Work Text:
Kenma was about to close his shop when his last two clients of the day entered. Usually, he would have told them he was closed, but it wasn’t technically 8pm just yet so he took them in when the one with dark hair told him that only the blonde guy would get a tattoo and that it would be a simple one, only black lines.
Kenma is the one who announced on his social media that he’d do walk-in tattoos today after all, so he couldn’t really blame them. And he’d never say no to more money anyway. So he led them to the back room where his tattooing material is and went back to turn on the closed sign on the front door.
The man who’s about to get tattooed sat on the table, while the other sat on the chair next to it. The dark-haired man showed him a picture of the tattoo that he had on his phone and Kenma had to force himself to keep a straight face. He silently redrew the design on paper and let the blonde man choose the size he wanted for his tattoo.
Kenma sticks the design on the man’s forearm and gathers everything he needs to tattoo him. He tied his hair quickly before putting a mask on. He then went to wash his hands before putting on a pair of black gloves. When he has everything ready, he makes sure the man still wants that tattoo (Kenma has doubts). But when the blonde man just snorts and nods, Kenma opens his ink containers.
Although now that he’s sitting on his working stool and about to start, Kenma kind of regrets not having told these two men that he was closed. Because in addition to getting one of the most idiotic tattoos Kenma has ever seen, this blonde guy seems to just never shut up.
The man with the dark hair — Rintarou, Kenma learned from the blonde guy whose name is Atsumu; not that Kenma asked either of those pieces of information — said that this was a gag tattoo. That Atsumu lost a bet to him and that this tattoo is his forfeit. Kenma hums as he listens to the storytelling, it’s not that he’s really interested in it if he’s being honest, but now at least it makes sense. No one in their right mind would ever get a tattoo like that willingly.
The tattoo is one of a meme that Kenma saw on Twitter several times: two people(?) visibly grossly making out. Evidently, Atsumu didn’t seem to like the design that much. But he apparently liked the idea of losing a dare to his friend even less. Kenma laughed internally at the man’s idiocy.
As he was about to start the tattoo, Kenma instantly felt bad for whoever Atsumu’s soulmate is. Seriously, did the two men not think of this? Surely they know about the way soulmates work in this world.
Every scar you get will find itself mirrored on your soulmate’s body. Although the pain that may come with it shall not be shared.
That’s a saying Kenma has heard since he’s been able to talk. And tattoos are no exception to this rule. Kenma would know, because he has the scar of a tattoo on his hip that he knows isn’t anything that he did himself.
He may be a tattoo artist, but he’s always liked the art of drawing unique designs and tattooing other people way more than getting tattooed himself. The only body modifications that he got are several piercings on his ears, one on his left eyebrow, and a septum.
And here this Atsumu guy is, about to get an idiotic tattoo on himself that he’ll probably regret as soon as Kenma is done with it. And in addition to that, Atsumu’s soulmate will also have to live with this ugliness on themselves. God, what if they’re currently sleeping and that will be the first they see when they wake up? What a way to ruin someone’s day.
Well, they could always get a covering tattoo on top of it later on, Kenma guesses. Tattoo scars are one of the least visible on one’s soulmate skin. Injury or surgery scars are more visible.
Again, Kenma would know, he barely ever hurt himself. If he had to guess, the only scars his soulmate must have from him are his chest ones. Which isn’t the case for his soulmate at all, Kenma thinks amusedly. Whoever they are, they seem to have been quite the daredevil when they were younger — if the ton of scars Kenma has on his knees that he knows for sure are definitely not from himself are proof enough.
“Is this your first tattoo?” Kenma asks.
“Nah. I have a small one on my hip.”
Kenma hums in acknowledgement. He still explains to Atsumu how it’ll go and what he’ll do. He tells him to not move and that, in the event that he’d want to, he should let Kenma know first so that he doesn’t mess up the design. To be perfectly honest, Kenma doesn’t think it would matter if this design specifically is messed up or not, but he still needs to enunciate the rules.
Atsumu nods carefully to everything and then replies “Yes” when Kenma asks him if he’s ready. So Kenma gets to work.
As Kenma starts tattooing him, Atsumu uses this opportunity to study the other man. He didn’t really have that much time to observe his face before he put on his mask but he still remembers that he looked pretty. And even now, with his mask on, Atsumu can still see it.
Kenma’s features are nice. Part of his hair is tied up in a bun while the rest rests on his shoulders. Atsumu assumes the hairstyle is so that his hair doesn't go in front of his eyes as he’s tattooing, but given how quickly he tied his hair, it’s not very successful. His hair hides most of his face. Still, it looks nice nonetheless.
