Chapter Text
The door chimed as Yuuji pushed it open, the noises of the bustling city grew quiet as it closed behind him. It was late at night, but apparently not too late for an impulsive decision. He doesn't know what persuaded him to permanently alter his body, but the loud nu metal pumping through the parlor drowned out his hesitance.
He ventured further into the unfamiliar setting, taking quick note of the gritty interior. The black walls were obstructed by band posters and handmade artworks, most likely drawn by the tattoo artists who work here. Furniture similar to what you'd find at a thrift store was stashed into a corner. The makeshift lobby was parallel to the front desk which ran above a worn, cheetah print carpet.
A dark haired figure sat in one of the faux-fur seats. He leaned far back in his chair, arms positioned comfortably against the elbow rests. Bright light from the phone in his hands illuminated the contours of his sharp features. Hidden behind furrowed brows, piercing jade eyes stayed glued to the screen, not bothering to take note of Yuuji’s presence.
He was caught off guard by the stranger's natural magnetism. Clearing his throat, Yuuji broke the silence.
“Hey, uh.” He paused, internally cringing at his awkwardness. Attractive people were intimidating, okay. “Do you know where the workers are? I'm here to get a piercing.”
Nobara was right. He probably should've thought this through. He dried his palms against his jeans, ignoring the urge to back out of his last minute decision. What body part was he piercing again?
“You got an appointment?” The unfairly beautiful guy questioned, pocketing his device as he walked behind the marble counter. He moved through the studio with ease, as if he worked here his entire life. His deep, sultry voice was barely audible over the shoegazey vocals playing through the speakers.
“No, sorry.” Yuuji said. Clearly this guy wasn't much of a talker. “Is it too late for a walk-in?”
The stranger reached for the speaker, turning the music down a few octaves. Still keeping it as loud as possible without them having to yell to partake in simple conservation. How courteous.
Finally, their gazes converged. Sharp green meeting honey brown. Yuuji half expected the guy's body to be littered with a mosaic of tattoos. Instead bare, pale arms extended past the tight sleeves of his fitted tee. The black fabric stretched over his broad shoulders before narrowing into a “V” at his waist. His ears adorned small, circular earrings on each side, an industrial bar ran through the right, and two helix piercings occupied the left. A thin silver band ran through his bottom lip, two metal balls held the barbell in place. Subconsciously, Yuuji lifted his hand to his own, wondering what the cool silver would feel like against his skin.
The worker flashed his phone screen open, checking the time. From the angle he was standing at, Yuuji saw a picture of two dogs as the guy’s wallpaper, one black, one white. Cute.
“What do you want pierced?” He shut off his phone, and slid a paper across the table. He didn't bother hiding the scowl on his face, or the twinge of annoyance in his tone. It wasn't closing time yet, Yuuji figured. “Lobes, I'm guessing?”
“What makes you think that?” Yuuji retorted. He didn't like the way that phrase was structured. It sounded too much like an accusation, even if Yuji didn't quite understand what he meant by it. He snatched the paper, quickly realizing it was a consent form.
He’s never done this kind of thing before. After a long night out, Nobara convinced him it would be a good idea to “customize his avatar” so he'd stand out more during the upcoming semester. Like the pink hair wasn't enough. He knew Nobara didn't expect him to go through with her half baked idea, mostly since they were both hammered during the whole ordeal. But Yuuji, like a true samurai, sticks to his word. Which is why, after many poorly planned courses of action and a day of mulling it over, he's here now.
“I sense that this is your first time.” Yuuji could feel the scalding gaze of the stranger scanning his face, which left fire in their wake. “I don't see any piercings, unless,” He trailed off, not hiding the way his eyes wandered across Yuuji’s toned chest, and paused when eventually reaching his groin.
Yuuji hated the way his cheeks burned under the guy’s pertinent stare.
“Tongue.” Yuuji decided with confidence, pretending like it was his intention all along. Dodging the piercer’s narrowed, green eyes, Yuuji busied himself with filling out the form while reassuring his statement. Repetition makes it more believable, right? “I want my tongue pierced.”
