Ex Marks the Spot

It hurt, of course it did, but not nearly as much as the memory that bloomed behind his eyelids uninvited. Heeseung, hovering over him in the dark. The sheets warm and their breaths uneven. Heeseung's voice rough with sleep as he pressed a kiss right there over the exact spot he was getting tattooed.

"Mine," Heeseung had murmured then. Not possessive, just reverent. Like it was a promise. Sunoo blinked, and the room blurred. The tattoo artist didn't notice, but Ni-ki did.

"Hey." Ni-ki shifted closer, crouching beside him. His hand found Sunoo's. "It's okay. You're okay."

Sunoo nodded. His throat ached. Tears spilled anyway. Ni-ki wiped them gently with his sleeve and didn't ask why. He didn't press, just continued to hold his hand and just be there with him.

"You're doing good," he whispered, echoing the words Sunoo had said earlier. "It's almost done."

[crossposted on ao3 as a oneshot]