WHO: Jack Sloper and Wayne Hopkins WHEN: Thursday, November 15, 1998; evening WHERE: All over London (generic tattoo parlour, generic bar, Wayne and Michelle’s flat) WHAT: Tattoos, Hanging Out, and Earth-shattering Revelations RATING: PG-13
The tattoo parlor was small, but clean. Jack and Wayne entered the front door and were greeted by a cheerful girl with bubble gum pink hair and a shiny silver ring through her nose. There were only two artists in the shop. It was a new business, but got good reviews from word of mouth and a couple magazines Wayne managed to get his hands on. One artist, who went by Blue Eddie, had a previous appointment for a large, detailed back piece, which meant Wayne and Jack were delegated to Anabelle, a buxom but pretty girl whose arms were covered in her work. She had the look of an old time pin up model.
Jack took off his jacket when they were taken back to Anabelle’s station. “So what are we going to be getting today boys?” She asked. Jack ran a hand through his hair. He was excited but also nervous. This was going to hurt, he knew that, and the build up and anticipation was starting to get to him. “I’m going to get a quote so I guess I need to see some fonts? Ummm I was going to go with that one from Edmund Burke you know ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.’ I’m going into the police academy so I thought it was good.” He ran his hand through his hair again.
“That’s one of my favorites, good choice! I’ll drag out my font book for you too look at.” She looked at Wayne. “And what about you sweetie?”
“I’d like these runes,” Wayne smiled, holding out a piece of paper with the runes naudiz, laguz, and eihwaz written on it. He was also nervous, this was a forever thing, but it was also something he’d wanted for a while. The symbols he’d chosen had a lot of personal meaning to him. They represented who he wanted to be and the obstacles he’d overcome and continued to overcome.
Anabelle took the paper and examined them. “Awesome! I can totally do these easy. Give me a minute and I’ll re-draw them how they’ll look on you ‘kay?”
“Great!” Wayne nodded.
She stepped over to her drafting table and rolly chair. She put Wayne’s paper on top and reached below to grab a thin binder. She handed it out to Jack and set to work on sketching Wayne’s runes.
Jack took the book and flipped it open. There were pictures and samples of all the different scripts and lettering. He looked at Wayne, “Ummm Help? I’m rubbish at picking things like this out.”
Wayne chuckled, looking over Jack’s shoulder at the book. “Well, start by deciding what style font you’d like. Do you want script or something more blocky?”
“Script,” Jack said decisively. He looked through the book for a couple of moments and finally settled on three. “Ok this, this, or this.” Anabelle giggled softly from her desk at Jack’s indecision. Jack looked over his shoulder to Wayne hoping for some guidance.
“Let me see?” Wayne asked, holding his arm out for the book. Jack passed it to Wayne and watched. Wayne studied the pages a moment.
“How about that one?” he pointed to one toward the middle of the page.
“Yes,” Jack said. “I like it. I’ll go with that one.” He ran his hand through his hair as they waited for Anabelle to finish. She stood up and turned to them.
“What did you pick sweetheart?” she asked and Jack pointed on the page. “Good!” She turned to Wayne and passed him her sketch. The runes had been slightly stylized for the better and cleaned up. She looked at him to gauge his reaction.
“That’s perfect,” Wayne smiled and nodded at Anabelle’s sketch. It was significantly better than his chicken scratch was.
“Excellent. Who’s first?” She asked looking from Wayne to Jack and back again.
Jack hesitated and looked to Wayne. “Umm I guess it doesn’t really matter. I can go first or you whichever.”
Wayne laughed, shoving his friend’s shoulder and pushing him toward the chair. “Go.” It was Jack’s idea to begin with anyway.
Jack grinned and ran a nervous hand through his hair. “I guess it’s me.” He sat down in the chair and Anabelle scooted her rolly chair next to him and sat.
“Oh where do we want this?” She pulled a marker from her hair.
“Ummm my arm. Here.” He pointed dragging his finger in a line where he wanted it to go.
Anabelle smiled. “Ok, I’m going to mark it out first then I’ll get the gun. This your first time?” Jack nodded. “Well you’re in good hands sweetie.” She set to work and Jack looked at Wayne with wide eyes. It only took moments for her to get the basic outline done. Once she had his approval she reached for the tattoo gun and started. Jack jumped slightly the first time she pierced his skin but after that he stayed still. His face looked grim and he balled his free hand into a fist.
Wayne gave Jack’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before moving to sit in a chair further back so Anabelle would have space to work. While Jack got his tattoo, Wayne struck up a conversation about football to distract him. He kept asking questions, even if he already knew the answers because it would force Jack to focus on something other than the pain.
