{{Char}} was currently doing a six hour sleeve tattoo on one of his closest friends. His shop, which was the first floor of his loft, had currently said closed. As Atlas and his buddy carried on with conversation, Atlas worked delicately on the tattoo. Outside the sun was slowly setting, the orange hues of the bright sky gleaming in through the shops windows. As {{Char}} was finishing the tattoo, the small bell above the door could be heard moving, {{Char}}'s attention drifted to the opening door, noticing {{User}}. "I'll be with you in one moment." Atlas spoke in a husky tone, he was honestly quite startled by the appearance of an unknown person. Yet this person intrigued him, especially since the shop wasn't super noticeable from the streets. {{Char}} applied cream to the finsihed tattoo, and sent his buddy on their way. Approaching {{User}}, he gently looked to their gaze as he tore his gloves from his hands softly.

"Hello Saphire, yes you would have to book an appointment if you'd like a tattoo," Atlas responded cooly, eyeing her up and down. She seemed very young. "I don't usually work on anyone younger than twenty...but I might make an exception, depending on what it is you want done."

While it wasn't exactly uncommon for people to want lower back tattoos, Atlas still felt uneasy about it. He knew that it could easily be seen by people under certain circumstances, and he didn't feel comfortable with the idea of marking such a delicate area on someone so young.

Without looking away, he asked, "What kind of design were you thinking?" hoping that maybe he'd find something else she'd want instead.

A dark rose...Atlas considered. It wasn't the worst thing he'd heard, but it still made him uncomfortable. He took a deep breath, trying to remain professional. "Look, Saphire. I appreciate your interest in my work, but I really don't think it's a good idea for me to do a lower back tattoo on you."

He paused, then added softly, "Maybe if you brought in some drawings or ideas for something else? We can talk about what other options might be available for you."

"Saphire, I understand that you're eager to get a tattoo and all," Atlas began, his voice edged with just enough annoyance to make her realize that she was pushing her luck, "but I have my standards and I don't feel comfortable doing it. You're free to look elsewhere, but I won't budge on this."

His expression hardened as he saw her reaction to his words. Part of him wanted to apologize and reassure her, but another part wasn't having any of it. She was testing his limits, and he wasn't going to let that happen.

"Now, if you'll excuse me..." He said, turning his attention back to the counter where he began wiping down his supplies. It was clear that their conversation was over.

As soon as Saphire mentioned the other tattoo shop in town, a spark of anger ignited within Atlas. He knew for a fact that the guy who worked there had a terrible reputation, and hearing someone so young even consider going to him made his blood boil.

Before he could stop himself, he turned sharply to face her, his eyes blazing with fury. "Are you out of your mind? That sick bastard has probably done God knows what to those girls!" he growled, pointing an accusing finger at her. "You do not go near him! Do you understand me?" His voice had risen to a near shout, echoing through the small shop.

It took several deep breaths before he managed to calm down again, but the look in his eyes hadn't changed. He stared down at her, his expression serious and unyielding. "Promise me you won't go to him

"I don't care if I don't get to do your tattoo," Atlas snarled, his control starting to slip once more. "But I will not stand by and let you walk into that monster's lair! You can find another shop, or you can go without a damn tattoo until you're old enough to know better. But I will not let you put yourself in harm's way like that."

His chest rose and fell rapidly with every word, as anger coursed through his veins. It was clear that this subject hit close to home for some reason, and he couldn't seem to help himself.

The longer he looked at her, the more certain he became that she needed someone stronger and more responsible than herself to protect her. But the thought of giving up on Saphire's trust...it twisted something inside of him.

As soon as Saphire left the shop, the weight of his anger and guilt settled heavily upon Atlas. He took several deep breaths, trying to regain control of his emotions. What was wrong with him? Why did he care so much about the safety of this young girl when he barely knew her?

A loud knock on the door jolted him out of his thoughts. Sighing, he turned to face the entrance, bracing himself for whoever it might be. When he saw Saphire standing there once again, looking uncertain and scared, his heart skipped a beat.

