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"I saw you gawking at that boy, the new one. Have an interest in him?"
Bad sighed at puffys nagging questions, he's been giving the silent treatment to her for the last 5 minutes. She still hasn't cut it out and she surely was not going to stop. Bad wishes she would just quit it and go back to work. Puffy just kept staring at him, his grin faded to an annoyed expression."Bad just talk good god, I'm convinced your ear drums were blown to bits or something." "If I talk will you leave?" "So, about the ne- " Bad groaned and kneeled down to the floor to rummage through more of the boxes delivered. "Lucky enough for me, a new supply of piercings arrived. Including some industrial ones." "Bad jus-" "Might go for this one that's red and black… ooh! It's got a little demon skull." Bad was ignoring puffy, she was going to keep nagging him over the new worker who works at the tattoo place across from hot topic either way no matter how many times he ignored her. "Jesus bad just answer my question." "Why should I puffy?" God he loves her but sometimes he just wants to smack her hard. "I saw you staring at the blue hoodie man." "So? They're new, I've never seen them before so of course I'm going to stare." Bad shot up and glared at puffy who grinned at him. He rolled his eyes and tossed a box towards the back. "Yeah, that's the reason." "It is puffy now shoo" "You're lucky the mall opens in 5 minutes, ant is probably wondering why I'm taking so long." "Yeah now shoo" Puffy rolled her eyes and smiled. She was going to have a little chat with velvet later about her bickering with bad.
"An industrial? Never expected to see you with one. Hell you didn't even want your ear piercing at first." Boomer rummaged through the clothing wracks trying to find the shirt they wanted. "Just experimenting a bit, that's all." Bad stared out into the mall, business was slow that day. "I think I saw a muffin themed earring in that tattoo shop." "Really?" Bad looked over at boomer, despite his hardcore like style he still had a childish heart and personality. "I mean it's child earrings so it looks a bit childish for my taste. Not sure what you'd think though". "I suppose I'd look when I have my appointment tomorrow." Bad smiled and continued to look out, Boomer chuckled and shook his head. bad still had a child's heart in him. Small things like muffins would make the man giddy and giggly. "So when are you getting your ears done?" "After hours tomorrow, I requested that velvet would do it. He's good at his job I have to admit." Boomer smirked and reached for his phone, he was going to send the groupchat a little message.
Ever since puffy noticed bad staring at the blue hoodie boy, she knew instantly he was into them. The way he just looked at them each time gave it away. The entire week bad just looked at them so lovingly, it was a bit amusing.
After another hour or so, someone finally walked in. Boomer was at the cash register, bad had gotten tired of waiting around so he ran off to the back rooms. A ding rang out through the store and bad could hear boomers cheery voice welcoming the shopper. He started to get up until he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Boomer! What's up
It was velvet,didnt he have a shift? Why was he at hot topic?
Bad sat right down, he knew puffy was a little snitch and spilled to velvet. He was definitely going to get harassed by him. "Where's bad?" "Backrooms, too lazy to stand around." Bad rolled his eyes at boomers' comment. He's one to talk he never wants to stand around so bads the one who actually does. "Just go back there, I don't mind." Bad groaned and pulled his hat in front of his eyes and laid back on the chair. "I guess velvets pestering was inevitable." Bad mumbled to himself.
Velvet's footsteps grew closer until he heard the door open. "Hey bad!" "Go away velvet." Bad grumbled to him. "Aw? Why are you so down today?" "I already know what you're going to rant about." Velvet giggled slightly at bads monotone voice. "Oh you're a little crush?" "Just quiet down muffinhead I have a headache." Velvet sat besides bad, and rested his arm on his shoulder. "So tell me, what's with you and skeppy?" "Who?" "You know who." "Are you referring to the blue boy?" "Awe you even gave him a nickname? That's so adorable." "Puffy calls them that muffinhead, I don't know their name so that's why I call them that." Bad sighed wishing he didn't go to work that day. "Well skeppy is his name, so what's with you and him?" "We haven't even talked velvet." "You keep gawking at him, you're in love or something?" Bad propped himself up and sighed. honestly he couldn't deny it but he could not tell velvet that. He'd blow a fuse and probably pass out. "Just leave me be velvet." "Puffy says you stare at him like you're madly in love." Bad sighed once again and pulled the hat off his eyes and readjusted it on his head properly. "I'm… well...I-im not velvet." Velvet choked on air slightly at bads response. "W-WHY DID YOU- WHY DID YOU STRUGGLE FOR A MOMENT?" "oh my gosh velvet go back to work..." Bad got up and started walking away from velvet who was trying to catch his breath. Velvet tended to overreact over the stupidest things.
