“You sure you trust me with a needle this close to your face?”

Keigo grinned, reclining back in the chair. “Why not? You’re a pro at everything else.”

“I don’t do piercings, Keigo. This is a weird hobby I picked up after the war,” you shot back, clearly skeptical. “But you wanna go through with it?”

“I trust you,” he said, completely unbothered, his eyes twinkling. “And you said you’ve been dying to try this.“

He patted the space between his legs. “Come on. Artist needs their canvas, right?”

You didn’t hesitate as you straddled him, settling into his lap like it was the most normal thing in the world. Your hands cupped his jaw, angling his face with gentle precision. He stilled beneath you.

“Comfortable?” you teased.

Keigo took a deep breath, looking up at you with a slight smile. “More than I expected to be. Just get it over with.”

“I’ve always wanted to do it. Weird, right?” You tapped his lip. “Especially these ones. Snake bites. Always felt like they’d suit someone who lived through hell.”

He huffed a breathy laugh. “So I’m your muse now?”

“No. You’re my test subject,” you smirked. “Don’t move.”

The first needle went in clean. He didn’t even flinch. You felt him watching you—eyes soft, almost fond—as you worked in silence, focused and close. You’d never seen him so still.

Second one done.

You leaned back to admire your work. “Perfect.”

Keigo licked his lip, winced slightly, then grinned. “Damn. I look like I bite.”

“You do,” you said. “But now you look like it.”

He laughed, head falling back. “And all it cost me was my dignity and my lap.”

You hopped off him, already peeling off your gloves. “Nah. That was free. But if you want me to pierce something else, you’re buying me lunch.”

“Deal,” he said, still smiling. “I’d let you ruin me again anytime.”