I Never Meant To Be Your Pain

I pulled up outside of the tattoo shop around five thirty, shutting off my car before getting out. Gabriel smiled at me from behind the front desk.
“Here for Ava?” he chuckled. I nodded.
“Is Tony here?” I heard her call from her station.
“I am,” I laughed as Jace came up to the front, waving at me.
“Tony,” he smiled. I nodded, not saying anything. “You getting some more work done?” he rose an eyebrow.
“Yeah, just for a while.” Jace turned to Gabriel.
“A man of many words,” Jace laughed. Gabriel nodded.
“Isn’t he always?” he asked sarcastically. Ava came out of the back and ran to me, wrapping her thin arms around me. I smiled down at her and held her small body tightly to mine.
“Miss me?” she asked, looking up from my chest.
“Of course,” I laughed. “It’s been a long nine hours since I’ve last seen you, ya know?” She let go of me and rolled her eyes.
“Ava, mind if Jace and I leave?” Gabriel asked holding up his keys.
“As long as you’re done with appointments,” she laughed. “I don’t think your clients would like it if you bailed on them,” she frowned.
“I meant are you going to be okay closing shop for the night?”
“I’m a big girl,” she protested, pouting.
“Yeah, okay.” Jace chuckled. “That’s why you forgot to lock the front door last time, right?”
“That was one time!” She yelled, hitting his arm. “And I came back ten minutes later to lock it.”
Jace eyed her down with wide eyes. “Damn. She’s got a temper, G.” Gabriel nodded, getting up while grabbing his car keys off the front counter.
“Try living with her. She’s all yours Perry,” he patted me on the back; turning around as Jace followed him out the front door. “You need me to pick you up after you’re done?”
“I can take the bus home,” she smiled, going along her business as a pang of danger surged through my stomach. Leith.
“I’ll drive her home,” I looked to Gabriel who nodded.
“Alright. See you two later,” he and Jace waved before letting the door shut.
“Are you sure Tone?” Ava frowned.
“Of course,” I chuckled. “I don’t like you roaming around by yourself late at night; especially in LA.”
“You’re like a father,” she sighed. “I’m not ten, Anthony. I’m a twenty one year old woman who is capable of not getting kidnapped,” she puffed out her chest, crossing her arms. I chuckled, staring her down.
“Are you sure about that?” I questioned. She rethought herself for a moment.
“Didn’t you come here to get a tattoo?” she asked with a smirk.
“Changing the subject,” I sighed shaking my head. She hadn’t changed a bit over the years. “Oh how I’ve missed you over the past few months Ave.” She blushed a bit and looked down as I made my way over to her.
“So,” she smiled. “What were you thinking of getting? Anything from the book?”
“Eh… I actually have a design in my head.”
“Okay. Do you have it with you?” I dug around in my pocket for a second before pulling out the drawing I had sketched up. Ava grabbed it and held it out in front of her, raising an eyebrow.
“Chinese writing?” I nodded. “Alright, let’s get to work.” She looked up to me and smiled, grabbing my hand as she led me back to her station.

Notes

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