Work Text:
At night, while walking home after work, Khao was thinking about getting a tattoo. He had been thinking about it for a few days so, when he lifted his head and saw a tattoo shop he never noticed, thought it was the right moment to get it.
It was late but the shop was apparently still open so he walked in and immediately got welcomed by a smiling young boy.
His first thought, looking at him, was asking himself if the boy was an employee or a tattoo artist because he looked very young and kind, with a beautiful skin. He had several tattoos but, at a first look, Khao noticed a beautiful fancy sun on one side of the neck and another one on the side of his torso, that he couldn't see properly, hidden under his arm and a greenish tank top.
"Welcome" He said smiling wildly. Khao was spontaneously driven to smile back at him and be the kindest he could. "Hi. I'd like to get a tattoo, if possible." He simply said.
The guy didn't waste a minute and immediately turned around while speaking "sure, follow me into the other room. I need your personal info and your sign for the safety contract, then we can proceed. Do you already have any idea of what you'd like to do? Is it your first tattoo by chance?"
Khao followed him and started to speak only after the other guy leaned him a paper and pen, pointing at where he had to sign.
"It's not my first tattoo and I'd like to have a sentence written on my thigh." He finished writing on the paper and, once again, instinctively smiled just by looking at the other's bright energy.
The guy looked at the paper "Thank you, Khaotung. Now, let's go to get you tattooed" said cheerfully.
"May I ask for your name?" Spoke quietly Khao. He wasn't a talkative person and, by seeing how much the other was talking, having an awkward silence was unlikely to happen anytime soon. He could just let the other talk, stay put to get his tattoo done and leave, but something about him was making the atmosphere so warm and comfortable that he was really getting interested into this sunny person.
"My name as a tattoo artist is Yok, but you can call me First" He replied, placing all the tools he needed ready to be used.
"So he's really the tattoo artist of this place" thought Khao. It's not like he didn't expect it, he was the only one in the shop at that hour, but he still looked very young to already be a professional.
"And may I ask your age? I wouldn't like to be impolite." Asked, sitting on a chair nearby.
"I'm 24. We must be around the same age, right?" Replied First sitting on another chair.
Khao nodded smiling and First started speaking again. "Okay, let's see what beautiful tattoo we're getting today. Do you have a picture? Or if do you want to describe it."
Khao took out his phone and showed him a Korean sentence with a standard font: 엄마 아무 걱정하지 말아요. "I'd like it just as simple as this" He said.
First smiled and went to his desk to do a sketch of the tattoo while explaining everything he was doing and how much time it was going to take him. "Can I have your phone for a bit so I can write down the sentence? I'm not that practical with Korean" said, adding a little laugh at the end.
Khao pushed his chair to the desk and left his phone into First's hands but, when the other took it, his eyes hesitated on the other's. "Can I ask you what's the meaning of this sentence? If it's not too personal. It's okay if you don't want to say it"
For the following five minutes, Khao explained his plan on why he choose to get that as a tattoo: it meant "mom, don't worry" and it was meant to be for his mom that is always worried about him. It was actually a sentence from a Korean song that he liked and decided he wanted it written on his body.
After the sketch was done, First asked Khao to take off his pants and sit on the tattoo bed.
"I'm going to shave the part I'm going to be tattooing, okay?"
Khao had never felt that relaxed before. Not that he expected to be nervous for getting another tattoo, but First was making everything more enjoyable than expected.
When First finally started tattooing, he still kept talking over the noise of the machine.
"You were saying it's not your first tattoo, right? So you already experienced the well known tattoo pain. The first time is always the most feared one. Does it hurt right now?"
Khao was peacefully looking at the ceiling. "Not really, my other tattoo was more painful."
First lifted his face for a second to look at the other's face, but accidentally pushed the needle deeper than before and Khao let out a soft groan.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't make it on purpose." Apologized First, quickly going back to look at his work. "Where is your other tattoo?" Asked eventually.
"It's on my hip. How many do you have?" Replied Khao intrigued.
First put down the tattoo gun for a moment and pointed at his tattoos. "These birds on my shoulder were my first tattoo, then I got this on my arm and the sun on my neck is my latest one..." Then he lifted his right arm to show his other tattoo visible under the big holes of his tank top "...and this was my second one. 母, it means mother in chinese" and smiled wildly at Khao, before going back to his job.
"Can I touch it?" Asked Khao after looking at him in silence for a moment.
"You mean my tattoo? Sure" replied First, leaving his tattoo gun once again on the little table next to him.