Scribbling his information onto the form, Yuuji’s tongue poked through his lips in concentration. He bit down on it slightly, trying to get an idea what the piercing would feel like. Not bad. His knee bounced involuntarily as he leaned against the counter. He wasn't usually one to get nervous, but he found himself fiddling with the corner of the paper as he filled out the emergency contact section. Piercing his tongue was definitely a dramatic choice, he should've done something more simple, like his eyebrow, or earlobes as the piercer suggested.
No, that wasn't it.
He inhaled. He knew it wasn't the pain he was afraid of. There was something else tugging at the back of his mind, sending his thought process far off its usual trajectory. He handed back the consent form—which was overly complicated in Yuuji’s humble opinion—back to his attractive piercer. Yuuji shook his head quickly. Shaking out his jumbled nerves, and unwanted thoughts.
“Hey, Yuuji.” He spoke, reading his name off the paper. Yuuji could hear the forced professionality slowly crawling into his tone as if he were an actor performing from a script. He pushed away from the counter, gesturing for Yuuji to follow. “I'm Megumi, I'll be piercing you today.”
Yuuji nodded, and strayed a few paces Megumi as he crossed through dimly lit hallways. He couldn't help but notice the curve of Megumi’s ass, which not even his oversized black jeans could hide. He forced his eyes back up before Megumi noticed his terribly masked ogling. Arriving at his booth of choice, with perfect posture, Megumi gestured for Yuuji to sit. Positioned in the centre of the room, an angled, leather chair occupied most of the cramped space.
While the rest of the parlor had a warm, inviting atmosphere, the lighting in this room was harsh and cold. Megumi’s personality didn't help either. A bright ringlight shone in Yuuji's direction and he fiddled with his hands in his lap. The room smelt faintly of disinfectant and something herbal he couldn't name.
“I'm going to sanitize my hands and fetch a few supplies from the back.” Megumi spoke, he handed Yuuji a clear box, inside rows of metal were displayed. Silver barbells were neatly lined up in order of size. “Choose your jewelry before I leave.”
All of the jewelry inside the display was practically the same except for the size and colour of the ball. Not wanting something too extravagant, or too small, Yuuji opted for one of the silver, medium sized pieces of jewelry.
“I like the third on the bottom row.” He pointed his choice out to Megumi, who nodded in response and took the display with him. Yuuji definitely did not check Megumi out as he left the room.
Shelves hung from the walls, supporting boxes, unlabelled containers, and miscellaneous equipment. The one that caught Yuuji's eye was lined with an array of tattoo ink, spanning multiple colours. Megumi probably had a few tattoos since he worked in a place like this. Even though his arms seemed bare, most of his skin was draped in black clothing, leaving room for many hidden ones.
A familiar figure returned into the room, snapping Yuuji out of his trance. He shouldn't have been thinking about his piercer that way. Megumi carried a metallic tray, which he placed on the small, rolling table next to the chair. Scary looking needles and other surgical looking objects that Yuuji's only ever seen in horror movies burned into his eyes.
“What are you gonna do with those?” Yuuji pointed at what could only be the set up for the next installment in the Saw franchise, not a piercing.
“This really is your first time.” Yuuji prayed Megumi knew that because he wrote it on the form earlier, not because of his blatant trembling. “You must be brave, starting with your tongue.”
Yuuji swallowed around nothing. He wasn't sure if it was Megumi’s praise, or condescending tone that set off fires of arousal in his lower abdomen. “Can’t be that bad.” Yuuji mumbled, as if he knew anything about getting a tongue piercing.
“The healing process can get pretty rough.” Megumi grabbed a pair of black, nitrile gloves from a box. With practiced rhythm, he pulled one over each hand. “You'll notice a lot of swelling for the first few days.”
