I Never Meant To Be Your Pain

I lie down on Ava’s artist chair as she grabbed some utensils.
“I’ll be right back,” she smiled as I nodded and laid my head back. I loved her studio. Every wall was covered in amazing artwork she had drawn. Almost all of my tattoos were done by her accept for the few that were done on the road; most of the time I tried to stay away from our tour artist because I was so used to Ava’s style. Some of my smaller ones were done in towns we played at but my big pieces were saved for her. She came back in the room with a sheet of transfer paper that had the Chinese symbols drawn out on them. She sat back down and looked up to me. “So where are we putting this thing?”
“Right here,” I extended my arm and pointed.
“Alright…” she lined up the paper and taped it down, transferring the symbols onto my arm. After making sure it had worked, she took the paper off and got her tattoo gun ready. “So what did you do all day?”
“A whole lot of nothing,” I sighed thinking back to this morning. She nodded, focusing on tracing my arm. I didn’t know what to do. I could just ask Ava out and take things from there. But there was no way she’d sleep with me in a short amount of time. She wasn’t that kind of girl. Not like she’d fall for Leith anyways, but I needed to get her in my arms before he had a chance. He’d find a way to sleep with her weather it was consensual or not. My stomach twisted at that thought. Ava had been through shitty relationships. The last thing she needed was him chasing after her. And if he won the bet, well then she’d be his and there would be nothing neither her nor I could do to stop him. Leith would take her away from me and I’d never see her again; I knew that for a fact.
“Tone?” I looked down to see Ava’s blue eyes gazing up at me. “Are you alright?” she frowned.
“Yeah, why?”
“You looked deep in thought.”
“Oh…”
“Is something bothering you?”
“Nothing to worry over, Ave; just getting settled back into my daily routine.” She looked at me distrusting my word, before going back to my arm. My phone went off, vibrating in my pocket. I grabbed it with my free hand and pressed answer.
“Hey Turtle!” Vic’s drunken voice rang through the other line. I chuckled a little. “What are you up to brother?”
“Over by Ava’s getting some work done.”
“Ava? Put that little stinker on the phone!” I held the phone out in front of me and put it on speaker. “Can she hear me?” he slurred.
“Hello Victor!” Ava giggled.
“Ava! My sexy little tattoo freak! How are you darling?”
“I’m good Vic. Are you a little happy tonight?” she smiled, continuing her work.
“Happy? If you mean drunk then hell yes! I am happy as fuck.”
“Is that my favorite tattoo artist?” I heard Mike call from the background.
“It is indeed. Hello Michael!”
“Jaime get your ass in here! It’s Ava!” he shouted.
“Ava? My little American!”
“Jaime!” she smiled, looking up to me and rolling her eyes. “Are my favorite Mexicans behaving themselves over there?”
“Maybe… maybe not,” Mike muttered, laughing. “Hey! Can we come in soon to get some tats; pretty please?”
“I don’t know, Mikey. Tony booked up my whole schedule.”
“That turtle! Tell him to get the fuck off your schedule!” Jaime yelled. “I want some time with you!”
“Yeah! He needs to share!” Vic complained; Mike joining in the background to agree. I chuckled.
“What do you guys want?” I asked.
“Oh yeah! I totally forgot what I called you for,” Vic laughed.
“You dumb ass!” Mike laughed in the background.
“Okay. Bye Tony!” They hung up as Ava looked to me, laughing.
“What was that all about?”
“I have no clue,” I chuckled.
“Drunk Mexicans,” she muttered, focusing her attention back on my arm. I looked down at her, taking note of how beautiful she looked at the moment. Ava was always beautiful but the low light above us traced all her amazing features. “Alright,” she pulled away and wiped away the excess ink from my skin. “All done,” she smiled. I looked down at the amazing work that had been added to my arm. I got up and made my way over to the mirror on her wall, grinning in admiration.
“I love it, Ave.” I looked back at her before observing it once more. “Thank you.”
“No problem, Tone.” She chuckled. “What does it mean?” I glanced up at her in the mirror to see her taking off her black latex gloves; throwing them in the trashcan beside her desk.
“It’s your name in Chinese,” I said softly. She turned to look at me.
“Are you lying?” I shook my head. She came over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, laying her head down on my chest. After a few moments she pulled away and smiled up at me as tears rolled down her cheeks. I frowned.
“What are you crying? I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She shook her head, and wiped them away with a smile.
“I’m crying because that’s so sweet of you Tony… no one’s ever done anything like that for me. I love it.” I smiled down at her, feeling my body relax. “But… why?” I shrugged, not really wanting to tell her. “Tell me,” she pouted.
“You’ll think it’s stupid.”
“Come on, just tell! It can’t be that dumb. I just cried over a tattoo because of you. So now I deserve to know.”
“I wanted to get your name so you’d be with me whenever I was away.” She didn’t smile or frown. Instead she wrapped her arms around me once more and kissed my chest.
“I love you Tony.” I kissed her forehead.
“I love you too Ava.” My phone rang once again, showing it was Vic. I sighed as Ava pulled away and began to clean up her station. “Yes, Vic?”
“Tony! I remember now! I was going to tell you that we’re going on another tour?” My heart stopped.
“What? When? How long?” I couldn’t leave Ava here all alone with Leith and the guys.
“Next week. We’ll only be gone for two weeks.”
“Where are we going? Are we staying in the states?”
“So many questions,” he complained. “Mark said he’d call you later tonight. So ask him.
“Alright… bye.” I hung up and sighed, shoving my phone back down in my pocket.
“What’s up?” Ava asked, frowning.
“We have to leave for another tour.”
“You guys just got home though.”
“I think it’s a short one… one or two weeks.”
“It shouldn’t be too bad,” she smiled.
“I just… don’t want to leave you again so soon.” She frowned.
“Tone… it’s only for two weeks. You’ve left for months on end.”
“I know.” I looked down to my new tattoo as Ava continued cleaning. “My depression gets really bad when I leave.”
“You get to go on stage and do what you love. You meet hundreds of people every night from all around the world who adore you. Why does it get worse?”
“Because I leave you behind Ava… you’re what makes me happy.” She smiled.
“Then I guess I’ll have to come with you.” My eyes widened. She looked at me like I was a mental case. “Tony, I was kidding,” she laughed a little. “I can’t tour with you guys.”
“Why not?”
“Um…” she gestured around the room.
“I’m sure Gabriel wouldn’t mind if you took a week or two off. You guys run this place.”
“I don’t know… you’d get sick of me.”
“Ave,” I rolled my eyes. “We practically live with each other when I’m not touring. We haven’t killed each other yet, have we?”
“Tony,” she whined.
“What? You don’t want to travel around the world with this turtle?” I pouted. “Don’t you love me?” She glared at me. “Hey, I just got a tattoo of your name on my body. You owe me.” Her mouth dropped open.
“That’s not fair Tony!” I shrugged.
“Sucks to be you; you’re coming with us,” I smiled. “Now hurry up before I leave you here with no ride.” I walked out into the front of the studio and laughed to myself. “And don’t forget to lock the door!”
“That was one time!” she screamed. I rolled my eyes and make my way out to my car.
“One time my ass,” I muttered, starting up the car.

Notes

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Tony's Tattoo ~ 艾娃 ~
~ BMTT