The human body is like a flower.

It is beautiful, yes, but undoubtedly complicated.

Every cell has some purpose, intricately bound into a fortress which is, ultimately, itself.

The human body does share a more significant aspect with flowers, however.

It grows.

Growing; more definitions of the word than one might think.

To become bigger, or to increase in something.

Humans, they grow more emotionally than physically.

After all, it would be rather fucking terrifying if plants had feelings.

It's bad enough to watch people suffer.

People with really loud voices.

"...And he completely embarrassed me!" Oikawa sobbed miserably. "Why would he just announce something like that with no filter? Where did he even get the idea that I'm gay?"

He wiped the tears from his cheeks dramatically, flicking the drops from the tips of his fingers with a flourish.

Sugawara momentarily observed his ugly-sobbing and exchanged a look with Oikawa's boyfriend, Iwaizumi, whose left pectoral he was inking with an illustration of a wolf.

"I have no idea, honey." Suga sympathised half-heartedly, his voice muffled by a surgical mask. "But I can't concentrate and I need to get this tattoo finished so I can go home for the day. I promise I'll listen to your problems tomorrow though? How's 4:30?"

Oikawa nodded, and blew his nose aggressively. He muttered something about a lactose-freak who was going to meet an unfortunate demise, but finally left the parlour.

"You're an incredibly patient man, Iwaizumi-San." Suga praised, wiping at the reddened area of Iwaizumi's chest with a wet disposable cloth. "I'm impressed."

He let out a tired laugh. "Thank you Sugawara. You must enjoy all this peace and quiet."

He shrugged. "It gets a little boring sometimes, but I've always got my customers to keep me company."
The room was quiet for a short time, while Suga focused on the tattoo.

The blueish colours contrasted heavily against Iwaizumi's tanned skin, forming a small night's sky on his chest.

"Do people ever ask to get tattoos in awkward places?" Iwaizumi asked out-of-the-blue.

Suga laughed softly, trying not to grimace at the memories he had hoped to forget.

"I had to do one of those 'choking hazard' tattoos on a guy's v-line once."

"Ah."

"Yeah..."

Sugawara resumed work on the design, silence again enveloping the two, until he had finally finished.

"Okee-dokee, Mr. Iwaizumi, you're done!" Suga quickly admired his work, grabbing an ointment to wash the wound.

The silhouette of a wolf was black against the white moon, its head thrown back in a howl. White stars were scattered across the navy blue of the sky.

Suga washed and bandaged Iwaizumi's chest, making light conversation as he did so.

"Make sure to take the bandages off in 6-8 hours to wash out the plasma and excess ink–"

"Yep."

"do not pick any scabs that may form, if you're worried about infection–"

"Sugawara, you've told me this four times now, I think I'll remember."

Suga smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Paranoid."

The last few minutes were quiet after that, but Suga finally finished bandaging the tattoo, and told Iwaizumi he was free to leave.

"It looks great! Thanks Sugawara." He called once more, before leaving the silver-haired man to close up shop.

Hazy evening sunlight spilt through the windows of the parlour, the molten-gold beams splashing onto the floor.

Suga tiredly watched the dust particles float in the ore-gold rays, took off his latex gloves and mask, and turned off the radio which droned in the background.

Whistling softly, he grabbed the keys that laid on the counter and began locking the windows and back door.