Covering Up The Past
Basic training wasn't difficult for Ajay but she really didn't care for it. The most interesting part of it was learning how to use weapons. It was the only thing that she really wanted to learn and she knew exactly what she would do with her new found knowledge. She wouldn't stand by and let anyone hurt her or anyone else she cared about ever again; even if it meant killing them.
The Wingman was a heavy duty revolver and Ajay's hands shook as she held it. When she shot the gun it almost flung out of her hands from the unexpected recoil. It only took her the one shot to adjust before she was nailing her practice targets between their eyes. Some of the others that were in training with her wanted tips on how to shoot guns like she was some kind of expert on the subject, but she couldn't seem to explain to herself. She had always been quick to learn and adjust and she also knew that she never wanted to feel helpless ever again.
It didn't take long for Ajay to adjust to her new environment and the monotony of everyday life with the Frontier Corps. Ajay spent the majority of her days in training for the war. The repetition and routine didn't bother her much; in fact it took her mind off of her painful life that she was desperately trying to put behind her. Luckily for her everyone seemed too involved in training to even ask her about her past. She was relieved that she didn't have to explain herself to anyone.
Her spare time was spent putting her medic skills to use to treat civilians and members of the Frontier Corps. She even found herself treating members of other factions fighting in the war. She honestly didn't care who she treated; if they needed help then she helped them. She also found herself closely following Octavio's career. She kept his live televised events on while she was treating patients. If she missed a live event then she would catch up by watching a video from his social media platform.
Ajay spent a couple of months in Angel City before she was notified that she would be stationed in Typhon. She knew that the war was getting heated, so it was no surprise to her that she would be going to Typhon to help out. Since she was the only one at the clinic she would be the only one prepping the clinic for travel. Her last few days in Angel City were spent inventorying supplies that she thought that she might need for her new assignment.
With only a few days left before her new assignment she hit the streets of Angel City. Ajay passed by all of the little shops and markets until she was deep into the city. The soft glow from some of the shops lit the dark streets as Ajay walked the streets in search of one particular shop. The neon lights were almost blinding as she looked through the window at the almost empty shop that she had been searching for. As she reached for the handle of the glass door her hand began to tremble as all of the bad memories raced through her mind.
She pulled her hand back and rubbed her palm with her other hand in an attempt to calm herself. She couldn't shake the thoughts but she knew that if she didn't get this done then the painful memories would be constant reminder of her past. She shook her head and dropped her hands to her sides as she stare at the ground below her, "Get yuh shit togetha." When she was finally calm, she took a deep breath and then pulled the door open to enter the small building.
The tattoo shop was fairly clean despite its rough outer exterior. Ajay stepped over to the counter and waited for a moment. She was soon greeted by a slender woman that was just a little shorter than she was. The woman had bleached blonde hair that was flipped to one side of her head. The other side of her head was bare as it had been shaved. Piercings and tattoos lined the woman's face and arms. The woman wore a black tank top and tight black jeans. She also wore a pair of black boots that came up passed her ankles.
Ajay offered a fake smile as the woman greeted her. "Are you here for a tattoo or a piercing?" Ajay gazed into the woman's hazel eyes for a moment before answering, "A tattoo. I was hopin' that yuh could cover up someting for mi." The woman nodded, "That depends on what it is." Ajay bit her lower lip for a moment and then pulled off her hoodie. She revealed her left shoulder from the night that she was assaulted and raped. The woman stepped around the counter to get a closer look, "Sure. What do you want?"
"Uh…" Ajay paused because she really hadn't thought this through because; she didn't know what she wanted, "I don' have anyting in mind. Just anyting ta cover dis up." The woman nodded and motioned for Ajay to follow her. Ajay followed the woman back towards the back of the tattoo shop where the woman began to set up. Ajay sat down in the chair as the woman spoke, "I'm Lissette. But you can all me Liz. You'll need to pull your shirt and bra strap down." Ajay nodded and pulled her arm out of her tank top and bra strap to give Liz better access.
Liz began to clean and prep Ajay's arm. "My name is Ajay." Liz smiled, "I know who you are." Ajay looked a little stunned, "How?" Ajay listened as a buzzing noised filled the air around them, "You play backup drums for Karen Kay-Kay Kool in Flyer Liars". Ajay felt the first stroke of the needle hit her skin as Liz continued to speak, "I am a big fan." Ajay felt a little less tense even with the needle forcing ink into her skin. "Yuh. That's me." The buzzing became less apparent as time went on.
"Most people don't come in here to get scars covered up." Ajay sighed because she had a feeling that the topic of her scar would come up, "Well I don' wanna rememba dis." Liz didn't look up from her work as she spoke, "You can't hide from the past and covering it up won't make it go away. At least that's what I have learned." Ajay knew that Liz was right, "At least it won't be a constant reminder every time I look in da mirror." Liz paused from her work and looked up at Ajay for a moment, "What is this scar from? Why do you need to hide it?"