Plus, the hairstyle also offers a nice view on Kenma’s earrings and ear piercings as well as his neck. Okay. Atsumu is totally checking him out. He’s always been a sucker for pretty boys, sue him. Kenma looks bored though, —apart from being focused on his task— so Atsumu hopes that at least he’s being discreet and not creeping Kenma out with his staring.
He then hears Rintarou snort next to him and he knows he hasn’t been discreet at all. Kenma takes a quick break to scratch his forearm and when Atsumu refocuses his gaze on the tattoo artist, he notices that the man’s cheeks are a bit more colorful than a few seconds ago.
Oh. That’s good to know, Atsumu thinks as he smirks.
Rintarou rolls his eyes obnoxiously but Atsumu pays him no mind. Being the good friend that he is (and also because their other friends asked for proof), Rintarou records the entire session — while making sure to not have Kenma’s face in his video.
He then ends up asking if it’s okay to take a picture with Kenma in it and does it when Kenma gives his approval. Atsumu assumes that the other man is used to being asked that question, given that many people post pictures of their tattoo sessions on social media.
As expected, the tattoo doesn’t take too long to get done. “I’ll clean it and tape it and then you’re good to go,” Kenma tells him.
“Okay,” Atsumu replies amusedly. Even with only seeing half of Kenma’s face, Atsumu can see the distaste for the design on the man’s face. He can’t help but laugh at the man’s reaction. “Ya don’t seem to be a fan of my tattoo.” He says, because he’s obnoxious like that and, for some reason, teasing Kenma is fun.
Kenma snorts. “I’m not the one with it, am I?”
Atsumu chuckles. “I guess yer not.”
“I feel bad for your other half, though.” Kenma rolls his eyes.
“My… other half?” Atsumu tilts his head to the side in confusion. He’s always considered Osamu his other half, but he’s fairly sure that’s not who Kenma is talking about. Because why the fuck would Osamu care about the tattoos Atsumu gets, and he’s also pretty sure that Kenma doesn’t know Osamu. At least he hopes so, because otherwise he’ll curse his brother for not having introduced them sooner.
Kenma eyes him for a moment, as if he’s trying to decipher whether Atsumu is playing him or not. “Your soulmate.” He ends up saying.
Atsumu hums and shrugs. Kenma scowls when it makes his arm move and Atsumu apologizes sheepishly. Kenma rolls his eyes and goes to grab his cellophane roll. He gets the length he needs and wraps it around Atsumu’s forearm.
“Haven’t met them yet,” Atsumu says. He doesn’t really know why but he feels compelled to keep talking to the other man. Kenma hums. Atsumu doesn’t know if the tattoo artist has lost interest and is utterly bored by their conversation, or if he simply doesn’t have anything to reply. But yet again, Atsumu finds himself wanting to keep talking to him. “What about ya?”
“What about me?” Kenma lifts a curious eyebrow at him before turning around and puts his cellophane back in the drawer he took it out from a few moments ago.
“Do ya have a soulmate?” Atsumu asks, and then cringes. “I mean. ‘Course ya do! Haha. I mean, do ya know them? Like, are ya in a relationship?”
Oh. My. God.
Kenma abruptly turned around, both eyebrows raised in surprise and his cheeks definitely redder than before. Atsumu felt his own neck burn. Then, Rintarou bursts out laughing and Atsumu feels like his face was just set ablaze. He had, in all honesty, forgotten his best friend was even here. This is mortifying.
“That was painful to watch,” Rintarou jokes between two fits of laughter.
“Shut up,” Atsumu grits out, which only makes Rintarou laugh louder. Because of course it does.
Kenma snorts as he removes his mask and suddenly Atsumu doesn’t pay any mind to his Rintarou anymore. He only has half a mind to think that Kenma is actually making fun of him; the other —bigger— part of his mind is simply too enamored by the sight before his eyes to care.
He'd happily be a clown if that meant he could see Kenma’s smile just a bit longer. “Yer pretty,” Atsumu blurts out without thinking.
Kenma’s cheeks turn bright red and Atsumu doesn’t even feel embarrassed when he fully realizes what he just said. Kenma is pretty. He’s beautiful, actually. Atsumu gulps.
It’s not like Kenma is grinning, his smile is barely even visible. But it’s there anyway. It’s a small, discreet and almost shy smile. Atsumu wants to see more of it. And the fact that he is the one at its origin is even better.
It’s that thought that gives him the push to pursue the conversation in a flirty tone. “So? Ya didn’t reply,” Atsumu smirks. “Do ya know yer soulmate? Are ya single?” He asks as he leans on the counter where he has to pay.
Kenma shakes his head and rolls his eyes. He looks annoyed but Atsumu can tell it’s all an act. “No, I don’t. And yes, I am.” He replies as he locks eyes with Atsumu, a small smirk of his own on his face.
“Ain’t I lucky.” Atsumu beams and Kenma snorts.
