"I'm going to need backup then?" They said, we nodded as Caleb sighed and picked up their phone. "Come through, I'm going to need you." They said then chewed on their pen as they examined us. I glanced back at Sky and Oakley as they both grinned.
"These rapscallions want tattoos." They said, I turned back then laughed.
"No way." I said as Enzo grinned at me then turned as Luke came through the door with zie.
"Do you have a design?" Caleb asked, Frankie nodded taking the piece of paper to them, "beautiful." Caleb said softly. "I'll do Sky." They said, turning to look at Enzo who nodded "you do Oakley? I feel like he'll need a soft hand."
"And my hand is the softest." Enzo said amused then looked at the design.
"Luke you can take on Frankie." They said, Luke smiled at Frankie as he laughed. "You can do Sam then, too? Right?"
"Right." Luke agreed.
"Come through enbies." Caleb said amused then led us through to the tattoo chairs.
"When did this, happen?" I asked as Frankie sat on the chair.
"This?" Luke asked as he began to prepare.
"You guys all working together tattooing?"
"Ten years ago, maybe?" He said amused, I frowned at him. "I always did art, I commissioned art, did the designs for Jasper's cakes I was working job to job and even though Jasper makes..." he paused to look up at me, "a shit-tonne of money, so we weren't struggling, I needed something regular.
Caleb opened here, they've been a trained tattoo artist for years, so I took the course and qualified, started working with them.
It wasn’t too long-ago Enzo started here too, zie had the same issue I did being a freelance artist. We both still do freelance work, but personally I love being here." He said, then looked at Frankie, "ready?" He asked, Frankie nodded slowly, "gets too much just tap out, okay?" He said, Frankie nodded again taking a deep breath in holding his wrist in his hand, so I touched his fingers. He glanced at me.
"You good?" I asked, he nodded slowly taking another deep breath.
"It’s okay." Luke said softly, we both looked at him, "I'm not going to be looking at what's on your wrists, I'm not going to focus on it, or ask you anything because I'm in no place to do that. I'm just going to concentrate on the design and making it amazing for you." He said, Frankie swallowed.
"You can tattoo over, over scars, right?"
"Yeah." Luke said nodding, "it might hurt a little more because the skin will be sensitive."
"They're not... new." He said then cleared his throat, "they're three years old." He added, Luke nodded.
"You'll be fine." Luke said, "honestly." He added then unbuttoned his shirt sleeve, pushing it up to his elbow. "This one." He said nodding to the tattoo on his forearm that looked like a heart rate line. Three spikes in the middle. "I got this to specifically cover the scars I had there. They were about five years old then, but I couldn't stand to look at them. It's a sensitive part of your body anyway, yeah?"
"Yeah." Frankie said although he couldn't take his eyes off Luke's tattoo.
"And as I said, if it gets too much, just tap out." He said, Frankie nodded looking down at his wrist again stroking his thumb down his arm before lying his arm on the chair. I took his other hand in mine, him squeezing gently looking up at me, so I lifted his hand kissing his knuckle.
“You better hold my hand when he’s doing mine.” I said, his eyes almost looked amused, as I shook my head. “I’m going to be crying.” I said, he laughed shaking his head as I looked at Luke who winked at me.
⦁
Every few weeks a drop-in barber came along to RCNB. He, the barber was Jesse, Riley and Kieran’s adoptive son.
When Jesse came out as trans at fifteen his Mum kicked him out, but luckily for him, at the time he’d just started attending RCT. Riley and Kieran were in their early twenties just moved into their first flat together and agreed to become Jesse’s legal guardians. They got him through his transition, and through his exams.
Jesse moved out of their house around the time Riley fell pregnant with Rory. The two things coinciding but not related. Jesse moved in with Ashley, his now husband and opened up his own barber shop. Queercuts. He offered discounted haircuts for LGBTQ people, and free cuts for transitioning teenagers. Which, is what he offered when he visited Rainbow Connection, one week every couple of months he came and set up his pop-up and gave haircuts for free, but, this time he had his apprentice Oakley, who Riley had practically made him hire over the summer because come on he’s basically your little brother.
