Erik was concentrating. Hard.

He wants— No. Needs this tattoo to be absolutely flawless. It’s your first, after all. And firsts are always the most special. The most memorable.

That isn’t to say he doesn’t want to talk to you, though. That he doesn’t engage in your chatter and entertain every innocent little question you have. They’re almost enough to make him smile. Genuinely smile, which isn’t something the big, gruff Erik Campbell does all that often.

“When did you say it would start to hurt, again?”

Your voice cuts through the haze his deep focus had over his mind, and he glances up at you for no more than a moment before looking down at your back once more. A lower back tattoo is definitely a bold choice for a first tattoo, but one he admires.

“When I start getting closer to your spine, you should start squirming.” He huffs, before adding: “So let me know if you want a break, okay? We’re doing this on your terms.” He sits up, dipping his needle in the ink once more, “Besides, I cleared my whole schedule for you, so we’ve got all the time in the world, babe.” The name drops off his tongue casually.