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It’s been exactly seven weeks and four days since Izuku had his top surgery, and he feels great. The surgery was rough, not because of the pain, but because he was stuck at home despite feeling perfectly fine after the first week. He’s been surrounded by his amazing friends, and his even more amazing boyfriend though, which has made it easier to deal with being stuck in his apartment for so long. They’d all taken turns, based on their schedules, to come and spend time with him at his apartment. During that time, he’d been contemplating his surgery scars.
Top surgery scars are like any other scar, ugly as they begin to heal and worse once they’re little white lines. But Izuku caressed them with a soft smile on his face because while he hates the other scars littering his body, these- these mean so much more. These have helped him get more comfortable, feel more like himself, and he needed that. But he still didn’t want to take his shirt off because of how they look.
Before he had surgery, Izuku had told his boyfriend, Hanta, that he wanted him to sketch some potential tattoos that could cover his scars. He wasn’t sure that he’d want the tattoo, but he wanted the option to be there because he’s always been insecure about the amount of scars that litter his body. So, two and a half months after his surgery, he’d told Hanta to set up his appointment because he wanted to get his tattoo. They’d decided at the three-month mark that they would do it while also attempting to finish the entire tattoo in a single night.
It’s been three months, and now Izuku stands just inside The Mad Tatter, ready to see his boyfriend’s design on his skin. He leans against the mirror, smiling at Kyoka who is wearing her leather jacket over her purple, “I belong to Her” shirt that’s matched to Momo’s “I’m Her” shirt that she’s wearing in his flower shop, All in Bloom.
“He’s almost ready, I swear. He’s just being silly because he’s nervous despite working on this sketch ever since you told him you wanted the tattoo.” says Kyoka softly as she rounds the receptionist desk, setting up the “it’s closing time” sign as she heads his way. “I can’t wait to see which one he picked. He wouldn’t tell any of us either, not that we didn’t try to find out, of course.”
“That sounds like Hanta. Thank you, Kyo. I’ll make sure he sends a picture when we’re done.” replies Izuku as Kyoka turns the open sign to “closed” on the door.
Hanta had ensured that they would have the last few hours before closing to themselves because Izuku really wants to get the tattoo done in one sitting. Hanta saying it’s detailed didn’t dissuade him from his decision either, even though it really probably should have, but Izuku really wants to see it in all its glory. He doesn’t want to ruin the surprise ahead of its final form, and he knows that he will look at it as soon as he can because of his curiosity.
Kyoka waves, and Izuku waits until she’s across the street to walk his way back to Hanta’s tattoo room at the back of the shop. He leans against the doorway as soon as he reaches it because Hanta is messing with his tools and muttering under his breath.
“Sweetheart, are you ready for me?” asks Izuku as he calls out to Hanta with a soft smile curving his lips.
Hanta’s head jerks up, but his surprise melts into a sweet smile and grabby hands as he says, “Mi amor, I am always ready for your pretty self. Come on over here, let me hold you, Izu.”
Izuku walks over and stands in front of Hanta, arms wrapping around his neck immediately as he leans up on his toes to kiss the taller man as sweetly as he can. They tend to get distracted, so he tries to keep it chaste and quick, which doesn’t last as long as he’d like because Hanta walks him back to the chair and sucks his bottom lip into his own mouth.
Izuku moans softly before he pulls away and huffs, “I want my tattoo, baby. You can kiss me senseless later though, I promise.”
“You’ve been gone all day though, mi amor. Can you blame me for wanting to kiss you now?” asks Hanta with a pout as he lets his head lightly knock against Izuku’s.
“Of course I can’t because I want you to kiss me right now too. But we’re supposed to be doing my tattoo, and I really want to see what you sketched for me as well as the other sketches because you wouldn’t let me see any of them.” replies Izuku softly before he presses another quick kiss to Hanta’s lips and pulls back again.
“Fine, mi amor, I will let you go this time, but only because I want to be able to get you home and have enough time to relax after dinner. Alright, you’re certain that you don’t want to see the design before I put it on your skin?” asks Hanta nervously as he stands up as Izuku adjusts himself onto the chair.