“Ashley told me the news.” Jesse said as he walked towards Enzo, his arms outstretched so Enzo hugged him. “How are you doing?”
“Good.” Enzo said nodding, “really good actually.” Zie said as zie stroked over zir stomach. “Caleb will be really happy to see you today; they’ve been complaining about needing a haircut for weeks.” Enzo said amused, Jesse laughed.
“Are they feeling brave?” he asked, Enzo frowned. “I’m letting Oakley do some today.” He said, then grinned as Oakley scoffed.
“I’m amazing.” he said then looked around the room.
“You’re amazing.” Sky repeated amused, “like I am blown away by your amazing. Jesse can you fit me in?”
“That was rude.” Oakley squeaked, Skylar laughed, walking towards him and hugging him even though Oakley pretended to push them away. Jesse laughed raising his hands as if saying he wanted no part in their fight, then he turned towards me.
“Sam?” he asked, I nodded following him through to the little conjoining room where he’d set up a chair with a plastic mat underneath, so I sat on it, crossing my legs as he wrapped the gown around me. “Shaved?” he asked, I nodded.
“Number four… I think.” I said, then frowned at him as he picked up the shaver, he nodded.
“Four on the sides, trim on the top. I’ve got you.” He said, I smiled turning back around and reading the information posters as the razor began to buzz.
Frankie gasped as I came out of the little room, he came towards me, smiling happily then ran his fingers through my hair so I laughed, raising my shoulders as he stroked down the back of my neck.
“I like it.” he purred at me, I pulled my tongue at him, getting a grin back as Caleb went into the little room.
“Frankie stop stroking Sam.” Riley said, Frankie turned towards him, his hand not leaving the back of my head. “Come craft.” He added; Frankie laughed.
“Craft?” he repeated; Riley nodded as we walked towards the table they were all sat around.
There were beads, multiple beads being made into keyrings and bracelets. “Sit, relax and craft.” Riley said then he smirked at Frankie. “And stop stroking Sam.” He said, Frankie tutted, his fingers scratching the back of my head and making me shiver before he reached for a piece of thread. His hand didn’t quite get there, as Riley took his hand, turning it over and grinning at the purple, yellow, white and black butterfly on his wrist.
“That’s new.” Riley said, Frankie hummed as he nodded.
“It’d appear so.” Frankie agreed,
“Only half though?” he said, Frankie nodded taking his hand back and holding mine, lying our hands flat on the table so the butterfly’s wings met.
“But it also works…” he said excitedly then reached for Sky, lowering their arms together. Sky’s and Oakley’s were blue, with pink accents which when I saw I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for the two of them, Riley laughed.
“Love them.” he said then cocked his head at them. “does that mean Oak has one too?” he added, we all nodded back, he laughed putting his finger on his lips. We nodded as he walked around the table, towards the little room where Jesse and Oakley where.
He opened the door, smirking at us then turned.
“And when were you going to tell us you got a tattoo?” he snapped, Oakley squeaked.
“It was spontaneous. All Frankie’s idea.” He replied, Frankie gasped as he looked at me,
“He just threw m
e under the bus.” Frankie said, Sky laughed.
“You’re so throwable though.” They said as they stood, kissing Frankie on the top of the head before running down the room to Oakley.
“Am I throwable?” Frankie asked, I nodded as I scrunched my nose at him.
“Sorry, but yes.” I said, he laughed.
“Thanks Sam.” He said as Oakley gasped and hit Riley laughing loudly as Riley caught his hand and looked at his wrist smiling amused.
“That is awesome.” Riley told Oakley, then he looked around us, “and for the rest of you, this weekend is Champions of the Summer.” He stated, we all began to chatter.
“What’s this year’s game?”
“Go karting.”
“No way.” Caleb said laughing,
“Why am I always pregnant when we do something cool?” Enzo murmured as zie stroked zir stomach, Caleb laughed also stroking zirs stomach.
