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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"Good thing we're sticking to racing then," he says cheerfully, not in the least worried about how things are going to turn out. Hell he's delighted in how well Blake seems to be taking it all. He's never been one to hide how he lives his life, and he just has no desire to start now. If he's going to make friends here, he wants it to be who he is.

Or the self he's lived as for so long.

"Oh so many talents," he drawls, realizing that he's flirting. Honestly and not just for kicks. Well, hell.

"Then let's do this and see who wins and then maybe see where the rest of the night's going to go. Maybe you'll let me buy you a drink."

"Good thing," he agrees with a chuckle. Although Nico was outside of anything he thought he might be interested in, he couldn't help but find himself... well, interested. Even if it only was a friendship that they ended up with, more friends were good.

He slowly smirks. "Yeah? Good to know," he says and briefly glances the other man over before raising his gaze. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Let's see how the night goes, hm? You ready to do this? I can go get us on the line if so."

"Let's start with the race and see how it goes," he says, grinning, not looking at all bothered about losing the race or where this might go. Just focusing on the other man, curious and wanting to see how things go. Much more beyond the race than during it.

"Get us on the line and let's see how this turns out."

It isn't long to get them on the line. Blake with a reputation, and Nico driving a McLaren. He holds his own, not doing bad with a stock car but he never had a chance. Not against Blake and his car.

He's pulled off to another area, away from the racing after he loses and waits for Blake to pull in near him.

"Well, I'll be interested in seeing what you do with her now that she's yours."

Nico didn't do too badly and he's certain the McLaren helped with that despite it being a stock car. But with his car and his years behind the wheel in street racing, it was no match.

Still, he could have done worse. He's seen much worse.

He loves racing. As much as he loves doing tattoos and getting tattoos. It gets the adrenaline pumping and to race against someone as attractive as Nico... well it's been a while since that's happened. He parks near the other man and gets out.

"Are you serious? What's the insurance on that thing anyway," he asks with a laugh. He may have some money saved and his family back home could probably help... and while he didn't necessarily care about everything being on the up and up, it was still something he should think of. "You just want to be able to track me," he can't help but tease him.

He hadn't been sure about what this city was going to be like but now, with how things are going, he's enjoying it. Even if it means turning over a six figure car. Already he's thinking that, perhaps, it's going to mean learning to do something else entirely and find a better car and a better chance the next time.

"Depends on your record. It was a minor fortune when I signed up in California," he admits with a nod. "And actually, if I wanted to do that, I'd just ask you out for dinner tonight. I mean it's late, but I saw a diner down the road open when we came through. If you're interested."

"How about this," he says after a moment of consideration. "Keep the car and you buy me dinner at this diner. And maybe allow me to drive your fancy car on occasion."

Blake wasn't ashamed of who he was and where he's come from. He's damn proud of how far all of them have come through the years. But, he was well aware of how much he couldn't afford it.

At this time.

"Then we can talk about this new car that we're going to build for you."

He'd text Austin later and let him know to not expect him until later but that wasn't out of the ordinary.

Nico seems to consider that for a moment before giving a nod. "I can work with that, if only because you're being too kind."

How many would have taken the car and run?

He lights up though at that, head canting slightly. "I'd like that a lot. It's one thing driving whatever you can buy but another driving what you put your time and effort into."

And he appreciates that. Maybe more than others might. "Want to drive us then?" He asked, holding up the keys.

Truth was, as much as Blake wanted a new car, especially one as hot and as expensive as the McLaren, he hadn't come out tonight to race and get a new car. At least not tonight. If he was to teach Nico about everything, he wanted to see what he was working with. Dinner with the handsome man was just an added benefit.

And driving said hot and expensive car.

"It's true," he agrees with a grin. "It's nice to see the fruits of your labor in a car."

He pulls out his phone again, shoots off a text to Austin before tucking it back into his pocket. He locks up his car, glad it was in a valid parking spot that wouldn't be towed so that it'll be fine there for a couple of hours until he got back.

"Definitely," he said, taking the keys from him with a smirk before walking to the driver's side.

The car is, in his mind, utterly Blake's but that is something for them to deal with later. Not now but later on he'd find a way to make that true. When the time came.

Now though was time for them together. Time for them to spend some time getting to know one another.

"Lead on then and we'll see how the night goes," he says with a bright smile, moving around to the passenger side of the McLaren. "And if you want to take some time to get there and try her out, lets go for it."

