Chapter 4

Tuesday rolled around again and Messiah had just finished showering after practice, carefully patting his tattoo dry like he'd been doing. His dreads was still tied up since he ain't wash them today. His phone lit up while he was getting dressed.

"You still coming to get that tat checked?" Dom texted.

"Yeah why"

"Need a ride to the mall after"

"Nigga get an uber"

"Broke. Plus you ain't doing nothing else"

Messiah sighed, pulling on a black tee. "Whatever pick you up after"

He grabbed his keys and headed out, his cat trying to slip out the door with him like always. "Nah stay your ass inside," he said, gently pushing him back with his foot.

The shop was quieter today when he walked in. Jordan was at the front counter cleaning his equipment.

"He's in the back," Jordan said before Messiah could ask.

Messiah walked back to find Javier laid back in his chair rolling up, looking tired as hell.

"Long day?" Messiah asked, surprising himself by speaking first.

"Man," Javier sat up, tucking his stuff away. "Had three clients reschedule last minute then my professor tried to give us a pop quiz." He stretched, his shirt riding up a little. "But fuck all that, let me see how it's healing."

Messiah pulled his sleeve up, turning his arm so Javier could check it. He tried not to focus on how close Javier was leaning or how his hands felt checking the skin.

"Damn you really took care of it," Javier said, sounding impressed. "No scabbing, no scarring. You actually listened to the instructions."

"Yeah well I ain't trying to fuck it up after paying for it," Messiah said, but he felt kind of good about the praise.

"True. Most people still don't listen though." Javier was still examining it, fingers gentle on Messiah's arm. "You want me to put some more ointment on it? It's looking a little dry."

"Yeah that's cool."

Javier grabbed the ointment, careful as he applied it. "How's them 8ams treating you?"

"Still ass," Messiah said, watching Javier work. "Had a group presentation today too."

"Oh you actually talk to people in your groups?" Javier grinned up at him. "Thought you just mean mug everybody till they do the work."

"Man shut up," Messiah said, but he caught himself almost smiling. "These niggas wasn't doing shit anyway."

"I feel you. I got this one girl in my art history class always trying to get me to do her part of the projects." Javier finished with the ointment, hands lingering for just a second too long before he pulled back.

"You good to go though. Just keep moisturizing it for another week." He started cleaning up his station. "You want anything else done? Got some new designs I've been working on."

Messiah actually considered it for a minute. "Nah not right now. Got rent due next week."

"Feel that. Well you know where to find me when you ready for the next one."

"Bet." Messiah pulled his sleeve down. "Good looking out."

He headed for the door but Javier called after him. "Aye you ever actually smile or that against your rules?"

"Whatever nigga," Messiah said over his shoulder, but this time he did let a small smile slip since his back was turned.

His phone buzzed as soon as he got in his car - Dom sending his location for the mall. While he was sitting there waiting for his GPS to load, he caught himself touching the spot where Javier's hands had been on his arm. Soon as he realized what he was doing he jerked his hand away, cranking up his music to drown out whatever thoughts was trying to form.

Back in the shop, Javier was hitting his pen while finishing some sketches. He kept thinking about how Messiah's energy was different today - still reserved but not as cold. Even caught him almost smiling at one point. Made him wonder what a real smile from dude would look like.

"Nah chill," he muttered to himself, focusing back on his work. But he couldn't help remembering how Messiah's skin had felt under his fingers, or how he ain't pull away this time when Javier's hands lingered.

His sister's FaceTime call broke into his thoughts. "Javi! You coming to my dance recital Friday right?"

"'Course I am princesa. Wouldn't miss it." He switched back to Spanish, asking about her rehearsals while trying to push thoughts of Messiah's almost-smile out of his mind.