“No, baby, I don’t wanna see it until it’s on my skin, perfectly colored, and everything! I know, I know, you told me that it may not all get done tonight, but I know you can get it done tonight. If you can’t, then we’ll have to figure out how to keep me from seeing it. But I wanna be surprised.” replies Izuku with a hint of a whine before he sobers himself up and tilts his head to the side because he knows, logically, that if they don’t finish this tonight, he’s going to have to figure out how to avoid looking at the tattoo.
“We’ll try to finish it, but I can’t promise anything. I do think I’ll be able to finish most of it, but I don’t know for sure because there are three different big pieces surrounded by details.” explains Hanta softly as he turns around and grabs his rolling seat along with his tool table to set up next to Izuku and the tattoo chair.
“I’m okay with that, and even more excited than I was when you told me you’d decided. Okay, let’s do this!” exclaims Izuku with a squeal as he tugs off his All In Bloom shirt and settles firmly back on the chair.
Hanta tilts him back and sets to work. Izuku’s got a high pain tolerance, but the sensitivity from his scars shows up almost immediately. So, he gets his sweatshirt in his mouth and Hanta turns on the All Might cartoon to help distract him as much as possible. Eventually, the sensitivity wanes enough for Izuku to spit his sweatshirt out and complain about the inaccuracies within the cartoon in comparison to the comic book series that he fell in love with as a child.
“-that’s not even how he and Nighteye met.” grumbles Izuku as he points at the TV, narrowing his eyes in a glare.
“Okay, let’s take a quick bathroom break.” says Hanta as the whirring of his needle stops, and he rolls his chair back some.
“I’m good, but if you need it, go for it.” replies Izuku with a shrug as he stares pointedly at the TV.
“I took the mirror out of the bathroom, covered all of the mirrors on your way to the bathroom, and you can just give me your phone to keep from seeing it. I’ll even cover the other mirrors while you’re in the bathroom, if you want me to.” says Hanta with an amused tone as he pokes Izuku in his arm.
“That- I- that would be awesome, thank you baby.” replies Izuku brightly after his light stutter, cheeks turning pink as he moves to stand.
Hanta’s eyes are drawn to the ink he’s placed on Izuku’s skin, and Izuku shivers under his looks as he tries hard not to look at himself as well. Hanta’s eyes are full of a heat that Izuku wants so badly to understand, but he manages to keep his eyes focused on Hanta’s face.
Barely.
Hanta snorts before tugging Izuku’s phone out of his back pocket, after copping a feel much to Izuku’s delight. Then, Izuku heads to the bathroom while Hanta heads out to cover the rest of the mirrors and any other reflected surface because his doll wants to be surprised. When Izuku comes back into the room, Hanta is hunched over his sketchbook, pencil moving quickly across the page, and Izuku feels breathless at the sight that drew him in the first time he met Hanta Sero.
“Hey, baby, I’m ready to start again… If you want to continue tonight, of course.” says Izuku softly, hoping that they can continue and hopefully finish his tattoo.
“I think we can finish this up tonight, so I’m down if you’re sure that you can go a little longer. I don’t want you to be hurting too bad tonight.” says Hanta as he turns to look at Izuku, not hiding his sketchbook which means it’s either for a new client or just fun because otherwise he’d have closed it and put it away.
“If you think we can finish it, then I am definitely ready for it!” replies Izuku excitedly as he walks over to sit down on the chair and get comfortable again.
“Let’s do it then, mi amor.” replies Hanta as he sets himself up again before standing and pressing play on the All Might cartoon again.
Izuku settles into the show and the chair as the needle presses in, and Hanta begins again. He lets himself watch the show, lets himself melt into the recurring sound of the whirring needle, and Hanta’s humming as he moves around the table and things focus in. Izuku can tell that Hanta is doing details, but when the coloring starts, he watches a grin curve Hanta’s lips. Izuku gets entranced in watching Hanta’s face, All Might cartoon lost in the buzzing and the way Hanta’s face lights up as he gets to add splashes of color to his pale skin.
His excitement grows as Hanta keeps moving.
Finally, Hanta sets down his needle, and sits back on his chair with a satisfied grin as his dark eyes trace Izuku’s skin.
“Are you ready to see your tattoo, mi amor?” asks Hanta softly as he leans forward to press a kiss to Izuku’s shoulder.
