Dans Regret Sets In by burrlypup

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(continuation of Pete, Mall Barber)

Little stubbles peppered the tub, forming a ring around it. Dan rinsed them down the drain and was startled as he caught his own reflection in the mirror. His eyes lingered on his smooth bald head and he felt sick in his gut. In three weeks time, he went from hair past his waist to completely bald. His scalp tightened as he reached and caressed it with his fingers. How would he explain this new 'look' to his coworkers? His friends? Why had he been so impulsive to have his head buzzed? That singular moment that made a full headshave insignificant by comparison.

In short, Dan felt lost. A huge part of his identity was gone. It shouldn't be a big deal, it's just hair, but its absence was sorely felt. Upon laying down, his smooth head felt alien to his pillow. Rob kissed him good night and rubbed his head. The novelty was gone leaving only the consequence: his hair that took years to grow, that was a constant in his life, would take years to grow back.

Dan slept poorly, all the new sensations of his bald head jolting him awake. He calculated how long it would take his hair to grow back to what it was - four feet at six inches a year - it would be 8 years! How could he be so stupid!

Around 5am he finally fell asleep.

The next morning Dan woke up, groggy and half forgot his hair was gone. He reached up as he would with hair to run his fingers through it - but met a rough surface. The smooth scalp was gone, replaced by a pelt of sandpaper. He sighed and got dressed, not looking forward to his first day back at work completely bald.

His co-workers made a big fuss when he showed up with the military haircut, but somehow the bald head was a joke magnet. Without any hair, his head was white and round. It looked cartoonish, and plenty of laughs were had at his expense. Dan felt like a fool.

That evening, Rob was in the shower when Dan got home. He stripped down and hopped in, hugging Rob under the hot shower stream. Rob shot some shaving cream into his hands and covered his own head with it.

"Help me out in the back?" he asked Dan, who took the razor and began shaving the nape, against the grain, then the sides and the top last, shaving it forehead to crown. They couldn't help but get aroused, and somewhere in the touching and rubbing, Rob had begun shaving Dans head before he could protest. Rather than make Rob feel bad over it, Dan remained silent and allowed him to finish shaving. It was a days growth, pretty insignificant considering his 8 year sentence. Despite his stomach churning again, Dan enjoyed the attention, much like he did when Pete trimmed his hair and subsequently buzzed his head.

Dan slept a little better each night as the week progressed, and avoided showering with Rob as delightful as it was. Dan needed to grow his hair back and it consumed his thoughts. When Rob rubbed his weeks growth and offered to shave him, Dan finally explained himself.

"I'm growing my hair back. This was a nice experiment, but I regret it now." Dan was composed and assertive in his words.

Rob seemed supportive and was relieved that Dan wasn't lashing out at him for essentially setting the events in motion that led to Dan losing his hair.

"Anything you want, honey. You think we can do one last shave and take some pictures? Maybe we can do one of them cool daily photo projects and document your hair growth?" Rob suggested. Dan rubbed his 1/8th inch of growth and said, "Sure, lather me up." And off they went to their bathroom where Rob wet down Dan's stubble, and covered it in shaving foam, taking a picture each step of the way: the first swipe straight down the middle, the top of his head completely shaved, a few swipes of the back, and finally a few pictures capturing every angle of his smooth bald head. And one of the couple bald for the last time.

"Thanks for doing this for me, I think you're so handsome like this." Rob told Dan.

"I don't feel like myself. Maybe in a few months when I have some hair back. I feel naked." Dan responded and with that, Rob wrapped his arms around him and pulled him to bed.

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TWO YEARS LATER

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Dan succeeded in growing his hair long and it reached his shoulder blades, and Rob was faithful in taking photos everyday documenting the evolution. After a few hot and humid August, Dan found himself battling the heat while Rob was at ease. Strangely, after growing his gorgeous hair to an appreciable length, he still didn't feel like himself. Dan found himself admiring Robs smooth shaven head more and more. He looked at the pictures of Rob shaving his head and he missed that closeness between them.

On a hot 106 degree day after work, Dan stopped in at the mall looking for an anniversary gift for Rob. He walked aimlessly but after a while found himself in front of Pete's barbershop, no wait. He took the chair and told Pete, "Take it all off." Within minutes, Pete buzzed off Dans two years of growth, sending the beautiful locks to the floor once again. Dan grinned as Pete finished shaving his head and wiped it with a hot, then cold towel.

When Dan pulled out his wallet to pay, Pete batted his bills off.

"Cuts for friends are free," he told Dan as he kicked a pile of hair to the side.

As he left, he realized he'd just got Rob the best anniversary present, so he left the mall and hurried home.

Rob's eyes lit up upon seeing his boyfriend bald once again.

"Happy anniversary," Dan teased Rob.

"I'm so confused. You wanted to grow it long?" Rob asked inquisitively.

"Yeah, and I realized looking back at those pictures you took, I looked really good bald, better than with hair. Also, I miss shaving our heads in the shower together." Dan confessed as he rubbed his lovers stubbly head, leading into a long kiss.

"Well, let's get to it!" Rob said excitedly, pulling Dan along with him, chuckling every step as they disrobed and got into the shower together.

Dan looked into his bald reflection the next morning and laughed, no regrets, just a calm feeling of self-acceptance and joy.

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