Yuuji watched—with embarrassing enthralment—as pale, lithe fingers disappeared into the plastic. He almost jumped when Megumi snapped the glove against his wrist. Are glove kinks a thing? Because Yuuji definitely just developed one. If this kept up, something other than his tongue was about to swell.
“Rinse your mouth.” Megumi handed Yuuji a paper cup. The liquid inside smelt strongly of peppermint, and a bit medicinal. Mouthwash, he guessed.
“I don't usually accept drinks from strangers.” As if he were taking a shot, Yuuji threw his head back. He wished it really was one, some alcohol would be great right now. After spending, what was probably too long, swishing the minty liquid back and forth through his mouth, Megumi pushed a different cup in his direction.
“Spit.” His bluntness was not helping the rising problem in Yuuji’s pants. Left without choice, Yuuji spat.
“I'll start by checking if you have the proper anatomy for this piercing.” Megumi leaned closer, discarding the concoction of saliva and mouthwash on the tray.
“I have a tongue.” Yuuji argued. “If that's not the proper anatomy I don't know what is.”
Something akin to a smile spread across Megumi's face. The most emotion Yuuji’s seen from him so far.
“You really don't know how this works, do you?” Stalking forward, Megumi cupped the underside of Yuuji’s jaw. His touch was cold, even with the plastic glove. Through lidded eyes, his gaze fell to Yuuji’s parted lips. A lump formed in Yuuji’s throat. It wasn't the piercing he was nervous about.
A thumb breached Yuuji’s mouth, pressing down on his tongue. It was sudden, but nothing Yuuji couldn't handle. His mouth opened involuntarily. It took a lot of willpower for him to not moan around the intrusion. Megumi’s finger swiped along the muscle, reaching the back of his tongue as he forced Yuuji's head to tilt back. If Yuuji wanted to he could push Megumi away. While he may have been taller, Yuuji definitely had Megumi beat when it came to raw strength. Instead, he let his jaw go slack.
“Lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth.” He pulled his thumb out of Yuuji, momentarily dragging a spit-soaked finger along his lower lip. Eyes glinting with satisfaction.
Raising his tongue was a bit uncomfortable, he closed his mouth a bit in protest. Megumi’s thumb applied mean pressure to one side of his face, the rest of his fingers on the other. He tightened his grip until Yuuji’s mouth was so open it hurt. Damn, it was hard to disobey him.
“Aye captain.” Yuuji joked, though the words came out slurred due to the partial submission hold Megumi had him under. Was all of this necessary? Yuuji didn't know much about piercings but he didn't think the procedure would be so invasive.
Megumi leaned in further, Yuuji noticed he smelt like clean sheets, with a slight metallic undertone. With his free hand, Megumi stuck his thumb back into Yuuji’s mouth, this time it mapped out the veins underneath his tongue. Raven hair shadowed Megumi’s eyes, Yuuji was tempted to brush the front pieces behind Megumi’s ear so he could see better.
Just as Yuuji was starting to get used to the taste of nitrile gloves in his mouth, Megumi pulled out. “You're good.” He mumbled, his breath hot against Yuuji’s neck. Yuuji didn't know if Megumi was talking about his anatomy, or if he was complementing his obedience. Preferably, the latter.
It was hard to breathe, and the sides of his jaw were sore. Megumi regarded Yuuji with an indifferent expression, as if he didn't just manhandle his mouth open and shove his fingers down Yuuji's throat
“Next, I have to mark your tongue.” Megumi uncapped a black, felt-tip pen. “Open.”
At least he asked this time. Sort of.
“Not even gonna buy me dinner first?” His lame joke earned a halfassed eye roll in response. Doing as he was told, Yuuji parted his lips and stuck out his pink tongue. It was impressive how professional Megumi sounded while saying all these lewd things. Yuuji didn't want to think about how much that turned him on. Was he this bossy in bed too?
Megumi was a lot more gentle now. His hand caressed the side of Yuuji's face. He had to fight the urge to lean into the touch.