Kenma then goes back to his professional persona and explains to Atsumu the care that he needs to give his tattoo. Atsumu knew most of it since this isn’t his first tattoo, but he still listens attentively nonetheless. Kenma’s voice is nice to listen to, he notes.
The moment gets interrupted by Rintarou’s phone that rings loudly in the empty shop. Both Atsumu and Kenma turn to him and, after an intense silent conversation between Atsumu and Rintarou, Rintarou excuses himself out of the shop to take the call.
Atsumu sighs in relief when he’s alone with Kenma and mentally thanks his friend. Ten years of friendship will unlock skill for silent conversation. He redirects his attention towards the tattoo artist and grins at him. Kenma avoids his gaze, his cheeks turning pink. Cute.
Kenma tells him how much he owns him and Atsumu takes his credit card out of his pocket. “So, whaddaya say about a date?” Atsumu asks confidently as he focuses on entering his pin correctly.
“Oh my God.” Kenma mutters.
Atsumu’s smirk widens. “Yeah, I know, a date with me seems unbelievable.” He replies obnoxiously.
“I’m gonna kill you.”
“Huh?”
Atsumu raises his head and is met with Kenma’s furious glare directed right at him. He lets his eyes wander and notices how Kenma rolled up his sweater’s sleeves and… oh.
His eyes widen comically and, against his better judgment, Atsumu bursts out laughing.
Kenma looks again, and again, and again. No matter how many times he does and how many times he scratches his arms, it just does not go away. The soulmate he was pitying earlier for when they’d notice Atsumu’s horrendous tattoo on them is… himself.
The two people(?) grossly making out that he just spent the past twenty minutes tattooing on Atsumu are mockingly staring right back at him on his forearm.
It’s a scar, so it’s obviously not as easily decipherable as the tattoo itself, but still. Although, if Kenma was being honest, anyone other than the two of them probably wouldn’t know what the scar represents. (He was desperately trying to put things into perspective. It didn’t work at all. Because he knows what it represents, and he hates it.)
Atsumu clears his throat once he’s done laughing his ass off. “So… About that date?”
Kenma’s eyes twitched. “Are you serious?”
He thinks he saw Atsumu flinch at his tone and he can’t help the smirk from forming itself on his face at the reaction. “You think I’ll go on a date with you? After you permanently put this monstrosity on my arm?” Kenma raised a challenging eyebrow at him.
Atsumu visibly gulps and Kenma forces himself not to react. Atsumu scratches the back of his head sheepishly as he replies, “I can spend the rest of our life making it up to you?”
It sounds more like a question than an affirmation and Kenma can’t help but snort at the idiocy of the situation. There’s a crooked, hopeful smile on Atsumu’s face that he simply can’t look away from.
If it were anyone else, Kenma would have told them off long ago. But for some reason —well, he guesses that the fact that they’re soulmates has something to do with it— he just can’t let go of Atsumu. After all, the blonde really is exactly his type. Damn this handsome idiot.
They stare at each other for a few moments without saying anything, both thinking about the implications of their very new discovery.
Atsumu entered this tattoo shop reluctantly because of a dare, Kenma reluctantly let his two last clients of the day enter because it wasn’t his closing time yet. None of them expected to meet their soulmate today. Kenma only announced his walk-in day two days ago, and Atsumu’s dare wasn’t even planned three hours ago.
Those are just a series of unexpected events. Technically, none of this was supposed to happen. And maybe that’s exactly why it happened today.
“You better.” Kenma mutters after a moment.
“Huh?”
“You better spend the rest of your life making it up to me. I’m not easy to please.”
Atsumu’s eyes widen in surprise and Kenma watches in real time as a smile takes place on the man’s face. There’s something else in the man’s eyes though—a certain fire that seems to have suddenly been lit up, like a challenge. “Promise!” Atsumu exclaims, grinning all too happily.
Kenma can’t help but chuckle fondly. “Now get out of here before I curse you for that tattoo.”
“Yes sir,” Atsumu jokes, turning around. “Wait. Ya didn’t give me yer number.”
Kenma smirks. “You’ll find a way.”
Atsumu grins. “Playin’ hard ta get, I see.” He smirks in return, “I like it.”
Kenma’s smirk turns into a softer smile and he can’t help but chuckle amusedly. He doesn’t add anything to the conversation and simply watches Atsumu leave his shop with a grin still on his face.
For some reason, Kenma can tell that his life is about to change but, for the first time in a long time, he isn’t scared of it. He doesn’t know what to expect of the future, nor what this newly found situation will become. But he isn’t scared. In fact, he can’t wait to see Atsumu again.
It’s with a giddy feeling that Kenma finally closes his shop for the day. Only then does he take note of his cheeks hurting and realizes that he, too, has been grinning this whole time.