overdrivetattoo | For Nico @ LA Race Night

For Nico @ LA Race Night

Back home in San Francisco, Saturday nights meant race night.

Well, any night was race night if you were wanting it enough.

But the real party, the turnout was Saturday night. Any time after 9 p.m. and it was on.

L.A. was no different.

No, that was a lie. It was a little different in that they weren't at the top of the food chain.

Yet.

They were getting there. They were making a name for themselves outside of Overdrive Tattoo and the guys who were at the top were also decent friends/contacts with Don and Ricky back home. But in this business and in this game, the people you knew was important, but it was more important how you drove your car.

They just did what they always did - show up, race and win more often than not.

Austin and he had made LA their home over the last couple of years and while it was hard to not have their makeshift family around them all the time, it was nice to see how far they could come on their own. Mostly on their own.

There was always new people coming out each weekend. Some wanted to see what the whole (illegal) fuss was about and never came back. A few enjoyed the easy score of some of the girls and even a few guys, enjoyed the party atmosphere but didn't race. There were others who wanted to show off which either went one of two ways - either they were beaten eventually and never returned or, and these were Blake's favorite, they got the bug and started returning as much as they could.

That had been him. That had been a lot of them.

When he comes along a new flashy car in the lineup, Blake whistles low. "Beautiful car," he says, glancing over at the man and can't help but notice how beautiful its owner was as well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe they should be doing this somewhere other than the parking lot of a diner, but again, wasting that time feels like a waste to Nico. To both of them it seems as Blake kisses him once more.

Sliding both hands around Blake's waist, he hauls him in close. It's intimate and feels insanely sensual, and so fast but all of it feels right at the same time.

"We should," he murmurs between kisses. "Maybe save this for later," he teases, even as he kisses him again.

It was still a new feeling to be with someone who could move him in just like it was nothing but damn was that hot as fuck. Blake presses into Nico’s body and hooks his fingers into Nico’s belt loops with one hand with the other cups the back of his neck.

“Mm maybe we should,” he murmurs with a teasing smirk before slowly pulling back. “Do you really want food?” He would have to go back for his car and he was getting peckish but he also really enjoyed standing here and kissing Nico.

Decisions decisions.

"Why do you ask difficult questions," he teases, nibbling at Blake's lower lip as he thinks about the fact that he truly would love to keep kissing him but...

"I would be a horrible man if I didn't take care of you in all ways," he murmurs softly. "And I suspect we could both use something to eat. And much as I want to kiss you more... I wouldn't want to start our friendship with mad sex and not getting to know you better."

"It's my gift in life," Blake murmurs with a grin.

He's surprised though by Nico's next words but smiles against his mouth. "You want to take care of me," he asks and nips playfully at Nico's lip before sucking on it.

He liked that idea though.

Blake slowly pulls back from Nico's mouth and licks at his lips. "I guess you have a point. I would like to get to know you better and have good food. Let's go eat then." He locks up the car and slips the keys into his pocket.

He draws back, just slightly, giving Blake a curious look. "Is that a bad thing? Because I think I do. And I want to get to know you as well," he admits, knowing it may sound like a bit much but he's never been a man to question what he wants or why he wants it.

Nico watches him for a moment and then reaches out and takes the other man's hand. "Come on then. Let me get to know you, and probably kiss you more later," he admits, because he knows he wants more of that as well.

"No, it's not a bad thing at all," Blake says quickly with a little shake of his head. "I just have never had someone want to take care of me. It's always been the other way."

He laces their fingers together. "We should definitely kiss more later," he says, walking to the front of the diner with him and walking inside.

"Well this is new, Sugar. Who's the man? I never see you here without that handsome roommate of yours," a waitress says coming up to them and grabbing two menus for them.

Blake laughs with a little roll of his eyes. "His name is Nico. Nico, this is Robin," he says.

He hadn't thought about this being a place where Blake was that well known but then of course he led them somewhere he was familiar with. He should have known that would be the case, and yet he can't help but grin at that reception.

"Well the pleasure is mine, Robin. I'm new to the city and Blake is showing me around."

