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The bell above the door chimed, and Dan looked up from his phone out of habit more than interest. It was a slow Monday afternoon at ‘Embrace The Void Studio’, and he'd been scrolling through reels for the past twenty minutes while Rosie reorganised the jewellery display for the third time that week.
Then his brain short-circuited.
The guy who'd just walked in had platinum blonde hair that caught the afternoon light streaming through the windows, making him look like some sort of ethereal being. He was tall, with bright blue eyes that scanned the space with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, and he was wearing a black and white striped jumper that somehow made the blonde hair even more striking. Dan's phone slipped out of his hand and clattered onto the desk.
"Smooth," Rosie muttered from behind the jewelry case, not bothering to hide her grin.
The blonde guy approached the counter with a crooked smile that made Dan’s breath catch. "Hi! I'm hoping you can fit me in for a piercing today? I know I should have booked ahead, but I just dyed my hair yesterday and I woke up this morning thinking, 'you know what would complete this look?'"
"An ear piercing?" Dan managed, his voice coming out slightly higher than usual. He cleared his throat. "I mean, yes. We can definitely do that. Today. Now. Whenever you want, really."
The guy's smile widened, tongue pointing out to one side. "Brilliant! Yeah, just a simple ear piercing. Nothing too dramatic. Well, more dramatic than the hair, I suppose." He ran a hand through the blonde locks self-consciously. "I'm Phil, by the way."
"Dan." He stood up too quickly and his chair rolled backward into the wall with a thud. "I'm Dan. I'll be doing your piercing. Because I'm the piercer. Obviously."
"Obviously," Phil repeated, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
Rosie appeared at Dan's elbow. "Hi Phil! I'm Rosie, Dan's colleague and the person who will be making sure he doesn't completely embarrass himself today. Let's get you checked in, shall we?" Dan shot her a look, but she just winked and pulled out a clipboard with the intake form.
As Phil filled out the paperwork, Dan tried to collect himself. He'd been piercing people for five years. He was a professional. He'd pierced celebrities, people with complicated anatomy, nervous first-timers, and everything in between. There was absolutely no reason why one, admittedly gorgeous, guy with blonde hair should turn him into a fumbling mess.
Except Phil kept messing with that hair and Dan's brain supplied unhelpful thoughts like ‘I wonder if his hair is as soft as it looks’ and ‘you could go swimming in those eyes.’
"All done!" Phil announced, sliding the clipboard back across the counter. "So, how does this work? Do I pick out jewelry first, or...?"
"Right, yes." Dan forced himself into professional mode. "Let's do a quick consultation first. Come with me to the piercing room and we'll talk about placement, jewelry options, aftercare, all that fun stuff."
He led Phil down the short hallway to his piercing room, aware of Rosie’s knowing smirk burning into his back. The room was his sanctuary. It was clean, organised, with his equipment laid out precisely. He'd managed to sneak in some figures and plushies from the games he liked. He'd even included a giant seal toy he'd been gifted at some point. Something for people to squeeze if they were feeling nervous. Usually, this was little girls getting their first lobe piercings.
"Nice setup," Phil said, looking around with genuine interest. "I love all the plushies, it's so cosy but still feels professional. I was worried I'd end up somewhere dodgy with a piercing gun."
Dan physically recoiled, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. "Please never say 'piercing gun' in my studio again. Those things are barbaric."
Phil laughed, covering his mouth with one curled finger. Dan found himself wishing he wouldn't. He'd noticed the adorable way Phil's tongue poked out earlier and wanted to see it again. Wanted to know he was the reason for that smile, that laugh.
"Noted. So, where should I sit?"
"The chair." Dan gestured to the leather piercing chair in the center of the room, then realised how obvious that was. "I mean, make yourself comfortable. We'll look at your ear anatomy and figure out the best placement."
Phil settled into the chair, and Dan rolled his stool closer, trying to ignore how good Phil smelled, something clean and slightly sweet. He put on his gloves and gently tilted Phil's head to examine his ear.
"So," Phil said, his voice sounding slightly nervous now that they were actually doing this, "I'm thinking just a standard lobe piercing? Nothing too adventurous for my first one."
Dan's fingers paused. "First one? This is your first piercing?"
"Unless you count the time I tried to pierce my own ear with a safety pin when I was fourteen, which my mum very quickly made me take out."