Looking into his mouth, Megumi chose the perfect place for the piercing and drew a little black dot on Yuuji’s tongue. He used his fingers to lift Yuuji’s tongue before drawing another dot underneath. Yuuji felt like a dog in a vet clinic.
“I want to place it further back than other piercers would suggest,” Megumi handed him a small, hand-held mirror. “With your anatomy it'll be more comfortable for you.”
“You're the professional, so it's whatever you say chief." Yuuji performed a soldier’s salute, and watched himself nod in the mirror. He rolled his tongue around, trying to imagine what the piercing would look like. The dot was drawn about 3 centimeters from the tip of his tongue, the dot underneath was right in front of his frenulum. “Why would others not place it here? Looks good.”
“Could interfere with someone's gag reflex while healing.” Megumi shrugged. Yuuji had to hold back dozens of inappropriate responses to that one. “Though, you don't seem to have any problems with that.”
The nervous lump in his throat had finally gone down, but something else came up. Crossing his legs, Yuuji prayed to whatever gods were listening that Megumi wouldn't notice his ignoble arousal. The thought of getting pierced turned it on more than it should've. Maybe he was just desperate to have gloved fingers in his mouth again.
He deserved to be flayed, and hung in the village square for such dishonourable thoughts. Heck, let the peasants throw rotten tomatoes and rocks at his rotting corpse hanging from the guillotine.
A waft of alcoholic, and antiseptic notes met Yuuji’s nose as Megumi meticulously prepared the station. He sanitized all the torture devices and medieval looking contraptions Yuuji saw on the tray earlier.
“I'll use this clamp to hold your tongue in place.” Megumi explained, reaching for a needle with his other hand. Holding up the menacing pieces of equipment, Megumi kind of looked like Freddy Krueger– No, Edward Scissorhands. He's prettier. “And then, I'll pierce your tongue with this.”
“Looks scary.”
The rolling table squeaked against the epoxy flooring. Megumi pushed it closer to Yuuji, and leaned forward. He didn't have to ask– or force Yuuji’s mouth open this time. Not breaking eye contact, Yuuji stuck out his tongue.
“Stay still.” Megumi glanced down to the one place Yuuji didn't want him to look. “And sit properly.”
Did he not realize what that sounded like? Or did he just like being a tease. Unwillingly, Yuuji adjusted his position, folding his hands in his lap as a desperate attempt to hide his hardening dick.
If Megumi noticed the growing tent in his pants, he didn't say anything. Yuuji wasn't sure to be grateful or not.
Carefully, Megumi pinched Yuuji's tongue with the silver torment machine. What did he call it, a clamp? He had a feeling this could've been helpful earlier too but he didn't comment on anything.
“Take a deep breath for me,” Megumi instructed, one hand held his tongue in place with the device, and the other hovered the thin needle above. He almost looked like the mad scientist from re-animator. Yuuji knew better than to share that thought out loud. “I'll push the needle through as you exhale.”
Yuuji inhaled through his nose, there was no going back now. Preparing for what could become the most painful experience of his life, he screwed his eyes shut as he exhaled–
He moaned.
He didn't exhale, he fucking moaned like a fucking loser. It was so embarrassing he didn't even feel the needle go through.
When he opened his eyes, Megumi was staring at him with an unreadable expression. His lips parted, eyes wide and pupils blown. Out of the corner of his eye, Yuuji saw a needle perforating his tongue in place where the jewelry would be going next.
Averting his gaze, Megumi reached for the jewelry, forcing his face back into neutrality. He slid the barbell through Yuuji's tongue. There was a slight pinch but nothing too bad. The ball was twisted on, securing the jewelry in place. That part hurt a little more.
Overall it was almost painless, Yuuji figured the whole thing would've gone by quickly if he didn't openly moan half way through. He’ll never fall asleep comfortably again. A nauseating metallic taste coated his mouth, he couldn't tell if it was from the new jewelry or blood spilling from the wound. Probably both.