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"He's.. He's sick?"
Bad stared at puffy, his heart sinking slightly.
"Yeah, he called in sick and wanted me to tell you so you didn't get a surprise." Bad bit his lip slightly, he knew what velvet was doing. And god he was going to knock him the next time they say one another. "What about ant?" "Velvet insisted he went to work." That just confirms it more, god he hates his friends sometimes. "So I'm assuming that skeppy..guy is going to do mine?" "He did volunteer, so I say yeah he will." Bad stared at puffy for a moment with a confused look. He volunteered? "You say he volunteered?" "Apparently so." Bad face planted and pinched the bridge of his nose. Puffy grinned, she was slightly disappointed that he caught on with their plan but he can't back out. Velvet had told skeppy that he was coming down with a cold and was going to call in sick. He also had proceeded to talk very highly about bad to skeppy so he'd become more interested. Then he chose to volunteer to pierce bads ear because he was interested in meeting him.
"Anyways, I have to go now, have fun bad!" Puffy turned around smiling to herself, bad glared heavily at her as she left.
He was going to kick her ass.
"Puffy wait." She turned around before she turned the corner. "What's their pronouns, I hear you using he for them but I just want to make sure I'm not being disrespectful." Puffy smiled at him. "According to velvet he uses he/him."Bad nodded and turned away to go look at the pins on display.
After a moment or so, boomer came walking in. He looked exhausted. "Hey Boomer…oh uh….you look horrible. Did you sleep?" Boomer looked up, he obviously did not sleep. He smiled softly and kept walking in. "To be honest, I did not sleep last night. I was having issues last night so I passed out at 4am" Bad sighed, he honestly thought boomer was apart of their little plan but he honestly looked beat so he brushed off the feeling. "You want me to stay at the front desk today?" "You don't need to, I can just suc-""Go sit down boomer, get some coffee or energy drinks. I'll run the cash register,if you're up to it later then tell me but for right now I'll take it" Boomer smiled at his kindness and nodded. "Thanks bad, call me if you need me. No promises I'll be awake though."Bad smiled softly and rolled his eyes.
Surprisingly enough business that day was pretty heavy around lunch time, Boomer definitely would have not survived being at the cash register today. After the rush it eventually calmed down. After the rush hour, it was just him standing at the cash register staring off into space.
He heard a little ding not even 5 minutes after the last customer left. He looked up to see a boy in a blue sweatshirt, and a working apron. Bad nearly choked hard on air when he finally noticed who was standing ahead of him. "H-hi, welcome to hot topic." Bad tried to keep a cheery but monotone voice. He was on the verge of screaming.
"Hey! Can I see your industrial piercing..bars? Need some new pairs for myself." Bad nodded and silently shuffled to the display case. The boy walked over to the case. "Here's everything we got." "I need your opinion on something." "What is that?" "Does this shade of blue match my style? Should I get ones like these?" Skeppy pointed towards his ears, there were two. They were both blue and diamond themed. "Hm, I personally think it fits you. I have a few diamond and blue themed ones on this side." Bad spun the display case until it got to the spot. He pointed at a row of blue bars.
"Oh wow your collection is impressive, you guys have taste." Skeppy smiled, the two stood in silence as skeppy looked. "I like that one." Skeppy pointed at a dark blue bar with swirling carvings on it. "How much is it?" "$20 dollars a pair." "So you have another pair?" "I can go look in the back room, is that okay?" "Yeah of course! Thank you." Skeppy smiled once again. Bad opened the case and grabbed the bars and walked to the back rooms, he had absolutely no clue how the hell he was able to stay composed during that. "So skeppy stopped by?" Boomer asked bad, who was lying on the couch.
