Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own and I doubt that will change during the progressing story.
Loyalty … trust … love…
Ling Yao and his girlfriend-slash-bodyguard were walking around in the garden of the Yao-palace and Lan Fan was deep in her thoughts. "I think about getting a tattoo," she announced suddenly and looked at Ling. "Most guards have one and I want to have one too."
"It's your fifteenth birthday today, Lan Fan," Ling said. "You are too young. You would need Fu's allowance and we know that he would never allow you to get a tattoo."
"It wouldn't be the first thing I keep away from him," she shrugged. "And I would choose a hidden place … like my upper arm for example. No one actually sees my arm because it's always hidden under my uniform. It would be just for me…"
"…and for me too…" Ling smirked at her while he snaked one arm around her waist. "Did I ever tell you that I totally love your arms, Lan Fan? They are strong and they protect me."
"Ling, be – in dragon's name! – more careful!" she hissed. "Did you make sure that no one else is in the garden right now? We can't have anyone knowing about us!"
He sighed. "In some years everyone will know about us," he said. "As soon as I am emperor you will be my one and only wife. There will be no one else and we will be happy. We will have at least three children, one boy and two girls."
"And when exactly wanted you to tell me that you already decided on the genders of our children?" she asked and raised one eyebrow. "It's alright with me … but I would like to choose the names when you decide everything else."
He shrugged. "I just had the idea that some little Lan Fans would be a cute sight…" he grinned. "Everyone would be totally in love with them and we would have to fight off all the young men who were in love with them. And we would have some adventures for crying out loud!"
"Well, don't you think that everything we are doing right now is an adventure? We will be in trouble if someone would know about us," she said as she toyed with her bracelet. "And I guess we will be busier than ever before if the emperor's health stays that bad. In the capital they are already talking about a possible successor and as far as I am informed, you have good chances."
He grinned at her. "Hey, it isn't your turn to be the messenger of good news!" he said, grabbed her waist and twirled her around like a little child. "It's your birthday today, Lan-Lan, so everything is about you today." He checked the sun. "Well, if you still want a tattoo, we should hurry up."
She just nodded and he pulled her away from the palace until they got into a little town. She wasn't known here, so he didn't let go of her hand as he led the way to a tattoo artist.
"I want to get a tattoo," Lan Fan said and raised her head to look at the man.
"How old are you, young lady?" he asked.
"Sixteen," she lied without even batting an eye. She had learned to lie during her training.
"Well, you look even younger but I guess that you're right since your guy is at least seventeen," the man said as he frowned down at her. "Well, what do you want for a tattoo?"
"Something simple," she said calmly. "Just three traditional symbols … loyalty, trust and love."
"Does your arm still hurt, Lan-Lan?" Ling asked as they walked back.
She shook her head. "It's just a tattoo," she said calmly. "I suffered already real injuries."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and bent down to kiss her as they were behind a barn. It was difficult to keep their cover but it had been one whole year and no one suspected anything. "I will be there then you have your competition tomorrow," he promised.
She smiled up at him. "Thanks," she grinned, "but I never expected anything else. You are my good-luck-charm after all, aren't you?"
AN: Her tattoo will be returning later. I didn't give it to her just because I can.
