"We don't have to go." Dan hung around Phil's arm trying to pull him away from the tattoo and piercing place. 

Rolling his eyes Phil stopped and looked down at Dan, "I'm doing this and so are you. I'm getting an awesome flower on my arm and you're getting your nose pierced."

Dan furred his eyebrows in worry, "What if you regret it, what if my drawing isn't good enough?"  He was visibly nervous, his hands were shaking and a sheen of sweat began to form on his forehead. 

Phil laid his hands on Dans shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes, "Daniel James Howell. I told you a billion times I love it more than anything. It is the most beautiful painting and I wouldn't be able to imagine anything better than it."  Phil smiled and searched Dans eyes to try and find something besides fear. 

Dan let his gaze drop, "You say that now but what about later."

"Piss off to later." Phil tilted Dans chin up so that they Phil could look deep into his eyes, "later doesn't matter when you're this happy about now. And if I do regret it later then I'll get it covered or something. It's very small and with light colors so it won't be hard. I'm not planning on regretting it, though."

Sighing Dan shook his head, "I can't believe I'm missing school for this."

"Are you ready?" Phil asked.

"It's crazy that you're asking me that when I'm not the one that's getting forever inked," Dan smiled. Phil grabbed his hand and pulled him into the shop.

There was soft alternative music playing. The walls were covered in tattoo templates and a lady at a desk greeted them with a bright smile. She had dark red hair and sleeves on either arm, "Are you, Phil?"

"Yes." Phil nodded, "And this is Dan." Dan smiled sheepishly behind Phil.

"Who's getting the tattoo and who's getting the nose piercing?" She asked.

"I'm getting this." Phil opened his bag and grabbed his folder out handing the lady Dan's drawing.

"This is really pretty." She nodded, "It shouldn't take long at all either."

"Dan made it," Phil smiled down at the blushing boy beneath him.

The lady motioned them to a door, "Well you have quite the talent, Dan. If nothing works out I'm sure you could make it as a tattoo artist." 

Dan just gave her a shy smile as she opened the door to a small room.  In it was a leather operating chair and a few bar stools. 

"Who's going first?"  She asked typing something into the computer and placing the picture on her table. 

"I will," Dan spoke up for the first time.

"This your first piercing?"  She asked putting on gloves. 

"Yes."  Dan sat down in a stood across from the girl.

"Well, I'm Heather, nice to meet you.  Do you have your paperwork?"  Phil opened his bag once again and handed her the sheets they printed out online.  After scanning through them she smiled, "okay, Dan.  I'm not going to lie to you and say it doesn't hurt because it does.  But the pain only lasts for five minutes at max.  It might feel tender for a few weeks and while it's healing you should use a disinfectant.  I'll give you both some paperwork after we're done on how to treat yourself."

Phil smiled as Dan stretched out his hands nervously, "okay."  Phil reached out and squeezed his hand.

"I'm going to ask you to lay down."  Heather motioned to the bed and so Dan obliged all the while his hand still wrapped around Phil's.  She began to clean Dans nose and used a marker to draw on a spot, "is this good?"

Dan looked in the handheld mirror she handed him and he nodded, "let's just get this done with."

"Count down from five.  Once you reach one I'll put the ring in your nose and I'm going to twist it slightly to set it.  Okay?"

"Okay."  Dan nodded, "five."  Dan squeezed his eyes shut and Phil massaged his hand, "four." His voice quivered and Phil almost felt bad for making him do this, "three."  But then Phil remembered his reasoning and decided Dan needed this, "two."  He took in a deep breath, "one."

Heather stuck the ring through his nose and Dan winced.  He grabbed Phil's hand tighter and let out a small whimper, "almost over." Phil comforted.

"Done." Heather backed away and set something on the table.

Dan opened his eyes and immediately they started watering, "shit, that hurt."

"You look hella cool,"  Phil commented and shuffled in his seat at the sight of his boyfriend.  It didn't make him look more rebellious, it just made him look cooler.  More confident. 

Heather handed Dan a mirror and his eyes grew wide, "It doesn't even look like me anymore."

"It looks hot babe,"  Phil smiled as Dan got off the chair.

Phil sat down and smiled up at Heather.  He knows he should be feeling nervous but instead he was just plagued by a great adrenaline.  He looked over at Dan and saw him admiring his reflection in the mirror.  He looked so incredibly happy.  The only nervousness Phil felt was his feelings towards that damn boy.

"So where is this being placed?"  Heather asked taking a stool up to Phil.  

"Here."  Phil pointed to his upper arm. 

Heather began to wipe down his arm and shave around the area she was going to be tattooing, "This is crazy."  Dan laughed looking at Phil, "This is so awesome and crazy and oh my gosh I feel like I could do anything."

"Aren't you glad you got me to get you living?"  Phil smiled as Dan shook his head.

Heather took the print of Dans drawing she got from putting it through a machine and placed it on Phil's arm, "Is this the spot you want?"

Angling his head Phil nodded, "Sure." 

Smiling Heather opened a cabinet and grabbed out supplies.  Little cups that were filled with ink were placed on a sliding table and the actual needle was brought out.   Dan looked at it wide eyed, "Are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."  Phil said with an exasperated sigh, "Heather, can you please tell him it'll all turn out fine."

"Dan, it'll all be fine."  Heather smiled, "I promise you that no one will die."

"I never said anyone will die.  Do people sometimes die?"  Dan looked around nervously. 

Heather laughed, "No."

"He's a bit worried if you can't tell,"  Phil smiled up at his boyfriend.

"I think a blind man could see how nervous you are,"  Heather said and applied ointment or something to Phil's arm, "Okay I'm going to start now.  This is a pretty fatty spot compared to like a bone so it will hurt but not as bad."  

"Alright."  Phil nodded.  The needle struck his skin and Phil felt a harsh pain shoot through his arm.

"Oh my gosh this is on you forever now."  Dan pushed his hands through his hair messing it up and sending the curls tumbling everywhere, "my painting will forever be imprinted into your arm." 

Phil bit at the inside of his mouth to try and dull the pain, "It's all fine."

"So, how long have you two been together?"  Heather asks. 

"Almost a month,"  Phil smiled up at Dan who sent him back a nervous expression.

Heather nodded, "Pretty early on in your relationship then."

"Yep."  Dan rocked on his feet. 

"You two are cute, though."  Heather laughed under her breath, "It's always fun to get first timers."

The rest of the appointment went like that.  Small talk, Phil trying to dull the sharp pain by knawing at his cheek and Dan shuffling in the corner.  It was exciting to be here with Dan getting his first tattoo.  It seemed special.  Phil often found himself asking if it was too special.  He didn't want to grow too close to Dan and then end up hurting him.  But when it came to Dan he didn't care.  He was completely selfish and decided to set aside all of his worries and to try and enjoy the moment.  Something he has never been able to do. 

"Are you doing okay?"  Dan asked.

Phil knew that he was referring to the tattoo but Phil didn't care.  He gazed into Dan's eyes and with the softest voice he could muster he whispered, "More than okay."

AN:  Okay this isn't some beautiful poetic chapter but it will suffice.  Sometimes you just gotta give your brain a chill day and say it's okay to just write a simple little chapter about getting a tattoo, ya know?