Lover Enshrined

John shook his head. Classes canceled. Clinic sacked. Lash abducted… and likely tortured. The fallout from what had happened in the locker room continued.

Bad news… bad news was coming in more than threes.

“No more classes, huh,” Qhui

We need to hook up with Blay, John signed. I can’t believe he hasn’t texted since night fell. Maybe we should go over there now?

Qhui

John shook his head and texted Blay: ZeroSum 2nite cuz no class? Hav news bout me n Q.

“He’ll say he can’t go. Assuming you’re texting him to meet up with us.”

Qhui

John put his phone in his pocket. What happened?

“Nothing. Everything… I don’t know-”

The heavy knock on the door was clearly made by a fist the size of a male’s head.

“Yeah?” Qhui

Wrath strode in. The king seemed even grimmer than he had been earlier, as if more bad news had come in again over the Brotherhood’s transom. In his hand was a black metal briefcase and a tangle of leather.

He lifted both up and looked hard at Qhui

“Ah, no… sir. What are they, though?”

“Your two new best friends.” The king put the case on the bed, flipped two black locks free, and popped the lid.

“Whoa.”

Whoa, John mouthed.

“You’re welcome.”

Inside, nestled in gray egg-carton padding, were a pair of stinger-lethal Heckler amp; Koch forty-five-millimeter auto-loaders. After checking the chamber on one, Wrath handed the black weapon to Qhui

"V’s going to draw up some ID on you in the Old Language. If shit gets critical, you will flash it, and whoever is up in your grille has to deal with me. Fritz is going to order you up enough ammo to make a squad of Marines get a case of the jels.” The king tossed what turned out to be a chest harness at Qhui

As Qhui

Wrath’s mouth lifted on one side. “We’ll name the bitch after you, how about that?”

John felt like a voyeur standing between the two of them and saying nothing, but he was fascinated by the change in Qhui

Qhui

“Yup.”

“Evening, ladies.”

Vishous walked into the room, and Qhui

“Sitchass down, boy,” V said.

“Go on.” Wrath nodded at the bed. “Time to get chained-that dangler has John’s crest on it. You’re also getting tattooed. This is for life, like I told you.”

Qhui

“Comes off only if you’re dead or you get fired.” V knocked Qhui

Qhui

“You can leave that on.” As V popped open his tackle box and took out a tattooing gun, Qhui

As Qhui

“Turn around and face me.” The Brother took out a stretch of white cloth and a sterilizing pack as Qhui

On his face? John thought as V wiped off the top of Qhui

Qhui

John tried to see what was getting inked and couldn’t manage it. Odd that red was being used. He’d heard that black was the only color that was allowed-

Holy… shit, John thought as V pulled back.

It was a single red teardrop outlined in black.

Wrath spoke up. “Symbolizes that you’re willing to shed your own blood for John. Also lets everyone know, in no uncertain terms, what your position is. If John dies, it will be filled in with black ink, signifying you served someone of interest honorably. If it doesn’t work out, it will be boxed with an X to show your shame to the race.”

Qhui

“Good thing,” V said dryly as he came over and smoothed some clear ointment over the ink.

“Can you do one other for me?”

V glanced over at Wrath, then shrugged. “Whatchu got?”

Qhui

Today’s date, John thought.

V nodded. “Okay. I can do that shit. Hafta be in black, though. That red is only for specials.”

“Yeah. Good.” Qhui

“Go

“Yup.”

V laughed. “I like you, true. Now hold your chain up and let me get to work.”

It went relatively quick, the whine of the ink gun fluctuating like a car engine, revving and settling, revving and settling. V added a nice artistic swirl underneath the design, then ran it all around, so the tattoo looked like a fancy plaque.

This time, John stood behind V and watched the whole thing. The three lines of text were gorgeous, and given how long Qhui

John wanted one. But what would it be?

“You’re solid,” V said as he wiped the skin with the once-white cloth, which was now covered with smudges.

“Thank you,” Qhui

“You haven’t seen it yet. For all you know, I could have inked ‘jackass’ back here.”

“Nah. I never doubt you,” Qhui

Vishous smiled a little, his hard face with its tattoos showing approval. “Yeah, well, you aren’t a flincher. Flinchers get fucked. The steady ones get the goods.”

V clapped palms with the guy, then packed up and took off while Qhui

It’s beautiful, John signed from behind him. Really beautiful.

“It’s exactly what I wanted,” Qhui

When the two of them returned to the bedroom, Wrath put his hand in his back pocket, took out a set of car keys, and gave them to Qhui