Chapter Text
“He wants you to tattoo his dick.”
“What the hell, Jinwoo.” Myungjun burst out laughing at Bin’s reaction, burying his head in Jinwoo’s stomach and barely able to breathe.
“You know it’s true. Dongmin was totally against tattoos before, I knew him so well. The second he meets you, all of a sudden he’s whipped.” Jinwoo’s hands moved through Myungjun’s hair slowly, a smile spreading across his features. “Do you really think he likes art, Bin?” Myungjun whispered something about Jinwoo being art, and he was hushed quickly.
Bin just turned back to his work, trying to ignore the couple and their incessant teasing. He had to admit that Dongmin’s sudden fascination was a little strange, but it wasn’t like he really minded. Bin also had to admit that he made the process of tattooing a little longer when it came to Dongmin. But it was all in fun and lightheartedness, Bin would give Dongmin a free tattoo, and Dongmin would give Bin a bag of chips. Sure, they shared the chips, but it was really a symbiotic relationship. Myungjun and Jinwoo (Myungjin, Myungjun fondly called them) just put the emphasis on the word relationship.
Regardless, Dongmin was done being tattooed after today anyways, so there was no reason to act like he was going to return after this appointment. Bin knew he would see him for fleeting moments when he might pick up Jinwoo, and he was content with that. Mostly.
For now, he preoccupied himself with the design in front of him, trying to finish the details before he had to print it out. Dongmin wasn’t due for another hour – despite him always coming early – and he had a spinal piece to do. It was a flower running down to the dimples on his back, something delicate with just a soft bit of color. In one of the flower buds, Dongmin asked him to put his initials. Bin hesitated in doing it, but Dongmin insisted an “M.B.” would be easily hidden and ignored anyway. Besides, his first name could be easily explained as his grandmothers or something He insisted for so long that Bin gave in. Still, it felt strange to him.
Everything was moving fast, even if it wasn’t a relationship.
“Bin, I’m here!” The door opened and Dongmin popped his head in, Jinwoo shooting a look at Bin. “I’m sorry, I’m only here ten minutes early. I got stuck in class for a little extra.”
“’S’okay. Let me print out the design and you can tell me if you like it.” He scanned it and brought it over after it printed. Dongmin looked it over, Jinwoo and Myungjun wandering to look at it as well. He got a bit nervous, hoping they wouldn’t notice the “M.B.”. Dongmin did and smiled at him, that smile he just had to cover with his hand despite Bin wishing the whole world could see it.
“Why don’t I ever get nice tattoos like this?” Myungjun gestured at the one on his arm, a very subtle portrait of Jinwoo done in a geometric design. Jinwoo glared at him and Myungjun grinned. “You’re nice.”
“Alright. You can take off your shirt and lay down, Dongmin.” Bin took the print from him and set it on the desk next to the chair, his hands moving to grab the gloves.
“Wow, we’ll be leaving them. Don’t want to interrupt.” Bin picked up the towel on the desk and threw it at Jinwoo, unfortunately missing as he ducked out of the room quickly.
***
A big piece like this took a while compared to the smaller things he had done for Dongmin before. The coloring would also take time, if not an extra layer, but Dongmin was being patient throughout, thankfully. His back was warm against Bin’s hand, the sunken line of his spine being filled with a needle and fingers. The little ‘ah’s he was making made Bin smile, glad that he was turned over and unable to see it. It wasn’t the most painful tattoo a person could get – but since it was so large it was just difficult to adjust to.
Bin was still being delicate, however, because that’s how he always was with Dongmin. There was something about him that made Bin want to take care of him, or rather pamper him. Hence why he had denied the idea of tattooing that horrid tribal design last week.
“How much longer?” Dongmin’s whine and white knuckles made Bin hesitate, finishing up a bud before setting the needle down and wiping the excess ink.
“I finished the lineart. Let’s take a break, mm?” Bin’s smile widened as Dongmin let out a sigh, slowly sliding off the chair and walking over to the mirror to look at the work done so far. He turned and checked over his shoulder, a soft grin fainting over his features. He mumbled something about liking it and turned a bit to see it from a different angle. Bin was fine with the silence because it gave him a moment to catch his breath. Under the soft lighting by the mirror, Dongmin was even more beautiful than usual. His hair was mussed up from laying down and the flowers fell in such a delicate place, the tiny “M.B.” tucked inside a bud standing out to just his eyes. After Dongmin pointed at it and let out a small giggle, maybe it was for their eyes.
Dongmin sat down on the couch and waited as Bin tossed him his red hoodie, grabbing two waters from the fridge and tossing one to him. They sat in a comfortable silence, Dongmin taking out his phone to scroll through his social media, but Bin couldn’t tear his eyes from him for even a second. His heart was tingling when his brain suggested a new love, but it restricted after Dongmin glanced at him. There was no way in hell he was going to get in over his head, especially since Dongmin probably already had a partner. He wasn’t one to waste his time with crushes.
