Work Text:
Dabi was sitting on his old, withering, black leather chair. He was in a relaxed position; his legs were spread wide (that typical man spread position) with his left leg slightly out-stretched in front of him. His head was resting on the back of the chair and his arms were layed on the arms of it; his left hand holding a cigarette loosely. His eyes were shut and his mouth was slightly ajar.
Smoke filled the room creating a grey fog. Every so often, he would lift his cigarette to his lips and inhale, his hand would go back to it's place on the arm rest and he would blow the smoke out again. The movements were so calm and relaxed anyone would believe he was asleep.
On the table to his right, his phone was ringing.
The table was wooden with only an ashtray and his phone occupying it.
He didn't pick up the phone though, just continued to sit there with his eyes closed, breathing in the fumes.
The phone stopped briefly, then continued ringing again.
Eventually, Dabi let out a long breath and opened his eyes. As he went to take another drag of his cigarette, he picked his phone up and answered it with a long exhale of smoke. He closed his eyes again.
"For gods sake dabi, answer your phone when I'm calling you!" The guy at the other end of the phone shouted.
"Sorry boss.." He mumbled.
"...It's fine Dabi. I'm calling to ask if you can fill in for Spinner at work today?"
"I can't do his work for him Shigs. Not my art and all that" He spoke, then took once again, another drag of his cig and exhaled it.
"Ahh no, I don't mean that. I mean could you work at the desk? He should be at front desk dealing with customers asking for appointments an' shit but he's sick."
"Oh..sure. I guess." He said after a bit of a pause.
He opened his eyes again and held his head up properly. The world spun a little and everything was in double. He groaned.
"You alright?" He heard Shiggy say from his phone that had been discarded on the arm of the chair where his arm once was so he could hold his pulsing forehead.
"Yea." He grumbled. "Headache"
"Drink some water. Weed doesn't hydrate you y'know. The opposite actually." Shiggy lectured.
"Yea yea, whatever. What time do I start?"
"Now. But I guess whenever you get here."
"Fuuck ok. I'll be there soon."
"See ya"
"Yea" He mumbled and said goodbye, hanging up.
'Fuuuuck' He thought again. His head was throbbing.
He sluggishly walked over to his kitchen area, it all being pretty close as he only lived in a small apartment, and grabbed the last pack of headache tablets he had and pushed 2 out of their foil packaging.
Once they were in his hand he paused.
'Fuck' he thought again and put the tablets down.
He headed over to the cupboard with all his glasses and mugs, which, admittedly, wasn't a lot, and picked up a glass. Made his way over to his sink and filled it with water. He walked back over to his tablets and chucked them into his mouth and poured some water in his mouth as well and swallowed. Both at once cuz he's a pro.
He chugged the rest of the water and dragged himself to his bedroom. The world looked a bit clearer now and he didnt feel like he was gonna pass out so thats a bonus.
He half-heartedly rummaged through his drawers and random piles of clothes to find his favourite outfit for work; ripped black jeans, his signature low falling white shirt, and arguably the most stylish piece of clothing he owns..a black leather jacket.
Once he found them all, he slugglishly tugged them all on, minus the jacket which he just held hung over his shoulder for the time being. Mans was feeling a tad sweaty.
He walked towards his door and picked up his keys off the little table he left there for convenience. He opened the door and immediately regretted all life decisions he made that led him up to this point.
"Holy fuckin' shit it's bright" He grumbled and turned around quick to grab his oh so very fancy sunglasses. His eyes lingered on his proper glasses for a hot second before scowling and picking them up too.
He was not up for straining his eyes today and getting an even worse headache.
Keigo was having an...alright day. He had previously stopped at the shop to do his weekly shopping; this theoretically would go smoothly. It did in fact not go smoothly.
He had arrived at the shop via his much loved mini cooper. (Look man idk what kinda car he'd have) He did all his shopping, putting things he needs into his trolley and pushing it around the shop to different isles. He pays for it and everything. But, because he's soooo good and careful, trips over, what?, nothing.
He drops his shopping and has to pick it up again and put things back into the bag that fell out. But guess what? His eggs broke. Keigo then has to go back into the shop to buy new eggs and finally gets back to his car a second time without any damage.