The taste was getting worse by the second. Bile rose in his throat, but if Yuuji swallowed he would be sick. The only other option was to–
“Spit in this cup before you puke everywhere.” Megumi thrusted another paper cup into his hands. A thick, vile glob of blood, saliva, and other questionably coloured secretions poured into the cup. It was nasty. Megumi handed Yuuji more water to rinse his mouth with.
Megumi turned to the side, giving Yuuji privacy as he washed away whatever sludge abomination just attacked his throat.
“Thanks so much for the piercing man.” Yuuji mumbled, and wiped the corner of his mouth. The new metallic addition to his body made talking feel weird. “You know, it was a great experience but I think this room could really benefit from some air conditioning, don't you? I'm sweating ‘cause you're really hot—I mean it's really hot. Not you” He needs to stop talking, he’s making this whole situation worse. “Well, you are hot, like in the attractive sense, but that's not why I'm sweating, well maybe it is ‘cause–” He needed to stop. “Fuck, talking really hurts.”
“Shut up then.” Megumi snapped. The angry words went straight to Yuuji’s dick.
They stared at each other. Yuuji zipped his mouth shut, and threw away the key. He wouldn't dare unlock it without permission.
“Meet me at the front when you're ready.” Megumi deadpanned. He tore the gloves from his hands, and Yuuji missed them immediately. Quickly cleaning up the station, Megumi left Yuuji alone to try and sort through his scattered thoughts.
Maybe he had the wrong idea this entire time. Megumi was innocently checking to see if he had the right anatomy, and could handle the piercing placement. His wording wasn't suggestive, Yuuji is just a terrible, dirty minded pervert who interpreted it that way. Megumi was just doing his job. Yuuji's the one who made things weird by getting hard and moaning like a fucking masochist.
Dramatically he threw himself backwards in his chair, hiding his face with his hands. This was fine. All he had to do next was pay for the piercing and leave. He could easily find out the answers to all his questions, starting with what even is a tongue piercing, through a quick google search. Then he'd be free to walk out and have no reason to see Megumi's uncannily attractive face ever again. That thought hurt him more than it should've.
Standing up, he tucked his half hard cock into the waist band of his jeans. He tugged his hoodie as low on his hips as it could go. It would have to do for now.
He inhaled, trying to cling onto whatever shred of sanity he had left. He puffed, and hammered his fist against his chest like a gorilla, forcing confidence into his body. Summoning all of his courage, he marched out of the room, boldly turning the corner and–
“You're going the wrong way, idiot.”
Huh. Yuuji swerved his head quickly from left to right. Megumi wasn't here. His voice sounded so far away, how could he see him?
“Cameras.” Megumi groaned. Lowering his voice a bit.
The confidence Yuuji somehow conjured up, vanished entirely. He dragged his feet through the hallway. It wasn't a complicated pathway at all, but Yuuji was too busy staring at Megumi's ass the first he walked through here to actually know where he was going.
He pulled out his wallet, not meeting Megumi's eyes as he found his way to the counter. The music was playing at full blast again.
All he had to do was not embarrass himself any further for the next two minutes, then he'd be free from whatever curse Megumi had casted on him.
“Are you satisfied with the piercing?” Megumi asked, somehow maintaining professionality. He drummed his fingers in time with the music against the smooth marble.
“Yeah.” Yuuji forced a smile onto his face, hiding the fact that in reality he had no idea what it looked like. “Also, dude,” He paused. This was no time for nervous ramblings. He just wanted to apologize. “I am so sorry for how I acted back there, I know you probably think I'm some major freak but I promise I didn't mean to–”
“It'll be ¥11,500.” Megumi interrupted. He was probably sick of hearing Yuuji's voice.
He sighed. It was a bit pricier than expected. Whatever, he pulled out his credit card and handed it to Megumi. Though, instead of scanning it, he stared at Yuuji expectantly. Like he wanted to say something.
“Drink lots of ice water, it'll help with the swelling.” He started. “Try and stay away from solid foods for a bit, cold, dairy-free treats are the best option.”
