Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
The first day Red noticed the brown paper on the windows of the small shop a couple blocks from his Bethesda apartment, he gave it little thought.
A few days later, Red stopped as he walked by the shop, the brown paper still in the widow, noticing the fresh paint on the outside of the building, and a sign in the window that only read "coming soon."
“Dembe, any idea?” Red looked over at his taller friend as he pointed his finger towards building.
Dembe simply shook his head as they walked past the building, hoping to make it back to the apartment before the rain hit.
Two weeks later…
It was early afternoon when Red’s jet had landed, the last week had taken its toll on him and his trusted bodyguard.
The journey across Europe attending to several business deals had left Red more than tired and run down, all Red wanted to do was get back to his apartment, shower, shave and go to bed for as long as his body would let him.
Sitting quietly in the back of the car as Dembe drove them home, Red had to fight off the lead weights he felt sitting on his eye lids.
Glancing over from where they sat stopped at the red light, Red noticed the new sign hanging in the windows that were covered with brown paper a couple weeks ago.
Scott’s Cuts and Shaves, the sign read, running a rough hand over the several days’ worth of stubble on his jaw, Red than ran his hand through the shaggy put still short hair on the side of his head.
Enjoying the feel of a straight razer cut over a plastic disposable razor any day, “Dembe, pull over.” Red’s voice rumbled from behind Dembe.
Doing as asked, Dembe quickly pulled the car into the next open spot he found on the side of the road.
Giving the area a quick survey, Dembe opened the back door for Red once he was sure there was no one tailing them or watching, “I’ll feel a shave and a haircut is in order.” Red smiled at Dembe as he pulled the tie loose from around his neck, throwing the winkled cloth into the back seat.
Red flipped his fedora on his head, straightened the brim and headed towards the newly opened barber shop.
Popping the first few buttons loose on his shirt, Red walked tiredly the few hundred feet down the sidewalk.
+++++++++++
Elizabeth Scott sat at her desk in the small office or her newly remodeled salon, looking over the bills and invoices now due from the repairs to the building and the new equipment, she sighed.
The chime of the door alarm caused her to jump, laughing at herself, Liz stood and walked out to the front.
“Hello, can I help you?” Liz asked with a smile on her face. Red who had been reading a flyer on the wall started to speak as he finished looking over the piece of paper.
“I was hoping you had time,” Red words fell short as he looked over and took sight of the woman standing there, her brown hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail, the checker striped button-down shirt she wore with the loose ends tied into a knot had a low cut “V” in it, showing just a hint of what Red presumed were two beautiful mounds.
Her black skinny jeans had a few holes strategically placed here and there, showing subtle hints of her tanned skin.
But what he noticed most of all was her eyes, the ocean blue eye’s that he found looked back at him, sparkled along with the smile she was giving him.
Realizing that he was standing there with his mouth gaping open like a cod fish, Red closed his mouth and cleared his throat.
“…for a shave and a haircut?” suprised his voice didn’t crack as he spoke to the young woman.
The fact that the older man had been checking her out made Elizabeth smirk, “I don’t know, as you can see,” Liz pointed around the empty room. “I’m extremely busy.”
Chuckling at the woman’s tease, Red pulled his hat off his head holding it in his hands in front of him.
“I could always come back later.” Red joked, turning back towards the door.
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, hiding the giggles she felt washing over her from the small banter, “Ya, know…I think I can fit you in.”
Gesturing her hand to the chair, Liz gave Red a toothy grin and watched him, strut over to the chair.
Setting his hat down on the empty chair next to Liz’s workstation, Red eased himself down into the large leather barber chair, the grunt from the pain in his rib cage as he sat caught Liz’s ear.
Looking at the man worriedly, Liz paused before she threw the cap around Red.
“Are you okay?” Liz looked his reflection in the mirror, Giving a shaky nod, Red adjusted himself in the chair.
“Perfectly fine, Sweetheart. Thank you for asking.” Adjusting the cringing look on his face to a half smile.
“Right,” Liz gave him a skeptical look as she laid the ends of the cap loose on Reds shoulders.
Grabbing the edge of Red’s collar, Liz pulled the shirt away from Red’s neck, giving her access to the man’s neck.
“Now, Mr.?” Liz looked at Red questioningly in the mirror.
“Oh, Forgive me, Reddington.” Red tipped his head as he introduced himself.
“Ok, Red, what are we doing?” Liz ran her hands over the top of Red’s head, taking in the shaggy chopped hair under her hands.
Red cocked his brow at the use of his nickname, a smile tugging his mouth as the sound of it rolled off her lips.
Fighting the urge to start purring like a cat as Liz ran her fingers lightly through his hair, Red eyes slipped closed.
When Liz looked back in the mirror and saw the man had his eyes closed and a hint of a grin playing on his face from the movements of her hands, a warm sensation started inside her.
Shaking the feeling off, Liz spoke “So, I’m guessing a number one on the head.” Liz ran her hands over the scruff on Red’s cheeks.
Red’s heart jumped into his throat as the feel of her finger’s playing over his face.
“And a nice warm shave to match?” Liz asked.
With his eyes closed Red only nodded, momentarily lost in the touch of the young woman touching him.
Tucking Red’s collar under itself to keep it out of the way, Liz wrapped a thing piece of paper around Red’s neck and hooked the cap around his neck.
