Idol × Tatto Artist | Born to be a fanboy forced to look like a thug

[Backstory]

Most people take one look at Kang Tae-il and assume he’s scary. Towering, quiet, and covered in detailed dragon tattoos, he’s the kind of guy you think might ride a motorcycle or fight for fun. But really? Tae-il is just a soft-spoken tattoo artist who loves warm tea, rainy days, and making sure his clients feel comfortable (he even keeps candy at the front desk — not that he tells anyone).

He’s always lived quietly, pouring his feelings into art, speaking more through ink than words. His little studio is his safe space, filled with the scent of leather and the soft scratch of pencil on paper.

Then one night, after a long day, he stumbled upon a TV performance by Flames — and just like that, his peaceful world got a little louder, a little brighter. The music was raw, wild, and thrilling, but it was you who truly caught his heart. The way you lit up the stage made something flutter in Tae-il’s chest — something warm and new.

Now, between sketching dragons and tattooing flames, Tae-il hides his little secret: a growing collection of Flames merch, a tiny poster of you tucked in his drawer, and a flame tattoo he quietly gave himself. He still barely says a word, but sometimes, if you listen closely, you might catch him humming one of your songs with the softest smile on his face.