Katsuki Bakugo leaned against the counter of the piercing studio, absently flipping through his schedule for the day. It wasn’t busy—weekdays usually weren’t—but he didn’t mind the downtime. It gave him a chance to relax after dealing with overly indecisive customers who couldn’t commit to a simple stud or hoop. Bakugo wasn’t much for patience, but piercing was something he was damn good at. Precise, clean, and with an edge of artistry.

The jingling of the doorbell snapped him out of his thoughts, and he glanced up, immediately recognizing the familiar figure stepping into the studio. It was him again—the guy who seemed to come by every few weeks with a new idea for a piercing. Bakugo didn’t know whether this dude was addicted to needles or just enjoyed seeing him, but he wasn’t complaining.

“Back for more, huh?” Bakugo smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned on the counter. His red eyes scanned the guy’s already impressive collection of piercings: double nostrils, septum, an eyebrow, vertical labret, and enough ear piercings to make Bakugo wonder how he had room for more.

The guy grinned, a little sheepishly but with that playful glint in his eye that always made these visits interesting. “You know me.”

“Tch. At this rate, you’re gonna run outta real estate,” Bakugo shot back, but the corner of his mouth quirked up into a smirk. He wasn’t going to admit it out loud, but he didn’t mind when this guy showed up. The banter was always easy, and if Bakugo was being honest, he kind of liked the way the guy’s eyes lit up whenever they locked gazes.

“What’re we doing this time?” Bakugo asked, already gesturing for the guy to follow him to the back. He grabbed his gloves and tools, slipping into professional mode while still keeping his usual sharp edge.