fic advent: day fifteen

[riots]

for natsudive ♥
kai/tao
pg, 2.4k words
au. someone gets a piercing.

You know, last night, when Jongin, Sehun and Chanyeol were doing their best to decimate their stash of beer, it had seemed like an amazing idea. “Girls love them,” Sehun had declared, and if Jongin had been a little less drunk he would've thought to ask him how he knew this, if he didn't have any piercings himself. Drunk Jongin was pretty willing to listen to Sehun's sage advice. “They make you look, like – ” Here, Sehun stumbled. His eyes were glassy and he bit his lip, one hand hovering in the air like he was reaching for his lost words. “Interesting.” He grinned, pleased.

“Dangerous,” Chanyeol suggested, and even as Jongin was laughing, he kind of liked the sound of that. Dangerous. Like someone who broke the rules.

Sehun eyed Chanyeol darkly. “You are a fucking idiot,” he told him, and Chanyeol had let out an outraged noise, shoving him.

It was too late, though. The idea had caught hold in Jongin's head, and by the time his brother had come to pick him up, he'd decided it. “Hyung,” he said, and Joonmyun just shifted his arm around Jongin's waist with a grunt. “Hyung, I am going to go get my ears pierced.”

“Alright,” Joonmyun told him, amused. He carefully lowered Jongin into the backseat. “You're not going to throw up in the car, are you?”

Jongin glowered in Joonmyun's general direction even as he curled up in the fetal position. “No,” he grumbled. “Weren't you listening?”

The hand that stroked through his hair was soothing. “Yes,” Joonmyun agreed. “Pierced ears. Big man. Exciting stuff.” If Jongin had had more energy, he would've punched him. As it was, he just scrunched up his face and groaned as Joonmyun shut the door.

“You suck,” he said as soon as Joonmyun had skirted the car and climbed into the front seat.

“Yeah,” Joonmyun said dryly. “I'm terrible.”

“The worst.” The late night air was biting and Jongin hunched his shoulders. “Hyung.” He was whining now. “I'm cold.” A jacket landed on his head, and he squirmed around so that it covered his torso. “Thanks, hyung.”

“Of course.” As his eyes slid shut, Jongin could see the fond upturned curve of Joonmyun's mouth, and he smiled himself.


-


Here, now, Jongin is way less relaxed. “Ow,” Sehun grimaces. “You're breaking my hand, you big baby. You haven't even signed the paperwork. Calm down.”

Jongin pulls his hand back into his own lap and glares at him. “Shut up,” he hisses. His head aches, and he can't decide if it's a hangover or just how clenched his teeth are. Sehun looks positively relaxed, long legs outstretched in front of him and crossed at the ankles. He's got one arm on the back of the leather couch and Jongin is pretty sure he hates him right now. “How do you know him, anyway?”

That's a smirk. Sehun is smirking at him. “We go way back,” Sehun says, which is unfair, because Jongin is his best friend. Shouldn't he know about these things? “There he is.”

“Sehun.” The guy who walks out from one of the backrooms is tall, even taller than Sehun, with a long nose and black hair that falls artfully into his eyes. Jongin's mouth goes dry. “What's up? How are they healing?”

Wait, what? Jongin's head whips around and he raises his eyebrows at Sehun, who promptly ignores him. He climbs to his feet and pulls the piercer into a tight hug, saying something that Jongin can't hear. He wants to be a bit resentful but whatever Sehun says makes his piercing artist laugh. The guy smiles, and it's smug and sharp and pleased and it makes Jongin's breath catch in his throat and he almost slips off the slick leather couch.

Unfortunately, the movement catches their attention. “Did you bring me a victim?” the piercer asks, fixing his eyes on Jongin. He can tell that he's having this effect on Jongin, and the feeling that twists Jongin's stomach is part embarrassment and part thrill.

“I just thought I'd get my ears done,” Jongin offers.

“Zitao, this is Jongin,” Sehun says. He has one hand resting casually on Zitao's shoulder. “Jongin, meet Zitao.”

