A/N: Prompts and challenges at the bottom. Tattoo Artist!AU Warning: one brief mention of domestic violence without details.


Starting New


"You can do this," Amelia whispers, opening the door to the tattoo parlor.

She sits on the sofa, her legs bouncing with nervous energy.

"Amelia?"

"Yes?" Her legs still as she eyes the tall, dark and handsome man.

"Regulus," he introduces. "Come on back." She follows, careful not to stare at his toned arse.

"Emmeline won't be in today. She was in a car accident last night."

"Sorry to hear that. Is Emmeline okay?"

"Her arm's broken. It'll take a while for her to recover."

"Have her call me when she's back?"

Amelia turns to depart, her heart dropping. She'll back out if she has to wait again.

"I'd be more than happy to do it. I'm just as good, if not better," Regulus quips. Regulus radiates of casual arrogance, and Amelia quite likes it.

xxx

Amelia lies back in the chair and tries to get comfortable. She focuses on the various paintings hanging on the wall.

"Sure you want to do this?"

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

She sits up and takes off her sweatshirt. She slowly lifts up her tank top, unsurprised by Regulus's sharp intake of breath. The scar on her ribcage still looks awful.

"What happened?" Regulus asks, running his finger down the length of the scar.

"My ex-fiancé tried to kill me," she begins.

She's usually not forthcoming with strangers, but something about Regulus makes her want to share her secrets. His eyes remind her of hot chocolate, and warmth slowly spreads through her.

"It takes a lot of strength to do what you did," Regulus remarks after she described the night in full detail.

xxx

Amelia tries to distract herself with phone games and music, but the pain is unbearable.

Regulus notices her face grimaced in pain. He stops, crosses the room and sets up a reed diffuser.

"Take my hand."

He presses a stress ball into her hand. She squeezes it, inhaling the calming scent of lavender.

Halfway through, Amelia removes her earbuds and watches Regulus work. His brow furrows in concentration as he executes the design.

"How'd you get your name?"

"My parents have been obsessed with stars ever since they shared their first kiss under some. They named me after one. They adopt one each wedding anniversary."

Their conversation flows, and her tattoo is complete a few hours later.

"It's pretty!" Amelia admires the tiny lotus flowers cascading down her rib cage.

Regulus sighs deeply; relieved she's pleased with his work.

"Can I have another? Something to remind me of you?" she asks.

xxx

"Have a look."

A set of small stars adorn her wrist, and she's overwhelmed by the magnitude of today's events.

"You hate it…"

"No, they're beautiful! Thank you for everything."

She's almost out the door when Regulus taps her shoulder.

"Want to get a drink sometime?"

"Yes." Amelia hands him her phone, and he enters his number. Without warning, she kisses his cheek goodbye. She doesn't stick around to look at his face, but she's sure he liked it.


A/N: Word Count: 500. Written for Pairing the Character Drabble Competition - Week 14 Regulus Black.

Submitted for the Conversation Starter Prompt Challenge on the HPFC: 39. Include the smell of lavender in your fic.

Submitted for the following at Hogwarts:

-Writing Club - Count Your Buttons: Objects (phone), Dialogues ("Take my hand."), Words (Pretty)

-Writing Club - Showtime #3 For Forever - (dialogue) "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

-The Insane House Challenge #211 (AU Tattoo Artist)

-365 Prompt Challenge #320 - Title (Starting New)

-Resolutions Challenge: #4 2/50 stories written in 2018, #8 Write in a style you've never written before (present tense), #9 Write an AU you've never written before, #21 Write a meet-cute, and #58 Participate in a weekly challenge (and complete it)