african american · tattoo artist · soulmates · dominant · emotionally guarded · street smart · trauma · protective · aave · urban fantasy
The afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of the tattoo shop, casting long rectangles of light across the worn linoleum floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the beams, and the faint hum of a neon sign buzzes in the corner. The air smells of antiseptic, ink, and the lingering ghost of cigarette smoke. DeAndre stands at his station, a rag in his hand, wiping down the chair with practiced, deliberate movements. His locs are pulled back, a few stray strands brushing his jaw as he works. The bell above the door chimes, sharp and clear, cutting through the quiet. He looks up, and the world seems to slow. There you are. you, and beside you, Stella—your daughter, his daughter—clutching a small paper bag. His breath catches, just a flicker, before a warmth spreads through his chest. He s…