Inked Up

I umm are you sure you want to go with me? I can’t dance, like not at all and I only wear black. But I would do anything for some time with you. (Also have to make sure no one even dare touches my boyfriend.)

“Yes, and I agree with them both. We’re young, we should be out painting the town red, or whatever that saying is,” Allison pointed out with a wave of her hand dramatically. “I’m not the best party partner either but we will figure it out,” she added in with a sigh. “Right? I’m surprised I’m fully functioning right now. I had the day off and slept in, there’s my secret.”

“Can we like paint the town purple? or blue? Those are nice calm colors.” He said knowing they fell on deaf ears. “You are better than me at least you can talk to other humans.” Joongki said rubbing his eyes and curling up finding a comfortable spot. “Those people who say when you become a boss you get to make your own hours are liars and should be put in jail. I feel like I work now more than I have ever.”

“you’ve earned yourself a gold star,” charlotte told him with a chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. “well, not really because you should have been listening to me, so i’ll  hold on to that gold star for now,” she added with a hint of a smirk on her lips. “i just couldn’t lift the thing up! it kept slipping. and i’m sure i was picking it up the right way, i swear. it was definitely the cutlet’s fault, not mine,” she exclaimed with a sigh. “wait, there’s such a thing as training chopsticks?”

“What?! No I want my gold star this is bullshit.” He said sticking out his tongue and rolling back over. “Yeah let’s blame the food and not the human being wielding the chopsticks.” He shook his head with a smile before speaking, “Yes, they are connected so you don’t have to worry about dropping them. They also have little holes for you to put your fingers in to teach you how to hold them. Sunny’s have a little pororo on them its very cute.” 

WHEN joongki rolled over and actually looked at her , tierney couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him . his words alone revealed that he hadn’t actually been listening to her , and that amused her more than she cared to admit . “ that thing ? ” she asked , arching a brow at her friend . “ if you totally heard then what was it ? ”

He could always tell them apart. He didn’t understand how some people got Tierney and Teagen confused. They were like two different people but right now after a 14 hour flight he could barely remember his own name let alone tell them apart. “Ummm you know Teagen...I mean Tierney fuck..” He hit his head, “You wanted to do something super cool and I totally agree with it.” Joongki said with a smile hoping the other would go easy on him. 

“I like to feel pretty, it makes me feel all nice.” Joonie pouted for all of five seconds before it was forgotten as Joongki leaned into him. “I missed you more than Sunny loves Mimi.” Joonie laced their fingers, taking slow steps backwards as he lead his boyfriend to the bathroom. “You know, Joongki, you’re so beautiful that sometimes I don’t even know what to do with you… and when you’re all sleepy like this there’s nothing cuter and that includes me.” He gave his hands a gentle squeeze before letting go to sort the bath for him. Then he grabbed a couple of towels and his bathrobe and put them in the dryer so they’d be warm for when he got out before he returned and gave Joongki his attention again. “I’m going to take such good care of you that the next time you do this will be by request.”

“Well, you being pretty is something that is not that hard for you to do.” He said and took a second to stare at his boyfriend’s pouted lips wishing they were on his own but too tired to make the move. “That’s impossible Sunny loves Mimi more than me I think sometimes.” He laughed walking tiredly following Minjoon to the bathroom. “If I wasn’t so tired I would fight you but I am too lazy to be defiant.” He said even though his cheeks did turn an unusual pink color something he would never admit. Joongki waited for Minjoon laying against the wall humming at the coldness of the tiles. “So whats the first step at the Song Salon? Don’t go dying my hair either.”

“Ah, Joon, we’re just trying to save you from thinking that you can ever lie your way out of situation successfully. Think of it as saving you from yourself,” Teagan’s lips quirked in a teasing smile. Her expression softened as he explained the pressures he was under. “Trust me, I get it. My sister and I poured our souls into Don’t Fret… I didn’t know shit about the business side of things, that was all on Tierney, and I was terrified I’d do something that would fuck it all up. There’s no guarantees in life but you’re working your ass off. That’s what make businesses thrive: passion. Not to mention, your artwork is stunning. That’s why I’ve trusted you with so many of my tattoos.” Teagan gave Lee a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder. “Exactly!” Teagan laughed. “That’s just good ‘ol fashion fun for everyone. We would be the hottest robbers of all time.”

“I totally think I could do it. I just need to really believe in myself and get some positive reinforcement from my friends.” He joked sticking his tongue out for emphasis. “I honestly just wish I had someone to help you know? Sunny wants to take over when she gets older but I don’t want her dreams to be stuck in springhill you know? Minjoon is amazing at comforting me but he doesn’t know the last thing about tattoos.” Joongki didn’t know why he was pouring himself out maybe it was the sleep deprivation pulling down his walls. “When we didn’t have anything I wasn’t afraid but now that I have Sunny, we have a home, a business and I have Minjoon. I don’t want to lose everything again.” 

​

Allison rested her chin on her hand as she looked over at the other, eyebrow raised, “Uh huh,” she responded, not convinced at his words and chuckling shortly after. If anyone knew how it felt to be sleep deprived due to work, she definitely did and understood it well, therefore held no resentment at him dozing off. “I was actually saying Sunday night, but you were pretty close. The green room, maybe? What do you say?”

“I normally don’t go out but I have been told by Sunny and Teagen that I need to start having fun again. I can’t promise you I will be the best party partner.” He said and leaned on the couch rubbing his eyes. “So what have you been up to? Usually you are the one barely awake during our conversations.” 

