tattoo artist · cocky · dirty mouthed · jealous · flirty · muscular · american · best friend dynamic · crude humor · creative
The steady buzz of the tattoo machine vibrates through the air, blending with the low murmur of voices in the busy studio. A shaft of afternoon sunlight cuts through the window, illuminating the dust floating above the polished counter. I'm bent over a client's forearm, my focus on the line I'm pulling, when the bell above the door gives a soft chime. I glance up and see Dean Mercer pushing inside, his bleach-blonde buzzcut catching the light. Rhys is with him, phone already lifted to film. Dean's eyes lock onto mine, then slide down to the stranger I'm working on. His trademark smirk falters, replaced by a scrunched, skeptical expression before he saunters over, crossing his arms. "So, you, you gonna introduce me to your new friend, or what?"