"How.. Do you know?" "I could hear his voice idiot, these walls aren't that thick." Bad paused, maybe he wasn't with them. "Yeah, do we have another pair of these bars?" He held out his hand to show Boomer, he sat up slightly to get a better look. After a moment of silence boomers face lit up. "In a box in that little front cubby on the inside of the cash register there's a box full of earrings and such I think you'd find what you're looking for there." Boomer laid backwards and closed his eyes. "You feeling better now" bad questioned. Boomer opened his eyes slightly and nodded. "I'll be up and going in a few minutes." He mumbled, closing his eyes once again. Bad went back out to the main shop, bars in hand. "Let me check up here, sorry for taking so long." "No worries, take your time. Business slowed down for the time being so I have nowhere to go for the time being." "Wonder where they all came from." "Schools starting tomorrow for the local kids, I assume they were getting their last stuff before tomorrow."
After looking around, he finally found another pair. Bad sighed in happiness. Boomer really needed to learn how to organize items. "Apologies for the long wait once again, my friend does not know how to properly organize our items." "As I said, no worries." Bad got up, his knees nearly buckling. He caught himself on the cash register, the bars poked into his hand. Hit bit his lip trying to choke down a scream. "You okay there?" Skeppy came closer with a concerned look on his face. When bad looked up, their noses basically were touching. Skeppy instantly pulled away with a flustered look. "Y-yeah..im fine." Bad stood up properly and handed the bars to skeppy. "That will be six-.. Actually I'll knock down the price to 40." Skeppy looked at bad with a surprised, yet excited expression. "Wh...wha..why is that?" "Aren't you the one giving me my piercing? This is my way of paying back." "But what about payi-" "don't worry about that, now how would you like to pay?" Skeppy looked at bad, his tongue tied.
"Thank you! See you later bad!" Skeppy smiled as he left. Bad was bent towards slightly and rested his head on his hand.
Maybe bads friends were right about him being absolutely whipped for this blue man.
Bad went to the back rooms to check on Boomer who was now wide awake and smiling. Oh my dear gosh, his feelings previously were definitely right. "So how was-" "Did you seriously fake being tired so I'd be upfront." "I mean, I was tired but I might have… over exaggerated a.. Bit?" Bad glared at Boomer with the look of death, but his gaze softened slightly. "I suppose, I shall thank you. At least our interaction when I get my ears pierced won't be as awkward because we are familiar with each other." Bad mumbled looking at the ceiling trying to avoid boomers gaze. "See? I'm not that ba-" "oh just quiet and go up to the register already."
The mall had finally closed, which means it was time for bad to get the piercing. He wasn't as anxious previously but the nerves were still there. Normally his friends would be there to cheer him on but this time he was alone. As he waved Boomer goodbye, he looked at the shop. He eventually noticed skeppy leaning on the front desk looking at his phone. He was probably waiting for him to show up. He sighed and closed up shop. The metal gate hit the floor with a loud crash, making skeppy look over. Bad always hated how loud it was.
He turned around and started to walk towards the shop, his eyes glued to the floor. He knew skeppy was staring at him.
"Hey"
skeppy called out, his voice cheery. Bad finally looked up to see a bright smile on his face. "You ready?" Bad nodded and put his bag down, he kneeled down digging for the bars he chose. "I take it that you want to have your own in, right?" "Mhm" bad got up and handed the ones to skeppy. "I like the style, might get them for myself. You still have these?" "I assume that we do, and before you ask it's around $30 for a pair." Skeppy nodded and turned around. "Go sit in that chair near the entrance, I'll grab the supplies." Bads nerves shot through the roof, he had forgotten how painful piercings are.
Bad sat in the chair nervously, he was even shaking ever so slightly. Skeppy walked over without the apron on, bad was confused until he started to notice skeppy taking off the hood. He was wearing a white tank top with a golden chain. His arms were tanned and they were even a bit muscular. Bad thought he was going to pass out right then and there. He then put on his apron and sat down, bad watched in silence as skeppy prepared the tools.