He drives home and unpacks his shopping and all is well, SIKE, its not! It turns out he hadn't locked his beloved pigeon in his cage properly. He puts his shopping away while his pigeon flies over to him cooing, the bird jumps on his shoulder and literally just chills up there.
So for the rest of his eventful morning, he puts his pigeon back in his cage and after, cleans up all the pigeon poop around the house. And out of his nice, new fluffy rug as well! Typical.
So yeah, Keigo had a pretty alright morning. Surely all his bad luck for the day was used up and everything else will go ok. To his surprise, it does.
He makes it to his piercing appointment right on time with no issue. Look at him go!
He strolls in, feeling...not very confident considering the morning he had. He walks up to the counter and while doing so, immediately notices the black haired man sitting behind it on a swivel chair.
He didn't recognize the man, though he had only been there a few times so its possible he happened to just miss him each time.
Words bubbled up his throat ready to come out when the man spoke for him.
"Hiya, welcome to LOV tattoos and piercings, what can I do for ya?"
"Hi..um I have an appointment for a piercing. I think with Spinner?" He spoke kind of nervously. The man looked way too chilled out to be allowed to work the shop front.
"Alrighty...Spinner? He's got work off today 'cause he's sick. Would ya like to reschedule or have one of our other artists do it?"
"Oh, uh, I don't particularly mind. Are all your other staff educated in piercings?" He asked, sort of off put that they didn't think to call him about the situation.
"Yes sir, we all have a degree in tattoos and piercings. I think most of us have a client right now, but I'll ask boss. Fucker didn't say Spinner had clients today too."
"Oh, was you not told either about him being sick?"
"Nah, I was earlier, s'why I'm here. Covering for his front desk shift. I could pierce ya if you want. What you lookin' to get done?" The man gave a lazy grin.
"O-Oh just my helix. I mean no offence, but are you...allowed to take on other's clients right now?" He asked skeptically.
"Pft yea, boss don't really give a fuck. Though if it bothers ya too much I'll find someone else. I know I don't exactly look sober at the minute."
"I don't mind...you just...look kinda stoned."
The guy lets out a laugh, the act looked rather pretty for someone that looked like they only woke up 10 minutes ago, and said,
"S'cause I am," he grinned and continued,
"Though I got scarily steady hands man I wouldnt worry. I do this for a livin' ya know? Most of my tattoos I did high and they look alright."
"I wouldn't know...I haven't properly looked...y-you can do my piercing if you want."
"If you're sure birdie"
"Birdie?"
"You smell like pigeon shit man"
Blood immediately rushed to his face, he turned his head in a miserable attempt to hide it.
"Hey don't worry about it, I probably smell like weed. It's not strong either, you got a pet bird?" He slurred slightly, rolling to different places behind the desk and typing stuff on the computer.
"Yea..I have a pigeon. I must have let him out 'cause he'd pooped everywhere around my apartment earlier and I had to clean it up. I showered before coming, but I guess it didnt help much."
"You're alright, don't often hear about pigeons as pets. Come with me real quick. To my work space obvs, not tryna kidnap ya" he joked.
"Haha..who's gonna be at the front?"
"Boss is gonna take over for a bit. Wait just a sec." The man says while going to grab wipes to wipe everthing down. He pulls on gloves and what not. Usual piercer hygiene stuff.
"Take a seat, ya helix yes? Both ears?"
"Yes please."
"Sweet, how'd you want it? Can have it pierced for a stud or for a hoop."
"Oh, yea, the stud please."
"Good choice, and such good manners..." he smirked to himself.
A slight blush formed on his cheeks after having only just calmed down after being out-ed about his pigeon poop.
"Can I ask your name, pretty? Should'a asked earlier my bad"
"It's Keigo. What's yours?"
After a quick pause, he got an answer, "I go by Dabi at work"
"Thats ok," he smiled. The man, or, Dabi, seemed to be brightening up slightly as the talk went on. He seemed less stoned thankfully.
They continued on with the appointment, Dabi putting pen dots on his ears and making sure they are even, showing him them in the mirror asking for his approval. He says yes and Dabi gets to piercing; Keigo have already chosen his jewellery beforehand while they were talking. He went for the usual, basic one, the common starting option of plain silver. He plans to change it to a hoop when it's healed more.
