Title: Inscribed, Chapter1/2
Author: Bladed Darkness
Category: Glee
Summary: Finn and Rachel celebrate her birthday together and wait for his name to appear on Rachel's skin because they always talk about how they are destined to be together and believe with all they have that they are soulmates. But then there forms the name Quinn Fabray instead. Prompt on the GKM.
Pairings: Faberry
Length: 500+
Rating: M or NC-17
Author's Note: So, hi. Been a while.
It's eleven letters, if one is including the space, inked perfectly into her skin. They're written in a flowing cursive, a deep, rich obsidian that suits her skin tone. And preferably in an easy to cover area, not because Rachel is ashamed, but because she wants it to be just for them, and if it makes getting a gig all the easier? Just as well.
She'll be quite miffed if Finn's name winds up on her posterior, however.
Rachel wakes up early on her birthday, and searches her body eagerly in the shower, disappointed to find not a single character yet. She pushes it aside, though, and the day is spent with her boyfriend, both of them sharing gentle kisses and anxious anticipation. He brings her a slice of cake, and she tries not to wonder what animal products are concealed within its depths.
When the itching finally appears behind her ear, it's not eleven, but a dozen. Twelve characters, etched almost miniscule in a spiky red reminiscent of crimson. They curve around the back of her ear from near the top to end just above the lobe. Her hair gets in the way of their efforts to read the name at first, but there's no mistaking the surname.
Finn somehow manages to kick over the couch on his way out the door, but Rachel hardly notices, too lost in her whirling thoughts while cleaning up smears of frosting and crumbs.
–
The doorbell rings right before her self-enforced bedtime. Rachel's first thought is of Finn, perhaps suitably reflective and embarrassed over his earlier behavior.
"Quinn," Rachel squeaks when she opens the door. The blonde's presence takes her by surprise. Had her boyfriend – ex? – confronted her and that's what prompted this visit? She can't possibly know otherwise, can she?
Quinn fidgets uncomfortably for a minute, scarcely making eye contact. "I – here," she finally blurts out, shoving a parcel from behind her into Rachel's hands. "Happy birthday." It's small and almost certainly jewelry, Rachel notes, the thought confirmed a moment later as she pulls out a bracelet, a silver music note and a gold star hanging from either side of the clasp.
"It's beautiful, Quinn. Thank you." She chews her lip, holding the box to her chest.
Quinn gives her a shy grin, a bit of that watery smile she does so well peeking through. "You like it?"
"I really do."
"Can I come in? I want – I want to show you something."
Rachel hesitates, then takes a deep breath. "Upstairs."
They're quiet for a few minutes in her room and Quinn is fidgeting again, playing with the waist of her pants and Rachel realizes just how odd it is to see her in them instead of her usual dresses.
But certainly not a disappointment, because Quinn pulls off pants just as well as she does dresses.
"It's your birthday," Quinn says, "And I need to know." Then she tugs down the pants and just below her left hip, shining bright in gold and every letter curly and exaggerated, as if written with a flourish.
Rachel Berry.
She watches nervously as Rachel silently stands and makes her way over to Quinn, never breaking eye contact until she turns her head and she can just make out the red behind the brunette's ear that matches her favorite pen, written in spiky handwriting that is so familiar to Quinn that she feels heat settle in her cheeks at the intimacy.
Quinn Fabray.