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 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.

He shouldn't be pleased by that, should he? But he is. They don't know each other well but he likes the idea of leaving his mark on this man. Although, as a tattoo artist, that wasn't too surprising, was it?

Then Nico asks if he would examine his body to find the best place and Blake can't resist the urge to look Nico over. "To find the perfect place, I may need to," he says, flirtatiously. He didn't think he was misreading the signals. He'd gotten that feeling when they first met and with an offer like that, how can he not?

He smiles when Nico assures him he'll stick with it and nods when he talks about his family and how he was raised. "It seems to me, you've been doing an excellent job at doing something and not just lounging."

"Great," he says and finds a parking spot before getting out of the car and walking around to meet him on the other side. "They have great food and great coffee."

Did he also want to taste Nico's lips? Yeah, he did.

He's been wondering if Blake was flirting with him but now he's certain of it. There's no doubt from the way he looks at him, or how Blake says those words, that he doesn't mean it.

"How could I say no then? Wouldn't want the work I get to not be perfect then. I know you wouldn't risk not doing the best you can."

He's playing, teasing, wanting to see how he reacts to those words. Even as they pull into a spot and he climbs out of the car. Still his gaze is on Blake, watching him for a long time.

"Sounds perfect," he says. "Definitely interested in a taste."

Which is when he reaches out and cups the back of Blake's neck, leaning in to steal a small kiss, seeing how Blake reacts and if he's read things wrong all night.

A pleased smile curls on Blake's mouth when Nico says that about Blake's work. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I always strive to do my best work but that would go doubly so for you," he says, completely honest.

When Nico reaches out to him and steals that kiss, Blake hums in pleasure before cupping the back of Nico's neck and rests his other hand on Nico's hip, drawing him in as he presses a firmer kiss to his lips.

He's kissed his fair share of guys since coming to the realization and understanding that he was bisexual and still, he found he really liked kissing Nico. Liked the way this felt with him. And he was glad that the signals he had been picking up weren't wrong.

They barely knew one another, and it wasn't like being wasted in a club kind of kissing. This was with intent and forethought. More than that, with a desire that was more than just sexual attraction. He likes Blake already and glad for more than just the way they're talking.

He barely withdraws from the kiss, staying close to Blake though even as he brings his hand around and strokes his thumb along the edge of his jaw.

"Been wanting to do that since before we got in the car. I guess maybe I should have waited longer but glad I didn't."

Blake leans into that couch and makes a soft sound.

"Have you," he asks, watching him with a slow smile. "I've thought about the exact same thing so, I'm really glad you didn't."

He watches Nico for a long moment before leaning in and kisses the other man again, cupping his jaw.

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?"

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random icon is trying to tell us something. lol!

random icon is right

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