Chapter Text
“No.”
Izuku groans, slumping over the back of the couch to watch Shouto pour a glass of water in the kitchen.
“It would look so cool though!”
Shouto takes a sip, staring him down.
Izuku’s eyes narrow and Shouto knows enough to fear whatever is about to leave his mouth.
“Your father would hate it.”
He blinks slowly, a monotone ‘fuck’ leaving his mouth. Izuku isn’t wrong.
Izuku points, grinning like the shit he is, smug as ever.
“Don’t fail me, I have money on this.”
Shouto brings his water into the living, sighing lightly. “What money?”
Izuku is typing something on his phone and doesn’t look up as he moves his feet for Shoto to pass through. “Made a bet in the group chat. I wanna beat Ochako, she always wins.”
Shouto hums politely, dropping a blanket over Izuku’s feet before he sits down because his friend’s feet always get cold.
Izuku mumbles a thanks before he tucks his phone away. “Are we watching Legally Blonde or are we binging Avatar?”
Shouto shrugs, sinking into the corner of the couch. “Whichever.”
Izuku huffs and rolls his eyes, but he’s still smiling. “Legally Blonde because Katsuki is being a bitch and I need to remind myself how to be petty.”
Shouto takes another sip of his water. “Is Bakugo being a bitch again?”
Izuku howls a laugh. “I love when you call him a bitch. Very cute. But yeah, he’s being a pussy about the switching thing. I get it, you have a complex, but I know your mommy issues are enough to make you crack like a glow stick.”
Shouto raises an eyebrow as Izuku pulls up Netflix. “Switching?”
Izuku flashes him a look. “Yeah. You know, in bed. Kacchan refuses to submit in any way. Like what, you think I’m weak for taking your dick? I don’t think so.”
Izuku grumbles something along the lines of ‘bend over, you bitch’ before he types in the movie name and Shouto laughs to himself.
It’s odd, how once the idea is presented to him it bounces around in his mind like the loading screen of his tv.
He has no need for a tattoo, logically. It would serve him no purpose. He doesn’t even have anything in mind. And yet.
On-screen, Elle is getting ready for her big night with Warren. Shouto is a bit too distracted to pay attention.
“Zuku?”
Izuku takes a moment to turn to him, eyes glued to the screen. “Hm?”
“What tattoo do you think I would look best with?”
Izuku whoops, turning around fully, reaching back to press ‘pause’ on the remote.
Well, Shouto has his full attention.
“No fucking way. Seriously?”
Shouto shrugs, “Just wondering.”
Izuku smiles, smug as ever as he lounges back on the armrest of the couch. “I’m so gonna win. Anyways! I think sleeves would look hot, but that’s just preference.”
Shouto thinks of the black and white sleeves that cover Katsuki’s arms. Preference indeed.
“I think that would be a bit intense for me.”
Izuku nods, “Fair. You thinking big or small?”
Shouto is tempted to shrug again. “Bigger would probably annoy my father more.”
Izuku grins, wide and devilish. He spends way too much time with Katsuki, it’s starting to show.
“Hell yeah. I can see a back piece or a thigh tattoo? The kind that wraps around towards the hip?”
Shouto blinks, staring at the far wall as he thinks. “That wouldn’t be horrible.”
Izuku groans, “Oh my god, you’re gonna be even hotter if you do it. Rip everyone who knows you.”
Shouto looks to his friend, unamused. “You’re a terror.”
Izuku nods, “No, yeah, totally.”
He seems to think for a moment before he digs around for his phone. “Okay. Pinterest time.”
Shouto shakes his head. “I’ll think of something on my own, thank you.”
Izuku pouts a bit but locks his phone in defeat. “Fine, fine. But at least let Kami give you a tattoo artist recommendation. He knows someone at Dusk.”
Shouto isn’t familiar with tattoo shops, so the name doesn’t elicit a response. He’ll look it up later.
“Okay.”
…
Shouto does end up looking up Dusk Tattoo and Piercing later and finds it has a nearly endless amount of reviews, all raving about the shop and various artists.
Their instagram is full of artful shots of intricate tattoos, black and white or colour, all neat and precise, and even Shouto can tell there’s a distinct difference in each artist’s work.
