I know at some point you've all heard of the theory that says bad luck strikes in 3s, right? Well... I love that idea and I love the idea that some more perceptive individuals might have the ability to change it.
Anyway, that's more than I should tell you really.
So they go out and hit the town just for fun, they do!
As promised, after a moment of rest back at the hotel, the two hit the town and Axel thoroughly gorged himself on the sheer volume of galleries that offered themselves. There was everything from the wild and eccentric, to modern concepts, to the most traditional of restrictions. He dragged his lover with him, and by the time they'd reached the last gallery they were discussing color theory and why the hell the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows.
"So… enough of this shit. Needles. I know the best place," Demyx said boldly, taking the lead.
"Really?" Axel laughed, "What should I get?"
"Lip. You promised," Demyx replied instantly.
"I mean other than that," Axel pushed, "Should I get another tattoo?"
"It would have to be small or you'll never get it finished."
"I know… Maybe I'll get 'Demyx was here' tattooed on my ass in calligraphy."
"Not funny," Demyx huffed.
"Alright, no tattoos tonight," the redhead laughed, "But I am getting my lip pierced, and if I do, you have to get something done."
"I guess."
They walked in relative quite of night, the smell of cigarette smoke from clubs and all manner of restaurants pooling in the narrow streets. The walked to a delta in the road where a big library stood majestically and a triangle shaped fountain danced.
"We can go play in that, you know," Demyx laughed, "I forgot about that."
"Really?"
"How about we do that before we drive off?"
Axel nodded, and the blond trotted forward, turning to smile over his shoulder and he sprang forward like a gazelle, graceful, beautiful… completely fucking oblivious to the car blazing forward. And he can't do anything. Axel can't do a fucking thing to stop him… The body in his arms is crushed beyond saving, and still that beautiful blond is smiling…
"Dem!" Axel cried, throwing himself forward. He grasped the blond around the waist and yanked him back just as the black sedan with the distracted business man at the helm careened past. Demyx cried out in shock and fear, whirled and clung to his lover.
"Jesus Christ!" he whispered hoarsely against the redhead's neck.
Axel could feel the younger man's heart beating a rapid tattoo against his chest. He clung tight, laughing in that particular way that usually conveyed that he was extremely frightened or nervous.
"I just almost died," he blurted between laughing fits.
"Yeah…"
It was all Axel could manage. He'd seen it happen… and he changed it…
"Uh… maybe… maybe we should…"
"No… let's go to the fountain…" Axel said softly, "And this time we look before we leap, right?"
"Yeah!" Demyx laughed, planting a rough kiss on the redhead's cheek before they scanned the road for any potential danger.
--- ---
"You ready?" the piercing artist asked, looking down into bright jade pools.
"As ever," Axel affirmed, gripping Demyx's hand gently.
The blond watched in a combination of fascination and horror as the piercing guy leaned down and pulled Axel's lip out, pressing the tip of the needle against the little purple dot he'd drawn. He moved in a way that looked agonizingly slow, pressing the needle up through, but Axel didn't even look like he noticed it until it broke all the way though. Only then he winced a little.
"Alright… just hang out like that for a second. We need to put the ring in next."
Demyx watched the guy change his gloves, then turn back with a pair of pliers and a relatively straightened out captive ball ring. He placed the pliers on a medical tray and took the needle's plastic base in his fingers, lined up the tip of the ring with the end of the needle and pinched Axel's lip between his ring-finger and pinky.
"This will hurt a bit…"
The needle descended, followed closely by the ring into swollen flesh. Axel grimaced a little, but it really didn't seem to bother him immensely. The needle was instantly tossed into the trash.
"Okay. Hold a sec."
The artist busied himself changing gloves again. Demyx leaned down silently and kissed Axel's cheek, eliciting a smile from the redhead. They had resumed their original positions by the time the piercing artist had turned around again.
Using the pliers, he gently clamped the earring ball in place and stepped back to survey the finished product for a moment.
"All done. Have a look," the guy beamed, handing Axel a mirror.
The redhead sat up, staring at reflection in satisfaction.
"Don't touch it too much for the next few days. This is a topical disinfectant," the piercing guy explained, pressing a bottle of Bactine into Axel's hand, "Put it on the outside a few times a day with a cotton ball. When you get out of here, go buy yourself a bottle of Listerine. You'll want to use it after eating, drinking, kissing, etcetera. Try not to take out the jewelry for a few months. The ring is big enough that if it gets swollen it won't be too tight. Hope you enjoy it."
"Thanks," Axel said experimentally. It hurt, but not too badly.
"Oh yeah, if you don't like Listerine, salt-water works too… And as for your friend, he's getting his ears done, right?"
Demyx nodded, still looking a little nervous.
"Alright."
"I hope it's okay if I stay…" Axel said softly.
"Of course. He looks like he could use you here," the piercing artist laughed, "So what are you looking to do?"
"Um… I think I want to pierce them and gauge later."
"Not always a good idea… but it can be done. What size are you looking to go to?"
He looked up to Axel.
"He's not real decided yet, but I think starting small would be good."
"Alright… I'll pierce you at a fourteen and you can work up from there. Fourteen is a hollow needle and you're likely to feel it a lot more than with a normal eighteen."
"Okay…"
"You sure you want to do this?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
Demyx nodded and sat down in the chair, let the artist arrange his head, impatiently brushing stray hair out of the way. Axel's hand slid warm into the blond's and he smiled. This wouldn't be all that bad.
--- ---
Demyx's ears hurt a little, but he couldn't get enough of himself, stopping to admire his reflection in windowpanes and just about anything that gave a decent reflection. He was extremely satisfied, and the purple titanium rings just looked awesome.
The lady at the grocery-store checkout eyeballed them suspiciously for a moment, and then laughed.
"New piercings?"
"Fresh as they can be," Axel replied, his lip pouting a little unconsciously. It was a little swollen and red around the new hole, but otherwise it looked great.
"You too?"
"Yep," Demyx replied.
"Did it hurt? Just out of curiosity…"
"Not really," both replied at the same time, then laughed.
"Jinx!" Demyx called loudly.
"That's so childish," Axel scolded, sounding a tad scorned.
"Stop whining, you, or I'll kiss you and it'll hurt and you'll be a sad boy then, won't you?" Demyx teased, handing the cashier a wad of singles that he'd fished out of his pocket. She counted it out and handed him his change.
"You two have a good night!"
"You too," Axel said politely.
They walked out arm-in-arm.
"Do you want to pick up some booze?" Demyx asked suddenly.
"You're still too young," Axel mumbled disapprovingly.
"Never stopped me before," the blond laughed, punching his lover in the shoulder playfully.
Axel gave.
"Alright. Do you know anywhere nearby?"
"Yep."
--- ---
Axel laughed, holding his lover close. A handle of Bombay Sapphire rests between them. They're drunk as all hell.
"My head hurts!" Demyx giggled, scooting up closer and planting his chin on Axel's chest. The redhead smiles and tries to kiss Demyx's forehead, but it hurts.
"Ow!" he cries, and the laughing starts up all over again.