Almost Blind [First draft] / On hold

01

"Are you sure you want this?" Question echoed in miniature tattoo shop positioned at the corner of small alley, near the subway simply called Ink. Woman asking the question was clearly surprised as she received the request. Confusion reflected on her face once man confirmed the idea.

Overweighed man in his mid-thirties handed her a piece of paper with a picture of a cartoonish style strip of bacon. He nodded at the question and slightly puffed.

"You got it missy! I want it right here!" Man processed to slap his jelly like behind to indicate where he wanted the tattoo, making the woman cringe for a millisecond.

"Okay. Please wait here while I go and make the stencil." She quickly excused herself and disappeared through door in the back. Letting her head fall down and short slightly wavy dark brown hair cover half of her face, she leaned on table before she stared with the stencil.

Woman's quick and accustomed hands finished the job quickly. Almost too fast, so she took her time to take off her hooded man-like jacket, revealing the full sleeve tattoo on her left arm. Tattoo was a beam of skulls going from the wrist up her forearm that reconstructed into a hooded reaper holding a scythe on the upper arm. Whole ink was black and shaded, except for a single red rose right above her wrist.

"What's up Indiana? Hiding from a customer?" well built man with long beard barged in the back room, making her jump in surprise.

"Please don't scare me like that." She sighed furrowing her eyebrows and gave him a cold stare, even though it was hard to call it cold because of her warm deep dark brown eyes surrounded with thick long eyelashes.

"Also, Bruce, why do you call me Indiana?" She pouted as she walked pass him. Tattoo girl stopped, at the door to hear the answer before moving on.

"You remind me of Indiana Jones." Bruce laughed and quickly continued. "To be fair, I'm just confused about the whole 'I'm a man' thing. How can you be a male in such gorgeous woman's body? Just cut me some slack for now, Tino. I'll get used to it in time."

"Fine, call me Indiana, not like I care. But now, please excuse me. I have a Bacon ass to attend to." Tino chuckled and skipped on to give full attention to her unwanted customer.

Tino Khan, twenty-tree year old tattoo artist was struggling with her own identity. Her mind was telling her that she's a man, yet her body clearly stated otherwise. She only came out as a transgender a year ago, after all, her strict and closed-minded Indian parents never gave her the opportunity she needed to live like who she was. Now when the truth came out and she moved out of her parents' tight grip, she could turn her life around. Her always long wavy hair now cut short into a, pixie haircut and she filled her wardrobe with nearly specifically men clothes. As much as Tino tried to adapt and fit in, people couldn't look pass her captivating female curves, regardless how much she tried to mask them.

Plump ass of a customer got out of her sight and the shop, as soon as she finished the tattoo. He was visibly satisfied with the purchase. Once he walked out Tino left out a long loud sigh and ran her hands trough hair. The job made her tired, mostly because the request was laughable and unpleasant. Last thing she wanted that day was getting trough lumps of fat in order to make a decent looking tattoo.

"You should go get some food. It will make you feel better." Bruce commented, finishing a complicated design for his client. While drawing or tattooing, he always seemed serious, almost scary, even though his personality was fit for a cuddly teddy bear. Tino respected him and his determination to do what he loves and think is right, as well as his father like nature towards everyone.

"Yeah I'll do that." She nodded and stretched before heading in the back to find her wallet.

"I'm going to that sandwich place around the corner, at the subway. Do you want me to bring something for you too?" she questioned knowing he'll refuse. She always asked him either he wants anything while she went out in attempt to show her gratitude.

"No, no. There's no need, I have lunch with me. I'll eat it once you get back here." Bruce said while adding some final details to the design he made. Straightening his back, he glanced at Tino and shooed her away, with movement of his hand. She gladly obeyed realizing how hungry she was and headed out.

After a brief walk, that took five minutes of her time, she arrived to the sandwich shop. Shop itself was nothing special. It was a simple room divided in half, with counter and display case full of premade sandwiches.

Place was always crowded and known as the best sandwich shop in the area. It helped that most sandwiches were made on the spot with fresh ingredients. You could pick anything you wanted in your sandwich and the price was always the same. Yet, Ink girl knew when to show up, to have few minutes alone with her favorite sandwich maker.

"Tino! You're back. It sure is nice to see you." Slightly overweight man smiled widely from the other side of the counter. He was the only person who Tino trusted with her food, knowing he would never disappoint her fussy nature along with vegetarian diet.

"What will you have today?" He continued and rearranging boxes with vegetables that waited to be cut.

"You know what I'll have. I always take the same." Tino laughed, knowing he only asks for her confirmation. Man just nodded and started to stack together mozzarella-tomato sandwich adding in a thick layer of thyme and basil mayonnaise.

"How is your daughter? You don't mention her much lately." She commented while following the man's hands with her eyes, as to make sure to see everything he puts in her food.

"She's good. There's really nothing much to say about her." Man said, while stacking the sandwich together.

"Oh, c'mon Timothy! There's always something to say. Don't hold back on me now." Tino laughed, knowing how much he loves to talk about his daughter. He was so proud of his little girl. Maybe even a bit over protective. But no one could blame him for it, after all he was a single father. Bound to juggle work and parenting after his wife died.

"You know me too well Tino. I might have to consider to stop babbling too much about my personal life with customers." Man shook his head as a smile creeped on his face.

"Well I'm sure you can always make an exception for your favorite customer?" she teased "Now tell me, how is she?"

Man quickly wrapped the sandwich into a foil and packed it in a bag, before handing it to Tino.

"Like I told you the last time, she is in kindergarten now. She has a lot of friends and it seems that she's extremely interested in dolls and toy cars." He paused for a second "Did I tell you that her birthday is coming up? She'll be four in a month. Time flies so fast, she was just a baby a while ago."

"Really, her birthday is in a month? Amazing. Make sure to invite me to a birthday party." Tino joked, but made a mental note to buy a present anyway.

"Maybe I could hire you as an animator for the kids. I'm sure you have few tricks in your sleeves. If nothing else you could tech everyone how to draw."

"Timothy! You know I can't do that." She laughed "I'm not that good with kids, also I think most of them are scared of my tattoos and hiding them just doesn't suit me."

"I'm sure you'd figure out something, if needed." Timothy said handing her the bill and greeted a man who just stepped in his store.

"I'm sure I would." She smirked, payed for the sandwich and turned on her heels, heading towards exist. "Take care, I'll be back tomorrow."

Right when Tino stepped out, young woman ran by and nearly knocked the sandwich out of her hands. She wore plain black summer dress and All-star sneakers, carrying a huge sports bag. Woman seemed to be in a hurry, because she didn't even notice that she bumped into Tino, or maybe she just couldn't be bothered with it.

"What the heck is her problem?" Tino asked herself quietly as she followed the other one with her eyes until she disappeared around the corner.