Part 9: Trust Issues

"Hold still, pa," Ti said, hands hovering over his head. It was late, shop long closed, but he'd texted asking for a cut.

A small smile played at the corner of his mouth at the name. "Watch them hands," he warned, but there was no real heat in it.

In the month since they'd started whatever this was between them, he hadn't let anyone else touch his hair. Ti understood what that meant, especially from someone who moved like he did - that hard exterior never dropping except around Z. And sometimes, when they were alone like this, around Ti.

"Just cleaning it up?" Ti asked, fingers finally sliding into his hair.

"Do what you want," he said, eyes closing briefly at the touch. "You know what you doing."

Ti worked in silence for a while, each stroke of the clippers precise. Through the mirror, he watched his features slowly relax, that constant tension easing just a bit.

"Z asked about you today," he said suddenly. "About his school thing next week."

Ti's hands stilled for just a moment. "What school thing?"

"Some parent breakfast shit." His voice stayed casual but his eyes in the mirror were watching Ti's reaction. "Told him I'd ask you."

"You want me there?" Ti kept his voice neutral, knowing not to push too hard.

"Wouldn't be mentioning it if I didn't."

Ti resumed his work, heart beating a little faster. "What time?"

"Eight." His shoulders had loosened slightly. "But you gotta do his braids the night before. Won't let nobody else touch his head now."

"Like father like son," Ti said low, catching his eye in the mirror.

"Watch your mouth," he warned, but Ti caught that slight smile again.

When Ti finished the cut, he stood slowly, running his hands over the fresh fade. "Clean," he nodded.

"Already know," Ti started cleaning up, trying not to watch how he lingered instead of heading out like usual.

"Ti."

Something in his voice made him look up. He was standing by the door, something different in his expression.

"You ain't gotta come," he said quietly. "If it's too much."

Ti crossed over but kept his distance. "It ain't too much."

"Z gets attached quick," his voice dropped lower.

Ti waited, letting him find his words.

"Just... if you gonna be around," he finally continued, "gotta be sure."

"I'm sure," Ti said softly. "Been sure about both of y'all."

He studied Ti for a long moment, that hardness threatening to come back. But then he nodded once.

"Eight AM," he said, hand on the door. "Don't be late."

"Never am for y'all," Ti said. "Tell Z I got him."

After he left, Ti stood in his quiet shop, thinking about what just happened. His phone lit up:

"Z said thanks"

Then, a minute later: "Good looking out"

Ti smiled at his phone. "Always got y'all," he typed back.

The response came quick: "Better"

Ti knew what that meant coming from him. In their world, trust wasn't given easy. But somehow, without either of them saying it straight out, they'd started building something real.