"That absolutely doesn't count, and I'm horrified." Dan examined Phil's ear with professional focus, or at least he tried to. The guy had nice ears. Who even had nice ears? "Your anatomy is perfect for a lobe piercing. We could do a standard placement, or if you want something a bit more unique, we could do a slightly higher placement that would look good with your face shape."
"You think I have a good face shape?" Phil asked, and Dan could hear the teasing in his voice.
Dan's face heated. "I, that's not...I meant for piercing purposes. Professionally speaking."
"Professionally speaking, you think I have a good face."
"Are you always this difficult with people who are about to stab you with needles?"
Phil's laugh was delighted. "Only with the cute ones."
"Right," Dan said, his voice strangled. "Let me show you some jewelry options."
He took off his gloves and pulled out his tablet and brought up photos of different styles. Simple studs, small hoops, decorative ends.
"I like this one," Phil said, pointing to a simple titanium stud with a small opal. "It's subtle but still interesting. Like, 'yes, I have blonde hair and a piercing, but I'm not trying too hard,' you know?"
"That's perfect for you," Dan said, then quickly added, "For your aesthetic. The look you're going for."
Phil's smile was soft. "Thanks. I'm actually kind of nervous? Is that normal? It's just a little earpiercing, but my heart is racing."
The admission made something in Dan's chest soften. "Completely normal. First piercings are always nerve-wracking, even though lobe piercings are one of the easiest and least painful. I promise I'll talk you through everything, and if you need to take a break at any point, just let me know."
"You're really good at this," Phil said quietly. "The whole... making people feel comfortable."
"It's part of the job." Dan stood up to prepare his equipment, grateful for the moment to collect himself. "But I mean it. Some people think piercers should just be tough and tell people to suck it up, but that's bullshit. Being nervous is valid."
He put on fresh gloves and set up his tray with practiced efficiency; needle, jewelry, marking pen, antiseptic, gauze. The familiar routine helped calm his nerves. This was what he was good at. He could do this without making a complete fool of himself. Probably.
"Okay," Dan said, rolling back over to Phil. "I'm going to mark the spot first. Take a look in the mirror and let me know if you like the placement."
He made a small dot on Phil's earlobe, and Phil examined it carefully in the hand mirror.
"Perfect," Phil declared. "You're the expert."
"Right then. I'm going to clean the area, and then we'll do the actual piercing. The needle will go through quickly. Some people say it's like a sharp pinch and then it's done. Some people say it feels like a hot sensation, some people barely feel it at all. Everyone's different."
"What if I cry?" Phil asked, and he sounded genuinely worried.
"Then you cry. I've got tissues." Dan met his eyes. "Seriously, Phil. No judgment here. I've had grown men cry over lobe piercings and teenage girls not even flinch through industrial piercings. Bodies are weird and pain tolerance varies."
Phil took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm ready. I think. Am I ready?"
"You're ready." Dan cleaned the area with antiseptic, the sharp smell filling the small room. "Just breathe normally. Don't hold your breath, that actually makes it worse." He picked up the needle, and Phil's eyes went wide. "Don't look at the needle," Dan said gently. "Look at me instead." Phil's gaze snapped to Dan's face, and suddenly they were looking directly at each other, close enough that Dan could see the flecks of green and gold in Phil's eyes.
His hand was steady as he positioned the needle. "On three," Dan said softly. "One... two..." He pushed the needle through on two, an old piercer's trick, and it went smoothly. Phil's eyes widened further but he didn't flinch. "Done," Dan said, quickly following through with the jewelry. "That's it. You did great."
"Really?" Phil blinked. "That wasn't so–" Then his eyes rolled back and he slumped in the chair.
"Shit!" Dan caught him before he could slide sideways, his professional instincts kicking in even as his heart leaped into his throat. "Rosie!"
Rosie appeared in the doorway instantly. "Fainter?"
"Yeah,” Dan replied, sounding far more concerned than was strictly necessary. He'd seen this countless times.
"He's fine," Rosie said, reading Dan's panic. "Vasovagal response. Happens all the time."
"I know that," Dan snapped, his voice tight. He ran to grab a bottle of water and a cool cloth, practically skidding back into the room in his haste to get back to Phil. Kneeling beside him, he asked. "Phil? Can you hear me?"
