Work Text:
Jimin sighed deeply looking out of the shop's back door. His eyes were unfocused and staring in the general direction of the dumpster but not taking much in.
He was in the middle of a twelve-hour shift on the sixth day of an eight-day stretch of working every day. He truly loved his job and people but sometimes it was exhausting. Dealing with various personalities all day and their varying moods burned him out at times. When he worked these long shifts he had a tendency to just space out and stare aimlessly on his breaks just to give his brain a few moments to reset.
"Hoseokie is here!" Tae squeaked from behind him.
Jimin jumped slightly before smiling at his friend, "then go out! Isn't he scheduled with you?" Jimin turned to his water bottle sitting on the table and took a few large gulps. Tae waited until his friend was done drinking before explaining why he hadn't left for the front yet.
"Today he has a friend with him. When he called he said it's his hyung's first time to get a manicure and I volunteered you to do it. Since our stations are next to each other. I thought being near his friend would ease the tension and then they can chat."
"Ah okay, here's hoping his friend is as cute as Hobi." Jimin chuckled as Tae threw a piece of receipt paper at him before walking out. Jimin cracked his neck, still smiling to himself, and rolled his shoulders before making his way out to the front behind Tae.
Hoseok was a regular. For the past year he had come in every three weeks for a manicure and every three manicures he also got a pedicure. And for the last ten months, he has always scheduled with Tae. Since getting him at random, Hoseok had been smitten. The way the red-head's heart-shaped smile would pull up sweetly the second he laid eyes on Taehyung made Jimin want to coo. They'd been flirting over the gel setting light from the word go but recently they had taken it to the next level
Now they were texting constantly. And after Hoseok invited Tae to watch one of his dance performances it seemed like it was only a matter of time. They were already hanging out when their schedules aligned and Hoseok even brought Tae the occasional lunch or warm tea just because. They weren't boyfriends yet but Jimin thought any day now could be the day.
Yet, Hoseok still came in regularly and got Tae to do his manicures despite that he could have probably asked him to do his nails off the clock for free now. And something about that made Jimin, as a protective best friend, very happy. Because it showed how Hoseok, despite his romantic entanglement with his nail tech, still respected Taehyung's work enough to pay for it regularly.
Not to mention that as someone who swore by manicures, and the manicures of the small shop Jimin and Tae worked at, he had recommended the place to many people. He had even brought friends before. Usually they were women from his dance troupe who needed a pedicure just as bad as Hoseok did after spending hours a day dancing.
Today, he had a male friend with him though. The man was short but broad with white-blonde hair and a fluffy pink and blue striped sweater that came down over his hands.
The tech tentatively approached the stranger but before he had to worry about startling the newcomer Hoseok broke the ice.
"Jimin-ah, meet Yoongi-hyung. It's his first manicure! I brought him for his birthday. It's this weekend. The smile of Jung Hoseok was contagious and Jimin felt his eyes turning crescent shaped as he smiled back, first at Hobi then the newcomer.
"Nice to meet you Yoongi-ssi. Did you want to do a color like Hoseok, for your birthday?
Yoongi silently turned around from where he had been staring at the wall of polishes and Jimin almost fell over. The soft pink of the man's lips, gentle button nose, and cat-like eyes made him one of the prettiest people Jimin had ever seen.
"Uh...I kind of...I was looking at…" He looked nervous and Jimin reached for the bottle that was directly in front of where Yoongi had been standing. He held it next to the elder's sleeve and smiled encouragingly.
"This would match your sweater really well Yoongi-ssi." The pale pink almost matched the shade of his lips perfectly too, Jimin thought.
"Do you think it would look okay?" He asked Jimin without meeting the younger's eyes.
"Yoongi-hyung this is for your birthday! If you want pink nail polish I am getting you pink nail polish!" Hoseok sputtered suddenly. Meanwhile, he quickly reached out for a candy apple green and handed the bottle to Tae decisively.
"Nice choice Hyungie," Tae smiled.
"My favorite nail tech suggested it to me last time but I was already set on a color. So this time I'm going with his choice."
Tae's ears turned red and Jimin sighed at the almost-couple's antics before smiling encouragingly at Yoongi.
"I do think this pink suits you but if you wanted you could do clear or nude..."
