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.

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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."

"I've never been out of the country... other than to Mexico," he admits with a little smile, looking at him while his thumb rubs little circles over Nico's shoulder.

He's surprised to hear that, honestly and even more surprised to know that he also wants this too. More than he has with nearly anyone else in recent years. "I agree," he admits with a smile, leaning in and pressing a kiss to Nico's lips.

It would be a little while before Blake felt like it was time to introduce Nico to his family. First he'd have to meet Austin - Austin was at least local and his roommate/best friend/business partner! And if things continued to go well, then they could talk about family. He was getting ahead of himself, clearly.

Still. It was the first time in a while that Nico felt he found someone that he wanted to introduce to them.

That was something.

"You don't need to do anything, Nico," he says while watching Robin make her way over to them with their plates. It meant, he'd have to unwrap his arm from Nico but they would need their hands to eat.

"That begs the question then," he says in a low, almost warning voice because, in truth, that is Blake's only warning. "Where have you always wanted to go? If you could go anywhere in the world?"

Because he'll take him. Already he wants to think about traveling the world with this man beside him. Fuck, what has gotten into him? He hasn't ever thought about that. Not in the least.

But now he is. About spending time beyond this newest obsession. He's always gone from one to another, just moving on without thinking about it. Now all he can think about is Blake.

He moves to straighten so they can eat their meal, offering Robin a bright smile as he responds to that comment.

"Oh I don't need to do anything but there's so many things I want to do."

Both to Blake and with him.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves yet," Blake teases him with a smile. "I still need to get a passport. But, where have I always wanted to go," he considers the question for a moment. "Australia. I've heard great things about their beaches."

As he thinks and talks, his fingers trail up over Nico's shoulder and over his neck.

But he can't think of anything else he wants to do than spend more time with Nico.

"Need ketchup or anything else?"

"I'm good, Robin - thanks," Blake says with a smile before slipping his arm from Nico and picking up his fork. He waits until she's out of earshot and looks at the other man.

"Oh? And what do you want to do?"

"Planning takes time," he points out. Not that he's been much of one to do too much planning. It doesn't mean he won't do what he can for Blake, and for himself. He can't help how much he's really liking the idea of this and where it might go. Sexually and otherwise.

"I'm all good," he says with a bright smile. "Thank you though. I really appreciate it," he admits, liking this place and the staff, Robin. It feels homey and normal, and sometimes he really needs that.

"Well right now I want to have amazing food because it smells good. Later I want to set up a trust for charity work to take care of kids on the street that need it and otherwise... well, if I'm honesty. You."

Blake chuckles. "You're not wrong, planning does take time," he says. He wasn't always a planner but with the business, he's had to learn. He was already interested to see where this could go.

When Austin and himself found the place, it was like a breath of fresh air. So many places in LA were hipstery and full of overpriced smoothies and whatever the latest food trends were. The place had among the best damn pancakes he's ever had and at-home cooking.

"Want to know something even better? It tastes just as good as it smells," Blake says with a grin. But then he blinks. He couldn't lie and say that he was entirely surprised because, of course, Nico was asking for a reason. Still, he was touched that he wanted to do something like that for him. Or because of him.

"I appreciate that you want to set up a trust. And I'll be honest, I want that last part too." Blake cuts off a piece of his pancake and puts it into his mouth.

And planning meant he could make it a tour even. Why just go to the falls and enjoy that when maybe he could steal Blake for a couple of weeks and make a vacation of it. He could bet the other man needed it, even if he didn't entirely need it himself.

But he wanted it with Blake.

Nico leans in closer to Blake, his nose brushing for a moment against the other man's jaw.

"You mean you or the food?"

Going on a vacation like that with Nico would be the first time he's done something so big with a person who wasn't family. And he really fucking liked that thought.

He smiles when Nico nuzzles at his jaw.

"I mean you - or I suppose, technically, you wanting me," he says, tilting his head to give the man better access. "I want to kiss you and touch you," he murmurs.

"Then we should eat our food and figure out where we're going then," he murmurs softly, not hesitant now that he's sure they're on the same page.

"I'm staying at a wonderfully luxurious hotel if you're up for a night away from things and a bit of spoiling. By me and the accommodations," he murmurs. Not that he cares who hears him, but just wanting this to be a talk between them.

Just as there was so much he wanted between them.

"We will have to go back for my car," he murmurs with a slow smile, wanting to spend whatever time they had tonight together. He may trust it parked where it was for a few hours but not overnight.

He licks at his bottom lip as he considers their options. "I've never really stayed at a wonderfully luxurious hotel before so I'd be game," he says. "You could come to mine but I have a roommate." Not that Austin would mind or care but one of them would be opening tomorrow and it wasn't him.

He leans in and presses a few kisses over his jaw. "Let's eat then so we can move onto more pleasurable activities."

"We can do that, but if you don't follow me I'll be sad," he admits with a grin, not minding at all and liking the way this night is turning out.

"Oh good, the room has a jetted tub for two," he points out. Though his smile widens at that. "I have no problem with that but I feel like I'd have to behave more than I plan on," he groans, those kisses leaving him shivering.

"Let's eat then."

"Trust me, I'll be following you," he grins. Because there was no where else he'd rather go tonight.

He can't help but grin even wider. "Oh? I'm really looking forward to whatever you have planned," he says, pecking his lips quickly before pulling back so he can eat his pancakes.

Blake was ready to be alone with this man again. Talking, making out, sex... it didn't matter honestly. He was enjoying this time with him and wanted to see where tonight went. See where they went.

"Good. I'd hate to have to show myself to be a stalker," he teases, though Nico realizes that he's likely to do just that if Blake didn't follow him. The moment he saw him, he just knew that he was so interested in this man and didn't want to give him up.

It's a weird thought, and maybe too much, but he's never had that feeling for someone else. Not ever. But Blake... that was suddenly something else entirely.

"I think it's going to be a fun night and then tomorrow I could come by where you work and we can talk cars maybe?"

Blake smirks. "I don't know, you did offer me a car that you can track on your phone," he teases. "I kind of got that feeling already." Did it bother him? No, not really. "I don't think we have anything to worry about though, I fully plan on following you back." It was late already but he was glad he had this opportunity to get to know Nico.

"Yeah, I'd like that. I can show you my work too so you can get a feeling of what you'd want when you choose to get a tattoo," he winks at him. "And you can meet Austin too. It's good to have more people you know in town."

For Nico @ LA Race Night

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