Snakes and Splinters [PUBLISHED]

1

"Alright," she took off her gloves and rubbed Gio's arm. "That was good, which one of you are next?"

Gomez and Severn shared a look and then Gomez smirked.

"I am," he stood up to swap places with Giovanni.

Gomez had a dollar sign done on the back of his neck. We weren't even American, but it was still a pretty cool first tattoo. Phoenix had strictly stated that they could have nothing done that related them to the gang in any way. That's what the scars on our fingers were for.

"You're up Severn," Landon gave his arm a pat.

Severn took a breath and stood up to swap seats with Gomez.

"If you want to stop at any time, you just tell me," the tattoo artist said to him.

He nodded and ignored the massive grins on his brothers' faces. Severn had chosen to get a tattoo of the Roman numerals IX to represent his family, including me and Eunice. I thought it was very sweet and I was honoured to be included.

"Take a few breaths," I assured Severn. "You're going to be fine."

"Yours won't be too bad," the artist smiled at him and then showed him the sketching. "You want it this size, right?"

Severn nodded, looking a little pale. He took a drink of water and then nodded to say he was ready. The tattoo artist put on another pair of clean gloves and changed the needle before she started to tattoo the inside of Severn's left wrist. Severn winced as soon as it began and he creased his brows and gritted his teeth.

"It's alright," the tattoo artist soothed him. "You get used to the feel."

"Look at his face," Giovanni started laughing quietly. "It barely hurts Severn, stop being a puss - "

"Shut up," Severn muttered.

"He really looks like he's gonna fall asleep," Landon murmured in amusement.

He wasn't wrong. Severn's eyes were fluttering.

"Wake up, Severn," Walter snapped his fingers in his face. "Don't sleep now."

The tattoo artist stopped and offered Severn another drink of water.

"How far did you get?" Severn looked down at his arm.

"I haven't even finished the first numeral," the artist said with a smile.

Severn groaned and then breathed out deeply, holding his arm out again, "Okay, I'm ready."

This time Giovanni went behind him and squeezed Severn's shoulders, trying to get him to loosen up and smile. Severn was wincing in pain but he had a half smile on his face when his eyes fell shut and his head leaned forwards. The tattoo artist widened her eyes and stopped immediately.

"How long did it take?" Giovanni asked Gomez who had the timer up on his phone.

"Three minutes and fifty seconds," he grinned back at Gio who still had his hands on Severn's shoulders.

"Seriously?" I gaped at them. "You were timing how long it took for him to fall asleep?"

They laughed, Walter shook his head at them and Landon tapped Severn's cheeks.

"Wake up buddy," he said with his own wide grin.

"Is he alright?" the tattoo artist looked worried.

"He's fine," Landon assured her with a dazzling smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, he's just narcoleptic."

She raised her brows, "Oh, right."