Yoongi tongued the inside of his mouth clearly thinking before he shook his head, "no I want the pink."
"That's the spirit Yoongi-ssi! Let's get started then!"
Jimin led Yoongi back to his station, next to Tae and Hoseok who were already flirting heavily.
"So you've never gotten a manicure before?"
"Uh. No. But I've wanted to," he paused thoughtfully, "probably for about two years now."
"What stopped you?"
"Uh...insecurities."
"Oh well don't worry. You look pretty in pink and anyone who says otherwise can screw off."
Jimin said the words matter-of-factly. As someone who had struggled heavily with trying to act more manly when he was younger he understood the pressure all too well. He also kind of wanted to punch anyone who ever insulted Yoongi even if he was bigger than Jimin.
"Uh..that's...that's not it." Yoongis voice was tiny as he sat in the chair. He'd been there a few minutes now, carefully folding his hands, still obscured by his sleeves, in his lap.
"Well whatever it is I assure you we can get through together. I want today to be a relaxing birthday treat.
"I have ugly hands." Yoongi blurted out suddenly looking immediately like he regretted it.
"Yoongi shut up you do not have ugly hands!" Hoseok scolded his friend.
"But Minhyu-"
"Minhyung was a manipulative and emotionally abusive bastard. Your hands are fine as hell. Minhyung can shove it."
Yoongi and Hoseok were having a conversation with their eyes and eyebrows until Jimin cut in, "I'm sure they're not ugly. Let me see, he made grabby hands then reached out gently for the elder's hands, afraid to startle him.
When the elders sleeves slid back Jimin's mouth went dry. Hidden under the sleeves were arms covered in tattoos that even reached a butterfly on the back of his left hand. The right hand's fingers had a few small symbols inked on them above thick rings that just served as a reminder about how sexy and veiny the hands were.
Jimin took a deep breath and ran a thumb over Yoongi's hand soothingly.
"Frankly Yoongi-ssi, I don't know what that man was trying to pull, telling you these hands are ugly. Maybe he just didn't want anyone to see their beauty but him or maybe he was just an ass, either way I can assure you, you do not have ugly hands."
Jimin slid the sleeves of Yoongi's shirt back to his wrists, black ink peaking out as he did, and looked at his hands more closely.
"You play the guitar?"
"Yea, just as a hobby. And I bite my nails but I've been trying to be better about that. Seok said coming in helped him kick his habit of nail-biting too"
Jimin smoothed his thumb subconsciously again over the back of the hand he was holding. He'd never had a thing for hands before but this man's were certainly getting to him.
"Really, whatever idiot told you that these aren't the most beautiful hands needs to be smacked. You should not be hiding these in your sleeves."
"Y-you really think that?"
Jimin looked up from where he was trimming the nails of Yoongi's left hand to smile brightly at the man across from him.
"I really really do."
"Tell us more about how you love Yoongi-ssi's hands Jiminie." Tae giggled and Jimin felt his face go hot.
"Oh my god that was so inappropriate. I am so so sorr-"
Yoongi waved his right hand and laughed showing his gums and he smiled wide.
"You're fine. It's honestly the nicest thing anyone's said to me lately."
Jimin and Yoongi settled into silence as the nail tech cleaned and trimmed the other's nails then polished them pale pink.
"There you go. Looks lovely. I may have to go for that color next time I'm choosing."
"I like your orange though." Yoongi replied.
"Thanks, Tae actually did them for me. When we're slow we sometimes do each others nails."
"I really liked a lot of the colors. Maybe I'll be back?"
"I'd love to see you again."
--
The second time Yoongi came in Jimin had to do a double-take. While his shirt was still a soft purple with a neck that dipped down past his collarbones exposing soft skin, overlaying it was a pitch-black leather jacket complete with patches, pins, and zippered pockets.
The elder was a study in contrasts, looking soft and tough at once like the matched bejeweled barbells in his ear and eyebrow.
He was alone today with hair that matched his shirt. His pink manicure, while starting to grow out was still in good shape even if there was something black all over his skin around the nails.
"Yoongi-ssi!" Jimin smiled widely at the other man, teeth on full display.
"Jimin-ssi, nice to see you." Yoongi seemed to settle into himself.
"Back for mo-- wait, what happened to your fingers?"