They were enjoying each other's company and both of them apparently wanted a reason to spend the most amount of time together.
Khao gently caressed First's 母 tattoo like it was the most interesting thing on Earth but, when First realized he had been staring at him for the whole time, he cleared his throat and said awkwardly "I'll get back at finishing the tattoo, we don't want to stay here all night, right?"
Khao was getting a bit excited by how First’s hand was on his thigh, how the tattoo gun was making him feel shivers through his lower body.
"Or maybe I do." Said with a flirting voice Khao.
First didn't say anything and didn't move any other muscle other than his hand to keep tattooing, but Khao was looking at his expression and, for a second, he saw his eyes darkening.
The statement kept surrounding the atmosphere till First finished the tattoo and gently helped Khao sit up.
"Stay sat for a bit just to make sure you're okay. I'm going to cover it so it doesn't touch anything that might cause an infection. After that, take care of it and if anything unexpectedly happens, you can call me or come back here." Told him First, going to tidy the room.
When everything was done and Khao got dressed up again, they both walked to the exit and First spoke again. "I'm closing the shop, after you. Well, I wish you a goodnight and don't hesitate to contact me for anything."
Before opening the door, Khao turned to look at First and asked "What if I ask you to have a late night snack together at my place?"
First visibly blushed and stuttered a bit while replying "I don't think it's a good idea. You should rest. It will be for another time maybe."
He gave Khao a big smile again and the other couldn't do anything other than smile back, wish him a goodnight and walk to his way home, hoping to meet him again.
A couple of days after, Khao was asked to work as a makeup artist for a studio photoshoot. He was informed that the concept was going to portray "how people perceive others". It was meant to show how clothes can change someone in other people's eyes.
He did some research and came up with the final product to show to the artistic team at the photoshoot. Everything was going smoothly and he was enjoying this new project.
Around a month later, the day of the actual photoshoot, he was on the set early to make sure everything was ready. The photos were going to be a lot and the whole team was going to spend a lot of time with wardrobe changes and makeup fixing; he wanted everything to go as fast as possible and not delay for any kind of accident.
The time was passing and the whole team was reuniting, the only one missing was the clothing responsible and the model that was supposed to arrive at any moment.
Khao got a call while he was waiting at his makeup workspace, it was the only artistic team member that was missing. He was very sick and couldn't make it to the set so he asked Khao to take care of the clothes for him. All the stuff was already on the set and divided by photos session, he gave Khao some specific details he wanted to include, but trusted him on making a good job. They had to work together on the concept anyway, so Khao was familiar with what he had in mind.
He reported the call informations to the team and went to check on the clothing he had to take care of. While doing so, the photography director announced that the model had arrived and presented him to the team.
From someone else's point of view, it could've meant nothing but, for Khao, what he saw was a life changer experience. This photoshoot was going to have a whole different meaning to him now. The model that he had in front of him was the tattoo artist that he met weeks before and wished to meet again. And he was looking at him. Khao was sure they were both recalling that night while looking at each other's eyes.
"Let's get to work." Said the director. "I'd like to have the first set of photos as you're dressing right now. I'll introduce you to the makeup artist so he can get you ready before the shooting. First, this is Khao. Khao, the model and my dear friend First."
Their eyes weren't leaving each other's and a spontaneous smile appeared on both of their faces.
"We've met before. Glad to see you again." Smiled First greeting the other.
First was the same sunshine ball Khao remembered, but from First's point of view, something into Khao's eyes had changed. There was something different, he looked more mature and with a strange flame in his eyes when he was looking at him.
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that." Continued the director. "Okay team. First is getting his makeup fixed and in 5 minutes we'll start the photoshoot. Get ready." Then walked away, towards the camera set.
"So you're a makeup artist. I didn't expect it." Said First, following Khao to his workspace.
"What did you expect?" Asked Khao smiling and taking his brushes.
"Nothing really, I didn't think about it, just... it's a surprise." Replied First, closing his eyes to let Khao do his job.
"Surprise in a good or bad way?" Asked again Khao.
"Good, good, it's a pleasant surprise." Quickly made sure that his words weren't mistaken First, while opening his eyes.
Khao, that was already really close, put a hand around his neck. "Stay still." Said softly to his ear.
First suddenly went silent and his cheecks turned into a reddish shade.
"If you blush this much, even the makeup won't cover it" flirted Khao smiling at what he had done with just two words.
