Work Text:
"What do you mean you're unable to make it?"
"I'm so sorry, Jimin. Something came up last minute."
The tattoo artist let out a sigh and rubbed his hand against his face, "Whatever, Taehyung. I'll just reschedule your appointment till next week, then."
"Perfect. Thank you, Jimin. You're the best!"
The line went dead and the young artist could only focus on the tray of ink as well his tattoo gun placed neatly next to it.
Peeping through the curtains of the room, Jimin could see the morning sun and remember the exhaustion he had felt waking up, in his own words, at the ass crack of dawn.
Jimin was one of the youngest tattoo artists in the city of Seoul. Only at the age of 24, he had managed to get a license to handle needles in South Korea. Being a tattoo artist was an underground job scope in the conservative and traditional mindset of society in the country.
Despising his small work studio and the sketchy late night appointments, Jimin worked hard to be properly licensed and continue to openly tattoo customers right at the tip of the authorities' nose.
His shop was small, but the income he made from eager first-timers and curious regulars was enough to sustain him and his needs.
He worked along side two of his closest friends, who, too, are licensed to handle needles. Kim Namjoon and Jung Hoseok.
Just recently, he had hired somebody to work behind the counter and to regulate appointments. His name is Jeon Jeongguk, one of Hoseok's boyfriend.
It never really bothered Jimin that one of his closest brothers was practically having threesomes every night.
"As long as it is consentual, " Jimin chided, waving his finger in front of Hoseok's face when the older had opened up about his love-triangle relationship.
At that moment, a small calico kitten jumped from the balcony into the open window that was purposely left open by Jimin.
He landed softly onto the desk, paws slipping on the lazily stacked pieces of papers.
She purred softly when Jimin ran his hand through her soft fur. Jimin didn't own this cat. She just happen to stop by at the shop and made it her hangout until everyone left to go home after long hours at work.
"What am I going to do with you?" Jimin questioned, looking fondly at the cat.
He never intended to take care of this stray cat, but the packet of cat food that was placed against one of the corners in the room as well as the bowl filled with water placed at a different corner, spoke otherwise.
The cat curled herself into a small fur ball, completely covering the paper she decided to sleep on for the next couple of hours.
Jimin let out a sigh for the nth time today, getting up to get himself a cup of green tea attempting to get rid of his sleepiness.
On his way to the main area of his shop he heard Jeongguk speaking to someone, a new customer probably.
"I'm sorry, sir. But all of our artists are busy with their booked appointments. However, you can come back at around 10 AM today and one of our artist will be able to assist you."
Peeking out to take a look at the customer, he saw a man, most likely in his late twenties, fiddling with the ends of his long sweaters and puffing his cheeks out.
'Cute, ' Jimin thought.
"Oh, alright. That's fine, 10 AM is fine."
"No don't worry about it, gguk. My appointment was canceled, I'm free now, " Jimin spoke up, startling the two men in the room.
The customer looked up at Jimin and the artist swore he saw a faint blush on his cheeks.
"Oh, Tae canceled?" Jeongguk questioned, his eyebrows furrowed, expression lacing with concern and curiosity.
"Yeah, he said something came up. Oh well. Shall we?" Jimin asked the customer, hands gesturing to his tattoo studio.
The customer perked up and smiled softly, he opened his mouth and Jimin swore if his voice was anymore softer he would probably not have heard him.
"Yeah, we shall."
-
"So, uh, may I know your name?" Jimin asked as he opened the door to his studio.
The sleeping cat peering through her sleepy eyes to glance at whoever was coming into the room.
"Yeah, I'm yoongi. Min Yoongi, " Yoongi replied, playing with his earrings.
"I'm Jimin. Park Jimin," the tattoo artist teasingly said but sounded more like he was mocking Yoongi.
"So Yoongi, what are you planning to get?"
"Oh, right! My design, " yoongi fiddled around in his pocket before pulling out a folded piece of paper, "I was planning on getting this. You can edit it however you like, though."
Jimin unfolded the piece of paper and smiled softly, that tattoo was quite large considering that Yoongi was a first-timer, but nonetheless Jimin complied to give him the tattoo.
Jimin liked the tattoo anyway.
"Where would you like this tattoo to be placed?"
"My sternum."
Jimin raised an eyebrow at yoongi, bewildered by the unusual placing.
"Are you sure? It's going to hurt more considering-"
"It's not my first tattoo if that was what you were going to say. Trust me, I want it on my sternum."