"Ah. One of the ink cartridges for my tattoo gun exploded. I was hoping you could help lessen the staining...maybe make my nails look decent again? And uh...I did really like getting the manicure last time." He nervously holding his hands out to Jimin to inspect, not meeting the tech's eyes.
So Yoongi didn't just have tattoos. He gave tattoos. The desire to peel the sleeves of the leather jacket off got stronger. He wanted to see what meant enough to yoongi that he'd brand his skin with it.
But Jimin knew that was incredibly unprofessional. So instead he took the gorgeous hands in his once more and surveyed the damage.
The nail tech clicked his tongue, "I probably won't be able to get it all off...but if we soak them they probably will clean up okay. I can do them black today and that'll help hide it too. Then just come back in a few more weeks and as long as you haven't spilled more ink I will be able to get the last of it off. And you can go back to any color you like." He ended the explanation looking into Yoongi's eyes. The elder nodded
"Sounds like a plan. And since I know when I'm coming back maybe I can book with you before I leave today?"
"That sounds great, Yoongi-ssi."
"Hyung is fine...uh...if you're okay with that."
"I am, hyung, and you can also drop the formality with me."
Yoongi smiled softly at him, lips closed but eyes looking bright. Jimin allowed himself five seconds to appreciate the man before him before getting up to retrieve the supplies he needed to get to work.
Yoongi on the other hand was trying not to appreciate the view as Jimin walked away too much. He was pretty sure Taehyung had caught him checking out Jimin's perfect body but by the time the younger returned with his supplies Yoongi's eyes were fixed on his phone. The moment he heard Jimin approach though he put it away in his pocket.
"Just a client with some feedback on sketches I've done for them."
"So you're a tattoo artist?"
"Yep. I actually own the shop D-2. We co-own, with my cousin."
"Wait, you're Jungkook's cousin?"
"You know JK?"
"Yea oh my god what a small world my, he is my tattoo artist. He did this," Jimin pauses in removing the nail polish from Yoongis fingers to show him the number 13 inked inside of his left wrist.
"He also did small pieces on the back of my biceps. Been thinking of getting something bigger next though but Kook doesn't love doing bigger pieces. He's been trying to set up a time for me to meet another artist at the shop."
Yoongi chuckled, "yea that would be me...I take it you're the one who wants the giant rib tattoo?"
The elder couldn't believe his luck. He had been hoping to get to know Jimin beyond the tech and client relationship and hopefully this could open that door.
"Yes! Ive wanted it for ages but recently received a bonus and put some money aside for it."
"It says, Nevermind, right?" Yoongi asks as Jimin sets his hands to soak and hopefully fade some of the stained ink.
Jimin leaned forward, nodding enthusiastically. He couldn't believe the man with the gorgeous hands was his potential new tattoo artist. As the younger took Yoongi's hands out one by one to begin cleaning off as much of the ink as possible they chatted, this time about Jimin.
Jimin talked about how he got into nail art. That he had always been into make-up and fashion in high school and after graduating he got a degree in cosmetology. Later, he got another degree in make-up artistry. He'd been working at the shop for years and the only thing he loved more than doing nails was dancing even if he hadn't had time to do it lately.
In return, Yoongi explained that he'd always been an artist. He spent a lot of time sketching and writing music in his teens. At the time, not long after his father had died, he felt lost and the art had soothed him. Later he had been an apprentice for a well-known tattoo artist in the city after dropping out of a college course in mathematics he was good at but hated.
He finished the apprenticeship at the top of his cohort and was rewarded with a good job in the shop. Good not great. He liked it fine and stayed for two years. But he wanted to run a his own shop with Kook, a dream they'd had since jk was still in high school. Eventually, they opened their own shop with a friend Yoongi made in his mathematics class who focused on the books but also was certified to do piercings - Namjoon. They'd been in business ever since.
Listening to Yoongi talk was a great background to Jimin's work. His soft, raspy voice was pleasant, making the younger feel at peace. Meanwhile, the swirling ink disappearing under his rolled up sleeves was distracting.
"Can I ask something weird?" Jimin asked looking up at Yoongi whose purple hair was now in his eyes.
"Sure shoot." Yoongi shook his head to get his bangs out of his eyes so he could see Jimin better. He couldn't help but notice how cute Jimin's thinking face was.
