“Oh look. Severn’s going to cry.”

I grinned at Severn as Landon teased him and Severn rolled his eyes. He looked very nervous and I didn’t blame him. The triplets were getting tattoos done. It had been their choice of course, but now that they were actually doing it, it seemed Severn had second ideas.

“It’s gonna be fine,” Gomez pushed Severn’s blond head. “Don’t chicken out.”

“What are you even scared of?” Walter gave him a look. “You’ve had worse, so what’s so bad about a little prick?”

“He’s got a point,” Landon nodded.

“It’s not just one prick,” Severn mumbled. “It’s thousands.”

“Depends how big you want the tattoo,” the tattoo artist said with a smile.

“Small,” Severn replied as he looked at the needles on the tray.

“Just like his – ”

“Landon,” I nudged his arm, sending him an alarmed look.

“Well I’m ready,” Giovanni took off his top and grinned at the woman who was about to do his tattoo.

Gio was seated in the comfortable chair with a cup of water on the table by his side. The tattoo artist had already washed her hands and put on some sterile gloves.

“So you’re sure with what you want?” she asked Giovanni.

He nodded, looking at what he’d chosen. ‘Sis’ for Eunice who’d died when she was eight and Gio was just six. We all shared a sad smile and the tattoo artist picked up the tattoo gun.

“Are you ready?” she grinned at him.

Gio gave her another nod and she got started on the left side of his chest, right above his heart.

“How does it feel?” Landon bit his lip piercing as he grinned at his brother.

Giovanni winced a little bit, “It’s not too bad. Not as bad as Severn is making it out to be.”

“Leave me alone,” Severn muttered.

We watched as the artist started on the outline of the tattoo. When she was finished, she swapped the needle in the tattoo gun for a thicker one and Severn widened his eyes as she began to fill in Gio’s tattoo with black ink.

“I can’t wait to see your turn,” Walter patted Severn’s shoulder.

“I bet you he’s gonna pass out,” Gio said as he grimaced a little.

“He will,” Gomez agreed. “Even if it’s just for a second.”

They started laughing and I put my arms around Severn’s shoulders from behind him.

“They aren’t really encouraging, are they?” I murmured to him with a smile.

Severn scoffed, “Clearly not. The bitches.”

I chuckled and let go of him. After some more minutes, Gio’s tattoo was finished. The skin around it looked sore and red, but the actual tattoo was looking good and clean cut. The tattoo artist used a clean, disposable cloth to wipe away some of the blood and then she plastered it up.

“Alright,” she took off her gloves and rubbed Gio’s arm. “That was good, which one of you are next?”

Gomez and Severn shared a look and then Gomez smirked.

“I am,” he stood up to swap places with Giovanni.

Gomez had a dollar sign done on the back of his neck. We weren’t even American, but it was still a pretty cool first tattoo. Phoenix had strictly stated that they could have nothing done that related them to the gang in any way. That’s what the scars on our fingers were for.

“You’re up Severn,” Landon gave his arm a pat.

Severn took a breath and stood up to swap seats with Gomez.

“If you want to stop at any time, you just tell me,” the tattoo artist said to him.

He nodded and ignored the massive grins on his brothers’ faces. Severn had chosen to get a tattoo of the Roman numerals IX to represent his family, counting me and Eunice. I thought it was very sweet and I was honoured to be included.

“Take a few breaths,” I assured Severn. “You’re going to be fine.”

“Yours won’t be too bad,” the artist smiled at him and then showed him the sketching. “You want it this size, right?”

Severn dipped his head in agreement, looking a little pale. He took a drink of water and then nodded to say he was ready. The tattoo artist put on another pair of clean gloves and changed the needle before she started to tattoo the inside of Severn’s left wrist. Severn winced as soon as it began and he creased his brows and gritted his teeth.

“It’s alright,” the tattoo artist soothed him. “You get used to the feel.”

“Look at his face,” Giovanni started laughing quietly. “It barely hurts Severn, stop being a puss - ”

“Shut up,” Severn muttered.

“He really looks like he’s gonna fall asleep,” Landon murmured in amusement.

He wasn’t wrong. Severn’s eyes were fluttering.

“Wake up, Severn,” Walter snapped his fingers in his face. “Don’t sleep now.”

The tattoo artist stopped and offered Severn another drink of water.

“How far did you get?” Severn looked down at his arm.

“I haven’t even finished the first numeral,” the artist said with a smile.

Severn groaned and then breathed out deeply, holding his arm out again, “Okay, I’m ready.”

This time Giovanni went behind him and squeezed Severn’s shoulders, trying to get him to loosen up and smile. Severn was flinching in pain, but he had a half smile on his face when his eyes fell shut and his head suddenly fell forward. The tattoo artist widened her eyes and stopped immediately.

“How long did it take?” Giovanni asked Gomez who had the timer up on his phone.

“Three minutes and fifty seconds,” he grinned back at Gio who still had his hands on Severn’s shoulders.

“Seriously?” I gaped at them. “You were timing how long it took for him to fall asleep?”

They laughed, Walter shook his head at them and Landon tapped Severn’s cheeks.

“Wake up buddy,” he said with his own wide grin.

“Is he alright?” the tattoo artist looked worried.

“He’s fine,” Landon assured her with a dazzling smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong, he’s just narcoleptic.”

She raised her brows, “Oh, right.”

“Severn,” Walter said in his deep voice. “Open your damn eyes and let’s get the tattoo done. We’re hungry.”

Severn’s head was still drooping and his blond hair obscured his closed eyes. His lips were parted and I could swear that he was actually snoring quietly. That’s when Gomez leaned forwards in his seat and slapped Severn’s face hard, making the room echo with the sound.

“That was unnecessary,” I murmured, not surprised in the slightest.

The tattoo artist was shocked beyond belief and I had to smile. She reminded me of myself when I was first getting to know the Simpson boys and their ways of doing things. Severn blinked and slowly lifted his head.

“I fell asleep, didn’t I?” he muttered groggily.

“Yep,” Giovanni ruffled his hair and Gomez smirked at him. “Now stay awake and let’s finish this.”

“Sorry about that,” Severn smiled at the tattoo artist and lay his hand in place again.

“Are you sure you’re okay to go on?” she blinked at him several times.

“Yep,” he said lazily and leaned back in the chair comfortably. “Keep going.”

“Wow,” she said with a chuckle. “Well you boys have certainly spiced up my day.”

“Tell me about it,” I grinned at her.

She managed to complete Severn’s tattoo without anymore sleep attacks and the finished product looked pretty good although Severn did bleed a bit.

“Let me patch it up for you,” the tattoo artist said to him.

After she had done that, the tattoo artist (who we’d already paid) sent us away with a big smile and also words on the aftercare and what to do if the tattoos didn’t heal properly.