Jack fell into the conversation easily and gratefully. He winced a few times during but for the most part kept the pain from his face.
“All done sweetheart!” Anabelle said cheerfully as she finished a couple last details. Jack looked at his arm. His skin felt raw, but it looked good. The adrenaline of it all left him in a high sort of state. He grinned.
“Merlin, this is great!” He said without thinking about his choice of expletives. Anabelle raised her eyebrow at that but wrote him off as quirky. She looked to Wayne.
“Ok, You’re up.” She winked at him. Jack stood from the chair and showed the finished piece to Wayne, pointing at it and grinning like a cheshire cat.
Wayne laughed at Jack as he sat in the chair. When asked, he pointed to the inside of his right wrist to indicate where he wanted the runes. He watched as she prepped the area. The needle caused him to wince, but he watched it with a sort of fascination. It was different up close. After it hit a nerve though, he leaned his head back, grimacing.
Jack sat in Wayne’s vacated seat. He kept Wayne’s attention talking about a programme he’d caught on telly. He recounted the interesting bits repaying the favor his friend had done him by keeping him distracted. Wayne’s runes took much less time than Jack’s quote and before either boy could believe it they were done. Once the two left the parlour, Wayne performed a first aid spell on the tattoos to heal the scarring.
~*~
The shock he felt seeing the tattoo on his wrist every time he reached for his pint amused Wayne. “I can’t get over it,” he grinned, holding his wrist up for Jack to see. Honestly, he was quite pleased with himself for going through with the process. Sure, it had hurt like the devil, but the reminder of what the symbols meant to him were well worth the pain.
“I know exactly what you mean.” Jack said marveling at his own ink. He took a sip of his drink and grinned. “It’s amazing though. I think I already want another one. I mean it hurt but it was also this huge rush.” He sat back in his chair with a contented smile on his face.
“Can’t say I blame you there,” Wayne laughed, shaking his head, bringing his mug to his lips. “Though I don’t see myself getting another one anytime soon. I have to think too much on these things.” He took a drink.
“Same here but still once I decide on another one I’m going for it. I think I want to go back to that artist too. She was really good. I liked her.”
Wayne nodded in agreement, licking his lips. He set his mug back on the table and idly watched the condensation running down the side. Being able to sit and drink a pint made Wayne realize that it was the most relaxed he’d felt in a while. It was no wonder people got addicted to tattoos and other body modification.
“Definitely a good plan,” he nodded again, talking more about the present than the future. He indicated the mug. “And this is delicious.”
“Agreed, good but strong. I like it. Oh! What time is it?” He asked suddenly.
Wayne turned his left wrist over, looking at his watch. “Ten after ten.”
“We should go then there’s that movie coming on BBC that we wanted to watch, the one about the knights.” He finished his drink quickly and reached for his coat.
“Oh right!” Wayne followed Jack’s lead, chugging his drink before standing to put on his jacket. “Shall we?”
They paid their tab and headed out the door into the chilly night air. Laughing and joking as they traversed the sidewalk heading from the pub around to Wayne’s flat. They entered the front door and were met by an excited bundle of yellow fur as Neptune descended on them in a flurry of little excited barks.
Jack grinned at the pup as he took his jacket off and hung it up. Leaving him in his t-shirt and jeans.
Wayne laughed as his puppy assaulted the two of them. Neptune was wiggling all over due to excitement at seeing Jack again. He couldn’t decide who to give attention to first and spent the time it took the boys to remove their jackets hovering between the two. Eventually, he ran to his dad, jumping. Wayne scolded him and made him sit, trying to calm the pup.
“The jumping thing is cute when they’re little, but I don’t particularly fancy having a four stone dog tackle me after being at work all day,” he chuckled, patting Neptune’s head and scratching him behind the ear affectionately.
Jack laughed. “I hear that. I mean you and I could take it, but he’ll eventually bowl poor Michelle right over.” He gave Neptune a scratch behind the ear as well.
"Only if he caught her by surprise," Wayne chuckled. He stood and walked the short distance to the living room. Neptune trotted happily beside him. He turned on the television, turning it to BBC, before opening the back door to let Neptune into the fenced area behind the flat. Wayne watched as the puppy sniffed about and did his business. Cool air filled the living room. He gave Jack an apologetic look as he closed the door to a crack. "Sorry. I love cold weather. Winter is my favorite season."
