“Ah , actually let me do something real quick, sorry princess.” Wendy sighed.

She pulled out her phone, and opened her messages to her conversation with Joy.

Me

hey satan, you gonna be here soon? I’m DYING here

S(atan)ooyoung

jfc much

i’m busy ;)

Me

don't be gross sooyoung just hurry up :/

Wendy put her phone back in her pocket, and annoyedly sighed, remembering she had to replace her gloves again and resterilize herself.

“Take your time Seungwannie, I’m okay.” Irene said.

“Thank you, my friends are just, having issues of their own apparently.” Wendy said from the sink, washing her hands.

“How so?”

“Well about 20 minutes before you walked in, I found two of my coworkers making out in my office. One left, and I had to deal with the other. I didn’t even know they were like, together, or whatever.”

“Ah.” Irene nodded.

“And I’m the only one here right now because I made them go talk out their feelings at the cafe down the street, and my other friend stays with her girlfriend on Monday nights, so I let her take off Tuesdays.” Wendy said, unintentionally rambling on.

Wendy had finished washing her hands and she placed a new pair of gloves on. She walked back to Irene and started preparing her materials. Irene was silent, probably out of nerves.

“You know, you’re so beautiful Wan.” Irene blurted out, “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so beautiful, inside and out.” she finished.

Wendy smiled, and she felt her cheeks growing hot. “Thank you.“ she paused, unsure how to continue without making a fool of herself, “I’m gonna get started now, and because your tattoo is so small and only one color, it shouldn’t be too long.”

Wendy put some ink on the needle, the buzzing of the machine made Irene noticeably wince on the table.

“Is there anything I can do to make you comfortable?” Wendy said, concerned.

Irene shook her head. “Ah- I’ll, I’ll be okay. Just please be gentle.”

Wendy nodded. The bells on the door chimed, and Yeri and Joy walked in together, hand in hand.

“Hey! Get over here you two.” Wendy beckoned, “Come say hi to Irene.” Wendy couldn’t help but notice the matching goofy smiles on their faces.

Yeri and Joy, swinging their intertwined hands together, walked over to where Irene was laying on the tattoo bench, and where Wendy was finishing putting ink in the needle.

“Wan we aren’t your parents, you don’t have to introduce us to your girlfriend.” Yeri said, a smirk on her face.

“Well yeah but maybe you should introduce me to yours, Yerm.” Wendy fired back, darting her eyes to the women’s hands.

Yeri and Joy exchanged glances, both women blushing severely.

Wendy revelled in the silence from the usually obnoxious duo. “What, are you going soft Yerimmie?” Wendy said, a wide smirk on her face.

Yeri instantly withdrew her hand from Joy’s and curled it into a fist. “What did you say, Weenie? Never.” she replied, visibly tense at the comment.

Joy rolled her eyes and backhanded Yeri’s arm, earning her a hurt look from the shorter woman. Joy sighed loudly and put her hand, palm up, in reach of Yeri’s hand.

“I’m only soft for Joy.” Yeri replied, huffing and reintertwining her and Joy’s fingers. She blushed bright red and Joy stood, satisfied, next to her. Joy smiled triumphantly as Yeri stood on her tippie toes to kiss her cheek.

“I told her she can’t be emotionally incompetent anymore.” Joy said.

“Yeah yeah, look at me! Already a victim of Park Sooyoung’s irresistible charm…” Yeri said teasingly, smiling up at her warmly.

“You guys are adorable together.” Irene chimed in.

“We know! But we can’t help but feel sad for poor lonely, and SINGLE, Wannie over there.” Joy said in mock pity. Sooyoung winked at Irene, who giggled and looked at Wendy, whose face was sheet-white.

“Get out of here you stupid lovebirds! I better not find you guys making out in my office anymore. Or anywhere, actually.” Wendy deadpanned. The two women walked away and began chatting at Joy’s station at the other side of the shop.

Wendy placed her fingers on Irene’s thigh, steadying the skin she was about to tattoo. She hoped Irene wouldn’t notice the slight shake in her hand. Her own skin went electric when she touched Irene, and she hoped that her nerves wouldn’t get in the way of her work.

“Alright, I’m gonna get started. Try not to move, and let me know if you’re uncomfortable, princess. This is all about you.” Wendy said, her voice low in concentration, willing as hard as she could for her hand to stop subtly trembling.

Wendy adjusted the gun in her hands and started the motor, the needle oscillating and buzzing accordingly. She lowered it to Irene’s thigh and made contact.

She began outlining the first small line on the outside of Irene’s thigh. Irene mewled in response, twitching her leg subconsciously. Wendy continued to outline, and Irene let out a series of whimpers as Wendy neared closer to her hip bone, which was more sensitive.

“You okay princess?” She said, continuing to focus on her work.

Irene let out a weak “Mhm.” and stopped moving her leg.

“Thank you for being still.” Wendy said, and she had finished a quarter of the crown. “I’m gonna give you a break, how do you like it so far?” Wendy said, wiping the excreting blood and ink from Joohyun’s thigh with a washcloth.

Irene, despite the lack of color on her face, smiled widely. “Looks great, but... can I ask a favor?”

Wendy nodded, continuing to examine her work.