"Alright, you're all done." Dabi said rather cheerily. He was wiping down Keigo's ears for any blood or pen left on them.
"Lemme go grab the mirror again"
Keigo is ashamed to admit that during the whole process, he couldn't take his eyes off the guy. Even now he couldn't stop looking at his arms covered in tattoos, most of him being covered by a tshirt but he could see them creeping up his neck too.
Dabi had a few piercings himself by the looks of it, 3 nose piercings, all on the same nostril. And 4 helix piercings on each ear complemented by the classic lobe piercings.
He turned around with mirror and gave a quick awkward, shocked look that was barely noticable and smirked as he saw Keigos face heat up again.
"Here we go, pretty. Take a look."
The nicknames continued to make Keigos face feel hot but he looked in the mirror regardless.
He smiled and spoke, "Oooo it looks cool. Thank you." He said while looking down at his fiddling hands at the last part.
"No problem, you got any others? Or tattoos? I think you'd look stunning not gonna lie to ya." There was a cheeky smile as he said it.
"Yeaa..I have my lobes done, though you probably noticed that. I don't really have proper tattoos like you...I have a small one on my wrist and on my ribs."
"That's alright. Short and sweet as the saying goes, tho I think that applies to something else?" He furrowed his eyebrows and looked like he was thinking.
Keigo gave an endeared smile and continued.
"Do you wanna see them? I've wanted more for awhile now but I'm not sure exactly what I want."
"Hm? Yea sure, if you're comfortable."
"Yea," he laughed, "Its only my wrist and ribs."
He pulled the sleeve of his jacket up a bit and pointed his wrist to Dabi. The design was a small red feather that was curled slightly.
"Ah! Is this where that saying comes in? Short and sweet? Or was it short and simple? It looks very pretty on you. Any meaning or you just like it?"
"I'm not too sure. I just really like red feathers for some reason," he laughed.
"Well it's cool either way. You don't need meaning for a tattoo, if you like it thats enough reason to get it, I believe anyway," Dabi smiled and ran his thumb over it while holding his wrist ever so gently.
The ghost of the touch made his breath catch in his throat. His hands were comfortably warm to the point he kind of wanted Dabi to keep them there, but unfortunately, he releases the hold of his wrist.
"Can I see the rib one too?"
"Oh! Yea of course." He lifted up his shirt enough to show his ribs, just covering his chest. The tattoo consisted of the outline of 2 birds flying.
"Hm, you definitely like the bird theme"
"I do" Keigo laughed lightly. "I wanted something that showed being free, but I didnt want just the word written sooo...it might have been done loads but I like it."
"Thats all that matters, I think it suits you. They both look really pretty."
Keigo took notice of how Dabi didnt reach to touch the tattoo like he did on his wrist, most likely because of where it was. He smiled at the thought of him trying to be respectful.
"Thank you." He blushed. "Um, what do we do now?"
"Oh, we pay. Well, you pay, I get paid."
"Ok," he giggled and followed Dabi back out of his room and to the counter.
With Dabi back sitting on the swivel chair and Keigo back at the front, he pays.
"Um, thank you, for the piercings."
"That's no problem, it was a pleasure having you, birdie"
Keigo's face flushed red once again, "Could I come back again sometime? I'd like to get a tattoo...by you if thats possible?" He asked shyly.
"Of course you can, I've seen your tattoos so I can book you in for a consultation if you like? We can go over what you might like and what you definitely wouldn't like."
"Yea! Thats sounds ok to me"
"Okie dokie, I have room for tomorrow at 3pm? Ooorrrr Monday at half 9 in the morning. No one ever likes that one," he joked.
"I think I'll have to agree with them. Tomorrow please?"
"Yes that's fine," he says and types stuff on the computer and clicks a couple buttons. Keigo personally had no idea what Dabi was doing, tattoo artist stuff he guesses.
"Alrighty then! I'll see you tomorrow? Same place, different time." The absolute cheeky-ness of this man was getting to him, that smile shouldn't look so good.
"Yep, I'll be back! See you later Dabi." He waved.
"Byeeee pretty!" Dabi laughed and waved back. With the flush back on his face, again, Keigo makes his way to his car.