A chuckle escapes Jaemin's lips when he glances over his shoulder whilst cleaning his hands. "You okay back there?"

The ravenette boy hums, squirming on his seat on the exact same plastic stool Jaehyun had offered for him to sit, only this time his boyfriend, Johnny, was on shift.

Johnny is a nice guy, intimidating at first especially with his strong features and tall build, Jeno had to grip on Jaemin's bicep when they first entered the studio.

The elder man was very welcoming and kind, besides the teasing towards Jaemin and him and being curious on who Jeno is to the pink haired boy, Johnny was friendly.

He has a lot of tattoos as well– at this point Jeno is not surprise– decorating his once smooth skin, Jeno saw a few small and medium ones on his arms and collarbone.

Up until Johnny shamelessly asked him if he wants to see the big one, which was on his back covered by the shirt he was currently wearing.

And dear Lord was Jeno surprised, it was his first time seeing a big tattoo, and he's gotta say... He isn't disgusted like he expected himself to be.

In fact, he was very fascinated by the artwork on Johnny's back, Jaemin snorting beside him in amusement when he sees the purest eyes Jeno has.

It's not a total big one, per se, but it was definitely the most artwork on someone's skin Jeno has seen so far. And Johnny, who's full of tattoos himself, says it's the biggest one he has so far as well.

And now that Jeno thinks about it, it was a matching tattoo. Johnny was matching with Jaehyun, who has a similar one on his front.

Something in Jeno made him feel jealous and a little wanting to have one. Specifically speaking, with someone who you connect with a lot.

Jaemin eyes him with a glint of curiosity and adoration in his gaze that Jeno shied away from. The color pink creeping up to his cheeks as he feels a little hot.

"Just a little shocked to see someone getting a tattoo on their... Lower chest." Shyly admitting in a mumble but was still heard by Jaemin's sharp hearing.

He had just witnessed a girl, Yeji if he remembers correctly, getting a small tattoo of a bird on her lower chest.

And Jeno's still flustered at the moment from Yeji accidentally flashing them when she raised her shirt up.

She didn't mean to, of course, it was literally a split second. However, Jeno didn't expect that to happen as Jaemin only laughed at them before reassuring Yeji it was fine.

"It happens" Johnny had told him a minute ago when he heard the commotion. "Coming from someone who works here and sees more than that, you're fine, kid."

"He did Jaehyun's tattoo on his ass." Jaemin told him in a monotone while rolling his eyes.

"Pretty sweet, am I right?" Johnny winks at them, feeling prideful. "You'd do the same for someone." Eyeing Jeno's way, the ravenette boy was flustered from that.

Jaemin snickers and reaches to pat his knee, "don't worry, like Johnny said, it happens." Shrugging his shoulders.

"Not like you'd be interested, am I right?" Jaemin jokes, successfully and oddly enough making Jeno giggle.

Wait.... Did he mean... Oh–

He was too late to react and ask Jaemin for confirmation on what he was referring to when the pink haired boy greets his probably last client for the day.

"I'll get back to you, Acorn. And then I'll walk you home, yeah?" All Jeno could do was nod in return before patiently waiting for Jaemin to finish, observing his every move that has him blushing.

It's been days since the incident in Jeno's bedroom, initially he thought that small little kiss would ruin things between them and Jaemin would leave him alone.

He had feared that, and was soon surprised (mostly by himself) when Jaemin heard him say it out loud the morning after, reassuring him that wouldn't ever happen.

"That's such a dick move to do."

"Language, Jaemin..."

"I'm just saying, Acorn. I wouldn't do that to you." Jaemin is so sweet and real to him, Jeno fears to let him go.

And what Jaemin said stays true; he hasn't acted weirdly to Jeno or stayed away from him. In fact, his usual behavior towards him increased.

To which includes the bold flirting and teasing. That is honestly growing on Jeno, and he isn't complaining.

Not when he feels giddy about it, the butterflies in his stomach awakening every time Jaemin shows his genuine interest in him.

It feels nice.

𑁍

"What are you thinking about, dollface?" Jaemin lilts as he bumps his hip against Jeno, walking side by side on their way to the latter's house.

This activity has become a routine in a split second; Jeno going to the tattoo studio to watch Jaemin work until the elder boy's shift is over, then Jaemin walks him home.

If he's lucky enough on weekends; which is he doesn't have any homework to do. He would hangout with Jaemin anywhere.

He's still surprised how his friends haven't caught them yet in public. But something tells him Jaemin might have told them to shut their teasing for Jeno's sake.

He slightly stumbles on his step, Jaemin instantly grabbing him by the waist as he pulls him closer.

"Just... You know how basically all of our friends have at least a tattoo or a piercing or just something... People like my grandparents would never approve of?"

Jaemin catches on what he's saying, always has been a good listener. Nodding off with a mumbled, "yeah, why?" Leading them carefully since Jeno wasn't paying that much attention anymore.

"When Johnny hyung showed his tattoo earlier... I started becoming... Curious, per se." Jeno felt shy asking this, and he's sure it would become worst once he blurts it out.

However, it is now or never.

Jaemin raises a brow, "what is it, Acorn? You can tell me anything." Rubbing a thumb on Jeno's waist, the latter practically melts from the gentle touch.

"I wanna see your tattoos."

They both stop on their tracks, Jaemin turning to properly face him with his lips twitching. "Oh?" He couldn't help but finally grin in a teasing manner.

Jeno covers his face with his hands and starts whining. "Stop~ I'm already embarrassed enough!"

Jaemin laughs and pulls him in for a warm hug, "I can show you them, don't worry."

"Can you... Show me when, we're alone, please?" Jeno asks in a shy tone, hiding against Jaemin's neck. "Gosh this sounds so weird."

"It's not, believe me." Jaemin pecks his temple, "I find it very cute." Sensing Jeno's shy smile hidden against his neck.

When they arrive at Jeno's house, the ravenette boy widens his eyes when he sees a certain vehicle parked on their garage.

"Jaem, you have to go." He reluctantly pulls away from Jaemin's warmth, missing it already as he begs for the elder boy to leave instead of inviting him in to greet his mother.

The look in Jeno's eyes has Jaemin nodding, didn't want to pry and trusts the younger boy to explain things to him tomorrow.

Jaemin waves him goodbye, both boys sad they didn't share one last hug for the day and Jaemin's small goodbye kiss on the forehead.

He watches Jeno run to his front porch, seemingly preparing himself for whatever atmosphere is filling in their house before shutting the door behind him.

Jaemin tries not to mind for the ruined moment between him and Jeno, but mostly hopes for Jeno to be okay while he's away.

𑁍

Thoughts???

It's my bff's bday, I had fun and surprisingly yet also very thankfully, my mother didn't bother me today :)