Chapter 18: 17

The second day at Ruby’s grandparents’ house felt even more welcoming than the first. They treated us like family, making sure we were comfortable and well cared for. It was different from what I was used to, but I liked it.

Today, we had plans to explore the town market near the estate. But what excited me the most was that I’d be with Ruby when she got her tattoo and I was getting one, too.

Lesley gathered us in the living room, her tone firm as she explained our plan.

"So, here’s how it goes," she said, looking at everyone. "We can explore wherever we want, but our meeting place is in front of Zandria’s Café."

She let that sink in before continuing.

"We have until eleven tonight since we’re attending the fiesta. It’s a big deal here everyone in town is expected to participate, so we might as well enjoy it."

We all nodded in agreement. The plan was simple enough.

I felt Ruby’s fingers slip into mine, and without another word, we turned toward the left side of town, following the cobbled path that led to the tattoo shop.

I glanced at her as we walked. "How are you feeling?"

She exhaled softly, her gaze ahead. "I feel… calm. At peace."

I smiled. "So do I."

We walked in silence for a moment before a thought crossed my mind, making me smirk.

"So…" I started, sneaking a glance at her. "How do you feel after we, hmm… had sex?"

Her reaction was instant, her cheeks flushed red, her grip on my hand tightening slightly.

"I—uh…" she stammered, avoiding my gaze.

I chuckled. "Come on, don't be shy."

She took a deep breath before whispering, "It's addicting… it's… heavenly."

My smirk widened. "Good." I squeezed her hand. "Because I plan to make it even better next time."

She shuddered slightly but didn’t respond. Before she could, we arrived at the tattoo shop.

The place had a rugged charm, black walls covered in framed tattoo designs, the scent of ink and antiseptic filling the air. The steady buzz of a tattoo machine is hummed in the background. A man behind the counter, covered in tattoos himself, looked up from his phone.

"Appointments or walk-ins?" he asked.

"Walk-ins," I replied, glancing at Ruby.

She hesitated before stepping forward. "I want a custom design," she said, her voice softer than usual.

The tattoo artist raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

"I want my girlfriend to design my tattoo "- she said making me fluttered " baby are you serious?"- i asked and she bodded

Ruby took a deep breath and turned around, lifting the back of her shirt slightly. Faint scars ran along her skin, barely visible but still there.

"I want something that can cover this," she said. "Something that makes me feel powerful instead of ashamed."

The tattoo artist studied the scars for a moment before nodding. "Hmmm, seems like it's a good canvas, hi girlfriend of this woman go on and give her a design, i will be just waiting there"

I grabbed a sketchbook and started drawing. My movements were swift yet precise, my focus is unwavering. Ruby is very excited and amazed at what I am doing, the anticipation is clear on her face.

After a few minutes, I turned the sketch around. A beautifully detailed snake coiled around blooming roses, its body flowing in a way that would perfectly cover her back. The design was bold yet elegant, a symbol of transformation and resilience.

Ruby’s eyes widened. "This is… amazing."

I smiled smirked. "You like it?"

She nodded, her fingers brushing the paper. "I love it."

"Good," I said, standing up and giving it to the artist. The tattoo artist smiled and said"Let’s get started."

I watched as Ruby took another deep breath and settled into the chair. I could tell she was nervous, but I could also see the determination in her eyes.

I leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You got this," I whispered.

She exhaled and nodded. "Yeah. I do."

As the tattoo machine buzzed to life, I knew this was more than just ink on her skin. It was a mark of strength, of reclaiming herself.

And I was honored to be right here beside her.

She looked at me and smiled, and I gave her a thumbs up in return. I couldn’t help but smile back. She was just being herself, unfiltered, vulnerable, and real. She was showing me every side of her, every little piece of who she truly was, without hesitation or pretense. And the more I saw, the heavier the guilt sat in my chest.

The way she calls my name, the way her cheeks flush whenever I tease her or act sweet, the way her eyes brim with tears when she allows herself to cry in front of me, every single moment chips away at the walls I’ve built around my heart.

I have to admit, little by little, I’m falling into my own trap. Slowly, I’m slipping, getting drawn to her in a way I never anticipated. And for the first time, doubt begins to creep in, what if she isn’t the one who killed my brother after all? What if I’ve been wrong this entire time?

I watched her as she slowly drifted off to sleep, the rhythmic hum of the tattoo needle filling the quiet space. The ink was carving itself into her skin, yet she looked so peaceful, as if she found comfort in the pain. She was breathtaking—beautiful in a way that made it hard to look away.

And suddenly, the anger I had carried for so long, the fury that burned within me whenever I thought of her, began to shift. It turned into something else entirely—something unexpected. I no longer wanted to destroy her. Instead, I wanted to protect her. I wanted to stay by her side, to be there for her whenever she had to face something dangerous.

I leaned in slightly, my voice a mere whisper, as if confessing my thoughts to the universe itself.

"Akio, I feel like I don’t want to know the truth anymore. And I know you'd be happier with my decision to protect her rather than bring her down… or to bring down the Sedes Quantum Empire."

