Title: Tattoo

Author: Marcela86

Rating: PG

Feedback: YES!!!! I live on review, they encourage me to write more, swell my ego(beginning writer here!), and critiques give me a chance to fix the mistakes on any new pieces.

Disclaimer: The Invisible Man doesn't belong to me(I wish!). No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: I little thing I wrote in about 15 minutes. Darien contemplates what the ouroboros on his arm means to him. Post `The New Stuff'

Spoilers: Brother's Keeper, The New stuff

Authors Notes: This idea hit me right in the middle of a fanfiction I was reading, and the plot(what plot?) bunny forced me to write this first, before I finished reading. Darn those bunnies and their razor sharp teeth! The little thing bit me! Ok, to be prepared, this is just a rambling of Darien's thoughts and I didn't really mean for them to flow, but tell me if you think they do! I'm so happy, my second fanfiction! And, once again, does anyone know how to work the italics from Microsoft word to show up in fanfiction.net? I need to know before I can even *think* about posting the next part of `Forgive and Forget'. Whew! This is a long note! If I type any more it's going to end up longer than the story, so on with the show...

(BTW- Long live I-Man!! UPN better pick it up, is all I have to say.)

It's still going to take some time to get used to this. I keep catching myself glancing at my wrist. At first, I tried to convince myself that I was checking the time, but I can't fool myself like that. I tried to switch the watch to the other hand, but then I wouldn't have any excuse. I'm sure that I'll get out of the habit...sooner or later. Yeah, right.

Claire brought up the topic of the tattoo once, a little while after our little agency reunion. She asked me when I wanted to have it removed; if I wanted to go through the trouble. I shrugged it off, telling her not to worry about it. But I don't think convenience had anything to do with it. I've rather come to enjoy the company of the little snake on my wrist. Its constant, radiant green a friendly reminder of my sanity. It's like a memento of my time when I lived in fear, and under control of the Agency.

I guess most tattoos are reminders of something- whether it be a love, a death, or just a time when you got drink and had some fun. But my tattoo's different. I like it because its permanent emerald coloring now serves as proof that something *did* go right in my life. I finally have friends, real friends, and a legit job working for the government. Looking back on my experiences, I can finally realize why Kevin did what he did. I really did a lot of good, and now that I reflect on my newfound wisdom, I understand why my brother did what he did. I still miss him terribly, but now my grief is free of anger, free of feelings of betrayal. I can finally think of his memory in peace.

I guess this tattoo is a tribute to him, too. His life's work, finally perfected; free from the mutations that a terrorist marred his creation with. I like to think he would be proud of me. If he were alive, that is. I like to think that I've made a difference in the lives of many, put the bad guys behind bars and all that crap. Now I feel even better about saving people and keeping the general public safe, because now it's my choice. My Choice. My decision to go to work every day, and I love it. Most people take the whole `free will' thing for granted. You don't miss it `til it's gone.

I used to be terrified of the symbol on my arm. The red segments seeming to mock me as they filled up the shape, spreading the color. Overtaking the green; the visual representation of my sanity. The smiling, fanged face of the serpent, triumphantly hissing to me that I was an enslaved man.

Now that the green is permanent, I feel I've won.