"Alright so I have to sanitize the needle and the spot. It's going to be cold" bad nodded, he started to shake more. He could tell skeppy noticed. He doesn't know why he was so nervous, he got his ears pierced twice previously. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. But then he felt a hand grab his and squeeze slightly. "Try not to think about the pain when I pierce your ear, and please don't squirm. I don't want to hurt you anymore. This shits painful and I know it, and I want to make sure it's not all that painful." He took his hand away and put the cold solution on his ear. "The first time I got it done and I squirmed a bit, worst mistake of my life. Also I meant to comment earlier, I like your tattoos. Where did you get them done?"
"I.. Well I did the skull on my hand myself, and I went to this place in town. I'll show it to you later." Skeppy paused to look at bad, he had a surprised expression. "You did that skull yourself? It's so detailed. ''Funny enough, I'm a licensed tattoo artist. I just don't do that type of stuff that often." "Oh my god please do mine." Skeppy turned slightly to grab the needle. "You seem so talented and I think you'd do mine well" bad became flustered at his comments. "O-of course I'll do them. "Thank you so much, also here comes the bad part. I hope I calmed your nerves a bit. I'd hold your hand but I need two hands to do it." Bad nodded, he was trembling slightly again. "You want me to count down? Or-" ''please c-count down." Skeppy nodded and took a breath. "Please as I said don't squirm or jump around and try to keep any screaming to a low volume." Skeppy paused and laughed a bit " I don't want security to think I'm murdering someone."
That was painful.
bad was holding back tears, he had but his lip so hard there was blood dripping down his chin. Bad could feel skeppys breath on his neck which made him want to jump around even more. "See! You did great, I'm going to go in the back and get some paperwork, cleaning solution and all that please wait here for a moment, sorry if I take a bit I'm still getting used to this place." His voice faded out as he walked into the back rooms. Bad sighed as the pain started to fade, it honestly wasn't all that bad. Skeppy comforting him definitely made it better, the entire time bad was red faced and he thought he was going to stop breathing. Hell his friends we're right, he fell for him and he fell so hard. And it only took him a week to become so lost.
God, bad has never fallen this hard before.
"I got the paperwork! I'll explain a few things."
After a long time of boring paperwork, he was done. "By the way, here's my number. I want to yknow…. Check up on the piercing, a-and if you have any questions you can just call.. O-or text me." Bads face was burning at this point, he'd be surprised if it wasn't noticeable but bad took a silent breath and tried to stay as composed as possible. "Alright, let me just make you a contact real quick…" he typed away and then showed his screen.
"Name it blue hoodie boy." "Why-?" "I've heard you say it a few times, and I've also heard the puffy girl say it. I honestly like it" Bad sheepishly nodded and named the contact. He put his phone away to look at skeppy, trying to avoid eye contact. "How much?" "It's $20" "what-? Isn't it much more expensive?" "You lowered my price, now I lowered yours." He grinned at bad, turning to walk to the front desk.
"Cash or card?"
"Hey, thank you for letting me pierce your ear." Skeppy smiled softly at bad "people don't trust me yet because I'm new and you've got to admit I'm not all that bad" "I mean you were pretty fast, and you even comforted me without me even asking so I rate your service a 10/10" bad smiled back.
As bad turned to leave, skeppy grabbed his arm.
"We should go out somewhere sometime this weekend."
Bads face started to burn once again. His head felt light. "Like.. Where? And for..w-what reason?" "Anywhere and I just want to get to know you." Bad genuinely thought he was going to pass out from the overwhelming emotions. "I-i'll.. Text you tonight about…it" Bad noticed how skeppy was blushing himself, I guess he wasn't the only one nervous out of his mind. "Anyways we should head home, we might get locked in the mall." Skeppy laughed. Bad laughed softly back. "So we'll text tonight." Skeppy smiled at bad once again, and winked at him.
He owed his friends his entire life.
Once bad was out of sight, skeppy nearly melted to the ground screaming. He was so close to breaking his composure. He instantly pulled out his phone to scream at velvet, thanking him for everything. Skeppy had his eyes on bad ever since he saw him opening up shop on his first day, he was so lucky to have velvet working with him. Who knows if they would have ever been able to do this in the first place.