Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Before we start, here's a few responses to reviewers:
MotherCHOWgoddess: Heh, thanks, I was going for 'different' and I'm glad you think so too. I don't know where the artistic!jou thing came from...but I still think it suits him.
Darkmus: Thanks, I'm glad you noticed. I had to do a lot of research, because I have never actually been inside a tattoo palor in my life.
Sakata Ri Houjun: Yes, sometimes the dark brooding characters can pimp the ink too. I freaking love 'The Crow' by the way, and not because it's like one of the fads that they push on you at Hot Topic and all that, I just always have since I saw it when it came out. Sorry to disappoint you though, but I didn't plan on having the tattoo go that low...although it is a really good idea, perhaps there will be a change later on.
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, and to Jennie, by beta. Okay...on with the chapter!
A low humming sound filled the relatively quiet room, causing Kaiba to twitch slightly, but he didn't bother to voice his annoyance. He flinched again and cursed to himself as he felt something soft and wet began dabbing at his back. The humming only got louder; some strange, nameless tune that could only be the creation of a certain blonde airhead.
"Must you do that?" snapped the annoyed voice, causing Jou to pause in his ministrations.
"Yeah, if you don't want it to get infected and everything..."
The brunette rolled his eyes, realizing afterwards that it was a gesture the annoying one could not see. "I meant the humming. Stop it."
"Oh...sorry." Jou frowned as he dabbed some more antiseptic on the man's back. "Just stay still, okay?"
"Hn. Obviously," Seto snorted as he felt the hands upon him leave, only to return a few minutes later, accompanied by something sticky that clung to his back. He mentally reminded himself that it was probably the stencil Jou had taken out of the machine a few minutes ago. That also meant that they would be getting down to business real soon.
Jou pulled away the clear sheet, which was similar to the kind of thing temporary tattoos came on, and looked down to see that the design set firmly in place and ready to go. Seto tilted his head to the side to watch Jou slip on a pair of white latex doctors' gloves; the ones with the powder that made your hands smell awful. The latex covered hands moved to a container and pulled out a plastic wrapped needle, opened it up and inserted it into the machine sitting near the chair he currently occupied.
"All set, you ready?" Jou asked as he pulled his chair closer, hovering over Seto's back.
"I'm always ready," came the smug reply.
"Alrighty. It will burn at first, but you will get used to it." Jou smiled as he turned on the instrument in his hand, feeling it vibrate and come to life, eager to begin his most recent challenge. There was still that little part of him that wanted to jam that needle into the brunette's eye, but the desire to create a beautiful piece of art on the arrogant man was far more stronger.
The blonde set to work, reminding himself that even though this was the great Seto Kaiba, he still needed to be gentle. Kaiba was new to this, feeling the vibration and the sting of the needle against his skin for the first time. Jou moved slowly towards the spinal area, noticing Seto's sharp intake of breath and the way his body trembled ever so slightly. From experience, he knew that this spot was one of the most painful, but the bastard just bit his lip so Jou pressed on. He knew there was no way Seto was going to show any sort of weakness, even if the toughest guys would be tearing up right now. "Stubborn little thing," he thought.
"So, see any good movies lately?" Jou asked, smirking even though the CEO couldn't see him. He usually liked to make small talk with the clients to help ease the tension and to get their minds off the fact that there was a needle drilling into their skin about ten times per second. Of course, he knew when it came to Kaiba, starting something as simple as a polite conversation was about as easy as trying to dig a ditch with a toothpick.
"Mutt, be quiet," was the simple response. Kaiba sure had some nerve, calling him a dog at a time like this, and just when he had thought that the brunette might have been growing out of the annoying little habit. Jou thought perhaps that Kaiba was simply resorting back to his old tactics, something familiar to comfort him. Deciding that he didn't want to give Kaiba any more chances to piss him off and 'accidentally' screw up his tattoo, Jou gave up on conversation and worked silently.
The first few hours were intense, Jou concentrating on making every curve of the elegant wings perfect, every sharp claw menacing. Seto was concentrating on being as quiet as possible, shifting once in a while if he got too uncomfortable. This annoyed Jou to no end. He found himself being a little less gentle than he normally was, wanting to hear some sort of sound of discomfort, some sort of sign that he was truly a living, breathing thing.
Suddenly Jou found that he was starting to dislike Kaiba even more, if that was even possible. One of the things he liked most about his job was that his art was alive. But Kaiba was like a damned rock. Jou had been half-hoping to see something different in the stoic man today, but everything was pretty much the same. Kaiba was as much of a prick with his shirt on as when it was off. Hell, he hardly even bled! Honestly, it was really starting to freak him out. He remembered all the times he used to joke with Honda, saying that Kaiba couldn't be human, that he had to be some sort of robot.