“What are you looking at?” Dongmin wrapped his arms around himself and burrowed deeper into the hoodie. “You look so absorbed in thoughts.”
“You.” Bin was surprised that he laughed. “What are ya laughing at?”
“Bin, you’re so endearing.” He said the last word, endearing, in English. Bin squinted, his stomach twisting in a sudden nervousness at not understanding.
“What does that mean?”
Dongmin capped the bottle and smiled. “It means ‘inspiring love and affection’. I read it in a book yesterday.” He repeated the word in Korean. “Let’s finish this, hm?” It took Bin a moment to stop his staring again.
***
“Dongmin, are you sleeping?” The moment for an answer made Bin poke behind his ear, a jump startling him.
“God, no, there’s no need to assault me.” He sat up and sighed. Despite being inside, it was getting chilly and Bin hadn’t turned on the air conditioning. Luckily for Dongmin, he was done and could put his shirt and cardigan back on. “Can I look?”
“One sec, let me take a picture.”
Dongmin let out a noise akin to a squeak. “For what?”
“My phone background.” He snorted when Dongmin made the noise again. “My Instagram. What do you think I do with client’s pictures?”
It was silent for a second before Dongmin turned for a better view. Bin took out his phone and snapped a photo, taking a moment to stare before he smiled and closed his phone. It was nice to be finally done, but it left a bittersweet taste in his mouth to know that it was Dongmin’s last tattoo. It didn’t have to be, really, Dongmin had plenty more space to fill, but Dongmin did want to stop now. Bin was getting insecure about why despite already knowing that the more conservative lifestyle he was living was already teetering in result of Bin’s work.
That was fine, Dongmin assured him, especially since he wanted to go into Literature, he would wear oh so many collared shirts and sweaters it would be hidden fine.
***
It’s been about three months since Lee Dongmin walked into those doors, and Dongmin was entirely fine with it. There was an awkward handshake when he left last time, and some words that felt so uncomfortably empty. They both understood that it was an unspoken goodbye, something semi-permanent, but it wasn’t like Dongmin would admit that it hurt him a little.
Jinwoo and Myungjun were still around frequently, and Jinwoo would hint at Dongmin missing him, but Dongmin would shoot it down quickly. If he left it alone and ruled out any possibility of a relationship, it would prevent any inevitable heartache. Moon didn’t have time to date.
He did have time to give the boy that walked in a good look-down, the ripped jeans, the waist of them sitting just under the cropped sweater the guy wore. His hair was styled so messily, his sunglasses being pushed up to rest on top. Bin tore his eyes from the outfit to meet his face, his mouth falling agape when he noticed who he was soaking in. Of course, knowing his luck, it was Lee Dongmin.
Judging by Jinwoo who was grinning behind him (not that he noticed at first…or for the next ten minutes), he had styled him. Jinwoo pushed him further into the room and closed the door to leave them alone. “Um…hey.”
“Dongmin? Don’t tell me that’s you.” Dongmin covered his eyes before Dongmin could reply. “I refuse. Take a step near me and I’ll fling the glove at you.”
He made a whining noise and shifted, his eyes falling to the ground. “Stop, I’m already thoroughly embarrassed…” Dongmin looked up for a second before his hesitant eyes fell on a plant in the corner. “Jinwoo said you forgot about me so I had to catch you eye.”
Dongmin’s heart skipped a beat when he looked back up, soft eyelashes showing just peaks of the brown eyes. He could have sworn he heard a whispered, ‘did I?’ but he had already let out a groan and pushed a wheeled chair in Dongmin’s direction. He sat down and scooted closer, Dongmin tapping the counter.
“Jinwoo said I forgot about you, huh?” Dongmin nodded, his fingers hooking on the loose strands of his jeans and tugging lightly, clearly a little out of his element. This wasn’t just some sweater and slacks, of course, this was very Itaewon.
“Did you?”
They met eyes and smiled, almost an unspoken connection saying, ‘I didn’t’ from both sides. There was a comfortable silence that fell, the only things exchanged being Dongmin’s hoodie and an opened bag of candy. Dongmin’s eyes resting on Dongmin, even when he bashfully looked away and let out airy laughs.
“I missed you, Dongminnie.” His hand moved down the counter and laced between Dongmin’s fingers, a warm relaxation causing Dongmin to move his chair and press their foreheads together. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything when you left. I’m sorry I’m a total asshole and didn’t tell you that, God, every time you walk into the door my breath is knocked out of me. Just…Dongmin?”
A very hushed ‘yes’.
“Kiss me so I can get it back.”
He did.