Rome Has Fallen

Chapter Two

The tattoos on Roman's back were chaotic, an amalgamation of shapes and images and words. An abstract pattern of lines and geometric circles marked the center of his back, from the base of his neck down his spine. They followed some kind of pattern, each symbol morphing into the other, words looping around here and there, though Kai didn't recognize any of their meaning.

Bright, orange and red flowers blossomed off from the lower right of it, wrapping around Roman's hip and curling onto his stomach. Faded flames rose from the top of the flowers, licking up towards his shoulder. Under his left shoulder blade was a bold skull with red eyes, grinning menacingly. Skeleton arms were crossed like an X beneath it, each hand raising its middle finger. Above it, a tabby cat perched on an invisible shelf, one paw batting at the skull below it.

Kai traced a finger over the tattoos, copying the curving, distinguished lines. "I like this cat one," he said, tapping it. It reminded him of the cats he used to see in Shanghai.

"Mm," Roman breathed, his eyes fluttering open. His voice was muffled where his mouth pressed against the pillow. "My friend Lain gave that to me for my eighteenth. Because I liked her cat."

"Do you have a cat?"

"Yeah." Roman snorted. "He's a bastard."

Kai breathed a laugh as he trailed his hand down Roman's back. "These are all so... artistic. Pretty, in their own way."

Roman's eyes drifted shut again. "Your's are prettier," he murmured.

Kai sighed and rested his cheek against Roman's skin. If he craned his neck, he could see the tail of the dragon curving over his left shoulder, red scales bright and bloody. "Those weren't by choice," he replied flatly.

"Hm?"

"Yeah."

That was the end of that. Roman didn't ask any more questions, and Kai was grateful. After a minute his eyes drifted to his phone sitting on the bedside table, notification light blinking obsessively. He held back a sigh as he propped himself up on his arms, pulling himself away from Roman, and got to his feet.

"Where ya going?" Roman grumbled.

"Gotta get home," Kai replied as he shifted through the clothes on the hotel floor. "Have somewhere to be early in the morning. Also have to make sure no one towed my car."

"Oh."

Kai pulled one of his business cards out of his jacket and scribbled his number on the back. He tapped it against Roman's cheek before setting it on the bedside table along with a twenty. "There's my number."

"Hmm."

As Kai turned away, he felt Roman's fingers brush against his lower back. His froze momentarily, shivers jumping across his skin. People always commented on his tattoos, telling him they were pretty, usually complimenting the dragon or the fish before asking why a square of the picture was missing on his hip. "Think of it as a barcode," Kai would say, the words well-rehearsed.

He hoped Roman wouldn't ask. Kai didn't think he could say it this time.

"The gold coin... in the claw," Roman murmured as his arm retreated back under the covers, "I like that part."

Kai smiled as he leaned down to kiss Roman's forehead. "Thank you." As he pulled his shirt back on, he added, "The room is paid for. I left you some money to get breakfast in the morning."

"Thanks." Roman's voice was coming out quieter as he fell back into sleep. Kai ran his hand through Roman's hair once more, gently pinching some of the blue edges, before leaving.