The blond was snapped out of his inner ranting as he heard a harsh hiss from below him. Success! Finally a response! However, his rejoicing was cut short when he looked down to see a growing spot of blood emanating from the tip of the dragon's left wing. Did he always have to speak so soon? He had let the needle sink in too deep, and now the bastard was actually bleeding.
"I thought you knew what the hell you were doing!" Kaiba snapped as Jou scrambled to make everything better, applying pressure and apologizing profusely.
"I am so sorry!" Jou dabbed at the spot and breathed a sigh of relief as he realized it was already beginning to stop bleeding. "These things happen sometimes, everything is fine," Jou assured Kaiba, not liking the fact that he had let the brunette get a bad impression of his work so early on.
"Just try to be more careful. You're supposed to be a professional here, Jounouchi. You shouldn't be so careless," Kaiba said sternly, almost in a lecturing manner, before putting his head back down and playing dead once more.
Jou nodded his head, liking the sound of the words 'professional' and 'Jounouchi' used in the same sentence, returning to his work with renewed vigor, covering that smooth, pale skin with a map of intricate black lines.
"Same time tomorrow then?" Jou asked as he finished patching up Kaiba's back, satisfied that the basic lining of the design was done, and that he wouldn't have to worry as much about screwing up after this. The mistake that he made earlier in the day was a minor one, and most likely would not be noticed by anyone.
"Agreed."
Jou nodded his head. He realized that Kaiba must be taking time off from work for this, and he couldn't help but feel slightly privileged -- how often did that happen? Still, one thing was bothering him, one thing that would probably bother him all day if he didn't ask now.
"Kaiba? Can I ask you something before you leave?"
"I suppose," Kaiba said as he slid on his long coat, smoothing down the cuffs, and turning to Jou when the blonde still remained silent after a few moments. "Well?"
"Um...it's just...Why exactly did you pick me to do your tattoo? It's not like we have the best relationship. It just seems odd that you would trust someone like me with your body."
"An understandable question," Kaiba remarked, a look of contemplation on his face while he chose his answer. "While I know that you're the type to lash out violently when you are being attacked, I hardly think that you are one to hurt someone when they have their backs turned to you. I trust you with that much." He answered, silently impressed with the fact that Jounouchi had come up with and intelligent question for once and saw fit to answer it in a respectful manner.
Jou nodded and that was the end of the conversation. He realized that Kaiba understood him better than he thought, and that bothered him just a little more than he would have liked.
Kaiba hissed as he slid into the leather interior, finding the friction against the skin of his tender back most uncomfortable. For about the fiftieth time today he found himself questioning his decision. He knew that it was completely irrational, and that was not like him. What had made him think he had any business getting a tattoo? He was Seto Kaiba for Christ's sake, not some immature street punk! Maybe it was that fact that the idea was so contradictory to his whole persona that had made him want to do it -- having this secret thing, just for him, and knowing that the public didn't have him as figured out as well as they thought. That was as good a reason as any, he supposed, and he might as well do something like that while he was still young. Unfortunately, his cautious, almost paranoid, side was constantly nagging at him. If it came out horrible, then what would he do? What if ten years from now he would want to kick himself for getting a tattoo of his most prized monster? He would have to live with it forever, and he didn't know if he was ready for that. He already had enough emotional baggage, and he didn't really need to add physical branding to his list.
However, the part that really bothered him wasn't the fact that he was being completely foolish, or reckless with his body. It was the fact that it had to be him, the damned mutt. He could have, he should have just walked away, but that would make him look weak, and he didn't do weak. He wasn't a fool, he had done thorough research on every tattoo parlor in town, he knew all their reputations and all of their employees. In the end he picked the parlor Jou was working at, because he felt they would be best for the job. Orignally he was going to ask the owner to do that tattoo for him, but the man, Kudo he reminded himself, insisted that he had his apprentice do it, saying that he was the best for the job. As much as he hated to admit it, Kudo had been right. The design that Jounouchi had presented to him was flawless, he couldn't turn it down, even if he did have conflicting emotions about it.
Those hands, that was what really got to him. They were so thorough and gentle on his skin, causing him pain, and yet a strange amount of comfort at the same time. They were way too warm, too close to him, and he could hardly bear it. It made him feel way too vulnerable, a feeling he didn't like experiencing. He felt left wide open and defenseless and yet at the same time, confident in the fact that he was in good hands, that he could trust the blonde. He hadn't been lying when he had told Jounouchi he wasn't afraid of the pain. It was those hands that terrified him.