Chapter Text
“Cassian, darling,” an old woman’s voice sounded amidst the numerous pots of green, alerting Cass as he looked up from the wrapping station. “Could you come here for a while, please?”
“What is it?” The part-timer patted down his hands onto his dark green apron, approaching Calla, the old florist who was nice enough to hire him over a small incident.
It was unexpected, really. The old lady had been standing outside the store, tending to the few plants when a sudden crash had her almost jumping 10 feet into the air—which wasn’t good for her fragile legs at all. Cass apologized profusely after that, having broken a couple vases from not getting enough sleep. The old lady merely waved it off, saying he could repay her by working alongside her.
And that was how Cass got roped into this. He doesn’t mind it at all, being a botany student and all. Plus, who would say no to some extra cash?
“Come here and help me deliver this orchid to that tattoo parlor across the street,” Calla gestured to the purple orchid on the counter. She shook her head. “Also, tell the owner to stop buying a new plant everytime the last one died, the young man should learn better.”
Cass resisted laughing, instead carefully taking the potted plants into his grasp. “Does this young man have a name?” He questioned, just in case he would accidentally say it to any random employee working there.
“His name should be on the label,” Calla replied, her back already turned to handle other parts of the store.
Cass checked the orchid carefully. Eyes lighting up as soon as he spots a label tied to the stem of the plant. Gentle fingers turned the card over, a name sparked with gold.
Lucien
It was a very pretty name, Cass admitted. He decided not to dwell on it any longer and headed out. Quickly shouting, “I’ll be back!” To which the old lady acknowledged with a hum.
The weather was perfect today, it wasn’t too hot nor too cold. Cass liked this sort of weather, and there weren’t too many cars on the road today which was a bonus on his part. He was able to make it across the street pretty quickly without any problems.
A bell chimed as soon as he pushed the door open, a slight jingle sounded. There wasn’t a single person in sight in the waiting room— well, aside from the person standing at the front counter. It gave Cass the time to study his surroundings.
There was a leather couch to his right, a few tears lost to time, maybe. A small table adorned with vintage magazines, still looking relatively new. A few paintings hung on the wall. Cass liked the aesthetic, all in all. And to his left was the front counter, where the person stood behind it had been silently watching the florist admiring the place.
Cass realized he must’ve looked like an idiot, plant in hand as he stood completely still before turning towards the other party. Play it cool, Cass told himself, taking a breath.
“Orchid delivery?”
The person behind the counter nodded, taking the time to examine the florist’s appearance. Ruby eyes glance towards the orchid that was now placed on top of the counter, before returning to the other presence.
“Are you new? I’ve never seen you before,” the man spoke up. A tattoo artist, perhaps? His voice had surprised Cass, who was not expecting it to be so soft and soothing. He nodded.
“Yes, I started working a week ago,” the florist replied, taking the time to examine the person in front of him. Dark hair with a white streak going through it, crimson eyes with long lashes. He was wearing a dark hoodie, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms— along with a couple of tattoos. And was that an eyebrow piercing?
Which reminded him, Cass was also looking for a new piercing. They normally do piercings at tattoo parlors too, right?
“Do you guys do piercings, by any chance?” The florist questioned. He wasn’t a beginner to piercings at all, his ears were decorated with plenty of them. Cass caught the tattoo artist’s glance briefly dart to his ears before he nodded.
“Where do you want them?”
Cass had been thinking about this for a long time in fact. He was contemplating whether he really should get it, before he just went fuck it .
“On my tongue,” Cass confirmed, and the other looked evidently surprised, eyes lighting up.
“Alright,” he gestured to the price list that was on the counter and thoroughly went through everything with the florist. “We usually tend to schedule appointments with our clients, unless you want to get it right now?”
Cass almost cringed at the idea, settling for shaking his head instead. “I’d rather have time to think it over, in case I want to cancel at the last minute.”
The tattoo artist nodded his head in understanding. “In that case, what about next month? On the 21st. Is that alright or would you need more time?”
“Sounds good.”
“Perfect,” the tattoo artist smiled. He then takes out a form from one of the neatly stacked papers on the counter. “This is the consultation form, fill this up and hand it to me when you’re done.”
Cass does as he’s told, filling in his information and reading over the terms and conditions, before finally signing at the bottom.
“If I may ask,” the florist brings up, and immediately, the other’s attention is on him. “Who exactly will be giving me the piercing?”