Which definitely makes their joined hands interesting but he can't help himself either.

"And I'm sure he's doing more than a fine job of it too," she says, eyeing their joined hands before leading them to a booth. "Here you go, boys. What can I get you to drink?"

Blake shakes his head with a laugh, squeezing Nico's hand as they follow Robin to a booth and taking a seat. "Coke for me."

It had certainly been a choice to bring Nico here but he liked introducing people to places he liked. And he also liked Nico.

He knows their hands and comfort with one another says a lot, but he's not going to let himself be bothered by that. Not when Blake's hand in his felt so comfortable. He slides into the booth next to Blake instead of across from him, offering Robin his widest and most open smile.

"Coke works for me too," he says, even as his thumb ran across the back of Blake's hand. When Robin leaves, he leans into Blake. "So... have we started all kinds of mad rumors?"

It had felt right to have Nico's hand in his and not let it go. He is a little surprised when instead of sitting across from him, Nico decides to sit next to him but it causes him to grin.

"Oh, I think we started mad rumors when we raced and left together, leaving my car. Here? We have only reinforced those rumors," he teases, looking at him. "But, you know? I'm not upset by that."

Though, he's sure he's going to get plenty of shit about it from Austin, the guys back home and Les and Abby too. All in good fun of course.

Nico gives Blake a wide eyed look. "What? My open flirting might have started rumors? Oh. Well then," he says with a grin, looking downright proud of himself.

"So is this one of those things where you'll start getting texts soon?"

Because he can't help but find that amusing as well.

"I'm glad you're not upset, because I'm really not. I plan to stay around for a while and I'm glad you're the one that came by to check out the car."

Blake laughs. "As if you didn't know what you were doing when you were doing it," he can't help but tease him. Only because Blake himself has been much the same way in the past with girls he's liked and recently, guys.

"Probably," he says, knowing he's surely gotten a text from Austin and maybe someone back home. Word in their family got around quickly.

He grins. "I'm really glad I was the one to come by and that you're planning on sticking around for a bit."

Robin brings back their cokes and sets them down on the table in front of the two. "Thought about what you boys want to eat? Or should I come back?"

"Asking you out for a ride? Might have definitely been that flirting. Telling you the car is yours was just being fair and honest," he says, already considering how to move that to Blake even if he insisted he shouldn't.

"Well you should take a selfie and send it to them. I mean, if we're getting an audience." And he can't help but to be amused by it. It's definitely a way of starting his new life here.

He glances up at Robin with a wide smile. "Burger and fries, no onions," he says with a coy, innocent face.

He chuckles. "I could have guessed that," he says with a grin. "I didn't even set out to race for your car tonight either." He's sure that one of the texts he's gotten is about the car itself.

There's no doubt.

Blake picks up his drink and takes a sip of it. "I told you my best friend Austin and I have the tattoo shop. We moved here a few years ago from San Francisco where the rest of our friends... our family is. Six other guys and two girls and all can be very gossipy. Especially when it comes to cars." He pulls out his cellphone and snorts. "See what I mean?"

He shows him two of the text messages:

Family Chat

Don: Blake - we hear you raced against a McLaren and then left your car behind. Pictures or it didn't happen.

Abs: Yes, I want to see the car! And this guy you raced against and disappeared with...

Les: Didn't you tell us that this is how murders happen?! Double standards!

He glances over at Robin with a grin. "A short stack of the cinnamon roll pancakes and two eggs. And bacon, please."

"Like sweets, huh?" Though he can't say cinnamon roll pancakes don't sound good too.

Leaning in closer to Blake, he glances over the messages. He offers the brightest, most wicked smile he has. And then he holds out his hand. "Can I send a message back? Maybe a picture?"

"You got it, Sugar. I'll go put this in, wave me down if you boys need anything," Robin says before walking off. It wasn't very busy yet but as the night went on, it would only get busier.

Blake grins. "When I come here, I have to have their pancakes no matter the time of night," he says and studies him with a playful look for a moment. "Hmm, why not, sure," he says and hands him his phone with a grin.

