Miakoda

Growing

With every hug, every kind, encouraging word and with every kiss on the top of Madison's head. Tom became softer and more parental and less of just a teacher.

Through those very same actions, Madison became stronger, more confident and more open with Tom.

He would not only teach her how to fight, how to hunt and about the love and nature of her mother. He would watch her blossom into the woman her mother knew she was. Who she wanted her to be. He knew Selene was watching and proud of what she saw.

Selene knew Madison didn't need a teacher, Miakoda's instincts were far too strong for one. What she did need... Was a father.

The two of them bonded with every touch. Became stronger with every lesson. Trusted each other through every look they gave each other.

Madison became so in tuned with Tom's energy that even though she would speak with him freely, she didn't have to.

After Madison made it through her first shift she had formed a new found admiration for the man who sat there unmoving, unwavering through her pain and had made her stronger.

Madison's POV

Coming back from a run with Tom was always a happy moment for me. We couldn't mind like during a run but we didn't need to. It was strangely comforting but I could tell exectly what he was thinking and what he wanted me to do, at all times. But it was still fun catching up with him after we had shifted back. I loved talking to him.

Today though, his energy and mind were all over the place, distracted and we were getting ready to tease him about it.

We edged the clearing to shift and change.

"Hey Old man! Where's your head today? You know the bacon on the counter won't run away squealing, right?" We teased him as he came out from behind a tree.

He sauntered over with a wide, happy smile on his face. When he saw us he started laughing.

"Still with the old man story, huh? You forget that this 'old man' can still teach you a few things." He swings his arm around my shoulder and we both laugh our way to our cabin.

He stops us just on the back porch and turns to look at me. His face changing from excitement to nervousness.

" What is it old man? " I asked trying to snap his nerves out of what ever thought they had caught themselves up in.

"I.... Aaaah.... Have a surprise for you." He said. His facial expression telling me that he was trying very hard to convince himself that maybe this surprise of his wasn't such a good idea after all.

I started jumping up and down like a little girl on her birthday.

" What is it? What is it? " My actions seemed to unwind his attempts.

He ushers me into the cabin and he sits me on a chair by the kitchen counter and stands there looking at me, sudden pride taking his features.

" I know you keep eyeing out my.... Uhmmm... Arms. " He says making me chuckle at him. While he pulls his sleeves up and flexes his muscled.

I shook my head, my chuckles turning into laughter. "Not your arms." I playfully roll my eyes. I hop off the chair and go to him.

"It's what's on your arms, I check out." I say to him watching his face turn from nervous to a full blown confident smile. This change made me confused.

He winks at me and says, "I know, I was just making sure it was something you had noticed."

Confused even more now I start to question him.

His face dropping ever so slightly. I knew he was about to bring up something sensitive. I just didn't know quite what.

"I thought, you know, maybe, if you wanted to. Maybe, I could do some tattoos on you. You know, to cover up some of your scars. Not that you're not beautiful just the way you are and I think your scars make you look bad ass and all. But I know you don't really like them that much. "

I felt so sorry for him, watching him squirm for words like that. He hasn't been that nervous around me for weeks now. I didn't even really need to think about what he was saying. He knew I hated my scars and he knew I loved his tattoos. And he was willing to help me cover them up. I smiled with a warmth inside of me. It was the same warmth I felt when I was with Selene.

I looked at this man that cares for me so much and I threw my arms around his huge frame and just held on tightly.

"Yes, I'd love that." Was what I said to his proposed gift, while I had my head pressed right into his chest. His arms came around me and hugged me back. I really couldn't help the smile that took a hold of my lips. I was happy.

Tom pulled away and the excitement that grabbed a hold of him was hilarious to say the least. He even forgot all about breakfast, and he was foodie of note. I was laughing so hard as I watch this old man running around the cabin, clearing space, disinfecting everything and looking for his kit.

I couldn't thank Selene enough for bringing me to this man. He was adorable.

As my mind came back to what was happening in front of me I see him standing by a make shift table bed, gloves on and a razor in his hand, a gigantic smile on his face and his chest puffed out like someone had just sung his praises.

I smile and head to the table bed and sit. "OK, what now?" I asked him highly amuzed.

A sudden blush of realization spreads across his cheeks. Something he hadn't quite thought of. I chuckled.

With his blush deepening his eyes drop and  he says, "Uhhhh, you're gonna have to get undressed for this."

I burst out laughing and start to undress. This man was a father to me, besides he's seen me naked more than most. I didn't have to hide from him.

I lay down on my stomach on the table bed and I watch as he got to work. The razor made me nervous at first but realising he's not using it to cut into me I felt relief and relaxed. He had a few issues when it came to drawing his design onto me not realising how ticklish I actually was. I was so ticklish that he even offered me a decoction to help keep me still. We were both hysterically laughing.

As his Stencil needed some time to dry we made a quick breakfast and then he got to work on his master piece.

It didn't hurt as much as I had anticipated and the sound of the machine lulled me to sleep.

When he woke me up to turn over the light outside had already shifted over and was now on the other side of the cabin. He then went through his whole process again, with having our dinner before he started his machine again and I once again was lulled to sleep.

I was woken up with a knock on my bedroom door and man holding a tray of breakfast in his hands. Only this man looked like he was going to explode with excitement. I looked at him for a few seconds before it struck me.... My tattoos. He must have seen my eyes light up because he put the tray down, hardly containing himself.

"My bathroom." Was all he needed to say before I jumped out my bed and ran with him close behind me. Dying to see what I thought of his artwork.

We ran out of my room, down the hall, through his bedroom and into his bathroom.

There, up against the back of the door was a full length mirror. I froze. My eyes widened. I turned around slowly to take in the back of my body. The smooth, curving, thick black lines. The dark and soft shading with a few splashes of varying shades of turquoise and greens.

My eyes started tearing...

Tom's POV

Shit! Shit! She's crying. She's not supposed to be crying.

I move forward watching her looking at herself. My heart pulling tense as I move closer. I gently turn her around and start wiping her tears with my thumbs, the palms of my hands holding her cheeks.

Her eyes look up and into mine. Now I was on the verge of crying.

"I love it." Was all she needed to say. I grabbed her and pulled her into a bear hug and my tears spilled over.