I pulled out my phone, framing her sleeping form through the lens, and pressed the shutter button. The screen flashed for a moment, capturing her vulnerability, her beauty, this moment that felt strangely intimate.

"She really is stunning."

The tattoo session eventually came to an end. She had chosen a snake, its elegant form coiling across her skin like a silent guardian. Meanwhile, I had gotten a dragon a massive, intricate design that sprawled across the left side of my back.

As we stepped out of the shop, the night air was thick with the scent of grilled food, roasted peanuts, and the distant sound of music. The town was alive with festivities, the vibrant energy of the fiesta drawing people into the streets.

She stretched her arms, wincing slightly from the fresh ink on her back. "I think I deserve some reward after enduring that."

I smirked, nudging her playfully. "Oh? And what exactly do you have in mind?"

"Food. Lots of it," she declared.

We wandered through the festival grounds, the neon lights from the game stalls casting colorful reflections on our skin. She pulled me towards a booth where a vendor was selling skewered street food, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Pick whatever you want," I told her, crossing my arms as I watched her carefully inspect each skewer as if she were choosing treasure.

She grabbed two sticks of isaw and a stick of chicken barbecue, then turned to me with a raised brow. "Aren't you getting anything?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I'm just enjoying watching you eat."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged before taking a bite. Her eyes fluttered shut, a small moan of satisfaction escaping her lips. "Damn, this is good."

I laughed. "You act like you haven’t eaten in days."

She grinned. "Food just tastes better when you’ve been through pain." She gestured to our tattoos. "Battle scars deserve a feast, don’t you think?"

As we continued walking, we found ourselves stopping at a game stall where one had to knock down stacked cans with a ball. She rolled up her sleeves, her expression determined.

"Watch and learn," she said confidently.

She threw the ball with all her might—only for it to completely miss the cans and hit the wooden panel behind them.

I burst into laughter. "Yeah, I’m really learning a lot here."

She glared at me, pointing a finger at my chest. "That was just a warm-up."

I smirked, stepping forward. "Here, let me show you how it’s done."

I took the ball, aimed carefully, and threw it. It hit the cans directly, sending them tumbling to the ground. The vendor clapped his hands together. "Congratulations! You win a prize!"

I turned to her with a triumphant smirk. "Told you."

She huffed. "Beginner’s luck."

I picked out a small stuffed toy, something soft and simple, and handed it to her. "Here, for your efforts."

She looked at the toy for a moment before accepting it. "Fine. But only because I worked hard for it."

—

As the night drew to a close, the noise of the fiesta slowly faded behind us. We walked side by side in comfortable silence, the streets quieter now, the air cooler.

When we reached our place, she stopped in front of the door, turning to face me. Her gaze was softer now, as if something had shifted between us.

"You know…" she started, her voice quieter. "Tonight was fun."

I nodded. "Yeah, it was."

She hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, her fingers grazing my wrist. "And I think I know what I want to do next."

I raised a brow. "Oh? And what’s that?"

She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she leaned in, her lips brushing against mine, hesitant at first, as if testing the waters. But then, something shifted. The kiss deepened, and all the unspoken tension between us, the emotions we had pushed aside for so long, came crashing forward.

Her hands found their way to my shoulders, fingers tightening slightly as if anchoring herself to me. I felt the warmth of her touch seeping through the fabric of my shirt, igniting something deep within me. My hands instinctively moved to her waist, pulling her closer until there was barely any space left between us.

The taste of her, the softness of her lips, the way she melted against me, it was intoxicating. Each movement, each sigh that escaped her lips, only fueled the fire growing between us. My fingers trailed up her back, careful of the fresh tattoo, but she didn’t seem to care. Instead, she pressed herself even closer, her hands slipping into my hair, tugging slightly as if she couldn’t get enough.

The world outside faded into nothing. The only thing that mattered was this moment, her breath mixing with mine, her heartbeat pounding against my chest.

I lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her towards the bedroom. The door swung open with a soft creak, but neither of us paid it any mind. My lips never left hers as I laid her down on the bed, hovering over her, taking in the sight of her beneath me. Her lips were slightly swollen, her eyes dark with something unreadable, desire, longing, maybe something more.

I traced a finger along her jawline, down to her collarbone, feeling the way she shivered under my touch. "Are you sure?" I whispered, my voice rough, barely above a breath.

She nodded, her hands sliding down my arms, gripping me as if I was the only thing keeping her grounded. "I’ve never been more sure of anything."

That was all I needed to hear.

I captured her lips again, this time slower, savoring the way she responded to me. My hands explored her body with reverence, memorizing every curve, every shiver, every gasp that left her lips. Clothes were discarded, forgotten, until nothing remained between us but heat and need.

I pressed my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling as we took a moment to simply exist in this space, together. She ran her fingers down my back, tracing the new ink there, a dragon, fierce and strong, mirroring the snake on her own skin. It felt symbolic somehow, like our fates had been inked into us permanently.

And then, we moved in sync, bodies entwined, lost in the rhythm of each other. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered name was a silent confession of everything we couldn’t say aloud.

The night stretched on, the world outside ceasing to exist. In that room, in that moment, there were no betrayals, no suspicions, no past, only us.