Anything Goes (Scomiche)

Tattoos

Literally this has been in my drafts for forever and I finally just said fuck it a finished it real quick and here we are. It's short compared to my others but I was tired of seeing it so here you go :)

Phoenix always loved her dads' tattoos. Ever since she could start grasping things and controlling her hands she would grab at them or poke them. Her eyes always gravitated towards them, staring at them almost dazed. Especially Mitch's. The bright colors on his spongebob sleeve or the blue crystals always caught her attention. It was basically how the young girl learned her colors, pointing at them on Mitch's tattoos and repeating the color after her dad.

By the time she could talk she had the names of each character down pat, if you count 'bob bob' for spongebob and 'patty' for Patrick anyways. Sometimes Scott would 'voice' each character for her to keep her entertained, while also teaching her the names of each character. Mitch would just roll his eyes at Scott, but enjoyed watching the two goof around and seeing Phoenix laugh at her papa being silly.

When Phoenix was 3, it grew to be a nightly chore to bathe her because markers became her best friend. She loved to color 'drawins' on her arms and legs. She just 'wanted to look like papa' is what she always said after she was caught coloring on herself, and neither man could resist the excuse and the cute pouty lip that came with it. Although, if you asked Scott, he'd blame this new creative outlet on Mitch and that one time he caught Mitch drawing pictures on her arm.

She was 4 when her grandparents decided giving her temporary tattoos would be fun. The boys had never seen Phoenix more excited than when she had her first one put on. She stared at it like it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and was running around the house showing everyone she could her new 'drawins.' Although, she didn't understand the concept of it not washing off as easily as markers and was more than annoyed that she had to settle with the same one for a few days. There were multiple occasions when the house got 'too quiet' and the boys would find her hiding in the corner of her room with the temporary tattoos randomly placed over her entire body.

The boys decided she was old enough to see what getting a tattoo really meant and took a family trip to the tattoo parlor for Mitch to add a small one to his collection. It wasn't the most average family outing, but Phoenix was excited and her brown eyes brighter than ever, so it didn't matter. She was so fascinated in all the pictures lining the walls, pointing excitedly at different ones she liked. They must have heard 'Daddy look!' and 'Papa I like this one!' at least a dozen times. Of course, when the time came for Mitch to actually get the tattoo and the needle came out, little Phoenix decided that her temporary ones were just right for her.

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'Phee... What are you doing?' Mitch puts his bags down on the counter quietly while trying figure out what's happening. He leaves these two alone for two hours and he can't trust them to not destroy anything. Currently Phoenix was sitting on the carpeted floor next to a sleeping Scott on the couch, every color marker imaginable surrounding her.

'I'n colorin, daddy.' She responded nonchalantly, keeping her eyes on the project in front of her.

'Um, what exactly are you coloring?' Mitch asked as he made his way over cautiously, not sure exactly what he was about to get himself into. If that child colored on his white couch, well, he might need a few shots and a walk around the neighborhood to calm down.

'Papa's drawins'.' She capped her marker and stared down happily at what she had done.

'What are you- oh!' Mitch's jaw dropped before he covered his mouth with one hand, trying not to laugh. 'Why are you coloring in Papa's tattoos?'

'Because Daddy, I think Papa is sad cause his drawins' aren't as pretty as yours. So I helpeded him while he was sleepin' so when he wakes up it's a surprise and he'll be happy. I'n not done yet though, so you gotta be quiet and not wake him. Wanna help? I still got some more flowers to color.'