"Oh, I'm sorry. There wasn't must visible ink on you so I assumed."
"It's okay. I get that a lot."
"Are you sure you want me to edit it? I can just give it to you the way you wanted it to be?"
Yoongi smiled softly and shook his head, the next words he uttered was enough for Jimin to have his heart beating in a sort of unusual way.
"I trust you."
-
"I'm done with the stencil. We can start now, " Jimin spoke, breaking the comfortable silence in the room.
Yoongi hummed in approval when he saw the design. The design he had at first was a triangle, the tip pointing below, and a mountain with a forest inside the triangle. He had drawn a few lines and design outside of the triangle to give it a certain look.
But the way Jimin had edited it was enough to take Yoongi's breath away.
He had added the planets that were lined up in a straight line, some geometrical shapes, nothing too different from the original design.
"You wanted a black and grey tattoo but how about we add some watercolour for the planets. If that's all right with you, of course."
"I love it. Let's do it, " Yoongi had a fond smile plastered on his lips, his eyes shone with admiration and the expression of glee was tattooed on every crease on his face.
"Quite cute."
"Did you just call me cute?"
"What? No! No, of course not. I was just calling out to my cat."
"You named your cat 'quite cute'?"
"Psh, yeah! I lack originality when it comes to names," Jimin felt heat rush up to his face when he realised how horrible his excuse was.
It wasn't his fault that he couldn't control his thoughts when he saw Yoongi, especially when the latter had a dumb, adorable smile on his lips.
"Ouhkay, " Yoongi spoke, he raised an eyebrow at Jimin and the corner of his lip twitched, curling upwards into a smirked knowing that he had managed to make the tattoo artist flush, "shall we?"
Jimin cleared his throat, "yeah, we shall."
-
When Yoongi had took off his shirt, Jimin finally realised why he wanted a tattoo at his sternum and not anywhere else.
Despite his innocent look, the artworks on Yoongi's body spoke differently than pure.
His arms were covered in a full sleeve, so was his chest and his ribs as well as his back.
From what Jimin could tell while placing the stencil on his sternum, neither of the artworks were connected to each other.
Each design was different and they were all spread out rather than connecting with each other.
Each piece held onto a different story.
A different purpose.
And while Jimin started his tattoo gun, he realised he was adding on a different story on the pages of Yoongi's snow white skin.
-
Looking at the pained expression contoured on Yoongi's face, Jimin reached over his drawer and pulled out a lollipop.
Hearing the rustling of plastic and the abrupt stop of the tattoo gun, Yoongi slowly raised his head in time to look at the lollipop directly in front of his face.
"Something for you to bite on. I only finished the outline, it will take a few more hours to complete this. Plus, looking at your state, you looked like you were ready to pass out any second, " Jimin joked, chuckling softly when he saw a pout on Yoongi's face.
"Are you underestimating my pain tolerance, Park Jimin?"
"Right on."
Jimin continued to wave the candy in front of Yoongi's face until he let out a sigh of defeat.
"What flavour?"
"Strawberry."
"Mm, my favourite flavour, " Yoongi hummed in approval and opened his mouth letting the artist gently place the candy in his mouth.
Truth is, Yoongi never really liked strawberry. He didn't have a favourite flavour to being with. However, seeing the look in Jimin's face when he mentioned his liking for strawberry flavoured candy, he realised maybe there's a new meaning of strawberry for him.
-
"So, what made you want to get this tattoo?" Jimin asked, dipping the tattoo gun into blue ink.
"When I was younger, I always went to the mountain side to relax. It was like my secret hideout. I always went there as a child but when I got older I didn't have the time and energy to travel all the way there. It has been a while since I went, but I can never forget the memories I made there. It was like my second home, " Yoongi took out the lollipop in his mouth, resting his head on his right arm that was folded underneath.
"I see. So why did you want me to edit it when you already had such a meaningful story for it. I could've have erased all its meaning and yet you still let me do whatever I wished with it."
"Like i said, I trust you."
"Why?"
"You seem like the type who knows your shit. Plus, i liked the ideas of the planets. Thinking of it now, i do have a reason to want the planets tattooed on me."
"Ooo, is it a love story i sense?"
Yoongi hummed softly, rubbing the fingers he held the lollipop with, watching the soft pink candy twirl in front of him.
"Oh, is it young love? Ah i see that look, it is love! Tell me, tell me, tell me!" The young artist pleaded, lifting his head to look at Yoongi.
