For Dhrish - I hope you enjoy.
Lily grinned up at the sign she had just finished painting on the wall, black paint was spotted all over her for the effort but she was still happy nevertheless. "Flower Power Tattoos" was now clearly signposted in a bold calligraphy font above the shop. It had been on the to-do list for weeks now but no one had ever had the balls to climb up the rickety old ladder to risk life and death for a sign. But with a bright summer day and a light breeze that would make it quick to dry Lily had known she had her chance and she had grabbed it.
She stared down at her clothes once more. Maybe a little too hard, if anything about the clothes she was wearing said more about it on her body than the wall. But she didn't care for that, there was nothing that could ruin her good mood as she looked up at it with pride.
"Evans!"
If anything her smile grew wider.
She swivelled around on the spot with a grin on her face. "My lovely lady Narcissa, however may I be of service for you on this fine day?"
Narcissa's face didn't so much as twitch from the slight frown that was gracing it. "You have made a mess of this pavement and you need to clean it now. My poor customers can't be expected to walk through this drudgery when I run such a high class establishment."
"'Cissa, you run a flower shop."
"I run a high class florist."
"You run the high street florist that the locals all come in to buy an apology bouquet from in desperate times."
Lily grinned as Narcissa's frown grew deeper. "That was one time."
"Every Friday, Cissa."
"Clean up the street, Evans." She glared once more for good luck before turning on her heel and striding away.
Lily's smile turned softer and more muted as she watched her walk away. And if she happened to stare at Cissy's bum then that was no one's business but hers.
Staring down at the image in front of her, Lily frowned. She just couldn't quite get the leaves on the image to appear as if to curl just right. She had been at it for the past half an hour, wanting it perfected before her client came in next week, but apparently today just wasn't the day. She glared at the image trying to get it to look as she wanted it in her mind but was pulled from her angry thoughts by the bell on the door sounding.
"Hi! Welcome to Flower Pow— Cissy? How can I help you on this fine day?" She spoke with a grin, her past foul mood as if blown away like the dark clouds on a windy day. Narcissa's face, on the other hand, looked like she'd sniffed something foul.
"I am looking to get a tattoo, but I want something delicate and sophisticated. Nothing like such stuff you can do. But I was hoping that you would at least be able to recommend somebody you may know."
Lily's eyes widened as she heartily laughed, but only until she realised that Narcissa wasn't joking. She was serious for a moment. "Narcissa, you do realise what I actually tattoo, don't you?"
She watched in silence as Narcissa frowned, a small wrinkle line appearing on her forehead. Lily wanted to reach over and smooth it out.
"You do comics and graphic design. Don't you?" Narcissa seemed less sure of herself as she finished the sentence.
Lily smiled softly and flipped around the iPad that she had been working on earlier to show her the image that would be dutifully tattooed next week.
"Oh." Narcissa's mouth opened in shock, a tiny glint of her perfect teeth showing.
On the screen was an array of oriental lilies, each one composed of a delicate array of dots all closely located to create the one image. Fine lines creating the stems and leading away from the petals to carefully placed crystal points which had a few dots of white ink to create an effect as if they were glowing.
Although Lily may dress as if she created graphic design and cartoon imagery, she loved to tattoo the most delicate of images that people looked at and questioned how such a fine line was even created to complement the curve of a body. She liked to create tattoos that were delicate, ornate and screamed that precision and detail were needed along with hours of dedication in order to have a piece of art that someone would be proud to have on their body for the rest of their life.
She created art and she loved it.
"I… I hadn't realised," Narcissa quietly uttered.
Lily smiled as she took back the iPad from Narcissa who had been gazing oh-so intently at the image. She melted just slightly inside when their fingers touched, a small blush graced Narcissa's face as well.
"Look at my Instagram and see what you like. If you have any ideas, then send me a message and I'll see what we can come up with. If you don't like what I can do, I can always send your idea to Neville, he does more of a leafy style, or I can see who else I've got who may suit your tastes more."
Lily handed her one of the business cards they kept up on the front counter.
