Only the Strong Survive

Chapter Twelve

Nina pov

A few days into September, that's when everything went downhill. Jack and Landon were bordering on a full scale war over me. Huge arguments, no punching yet but close to it. Dad was running his classes to death. My students, we're starting to look like trained professionals. The older ones of the group were good to go if anything tried to kill them. The younger half, they were okay but they needed work. This was bad because I was running out of things to teach. Jack, after his class, came to mine and sat around, trying not to fall asleep. I could admit that my class was pretty boring, but it wasn't. His sleepiness was entirely my fault. Nightmares were worse, and last night alone he tackled me to the ground four times. Dad of course didn't care or bother to help, but still made him run extreme amounts. Every other day their class would have a danger room session. Either way he was drained. Landon had started following me around, asking for some extra training stuff, asking every question imaginable. I didn't mind, but Jack took it personal.
The worse thing out of all of this was that the war was starting. Landon shipped off a few days after they announced it on international news. I applied in my spare time. They put me in the mutant division. Not like there was a better place to put me, but I guess that was fine. I was suppose to be gone in less than a week and a half. I spent every free moment with Jack, either sitting quietly, or explaining exactly what to do when teaching.
"I know, I know. We will all be fine. Go save to world." Was what he kept telling me. I guess he seemed happier because Landon was gone.

"How do you feel about tattoos?" I asked him one day. "Why?"
I leaned against his shoulder. "I've always wanted one."
"If you could get one, what would it be?" He asked. I shrugged. "I'm not even sure. But if I got one, a deep enough cut, boom image gone. So somewhere no one would think to stab me..." He moved aside my jacket covering the lime green tank top I was wearing underneath, my left shoulder was exposed to crisp autumn air. He gently touched the spot behind my shoulder. "Right there."
"What would you get? If you wanted one?" I asked. He shrugged. "I'm not even sure."

I talked to dad about it later that day. "Whatever you want to do kid, but don't come crying to me." I nodded. He pulled out a cigar. I made a move to snatch it away, but he stopped me with claws pointed at my throat. I held my hands up in surrender, and backed up. "You know normal tattoo ink won't really work." I nodded. "Yeah, so what would I do?" He gave me a whole speech about different things added and whatever while lighting his cigar. When I looked confused he said plainly, "Add a bit of iron, it'll stay for a good 20 years before it starts to fade." I nodded and started toward the kitchen. "But your going to have to tell your mom. Rather have her yell at you then me." As I turned to leave, he said. "I expect that you will be going on the field trip tomorrow as a chaperone?"
Oh, yeah. Field trip. Great.
"Yeah. Ok."
I turned to leave. "Busses leave at 9." I nodded, and went outside to call mom. She picked up on the first ring.
"Hey Nina. What's up, sweetheart?" She sounded tired and stressed. "Hey mom, what are you doing?" I sat on the hill. "Just looking through the paper for the job applications. I got a part time last week at the grocery store. But I'm still looking." I made a move to apologize once again, but she stopped me. "Your father called and said-" she sounded choked up. "Said that you were... Going off next Friday."
"Yeah. I guess so..."
Mom continued. "And your not even going to get married before you go? I've always dreamed of seeing you in a beautiful white dress, walking down the isle with your father." She sounded like she was crying. I spoke slowly. "There isn't enough time to get it absolutely perfect. And I want it to be perfect..... Mom. I. Will. Be. Fine. I promise. What's the worst that could happen?" She sniffed, and said calmly. "Whatever you say... It would be a great opportunity to meet new people. Travel places." I nodded even though she couldn't see that. I took a deep breath. "Okay. The two reasons I called. One, could you please look after Jack? He could come over on holidays, long weekends."
"Yes. He can come over whenever he wants. It sounds like your saying your planning to be gone for a while."
I stretch back into the grass. "As long as it takes mom. Hopefully it won't be too long." I heard the shuffling of papers in the background, and waited a second. "My second reason for calling, can I get a tattoo?" She sounded shocked in her response. "Why would you want- well, you are 18, why not. But you have to have it approved by me first." That was fair. Just to lighten the mood, I asked. "Mom? Do you have a tattoo?" There was a long pause. "So you do? Where? What is it?" She laughed. "That is non thing you need to know. But once you get one, you can't get it off."
"Dad said that it would start fading in around twenty years. It could be totally gone in around 100. What is it?"
She paused again. "I'm not sure I should tell you. But you'll find out eventually. Just not now."
I frowned. "Ok, fine. I'm going to email you some pictures."
"I love you Nina."
"Love you too mom. Bye." I hung up. I emailed pictures as I said, wandered around the field a bit, and resorted out of sheer boredom to doing cartwheels. After half an hour of them, I was sick to my stomach and took a nap in the grass. My head was pounding. My phone dinged. It was an email from mom.

These photos are Mom approved. If I find anything other than this on your body you will be punished. Love you. :)

Thank you for reading. Any comments, questions? Anything? I'd be happy to answer. - PlatinumAngel7