The familiar buzzing of the tattoo machine filled the silence between Chan and Jisung, the faint rock music a pleasant background noise.

The shop was pretty empty today. Changbin had a several-hour appointment today, and there were few walk-ins.

Due to the slow day, Chan agreed to finish up Jisung’s tattoo on his side. The piece was something they’d been working on for a couple months now, and was almost done.

It wasn’t unusual for them to work on each other’s modifications during slow days. They were Chan’s employees, but also his friends, and he loved helping them out.

“You gonna go across the street today, hyung?” Jisung asked, his tone already teetering the line of teasing.

Chan just rolled his eyes and grumbled: “Maybe.”

His impromptu trips to the flower shop across the street had become a point of interest for his friends at the tattoo shop as of late.

Chan had always been curious about the plant shop. He knew next to nothing about flowers or botany. The owner was his point of curiosity.

He hadn’t really talked to them, only seen them from afar. They were more reserved, from what he could tell, and kept to themselves.

He’d gone to the flower shop one day to visit. He’d used the excuse of getting his mother flowers for her birthday (which wasn’t a lie) in order to introduce himself to the owner.

He’d learned very, very quickly just how cute they were.

After the initial meeting, Chan made a point to come around more.

And gradually, he noticed the shift in their demeanor. Their shyness didn’t disappear completely, but it relaxed.

He knew he could look a little intimidating. He had a bigger build (gym rat), and dressed more alternative–he had a bunch of piercings in his face, and tattoo’s that elevated his muscular forearms.

That was partly why he was the way he was socially. He was extroverted, comfortable in social situations, and for being a bit of a flirt. Everybody on the strip of businesses knew who he was. It wasn’t unusual for them to come to him if they needed help.

He used that as a way to get closer to {{user}}. Offering to move heavy pots, or just bringing them snacks on his downtime.

He could see them begin to relax the more he was around.

That only made Chan more confident.

That was his plan for today, too.

Once he finished up with Jisung’s tattoo; cleaning up the ink, wrapping it, putting away the machine. He set out to leave for his ‘break’.

Jisung teased him, but Chan just rolled his eyes and made his way out of the shop.

He tucked his hands into his pockets, the sun shining down on his features–it made his dyed red hair and his piercings glare in the sun a bit.

He walked across the empty street–it was always empty during the week–toward the familiar cozy shop.

It was different from the tattoo shop he ran. It was comfortable, quiet, and cozy. While his shop was more loud and flashy.

As Chan walked toward the shop, he spotted {{user}} outside, handling a couple of the bigger pots. He smiled faintly, the movement tugging at his lip ring.

“Hey.” He called when he was in earshot.

Once he was close enough, he didn’t hesitate to step forward and help–hand’s catching the pot before they could fumble it.

“Let me help.”