“Can you… sing for me?” Irene said, her voice quiet. “You’re known for that right?”

Wendy nodded, this was a typical request from her clients, so she didn’t think much of it. She tried to think of something calming, and her mind immediately went to “What You Won’t Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell, the song she had on repeat when she first drew Irene’s tattoo.

Wendy switched on the motor in the machine and started to tattoo Irene again. The older woman winced and groaned as she felt the needle against her skin, until Wendy started to sing.

I guess you wonder where I’ve been

The buzzing of the machine served as Wendy’s only backing.

I searched to find a love within

Irene had stopped whining at the pain, and it was clear she was hooked on every one of Wendy’s melodious and honey-like words. Wendy felt the muscles in Irene’s thigh relax.

I came back to let you know

Got a thing for you and I can’t let go

My friends wonder what is wrong with me

Well I’m in a daze from your love, you see

I came back to let you know

Got a thing for you and I can’t let go

Wendy was almost halfway done with the tattoo now. Her voice soothed Irene, and she had stopped fidgeting on the table the second Wendy had started singing. Wendy paused at the end of the verse to steal a glance at Irene. She had her eyes closed, and a soft smile on her face. She looked so serene and Wendy couldn’t help but mirror her smile.

“Almost done, princess.” Wendy said, and Irene’s eyes fluttered open.

“I could listen to your voice all day.”

“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone!” Joy piped in from the opposite corner of the store.

Wendy rolled her eyes and refocused on the task at hand. She was done with the first outline, and now she just had to go over the details to finish the lacy look of the tattoo. Wendy explained the last of what she had to finish, and Irene nodded in understanding.

Wendy started the drone of the machine again, and kept singing.

Some people go around the world for love

But they may never find what they dream of

What you won't do, to do for love

You tried everything but you don't give up

In my world only you

Make me do for love what I would not do

Wendy finished up the tattoo, and the rest of the song. She wiped away the remaining mess she had made, and inspected her work. This was one of her favorite tattoos, easily.

“You’re all done!” she chirped. “You can sit up princess, but just be careful.”

Irene sat up gingerly and hung her legs off the side of the bench. She examined the tattoo and the angry red skin around it. Her face was unreadable, and Wendy was growing nervous as Irene stared at the tattoo silently.

“I love it.” she finally said. A beaming smile spread on her face. Wendy tidied her workspace and let Joohyun further gawk at her handiwork.

Wendy finished cleaning herself up and went back to where Irene was sitting. She still had to wrap up her tattoo, which meant positioning herself between Irene’s dangling legs. She slowly scooted her chair towards Irene, hesitant to look at her.

“Hi,” she said, smiling awkwardly at Irene from between the older woman’s legs “Can lift your leg, yeah like that-” she continued, her voice wavering. Irene had placed her leg over Wendy’s shoulder in a way that gave Wendy leverage to wrap the clear material over her tattoo, her heel digging into Wendy’s shoulder.

Wendy was blushing profusely, and Irene was grinning down at her. Wendy, who was feigning intense interest in her work, so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with her, didn’t notice that Irene had bent down to whisper in her ear.

“I could get used to you between my legs.” She drawled, brushing Wendy’s hair away from her eyes.

Wendy loudly swallowed and her fingers fumbled away from the slick material of the wrap. “You’re all done!” she squeaked out, rolling her chair away as quickly as she could. She scurried over to her desk and began organizing her tools to avoid looking at Irene before the intense blush on her face could subside.

Irene loudly laughed and hopped down gently from the bench.

“Seriously though, thank you Seungwan. It’s beautiful!” Irene said, approaching Wendy from behind and placing her hand on the younger woman’s back.

Wendy hadn’t been more flustered in her life. “A-Ah yes, o-o-kay, I’ll just take you up front then.” Wendy said. She hadn’t told her, but Wendy had decided to do the tattoo pro bono. The women walked up to the front counter, Irene following Wendy closely.

Wendy grabbed a pamphlet about tattoo aftercare for Irene from the front desk. “Here- please promise me you’ll do all of this.” Wendy said, handing the brochure to her.

“Anything for you, Wan.” Irene replied. “So what’s the damage then?” she continued, fishing for her credit card in her purse.

“Nothing, princess.” Wendy said, a warm smile on her face.

Irene stopped what she was doing, agape and her eyes bulging. “What? W-Wan I can’t let you do that..” She said, shocked.

“Well you’re gonna have to, because suddenly-” she stopped and fiddled with something on the cash register, and it made a peculiar ding. “-the cash register is broken. We don’t accept cash, credit, or debit.” Wendy said, smiling slyly.

“Maybe I have a compromise then?” Irene’s eyes glinted mischievously.

“I’m listening.” Wendy said, eagerly anticipating Irene’s proposal.

“How about I take you out then, on a dinner date.” Irene offered, mimicking Wendy’s nonchalant tone.

Wendy smiled, and so did Irene.

“I’d love that, Joohyun, and just in case you didn’t notice,” Wendy said, taking the pamphlet from Irene and pointing to a corner on the inside flap, “here’s my number.”

“You’re clever huh?” Irene said, smirking. “I’ll text you, but is Saturday night okay?”

Wendy nodded. “I’ll see you then, princess.”