The artist smiles and gestures to himself, “That would be me.” He takes the form from Cass and reads over the contents briefly, before looking up once more. “I’m usually the one doing the tattoos, my coworker is the one doing the piercings.” He explains, an apologetic look on his face.” Though, unfortunately, he’s out that day so I’ll have to take over. Is that alright with you or would you rather get pierced by him instead? It’s not a problem if you wanna reschedule.”
Cass blinks, surprised at how considerate the person in front of him was. “Oh, I don’t really know much about that.” An idea came up in his mind instead. “Who would you recommend?”
“Now, if you say it like that, I’d pick me, of course,” the tattoo artist grins. “Though, it really depends on who you’re more comfortable with. If you’re looking for an angry chihuahua with more experience to stab you, then I would recommend my coworker. And if you’d rather someone who has less experience in piercings but more expertise in the tongue department,” the ravennette pokes out his tongue, showing a tongue piercing. “Then I’m your guy.”
Cass, caught off guard by the sudden action, forms an ‘o’ with his mouth. He hadn’t spotted that piercing earlier, which made him wonder where else the guy in front of him had pierced.
“Take your time,” the tattooist hums. “I can always reschedule if you want me to.”
“I’ll stick to the original timing then,” Cass smiles. “Getting stabbed by a chihuahua sounds fun, maybe, but not for me,” he shook his head, checking the time on his watch and realized he had already been out for 20 minutes— for a singular delivery, right across the road.
Calla was definitely gonna kill him when he got back, though he highly doubted she would. The old lady was way too sweet for that.
“I’ve really got to go,” the florist confessed. “I’ll see you around-?”
“Lucien,” the artist filled in, smiling. “Luci is fine. See you in three weeks, Cass.”
The florist had three things on his mind as he stepped out from the tattoo parlor.
- He had forgotten to convey the message Calla had wanted him to.
- The man he had just spoken to was quote and unquote—Very Hot.
- Said man knew his name.
Of course, he knew his name. Cass had literally written it down on that consultation form. God, he was stupid.
➽──────────────❥
“Well, it has definitely not been three weeks,” Luci’s voice by his ear almost made the florist drop his phone.
With a hand clutched onto his chest, Cass breathed. “Yes, well, I didn’t expect to see you here either.”
He should’ve seen it coming, really. This was the nearest cafe down the road, and it was packed. Luci was currently standing behind Cass in line as they waited to place down their orders.
“Are you on break?” Cass questioned, deciding to make conversation, to which Luci replies with a nod.
“I’m gonna assume you are too?
“Yup,” Cass fully turns to look at Luci now, who was dressed in a simple graphic t-shirt and baggy jeans. His eyes landed on Luci’s neck. He hadn’t noticed it before since Luci had one third of his neck covered last time, but now he could see a new tattoo; a kiss mark on the side of his neck.
“Nice tatt,” the florist complimented, raising an eyebrow. “Got it for your girlfriend?”
He had no idea if the tattooist was single, but he tried his luck anyway.
“Nope,” Luci replied, shaking his head. His lips quivered, gesturing to his tattoo. “There was a mole in this area before I got it tattooed. It’s kinda a long story though.”
Cass glanced back to the line in front of him, before looking back at the other. “We have time,” he shrugged, to which Luci smiled.
“Have you ever heard of a Japanese myth?” Luci explained. “The moles on your body are the places where your past lover had kissed you the most in your last life. Pretty, isn’t it?”
Cass chuckled lightly. “I didn’t think you were such a romantic,” he grinned. “But yes, I’ve heard of it, and I agree, it does sound beautiful.”
“Right? You get it,” Luci sounded breathy. “I’ve been obsessed with finding moles on my body ever since, then I got to my neck and I had this idea. And I was right, it’s so pretty.”
Cass’ lips automatically lifted up, amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched the other get all excited. Luci glances behind him and gently guides the florist by the small of his back, just as the people in front move forward.
“So, do you get the kiss mark tattooed on every single mole on your body then?” Cass questioned, turning to face the other once more.
Luci laughs and replies with a shake of his head. “Not exactly,” he denies and briefly glances around, before pulling the neckline of his shirt to the other side, revealing two more kiss marks that travel down his shoulders, only visible to Cass’ eyes. “I only have them around my neck.”
The florist was taken aback, not expecting Luci to have done that and a red hue soon forms on his face. He quickly turns back to the front just as the barista shouted, “Next!”
My saving grace.
He ignores the hotness on his face and places his order of matcha, taking his wallet out. Though, he didn’t get to pay as Luci cuts in from behind him, ordering a french vanilla latte and paying for the both of them instead.