"Have you ever tattooed yourself?" It sounded silly he knew but Jimin was curious. He was self-conscious about asking though so he kept his eyes trained on Yoongi's hand where he was trimming the cuticles.
"Oh, yea. Multiple times. Some good. Some not so good. Want to see?"
Jimin looked up and nodded quickly.
"Okay I'm gonna take my jacket off now then? Before you put anything on my nails?"
"Yea that's actually perfect timing I just finished this." Jimin pulled his hands back as Yoongi stood up. In moments armfuls of ink were in front of him.
A thick black line wrapped his forearm just below the elbow. The pride flag was nestled above the hangul for the name Min. There was a piano and pen and even a kumamon. It was breathtaking but the part Jimin loved best was right above his right wrist. There, sat a whale.
"A whale?"
"Now that's not just any whale. That's the 52-hertz whale also known as the most lonely creature in the world. They only call at 52hz a volume most whales can't hear so they can call and call and won't be heard."
"That's so sad."
"I used to feel a lot like a 52hz whale, when I was a teenager."
"And now?"
"I might still call at 52hz but luckily so does Kook and he's always there for me."
Jimin smiled at the fond look on the elder's face for a moment before catching sight of another interesting inkmark.
"What's 134340?"
"That's what they call the former planet Pluto now." Yoongi laughed to himself at how nerdy his tattoos sounded. Jimin probably thought he was so weird...
"These are all so cool, I want to hear all of the stories!" The younger interrupted Yoongi's negative thoughts with unbridled glee.
"Be careful what you wish for- Some aren't great...like this one." He pointed to the line wrapping around his arm.
"I gave part of this to myself to cover up an ex-boyfriends name I once tattooed on myself. Kook had to finish the other side. To this day I will only tattoo the names of children, parents, or loved ones who have died. I learned the hard way."
"So you have like...tattooing rules?"
"I guess. I mean I'm the only one who follows them so I don't know if they're even good rules." Yoongi had settled back in his seat and Jimin returned to his nail beds.
"Tell me about them." Jimin said unscrewing the cap of the black polish. He applied, starting at Yoongi's pinky and working his way across while Yoongi talked.
"Well the name rule. That's big. No tattooing drunk or high people. That seems self explanatory. No same-day tattoos unless you're a return customer working on a piece we have discussed or started previously."
"Explain that one. So I couldn't just come in and get a tattoo?"
"You, probably. Because you'd likely be coming in for a tattoo you and Kook have been discussing for months. But if you came in tomorrow and said I want lips on my ass - I'd say no. Not because I don't think your ass deserves to have lips all over it...but because it's permanent. I will sketch it for you that day and we even have this high quality temporary ink that lasts about a week but I won't make it permanent. Not on the spot."
"For anyone?" Jimin looks up as Yoongi switches hands for him.
"Well, the thing is most of my rules exist because of mistakes I've seen. Kook has a tattoo that he made me do on him immediately after he had the idea. Three days later he hated it and we spent agee reconfiguring and covering it."
Jimin's eyes went wide and his mouth made a little o shape. Yoongi loved how cute it was. The first time he'd met Jimin he thought he looked a little like a baby chick and that feeling only intensified when he was making that face. But he also knew Jimin was sexy. His slinky silk top was open to his pecs and Yoongi had even caught sight of his nipples a few times as the other worked. He tried to tell himself to stop checking out his nail tech but it wasn't really working.
"Tell me about more of them, I have more coats to do." He said looking back at his work.
"The rules or tattoos?" Yoongi smirked.
"Either I'm not picky." Jimin answered with a giggle
"Watch yourself Jimin or I'll do something silly like ask for your number."
"Nothing silly about that...I'd love to give it to you." He looked up from Yoongi's hand, quirking an eyebrow at the elder.
"Do you use a lot of emojis when you text?" Yoongi asked evenly as Jimin finished the first of his thumbs.
"What's the point of texting if you don't use emojis...oh wait are you a grandpa? Do you like text in full sentences with correct punctuation all the time?"
"I'm not a grandpa!" Yoongi and Jimin laugh together and both can't help but hear how melodic the sounds are together. Like they're made for being heard in chorus.