"Nope, I don't want you to be distracted and give me a sloppy tattoo, " Yoongi replied.
"I've never given anyone a sloppy tattoo before. Watch it you."
"Yeah, I might be the first to walk out with one."
"Come on, please~, " the younger begged, giving yoongi the best puppy eyes he could ever muster.
"Alright, I'll you, " Yoongi give in, smiling softly seeing how the artist had lit up.
Yoongi placed the lollipop in his mouth and continued to tell the story the artist was dying to hear.
However, what Jimin could hear was a jumble of mumbled words and noises.
"Yoongi, " Jimin whined, slapping Yoongi's thigh softly.
Realising that he had no choice but to continue the tattoo, maybe yoongi was right.
Yoongi might be the first person to walk out with a sloppy tattoo because of his beauty that already distracted the tattoo artist the minute he saw him.
-
"Do you like it?"
"Wow, not bad. I love it. Thank you, Jimin."
Yoongi gave him a soft smile and the tattoo artist almost cooed at the adorable sight.
"Yeah, yeah of course. No problem. I'll just wrap it up and give you the ointment and I'm pretty sure you know how to take care of it by now, " Jimin spoke, slightly flustered.
Yoongi watched Jimin's facial expression contour into concentration, he gently wrapped the tattoo carefully. Yoongi, halfway through the tattoo, realised how gentle and careful Jimin treated him.
It was unusual. Previous tattoo artist were firm and confident with every stroke, their hands would press down roughly on his skin, pulling and pushing. But with Jimin, the tattoo artist seemed as though he was afraid of touching Yoongi's skin, fearful if he would hurt him more.
Every stroke Jimin made with the loud tattoo gun was gentle, and careful. It had so much delicacy and thought put into it.
That made Yoongi feel as though his tattoo meant much more than his childhood hideout, but rather the moment with Jimin. The gentleness, thoughtfulness, Jimin himself had been managed to be etched into the lines of the artwork.
-
"I want to see Jimin."
Yoongi never thought that he would back into the shop, slapping himself mentally with how easy it was for him to give in.
Give in to Jimin.
Give in to the slightest possibility that maybe one day Yoongi could actually feel like he was cared for.
"You have an appointment?" Jeongguk asked, checking through the appointment files.
"No, I just wanted another tattoo, " Yoongi explained, fiddling with the loose thread that made his fingertips itch to yank it out.
"He should be done with his previous customer soon. You can sit down and wait. Maybe one of the other artist can help assist you."
"No, I only want Jimin to tattoo me, " Yoongi spoke a bit too harshly, clearing his throat he tried to explain to the startled man in front of him.
"No I'm sorry, i shouldn't have said it too harsh. You were just trying to help."
Jeongguk smiled softly, "it's okay. I understand."
Just then, he heard a door open followed by laughter.
He could hear Jimin's voice and that was enough for him to feel jittery already.
"Ah, Jimin hyung. A customer wish to see you, " Jeongguk spoke.
"Yoongi, what are you doing here? Do you have an appointment? Or are you here for the recent tattoo?"
"Neither, i just wanted-"
'To see you.'
"Wanted a new tattoo, that's all."
"Oh, that's quite fast. Alright then, let me clean up quickly and we can start. Gguk, you can help Tae with the payment. Come on, Yoongi."
-
"So what's your new design this time, Min?"
"Uh well, you see, " yoongi scratched the back of his neck nervously, "i actually didn't mean to have a tattoo today. I just wanted to, you know, uh-, "
"See me?"
"Yeah, that, " Yoongi slumped his shoulders, cheeks burning, "I'm sorry if this was all too sudden. I'm not sure if youre busy, I'm probably wasting your time. I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble of cleaning up, especially straight after a customer. You know what, i should just go. I'm sorry."
Just when Yoongi stood up ready to leave, he felt Jimin's hands on his shoulder, stopping him from leaving.
"No, it's okay. I wanted to see you, too."
"Are you sure? Or are you just saying that to comfort me? Wait, no. I'm sorry i shouldn't have said it like that, i mean-, "
"Yoongi it's okay. Stop apologising, you did nothing wrong."
Jimin had taken quite notice on yoongi's features. He had chubby cheeks, pink lips, his eyes were cat like and he had a soft and content expression most of the time.
"Hyung."
"Hm, sorry?"
"It's hyung. I'm older than you, " yoongi spoke, adverting his gaze from the younger.