“Don’t worry you can tie a headband around your head and wear super short shorts and cheer me on from the side line.” They said, Enzo looked up at them then laughed.
“I could not.” Zie said.
“You’re not the first person to do this today.” I said, as Olly’s fingers stroked over my buzzcut. Chandler laughed as he stopped walking, pulling down the seat part of the plastic contraception and sitting on it. I sat next to him, Olly next to me, his hand not leaving my hair.
“Your head is obviously desirable.” Chandler said, I smirked at him.
“It isn’t the first time I’ve been told that.” I pulled my tongue at him, he laughed as Olly pulled on my hair, I looked at him as he also laughed.
“I like how it feels.”
“I know.” I said softly, then looked down towards the pitch, watching as the stands filled up. A sea of royal blue getting vaster and vaster with multiple punters sporting plastic cups of beer and pasties. I moved back as Olly reached across me, tapping Chandler to get his attention, he almost frowned as he looked at Olly.
“Defenders.” He said, Chandler nodded going into his backpack and passing the matching blue ear defenders too him.
“You know what I admire about you.” I said, Chandler frowned at me as he rezipped his backpack. “You still manage to wear all black.” I said, he laughed.
“When the away kit was black it made my year.” He said, I laughed because the away kit was simply black, with pink accents that were barely noticeable. “Doesn’t ruin my aesthetic that way.” He added smirking at me, I smiled back. “I’m looking forward to autumn when I can go back to beanies though.” He said lowering the peak of his cap to me, I did it back then turned as Olly tapped me, I looked at him then around as the sound of the stadium erupted as one, the players walking onto the pitch, horns being blown whilst the crowd shouted and hollered together.
Olly laughed happily as we stood together, the entire stand doing it like a Mexican wave before joining in with the cheering.
We walked back to Olly’s house, stopping midway to pick up some fish and chips, picking from the paper wrapper as we walked, until Olly ran ahead, opening up his house and letting us in.
“You’re all very happy for a group of people who’ve just been to the loosing team’s game.” Olly’s Dad said as we walked up the stairs. Olly turned to look at him, smiling at him as I laughed and offered him a chip. He took one. “Or is that the beer?”
“Sober. I’ll have you know.” Chandler said nodding, Olly’s Dad laughed.
“Just enjoy heavily vinegary chips. You weirdos.” He said, Olly laughed cheerfully before running up the rest of the stairs. I followed as Chandler laughed, replying to Olly’s Dad before following us up.
Olly’s room was simple, clean, and solid but simple. It was black and grey, the wall behind his bed black, almost like a blackboard with a giant diagram drawn of a butterfly. It was labelled with all the parts of the butterfly, with other multiple sketches of different breeds of butterflies and some random caterpillars. The other walls were a light grey, nothing on them at all.
His floor was clear of clutter, none of his drawers overfilled. Everything had it’s place and everything was in it’s place. He pulled out his underbed box, tossing a sleeping bag to me, then to Chandler, before throwing his own out onto the floor. He began to change as I walked towards his bookcase, the bookcase that held no books, only train models. They got more impressive the higher they got up. Bigger and grander, and put together better.
“Destiny?” Chandler asked, so I turned smiling as he threw his jeans over the end of Olly’s bed and stepped into the sleeping bag, I nodded.
“Destiny?” I asked, Olly hummed as he sat cross legged on his bed, pulling on his gingham pyjama shorts.
“Will you go easy on me?”
“Definitely not.” Chandler said as I laughed, pulling my shorts off, then my football shirt before stepping into my sleeping bag.
“No chance.” I said, Olly pulled his tongue at us then shrugged, as he reached for his bedside drawer pulling it open and tossing the remotes to us. He climbed off his bed, sitting against the board looking up at the television as it turned on. I shuffled over and sat next to him, still wrapped up in my sleeping bag as Chandler sat on the other side.
❋
Chapter Eleven
The go-kart track was in a big echoey warehouse that seemed to go on for miles. We seemed to be the only ones in the building. RCG were already on the course, whizzing round and round as they did their practice lap, we RCNB were being shuffled into a little room for the safety briefing, Enzo in tow because zie refused to be left out.
