Orc Boyfriend: Royal (rough draft)

A few months ago you had gotten a job at the Sourpuss Studios, a tattoo parlor. Your old boss got you a job there through the owner, and lucky enough for you, you know one of the artists there. Dolly and you had become friends online after both admiring each other’s work. Working with her had been amazing and since moving, you had become close with her and her boyfriend Lon, who had been a model for a lot of her work online.

Everything was fantastic about this job, expect one small thing. You often worked with Royal, another tattooist in the shop. He was an Orc, which wasn’t the reason. The reason you didn’t like him was that he bragged almost nonstop about his previous job. Royal boasted about how he used to work for Millicent Chaney, a famous tattooist to the stars down in New Orleans. He bragged about people he used to work with, all the amazing things he got to do and see while working for Millicent. It got under your skin quite a bit. You felt that the work itself should do the talking, not the bragging rights.

Royal had made his feelings about you known as well. Since you had been hired one without an interview or your work being seen he was skeptical of your ability. Especially since you promoted your social media so much. You had sent your portfolio to your new boss right away, and even Dolly spoke up for your work. It also felt hypocritical he’d talk down about your social media accounts when all he did was brag about tattooing some celebrities ass.

“I may not have worked with any celebrities, but I have won some awards for my work,” you tell him one day.

Royal chuckles. “Look, just ask and I can get you an autograph anytime.”

You give him a scrunched up sarcastic smile. “Why don’t you just kiss my ass, Royal? That’s what I really want.”

“Not in front of the customers,” Royal coos seductively. “After work and after a few drinks.”

“Only a few?”

He winks at you. “Don’t need much to have a good time. Reminds of when Millicent took the whole staff on this river cruise and-”

“That’s enough for you two,” Dolly scolds.

It had been a few months though, and you had figured out a pretty okay way of working around Royal. He was talented, you had to admit that, and he was good looking when he kept his mouth shut, you’d never admit that to anyone.

“If he’s such a big deal then why did he move away from New Orleans?” You grumble one day in the backroom, cleaning your kit and preparing for your next client.

Dolly looks up from her phone and shrugs. “Not sure. He never talks about that, just about working for Millicent Chaney. Why don’t you tell him why you moved? Maybe he’ll be a bit less priggish,” she says with a cute smirk.

You roll your eyes. “Oh sure, telling him I moved down here to take care of my Dad is really gonna soften his heart and make it grow three times its size. Bull.” You finish up and go to get a new box of gloves down from the shelf. “You and Lon got any plans this weekend?”

Dolly shrugs. “Nah. We just have a load of dishes we are mentally fighting over who has to wash. Wanna come over and watch?”

You laugh. “Oh no. I’m doing the same with my brother. Although I’m sure Lon doesn’t give you noogies.”

“Oh he wouldn’t dare. I do it to him.”

The door opens and Royal comes into the back, looking a little rough around the edge. His eyes scream exhaustion and his hair wasn’t styled like it usually was into one of those fancy braids he always wore. Even his clothes were unusual. He often dressed to the nines, but today he was wearing jeans and a plain t-shirt. “Excuse me.” His voice sounds like gravel in a blender.

“You okay, Roy?” Dolly asks, genuinely concerned. “You look like you’ve been through the ringer? Rough night or something?”

He makes a face, pushing his hair back from his forehead. “Anyone got a hair tie I could borrow?”

Reluctantly, you step up. “I’ve got a scrunchie.” You take the big, fluffy velvet thing from you pocket and offer it to him.

He takes it without hesitation, a big surprise for you. “Thanks. I owe you one.” He ties his hair back and sighs heavily. “Don’t worry, I’m not hung over or anything. Just running on no sleep and neck pain.”

“You got any work today?” Dolly asks while you gather your equipment to go to your chair.

“Couple of consultations, then just something small later. Lucky me,” he chuckles, sounding a bit like his usual self.

“Seriously what happened?” Dolly whispers once your out of the room, but since your chair is so close you can still kind of hear.

“Nothing. Just a bad night.” You’ve never heard Royal sound so humble, it kind of worked for him.

Royal came out a while later, looking a little bit better with his hair tied up and wearing his leather jacket. He was holding his sketch pad, drawing in it until his consultation arrived. He had tied his hair back using that scrunchie of yours. It looked ridiculous but he didn’t seem to care at all. You figured he knew how to style hair well since he always came in wearring fancy braids all the time. But his bun was very sloppy, even if intentional.

Once your client came in, you got to work right away and didn’t have much time to pay Royal any mind. By the end of the work day you were a little stiff and planning on sitting in a hot bath for a long time. You messaged your brother to ask what he had made for dinner as Royal came into the room. He still looked exhausted, even more so after the long day.

He took the scrunchie from his hair and handed it back to you. “Thanks.”