Cass stared wide eyed at the tattoo artist, his expression screaming ‘Why the hell would you do that?!’
Luci, catching this, merely shrugged, a grin on his face. “Your treat next time,” he spoke as if he was talking about the weather.
As if there would be a next time.
Cass didn’t get the chance to counter as the barista soon handed them both of their drinks. In the next moment, they were both out of the cafe, walking side by side.
Cass had a scowl on his face despite having his drink being paid for. He eyes the latte in Luci’s hand skeptically, enough to burn a hole through it before darting his eyes back up onto the other. “Who drinks caffeine at 3 in the afternoon?”
The tattooist merely eyes him back. “You’re literally having tea.”
“Matcha isn’t tea.”
“I paid for it,” Luci shrugs. “It will be whatever I want it to be.”
“Well, I didn’t ask you to pay for it.”
Luci narrows his eyes, before chuckling. “You’re such a tsun. I would be satisfied with a simple thank you.” To which Cass decides to respond by rolling his eyes.
“Are you even allowed to be dressed so casually for work?”
“What do you mean?” Luci glances down towards his outfit. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Nothing wrong with it, but isn’t it too─ I don’t know, casual?”
Luci scoffs, “If you think this is casual, just wait until you see the others in their tank tops and shorts back at the parlor.” He turns to look at Cass. “Plus, I can’t work if I’m not comfortable. Tight clothing restricts my movement and I can’t draw freely.”
Cass hums, silently agreeing. “You could’ve worn any other shirt though,” he nods towards the other’s t-shirt, a singular sentence written across it, which read: ‘non-threatening citizen.’
Luci had a grin on his face as he took a sip of his drink. “I mean, I’ve gotta let the people know somehow.” He shrugs, “Usually when people see I have tattoos, I’m automatically a bad person. Can you imagine how you look next to me right now?”
He gestures towards a crowd of tourists at the front, mumbling. “They might think I’m tryna sell you something, who knows? Any minute now and they might jump in and separate us.”
Cass chuckled, eyes crinkling up, because, who’s to say he hadn’t had the same impression when he first laid eyes on the tattoo artist.
A few moments after chattering about random topics, they arrived in front of the florist. Cass could see Calla through the window─ writing down a few orders on a notepad, phone squished between her shoulder and ear.
“Well,” Luci’s voice brought the florist’s gaze towards him. “I’ll see you around.”
Cass nods, opening the door to the shop and waving. “Bye, Luci.”
The tattoo artist was just about to turn around when he stood stunned in place, which made Cass pause in his actions as well.
Luci hummed, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes darted around briefly before landing on Cass. “Would it be too sudden to place an order?”
Ah, his plant must’ve died again.
“Not at all.”
➽──────────────❥
Cass was wrong when he said there wasn’t going to be a next time where he would treat Luci to coffee, because it happened the day after, then two days after─ then literally every single day of the entire week.
Cass should’ve seen it coming, really, since they had the same break time, so it wasn’t lonely at least. It had happened so often that Cass had decided to wait for the other altogether, so they would walk to─and from the cafe.
Plus, the other’s presence was refreshing. He enjoyed their daily talks. Cass had been a bit more comforted after hearing about Luci’s experience with his own tongue piercing.
Luci had mentioned it was actually his coworker, Rosco, who did his piercing. Though, it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.
“It was actually the fricking healing that sucked,” Cass quoted. Another thing that the florist had noticed─ was that Luci didn't swear, at all. It was funny, almost comedic since he spoke as if his mother was behind him and would reprimand him at any moment.
The bell chimed a familiar jingle as the door swung open and Cass stepped into the tattoo parlor, a bouquet of roses in hand, which was supposed to be delivered earlier but the tattooist had insisted for it to be delivered on the day of his appointment.
Cass glanced around the parlor. It still looked the same from the first time he was here, though the person behind the front counter was different this time.
The man was wearing a sleeveless shirt, showing off numerous tattoos that decorated his bulky arms. He wore a choker on his neck and plenty of thick bracelets and rings. His nametag read ‘Zander,’ who looked up as soon as the florist approached.
“Hello, lovely,” Zander smiled, a thick British accent accompanying his gentle voice. “Welcome to Get Ink’d! Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Cass was a bit startled by the nickname but paid it no mind. It actually gave Zander quite the wholesome impression. He coughed before speaking. “Is Luci in? I have an appointment with him.”
