It had been a few days since the incident with the intruder on the bus and the police were still building up a case against him since as he was refusing to speak a word to the police. DJ and Kath spoke from time to time over social media private messaging, Kath just confirming that she would come over the following weekend to do something with them both and Noah was constantly changing his mind on what he wanted to do with Kath and DJ. Every day he had his heart set on a new activity.
"Hey, bud. How's it going?" DJ asked, dropping on the couch as Noah sat on the rug, playing with his toys. He had Leo beside him and even though he was playing with other stuffed toys, Leo wasn't part of the game - Leo was his cuddling toy only, there for him when he needed comfort and was tired. He didn't go anywhere without Leo, even around the house.
"Playing," Noah said simply and DJ chuckled to himself, bringing Noah up into his lap.
"Listen, Nana just called and Papi isn't feeling very well still... so, you know what that means?" DJ asked and Noah gasped, clapping his hands.
"I come to work with Daddy!" Noah beamed and DJ chuckled.
"Just for a little while before Uncle JC can come and get you, okay? Go pick out some toys to bring with you." DJ instructed, letting his son go and Noah rushed off upstairs after picking up Leo, wanting to pick out some toys. He liked doing art when he went to work with his dad, but he rarely played with his toys. He just liked to watch DJ and his colleagues tattoo and he got to talk to the customers once he got over his shyness.
It was less than an hour later that DJ pulled up into the small parking lot beside the tattoo shop. It was in a run-down neighborhood and DJ was confident in his skills as an artist, he just wasn't experienced enough for other shops to even so much as look at his portfolio.
"DJ!" One of the artists beamed, giving him a high-five and he high-fived Noah too as he came through just behind DJ with Leo against his chest and a Batman backpack on with a few toys and a coloring book inside.
"Hey, Tony." DJ greeted, grabbing a spare chair for Noah and he lifted Noah into it at his station before he started to clean the bed and his equipment - he'd had a few days off because of the pain his chest injury caused him.
"Your client tapped out, by the way. He called this morning." Tony said, laughing and DJ rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but laugh too.
"You owe me five bucks, I told you he would." DJ teased, smirking as he snatched the money from Tony's hand.
"What does tapped out mean?" Noah asked, looking up from Leo. He was wearing Kath's hoodie too, with the sleeves rolled up so he could still use his hands. It still smelled like her, even though he wore it whenever they left the house and DJ had even caught him sneaking downstairs to take it from the hooks by the front door so he could have it in bed with him.
"It means he isn't coming back, kiddo," Tony said.
"Why?"
"Because he can't handle how awesome Daddy is," DJ said with a smirk, making Noah giggle and Tony couldn't help but chuckle as he kept tattooing his customer who was getting a back piece done.
"I wouldn't tap out, Daddy," Noah said confidently, making DJ chuckle and he ruffled Noah's hair.
"Thanks, bud, but you're not getting one of these until you're much older! But Daddy will give you a tattoo if you still want one when you're older." DJ compromised and Noah nodded his head, even though he didn't understand and DJ got back to cleaning.
"KATH!" Noah practically yelled, making DJ jump and look back at his son.
"We're seeing her on Saturday, bud, but yeah, she has lots of tattoos-"
"Hi, DJ." A voice said, making his eyes widen and he turned his head, seeing Kath stood by his station, a shy smile on her face as he immediately grinned as big as Noah was smiling.
"Kath... what are you doing here?"
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"I thought I'd come and get a tattoo from the best artist in the city," Kath said with a smile and DJ's smile widened impossibly more.
"Well, lucky for you, my day just became free. What is it that you want to have?" He asked, chuckling when Kath took off her jacket and threw it to Noah who giggled and hugged it to him, giggling more as she winked at him.
"Surprise me," Kath said to DJ. "My arm is yours."
"Your arm?" He choked out, in complete shock, she was even in front of him, let alone wanting a tattoo. "My first idea... it'll take a full day to get it done." He warned and Kath smiled, shrugging her shoulders.
"Go wild. I want a DJ Padilla masterpiece." She said with a grin, DJ smiling right back at her. Noah was beaming from his seat, overjoyed to simply see Kath again.