"Sure, fine…." Jimin trailed off looking at the pointer finger he was working on, "...grandpa.." he finished under his breath.
"Aish I heard that Jiminah!" The younger squealed slightly and the customer seated behind Yoongi turned around to see what all the commotion was.
"Jiminah, stop flirting so loudly - my customers are getting annoyed." Called one of the female nail techs and Jimin blushed.
"Oh.." he mumbled softly as he got a small dot of polish on yoongi's skin.
"Don't be embarrassed, you weren't the only one flirting." Yoongi said as Jimin got the remover to clean up the stray polish.
"I wasn't?" The younger's eyes looked up to meet the feline features of the older, shock evident.
"Definitely not." Jimin finished up Yoongi's nails with a soft smile on his face.
--
Yoongi became a fixture in Jimin's life rather easily after that. He came in regularly for manicures and got more confident over time. When he first came he stuck to pale hues with the occasional black but as the months progressed he moved on to brighter and bolder colors.
Meanwhile, now that Tae and Hoseok were officially an item Jimin was starting to see him outside of work. They'd be at the same parties and had group dinners.
They had spent Saturday nights out with their ragtag group of friends drinking cheap beer in the rather spacious apartment Kook and Yoongi had above their tattoo shop.
And the texting. Jimin loved getting random texts from Yoongi. The elder had a poodle who he regularly sent photos of. He also made a ton of music suggestions for Jimin. Jimin for his part shared photos of the stray cat he fed behind the shop and called Serendipity. They also talked about their days and somewhere in there even managed to finish Jimin's big tattoo. Before they knew it, it had been six months and they were friends comfortably and toeing the line for more.
But like Hoseok, Yoongi still paid for his manicures. Still requested Jimin. Still brought his sinful hands to Jimin's much smaller hands that specialized in delicate decorations.
--
"Jimin your boyfriend's here." Tae said walking back to where Jimin was chewing the last of his kimbap.
"Not my boyfriend. Just because that's how you met your boyfriend doesn't mean we all will." Jimin laughed around the last of his rice.
"If he isn't your boyfriend why does he have your favorite coffee order with him?" Jimin smiled nervously for the briefest of seconds before going on the defensive.
"Friends buy each other coffee! You bring me coffee all the time."
"Yes but you don't want to wear my fingers as a necklace." Jimin gulped - he slightly regretted his drunk ramble to Tae now - but it wasn't wrong. Jimin wanted those big veiny hands. He wanted them wrapped around his hands, his neck, his…
"Earth to Jimin! Lover boy is waiting." Called Yejin and he flipped her the bird as he walked out of the breakroom.
"Hyung!" Jimin said enthusiastically to the man standing next to the door. His hair was now jet black and he wore a bright yellow shirt with "I feel like Kobe" written on it - Yoongi loved basketball.
"Jiminah! I need help." The elder looked like a kicked kitten when he pouted and he was pouting big time now.
"What's wrong hyung?"
"I can't pick a color!! Help me." Yoongi had his arms crossed over his chest as he looked at the racks of colors like they had personally wronged him. He had no idea what he wanted.
"Aren't you cute as a button when you pout." Jimin giggled booping Yoongi's nose softly.
"Hey. I'll have you know I am a major badass."
"Mhmm. Sure." Jimin chuckled reaching for a few options.
"I think I like this one best," he held up a silver sparkly sample that matched yoongi's earrings. "But this is fun too," he showed a fun neon orange color with his other hand.
"I feel like neon orange is more you than me - but I like the silver."
"Silver sparkles it is!"
Yoongi followed jimin and they got started. The younger cleaning and trimming the elders nails. The feline-like eyes watched the progress for a moment before speaking.
"So Hoseok said you were joining his dance crew?"
"Yea I've been missing dance like crazy and he said they'd love to have me. I'm not slated to be on the competition line-up right now but just dancing again means more than words."
"Well when you are in the competition line-up you'll need to let me know. I'll make sure to come."
Jimin saw the pink dusting the other's cheeks and felt warmth in his chest, "I'd appreciate that."
Yoongi looked up suddenly and their eyes met. Jimin felt his heart speed up as Yoongi lazily smiled at him, "Jimin-ah?"
"Yes?"