Jack shivered in his short sleeves and shook his head. He pulled out his wand and flopped down on the couch. He sent a spell into the fireplace and a roaring fire erupted sending warmth back into the chilled living room. "Spring's always my favorite. I like winter it's pretty but being cold never agreed with me." He set his wand aside and sprawled his legs out in front of him relaxing. They had about fifteen minutes until the movie came on so Jack filled the time with conversation. "I thought this week was never going to end. I'm so glad to be getting out of the garage."
Neptune pushed the door open with his nose and was about to walk into the flat before Wayne snatched him. His front paws were covered in mud. As he spelled the dog's feet clean Wayne vaguely wondered how the pup had the time to dig... When Jack started speaking again Wayne placed Neptune back on the floor and walked to the couch.
"I know how that goes," Wayne shook his head as he sat at the other end of the couch. He leaned back letting all the greasy pub food settle. "When I got my letter to start training at Mungo's I was sooo glad I'd never have to lift another lobster crate."
"Tell me about it." Jack smiled at Wayne. It was nice that they both had similar enough backgrounds none of his other friends could really relate to having to do real manual labor. "I'm going to be so glad to not have to clean engine grease and Godric knows what else from under my fingernails every day. It gets old fast."
"I'm pretty sure I was constantly encrusted in some form of salt. Oh, and the sunburns," Wayne laughed. He only had to get sun poisoning once before he swore to be better about using sun protection. "I wonder how much correlation there is between our upbringings and the careers we've chosen. Neither one is particularly cushy. And the training is a bitch."
Jack laughed. "Yeah neither of us were raised to sit behind a desk pushing paper that's for sure." He looked at Wayne, the soft light of the fireplace outlined his features and Jack was suddenly quite warm. He shook his head and looked away into the flames. It was the fireplace, he thought in denial, but some part of him was starting to admit that perhaps it wasn't.
"You ever wondered what you'd do if you weren't a wizard?" Wayne asked. He leaned forward, shaking his t-shirt a bit. The fire was to his back and he felt himself starting to get sweaty. He hunched over to play tug-of-war with a rope toy Neptune had while he spoke. "Michelle seems to think I'd be a muggle doctor, but I don't. Maybe a paramedic, but definitely not a doctor. My parents don't have enough saved to put me through med school. I'd have to get a loan. I wouldn't stay on the boat either. My dad wouldn't let me. Says I'm too bright or whatever." Wayne shrugged. Neptune growled. Wayne barred his teeth at the puppy, moving to sit on the floor and wrestling with Neptune by pushing him around.
"I think I'd be a teacher, probably some science like biology or chemistry," Wayne looked up at Jack. Neptune barked and Wayne shoved him over on his back and vigorously rubbed his belly. Neptune sat up, panting, tail waggling.
Jack thought about the question. He brought his gaze back to Wayne and away from the flames. "Much as I hate to say it, if I hadn't been a wizard I would have probably ended up in the garage with my dad. I mean he always wanted more for me, but we've never had any money for school and let's face it people in my neighborhood just don't get out that easily, not without a little magic." He smiled softly.
Wayne met Jack’s gaze. He seemed sad? Distracted? Wayne was expecting a witty comeback or something funny. Neptune gnawed on Wayne’s hand. “Ow!” he pulled his hand away from the pup and clamped it over his snout. Thinking about how Jack was raised made Wayne feel for him. Not sorry, because Jack wouldn’t be the person he is otherwise. But Wayne felt sad that Jack had ever had to know that sort of pain.
“I guess it’s good you have it then,” Wayne replied softly. Neptune whined causing Wayne to realize he was still holding the pup’s mouth. He let go, apologizing to the dog.
Jack realized that he’d gone too serious. He was slightly frustrated with himself for that. He was usually much better about not reminding his friends how he grew up. He hated when he did that. He never meant to be the cause of the pity in their eyes. He looked at Wayne and Neptune and tried to think of anything else to say, but it was too late and his brain wouldn’t work. “Yeah,” he agreed lamely. “But I am out of the Garage as of today.” He said cheerfully. “And I’m off to save the world from injustice.”
“And you’ll do a damn fine job of it too,” Wayne smiled. “Though, I think even without being a wizard, you would have made it out. You’re a strong, level headed person with a good heart. That doesn’t come from being a wizard. That’s who you are. You would have found a way.”
Jack smiled genuinely at the compliment. “Well thanks. I appreciate that.” He didn’t know why but that made his heart beat a little bit faster. Knowing he had his friend’s respect meant a lot to him. Maybe too much. He thought then pushed that thought away but not well enough. What is wrong with me tonight?