Jongin scrambles up and holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you,” he says, and Sehun scoffs at his polite tone. Zitao's grip is firm and warm and Jongin smiles at him, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, you too,” Zitao says. He tips his head. “Well. Should we get some paperwork?” When he lets go and turns towards the desk, Jongin finds himself with his hand hovering in the air as he stares after him. Oh boy. Out of the side of his eye, he can see Sehun with one hand over his mouth, trying to swallow down his laughter. He's gonna kill him.

It only takes him a few minutes to fill out the forms and pay, and then Zitao is leading him into the backroom. Sehun moves to follow them, but Zitao stops him with a hand against his chest. “No spectators,” he tells Sehun, and his eyes flick over to Jongin. Delight surges in Jongin's chest. “Against the law.”

“That's not what you said last time,” Sehun points out darkly, but Zitao shuts the door firmly in his face.

The room is small, but neat, all sorts of individually packed metal tools arranged on a tray. Jongin assumes they're the tools of Zitao's trade. He sits down gingerly on the provided chair. He presses his index finger to his bottom lip and watches as Zitao straightens a few things, then pulls on a pair of black latex gloves.

“Alright,” Zitao says. He sits down on his own chair and wheels close. “Did you lose a bet, or what?” When Jongin gapes at him, he laughs. “You look, uh, nervous.”

He should've expected that. “Yeah,” Jongin agrees, digging his fingertips into his thighs. “Drunk plan, actually. Sober me is kind of not fond of sharp things near his head.”

Zitao rewards him with a laugh, and Jongin catches a flash of metal in his mouth. Jongin likes his eyes. Up close, they're softer than he expected, watchful. He's younger than Jongin had realized, too. Maybe that should worry him, but instead, Jongin finds himself relaxing under Zitao's gaze. “You know,” Zitao says. “You don't have to do it.”

It's tempting. Sehun might give him shit for a while, but he'd forget it eventually. “No,” Jongin says, and his eyes find Zitao's. He looks so pleased at that, and that makes Jongin scrunch his toes up in his shoes. “I'm gonna do it.”

“Good!” Zitao reaches back to pull his little table closer to them. Seeing the needles and clamps up close calls up the anxiety again. “They'll look nice, I think.” He reaches out and brushes one cool thumb against Jongin's earlobe. “Right here. Does that sound good?”

Jongin swallows. “Yes,” he says hoarsely.

“Hey,” Zitao says softly. “You're in good hands, I promise.” And Jongin doesn't doubt it, not for a second.

Zitao takes his time setting everything up and carefully marking Jongin's ears for the needle, low down on the lobe. Even if he is young, it doesn't show. He's clearly experienced, and every movement is precise and practiced. “Alright,” he says once he's got the clamp placed. “I'm going to count to three, okay?” He's dragged his chair even closer, and Jongin can feel the heat of him press against his shoulder. The cold of the metal on his ear, Zitao's elbow resting against his shoulder for balance, it all makes one thing starkly clear to Jongin: this is really happening. He's a bit lightheaded, and he can't tell if that's his nerves or the way that he can feel Zitao's breath against his neck. “One, two – ”

Zitao doesn't wait for three, doesn't give Jongin a chance to tense up in anticipation. The pain and surprise knocks the breath out of him, but Zitao is already threading the ring through. “You're doing great,” Zitao assures him, gently wiping the fresh piercing.

“You tricked me,” Jongin says, and Zitao grins.

“Yes,” he agrees, unrepentant. He tugs off his gloves with a snap and rests his bare hand against Jongin's knee. “Ready for the next one?”

He's already gotten this far, Jongin supposes. It wasn't even that bad anyway. “Of course,” Jongin tells him, and Zitao's smile broadens.

New gloves, new clamp, new needle. “Are you going to count to three again?” Jongin asks.

“It only really works the first time,” Zitao laughs. He shifts a little, getting himself comfortable, and then he's all business again. “I'm going to get you to inhale, nice and deep, and then exhale, alright?” The needle pushes through when Jongin exhales, and this time, it's not nearly so much of a shock. He focuses on the way that Zitao's knee presses against his and Zitao has the ring through in one quick motion, the blood mopped away in a second.

As Zitao tidies, Jongin sits and stretches a bit, working out the tension in his shoulders. He'd really thought it would hurt more, honestly. He's left with a dull ache in his ears, but it's nothing intolerable. When he reaches up to touch the rings, Zitao slaps his hands away. “No touching,” Zitao says, sternly. Jongin would feel chastised, except Zitao's fingers are still closed around his wrist, and he kind of likes it. “Especially for the first few days. Not unless your hands are freshly cleaned.”