Blake was excited to get to know Nico a bit more. He seemed to have lived a fascinating life so far if what he said was true, of course. He didn't know many people who knew sword fighting or fencing or who had driven in Formula 1.

His mouth curls up at the offer. "So you'd be fine taking the scenic way," he asks, sliding into the driver's seat and adjusting it as needed. He had to get the full experience after all, right?

Damn. Was there ever a time before when he'd been behind the wheel of a car like this?

He turns the car on and listens to it.

Nice gets into the passenger seat, doing his seatbelt up. "I'm new to this city but it's going to be home for a while. Show it off to me?"

Because he wants to see Blake's face as he drives it, but he also just wants to spend the time with him.

Settling in, half turned to face Blake and not caring about the city despite what he'd said. He'll learn it one day but right now he's here for the man beside him.

"How long have you been in town," he asks as he pulls out of the parking spot and heads in a direction that will eventually lead them to an even better diner that he and Austin went to often enough.

It's only been mere seconds and he loves the way the car handles. He speeds up and runs through a yellow light.

He glances over at Nico with a smirk. "So sword fights, fencing, F1, street racing and modeling, is there anything you haven't tried yet?"

"Less than two weeks, honestly. I've visited from time to time, but decided this was it for a while and came in to lease a place. It's my first real night out since then."

He settles in, half turned to watch Blake more than the road.

He takes that question seriously, considering it. "Never been to Antarctica. Swear one day I'll do the Iditarod. And I really want to microlight over Victoria Falls one day." He knows there's more but that's the ones he's thought about."

"Oh wow," Blake says, keeping one eye on the road but glances over at Nico. "Then I was lucky enough to be here tonight and run into you."

There were the occasional times that he and Austin chose to keep the shop open late on race nights but usually, they could be found here. Just like they had been back in San Francisco. He found himself really glad that Nico was staying for a while.

"Is it completely ridiculous that I'm not sure what Iditarod is," he asks with a laugh. "But, going to Antarctica and Victoria Falls both sound amazing."

"I think I may well be the lucky one," he points out, sincere in his tones when he says that to Blake. "I'm definitely counting it as something maybe more than luck."

Because how easily could he have missed Blake in a moment that night and not come to this moment between them? And the excitement of what he's going to learn.

"No, no it's not. It's a dog sled race in Alaska. Like the Indy 500 of dog racing." He pauses before adding. "Be careful or we may go to Victoria Falls and try it."

Blake grins. "Yeah, and what would you call it," he asks, looking over at him as he runs through another light, his speeding increasing as he moves in and out of traffic. He didn't drive too crazy, mindful of his passenger and not wanting any danger to come to the man.

He was glad he'd taken a walk down the row of cars and spotted the McLaren. Otherwise, he may not have met Nico.

"Ah, in that case, sounds pretty great. And cold," he grins, finding himself driving toward the area of their shop. He laughs at the comment about Victoria Falls and sends a look in his direction. "Yeah? I'd do it."

Nico laughs as Blake blasts through the light, moving easily through traffic. He was used to driving and there was something fun about riding along with a skilled driver. "How long have you been doing this? Driving like a professional?"

A professional street racer but still.

"Might be why I haven't done it. I love doing wild things, new things, but I also don't love being cold." He falls silent then, considering the other man for a moment before getting out his phone. He starts sending a message to someone. "Do you have a job you would need leave from?"

Hey, he's taking that as a we should do this comment.

He chuckles at the question and takes a sharp but controlled turn. Why not show Nico where he works? "Since I was... fifteen? Sixteen? Somewhere around there. I wasn't very good at it then but you know what they say about practice," he grins, sending him a teasing wink.

"Fuck, I feel the same damn way about the cold." He watches Nico pull out his phone and ask that question then barks out a laugh. "I do, actually," he says and motions to the decked out tattoo shop coming up ahead to the right. "I run this place with my best friend," he says, coming to a stop out front. "Did the murals and everything on it."

Blake pauses then grins. "I'll have to get a passport if we're going to Africa. I've never been out of the country. Except to Mexico."

"And you learned it all on the streets like this?" He had race tracks and private roads. He didn't think that Blake had any of that.

"But it's cool to be able to say I've done the race," he points out, though he hasn't done it yet.

He looks up at the place, taking it in for a long moment. "You do tattoos? Hmmmm... that's interesting. Never had one." Though now the wheels are turning. "The work is beautiful. You've done some great work."

He glances over at him, grinning. "Get a passport then. I'd love the company."