He sends Kaminari a quick text, letting him know Izuku had volunteered him for tattoo connections.
His phone buzzes rather quickly.
Kaminari: shouuuu! our baby is all grown up 😭🤧
you really gonna get tatted?
Shouto types up a short response, amused as ever by his energetic friend.
Shouto: That is the plan, yes.
Kaminari: dude 🥺😭
call and book an appointment with sero hanta! tell him i sent you, we’re good buds
he’ll take care of you
Shouto: Thank you, Kaminari.
Kaminari responds with a dozen overwhelming emojis and Shouto has to smile at them as he closes his messages, opening up his keypad to type in the number for Dusk.
Someone picks up on the third ring, voice smooth and pleasant over the line.
“Thanks for calling Dusk Tattoo and Piercing, this is Hanta, how can I help you?”
Shouto makes a noise of surprise. “Oh. I was calling for you.”
Hanta laughs on the other end. “Are you flirting with me?”
Shouto frowns at his phone. “No. Kaminari recommended you to me.”
Hanta snorts, “Shit, sorry dude, bad joke. Denki is a good bro, though, what can I do for you?”
Shouto is a bit put-off by his easy-going attitude, but it’s his talent that matters, in the end. “I’d like to book an appointment for a tattoo. Please.”
Hanta hums brightly, shuffling with something on the other end. “Cool. What are you looking to get?”
Shouto scraps at the seam of his pants. “Something from hip to thigh. Black and white.”
Hanta grunts, “Nice. Depending on the size it would take anywhere from seven to ten hours. I have time two weeks from now on a Wednesday.”
Shouto flips to the calendar app and checks the date. “That will suffice.”
Hanta chuckles. “You’re funny, dude. Do you have a design yet? You can come in for a consultation tomorrow and we can work out the details and a down payment?”
Shouto sniffs. “Fine. What time?”
There’s the sound of paper flipping before Hanta speaks. “How does three work for you?”
“Three works just fine. Thank you.”
Hanta laughs again and something about the noise itches under his skin.
“See you tomorrow, Shouto.”
Hanta hangs up first so Shouto can’t even begin to question how he knows his name, let alone why he thinks it’s okay to call him Shouto .
…
Shouto is still disgruntled when he walks into the shop the next afternoon. His irritation fades as he takes in the sleek design, all cool marble and odd art.
There’s a particularly odd statue by the door that draws him in, a smoke-like bunny that appears to be dripping? Or dissipating?
Shouto’s attention is stolen once again when he picks up on faint singing, a smooth, deep voice that rolls with the vibrant instruments.
He steps closer to the glass desk at the front, weary of going past it without employee permission, but nosy despite himself.
He pokes his head around the corner and is met with a unique sight. There’s a tall man dancing, hips rolling in smooth motions that Shouto is unfamiliar with. The dancing draws attention to his shirt, unbuttoned most of the way and tucked into tight black jeans.
The unbuttoned front and the rolled sleeves expose all the tattooed planes of his skin.
The man turns fully then, and just as Shouto is admiring the gleam of his titanium jewellery and easy smile the man spots him.
“Ah. Shouto, hey!”
Shouto’s brows furrow and he’s tempted to duck back behind the counter. “Do I know you?”
The man strolls closer, grin kicking up a notch. “Nah, but you may recognise my voice.”
He sticks out a hand and Shouto stares at the thick rings decorating his tan fingers.
“Hanta.”
Hanta raises an eyebrow, Shouto’s mind catches on the slit cut through it. “That’s me”
Shouto frowns and Hanta drops his hand. “How do you know my name? Or what I look like?”
Hanta snorts, leaning back against the glass counter. “Denki. Said you’d be impossible to miss.”
Hanta’s eyes drop to his feet and drag upwards slowly. Shouto shifts on the spot, annoyed and mildly embarrassed.
“Very funny. Don't call me Shouto. It’s Todoroki.”
Hanta reaches back to pick up a plain black binder, smiling. “No problem, Shou.”
He begins walking towards the back, motioning for Shouto to follow.
Shouto is pissed that he has to.
“Are you this unprofessional with all your customers?”
