Tattoo Artist | o. diaz

cincuenta y nueve: santa muerte

When Venus got back home with her clothes, everything was normal. She didn't like lying to Oscar, but she felt like she needed to keep Cesar safe since there wasn't really anything Oscar could do.

"Oscar, stop moving before your eye comes out." Venus demanded, slapping Oscar's forehead and going back to doing his eyebrows.

"That shit hurts."

"Because you keep moving." Venus stated. Oscar didn't have any drops to do, so when he told Venus he was staying home, she immediately ran to the bathroom and got her stuff. "You're going to look so pretty."

"I don't do pretty."

Venus pulled back and whipped off his face. "Yes you do. Luis, es papá bella?" Luis turned around with the face mask he told Venus to put on him and nodded. "See. You want a face mask? You need one, come."

Oscar groaned and let Venus drag him because he didn't want to go. "Is it supposed to burn?"

"It tingles, estupido. You don't listen when I tell you to wash your face."

"I'm a man. I don't wash my face."

"Tell that to all your blackheads." Venus retorted, jumping on the counter and holding Oscar's face still. "Su piel será suave."

Luis ran into the bathroom and pulled Venus' foot. "Mamá, all done." He pushed Oscar away and stood on his stool so Venus could wash the mask off. "Am I pretty?"

"You're beautiful." Venus told Luis, kissing his cheek and drying off his face. "Go play now. La cara de papá es sucio." Venus whispered. Luis giggled and ran away to the living room while Venus finished off Oscar's face mask.

"This shit is making me cry."

"Quit acting like a bitch. It's not even serious."

"Then why are my eyes watering?" Oscar asked loudly.

Venus pulled back and punch his shoulder. "Don't raise your voice, homie."

"I don't like it." Oscar told her. "Why you put this on your face all the time?"

"Because I don't want to be ugly like you."

× × ×

"Venus!" Luciana cheered, jumping off of her chair and running at her boss to pull her into a hug. "I missed you, bestie!" Venus chuckled and hugged Luciana back. "I like your braids, mama." Luciana complimented, grabbing the braids while still hugging Venus.

"Aye, quit groping my girl." Luciana gave Oscar an annoyed look, then smirked before she started kissing Venus' face. Venus started giggling as Luciana did it, until Oscar pulled her out of Luciana's arms. "Quit being gay."

Venus punched Oscar's side and Luciana laughed. "We'll be gay if we want to, puto." Venus said, going back to Luciana and actually hugging her.

"I swear you're cheating on me."

Luciana laughed and sat in Venus' chair. "If she was, she'd never get out of bed." Luciana teased, subtly referring to when they used to mess around.

"Cállate, Lu." Venus whispered with a little laugh, confusing Oscar because he still didn't know about their past.

Luciana just giggled and messed with her own hair. "How come you both came? V normally comes alone."

"He wants a tattoo and said he's not letting anyone else do it." Venus said, narrrowing her eyes at Oscar for being stubborn. Luciana hummed and got out of Venus' seat, letting her get ready for Oscar's tattoo. "Come on, chillón." Venus pat the bench and Oscar sat down, setting his arm up so Venus could start tattooing his hand.

Oscar watched Venus put her black gloves on, get new needles, then clean his hand. Before she turned on the tattoo gun, Venus kissed Oscar's hand as a goodbye to his plain hand. "Aye, no soft shit."

"Nigga, shut up before I mess up your tattoo on purpose." Venus glared. "Acting like I don't do that everyday." Venus mumbled, holding onto Oscar's hand as she started to outline what he wanted.

For 3 hours, Oscar sat in the chair with Venus doing the tattoo on his hand. Once she finished, Oscar looked at his hand where Santa Muerte was praying and holding a Santos Cross in her hands.

"Boom." Venus said, looking at Oscar's hand with pride.

Oscar smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "You're so talented." He complimented, squeezing her cheeks when he pulled back from Venus' lips. Venus just smiled and kissed Oscar again.

"Awww." Luciana said, staring at the two with her chin in her hand.

"Don't you have a job?"

Luciana gestured to the shop, making Oscar look around and see that only 2 people were in here. "I just gave a 16 year old a belly button piercing and she cried like a bitch." Lu laughed. "What's with the Santa Muerte?"

Oscar shrugged and Venus rolled her eyes. "He said no one can know the meaning." Venus told Luciana, looking over to Oscar who was laying in the chair minding his business. "Dame tu dinero." Venus demanded, slapping Oscar's thigh from her seat.

Luciana gestured for Venus to come cover and Venus rolled her chair over while Oscar was pulling his wallet out. Luciana cupped her hand around Venus' ear and whispered, "Now when he chokes you, his hand will look cool."

Venus busted out laughing and pushed Luciana away before rolling herself back to Oscar. "What she say?"

"Nothing." Venus smiled, taking the money and pushing herself to the front desk to lock it in the money box until they locked the place up.

Oscar looked between Venus and Luciana, making a mental reminder to ask her about their relationship later. Venus wheeled herself back while Luciana was connecting her phone to the speaker to play music.

On some nights like this shawty I can't help but think of us
I've been reminiscin, sippin, missin ya

"How's Luis?" Luciana asked.

Venus immediately went to her phone and started showing her best friend pictures of Luis. "And remember Lupita?"

"Your cousin that got Chlamydia?"

Venus nodded her head and Oscar scrunched his face up. "She kept telling me to stop raising Luis like a girl because he was wearing una diadema and playing with Barbies, and we got into it because she pulled his hair made him cry."

"I hope you beat her ass. I hate that bitch so much." Luciana groaned.

Venus nodded, giving a look that said "Of course I did". Venus and Luciana continued gossiping, even when someone came in for a nose piercing. "Oh, and apparently, she slept with some guy before I fought her and got an STD."

"Lupita is the messiest bitch, I swear."

"Because she sleeps with people for money. She doesn't care what happens as long as she gets money."

Luciana blew out a breath, widening her eyes as she sat up. "Messy."