“Ah, Lucien? He’s still in a session right now, I’m afraid,” Zander glanced at the clock which was hanging behind him, turning back to look at the florist. “Would you be able to wait 10 minutes, perhaps? Please, sit down as you do,” he gestured to the worn out couch.
Cass nods. He was a bit early anyway, so he could understand that. Turning to the leather couch which must’ve seen better days─ judging by the few tears, he took a seat.
A few minutes later, a client with brown hair and tanned skin walked out from behind the curtains, Luci following closely behind him. Cass could swore the tattooist’s eyes briefly darted to look at him before zooming back onto his client.
“Remember to keep it clean and moisturized,” Luci reminded. “Come back here in a few days, and no swimming .”
The client whipped his head back so fast, staring at Luci with his mouth agape as if he told him his mother died.
“Yeah, okay, maybe I shouldn’t have gotten a tattoo,” the tanned skinned male muttered out, sighing dramatically before turning to pay at the counter. He looked up and his eyes sparkled.
“Well─ hey there, hotstuff,” Gale winked. “Aha, I’m not the cashier but I’m checking you out right now- Woah, okay, I’m going, I’m going! Thanks for the tattoo!” He shouted just as Luci pushed him out the door.
Luci breathed out, hands on his hips before moving to take off his black rubber gloves, turning to look at his next client of the day. “Hey,” he greets, smiling at the florist.
“Hi,” and Cass smiles back, standing up and handing the bouquet of roses to the other, who accepts them gratefully.
Luci turns to place them somewhere behind the counter before gesturing for Cass to follow him, leading him behind the curtains.
Cass was halfway through when the bell chimed again, and the same charming, loud voice from earlier came back in.
➽──────────────❥
Luci had led him to a dimly lit room. There was a leather bed in the middle of it. A red neon sign of a creature that looked oddly like a sperm, but Cass chose to keep quiet as Luci gestured for him to take a seat.
“Are you nervous?” Luci questioned, turning on the main light and moving to switch off the neon stand and any small lights.
Cass smiled, biting his lip slightly. “Was it obvious?”
Luci leaned against a table filled with an array of stuff; needles, ink caps, clamps, disinfectants, paper towels, and anything that he could need.
“I could tell,” the tattooist studied the other, breathing out slowly through his nose.
There was something in the air, and Cass couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. He just knew something was different─ changed, in the air between them. The room seemed smaller than it was when he first came in, and Luci’s stare lingered on the florist, tingling with anticipation.
The silence stretched on, until it was broken by the sound of rubber gloves slapping onto skin, along with his voice reverbing across the room.
“Where exactly do you want the piercing?” The tattooist asked, standing directly in front of Cass, which the latter had to crank his head up to look at him.
“I’m not sure. You’re the expert here, aren’t you? You pick,” Cass replied, a slight tremor to his voice which had gone unnoticed by the other.
Luci chuckles, turning to grab a paper cup and pouring a blue solution into it. “If you’re sure then okay.” He then hands the cup to the other, who accepts it, fingers brushing in the process.
“It’s an antiseptic,” the tattooist mentions, nodding towards a sink in the room. “You can spit it out over there.”
Cass does as instructed, gargling the solution in his mouth before he walks towards the sink, spitting it out in the process. Luci hands him a paper towel, which he accepted appreciatively and sits back onto his seat.
He eyes Luci who was sterilizing the tools, forearms tensing in the process.
It shouldn’t be attractive, but it was─ For Cass, at least.
The tattoo artist then grabs a paper towel, folding it two times into a square as he now stands in front of his client.
“Are you okay with me touching you?” Luci questions, observing the florist closely.
Cass scoffs, ignoring the warmth growing in his chest. “How else are you going to give me the piercing, silly?”
“No, I get that, I just meant-” Luci cut himself off. Three gloved fingers went to prop Cass’ chin up, prompting the latter to meet the tattooist’s eyes. Cass could have sworn he saw the other smirking.
Luci looked awfully pleased with himself, digging a finger into Cass’ jaw. “This.”
The florist gulped, thanking the heavens for not making a sound. He swallowed, ignoring how his chest was beating like crazy.
“No, that’s fine,” he confirmed, voice trembling slightly. He hoped Luci couldn’t see how red his ears were, though he probably could. Curse him for turning the lights on, why couldn’t they work under dim light instead?
“Alright,” Luci nodded. “I’m going to have to disinfect your mouth first. We don’t want you getting an infection now, do we?”
Cass shook his head slightly─ Well, as much as he could in the tattooist's grasp.
Luci smiled, bringing the paper towel up. “Stick your tongue out for me?”
