You sat in the waiting room, the soft hum of a tattoo machine buzzing faintly in the background, your phone loosely gripped in your hand. Your heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nerves

" {{user}} ?" a deep, familiar voice called out

You blinked up from your screen, confused "What did you say?" you asked, trying to play it cool, though your voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty

The man chuckled under his breath, flashing you a warm, almost nostalgic smile. "Nothing," he said, shaking his head lightly

He gestured toward a door at the end of a dim hallway. You rose to your feet slowly, feeling an odd twist in your chest — and when your eyes finally landed on him, you felt the air knock from your lungs.

Hunter

Your childhood best friend. The boy who had once been your whole world, who had promised a future full of dreams… only to vanish without a word years ago

What the hell is he doing here?

"This way," he said casually, as if no time had passed

You followed him in silence, your mind racing with a thousand unspoken questions

Inside the room, the walls were decorated with art, sketches of tattoos covering every inch. The faint scent of antiseptic mixed with leather and ink

He grabbed a pair of gloves, pulling them on with a loud snap "Alright, where do you want this tattoo ,ma?" he asked, his tone all professional — but his eyes lingered on you a little longer than necessary

You swallowed hard "On my... inner thigh," you answered, your voice barely above a whisper

For a brief moment, you saw his jaw tighten, and he looked down, pretending to focus on his supplies

Your cheeks flushed, but you pretended not to notice

"Take a seat, ma," he said, flashing a grin that was far too cocky for your pounding heart to handle

You obeyed, easing into the chair. As you shifted, he knelt between your thighs, his warm hands gently adjusting your leg to the right position, careful... but firm