Hanta plops into a low stool, legs slated wide as he swivels a bit, flipping open his binder. “Just with friends.” He looks up and winks. “Don't worry, sugar, it’s extra special treatment for you.”
Shouto’s face feels hot. “Then stop. I’m not paying you to be annoying.”
Hanta chuckles, flipping a few pages. “Nope. Free of charge.”
Shouto makes a noise of indignation before Hanta points to the adjustable chair. “Sit.”
Shouto finds himself listening before he even registers the command. Wonderful, now he’s a dog.
“You’re rude.”
Hanta pulls a pen from his messy bun, Shouto now notices that his dark hair is fairly long and a few stray pieces fall out around his face.
“You listened. Now, what are you thinking of exactly? Be as specific as possible, if you can.”
Hanta spreads the binder across his lap, from knee to knee, before he leans forward on his elbows, giving Shouto his full attention.
Shouto glares at him for a moment before speaking. “Wolves. One black, one white.” He turns his face away from Hanta‘a intense expression. “A sun with the black wolf and a moon with the white.”
Hanta hums, soft and thoughtful. “Is it like yin and yang?”
Shouto blinks, turning back in surprise. “No. It’s based on a story my mother used to tell me.”
Hanta raises an eyebrow in invitation for Shouto to share.
He bites at his cheek in thought. He doesn’t usually tell anyone.
“My mother is half Cherokee. She used to tell me lots of old stories when I was younger. There was one about two wolves. An old Cherokee man was speaking to his grandson, told him of a fight going on inside his mind. The fight was between these two wolves, metaphors fit the duality of the human mind. One wolf represents every dark, evil thought and emotion. The other is light and good. The one who wins, per se, is the one you feed.”
My mother struggled with those wolves because of my father. And because of him, I fed that dark wolf for many years, nearly let it consume me. I want that reminder.”
Shouto doesn’t know when his gaze dropped to the floor, but he looks up when Hanta whistles.
“Wow. And the sun and moon?”
Shouto shrugs, “There is light in darkness and darkness in light. I don’t think it’s fair to shun either wolf or ignore it. Not all negative emotions are bad. Things like fear and regret are normal, they can help you grow. Just as blinding faith or happiness can disillusion you.”
Hanta grins at him and it’s then that Shouto realizes he’s gotten ahead of himself.
He frowns and Hanta is quick to raise a hand. “No, no, that was cool. My mom just tortured me with stories about duendes .”
Shouto tilts his head at the unfamiliar word.
Hanta waves his hand. “Ah. My family is latino. My mother was especially talented in putting the fear of god into her children.”
Shouto nods slowly, a bit perplexed. It does explain Hanta’s rich complexion, though. Not that he noticed it.
“Anyways. How big are you thinking? And placement?”
Shouto starts, reminded that he’s here for a reason. It also reminds him that he has a rough mock drawing in his pocket. He pulls it out and hands it to Hanta.
Hanta looks over the sketch, slow and careful.
“Looks good. Are you looking for any particular style?”
Shouto begins to shrug and then thinks better of it. “Whimsical. Delicate lines, but bold contrast. Very,” He waves his hands around, unsure of the terminology he needs. “Flowey? Whispy? Like smoke.” His eyes widen slightly. “Kind of like the statue out front, I suppose.”
Hanta stares at him, mouth parting before he smiles softly. “The hare?”
Shouto had thought it was a rabbit. “Mhm.”
Hanta‘a smile turns full-tilt, curving higher at one end. “That one’s mine.”
“What?”
Hanta circles a finger, “All the art in here. It’s done by the artists who work here. The entrance hare is my baby.”
Shouto frowns, annoyed even though he can’t place why. “Perfect. Then I suppose this won’t be too much for you.”
Hanta winks, “I’m good at handling things.”
Whatever that’s supposed to mean.
Shouto taps out an unsteady rhythm on his thigh. “Are we done here?”
Hanta chuckles, “Sure thing, princess. I’ll ring up the down payment and then you can walk your cute butt out the door.”
Shouto’s cheeks are probably dusted red as he stands, hurrying towards the front as Hanta’s laughter trails after him.
Asshole.