“I asked if you wanted to be a model for my new fashion show that’s coming up in two weeks” she said and shrugged. She normally didn’t run around and ask people if they wanted to be models for her shows but she wanted some new faces in her little bubble. And Joon, well he fit perfectly. “If you don’t want to it’s okay” she assured him, not wanting the other to feel pressured. 

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I just would be the worst person at modeling your clothing. I can barely walk in my own clothes let alone fashion.” He laughed and rubbed his eyes, “I don’t want to ruin your fashion show. I would love to come though and if you ever needed some artwork on your models I would be of service.” 

“That, Lee Joongki, is because a, I am just that pretty and b, you are w h i to the double p e d whipped.” Joonie wrapped his arm over Joongki’s shoulders and covered his other hand with his sleeve before rubbing it against his boyfriends cheek. “I missed you bunches, pretty kitty.” He kissed his temple and his cheek then turned his head so he could get his nose too before standing up. “I think we should have a pamper evening. It’ll be something to do but it will keep you relaxed enough to just fall asleep afterwards… and before you complain about face masks and eye masks and moisturiser and peach scented lotions, I would like to remind you that all the best pamper evenings start with a nice hot bubble bath.” Joonie offered his hands out. “I’ll even let you be the little spoon.”

“I forgot I am dating a full blown narcissist.” He teased leaning his body into Minjoons side his head rest on the elders arm. Joongki turned a soft shade of pink at the nickname but his sleepiness made him too tired to fight back. He rubbed against Minjoon’s hand happily, “I missed you more than Sunny misses Mimi.” Joon groaned at the idea of face masks and scented lotions but having Minjoon and a nice warm bath sounded to good to pass up. He leaned forward and grabbed Minjoon’s hands slowly getting up and following him, “You had me at bubble.” 

she nodded along to his words, impressed how he had managed to wing it despite her being certain that joongki had barely listened to anything she told him. “impressive. how much of that was guess work?” charlotte teased him with a soft chuckle. “of course i’ll  still love you. how can i not? but yes, we are going to cafe mochi and you are going to teach me how to eat using chopsticks like a pro without laughing at me.”

“All of it? I would call myself a class A Sherlock Holmes with how well I deducted that.” He said laughing and leaning back on the cushion. Joongki tried his best to remain serious, the sleepiness making that more difficult then usual. “I remember our last lesson you got mad and stabbed the poor chicken cutlet. If we do this you have to let me get you the training chopsticks we give kids. You can use Sunny’s old pair. ” 

“Uh-huh.” Danny replied dryly, sounding entirely unconvinced. “And I so believe you but I’ll repeat myself anyway. Movie night on Saturday? I’ll make some fancy ass popcorns.” 

“Honestly fancy popcorn does sound so very inviting. What movie did you want to see again?” He asked rubbing the back of his head that hit the floor. “Can it be an action movie so I don’t fall asleep on you again?” 

charlotte’s eyes rolled at joongki’s words, knowing well enough that hadn’t even listened to a word she said. “yes, you were definitely listening. which is exactly why you can give me all of the details about what we’re doing on saturday.” she sat down on an empty chair and crossed her legs, head tilting to the side as she shot him a sweet smile. “go on, tell me all about the thing!”

Joongki looked up at her and took a deep breath trying his to remember at least one thing she said. “Well I am going to meet with you that day and then we will eat of course and drink. We will also have fun and you will still love me even though I am being the worst friend right now?” He said smiling sheepishly. 

“Dude, you’re still the shittiest liar that I’ve ever met.” Once she had clued in that Joongki hadn’t absorbed a word she had said, Teagan had went off the rails detailing plans to commit a bank robbery. “Oh, y’know, just normal friend stuff. Have you even taken a break to breathe?” Her voice was laced gently with concern—not that she’d admit it. “One business owner to another, you’re allowed to have one day or night off. You do remember fun, right?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? Like I don’t want to be a liar but I also don’t want to be the fucking worst either.” He said and rubbed his head sighing looking at her, “I am breathing right now aren’t I?” Joongki got up and sat back down putting a hand through his hair, “This is the first time Silver lining is seeing like huge success. I just am scared if I don’t capitalize on it now I will lose it.” Joongki looked at her, “Yes, fun like robbing that bank in New York right?” 

“It’s okay if you didn’t listen. I sometimes ramble about random things instead of getting to my point” Cassia said as she looked at the guy now laying on the floor, chuckling softly. Tilting her head to the side, she let out a soft sigh. “You don’t have to. It’s fine to say no when you are not interested, you know?” she added.

“Hey, this has nothing to do with you and you know I like listening to you ramble. A creative mind if always interesting to listen too. I just had this gig that kept me over seas for a while so my body is still running on Japanese time.” He laughed and looked up at her with a soft smile, “I honestly cant say no cause I don’t know what I was answering to in the first place. What was it again?” 

“Almost. I asked if you liked the new sweater but I think that you’re too tired to appreciate all of this right now so you need to get some more sleep instead.” Joonie tilted his head, nudging the pile of Joongki on the floor with his foot. “Go on, get back into bed. I’ll make you something nice to eat for when you wake up instead.”

“I find that you would look gorgeous even in a paper bag but the sweater looks really cute on you. I am sorry, I didn’t think the jet lag would be hitting my this hard.” He stood up as he was nudged and shook his head falling on the couch next to his boyfriend. “I got to get my sleeping schedule correct or I will end up becoming nocturnal. Can you distract me from the comforts of your bed for just three more hours?”