He’d passed out facing away from her. It was unusual for them, but he was exhausted and she had been reading a book, having gotten to sleep in. So, he’d put his back against her side to let her read and so they could still touch while he got the rest he needed. He was so much more loving and considerate than people realized. She was curled up behind him now, tracing his back tattoo softly with her fingers. It was textured differently than the skin under it, both the scarred and healthy parts. She traced it, she even traced a few of his scars, but mostly, the tattoo.
The scars had brought them together in some ways… the tattoos meant so much to him. Just like everything else that was a part of him, she committed it all to memory. All the things that reminded her of him when he wasn’t here. All the small things that let her piece him together in her mind. She’d gotten to help mind the one on his face when he got it recolored. She was proud of him for working to break free of so much pain.
Really, he’d just… needed to know someone loved him. That someone could care about him without wanting anything from him but himself. Others had helped pave the way, helped make up for his scars, or give him new ones… Anata tried particularly hard at that part. Even Aeri had done her part, inspiring him to recolor the tattoo along with letting him feel… well anything.. She wondered if he liked tattoos on others. She’d never really asked.. maybe she should.
Her purple hues traced his tattoo along with her fingers for quite some time before they started to close. Eventually, when she was too tired to keep committing every ridge and valley on his back to memory, she snuggled up close to him, her tiny frame attempting to be the big spoon tonight. She breathed softly on the edges of the tattoo, kissing his shoulder blades before pulling herself tightly to him and whispering, “I love you.” She’d sleep well tonight.
Spirit of the Warlock 