Phil's eyelids fluttered, and then those blue eyes opened, unfocused and confused. "Did I... oh no. Did I faint?"
"Just a little bit," Dan said, pressing the cool cloth to Phil's forehead. "You're okay. Just lie still for a minute."
"I'm so embarrassed." Phil's voice was weak. "You said it didn't even hurt and I still fainted. That's so pathetic."
"It's not pathetic." Dan's hand found Phil's without thinking, squeezing gently. "It's a physiological response. Your nervous system basically hit the panic button even though there was no real danger. It happens to loads of people."
"Has it happened to you?"
"I fainted during my first tattoo," Dan admitted. "Face-planted right off the table. I had to get the tattoo finished in three separate sessions because I kept getting woozy."
Phil laughed lightly, still not completely back to his normal self . "Really?"
"Really. Rosie had to hold my hand through my nostril piercing. I was twenty eight."
"I was right there," Rosie called from the doorway, where she was definitely eavesdropping. "He cried."
"I did not cry!"
"You teared up."
"That's different!"
Phil was smiling now, colour returning to his face. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"I'm saying it because it's true." Dan realized he was still holding Phil's hand and reluctantly let go, sitting back on his heels. "How are you feeling? Dizzy? Nauseous?"
"Just embarrassed." Phil slowly sat up, and Dan immediately put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Is the piercing okay? Did I mess it up by fainting?"
"It's perfect. You want to see?" Dan held up a small mirror, and Phil examined his reflection, his face lighting up.
"Oh! I love it! It looks exactly how I imagined."
"The opal suits you, brings out the colours in your eyes," Dan said, and this time he didn't try to make it sound purely professional. Phil met his eyes in the reflection.
"Thanks. For everything. For not making me feel like an idiot."
"You're not an idiot." Dan stood up, offering Phil his hand. "But I'm not letting you leave for at least another fifteen minutes. Studio policy. And I'm walking you wherever you're going after that, because the last thing I need is you fainting on the street and hitting your head."
"Is that really studio policy?"
"It is now."
Rosie appeared with a small packet of Haribo and another bottle of water. "Eat these. Sugar helps." Phil happily munched on the sweets while Dan went over the aftercare instructions.
“Okay, so we'll give you the saline solution, you should use that to clean the piercing twice a day and try not to touch or twist the jewellery. If you did want to change the stud, wait at least 8 weeks. No swimming for about 6-8 weeks either, as this increases the likelihood of–”
“Wait, no swimming?!” Phill interrupted. “How am I expected to not swim for 8 weeks?”
“Do you swim often then?” Dan asked curiously, Phil hadn't seemed like the type who swam for fun, but who was he to judge?
“Well, no… but it's nice to have the option.” Phil giggled.
Dan rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the fond smile that took over his face. He explained the rest of the instructions in more detail than was strictly necessary, not wanting his time with Phil to be over.
"So," Phil said when Dan finally ran out of things to say about saline solution and healing times, "I should probably go. Let you get back to work."
"I'm walking you out," Dan said firmly. "Where are you headed?"
"Just home. I'll catch the tube back."
"I'll walk with you to the station then.”
Outside, the afternoon sun was warm, and Phil tilted his face up to it, his blonde hair glowing. "I can't believe I fainted over an ear piercing. My friends are never going to let me live this down."
"Don't tell them," Dan suggested. "Just show off your new piercing and leave out the fainting part."
They walked slowly, and Dan found himself hoping Phil's station was very far away. They talked about everything and nothing. Phil's job in video editing, Dan's journey to becoming a piercer, their shared love of a particular anime series, the merits of different coffee shops in the area.
"Oh, speaking of coffee," Phil said as they passed a small café, "I could actually use some caffeine. Want to join me? Unless you need to get back to work."
Dan thought of the empty appointment book and Rosie's knowing smirk. "I could take a break."
The café was cosy and warm, with mismatched furniture and the smell of fresh pastries. They walked up to the counter and ordered, Dan insisting on paying. “It's all part of the service, Phil.”
Phil got some complicated caramel thing, and convinced Dan to get the same. Once they had their drinks, they settled into a corner booth.
"So," Phil said, wrapping his hands around his cup, "do all your clients get the personal escort service, or am I just that special?"
