Percival eyed the storefront dubiously. He and his husband, Gwaine, were about to enter The Ink Den, the most respected tattoo studio in the area. They were celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary, and Gwaine wanted to do something “spectacularly memorable.” And that meant getting matching wedding band tattoos.
“We don’t have to do this.” Gwaine draped his arm around Percival’s shoulder. “I feel like I pressured you into this. Come on, we’ll go out to dinner for our twentieth instead. We’ll get Italian and—”
“No, I want to do this. Come on.”
Taking a steadying breath, Percival shoved open the door to the studio. It wasn’t at all like he expected. The place was spotless from floor to ceiling and tastefully decorated with sleek, …show more content…
“Nice to meet you, finally. You’re an incredible artist.” Gwaine had a full back tattoo and half sleeves, all featuring dragons and meticulously detailed medieval artwork. Percival had spent many enjoyable hours admiring the fine work.
“I try my best.” Elyan winked. “Gwaine tells me you’re a tattoo virgin, and that you’re a little nervous. Not to worry; your design is simple, and it’ll be quick, maybe half an hour, tops. You guys still want the matching red dragons encircling your ring fingers, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Gwaine said with a grin.
Meanwhile, Percival hung back and swallowed the lump of tension forming in his throat. Half an hour of a needle dipping in and out of his skin? If it wasn’t so important to Gwaine, Percival would have made a run for it.
Gwaine grabbed Percival’s hand and dragged him into a private cubicle. “I’ll go first,” Gwaine said. “That way you can see it’s not so bad.”
Gwaine settled onto the tattoo table, and Elyan started right in. Gwaine seemed perfectly comfortable and relaxed, chatting with Elyan and occasionally tossing questions Percival’s way. The sound of the tattoo gun buzzing unnerved Percival, and he wondered how he would endure this without making a fool of
“We don’t have to do this.” Gwaine draped his arm around Percival’s shoulder. “I feel like I pressured you into this. Come on, we’ll go out to dinner for our twentieth instead. We’ll get Italian and—”
“No, I want to do this. Come on.”
Taking a steadying breath, Percival shoved open the door to the studio. It wasn’t at all like he expected. The place was spotless from floor to ceiling and tastefully decorated with sleek, …show more content…
“Nice to meet you, finally. You’re an incredible artist.” Gwaine had a full back tattoo and half sleeves, all featuring dragons and meticulously detailed medieval artwork. Percival had spent many enjoyable hours admiring the fine work.
“I try my best.” Elyan winked. “Gwaine tells me you’re a tattoo virgin, and that you’re a little nervous. Not to worry; your design is simple, and it’ll be quick, maybe half an hour, tops. You guys still want the matching red dragons encircling your ring fingers, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Gwaine said with a grin.
Meanwhile, Percival hung back and swallowed the lump of tension forming in his throat. Half an hour of a needle dipping in and out of his skin? If it wasn’t so important to Gwaine, Percival would have made a run for it.
Gwaine grabbed Percival’s hand and dragged him into a private cubicle. “I’ll go first,” Gwaine said. “That way you can see it’s not so bad.”
Gwaine settled onto the tattoo table, and Elyan started right in. Gwaine seemed perfectly comfortable and relaxed, chatting with Elyan and occasionally tossing questions Percival’s way. The sound of the tattoo gun buzzing unnerved Percival, and he wondered how he would endure this without making a fool of