"Hi I'm Kales," you said sticking your hand out to the kid who looked barely eighteen sitting in your chair.

You had to stifle and hide your smile when you saw him wearing an Avenged Sevenfold shirt.

"Yeah I know who you are, I requested a tattoo by you before I turned eighteen, figuring it wouldn't be until after my birthday that I got in. But it was worth it, I've been waiting for this for forever. You do the best work I've ever seen, you've got a talent and way with ink that I don't think is matched by anyone," the kid said all in one breath almost.

"Well I'm honored by your devotion, and I hope to live up to your expectations. What's your name?" you asked, honored for some reason by this kids devotion to your work.

"I'm Jonas," he said following you towards your station.

"Well Jo," you started and were interrupted by the bell ringing rather loudly as the front door was loudly slammed open.

"Kales babe," you heard shouted.

Groaning you shook your head, wondering why your work place was being invaded. Looking up you smiled at the bassist.

"Yes Johnny?" you asked.

"I wanted to get inked by you while we were home, and decided now was a good time," Johnny said, sounding as if it was actually possible.

"For one, how do you have time to do this? Second, in case you don't remember what it's like to be me, and I know it's hard with the life you lead, but it's crazy nuts. I'm booked solid, not only that, I'm over booked for, well till the end of time. This poor kid here has waited months to see me, all of mine have," you said, sounding worn out and a little ticked off at the interruption of your day.

"Well answer number one, I got all the bass lines finished for today so had time to kill and realized that I don't have any ink by you yet. And two, this kid won't mind if I take his spot. Will ya?" Johnny asked Jonas.

"His name is Jonas, and HE has an APPOINTMENT," you said, stressing the two words.

"So Jonas ol' buddy, ol' pal, whatdya say?" Johnny asked.

"Jonas don't listen to the moron I claim as a close friend. He," you started but were interrupted.

"No it's okay. I'll give you my spot if you'll do me one small favor," Jonas said, asking Johnny more than you.

"Name it kid," Johnny said, still not aware that he was wearing his face plastered on his chest.

"Sign my shirt?" Jonas asked, a little scared.

"Huh?" Johnny asked.

You grabbed his attention and jabbed your head down towards Jonas's shirt, trying to get him to see that he was wearing an Avenged Sevenfold shirt.

"Well fuck me running kid. No problem. Not only that, but I'll pay for your tattoo as well, since mine won't take all that long," Johnny said cheerfully as he sat down into your chair in the kids place and rifled through your drawers for a sharpie.

"Are you serious?" Jonas asked, shocked beyond belief.

"Sure, sure. Wait. You're not getting like a whole back piece done that is costing like thousands of dollars are you?" Johnny asked warily.

You tried getting Jonas's attention by nodding your head emphatically up and down, trying to get him to say yes he was.

"Nah, just the bats from your guys cd is all. One on each shoulder," Jonas said, ignoring your enthusiastic head bobbing.

"Even better. So Kales, ink me up. I want to be done before we go eat," Johnny said enthusiastically.

"Ugh. What do you want Seward?" you asked as you got ready.

"Just somethin small, on my arm. Make it up as you go, I want something completely your design," Johnny said as he leaned back and began to doze, trusting you to not lead him astray.

-xXx-


"Looks beautiful Kales," Johnny said for the hundredth time as he admired the piece in the mirror as he waited for Jonas to be finished.

"I got it when you first said it half an hour ago," you grumped.

"Ooo someone's grumpy wumpy today," Johnny teased.

You couldn't help but crack a smile, you could never stay grumpy long with Johnny around. It was the same with Jimmy, there was always a smile plastered on your face within them being within five feet of you for any period of time. It didn't help that Johnny had the entire place cracking up at his antics, making the already enjoyable workplace even more enjoyable.

"There you are Jonas, two new A7X bats," you said wiping his tatts down for the last time before he got to check them out in the mirror, still occupied by Johnny.

"So cool. No one is going to believe me when I tell them everything. Thanks so much Kales," Jonas said as he admired the work-woman-ship of the ink.

"Hey what am I? Chopped liver?" Johnny asked, putting on a good show of being offended.

"Smells like it," Cares said from her work area.