“Sure, no problem.” You take it back, stuffing it into your back pocket. “Rough night huh? Was it a girl?” You tease.

“You could say that.” He pours himself the last bit of coffee in the pot and drinks it down. “Probably going to be another rough one.”

“Uh oh, trouble in paradise?”

He gives you a look and you step back. “You still mooching off Dolly and her boyfriend?”

“I was never mooching,” you scoff. “They invite me over since I’m their friend.”

“Being a third wheel is fun, isn’t it? Get all the benefits of a relationship without having to put in any of the work,” he says with a satisfied smile.

“Excuse me?” You glare him down.

“Shame you don’t have a partner of your own isn’t it?” He gives you a wink. “Been here for months and still haven’t hooked up.”

You have to laugh, this is so ridiculous. “None of your business.”

“But my night is?”

You clam up and nod. “Okay. You got me.”

He chuckles and combs his fingers through his hair. “Next time you wanna gossip, be sure to bring your own to the table to share.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you grumble, unwilling to admit this small defeat.

“Now that you know the score, have a good night.” He waves over his shoulder as he leaves the studio.

Before you leave, your brother messages you to pick up a few things for him and your dad at the drugstore. You figure you will treat yourself and get some epsom salts for your soak that evening. The drugstore has a different feel in the evening, the lights have a whole different hue that makes it all feel like a lonesome painting hanging on a motel wall. You kind of enjoy the moody atmosphere, the sluggish people wandering around trying to escape home with the excuse of aspirin or bandaids. You get what you need then go to find the epsom salts. Passing by the feminine hygiene aisle, you see something curious.

There, knelt down and picking out pads, was Royal. He was on the phone talking to someone, probably his rough night, and he caught you looking. You stood still, hoping his sight relied on movement. He scowls at you and quickly picks up the thing of pads, tucking them under his arm. He tries to walk past you but you suddenly speak up.

“Those suck!”

He stops in his tracks.

Unsure why you spoke up like that, you now know you have to either defend your remarks or run. “They give me a rash, and they say they’re for nights but they leak when you move.”

He turns, his thick, pierced brows pinched as he stares at you, both exhausted and irritated by your presence.

“The uhm-” You peer into the aisle. “The yellow pack there. They’re natural cotton, so they don’t irritate the uhm...the vulva bits and it uhm...I use them so.”

Royal turns around, still looking at you like a cat who won’t stop screaming on the fence. He looks at the pads under his arm and sighs heavily. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Okay,” you say slowly. “What’s...what’s the situation? What do you need them for?”

Royal hands you the pack and you put them away. He sighs heavily as he looks over the pack you recommended. “My niece is having her first period.”

Your eyes widen and your mouth opens. “Oh! Okay!” You nod. “That’s, yeah, that’s cool. I mean it’s not but-” You stop. “Would you like some help?”

Royal rubs at his face and shakes his head. “I probably should. There’s only so much I can do.”

“How old is she?”

“Ten,” he grumbles.

You nod and pick up a bottle of Midol. “This will help if she’s cramping. Also, we’ll need to get her some chocolate. Maybe a cute stuffed animal? Doll?”

“Do you know how to get blood from sheets?” He asks. “She’s...freaked out about ruining mine.”

“Yeah, cold water, baking soda, a little vinegar and some dish soap.” You feel so awkward in the moment, never having had a real conversation with Royal before. “I’ve bled through quite a few sheets and towels in my day,” you say, trying to reassure him. “It’s normal. Natural even.”

He gives you a faint smile. “Tell her that,” he chuckles weakly.

“I will if she needs someone to talk to.” You help him pick out a few more things. “Is he mom not around?”

Royal shakes his head. “Not up to talking about that right now.”

“Oh,” you whisper under your breath. “Look, just, put on her favorite movie, reassure her she’s fine, all these horrible feelings will go away, and that, yeah, periods suck.”

“Thanks.” He sighs. “You uhm...you saved me tonight.”

You nervously smile. “Glad I could help.”

“Can you message me how to clean those sheets?” He asks.

You nod. “But I don’t have your number.”

“Give me your phone.” He holds his big hand out and you place your phone in it. He adds his contact then hands it back over. “Don’t abuse it.”

There’s the Royal you knew. “First and last text being sent,” you smirk.

That evening, after having sat with your dad and helping your brother clean the kitchen, you sink into a hot tub and groan as all your body melts into the water. Your hair is tied up and away so you can relax with a cheap beer. You phone then chimes and you see that Royal has replied.

“It worked great! She’s so happy.”

“Buy some black sheets for when she’s on her period. Even if it stains you won’t see it.”

“Smart idea. She told me to tell you thank you.”

“Anything for another survivor of the uterus.”

After that your phone goes silent and you go back to relaxing in your tub. Although, you can’t help but continue to think about Royal and his niece. Was he the one caring for her? Was she the reason he left New Orleans? I mean, you moved for very similar reasons. You were helping your brother take care of your dad. You two probably weren’t so different if that was the case.

