Chapter 3

Weeks passed with no obvious trouble from Maria, though he knew first hand how sneaky she could be if she wanted. For the moment he wasn't worried about it. That was something he would have to deal with when the time came. In the meantime, he'd had his hands full with one blonde co-worker and former trainee. It seemed her nightmares had become less frequent since they'd been traveling together but they still occurred most every night. It just didn't affect her to the degree it had, especially not since he'd taken the initiative to lay with her every night, regardless of the fact that they weren't an item, and hold her.

They managed to be in his home town, Chicago, a little over a day before the next show. Though he'd intended to get there early and stay a bit late he hadn't expected the extra time in the city he knew so well. They'd even managed to unload their luggage before lunch at his apartment.

"Welcome home," she smiled. "What are we gonna do, since we have the extra time and this is your hometown?"

"I was thinking about going in for some ink but that'll take a while so if there is something you'd like to do we'll do that," he offered.

"No. Absolutely not," she demanded before falling silent with wide eyes.

"And why not," he asked, pretending for her sake that he'd missed both her demand and the sudden shift in mood.

"Because this is your hometown. You don't get to come here often. I think you should do what you enjoy while you're here... Especially since you've had to put up with my shopping and sight seeing..." she trailed to a whisper.

"Just because this is where I grew up, it doesn't mean you have no choice."

"I just want you to have fun," she sighed.

"You think I don't have fun hanging out with you? Even if I do have to carry half a dozen bags or your purse at times it's no bother." Every time one of these situations came up he wanted to strangle the man who made her so scared. After several moments of silence he continued. "If I didn't like being around you I would have already stopped rooming with you. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a glutton for self-induced torture."

"I..."

"How about this?" He paused pressing his fist to his mouth as he though before dropping it to his side and continuing. "I know you want to get some work done. We'll go together and I'll pay as proof I don't mind having you around. Deal?"

She contemplated the possibility for a moment before nodding. "Deal."

"Now... We'll need to eat before we go cause we could be there a while. What do you want? I hear there are some good vegan restaurants around here," he smiled. Though he was no where near vegan, he made it a point to take her to places she could easily find something decent to eat and when they were in larger cities they would hit some of the more popular vegan restaurants or Asian places because she was also a huge fan of that style of food. "I figure we can grab something from one of them for you but I am gonna hit up my favorite burger joint of lunch. I'm sure my friend won't mind us eating in the shop while we talk to him today."

"That works for me," she was beginning to be more vocal.

"What do you think you might get," he asked knowing that she'd need to dress appropriately.

"I've been wanting an Asian design down my side but I'm not positive of what but maybe some koi and cherry blossoms on a water back ground. Or maybe a set of sparrows, one good one evil on my back or pelvis. I'll probably chicken out and just watch you though," she laughed.

"Scared of needles?"

"Very," she sighed.

"Well, piercings or tats... Whatever you want to get tonight that they have time to finish get it. I'm paying for everything they do. Don't worry about Vince. He'll live. Either way be prepared to loose your shirt," he laughed though they both knew that would be no big issue for her, after her time in wrestling.

"Don't you think we should approve it with them before I go get a bunch of tattoos and piercings? I mean they get really pissy about things like that," she continued.

"I've already told them you were planning on getting some done. They didn't freak out too bad. They finally decided that it wouldn't make sense to tell you no because tats and piercings fit your gimmick. So don't worry about that. Just get whatever you want."

"You think of everything..."

"I try. You ready?"

"Yeap."

"Here take this. You're gonna freeze out there. This is Chicago not Miami," he said tossing her one of his heavier hoodies though it wasn't winter yet.

"Thanks," she smiled. He nodded and grabbed one for himself, smiling as she pressed his hoodie against her before finally putting it on. After grabbing up the necessities like keys and her Nightmare Before Christmas purse, the pair headed out in search of food. Luckily Punk had already figured out where one of the local vegan restaurants were and headed there first. She ordered teriyaki before they moved on to his favorite burger joint to get him something before hitting the road again. Next stop, his friend's tattoo shop.

"Hey man! Didn't think you were going to make it into town before tomorrow," his friend greeted him as he opened the door.

"Neither did I... You got a couple of artists we can borrow today?"

"I'm just finishing up here and Lana will be done in no time. What are you needing... Oh... I see."

"Yes, anything she wants I'm paying. It'll be her first tattoo if she so decides," he felt her move in close to his side. She was nervous about not only the tattoo but the people. He could feel his blood pressure rising but managed to keep it in check as he pondered once again on how to make the bastard pay.

"Cute," his friend smiled.

"Yes. She is. She's a good friend of mine and one of my trainees," be broke in before the man had a chance to continue. After catching the knowing glance from the shop's owner he turned to the middle aged woman. "Anything she wants alright?"

She nodded and continued to work on the client in her chair.