“I hear you’re here to reclaim your title.” The safety briefing man – an Adonis – stated to us as he picked up the remote for the video.
“RCT stole our title away last year.” Sky said bitterly, “unfairly ruled I think.”
“You sound bitter.” The Adonis said in a laugh, Sky smirked up at him.
“Just a bit.”
“A lot.” Enzo intoned, “I could actually play last year and we lost to my twin brother.”
“And my husband.” Riley muttered; the Adonis’ laugh got even more joyful.
“Oh this is a family feud, I love it. What was the game last year?”
“Archery.” I said, the Adonis looked at me, I shrugged. “we were doing pretty well, until…” I looked at Frankie who rose his hands.
“Just because someone isn’t Robin Hood doesn’t automatically mean I was the reason we lost.”
“No but a contributing factor.” Oakley muttered, I almost snorted.
“First year since Rainbow Connection Nonbinary was created we lost, it was devastating.” Sky said in a sigh.
“Kieran is weirdly good at archery given he spends most of his time at a computer.” Frankie muttered,
“Kieran’s always been good at hitting the bullseye.” Riley said, Oakley rose his hands.
“Ew, no, no, can we have the safety briefing.”
“What just happened?” the Adonis asked,
“He made a sex joke about his Dad.” I aided, the Adonis frowned at me,
“Not your husband?” he said pointing at Riley,
“One in the same.” Riley ensured him; the Adonis looked at Oakley with wide eyes.
“He’s your son.” He said, Riley nodded slowly, “there’s no way you’re old enough to have a teenage son.” He flirted.
“He’s flirting.” Frankie confirmed, I covered my mouth.
“Wait until you meet his eldest.” Enzo said, “he’s married to my twin brother.” Zie added, the Adonis blinked a few times at Riley who shrugged.
“Safety briefing.” Riley suggested, the Adonis nodded before pressing play.
We were on the course after RCT, who were already driving around when we approached the track and retrieved our helmets. According to the board behind us Alistair was in pole position.
“I like these.” Frankie said as he played with the visor of his helmet, I turned to look at him watching as he lowered it then began to cloud up
the visor. I pushed it up smiling at him as he grinned back then pulled my head towards his butting our foreheads together.
“I feel like this is your moment.” He told me,
“Why Sky’s the one who can drive?” I said pointing towards them as they stood with Oakley whispering between themselves.
“Have you been in the car with Sky, they shouldn’t have their licence?” he said, I practically cackled.
“RCNB to your karts.” Kaiden called, “you’ll do a practice lap then a race. Whoever comes first in your race, goes against the other winners.” He explained as we started down towards our karts.
“Be safe my love.” Enzo shouted dramatically as zie stood on the side-lines, Emma in zir arms. Caleb laughed shaking their head dramatically.
“Wait for me.” they said before lowering their visor and getting into the kart.
“Why don’t you love me that much?” Kieran asked as he leant on the barrier by the karts, his helmet in his hand, Riley laughed as he stepped into his kart.
“Because I’m going to make sure I beat your ass.” He shrugged then, “love you.” He added as the Adonis ensured I was secure in my kart. He winked at me as he walked on I was impressed I didn’t instantly crash my kart into Frankie’s.
We did our practice lap very slowly. Following the Adonis as he led the way before bringing us back into the pit stop and then the race began.
And I was a changed person.
I was competitive, I knew that about myself most people who were close to me also knew it. I had been on many of football teams from when I was very small.
I’d also took part in many of cross-country events and relay races anything that earned me a medal at least.
But I also knew that Frankie was an insanely competitive person and that Sky also was. I fully believed that this was what lead to our repeat success in the Champions of the Summer, apparently if the entire Non-binary team would rather sacrifice a teammate than loose, they were probably going to win.
Except in Archery. Dammit Frankie.
We were pretty much neck and neck, Sky and I with Frankie trying to get pass the blocker we were creating.
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