The florist hated how lewd that sentence sounded in his head, albeit, he told himself this was the procedure. And so, he stuck his tongue out, throwing away his pride in the process.
“Try not to gag,” Luci warned, gently patting his tongue with the paper towel. His thumb which was grasping onto the florist’s cheek moved to the corner of his bottom lip, prying it further down.
Cass tried─ He tried really hard to ignore the heat of the other person’s touch, albeit separated by a rubber glove, he could still feel it.
This guy is doing it on purpose.
Luci, unaware of the thoughts pooling up in the florist, was focused on the work on hand. He was being very gentle, cleaning Cass’ tongue and his surrounding mouth with antiseptic.
“Okay, that’s done,” Luci released his grasp on the other’s chin and turned around, rummaging for a marker. This gave Cass the chance to breathe, he felt like he was close to passing out. Just as Luci turned back around, he straightened up and composed himself.
“I’m going to mark your tongue now, and like I said─ Just try not to gag,” Luci emphasized, taking Cass’ chin in his hold once more. Tapping his index finger twice into the florist’s jaw, he smiled innocently. “Open up.”
I’m going to kill this guy.
Cass did, and this time, Luci actually held his tongue between his index and middle finger, caging it horizontally. Gold eyes widened in alarm as he felt a light jab at the top and bottom of his tongue.
“There we go,” Luci grinned, placing the marker down. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
The florist pressed his lips into a thin line. “Yeah, definitely.” He swallows just as Luci turns around to pick up a piercing clamp and a sterilized needle.
Minutes pass by in a blur and before Cass could register anything, the piercing was already done. Luci held up a mirror to show the florist the results, and Cass was stunned─in a good way.
“Holy shit,” the florist cursed, though his speech now had a slight slur to it, the effects of a new piercing. To which Luci silently chuckled at, tossing his gloves away.
“I better tell you now though,” Luci warns, crossing his arms. “Unless you want your piercing to get infected, I’d advise you to rinse your mouth a couple of times a day with a non-alcohol salt solution, you got that?”
Cass nods, surprised at how serious the tattooist is in this matter.
“Good. The first few days might be hard,” Luci alerted, gesturing for the florist to follow him out of the room. “You might have trouble eating solid food, talking and there’s gonna be a ton of swelling. My advice is to just suck on ice, it helps a lot. Also, we’ll have to schedule follow-up appointments so I can monitor you.”
Cass kept quiet, silently absorbing the information. He steps out of the curtains and notices the waiting room was now devoid of people. The front counter was empty, Zander must’ve gone out, he took note.
Luci takes over and slides into the front counter, Cass stood on the opposite side of it, taking out his wallet. He was about to pay when Luci pushed his hand back instead, smiling.
“It’s on the house.”
The florist looks at him dejectedly, eyebrows furrowed. He sighs, “You’ve gotta stop not letting me pay for stuff. I swear, Luci.” He reaches his hand out again, which Luci pushes back once more.
Cass narrows his eyes. What is this? Tug of war?
“I won’t accept your payment,” the tattooist shook his head, declining. There was a slight crinkle in his eyes. “You have favorite customer privileges.”
“It’s literally my first time here,” Cass sighs exasperatedly.
“Second, actually,” Luci corrects him, laughing. To which Cass grimaced.
They spend a minute looking at each other and Cass decides if he should just throw the money at the guy and start running at full speed. Though, the idea quickly died down as soon as Luci raised his eyebrows, as if he remembered something.
The tattooist picked up the bouquet and handed it back to the florist, who just tilted his head in confusion.
“What is this?” Cass asked, glancing down at the flowers.
“For you, dummy.”
“I know, but why?”
“I ordered them just so I could give them to you, now stop talking and just take it.”
Cass blinks, looking utterly confused but he takes them anyway since Luci doesn’t look like he’s refusing any time soon.
“Thank you?” The florist ignored the warmth blooming in his chest.
“You’re welcome. Say,” Luci grins, forearms propping onto the counter. “Since you work in a florist, you do have some decent knowledge about flowers, right?”
Cass nods, wondering where the tattooist was going with this.
Luci smiles and nods towards the bouquet of roses. “I hope you know what this means then?”
The florist glances down at the roses, the tip of his ears turning redder every passing second. Of course he knows. He had thought about this while packaging the flowers anyways, wondering who exactly had the tattoo artist wrapped around their finger.
There were exactly 7 roses, as he had last counted, which could only mean one thing:
I’m infatuated with you.