll be featured in if you want to go with me, and meet some other artists. You don't have to answer now, i'm sure i'll see you soon once you get those drawings done, or just give me a call, okay? Bye, sweet little Sara!" Tegan laughs heartily, putting her helmet on and tearing out onto the street before Sara can yell at her.
Sara shakes her head while walking up the stairs to her place, figuring that nickname would just have to be something she'd have to get used to. There were other, worse things Tegan could be calling her.
She unlocks the door, heading straight to the studio to get working.
Aiden finds her in the kitchen cooking supper when he gets home, happy she remembered to cook and not draw most of the day this time.
"How was your day?" He asks nervously, hugging her from behind.
"Good. You were right, Tegan's not that bad when she's not sexualizing everything. She gave me some art to work on for tattoos for her clients and will pay me and everything. She invited me to go to a gallery next week too. I really want to go, if you don't mind?" She asks.
"Mind? Why would I mind? I want you guys to get as close as possible." Aiden sighs in relief, glad that Tegan was able to act like a normal human for once.
"Thanks baby, you're the best!" Sara says happily, planting a sloppy kiss right on his lips.