Jimin smiled softly, already liking the fact that the older was already getting comfortable with him.
"Yes."
"What?"
Jimin stepped closer towards the older, their nose lightly brushing against each other.
"Yes, hyung. I meant it when i said i wanted to see you."
-
"Wait, now you're going to tell me that you work as a tattoo artist after i tattooed you?"
The two of them had ended up near a cafe a few blocks away.
Yoongi had recommended it, saying his close friend was the owner and he could bake a mean batch of delicious pastries of all sorts.
They decided on sharing a slice of strawberry cake, Jimin insisted knowing that the older adore strawberries, as well as a cup of green tea and black coffee.
"I didn't want to tell you. I could've made you more jittery and anxious and i would really come out with a horrible tattoo."
"Hey! I have never tattooed a horrible tattoo before."
"Oh so I heard, " yoongi joked, laughing softly watching Jimin crinkle his nose in amusement.
"You should eat more of the cake. You were right, your friend is a really good baker."
"Oh, thank you," a voice spoke beside them.
"Ah Jimin, this is Seokjin hyung. He is the friend i was talking about, " yoongi spoke up, taking the bill from seokjin.
"Oh so i heard, " Jimin joked, giggling when Yoongi gave him a playful look.
"You guys enjoy your meal. I might see you around, Jimin, " Seokjin winked, walking back to the kitchen.
"What does he mean by 'might'?"
"He's my roommate."
"Oh, " Jimin watched Yoongi pull out his wallet, "wait no, I can pay for it."
"No it's okay. I was the one who recommended this place, let me."
"But you barely ate any of the cake."
"You seem to enjoy you. It's alright, watching you eat made me full."
"Don't be ridiculous. If you're going to pay, at least eat the rest."
Jimin saw how Yoongi grimaced at the plate of strawberry cake, then it hit him.
"You don't like strawberry, do you?"
"No, not really. I'm sorry, i told you i did because of the way you lit up when i said so."
"Great, now i feel bad. Let me pay so i feel less bad, " Jimin urged, a pout on his lips.
"Not happening."
"Please~, "
'Wow, those eyes are something' Yoongi thought, his heart clenched at the adorable expression Jimin gave him.
"How about, if you feed me, I'll be able to stomach the strawberry flavour, " Yoongi joked.
"Open up, " Jimin placed the fork in front of his mouth waiting for the older to eat it.
The older raised his eyebrows, "you do know i was joking, right?"
"Does it look like i give a fuck? Now, open up."
Yoongi was pretty sure he was going insane, but he really thought that the cake tasted better when Jimin was feeding him.
-
The next few week consisted of Yoongi dropping by to see Jimin, either bringing him lunch or to just see him.
However, for a few days Yoongi had stopped seeing him so often. Jimin didn't think much of it, telling himself that Yoongi was probably busy.
But things became more concerning when the older would hardly reply to his messages.
Deciding he had to put a stop to this, and also because he already missed the presence of the older, he went back to the cafe and asked Seokjin for the address.
That was how Jimin found himself knocking on the door of the apartment M93.
Jimin heard shuffling on the other side, the door being unlocked and the sniffles of somebody.
"Jimin?"
"Hyung!" Jimin chirped, radiating happiness when he saw the older.
His smile was quick to change into a frown when he realised the state Yoongi was in.
His nose was red, his face pale and eye bags dark against his complexion.
"Oh no, you're sick. I'm sorry, i was worried and decided to check in-, "
"It's okay, Jiminie. It was my fault, i should've told you. Come in."
Jimin stepped in and remove his shoes, neatly placing it with the other shoes.
"Are you hungry?" Yoongi asked, sniffling for the nth time that week.
"You look like this, dude. Just rest, it's okay."
"Then i would feel bad because you travelled all the way here and i can't even entertain you, " yoongi pouted, watching Jimin come closer to him.
Jimin raised his hand and softly played with yoongi's hair, the older immediately closing his eyes in comfort.
"I'm being serious, hyung. I bought you soup, seokjin hyung advised me too. Just rest, " jimin ran his fingers against the older's cheek, softly giving him a kiss on the forehead.
He froze when he realised what he had just did. He face burned and was probably the brightest colour of pink.
Yoongi remained unaffected and laughed softly, "if only you continue to do that."
And so Jimin did what he was told to do.
The younger gently cupped the older's face, kissing at areas of his face. He heard Yoongi laughed and he let out a soft giggle, continue to pepper sweet kisses onto his skin.