"Message me either way. We can sort something out."
She felt daring and ended her sentence with a wink; it paid off when yet another beautiful blush graced the other's face.
Narcissa took the business card, nodded once and hightailed it out of the shop.
Lily had the decency to wait until she had seen her enter her own shop three doors down before cackling.
Today was the day. It was the day of the tattoo. The tattoo of which Lily would be tattooing onto Narcissa's beautiful body.
They had been in discussion for three weeks in order for Lily to create the perfect tattoo that Narcissa wanted. She'd had a vague idea of the components she had wanted already but no set plan on how it would all be incorporated nor positioned on her body. Which was where Lily's expertise had then stepped in to save the day.
Narcissa had wanted a koi fish with lotus flowers and potentially some crystals thrown in after she had been inspired upon seeing some of her previous work.
Lily had taken that simple idea and spun it into a masterpiece. After discussing some potential placements on the body and deciding on going with the upper thigh and curling around the hip, she got to designing properly.
What was ultimately decided upon was a detailed koi fish swimming around the curve on the hip down the thigh, surrounded by lotus flowers in full bloom with crystal shards sprinkled between the flowers giving the air of the water rippling around them and it being imbued with positive energy.
Lily was safe to say it was some of her finest work and she was so excited to put needle to skin to give the full creation the depth and beauty it deserved on skin.
Narcissa's appointment was at 8 o' clock in the morning and the full day session had been booked to ensure that the tattoo got the time and dedication it deserved. They were both hoping to complete the full design but obviously would see how they went with everything as time went on.
Narcissa arrived at five to. Lily's breath stuttered slightly when she saw what she was wearing. Obviously she had known in some subconscious part of her brain that in order to tattoo her hip and thigh she would have to see them but imagination and reality were very different. But she pushed all those thoughts aside as she explained the set up and procedure for the session.
The introduction flew by and soon enough she had Narcissa lying sideways on the bed, her soft milky skin all on show for her to decorate with a design that would only serve to amplify her beauty.
Hours flew by, a calm silence shared between them as Lily sweated over her work ensuring that each and every line was placed perfectly and the placements of each lotus and crystal worked on the skin as well as on paper in relation to the curves of her client.
It was during a break when Lily finally dared to ask the question she had been waiting on as soon as she had heard about the concept. "So, why this design?"
It was always a daring question to ask; was it just a simple memento of a good time? An image they liked? Or was it a token to treasure for the rest of time reminding them of a loved one now lost? A reminder to themselves that they could keep on going?
Lily had heard everything at this point and she treasured each and every one of the stories that clients had deigned to share with her.
She waited with bated breath on what Narcissa's answer would be.
Narcissa breathed in deeply, before releasing it as a slow sigh. "When I was younger, I used to live with my grandparents and in their garden they had this most amazing koi pond. We were always told to be so careful around it, it was deep, so very deep."
Lily watched as her eyes glazed over, remembering her past.
"But then one day, I just wanted to get one of the lotus flowers that were bobbing on top, I just wanted to give it to Nana, I always loved the lotus flowers."
Lily swallowed around the lump in her throat, her eyes already watering at where she could sense this was going.
"I fell in. I don't remember shouting but obviously I must have been screaming for help. I couldn't swim and I remember thinking that this would be it." Narcissa paused abruptly, her mouth snapping shut as she gazed into the distance.
"I had a sister, Bellatrix, she heard me screaming and jumped in. She couldn't swim, either."
Lily's heart stuttered in her chest.
"She managed to push me up and out. Then she just… sank. I didn't have the energy to scream or shout. I just watched at the side as she sank to the bottom, the fish swirling around her as she was framed by the lotus flowers."
Lily couldn't breathe, she didn't dare interrupt.
"Nobody else got home for another five hours. I was hypothermic and Bellatrix was gone. I never saw my grandparents ever again, but I still remember that pond. I like to think that Bellatrix was calm at the end, she didn't look scared."
Lily's heart cried out for Narcissa as she watched a lone tear fall down her cheek.