"It's hot inside here. Isn't there any fan or something?" Panicked First, looking around when Khao turned around to get a lipstick.
"Everything for you, big boy." Answered Khao, taking off a small fan from his bag and handing it to the other. "Let's see how much makeup do I have to use on your cheecks by the end of the shooting." Said after, holding his chin and appling the lipstick with his pinky.
A moment later he spoke again "we're done here. Go give them those pictures they want." Winked at him smiling.
First smiled and thanked him, walking away heading to the center of the set.
Ten minutes later, the director announced that they had enough pictures and asked everyone to pass to the next concept: an elegant gentleman, no tattoos and a serious but friendly vibe.
Khao gave First his next set of clothing and showed him the room where he could get changed. "Get dressed and I'll come back to fix the look later" let him know Khao. First smiled and closed the door.
Five minutes later, Khao was adjusting his shirt, adding jewelry and going back to change his makeup to give him a more mature vibe, including covering his neck tattoo. Everything while First kept talking and asking question and Khao gently smiling and answering.
When he was almost done and was fixing his shoes, Khao stood up and moved close to First's face.
"Shhhh" whispered seductively, cutting his words in the middle of a sentence. He then applied a different type of lipstick from the previous one and teased the other again "exactly what was missing. Your cheecks were missing a bit of color, now they have the right amount of red."
First gave him a punch on the arm and walked away without saying a word. Khao, on the other hand, was chuclking and enjoying how he was making the other flustered.
This shooting took more time but Khao wasn't complaining and enjoying watching from afar. By analyzing his body proportions, Khao came to the conclusion that probably every type of clothing would suit First, but he was definitely enjoying the black suit he was wearing, and the attitude he was showing. He was sexy, Khao couldn't deny any for the feelings he was having.
A staff member called him some time after to fix the makeup because First was sweating due to the lights.
He happily got close to him, wiping away the sweat and adjusting the makeup. He then pretended to get close to him to style his hair and whispered "look up for your next pose. You look beautiful". Without looking at the reaction, he walked away, already knowing his cheecks were turning red.
The next outfit was going to portray a soft and comfortable type of vibe. First was going to wear a brown sweater with black pants. He got changed and, once again, Khao made his makeup match the new outfit.
"You look so cuddly wearing this that I could hug you." Admitted Khao fixing the sweater collar.
First giggled and replied "I'm a tough guy, I don't get hugs." He said it with a funny voice to make it feel like he was joking but then Khao really wrapped his arms around his waist and First was so taken aback that took a step back. Khao giggled and said "I already told you earlier to stay still. I'm adding a belt under your sweater, I'm not hugging you." Thought about what he said for a second and added "but I can give you one if you want."
They got called from the director and Khao giggled hearing that First took a deep breath, probably thanking for this sudden luck that made him escape the situation.
This time Khao was on the set because they wanted to make a little change during the shooting. He was sat enjoying the view, smiling and catching everytime First was glancing in his direction. The one time First was less obvious about looking at him, Khao blowed him a kiss, making First throw back his head laughing while holding the back of his neck with his hands. The director liked the pose without questioning the reason behind it and told him to stay still while he was taking more photos.
When this other set was done, it was already lunch time. Everyone took a break and moved to the table full of food prepared for the crew.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Said Khao to First's ear slipping by his side.
First turned around quickly and laughed "you don't even pay this food, it's free."
Khao hold a cup of juice and handed it to him "Do you accept it or not?" Said smiling.
First gave up and took it sipping it but immediately after he pouted "You made me laugh while a was working earlier."
They were taking the food into small plates and moving to a quieter spot where they could sit down.
"You should thank me. The director liked it." Replied Khao, eating some rice and vegetables.
They kept chitchatting for the whole lunchtime. At moments they were having a conversation, at others First was the only one talking and Khao was peacefully listening to him.
"Time to get back to work, team" announced the director. "It's the student set now."
Khao looked at First, his eyes darkening "uhh, we're getting to the ending of this shooting."
First looked confused "what do you mean?"
Khao just walked away saying "You'll find out soon. I know your next outfits."
First took the plate Khao left on the chair he was sitting on and threw it away with his. Then he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get refreshed before getting back to the photoshoot.
"Nong came back!" cheered Khao, giving First the new clothes when he returned.
"Ahah funny" replied the other, taking the school uniform he had to wear for the upcoming set.
When he came out of the room, Khao fixed his shoes and pants but noticed something "you didn't tell me you had another tattoo on your ankle." Said lifting his head to look at him.
