the_debt_of_time

Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

Just Not Healthy

I stuck a knife in my side

They tell me death doesn't hurt

But I think they lied

Because I'm still empty inside

Oh I'm still empty inside

(Forget Me Forgotten - Hollow Wood)

January 31st, 1977

Mia and Sirius stumbled out of the tattoo shop with arms draped over one another, supporting
each other in order to stay balanced as they walked. The elf wine had been strong and still coursed through
their systems. Mia told Sirius that they were probably dealing with an endorphin high to counteract any
pain from their latest tattoos. Neither could actually say that they had felt much pain.
Mia seemed to enjoy it.
It had been Sirius's idea, of course, to get her name tattooed on his chest. He focused on her dilated
eyes as she watched him get branded hers for life. When he suggested she get one of his name, she was all
too ready to reciprocate until he mentioned where he wanted it placed.
"Sirius! That's probably going to hurt, don't you think?"
In the end, it had not hurt that badly. Elf wine numbed what little pain there was, and Sirius's
heated stare seemed to keep her distracted enough that she was barely coherent when the tattoo artist told
her that he was done.
She giggled when Sirius lifted her into his arms and spun her around whilst kissing her, dodging a
pair of Muggles who were glaring at their wanton behaviour. Sirius looked around the neighbourhood to see
if anyone was watching before pulling Mia down a long, empty alley and sneaking around an old closed-
down thrift shop.
"Jamie's going to kill you when he finds out," Mia said in reference to the tattoo as Sirius's hand
began sneaking up under the skirt that was much too short to be worn in the cold weather. No wonder the
Muggles had been staring.
"That tosser pretty much tattooed 'Lily' across his entire chest. I just put your name right above
my heart, where it belongs." He pressed his mouth to the side of her throat, relishing the little whimper that
came out of her parted lips and adding it to his list of things he loved about her.