Revamped!

[I had no idea we were already this far into the arc.] [2020: Same happened while revamping.]

A Thorne in His Side: Part Seven

Captain Thorne: Cress

Captain Thorne: Crescent

Captain Thorne: Crescent Moon

Captain Thorne: Crescent Moon Darnel

Captain Thorne: I'm about to do something moronic.

Captain Thorne: I think I'll need you to save me.

-o-

After Wolf's shift ended, he drove himself and Scarlet to his tattoo parlour. She was the first one out of the car and into the parlour. Wolf follows before the door could slam shut on his face and the artist at the cash register almost laughs in disbelief when he sees Wolf stumble. After all, this was the parlour where his former gang would go to get their tattoos. It's where they got their matching ink of the howling wolf that's on his lower back. He'd get it removed but it's so beautifully done and he wants to keep it as a memory.

"Wolf Kesley…" the artist mutters while shaking his head with a snarky. "Never thought I'd see your face here again."

"Neither did I," Wolf responds.

"So, what are you getting and where?"

"Actually, it's -"

Scarlet jumps into their conversation. "It's for me."

The artist's gaze suddenly falls on her. He pops his lips, already knowing who this redhead in front of him. "Is this your girl, Wolf? And is this a part of her bucket list?"

Scarlet cringes. "Yes, I'm his girl and not only do I go by Scarlet but do I look like the girl who writes bucket lists? Those are pointless since you never finish them. You gotta go with the flow."

He nods with a bit of admiration. "I like her, Kesley. You two are a cute couple."

"She's the cute one," Wolf mutters. Scarlet looks back and beams at him, only to see his worried expression. "Are you sure you want this?"

"Awe, Wolfie…" The artist coos as he rests his head on his hands to mock him. "Are you becoming soft?"

Wolf points right at him. "You shut up."

The artist laughs and Wolf rolls his eyes.

"Do tattoos hurt?" Scarlet asks the artist, ignoring Wolf.

"Depends on where you get them," he responds, "and if they need colouring. The face, neck, hands, ankles, and rib cage usually hurt the most. Forearm, shoulder, calves, and butt are the least painful. Where were you thinking?"

"Rib cage."

Wolf clears his throat. "Wait a minute -"

The artist whistles a high note. "First timer and going for the rib cage? Mad respect, Red. What are you getting?"

"A small tomato cluster on the vine circling the bottom of my boob just above the rib cage," Scarlet responds, pointing out specifically where on her body.

The tattoo artist nods, making a note of that on a pad of paper. He also jots down Wolf's stunned and aroused expression as he stares right at the spot where Scarlet's future tattoo will be. The artist wasn't sure what turned Wolf on more, Scarlet pointing at one of her breasts or his mental image a tattoo there. Either way, the boy looked like he would eat her alive right then and there.

"Alright," the artist says, "I'll get ready so just take a seat over there and I'll get you when it's tattoo time."

Scarlet nods as she spins on her heel and takes a seat on some leather couches by the entrance. Wolf shakes himself out of the trance he was in and heads over to sit next to her. For some reason, he feels more nervous than she looks which alarms him.

"Scarlet," Wolf says, "can we talk about this -?"

"It's for my Grandmère," Scarlet replies, knowing that he would ask that. "She's my only true parent and one of the most notable things she taught me was how that tomatoes grow sweeter when you sing to them."

"Wow, Scarlet…"

"It'll also remind me of that time you got tangled in my tomato garden and I almost shot you."

Scarlet laughs to herself and even Wolf can't help but crack a smile at that fond memory that felt like it was forever ago. Sure, it was a bash on his pride and bad-boy reputation, but it got him his girl.

"What do you sing to your tomatoes?" Wolf asks.

"Songs in French."

-o-

Kai remembers feeling that his father's death was both true and false in his mind. He'd imagine seeing his dad's car pulling into the driveway after a long day at the office. Or Kai would be lying on his bed and his bedroom door would be open, and it'd be his dad calling him for dinner or to go run some errands.

His dad died suddenly, but also slowly. And now, his house was lonely and had a spooking feeling to it. Kai never missed being alone. He was used to it but now it was different. Before, he knew someone would be walking through those front doors without messing up keys like he is now. Now, there'll be nothing.

"Give me these," Cinder says.

She takes Kai's keys from his hands and opens the door. Cinder steps in and Kai follows, closing the door behind her. Her eyes pop open at the overwhelming flower scent lingering in the house. It's not that she didn't like it, she just didn't think it would be this potent.

"Holy stars in the sky…" Cinder mutters.

"Yeah…" Kai responds, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you mind taking home everything that's on that coffee table over there?"

"Uh…" Cinder hesitates. "How about we do this?"

Cinder grabs all the vases she can and puts them as close to the door as possible, whether that be placing them on the floor by the door or on the drop table and its adjacent bench. Kai assists her, sweeping up any fallen petals with his foot and with a broom later. Once that's done, the mudroom might as well be the new floral hotspot but at least the dining table and living room were clear.

Cinder brushes her hands. "Better?"

Kai shrugs. "It's not worse."

Cinder takes a breath. She isn't sure if what she's saying to Kai is insensitive. What she says just falls out of her mouth and she believes that it's better to be blunt, but only because that's how she wants people to be towards her. It may not always work the other way around. Like when Winter's dad died, almost everything Cinder did to try and help didn't assist Winter whatsoever.

"I think we'll need a safe word just in case one of us says something triggering, mostly me," Cinder suggests.

Kai grins. "Cinder, safe words don't work like that."

Cinder rolls her eyes. "They do to me. So, what should it be?"

Kai shrugs. "You pick."

She doesn't even think about it. "Wire cutters."

"Odd, but memorable." He takes a step closer to her. "Cinder, I want to distract myself from being in my house and kiss you, so can I?"

Cinder purses her lips together. "You didn't need to ask but be warned - there's nothing artful about our kisses. Our mouths kind of just crash together."

Kai smiles a laugh. He takes her arm and pulls her into his embrace. He slides one hand down to the lower part of her back and his other hand holds the back of her neck. His fingers wrap into her hair until Cinder's ponytail unravels. Her lips are soft and warm which is everything he imagined them to be. A shiver runs down her spine and he groans. She wants him as much as he wants her.

-o-

It's funny how that works. When he's told by his friends and by his gut not to do something, he has the overwhelming desire to do it. After being told not to see Kate, Thorne was suddenly in his car with her. He shouldn't have asked them for help.

He starts the engine and Kate clears her throat as he backs out of his driveway and enters the road. Thorne has always been the socializing type. He could always keep a conversation going with someone until they'd get lost in it. But now, at this very instant, he's lost in the moment and for that, he lets his soul take off.

"Kate -" Thorne starts.

"I still have feelings for you," she interjects.

Thorne is silent as he almost crashes the car. There were a million things she could've said to him. She could've said how she missed having his big, strong arms wrapped around her. She could've told him that and missed his goofy smile. She could've confessed how bad she felt for messing everything up. She could've started talking about her new life in her new town. But that? Those words paralyzed him.