Dan felt his face heat. "You fainted. I was being responsible."
"Uh-huh." Phil's smile was teasing but warm. "And the free coffee?"
"I..." Dan paused, then decided to just go for it. "Okay, fine. You're special. You walked in with that hair and that smile and I completely forgot how to function like a normal human being. Rosie is never going to let me hear the end of it." Phil's expression softened into something more gentle.
"For what it's worth, I thought you were really cute when you knocked your chair into the wall."
"That's embarrassing."
"It was endearing." Phil pulled out his phone. "Can I have your number? For aftercare questions. And maybe... other things."
Dan's hands were shaking slightly as he typed his number into Phil's phone. "You can text me anytime. About the piercing or... other things."
"What if I text you right now?"
"I'd probably respond embarrassingly fast."
Phil's phone buzzed in his hand, and he looked down at the message Dan had just sent: This is Dan. The piercer who thinks you're beautiful. Professionally speaking.
Phil's laugh was bright and genuine. "Professionally speaking?"
"I'm trying to maintain some dignity here."
"I think that ship sailed when you called me beautiful."
"Fair point."
They stayed in the café for over an hour, talking and laughing, their coffees going cold. Phil told stories about his university days that had Dan crying with laughter, and Dan shared piercing horror stories that made Phil cringe and giggle in equal measure.
Dan was just about to launch into a rant about Claire's Accessories, when Phil interrupted him.
“You know,” Phil started, with a twinkle in his eye, “I think fate brought me to your studio. All the places in London to go for a piercing, but somehow I ended up in yours.”
“Philll, you can't seriously believe in that kind of thing…?”
“The universe works in mysterious ways Daniel, that's all I'm saying.”
“Ew, don't call me Daniel ever again.”
Phil just giggled in response, clearly thrilled by that reaction.
Reluctantly, they both stood up to leave. The sun was starting to set and Dan needed to get back to the studio to help Rosie lock up.
They stepped outside and the sky was painted with shades of pink and orange, bringing out the blush on Phil's pale skin.
"I had a really good time. Even with the fainting."
"Especially with the fainting," Dan said. "It gave me an excuse to hold your hand."
"You don't need an excuse." Phil reached out and laced their fingers together. "For future reference."
Dan's heart was doing acrobatics. "Good to know."
Phil hesitated, glancing at Dan with a shy smile. "I should probably go before I do something impulsive like kiss you in the middle of the street."
"Would that be so bad?"
Phil's eyes widened slightly. "I fainted during a simple ear piercing. I'd probably pass out again if I kissed you."
"I'd catch you," Dan said softly.
For a moment, they just stood there, hands linked, the world narrowing down to just the two of them. Then Phil leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss to Dan's cheek.
"Baby steps," Phil whispered. "Text me later?"
"Definitely."
Dan watched Phil walk away, touching his cheek where Phil's lips had been, a grin spreading across his face. His phone buzzed.
Phil: Made it to the end of the street without fainting. Progress!
Dan: Proud of you. Same time next week for your other ear?
Phil: Only if you promise to catch me again.
Dan: Always.
Back at the studio, Rosie took one look at Dan's face and groaned. "You're completely gone for him, aren't you?"
"Completely," Dan agreed, still grinning at his phone.
"He fainted over a lobe piercing."
"I know."
"You're hopeless."
"I know that too."
But as Dan looked at the string of texts already accumulating from Phil. Texts with jokes and memes and a selfie showing off the new piercing, he thought maybe that wasn't such a bad thing to be.
His phone buzzed again.
Phil: For the record, I'm really happy I ended up in your studio.
Dan: For the record, I'm happy about that too.
Phil: Happy enough to ask me on a proper date?
Dan: I thought the coffee was a date.
Phil: That was a post-fainting recovery session. I want you to take me somewhere nice where I promise not to pass out.
Dan: No promises necessary. But yes, I'd like to take you on a date.
Rosie read over his shoulder and smiled. "You two are disgustingly sweet."
"Yep," Dan said, popping the p. He was already thinking about where he could take Phil.
When Phil replied, with a heart-covered hog and a simple Can’t wait, Dan found himself thinking back to Phil’s insistence over coffee that fate had brought him into Dan’s particular studio. He still didn’t believe in fate. He just couldn’t think of a better reason they’d found each other.