My keyboard is fixed! I still don't really know what happened, but oh well. Here's an update at last. And I'm sorry to say, the end is nearing. :(


It was really clean in here. I felt strange as I sat in the shockingly white area, color coming from the millions of small pictures on the wall. I held my breath and tried to keep away the butterflies completely ravaging my stomach.

Griffin went to tell whoever was there that I wanted a tattoo while I thought about what I wanted. I didn't want it to be something I just got on a whim. I would have it forever, so it should mean something that I would want to hold onto my entire life.

I thought of many ideas in the past of what I wanted. Some were things that I knew I would probably grow out of- lyrics from a band I liked at the time, fancy stars, inspirational words. As I thought about it they became worse and worse ideas, and I scowled and traced my eyes over the wall of different pictures.

Butterflies, hearts, crosses, shamrocks. They were all nice, intertwining and brightly colored, or dark and bold, but they didn't hold significance to me.

I tried to think of now. My life was so different upon meeting Griffin, even more than it was different before. I was someone new now. Someone who wanted to balance a (semi)normal life but still do things out of the ordinary like kick some Paladin ass every once in a while.

I shook my head. Alright, actually, I was someone who, let's face it, would never have anything close to a (semi)normal life because it just wasn't possible for a teleporter who was trying not be killed. Someone who wished her boyfriend had a little more affection in him, but knew she liked him the way he was just the same. Someone who had never fought a single soul physically until this year, but had actually been looking for the courage to fight her battles her entire life...

"Barbie?"

I looked toward Griffin now, who was standing next to a man wearing a white T-shirt exposing his right arm which had a sleeve of tattoos.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what you want?"

I thought of everything that was just going through my mind, and smiled before I nodded once firmly.

"Yeah, I have the perfect thing."

We were in New York now. Griffin knew it was my favorite city, so we braved the cold to go get lunch. I felt extremely full after having my chicken sandwich and walked slowly down the street, with Griffin at my side.

The wind picked up and I adjusted my scarf, cursing the Winter weather, but slightly enjoying Griffin's scowl as his hair got messed up. I waited until he gave up on fixing it and turned to me with narrowed eyes, upon seeing my amusement. Instead of making a snide comment, he changed the subject.

"So what'd it feel like?" Griffin asked, moving my sleeve and looking down at my wrist which was now host to a white bandage.

I touched it lightly and grimaced.

"Kind of like someone trying to carve a turkey...but it was my wrist instead."

Griffin made a face.

"Hey, you wanted it."

"Yeah, it was quick at least," I said, nodding.

It had only taken about fifteen minutes for the actual tattoo, because it was pretty small. I watched the mans arm the entire time, looking at his own tattoos- some tribal designs, one a woman's name (Meredith), and a huge lion whose eyes stared at me the whole time. I wondered how long something like that took.

"Thanks for getting it for me, even though, and I quote 'I don't have anything that I want fucking permanently on my body,'" I said with a small smile.

"Yeah my body. Yours is your own call."

"You have to look at it," I pointed out.

"Trust me, most of the time I'm not looking at your wrists," he said with a smirk.

I felt my stomach do a small flip but tried to mask my slight embarrassment by sticking my tongue out at him. He laughed, and to my very instant surprise, put an arm around my shoulders.

"Wow," I breathed.

I took a moment to memorize the feeling of the warmth emitting from him, and the weight that felt comfortable there even though it had never been like that before.

"What?" Griffin asked gruffly as we continued walking down the street.

"I wish it was my birthday every day," I said, not bothering to mask the slight awestruck look on my face.

"Why?" Griffin asked, confused.

"Because you're being nice."

I watched his expression turn somber, his arm falling from my shoulder. I immediately regretted saying anything. I should have known by now that Griffin didn't like being called on his...good qualities.

"You have one minute," he said.

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him in question.

"What?"

"One. Minute."

I caught his drift as he began advancing toward me and I smiled and turned in the other direction.

The wind was even colder as I ran from Griffin, my laughter echoing in the air. People cursed me as I ran by and nearly took a few of them down, but I could hear Griffin cursing right back at them and it seemed to balance everything out.

I could feel him gaining on me and looked around quickly- in front of me was a street with cars flying by, to the left of me was a street with cars flying by...so I turned into the alley to the left.

I realized now it was a bad choice when I felt two hands on my waist, and I turned around to Griffin.

He immediately pressed his lips to mine, and I breathed in sharply. I could feel Griffin smirk but I made it disappear as I pushed him against the wall, deepening our kiss. He moaned and moved his hands from my waist to my arms, switching our positions. Unfortunately, when he grabbed my arm, he managed to grab my wrist and I let out a sharp cry of pain.

Griffin and I broke apart and he looked at me, grabbing my wrist again, this time slightly above the bandage.

"Sorry."

I shook my head.

"It's fine," I said. "Just a little sore."

"Can I see it?" he asked, eyes roaming over the bandage as if he could see through it if he tried hard enough.

"They said not to take it off for a few hours-"

"We'll put it right back on."

I shrugged, guessing it would be okay.

"Fine."

I began to peel away the tape and move the bandage, and turned my wrist over for Griffin to see.

"Animus?" he questioned.

I looked at the black script, still twinged red with newness, and nodded.

"Fancy girl's school. I had to take Latin."

"And it means?"

I looked at him, suddenly kind of shy. I kept my eyes on my wrist.

"Courage. I figured it was something good to hold onto."

It was silent for a moment. I breathed lightly and looked up at him, wanting to see his expression. He was looking at me, as it he were studying me. Then suddenly, he let go of my wrist and nodded.

"I like it."

I nodded and smiled, and suddenly he was grabbing my hand again, this time walking down the alley and jumping. I shut my eyes and let my stomach settle before opening them and seeing we were in another city. I wasn't sure which one.

"What are we doing here?"

"Part two."

I had to jog to keep up with him, looking around at the surroundings, but still unsure of where we were.

"Part two?"

"The tattoo was just the beginning, Barbie."

I smiled, continuing to trail behind him.

"Did I mention I loved my birthday?"

I'm not really well versed in Latin....at all, so I'm not sure if my translation is correct. If it's not, blame it on the Internet. ;)