"Grab a seat over there. Looks like you got some food to finish before we begin anyway. How's wrestling been treating you?"

"Same as ever. My body is hurting all over but the funny thing is after being in it for as many years as I have you don't notice it near as much. I don't know if it's nerve damage or the body actually gets used to the beating but either way I'm glad that it doesn't hurt as much as it did five or ten years ago."

"Understood," the artist said before falling into silence allowing them to eat in relative quiet. Neither of them spoke but he could still feel her anxiety. His hand found her knee and rubbed it gently. She calmed some but it seemed she was caught up in memories at the moment. He watched her carefully as he ate, noticing how long it took her to finish the half of the plate she'd been working on. He hoped that train of thought would derail before she got into the chair but for now all he could do was wait because he wasn't going to bring it to the attention of the customers in the shop though his friend already knew from discussions they'd had over the years.

"You ready young lady," the female artist asked as she washed her hands one final time.

"Hmmm... Oh yeah. Let me clean this up," she began to work almost frantically on the "mess" they had left.

"I've got it," Punk said taking the plates away from her earning a glance from the man who would be working on his body art as soon as he got her settled.

"Are you sure," she asked timidly.

"Yes. I'll be over there in a minute," he spoke as he reached for the empty soda bottles.

"Ok," she sighed and crossed the room to the only other woman in the room.

After a minute of discussion they decided that on the agenda was a lip piercing and industrial as well as the Japanese style koi and flower tattoo down her side, though coloring it in would be impossible. Luckily she wasn't wrestling the next night. She was to manage a match.

"You decided yet," he asked as he made his way over to the women.

"Lip piercing and industrial as well as the first thing I talked to you about last night but there won't be time to color it in tonight," she said as she sat uneasily on the chair.

"I see. We'll find time to come back in a month or so and get that process started then. In the mean time, would you like me to stay with you until after you get the piercings and get started on the tattoo?"

"Please," she said in a desperate sort of voice that even the woman who was clueless to the things the girl had suffered through looked.

"Yes but not me," he mouthed when she wasn't looking. The older woman nodded.

"Alright. I'll need you to sit back and relax. I know that's hard to do but do your best. Which one do you want to do first?"

"Which ever hurts the worst," she said closing her eyes tightly. Punk took her hand in his and stroked to top of it with his thumb. He never understood how wrestlers could fear needles but he'd seen it many times over his career. She squeezed his hand gently as if to say thank you just before gripping his hand so tight that her knuckles turned as white as her face. Her grip released after the woman got the bar through her ear. She took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes.

"One down sweetie. I promise the lip is no where near as bad," she smiled.
"I'll take your word for it," she looked at the older woman.

"Don't take mine. Take his."

"It really isn't that bad at all. It's the least painful of all the piercings I've had," he offered, knowing she was about ready to back out. The throbbing in her ear was no doubt making her lean more toward that decision.

"Ok," she sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"I'm impressed that you didn't scream. A lot of people do when they get that done," the tattoo artist explained as she worked to get the packaging open on another needle and a lip ring.

"Thanks," Runa laughed.

"Here we go," the woman said as she clamped Runa's lip before piercing it quickly and placing the jewelry. Punk noticed that her grip on his hand changed slighlty but nothing like it had earlier.

"All done," she said as she removed the clamp.

"There's some good news," she smiled.

"Alright now on to your tattoo. Are you ready for that today or do you want to wait," she asked. "I know you've already been tramatized once today."

"I'm ready. I just need a few minutes to breathe," she looked to Punk for approval. He nodded.

"We're gonna step outside for a moment. We'll be back," he said as he helped her up from the seat. They made their way out to the front of the building before beginning to talk again. "You sure you wanna get the tattoo started today," he asked, holding on to her upper arms carefully. "If you want to wait we'll do it next time."

"No. I'm fine. I just feel a little light headed. I didn't really expect my ear to hurt worse than my lip," she laughed quietly.

"You're still pale..." He looked her over debating on what to do next. "I have a high tolerance to this sort of thing. So don't think you have to get this done tonight."

"Yeah. I just need to calm down for a second. It's been a long time since I have gotten a piercing. I had others I want to get but I'm not that brave right now."

"Well we'll get the tattoo today if you want and do the others later on."

"Sounds good," she smiled.

"Ready to go back in," he asked.

"Yeah."

"Let's go. I'll sit with you as long as you want me to."

"You sure," she asked, feeling a bit guilty.

"Definitely. It's no biggie. We're gonna have to come back in a few weeks to get some more work done on yours anyway. I can just get work done on mine then as well."

She nodded and walked through the heavy door he held open for her. She returned to her seat and watched as Punk pulled a chair next to her. He sat down and took her hand as the tattoo artist began to talk her through the design she had worked up, waiting for her approval. When the young woman gave her a nod she began to outline the design carefully before turning on the gun and beginning her work.
-