Ajay pushed back tears as she became very silent and still. Liz felt a bit tense when Ajay didn't answer; so she broke the silence, "Sorry, I know it's not my place." Ajay quickly shook her head, "It's just a sensitive subject. I haven' told anyone. Not even Silva." Ajay closed her eyes and tried not to lose her composure. Liz looked shocked as she went back to work on Ajay's arm. "Octavio Silva?" Ajay nodded, "Yuh know him too?" Liz smiled, "I have seen him on TV. That daredevil is crazy. Did you guys meet when you were on tour?" Ajay opened her eyes, "Nah he was mi best friend. We grew up togetha."
Liz sat back for a moment and rested her hand, "Was? Are you guys not friends anymore?" Ajay really didn't know how to answer because she really didn't know what they were anymore, "It's complicated." Liz leaned forward and began working on Ajay again, "We're going to be here for a while and I am a good listener. Plus I feel like you might need an ear." Ajay smiled, "Some bad shit happened with mi family and he has always been there. Things between us got more physical and then it got weird. I don' know. I love dat boy but it's confusin'."
Liz nodded, "When did you know?" Ajay laced her fingers together in her lap, "Know what?" Liz worked more ink into Ajay's arm, "That you loved him?" Ajay thought about it for a moment and her face felt a little warm as she blushed at the thought. Liz waited as the buzz from the tattoo gun filled the silence, "Something else that you don't want to tell me? That's cool." Ajay shook her head. "Nah. I do." Ajay smiled and thought for a moment about where she wanted to begin her story.
"Silva and I have been friends since I can rememba. We grew up togetha. We were inseparable since we met. I don' know why but we have always clicked. I was always fixin him up when he was doing stupid stuff. I don't know the exact moment when my feelings for him changed inta somethin more. Maybe mi feelings had always been like dat." The more that she thought about it the more she realized that there wasn't one particular defining moment; she had always loved him.
She closed her eyes again, "We were 13 years old and I hadn' seen Silva all day, which was unusual because we spent every minute togetha. I was at home and I had taken a pretty nasty fall when I was skateboardin'. It was so bad that I had to have stitches in mi arm. I rememba lyin' in bed that night, cryin', because it had been such a long day. Silva crawled in through mi window and comforted me." Ajay knew that her story wasn't the whole truth but her feelings were pure.
"He would just crawl in through your window?" Liz smiled and Ajay blushed more as memories flooded her mind. "Yah. We pretty much spent every minute togetha. He would come sleep over all the time. He was like a brother ta mi, but things changed. We both grew up rich. Our parents were too consumed with their careers to pay us any attention." Liz nodded, "Then what brings you here?" Ajay opened her eyes and looked at Liz, "I joined da Frontier Corps ta fight in da war. As it turns out, all those years fixing up Silva has made mi a pretty good medic."
Ajay gripped her hands together tightly, "I also didn't agree on how mi parents were makin' their money. I left home ta be on mi own. I eventually found da band and they accepted mi like family. Da band gave mi da strength I needed ta confront mi parents and finally leave home. Da band did so much good for da community. Joining Frontier Corps ta help people and send money ta those who need is da least dat I can do. It's what da band taught mi ta do."
Liz set her stuff down and started cleaning Ajay's arm, "That's amazing. Well whatever the reason you needed to cover your past with a tattoo is, I think that it would do you good to share it with someone. If you keep that bad shit inside it will eventually come out and it might hurt you and others." Ajay nodded, "I know. I should tell Silva. I just don' want ta tell him over da phone." Liz sat there for a moment, "Then why don't you go see him or is there somewhere that you have to be?"
Ajay thought about it for a moment. She could take a quick trip to see Octavio and still make it back in time to catch her flight to Typhon. Her thoughts were interrupted as Liz held up a mirror for Ajay so that she could look at her arm, "I'm all done, unless you see something that you don't like." Ajay looked in the mirror to find part of her neck, all the way down her shoulder to her forearm covered in a simple, solid tattoo, "It's perfect Liz. Thank yuh. How much do I owe yuh?"
"An autograph would be great." Liz set the mirror down as Ajay gave her a confused look, "Mi autograph?" Liz nodded, "Yeah I told you I am a big fan. Honestly your money is going to a good cause and I would rather it stay that way. An autograph is more than enough." Ajay nodded and watched as Liz pulled out a picture with Flyer Liar logo on it and handed it and a pen to Ajay.
With a smile Ajay signed the picture, "Where is yuh phone?" Liz was now the one that looked confused as she dug her phone out of her pocket and handed it over to Ajay. "I'll leave yuh mi number just in case yuh need anyting." Ajay programed her number into the phone and handed it back. Liz smiled and put her phone away before wrapping up Ajay's arm. Ajay replaced her clothing and said her farewell to Liz as she planned her trip to Solace to see Octavio.