The advice was helpful, and probably the only non-suggestive thing he's said all night. But Yuuji could easily figure this stuff out with the help of anonymous internet people. He just wanted to go home and find the solution to the very difficult problem in his pants.
“And please refrain from certain activities for at least 4 weeks.” Was Megumi a mind reading vampire? Yuuji could hear the smirk in his voice, and it was doing evil things to his brain.
“I just wanna pay. And leave. Please.” Yuuji whined, not caring how pathetic he sounded. He knew exactly what activities Megumi was referring to, and now was not the time to imagine what Megumi's cock would taste like against his tongue.
Megumi scanned Yuuji’s card, waited for the reader to flash green, and handed it back to Yuuji. “What, you got a hot date waiting for you?”
A hot date with his right hand. One that cannot be kept waiting much longer. Yuuji pocketed his card, not even bothering to stash it back into his wallet. He took one last look at Megumi, trying to quickly memorize each contour of his defined face and dashed for the door.
He heard Megumi call out something behind him, but it was too late. Yuuji pushed the door open, cool, fresh air immediately hit his reddened skin. He felt bad for leaving in such a rush, but he had no other choice.
Was running home to jerk off embarrassing? Probably yeah, but he didn't care.
Due to the late hour, the streets were less crowded than usual. The din of the city helped Yuuji regulate his thoughts. He focused on the sound of cars driving by, and the warm chatter that could be coming from anywhere.
He skidded down a familiar corner. His apartment wasn't much further. Nobara was planning on going clubbing with her girlfriend tonight, and unlike Megumi, she would have many things to say about his very erect issue. Hopefully she left already.
Ditching the elevator, Yuuji climbed the stairs skipping two steps at a time. After fumbling around with the keys, he shoved his way into the apartment, and called out his roommate's name. No response. Lights off. Perfect, he had at least a few hours to himself.
He stumbled through the familiar space, hips knocking into furniture as he walked past. He yanked down his jeans, leaving them on the floor of his bedroom. He dropped onto his mattress, ignoring the way the frame creaked beneath him, and threw his back against the pillows. He wiggled out of his hoodie and tee shirt, adding them to the messy heap on his floor.
He massaged his dick through his boxers and moaned.
He knew he should be icing his tongue, or doing research on the healing process. Instead he bit down, hard. Trying to suppress his inevitable whines. The pain from the fresh piercing sent shockwaves through Yuuji's body. Hey, maybe if it gets infected he'll be able to see Megumi again.
Suddenly it was too much. He shimmied his boxers off and fumbled through his bedside drawer, pulling out a bottle of lube. The cap popped open, and he spread a few, thick drops of the cool substance into his palm. His dick was already coated in pre cum, so he didn't need much else.
He started out with slow, languid strokes until his cock hardened fully in his fist. The memory of himself sitting in the leather chair, with Megumi's clouded eyes on him, fueled his arousal. If he tried hard enough, he could remember the taste of nitrile gloves. He wanted to swirl his tongue around the plastic coated fingers, and bite down on them when the pleasure became too much.
Dragging his thumb over his slit, Yuuji groaned. Megumi pulled his spit-soaked fingers out of Yuuji’s throat, but this time he kept going. Yuuji Imagined Megumi lightly dragging his hand down Yuuji’s chest and over the ridges of his abs, careful to not let the fabric snag his skin, until reaching the place Yuuji wanted to be touched the most.
Yuuji’s back arched off the bed, jerking his cock even faster. Exhilaration lit fire through his veins, pumping euphoria through his body. Yuuji couldn't stop the obscene noises escaping his lips. Spending what couldn't have been more than an hour in that studio must've permanently altered his brain. He was getting turned on by things he's never deemed erotic before. Is this how hypnosis works? Megumi’s enigmatic demeanor must have put Yuuji under a trance.
Megumi probably had a few tattoos of his own, hidden under the tempting dark fabric he wore. Yuuji imagined black lines of ink coating Megumi’s pale skin, like the ancient porcelain jars you find in museums.
