Don't Die Just Yet

1: C'mon Occy

"Shit... You're hurting me..."

"C'mon Occy, I've barely touched you yet."

"Yeah Occy, mine didn't hurt that much. It stops hurting after a while."

Today, Samuel, Zayden and Octavian decided to get friendship tattoos in the shape of octopi, Zayden's favorite animal. They preformed the tattoos in an abandoned shelter that only they cared to use. The adults were out grocery shopping through dumpsters and the children were off to work in the factories. Today was Zayden's day off.

Octavian winced and shifted a bit.

"God dammit Sammy!"

"Stop being such a girl... You'll have your chance to hurt me too. Its not like I decided to get my tattoo on my stomach."

"Hey, you gotta admit, it looks pretty cool."

Samuel looked up at Octavian and chuckled. "Whatever you say man. I just think you chose a horrible, painful spot for a first tattoo."

Zayden crouched by Octavian and bent over to view the tattoo being completed. His large green eyes glistened as he stared so long while forgetting to blink. Octavian rose a hand and rested it on Zayden's head.

"You alright?"

"I could ask you the same thing. You're crying Occy."

Samuel looked back up and gritted his teeth. "C'mon. We all promised to get this tattoo!"

"I know," Octavian mumbled. "I'm just thinking about how much this means to all of us. How much this is worth it, all the pain, you know?"

Samuel slid his thumb under Octavian's right eye. "Don't go all soft on me man. Lets finish this tattoo."

A half an hour later, the tattoo was finish, leaving Octavian's skin red with irritation. Zayden clapped for Octavian and peered out the window to see if anyone was approaching.

"There are a few hover guards patrolling the area," he announced. "They aren't a big threat, just try not to be too noisy with the thingie, Occy."

Samuel had chosen to place the tattoo on the top of his wrist. It didn't take too long to draw and shade the design.

"All done," Octavian said sighing softly.

"See, that wasn't so bad."

Zayden raced over to admire Samuel's tattoo. "Ooh, nice place to put it Sammy!"

Samuel rose a brow and curled one side of his lips. "I'm just cool like that."

The three friends sat in silence as they waited for the hover guards to pass by. Samuel lifted up an old fire truck toy from 2014 and rolled it to Zayden, gesturing him to play with it in another room. He nodded and left the too with the toy.

"Why'd you do that?" Octavian asked.

Samuel slid over and brushed his lips against Octavian's ear. Octavian shoved him away.

"Right here? But what if he comes back?"

Samuel shrugged and brushed his bangs out of his face. "C'mon Occy, we haven't done anything in a while..."

Octavian shifted and looked at the dusty floor. Samuel slid his hand under Octavian's chin. Just as he pulled in for a kiss, the door swung open with Zayden bursting through. Octavian shoved Samuel away again.

"I did something bad!" he screamed. "I was rolling the truck around the corner and it ran into one of the hover guards. He's got a read on my heat signature, he should be here any minute now!"