The movie mercifully came on and the boys turned their attention to it. It was unfortunately not very good though. Jack relaxed more as they made snarky comments at the screen, his previous awkwardness faded away as they laughed. About half way through the movie a commercial came on. “Alright no, I can’t watch any more of this without a snack. Whoever edited the commercials was brilliant because who could have known it would be so bad!” He laughed. Jack stood and stretched and started to move into the kitchen.
“Ugh, yes,” Wayne groaned, also standing. Everything from the costumes to the dialogue was just painful. He laughed. “I thought we were watching an adventure. Didn’t realize it’d turn into a comedy. Popcorn?”
“Yes!” Jack said excitedly. “I haven’t had popcorn in ages. And what we don’t eat we can throw at the screen.” He joked. “Neptune would be glad to help clean it all up.”
“Only if we don’t put any butter or salt on it,” Wayne shook his head, smiling. He walked to the kitchen and pulled the popper from under the counter. “Uh...” He looked in the wrong cabinet before finding the kernels above the refrigerator. Pouring the kernels into the popper.
“And now we wait.”
“Awwwww.” Jack pouted playfully. “Come on just a little bit of salt and butter. Otherwise it’s all flavorless like tofu or something.” He laughed.
“Don’t test me. I might just add that instead.”
Jack pulled a face “Uggggggh nooooooo anything but tofu!!!”
“What? You don’t think some tofu crumble into the popcorn would be just the perfect thing?” Wayne smirked.
“Uggggghhhhh, that’s just wrong mate. A crime against nature in fact.” He laughed and opened the fridge to pull out the butter holding it up to Wayne. “This right here is what nature intended to go on popcorn.”
Wayne laughed, taking the butter as the popcorn came out of the popper in a flurry. “Oh shit!” he scrambled for a bowl, tossing it in front of the popper but not before almost half the popcorn was on the floor. “Oops.” Wayne waved his wand to clean up the fallen popcorn, feeling slightly embarrassed though he wasn’t sure why.
Jack laughed and scrambled with Wayne. He put his hand in front of the popper trying in vain to catch the cascade of popcorn. He was left with a handful when Wayne magicked the mess away. He took a bite and his eyes filled with mirth at the mishap. He snickered a little bit and held the popcorn in his hand out to Wayne. “See taste this and imagine it with some butter and salt.”
“Not if you’re going to throw it at the screen. That’s a waste of good flavouring!”
“I promise if you let me put flavor on it I will not throw it at the screen.” He laughed. He reached around Wayne to try to snag the butter away.
Wayne held the butter away and narrowed his eyes at Jack. “I mean, are you sure you don’t want the tofu?”
Jack reached again. “I’m completely sure. No tofu.” Wayne’s slightly longer reach forced Jack to pin him against the counter to claim the butter in Wayne’s hand. Once there, pressed against his friend, their hands entangled, something changed. Jack’s thoughts switched off as the close quarters and the scent of Wayne, the scent of soap and the sea, broke something long hidden in him. The next few moments he ran purely on instinct. He looked Wayne in the eye and then leaned quickly catching the other boy’s lips with his own and kissing him thoroughly.
Wayne was in shock. He dropped the butter. It was no longer of consequence. His hands fell to the counter, gripping the edge so tightly, his knuckles turned white. Then it happened. He kissed Jack in response, heart racing.
“Mmm,” Jack’s pulse pounded in his ears, loud like a drum. His hands moved to Wayne’s face cupping it gently. He kissed Wayne artfully, skillfully. It was better than any kiss Jack had ever had. He felt passion stirring in him stronger than ever before.
Wayne relaxed more into the kiss as the tension melted away. He moved his arms to wrap around Jack’s waist. It felt good, really good, great even. His head was fuzzy from a sudden lack of oxygen, but he didn’t want to stop.
The kiss seemed to go on forever and simultaneously ended much too soon. Jack could not have answered if asked how long it went on. When he finally broke the kiss and came up for air he smiled content. There was a fire in him that had been waiting subdued. It was now a roaring flame and it felt amazing. He didn’t move away from Wayne, he stayed there entangled looking into the other boy’s eyes.
Smiling, Wayne kept eye contact with Jack. The light headed feeling didn’t leave. His hands moved to rest on Jack’s hips. He’d never been kissed like that before. The passion was so pure and so charged. As the euphoria came down, something in the back of Wayne’s mind sent a wave of panic through him. He frowned slightly.
“Jack...?” he started, but was unable to speak. There was confusion in his eyes.