He was curious!

Nico's smile only widens and then he scoots in closer to Blake. He holds up the phone as he leans in and rests his head on Blake's shoulder and snaps a picture that he sends to the group chat.

And then he sends the message.

He won the car fair and square but he's trying to give it back. Tell him he can't do that.

"Oops?"

Blake chuckles as he rests his head against Nico's and looks into the camera.

He groans at the text he sends. "Traitor," he says with a laugh, reaching for his phone.

That, my friends, is Nico. And I've told him it's because insurance will cost an arm and an asshole.

Ricky: Are you insane??! You cannot give that back, Blake! We'll figure it out!

Abs: Oh, he's hot - go Blake!

Don: You'll have to excuse our friend Blake there, he's sometimes too nice for his own good.

Nico leans in close, reading over the messages with a grin. He doesn't move further away now that the picture has been taken, just enjoying stay there next to him.

"You are much too nice for your own good. I do still owe you a car, even if you don't take the McLaren. I won't let that be a no," he admits. "Maybe we'll build two side by side and I can put the money and labor into yours as well. Whatever you want while you show me how to do it."

Blake lets Nico's hand go so he can wrap his arm around his shoulders. He liked this. Liked how this felt with him next to him like this.

He shoots off another text wishing them all luck on their races before locking his phone and setting it aside. "Insurance on that car alone would be insane for me. I do pretty well but not enough to justify it. Besides, this way I can borrow it whenever I want," he teases him. Blake considers the other option for a minute. "I like the idea of building another car along side you though. That would be fun."

That was perfect and he loved how it felt, and so he leaned into the crook of his arm. Maybe it was moving too fast, but he didn't care. Isn't that how Nico did everything? Taking chances and living life on the edge?

"You know, if you're going to logical, I don't know what I'm going to do with you," he admits softly. It's not something he considers, and sometimes he forgets others do as well. "Though you're a good man. Most would have taken it and sold it. Do you have a favorite charity? I ask for no reason whatsoever."

Maybe it was moving fast but Blake's two favorite things were tattoos and racing - doing things on a slower scale was not for him. And if it didn't last, at least they tried and had a good time, right? Right.

He chuckles. "Maybe you need a little logic in your life then," he teases. "And I could use more spontaneity," he admits. He frowns. "They would have but it would be a shame to sell that car."

Blake takes a sip of his coke before setting it back down. "I'm not sure," he admits. "I don't think I can name one but if there's a good one that helps at risk youth, that would be it." He thought back on Les, Abby and the guys. If they didn't have each other, where would they have ended up?

Sure there's reasons not to be diving in like this but since when did Nico slow down? He was infamous in certain circles for gladly taking a dive into the deep end with no safety measures.

Why slow down now?

"I'm not sure if you're going to have much luck with that but I'm willing to try," he admits, just because he finds it interesting and curious to see how it goes as well.

"Here or back home then? To help at risk youths?"

"I'm not looking to change you - I find the spontaneous guy who was ready to jump on a flight to Africa really fucking hot," he says with a smile. "And if it happens, then it happens. If it doesn't then that's more than okay too."

He'd been around far too long to know setting out to change someone doesn't work. Plenty of women had tried with him and the rest of the guys plenty - although Les and Abby had always been slightly different in that regard. They'd been family though.

"Back home," he says with a smile. "Les and Abby, two girls among this crazy group of guys had a really rough childhood... it would be right to give back somehow to organizations who can help kids and youths like they were," he says, sharing more with him than he normally would. But Nico is easy to talk to.

"You have a passport, it's going to happen," he says, because despite his words, he had meant that and hadn't been teasing. He was more than willing to jump in and go.

"And I was mostly teasing about the changing, though I find this to be one of the most interesting and wanted changes in my plans I've ever run into. I knew I came to race... learning to build my own and all of this," he says gesturing between them. "It's nothing I expected but I want it more than anything I can think of for years."

He smiles though at that, finding himself liking Blake even more since that's what he wants to do for others. "I can work with that then. Good."

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