“Yes, Hanta, I’m so excited!” squeals Izuku as he practically starts to shake with his excitement.
“Alright, let me take a picture, then I’ll bring in the mirror. You close your eyes.” murmurs Hanta softly as he stands.
Izuku hears the shutter of a camera going off at least three times before Hanta moves away, and Izuku squeezes his eyes closed when Hanta huffs as a soft thud echoes through the room. After a moment of clattering and cursing, he hears Hanta sigh in relief.
“Can I stand up now?” asks Izuku as he starts to sit up.
“Yeah, mi amor, just give me a second, and I’ll help you.” replies Hanta with an amused tone that has Izuku pouting because he just knows that Hanta’s amusement is solely because of how he looks right now. “Don’t pout, you look absolutely adorable, and besides that, you know I will kiss you senseless if you don’t put that puffy bottom lip away.”
“You’re a meanie.” grumbles Izuku before hands rest on his hips, and he carefully feels his way to Hanta’s shoulders. “Don’t let me fall, Hanta.”
“You know I won’t, mi amor.” says Hanta with that same amused tone, though he carefully helps Izuku up and walks him forward, turns him to the side, and then forward before turning him again and stopping. When Hanta’s touch disappears, Izuku’s hands fall to his sides, then he feels warmth brush over his ear. “Alright, open your eyes, Izuku.”
Izuku’s eyes open, and his breath leaves him as he takes in the chest piece. It’s a huge lotus flower. His tattoo is a sweet, white to pink lotus flower that’s bloomed. The outer petals that sit over his scars aren’t that of a lotus flower though. Instead, they are a mixture of morning glories and dandelions. A beautiful mixture of colors that decorate his skin in a way that has his fingers twitching to touch. He knows he technically can now, but he’s almost scared to touch this masterpiece.
He also can’t wait to add himself into the pink tattoo club with Mina and Ochako, though they definitely have him beat, Mina most of all considering all of her tattoos are pink. The pink in his tattoo is so subtly bright that he knows Mina is going to squeal about it, but he’s going to be yelling about how absolutely stunning it is… so maybe it’ll be okay to end up kicked out of the group chat along with Mina for the rest of the night.
His fingers trace the very outer edges of the tattoo, barely caressing the ink as he takes in the combination of flowers and colors. The choice of flowers are his favorite, even if they don’t necessarily make sense together because they all represent love, rebirth, and healing, among other meanings. But more than that, they happen to be his top three favorite flowers ever.
He can’t even see his scars under the colors that decorate them, the texture of it doesn’t even show, and Izuku is obsessed. He turns around, throws his arms over Hanta’s shoulders and presses forward to kiss him, deeply and sweetly. He doesn’t let his chest touch him, but he holds him as close as he can while still avoiding the sensitive skin.
Hanta is the one to pull away first with a groan in his throat, and he says, “As much as I want to keep kissing you, mi amor, and I do, I need to get that taken care of and covered first.”
“Yeah, I know, I just- I love it so much, baby. So much. God, Hanta, it’s absolutely stunning.” replies Izuku as he whirls around to stare at the tattoo again.
The way the blues, yellows, whites, and pinks meld together in a soft swirl that almost reminds him of a mixture of sunrise and sunsets has him smiling at the mirror. Izuku doesn’t think he’ll be able to stop looking at this tattoo on his chest.
But he turns around and settles back in the chair when Hanta says, “Lets get it taken care of so we can go home, eat, relax, and head to bed, mi amor.”
“Okay, but don’t forget that I want to see the other sketches that you’d drawn for this.” replies Izuku softly as Hanta starts to rub some cream over the tattoo and wraps it up for him.
When they head back home, half an hour later, Izuku looks over the sketches as Hanta drives the truck back to his apartment because it’s Hanta’s turn to host them. Izuku cannot wait for Hanta’s lease to be up so he can move in with him, but for now, he enjoys all the pretty floral designs that his boyfriend designed for him. They’re all pretty, and they all would’ve been perfect choices for him. His mind is already whirring with where he could put them on his skin because he absolutely has to wear them. But Izuku can’t help but feel like the one gracing his skin, with vivid colors and details, is the only one he would ever want on his chest.
Hanta created perfection, and Izuku gets to wear it with pride everywhere he goes.