"Oh real smooth Cares, very recess school yard-ish of you. Way to go," Johnny said, giving her a sarcastic round of applause.

"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week," Cares said as she stood up and bowed much to the cheers of the people in the parlor.

"All right I have to jet. Kales, hope to see you laters. Jonas, keep it real buddy. I'm off like a bridesmaid dress," Johnny said before dashing out of the parlor.

"The friends you keep Kales," Zarin said shaking his head from the desk up front.

"Don't remind me," you said shaking your head.

-xXx-


About twenty minutes later as you were about half way through your next client's tattoo you heard your stomach growl. You realized that your breakfast had consisted of coffee on the fly, two smokes and two donouts when you got to work. And not only that, but you had worked through your lunch break, pushing yourself as much as possible to get through as many clients as possible. At the sound of the second growl from your stomach you heard the door bell jingle but didn't look up since you were wrapped up in the intricate hip piece you were doing. You were so caught up that you didn't hear Zarin gasp, or everyone else for that matter, and didn't realize that it had gone quiet in the shop.

You didnt look up in fact till someone's shadow fell over you and your work, breaking your light and making you stop.

"Who's in my light?" you asked without lifting your head just yet.

"Three fucking," you heard a voice start.

"Zacky you poor excuse for a puss ball what the hell are you doing at my work?" you fumed as you sat up and stared him down.

"Well dyke bag I came down here to get you so we could all go eat. So lets go," Zacky said heading back towards the door.

"In case those beady little black dots you call eyes weren't working properly I am in the middle of a client at the moment. So you can go on your own," you snapped at his back.

"No, no I can't. M said if I return without you it's my job," Zacky snapped back venomously as he spun on his heel to face you.

"Well too fucking bad for you then. Guess you're going to have to find a new job then. Cuz I can't leave at the moment," you said, leaning to get more ink on your needle.

"Why the hell do you have to be so damn difficult?" Zacky snarled as he rushed you, coming within inches of your face and sneering at you.

"Why the hell do you have to breathe?" you snarled back, staring daggers at him, not blinking.

The both of you stared the other down, neither one blinking so as to lose face. You could literally feel the tension growing in the parlor.

"Uhh, guys?" you heard Zarin say.

"What?" both you and Zacky snapped in unison, turning to face your boss.

"Hey, now don't go all fucking snippy on me. I was going to say, Kales if you finish this one I'll take your next few since you worked through your lunch break. Just come back in one piece, preferably not covered in his blood. Unless you hid the pieces well," Zarin said as he looked over the books.

"Deal. Zacky, sit," you said and turned back to finish the piece.

"Fuck off," Zacky said as he started to pace.

"Die," you shot back.

"You first," Zacky said.

"Children," Zarin said loudly.

Finally Zacky sat down and started leafing through a tattoo magazine, which cleared the air considerably and people let out the breaths they forgot they were holding. Zacky flipped through the magazine till he came across an article written about you, interest peaked he decided to read it.

Article finished Zacky got up and started to wander around, peering over peoples shoulders watching them work. You watched out of the corner of your eye as he did this, making sure he wasn't being a pest. You were actually surprised when he showed general interest in what your coworkers were doing, and even pointing out bits he liked. You totally forgot that he had ink himself till he showed Ryan a detail on one of his own when Ryan's client asked a question. Don't know how, since his arms were covered, but you just did. You were shocked and started to remember just a little bit what Zacky use to be like, back before things went to shit. You started to smile down at your piece, that is until you felt someone kick the chair you were sitting in purposefully, hard.

"You better count your lucky fucking stars that my needle wasn't on them yet Baker. Or you would have been in a world of trouble," you spat venomously.

"Right. What the fuck are you gonna do about it?" Zacky asked, sarcasm dripping off his tongue.

"This," you spat as you stuck him with your needle and pulled in a line, with the gun running and loaded with ink.

"You cunt," Zacky yelped as he looked down at the blue smudge on his arm that was now bleeding.

"Out!" Zarin shouted.

You apologized to your now finished client and took off your gloves before grabbing your purse and following the now seething Zacky out of the parlor.

Notes

Oh the love between those two makes my heart go all a pitter patter!