Maybe, Megumi had a lower back tattoo. It would peek out from the waistband of his pants, and only Yuuji would be allowed to see it. Or, it could be displayed across his abdomen, Yuuji wanted to drag his tongue along the elegant strokes, following their flow until arriving at Megumi’s v-line.
He ran his finger over the prominent vein on the underside of his dick, letting out a drawn out moan. He gasped for air, twisting his fist faster and faster. His other hand crumpled the sheets beside him. He was getting close. Even without tattoos Megumi was beautifully alternative. The silver jewelry decorating his face contrasted his unruly hair. He thought about kissing Megumi, and eliciting sweet noises from him by swirling his tongue around Megumi’s piercings. Yuuji would do anything to tug on the barbell wrapping around Megumi’s bottom lip with his teeth.
He separated his thighs further apart, the stretch amplified the pleasure. He thought about how easily Megumi bossed him around. He wasn't usually one to be easily commanded, but when remembering the power Megumi had over him, Yuuji’s dick pulsed in his grip. With a few more sloppy tugs Yuuji’s abs spasmed sharply. His pleasure reached its peak, and it seized up his muscles. With one last groan, white coated his palm, and dripped down his arm. Lazily, he pumped his cock a few more times as he came down from his high.
A thin sheen of sweat covered his body. He laid there for a few moments, waiting for his dick to stop throbbing. He felt sticky and gross. Haphazardly, Yuuji reached for the tissues on his night stand with his clean hand and wiped down his mess.
He wanted Megumi to see him like this. He wanted Megumi to see the effect he had on him.
Taking a deep breath, Yuuji forced his tired body back to life. His tongue scorched, and felt heavy in his mouth. The bitter taste from earlier was starting to rise in his throat again, he didn't dare swallow. In desperate need of coverage, Yuuji threw on a ratty old tee shirt and clean pair of boxers. Wearing his makeshift pyjamas, he crossed through his messy room and made his way into the kitchen. His thighs burned underneath him and begged for rest. Though, as tempting as it was to fall asleep, he had to be responsible.
He reached for one of the high, wooden cabinets and pulled out a glass. Holding it under the sink, he turned the tap and watched it fill. He took a sip, rinsed out his mouth, and spit. Next, he opened the freezer door, bright light spilled onto the floor and stung his eyes. Grabbing a handful of ice cubes, he threw it into the glass. He took another and let it rest on his tongue until it melted.
The pain wasn't too bad, just frustrating.
He played around with the new piercing in his mouth until a sudden, sharp pain spread through his tongue as the barbell hit his teeth. That was probably a bad idea. He ventured into the bathroom, and flicked on the light switch. In his reflection his skin was still flushed red. He let his jaw fall open, and stuck out his tongue, finally taking a look at the most recent evidence of his impulse control issues.
The placement was perfect. The silver ball shone brightly against his pink tongue, right in the middle. A bit of dry blood surrounded it, but Yuuji figured that would dissipate with time. Megumi did such a good job, Yuuji never got a chance to thank him properly. For now, he just admired how good it looked. He stared into his reflection while miming exaggerated facial expressions. The Parisian streets would love this. His antics continued for an embarrassing amount of time until another jab of pain struck him. Yikes.
Urgently, he sorted through the cluttered drawers until finding a bottle of pain relievers. Yuuji hasn't taken these in a while. What was the recommended dosage again? He shrugged, after struggling with the child’s lock, he opened it and poured four pills into his palm. Seemed like enough. He swallowed them all at once, without using water to wash it down.
A wave of exhaustion rolled over his body. It was time for him to go to bed.
He crawled onto his mattress, it creaked beneath his weight. Warm blankets and pillows enveloped his body, but he refused to fall asleep right away. He had some research to do. He opened a new tab, but just as he was about to type “What is a tongue piercing?” into the search, a notification from an unknown number popped up on his screen.
12:04 am
[Unknown]: You forgot to schedule your check up appointment.
Yuuji squealed. He was going to see Megumi again.