#omalley

“I want to get a tattoo.” Harrison announced, after some time sat in silence. 

Fao turned to him, frowning. After the one he’d gotten on his wrist for Finn, he’d started an addiction, and already had half a sleeve on his left arm. “You do?”

"It's stupid, I know."

“No, not stupid.” Fao said. “What would you want?” 

“It’s really stupid.” Harrison said, not looking at him.

Fao nudged him. “Shut up and tell me.”

“An O’Malley.” He said under his breath. 

“O’Malley the alleycat.” Fao said with a grin. “It’s perfect, Tomcat.” 

Harrison had a fierce blush on his cheeks, not looking at Fao, embarrassed by something so childish. “Really?”

“Yeah. Why don’t I take you? As a going away to uni gift?” Fao suggested. 

Harrison had tried to deny him, but it had been no use, and soon he had a time booked with an artist Fao apparently knew. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous, but having Fao as a companion helped to get rid of some of the nerves. And after all, how bad could a tattoo really be? He’d been through so much shit, it hardly seemed like a big deal. 

He got settled in the chair, stencil on, and with Fao chatting away, they started. It really wasn’t so bad. Sore, and the vibration was kind of weird, especially on his chest, but it was fine. Like a cat scratch, when Apollo had dug his claws into his thighs. Going over ribs hurt more, but it was more that it startled him, and he grabbed at Fao’s hand in a rather undignified way. Fao hadn’t said anything, just squeezed it back wordlessly, giving him a little nod. It soon settled off again, Harrison relaxing back, and he was chatting away again. It faded into the background, barely even there, and before he knew it the lines and the colour was done. They’d been there hours, but it had hardly felt like any time at all. 

He stood up, checked it out in the mirror, and couldn’t stop beaming at Fao. It was red, and swollen, and it would probably hurt more soon, but he was proud of himself for actually following through with it. He went to pay, with some of his own money he’d saved and some Steve had given him, but Fao stopped him before he could get there, handing over the cash. Harrison had protested, but Fao had just looped his arm around his shoulders with a laugh.