"Cissy, I would like to give you a hug. But only if that's okay with you?"
She sat as frozen as a statue, unless Narcissa said it was acceptable, she would not touch her. She waited, and waited, then suddenly a small nod. Slowly and carefully displaying her movements in an exaggerated manner she moved closer and encompassed Narcissa in her arms.
She felt as Narcissa exhaled deeply, melting against her as Lily held her strong against the world.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Cissy."
She felt Narcissa nod against her chest.
They remained cuddled together for a minute, both just basking in the warmth the other was supplying. When Lily felt Narcissa pull away, she released her tight grip but kept a hold of her hands. Staring into her eyes, she saw the pain Narcissa had been keeping bottled up inside, the tears now welling up and fighting to break over the edge.
"You are strong, Cissy, and if anyone ever gives you any trouble, you send them to me and I'll sort them out."
It startled a surprised laugh out of Narcissa and Lily grinned.
"Thank you. I suppose, Evans, if I do ever have a problem, I'll throw them at you. Now putting all of that aside, can we finish what I am paying you good money for?"
Lily smiled, her dimple showing. "Ready whenever you are."
Since getting the tattoo Lily had seen Narcissa at least once a day. The woman always seemed to be popping in just to check if her tattoo was healing properly, that she needed some more ointment for her still healing skin, to complain that her sign needed a repaint. If Lily didn't know any better, she would assume that Narcissa was just wanting to see her.
She had seen the light blushes decorating Narcissa's cheeks whenever she said anything slightly sultry, she had seen the hidden gazes at her when Narcissa had thought she wasn't looking, and she knew that Narcissa absolutely did not have to come in and take off half her clothes in order for Lily to have a proper look at her healing tattoo.
It had been driving Lily crazy and she had finally decided to do something about it.
It wasn't until she was standing at the doorway of Strange Floristry that arriving at a florist's with a bouquet of flowers wasn't probably the greatest of ideas. But oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
She pushed open the door and heard a bell tinkling in the background somewhere, but she was too distracted by the smells and colours all around her. Sweet smelling perfumes drifted about as her eyes were pulled to and fro from the wide array of flowers on show; daisies, sunflowers, petunias, orchids. Anything and everything you could possibly imagine was there. Lily briefly wondered why she had never been in before with such a good way of referencing what she had been drawing.
But all thoughts came to a stuttering stop when she saw Narcissa looking at her.
"Evans? What are you doing here?" Though her tone was cold, Lily could see the blush staining her cheeks.
Put on the spot, however, all rational thoughts flew out of Lily's head and she said the first thing she thought of. "I brought you flowers."
She mentally facepalmed, she had prepared a whole speech and everything. This was not how it was supposed to go.
"You what? You cheated on me?"
"What! I— No! How even...!" she burst out, outraged. They weren't even going out! Her indignant reply soon came to a stop as she saw Narcissa laughing softly.
"What I meant was you went to another florist instead of me."
"Oh. Well. I mean, yes. But, just take the flowers, Cissy." Lily thrust out the bouquet she had carefully chosen for her.
She watched in silence as emotions rushed across Narcissa's face. Shock. Pain. Confusion. Understanding. Love.
"You…?"
"Yes."
"But?"
"I don't care."
"Well, I care!" Narcissa suddenly screamed. "How can you be such a nice person, Evans?" Tears welling up in her eyes.
Lily pressed forward, taking the bouquet of Narcissus flowers, lilies and Gentiana bellatrix and setting it down gently to the side. She grasped Narcissa's hands in her and looked at her directly.
"I don't care what you've been though, all I care about is you. I hear you and I would like it very much if I could take you on a date or two."
Staring at one another, it felt like forever before Lily could breathe again. She all but glowed when Narcissa nodded at her.
"I would very much like to kiss you if I could, Cissy?"
Narcissa nodded and Lily pulled her closer, her lips softly grazing the top of Narcissa's. It was everything she had ever dreamt of and more.
Lily hoped for many more in future.