Liz flipped on the clippers and went to work shaving the shaggy mess off Red’s head.
The buzz and the vibration of them against his head relaxed Red, a small bit of the tension inside his body drained away as he sunk into the chair.
Liz smirked as she watched the man relax under her touch, she was used to people dozing off, so she quietly went about her work.
Clicking off the clippers, Liz ran her hand around Red’s head, brushing off the loose hairs and making sure there was not stragglers.
His hair was soft, the original brown color of his hair was fading into salt and pepper, the top of his hair was quite thin but still covered most of his head and a few different scars showed their way through the shaved cut.
Red opened his tired eye’s, smiling at Liz he turned his head to the side and then to the other side, nodding in satisfaction.
“That looks great, Thank you.”
Liz pointed to Red’s head, “You have a few battle scars I see.”
Red hesitated for a moment, the smile on his face fading. “Hazards of the job, I’m afraid.”
The response only made Elizabeth want to aske more questions, but she left it alone.
Putting away the cutters, Liz walked behind Red and lowered the back of the seat so Red was laying back.
Red signed in contentment as Liz wrapped a warm cloth around his face, this was the part Red loved.
Liz watched as Red took in a long deep breath, his shoulders falling a little further back into the chair.
With his face covered, Liz stole the moment to check out the man laying in front of her without fear of getting caught.
The shirt he wore tailored perfectly to his body, fitting snuggly around his broad shoulders that filled the chair, a hint of his pectoral’s muscles showed as the shirt pulled tight against his chest with every raise of his breath.
With the first few buttons undone, Liz wondered if the reddish-brown tuff of hair sticking out was a soft as the hair had been on his head, although unable to tell what it was, Liz could see the small bit of a tattoo on Red’s left chest showing.
His stomach wasn’t flat but the small roundness of it mixed perfectly with the rest of his toned upper half.
Love the dad bod, Liz thought, leaning into Red space she spoke lightly as she laid a flat hand on the upper part of his chest.
“I need to grab a few things; I’ll be right back.” Liz gave Red’s chest a light pat and smirked at the low grunt of acknowledgement that Red gave her.
Liz smiled to herself as she went to the other room and gathered her shaving stuff, returning to find Red who looked asleep Liz set the stuff she needed down on her work area.
Red took in a slow breath, his closed eyes squinted under the bright light as Liz pulled the towel from his face.
“You strike me as a guy who likes a straight razor shave, yes?” Liz asked as she lathered up the shaving cream on the small brush.
“Please.” Red’s voice was low and deep, he tilted his head up and to the side when he felt the first bit of the cool cream hit his still warm face.
With practiced ease and precision Liz slid the razor down Red’s cheek, sliding it gently across the man’s jaw line and down his neck.
Having never had a woman give him a shave before, Red found was enjoying the action more then any time in the past. Elizabeth’s hands were soft on his face as she would follow her hand behind the razor making sure she left no stubble in its path.
Liz’s fruity shampoo and perfume filled Red’s nose as she leaned closer into him to inspect her work, Red’s hand tightened on the armrest.
All of Red’s sense were in overdrive as he felt the heat from Elizabeth’s body start to soak through his thin dress shirt, his heart beat a little faster as Liz’s fingers slid down his neck, over his Adam’s apple.
Red kept his eyes closed, afraid of what they might reveal if he was to open them, it willed the twinge of desire forming in his crotch to calm down before he embarrassed himself.
The warmth of a fresh towel sliding over his face helped Red come back to reality, “Hold this on your face, Red.” Liz waited for Red’s hand to replace her before she leaned the chair back up.
Running the cloth over his face, Red brought his hand up to feel his now smoothly clean cheeks and neck.
“Feel, Okay?” Liz asked as he cleaned up her stuff.
Daring to finally look at Elizabeth, Red smiled while rubbing his jawline, “My dear, I think it’s the best shave and hair cut I ever had.”
A lightness filled Liz’s face as she reached to take the cape from Red, “Thank you.” Liz spoke softly, she threw the cape to the side and fixed Red’s collar on his shirt.
As Red stood, pulling his wallet he plucked out what he was sure was more than enough to cover the hair cut and more, he laid the money on Liz’s workstation and grabbed his fedora.
Hesitating as he brought the hat to his head, all Red could think about was wanting to see the young woman again.
“I just realized, I never asked you your name, my dear.” Red turned settling his hat on his head, Liz had started to sweep up the floor.
Smirking Liz stretched her hand out to Red, “Elizabeth Scott.”
Red took a step closer to Liz, softly taking her hand in his, his much larger hand easily wrapped up Elizabeth’s smaller one.
The fluttering feeling in Liz’s stomach when she touched Red’s hand was enough for her wonder what the hell was going on, she had never had a feeling like that simply just from shaking someone’s hand.
“Well, Lizzy. Thank you again it truly was a memorable experience, perhaps I’ll see you around.” Red brought the smaller and in his and placed a single light kiss on the top of Liz’s hand.
Elizabeth stood dumbfounded as Red walked out of the shop, thankful for the broom in her hand, it was the only thing keeping Liz’s knees from buckling under her, the spot Red’s lips had touched on her hand tingled with warmth.
Sighing, I hope he comes back, Liz thought as she finished cleaning up.