The next day at work Royal is already there, back to his usual self. His hair is plaited in a beautiful fishtail braid and he’s dressed in tight pinstripe pants with a match vest and perfectly placed tie.

“Don’t we look purty today?” You tease as you put your things into your locker.

“I feel purty,” he says with a pose. “Thanks again for last night. But, do you mind keeping it-”

“On the down low? Sure,” you say with a shrug.

He then inches closer. “Uhm, this is kind of weird to ask, but-”

You take out disinfectant spray to clean your work area. “I helped you pick out pads last night, we’re not weird anymore.”

He smiles shyly. “It’s just that, Mia doesn’t have anyone to talk to, and well-” He grimaces. “Well, we’ve both not gotten along so it’s weird for me to ask you for help.”

You huff and nod. “Yeah. I get that. But I think we can set that aside for an evening if you need someone to talk to your niece. But you’re closer with Dolly, why not ask her?”

“I haven’t told anyone about Mia,” he confesses. “I know it sounds stupid, but it’s hard for me to talk about. I don’t want to talk about why I’m raising Mia.”

“I understand,” you murmur. You’ve not exactly told anyone about your dad or brother either. “I’m not gonna say shit. But I guess that’s why you’re always bragging about Millicent Chaney.”

“Yeah,” he huffs.

You nod silently, glad that the studio is so quiet at this time of day. But it’s also a bit awkward, and you feel the need to speak up. “So Mia?”

“Yeah, she’s-” He chuckles and touches his hair. “She wants to be a hair stylist and makeup artist when she grows up.”

“Oh!” You exclaim. “That explains the braids.”

“Every morning,” he laughs. “It’s why I don’t cut it.” He catches he’s sharing personal information and his olive skin darkens. “She’ll love your hair.” He clears his throat.

You smile and nod. “I can come over Sunday and talk with her, if that’ll make you feel better. I’ll even take her to an Ulta or something.”

He sighs with such extreme relief that even his chest seems to sin in. “That would be so great! Those places scare the shit out of me.”

You smirk. “Pretty boy like you? C’mon, you’d fit right in.” You go out to clean your workstation. “You never let her put makeup on you?”

“I only let her have lip glosses, she’s ten. I barely like her having a phone.” He takes a wipe and cleans off his chair.

“I started wearing eyeliner when I was even I think,” you tell him. “And when I say I looked like a Panda, I am not doing it justice.”

He looks at you surprised, a smile on his face. “I don’t believe you.”

“Awful, my mom let me out of the house like that because she believed children need to express themselves.” You laugh at the memory.

“Your eyeliner looks amazing now,” he says.

You blush a bit. “Practice and a slap in the face when I was thirteen.”

“I used to have the uhm...the emo hair,” he confesses.

You look at him in disbelief and have a short guffaw. “No.”

He nods.

“Prove it,” you scoff.

He shakes his head. “When you show me a picture of you pretending to be a panda, I’ll show you my Emo phase.”

You bite back your smile, enjoying your first conversation with Royal ever. “Cold day in hell then.”

“Cold day it is.” He winks.

You watch him, finding him a touch more attractive. “If you had the hair, then did you ever wear any eyeliner?”

Royal looks up, smiling from ear to ear. He looks, dare you think it, sexy. “Let’s just say, whatever Gerard Way did my mother had to convince me not to do. That’s all I am going to say on the subject.”

You slink up closer to him. “Do you have an My Chemical Romance tattoo somewhere under all those fancy clothes?”

He gives you a look, smarming up to you with a look on his face. “You’ll never see me unclothed enough to know, and I will never say it.”

You bite back your smile. “Ten four then.”

“Get back to work and stop flirting with me,” he teases.

You laugh and grab another wipe to mop up the head of the chair. “I like you better today. When do you start bragging again?”

“Once someone else is here.” He sighs. “I’ve decided to tell the story about the day a very certain actor wanted me to tattoo his inner thigh and I saw all of him.”

You make a face, crossing your eyes and opening your mouth wide as you look at him. “Dick too?”

“I said all of it,” he winks.

You get back to work, welcoming in your first customer. The day goes by as it usually does. Nothing seems strange but when you take a break, Dolly has questions.

“You two are being nice today, something happen?” She asks.

“He must have slept on the wrong side of the bed or something.” You say as you wash up. “Why do you ask?”

Dolly glances back. “Dunno. Just saw him looking at you in a funny way, that’s all.”

“Funny way?” You purse your brow. “How funny?”

Dolly shrugs then gives you a grin. “Hallmark movie funny.”

You turn to see Royal talking to his client, telling them how to care for their new ink and everything. You know you’re beginning to blush, so you quickly slap on a frown and turn away. “Well, that’s his problem isn’t it?”