"Would you like to get coffee on your next day off?" Jimin could feel Yoongi's fingers tremble slightly where he was holding his half-completed hand. The elder was looking at anything but Jimin as he asked, clearly nervous.
The younger squeezed Yoongi's hand softly and smiled, "I'd love to."
--- 6 months later ---
"We did it!" Hoseok bellowed jumping into Tae's open arms.
"Yes you did baby! You were amazing." The group around them groaned.
"Shut it, you." Tae said to jungkook who was sprawled across Namjoon and Jin's laps.
"You know what. I'm in such a good mood from winning the competition I'm going to act as if I don't hear you and your hating." Hoseok said with a laugh carrying the bottles of liquor to the kitchen.
"I don't trust him in our kitchen." Jin remarked pushing his two boyfriends closer together so he could follow Hoseok.
As Jin disappeared around the corner the door opened again. First came one of the girls in the troupe holding the door open as behind her Yoongi and Jimin carried boxes of pizza.
"Food!" Shouted jk jumping up to snag a pizza box.
"He didn't even ask what kind of pizza it was…?" Jimin asked as the younger set the box on the coffee table and took a slice for himself and Namjoon.
"Kookie doesn't care - he'll anything left in front of him, babe." Yoongi laughed nodding for his boyfriend to follow him into the kitchen.
The couple set the boxes down and Jimin arranged them while Yoongi poured them both drinks. When the elder returned he took a slice of Bulgogi pizza thanking jimin with a kiss to his cheek.
"I'll be accepting my thank you gift any time now." Hoseok laughed from his spot with Taehyung leaning against the opposite counter.
"Your what?" Said Yoongi quirking an eyebrow.
"If it wasn't for me you two would have never met. So I expect a thank you gift." Hoseok says simply.
"Hey I'm the one who deserves the thank you gift! I got Jiminie to do yoongi-hyungs nails!"
Yoongi slung his arm around Jimin's shoulder and pulled him in for a gentle kiss on his lips. The dancer smiled into the kiss ignoring their best friends.
"I'll get you both a gift card for that new restaurant at the waterfront if it'll shut you up." Jimin said without looking away from his boyfriend.
"That would be wonderful, thank you." Tae replied pulling his boyfriend out of the kitchen. He had been friends with Jimin long enough. He knew what his best friend was about to do.
Yoongi, on the other hand was slightly surprised by the soft nuzzling and warm kisses that his boyfriend surprised him with.
"Jiminie," yoongi whined as the younger kissed his neck. The competition had been all-consuming for the younger the past two weeks and they hadn't seen each other much. And yes Yoongi had missed him but he wasn't sure they should be making out in the kitchen of their friend Jin - an actual professional chef.
"Hyung how long do we have to stay? I want to get you home." Jimins small hands slid into his boyfriend's, now jet black, hair.
"Babe the party is for you." Yoongi laughed against his boyfriend's open mouth. And it was true. Since joining the dance crew Jimin had brought so much to the table. They finally had gotten over their hump of top three finishes and got wins. Hoseok gushed constantly about how much he loved Jimins work ethic and the modern dance flare he brought to the team.
"The only celebration I'm interested in is the one that involves these fingers." Yoongi kissed Jimins exposed collarbone and slid the aforementioned fingers under the youngers silk blouse.
"Oh these?" Yoongi smirked as he traced a hand up Jimin's side sliding the shirt up with it.
"Yes hyung, those gorgeous fucking hands."
"Well, conveniently for you I can arrange this kind of celebration." Yoongi laughed thumbing his boyfriend's nipple.
"Then let's go!" Jimin moaned into the elder's mouth.
"Sorry baby, I promised hoba we would stay until 8. He knows how pent up we are so he didn't demand anything later but that means we have to stay for 30 more minutes."
"But thats so long."
"I promise I'll make it up to you. Come on, you have to talk to your teammates or they'll think we're fucking in the kitchen."
"We could be…"
"Sorry baby but I like being alive and Jin would murder me if he found us fucking next to his convection oven and the mixer he named Mingjoo."
Jimin couldn't help but laugh at that, taking his boyfriend's hand in his admiring the orange nail polish on his fingers as they walked.
"Hey hyung?"
"Yes, baby?"
"I like your nail polish."
"Thanks. My boyfriend did them for me."