"Oh I even forgot. It's just a silly smiling emoji." Replied smiling First.
"I like it" said Khao, brushing his finger on top of it, sending shivers to First's body. Khao's touch was so gentle and, watching him admiring his tattoos, was making First's heart melt.
"Aannd you're a perfect prefect. Go punish some naughty students" said Khao standing up, giving him a pat on his back.
"You're having way too much fun with this." Replied First.
"Oh I sure do, nong" smiled Khao in reply.
"Stop calling me that." Sulked First, walking away to the set once again.
"Okay, nong" said Khao rising a bit his voice to be heard despite the distance, gaining a fake angry look by First. Dressed like that, First was looking at least five years younger and was so adorable in Khao's eyes.
"Khao" called him the director a couple of minutes later "could you add a necklace to the outfit?"
"Sure" he replied, searching for a specific one that was going to be perfect for the outfit. It was a round necklace, it had a sun and a little moon inside it, making it look like an eclipse.
He found it and went to the set to put it on First.
"You need it more than I do" Told him Khao making First confused "What?" He said.
Khao shaked his head and replied "it's what a person told me when they gave it to me."
He then brushed his thumb against his neck smiling, making it look like accidental, and left to prepare for the next outfit.
The next change of clothing was going to fluster Khao, he already knew, but looking at him right in front of him was more than expected. First was wearing an elegant pair of beige pants with an opened white shirt.
Khao swallowed and helped him wear the matching beige jacket he had to have on top.
"Last thing" whispered Khao pulling out a pair of sunglasses and making him wear it "You look so baddie, mafia boss." He said smirking.
The mafia was the concept of the next shooting, the last before the big finale.
Khao was starting to get nervous, he was enjoying it way too much, to the extent to leave the professionalism behind and follow whatever his body wanted to do.
From the corner where they were standing, Khao was getting dangerously close to First's lips. He just wanted a quick kiss, it couldn't be much of a big deal, right?
"Guys, are you ready?" Called them the director.
First jumped back while Khao started coughing. "Yes, he's ready." Replied Khao refusing to meet First's eyes.
"I- I'm- ehm" stuttered First making some panicked gestures "I'm- I'm going then" and awkwardly left Khao behind.
Before he could turn around, Khao looked at his face and cursed at himself "fuck, his cheeck are so red. Shit, I shouldn't have done it."
He then rushed to the bathroom cause he needed to calm down, especially before the last set.
When he came back, they were looking for him. "Oh here you are. Could you put some makeup on First? His cheecks are too reddish. Oh, and a bit more of lipstick." Asked him a team member.
"Fuck, why does he blush that much?!" thought Khao, but smiled and got to the set.
"Stop blushing that hard" whispered Khao to First's face.
"Then you stop flirting with me" replied back at him.
"Then you stop being that sexy." Those words slipped Khao's mouth before he could hold them back. He let the confession settle between them since he was too focused at fighting demons for applying the lipstick on his lips.
He looked at where his eyes were behind the sunglasses and left, admitting what he was feeling towards him and making sure the other knew that he was serious.
"Good job everyone, we're at the last shooting." Spoke out loud the director. "This is the most important and artistic one. The model is going to be naked to portray that no matter what we wear and what we look like, everyone is the same. We're all humans." Then he turned to talk to First "Are you ready?"
First was suddently hit by the memory of their meeting before signing the contract. He knew he had to pose naked, he signed for it and was completely okay with it because it was an artistic matter, but, because he had been only focusing on Khao, he completely forgot.
"Yeah..." Replied not very convinced.
The director smiled at him "don't esitate to ask for anything you want to make you feel more comfortable."
First walked to the changing room without looking at Khao, well knowing his eyes were on him.
While taking off his clothes, First repeatedly told himself that he had to stay professional, he was working and had to stay focused on it.
He put on a robe and walked out of the room.
The director spoke "Khao, stay on the set and fix the makeup accordingly to the pose. I'll give you directions later. Let's finish today's work smoothly."
First and Khao walked side by side while looking at the ground, in complete silence for the first time during the day. It was an awkward silence full of tension.
Khao repressed his necessity to curse when First took off the robe and sat for the first pose.
"Khao, his first pose is manly showing his back. Take care of it." Said the director.
Khao kneeled near First and started using his cosmetics, fighting the urge to touch his skin.
"Okay that's enough, thanks" Told him the director.
The next pose had First crossing his legs and turning to the camera.
"Khao, the shoulders" Spoke again the director.