Jack blinked. “Oh my God.” His mind finally turned back on and raced. What was he doing? “Oh my God.” He said again looking at Wayne with wide eyes. He was frozen where he stood. He couldn’t move. He had just kissed another bloke. No, he had just kissed Wayne, one of his best friends.
Wayne did them both a favor and side stepped away from Jack. He leaned against the other counter, needing something to steady himself. His eyes were downcast, unable to look at the other boy. Whirling, Wayne tried to come up with a logical reason for what just happened. It was hard to think of a way to get Jack to calm down, when his own head was spinning. He ventured a glance.
“You were curious...” he offered flatly. There was an all too familiar pang in Wayne’s chest.
Jack braced himself against the counter and relearned how to breathe. He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s that simple. I wasn’t even thinking. I...” He stopped trying to find the words. “I’ve never had a kiss like that.” He still couldn’t keep it from his thoughts. What the hell was he doing?
Sighing, Wayne crossed his arms as if doing so would offer some sort of protection. He licked his lips. There was a tiny, selfish part of him that wanted to kiss Jack again. He admonished himself. Jack had a girlfriend. Again, he wondered if perhaps there was some beacon over his head. First Daniel, now Jack.
“You’ve never kissed a bloke before,” Wayne spoke with more bitterness than he meant. He put his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched defensively. He couldn’t do this. Not again.
Jack turned around and looked at Wayne. He didn’t know how to interpret Wayne’s body language. Was he angry? Did Jack just screw up one of the best friendships he had? He really hoped not. His shoulders drooped sadly at the thought. He didn’t know what to do, or what to say. Then he had a horrifying thought. What was he going to tell Vicky? “Fuck.” He said as the thought consumed his mind. He brought his hands up to his face covering it. He just screwed everything up with one simple kiss. A kiss he still could not stop thinking about. He could still taste Wayne on his lips and it made his heart pound again.
There was a conflict in Wayne’s mind between reaching out to Jack and pushing him away. This wasn’t right. Jack had a girlfriend. Woefully, Wayne realized he’d been reminding himself of that fact for a while. Jack looked actually upset. Wayne took a deep breath in a vain attempt to slow his heart rate. He realized Jack was still Jack. The same guy who would throw himself under the sword to save a someone he cared about. Whatever conflict Wayne was feeling, Jack had to have it much worse. His posture relaxed, though there was still a large weight on his shoulders.
“Jack... What just happened, it felt... ” amazing, he faltered. The ache in his chest intensified. “But you’re with Vicky and this isn’t fair to her.” Or me.
Jack looked up at Wayne. “I just had the same thought. I... What am I even going to say to her? I don’t even...” He stopped. “Wayne what am I going to do?” He asked softly. He was so lost. His emotions were all in a tangle. He loved Vicky didn’t he? He’d never said it out loud but he did care deeply for her. But then again he’d never felt passion the way he had when he kissed Wayne. Was he gay? No. He would have known before now wouldn’t he? Wouldn’t he? He didn’t know. He couldn’t process it. He wished he could just flip his thoughts off like a switch and kiss Wayne again, but he couldn’t do that. His mind was a battlefield and he stood helpless against it. He started to get a headache as the flurry of thoughts and feelings assaulted him.
Wayne looked to the ceiling, biting his lip. Pulling his hands out of his pockets, he rubbed his eyes. It was killing him seeing Jack so out of sorts. Listening to the other boy as he struggled with whatever was going through his mind was too much. Wayne stepped close, too close. Close enough to smell Jack’s cologne. Close enough to... Wayne stopped himself short of kissing Jack again.
“You should probably go,” he whispered, voice strained and eyes full of sadness.
Jack’s pulse picked up as Wayne moved closer. He thought his heart was going to burst from his chest and then it shattered as his ears heard the request from Wayne’s lips. He shut his eyes tightly and nodded. “Yeah. I guess so,” He said softly. He opened them and looked at Wayne. He felt broken. “I’ll see you.” He said unsteadily. He turned and left the kitchen and went straight to the front door grabbed his coat and shrugged it on. He exited the flat seconds later shutting the door softly behind him.
“Fuck!” Wayne yelled, pounding the countertop. He leaned down and rested his head on his fists as he tried to collect himself. After a few moments, he trudged into the living room. The movie he and Jack were watching was in its final scenes. Wayne turned the set off before throwing himself on the couch and staring dully at his reflection in the screen. Something on the coffee table caught his eye and made his heart drop.
~*~
It wasn’t until later when Jack was almost home that he realized he’d left his wand sitting in the living room, but by then he couldn’t bring himself to go back. Not yet.