"Yeah," he says, thinking back on those days with a grin. "My friend Austin and I, we're out here from San Francisco and the family we sorta found ourselves in back home were all gearheads. So we learned. By the time we were in our early twenties, a couple of our other friends made names for themselves and had some land that we ended up using for races. But we all learned on the streets like this." Blake shakes his head thinking back on some scares they've all had over the years and how many wrecked cars they've gone through.

Blake grins. "It would be cool," he agrees, nodding. "What's something you're the most proud of doing?"

He looks over the building before watching Nico's reaction with a little smile. "I do," he says. "Tattoos are my primary business but I've also been known to create murals and work on cars. Thanks, I'll have to show you some of my work sometime."

"I'll have to do that," he says with a chuckle and pulls back out into traffic to start driving again.

Nico is attentive, genuinely curious about what Blake has done and how he became the man he is. He wasn't sure what he had expected when he came to this place but now that he's here, he's loving the chance he has.

And is more than curious about the beautiful man beside him.

"The most proud?"

He considers that while look over the studio. "You'll definitely have to show me. Maybe you'll convince me to get my first."

But they pull out into traffic and he's still thinking about what he's proud of.

"The truth? I don't know if I could say any one think. No, that's not right. That sounds like there's a lot of things I might be proud of, but the truth is? I've lived a touched life, and been really given a lot and I can't say that I'm proud because the money wasn't mine. Just the things I did."

"If I manage to convince you, I hope you'll give me the pleasure of giving you your first tattoo," he says, looking the other man over before giving him a playful wink.

He drives and when Nico tells him that there really isn't one thing he's most proud of, Blake hums. "Maybe we'll have a chance to change that then. With rebuilding a car for you," he says after a minute.

Not only was Blake enjoying the feel of the car and how well it handled, he was especially enjoying this time he had with Nico and getting to know the attractive man. Although he got the feeling there was some interest there, he wasn't entirely sure. That didn't stop him from wondering what it would be like to kiss him.

"Well... I can't say I wouldn't think about it. I should consider it, honestly. It would definitely be a good look for me. If done right."

He considers Blake's features. "Guess we'll have to discuss our options of what would look best on me and where. Maybe somewhere others could see. To go with my car," he adds with a chuckle.

"You know, if I manage to do that I think it would be the one thing I'm most proud of. I haven't really done anything from scratch like that." He's quiet for a moment, considering that. "I really appreciate that you're willing to help me with this because you're right. All the things I've done, I should have something to be proud about."

He hadn't thought of it before, now he thinks it's going to be the best choice he's made.

"Especially since you're the one that's going to be teaching me."

"I'm of the opinion that great tattoos are always a good look on everyone," Blake says with an amused look. "I'll show you my portfolio and then my friend Austin's, I guess, and you can see if anything jumps out at you." Though, he had to admit, he wanted to be the one to tattoo Nico.

He did not need to feel so... possessive over that idea, he knew that. They only just met after all.

Blake can feel Nico's gaze on him and looks over after stopping at a red light. "We would definitely choose the best location for whatever tattoo you choose."

"So long as you keep with it, I don't see why it won't happen," he says after a minute and giving him a warm smile. "You do deserve to have something to be proud of." And unlike so many others, if money is no issue to Nico, they wouldn't have to worry about scavenging for parts or waiting to save up for a specific part that would need to be shipped in from Asia or Europe.

"I'm thrilled to be the one to teach you," he says and eventually comes to an all night diner that he and Austin have been known to frequent a time or ten since they moved here. "You hungry?"

"Only yours," he says softly. "If I'm going to get a tattoo, it's going to be from you. Just like you're going to teach me to build my own car," he says, and there's a definitive tone to his words showing just how much he means that.

"Does that mean you're going to examine my body to find the best place?"

He knows he's crossing a line and taking a chance, they've barely met and it could really drive the other man away, and he doesn't want to do that. Yet he's curious to see how he reacts.

"I'm going to stick with it," he vows, knowing he means it. "I do a lot of things, but I never quit on them. It's not the saying I did something about it. It's about learning something new, to do something new and exciting and show myself I can do it. I was... I was raised in a family with a lot of money and it was expected I would just lounge about and do nothing. I swore I wouldn't live like that."

He can't help but chuckle. "I won't say I don't live off the money, but I don't just do nothing."

Nico watches Blake for a moment. "I'm glad you're the one who'll be teaching me as well. I'm excited for this."

He nods. "Definitely hungry." And for food too.

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random icon is trying to tell us something. lol!

random icon is right