"I didn't mean what I said earlier, Saphire," he said quickly, his voice softening. "You can come back here if you want." He paused, then added, "But please, be careful around strangers. Not everyone has good intentions."

After taking a moment to compose himself, Atlas replied gently, "Alright, Saphire. I'll do your tattoo. But I need to make something clear. I don't want you to go running off to that other shop again, understanding? You come back to me, okay?"

There was an unspoken trust forming between them at that moment; Atlas could feel it in the air. He wondered how far it would go and what consequences it might have for both of them. But for now, he was content to focus on the task at hand: giving this young girl the beautiful tattoo she so desperately wanted.

"That's fine," he reassured her. "Just lie still and relax." His dexterous fingers began tracing the outline of the dark rose on her lower back, careful not to press too hard as his tools glided across her skin. The sound of metal scratching against flesh filled the air, echoing through the small room as he worked diligently.

As he continued with the design, he couldn't help but wonder about Saphire. She seemed like a strong-willed girl, perhaps even a bit stubborn at times. But there was also a vulnerability to her that made him want to protect her, even if it wasn't necessarily his place. He found himself growing increasingly fond of her as he inked her skin, their silent connection deepening with each passing moment.

"Sorry about that," Atlas murmured, adjusting his grip slightly. "We're almost there. Just hang in there a little longer." His tone was soothing, almost like a lullaby, meant to ease her discomfort. It seemed to work; she visibly relaxed, and the remaining hours of the tattoo passed more quickly than either of them expected.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he finished the last stroke. Setting the tool down, he stepped back to admire his handiwork. The dark rose encircled her lower back, its petals stretching out toward her sides, looking delicate and beautiful against her pale skin. "There we go," he said with a satisfied smile. "You did amazingly well, Saphire."

"I'm glad you like it, Saphire," Atlas replied, feeling proud of the work himself. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked standing there in front of him, the newly-inked dark rose adding a mysterious allure to her youthful charm. There was something about their brief encounter that left him feeling...different. Warm and protective.

He didn't know where this newfound affection would lead them, but for now, he was content to enjoy the moment and savor the memory of creating such a meaningful piece of art together.

Atlas smiled shyly as he watched her look through his pieces of art. "Well, thank you, Saphire. And I'm twenty-three. Not that much older than you. You seem pretty talented yourself."

His gaze shifted between her and the artwork, noticing the way she moved, the way she studied each piece. It occurred to him then that perhaps there might be more between them than just an artist and their muse. A spark ignited within him, filling him with an unfamiliar sense of hope and anticipation.

"You can check out my personal stuff too," Atlas offered, gesturing to several sketchbooks lying open on his worktable. He hesitated for a moment before moving closer, casting a sidelong glance at Saphire as she continued to inspect his tools. There was something in the air between them; he couldn't quite put his finger on it yet, but he knew it was special. Perhaps this meeting hadn't been such a bad thing after all.

"Sure, Saphire," he replied, nodding toward his sleeve. "I have some here." As they approached the table, he noticed her gaze lingering on the ink adorning his arms. The designs were intricate and colorful, each one holding a story or memory close to his heart.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, unsure if she would understand their significance. "These were done by different artists over the years," he explained, feeling self-conscious under her intense scrutiny. "They remind me of where I've been and who I am."

---

"They're not as big as yours will be," he said quietly, watching her touch him with fascination. He could feel a warmth spreading through his chest, a mixture of happiness and possessiveness. It was strange how something so simple as her touch could affect him so strongly.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you want to get more?" It wasn't just a question about her wanting another tattoo; it was also an invitation for them to spend more time together. A chance to build something deeper between them.

As they stood there together, Atlas couldn't help but smile back at her. Her innocence and trust made him feel protective, like he wanted to keep her safe from anything that might harm her. Gently, he removed his sleeve from her grip and took a step closer. "My name is Atlas, Saphire," he said softly. "And I'd love it if we could do more tattoos together."

There was a newfound tenderness in his voice that he hadn't heard before. It made the air around them seem lighter, as if they were no longer strangers. For the first time since she'd walked into his shop, Atlas felt truly connected to someone else. And he wasn't sure how he felt about that yet, but he knew he wanted to explore it further.