“Yes, sir,” Jongin says, tucking his hands obediently between his knees.

Zitao quirks an eyebrow. “Oh, I like you when you're not all scared.” Jongin flushes. “C'mere.”

Jongin lets himself be pulled to his feet and lead to a mirror on the wall. He turns his head, admiring the new additions. His ears are a bit red but the piercings are even and it's nice work. “Thanks,” he says, and he can feel his whole face stretch into a grin. “Wait, do piercers get a tip? I don't have very much cash.”

The way that Zitao pauses for a second, eyes fixed on Jongin's lips, is incredibly gratifying. “I, uh,” Zitao stumbles, clears his throat. “I think this time, we can let it slide. On one condition.”

“What's that?”

In the mirror, Jongin can see Zitao tip his head. “You give me your number instead.”

Jongin's heart does a backflip. “Yeah,” he says, way too fast. “Yeah, okay.” Zitao's hand rests warm against his shoulder, and Jongin thinks that today is ending up pretty high on his list of awesome days.

When they come out again, Sehun is hunched over his phone, looking bored. He doesn't even look up, which sends a buzz of irritation through Jongin. “Did you pussy out?” he drawls.

Before Jongin can answer, Zitao speaks. “Nah, he did well.”

Sehun raises his eyebrows, finally dragging his eyes away from his phone. He gives Jongin a long look, under the pretence of examining his new piercings, and shrugs. “Not bad, I guess.” And the supportive best friend of the year award goes to Oh Sehun.

“They look pretty good,” Zitao argues. He nudges Jongin with his elbow. “If I do say so myself.” He grins, and Jongin can't help but grin back.

“Gross,” Sehun says, making a face as he looks from Zitao to Jongin and back again. His eyes are amused and knowing and Jongin is dying a slow, horrible death. “Anyway, thanks for looking after him.” He takes his time climbing to his feet and pocketing his phone again. “We've gotta be somewhere.”

Even as Sehun heads towards the door, Jongin lingers. “See you around?” he says.

“Definitely,” Zitao says, beaming.

From the door, Sehun groans. “Jongin, come on, I'm hungry.” Reluctantly, Jongin waves goodbye and follows him out. His ears ache, but it's a kind of pleasant ache, one that reminds him of Zitao's gentle voice and sharp smile, and he likes it.


-


It takes Joonmyun until halfway through dinner before he notices. “Oh,” he says, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. “Wait, you actually did it. Oh, wow.”

Jongin stuffs a mouthful between his lips and frowns. “Wow?” he mumbles. “What does that – ”

“Don't talk with your mouth full,” Joonmyun scolds and Jongin hunches his shoulders and falls silent.

“It means that he's horrified,” Sehun offers up helpfully. Jongin kicks him under the table.

When Sehun has quit moaning about his hurt leg, Joonmyun shakes his head. “No,” he says. “It means 'wow, it looks good'.” He rolls his eyes fondly and smiles. “Look at my little brother. All grown up.”

Jongin groans, but the corners of his mouth turned up, pleased. Sehun blinks at the two of them. “Why am I friends with you?” he asks, speaking to no one in particular. “You're both such complete embarrassments. You should've seen him at the shop.” This part is spoken around his chopsticks, directed at Joonmyun. “Mooning over Zitao.”

“I'm going to strangle you in your sleep,” Jongin tells him. He can feel his ears turning red. Sehun is unperturbed.

Joonmyun's eyes turn a bit calculating, and Jongin hates it when the two of them smell blood. It makes his life so hard. “Oh, really?” Joonmyun asks. Jongin wonders if it's bad manners if he just bolted and left.

In Jongin's lap, his phone vibrates, and he checks it discretely. has anyone ever told you what a tongue piercing is good for? He blushes and chokes and when Sehun peers over his shoulder at his phone, his laughter makes him want to melt into the floor.

Still, though, he remembers Zitao's grin. Between meeting him and getting his ears pierced, he supposes that things even out. He peeks at his phone again, his face hot. Especially with something as promising as that.