Khao again did his job, avoiding eye contact and forgetting his ability to talk. Even First was in the same condition, but he was also nervous for all the people around him.
"First, you're a bit stiff. Relax" encouraged him the director.
"I'm a bit uncomfortable with all these eyes looking at me." Laughed awkwardly First.
It was a lie, the only eyes that were bothering him were only two. Even if everyone left at that exact moment and Khao was the only one in the room, it would've been too much.
"Okay. Anyone that isn't working to the cameras, lighting and makeup, please leave so we can make First feel more comfortable." Said clapping the hands the director. "For the next pose I want his arms thrown back to show his chest. Khao..." Said calling him once again implying what he wanted him to do.
Khao now was trembling while covering his chest with makeup.
"Be professional" whispered him First.
"I'm trying!" Replied whispering as well Khao, clenching his teeth.
The last pose came with so much tension between them that even the director noticed there was something wrong.
When Khao came back to stand out of the set, the director patted his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Asked him.
Khao smiled at him and came up with the first excuse he could think off. "Yeah yeah, I'm feeling a bit sick. Maybe it's the hot temperature of the room"
The director smiled back and encouraged him "endure it a bit. It's the last shooting."
When he finished adjusting the last pose, Khao left the set. He was really feeling like fainting now.
There was a little bed inside the changing room so he decided to lay down until the work was done and the crew could leave, his job was done anyway.
Five minutes later, First wore his robe again and came into the changing room blowing out air from his mouth, releasing all the nervousness from his body. Only later, he noticed Khao laying down on the bed. He froze, questioning why he was there but then he noticed that Khao had fallen asleep, and his heart melted.
He got close to him, kneeling on the floor, and moved a stand of his hair, smiling at his cuteness. "When you're beat, you're pretty cute." whispered First smiling.
Khao opened his eyes slowly, meeting First's face really close to his and raised his hand to hold the back of First's neck, pulling him softly closer.
They both closed their eyes and felt shivers running through their bodies when their lips touched.
They kept kissing while Khao sat up and put his other hand on First's waist. First put his hands on the other's shoulders and pulled back from the kiss.
"We should stop" He said, standing up and turning around.
Khao was so confused by the other's actions and the fact that he had just woke up that stayed there silent, staring at his back. Then, he looked to the side where there was a mirror reflecting his image from the side. First was aroused, that's why he asked him to stop.
"Fine" said Khao standing up. He then moved closer to First and bit his neck, right were his sun tattoo was. "I'll leave" said jokingly.
"Owww" shouted First, bringing his hand to cover where Khao had bitten him and turning to look at the other leaving the room. He then shook his head and took his clothes to get dressed.
When he came out, almost everyone had left and he couldn't see Khao anywhere, so he just walked out of the studio.
"Hey! Are you leaving me behind?" Asked Khao, running towards him before First closed the door.
"I didn't see you. I thought you had already left." Explained First.
"How could I leave without you?" Khao said before complaining, looking up at the sky "Oh no it's raining."
First smiled and walked in the rain, extending out his hand towards Khao. "C'mon, it's just water."
Khao spontaneously reached out for First’s hand but still complained "but we'll get wet and it's cold."
First hold his hand and pulled him under the rain as well. "It's just rain, Khao. Enjoy it."
Still holding his hand, he ran away from the studio set and Khao forgot about his complainings the moment he saw First's big smile and felt blessed when, a moment later, he heard his giggles after he jumped into a puddle.
They got near a fountain and Khao immediately stopped, making First trip over and get pulled back into Khao's arms.
They stayed there, panting and giggling, looking at each other's eyes.
"Go out with me, First" Asked Khao, looking at him with so much love in his eyes.
First giggled and replied "You're obsessed with me." But Khao was waiting in expectation so, after a moment where First stayed silent, smiling and admiring him "Okay" he said.
He cupped Khao's face into his hands and kissed him softly, enjoying the lips he had wanted to taste for a month and that, since the earlier kiss they had, he knew he couldn't live without from that moment on.
When they broke apart, Khao ran his hand through First's hair, admiring him and thanking the moment he walked into that tattoo shop one month earlier. First, instead, was brushing his thumb against Khao's cheeck, thinking of how grateful he was to have met a person that could match his energy.
And they stayed there, in their bubble of love, regardless of the rain and the cold, having their love to warm them against the weather, dreaming of their upcoming future, knowing that, from that moment on, they were going to have each other to fulfill what they had been missing.