Author's note: This was written for Cedelede for her birthday yonks ago. This is one of the shortest I have ever written but I hope its all right. Written from the prompt Tattoo.
Tattoo
The whir buzzed like a swarm in her ear, and the stinging pain imbedded in her blade.
The tiny vibrating needle dug through her skin and the pain, so close to her bone, felt unlike the kind she had suffered with in the past.
She hated needles, but this was one different, it was carving and scarring her skin with a promise of love and protection, not digging into her to purposely hurt her. It was to be a reminder of what she now had and what she shared and the blood dripping down her back, it didn't just belong to her anymore.
She closed her eyes. The needle burrowed near the bone again and the pain shot through her shoulder, but the pleasure tingled down her spine and caused her to clench her abdomen tight and hard. Her fingers scrunched up into the pillow and she gasped.
It hurt but it felt so good.
The buzzing sound continued, but she didn't listen to that anymore. He spoke to her, he laughed and stroked with his free hand while the other drew with the needle. She was lulled into a state of bliss and she lost all track of time.
She didn't feel the needle pull away from her skin as the tingle and pain still stung. She didn't hear him whisper in her ear "It's done." But the cold smear of some gel spread over her shoulder and dampened the sting. The feel of his palm and his fingers gently touching her caused her to hum pleasantly and turn her head.
"Can I see?"
He nodded and handed her a mirror. River sat up from the bed and gazed upon her new piece of art. Her smile widened.
The dragon was coiled around her, strong and protecting, but the expression and detail in its face…it was like his. It was him.
He was bleeding.
"He will heal." She said, feeling Jayne move her up into his lap. Like the dragon, his chin dropped on her other shoulder and smiled ever so slightly. "Thank you. I love it."
"Ya gonna be stuck with it…and me for a long time, bao bei." He rumbled gently into her neck.
She had no intention of getting rid of either.