"Oops, too much?" Jimin asked jokingly, looking at the older's bright face.
Yoongi smiled fondly, connecting their foreheads together.
"Not at all."
-
Jimin laid on his back, hands running through yoongi's hair. The older was asleep, resting himself on Jimin's body.
If yoongi was awake he would've felt the hard and fast pounding of his heartbeat.
He let out a sigh, he fixed his gaze onto the ceiling, listening to soft and rigid breaths the older let out.
"What are you doing to me, Min Yoongi?"
Jimin realised that he was too deep. Deep into adoration and fixation for the older. He didn't realise when he had fell so hard but he knew they had a connection the minute they met.
He never understood love, but what he felt for the older was definitely a form of love.
-
"I want a new tattoo."
Both of them spoke at the same time. It has been a week since Yoongi was ill and now he was back on his feet.
"Oh, you first, " Yoongi gestured for the younger to continue.
"I want a tattoo, but i want you to give it to me."
"Oh, i was thinking the same thing, too."
"Let's go, then."
"Now?"
"Yeah, silly."
The younger wrapped his hands around yoongi's much larger ones. He pulled yoongi out of the apartment and dragged him to the carpark.
This tattoo, Yoongi contemplated for awhile. He was unsure if he really wanted this tattoo especially with the meaning behind it.
But when he saw how Jimin's face would light up everytime he praised him, how his eyes would close up into smiles, his laugh that radiate his entire personality. He loved how soft and gentle Jimin was, especially when every single time he touched Yoongi was filled with nothing but purity and admiration.
Yoongi felt loved.
He felt like maybe someone does appreciate him for once.
He already met somebody he wanted to have by his side for the rest of his life, he was not going to let him slip out of his grasp so easily.
Never again.
-
"I'll go first because this is the first time you tattooed me."
"Okay. What do you want?"
Jimin handed him a slip of paper with the words 'quite cute' on it.
"I want it on my collarbone."
Yoongi raised his eyebrows at him, "ooo, is it a love story i sense?" He mocked the words Jimin had said to him the first time round.
"Or do you love your cat too much, " he continued to joke, putting on his latex gloves.
He realised the unusual silence and turned to Jimin. He sat there, hands folded on his legs, his lips twitching into a small smile.
He looked up to Yoongi, eyes filled with sincerity and passion. He smiled at Yoongi. It was different from the usual smile he would give him though.
He smile was a smile of reassurance and hope.
"Yeah, it is a love story."
That was when Yoongi realised, he could really trust Jimin. Not when the younger is tattooing, but to trust him to take care of him.
To love him.
-
"Should i give you something to bite on?" Jimin joked, holding out a different flavour lollipop.
Yoongi looked at the flavour of the lollipop and scrunched his face in distaste.
"I want a strawberry one."
"I thought you didn't like strawberry, " Jimin spoke, unwrapping the candy.
"You won't like my tattoo design, then."
"Why? What is it?"
"I want it on my ankle. The word 'strawberry' coloured in light red."
"You're joking."
The younger took one look at the older's face, "oh my God, you're being serious."
The older hummed and laid down, putting the candy in his mouth, "you better not make me leave with a sloppy tattoo."
Jimin realised why Yoongi wanted that tattoo. It reminded him of Jimin. It reminded him of how he used to hate the taste of strawberries like how he used to hate his past and the moments he had once lived in. It's kind of like accepting it. Accepting himself.
Jimin felt grateful.
Grateful that he was the person in Yoongi's life that managed to start a new chapter with him.
He knew that Yoongi was being serious.
Yoongi did trust him.
-
"Are you mocking me, Park Jimin?" Yoongi questioned, scoffing at jimin's newly dyed hair.
"Maybe. Maybe not, you tell me."
The younger's hair had changed from purple to light pink, sort of like a-
"Like a strawberry right?" Jimin asked, teasing the older more.
Yoongi let out a sigh and walked closer to the younger, he ran his hand through the pink hair. Softly smiling to himself.
He ran his fingers against the younger's cheek, and softly cupping his face.
He connected their lips together and he could never get enough of Park Jimin being pressed against him with intimacy.
The kiss was soft and sweet, there was no rush to it. They were living in the moment of bliss and euphoria. They craved for this feeling of appreciation and admiration.
They loved it.
When the broke apart, Jimin pressed their foreheads together, both of them slightly panting.
"Strawberry. My favourite flavour."
-