authors note:  you guys are probably gonna think im SO boring for the ending of this chapter LMFAOO IM SORRY

ellie is supposed to be cleaning her room. supposed to be. but instead, she's sitting cross legged on the floor, surrounded by half folded clothes and random junk she's pulled from the depths of her closet. she's already gotten distracted at least five times—flipping through old comic books, strumming a few chords on her guitar, tossing a rubber ball at the ceiling—until she suddenly gasps and holds something up like she's just discovered buried treasure.

"holy shit."

i glance up from where i'm sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard, flipping through a book i barely care about. "what?"

ellie turns to me, grinning like a kid. "my old tattoo kit."

oh no.

before i can even react, she springs to her feet and practically dives onto the bed, shoving the case in my lap. "okay, hear me out—"

"no."

"—you have to let me tattoo you."

i blink. "excuse me?"

ellie flips open the case, ignoring my skepticism. "c'mon, just something small. i've had this thing forever. i messed around with it a bit, but i never really got to use it on anyone."

"wonder why."

she grins. "but now i have you. my girlfriend. which means you have to let me."

i set my book aside, giving her a flat look. "that's not how relationships work."

"i think it is."

"it's really not."

ellie nudges my arm, her voice dropping all sweet and persuasive. "babe. baby. love of my life."

i roll my eyes, fighting a smile. "you're ridiculous."

"and you're avoiding the question," she says, poking my side. "so what's it gonna be?"

i sigh, dramatically. "fine. but only if you let me tattoo you too."

ellie pauses. her cocky expression falters.

i smirk. "what's wrong? scared?"

she scoffs, immediately defensive. "pfft. no."

"then it's a deal." i hold out my pinky.

ellie narrows her eyes like she's regretting this already, but she links her pinky with mine anyway. "deal."

"we should get matching ones," i add.

ellie raises an eyebrow. "yeah?"

i nod. "something small. something that means something to us."

ellie tilts her head, thinking. "where?"

"somewhere significant."

she hums, rubbing her jaw. "wrist?"

"too noticeable."

"ankle?"

i wrinkle my nose. "eh."

ellie clicks her tongue, then suddenly smirks. "ribcage."

i narrow my eyes. "you just wanna see me with my shirt off."

she grins, shameless. "maybe."

i shake my head, smiling. "what about behind the ear?"

ellie's lips twitch. "that's kinda cute."

i nod. "subtle. meaningful."

she considers it, then nods. "alright. behind the ear it is."

"now we just have to figure out what we're getting."

ellie leans back on her hands, thinking. "something simple. nothing cheesy."

"so no hearts?"

"absolutely not."

i purse my lips, thinking.

ellie studies me. "you already have a tattoo, right?"

i nod.

"the wave," she says. "dina mentioned it once."

i glance at my forearm, where the ink is faintly visible under my sleeve. i trace my fingers over it, my voice softer now. "yeah."

ellie watches me. "what's it mean?"

i hesitate for a moment, then say, "it's for my mom."

ellie blinks.

i exhale, pressing my thumb against the ink like i could still feel it fresh on my skin. "she used to say that waves always come back. no matter how far they go."

ellie doesn't say anything at first. she just looks at me, her usual snark replaced with something quieter.

then she nods. "that's nice."

i hum.

she shifts. "you got any others?"

i smile slightly. "yeah."

ellie tilts her head. "where?"

i just smirk at her.

ellie stares at me for a second, then realization flickers in her eyes. her brows lift. "...where i can't see them?"

i say nothing.

ellie's expression shifts from curiosity to something else entirely. her gaze drops—subtle, but noticeable. then she clears her throat, rolling her shoulders like she's shaking off a thought.

"alright," she mutters. "noted."

i grin.

ellie picks up the tattoo kit, opening it fully this time. "okay, so what are we getting?"

i think for a second. then i say, "what about arrows?"

ellie tilts her head.

"we always have each other's backs," i explain. "like two arrows, pointing toward each other."

ellie is silent.

i bite my lip. "too cheesy?"

she shakes her head. "nah."

i study her. "you like it?"

ellie glances at me. then, softly—"yeah."

i smile. "good. 'cause you're going first."

ellie groans but sits up, rolling her shoulders. "alright. let's do this."

ellie is surprisingly careful, brows furrowed in concentration as she inks the tiny arrow behind my ear. her touch is gentle, her hands steady.

"you're good at this," i murmur.

ellie huffs. "obviously."

i smirk. "knew you'd say that."

when she's done, she sits back, nodding in approval. "looks sick."

i check in the mirror. it's small, delicate, perfect.

"not bad, williams."

ellie grins. "damn right."

then it's her turn.

she tenses slightly when i start, like she doesn't want me to notice, but i do.

"oh? big bad ellie williams is nervous?" i tease.

"shut up," she mutters.

i grin but keep working, careful and precise. ellie holds still, jaw clenched, but she relaxes when i finish.

i wipe the ink, sitting back. "done."

she touches the skin, then checks it in the mirror, her eyes flickering to mine in the reflection.

she's quiet for a second. then, softly—"it's perfect."

i smile. "yeah. it is."

ellie turns, eyes meeting mine, and something lingers in the air between us—warm, quiet, real.

then i casually reach for her nightstand drawer.

ellie lunges.

"NOPE. nope," she says, grabbing my wrist, her grip strong, warm. "don't even think about it."

i smirk, letting my fingers ghost over the locked drawer just to mess with her. "why is this locked?"

"none of your business."

"seems suspicious."

ellie groans, tilting her head back. "leilani."

i gasp dramatically, eyes widening. "wait. is it porn?"

ellie's whole body goes stiff. her eyes widen just slightly, like she was not expecting me to just say it. "what the—"

i grin. "oh my god. it is, isn't it?"

"jesus christ, drop it," she mutters, yanking me away, but the way she does it—so frantic, so guilty—only confirms my suspicions.

i cackle. "oh my god. what if joel finds it?"

ellie physically recoils, like i just slapped her across the face. "what the fuck is wrong with you?"

i'm still laughing when she tackles me, grabbing me by the waist and throwing me onto the bed. she straddles me before i can react, her hands grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the mattress.

"you better shut up before i make you," she murmurs, voice low, teasing, dangerous.

my breath catches. her grip tightens. she's leaning in now, so close i can feel her exhale against my cheek, warm, soft. my stomach flips.

"or what?" i whisper, just to see what she'll do.

her knee shifts between my legs, pressing down slightly, and my pulse skyrockets. her eyes flicker to my lips and she kisses me instantly.

her hands slide from my wrists down to my waist, pulling me flush against her. the warmth of her, the weight of her, the way she moves against me—it's overwhelming in the best way.

i sigh into her mouth, threading my fingers through her hair, tugging just enough to make her groan. she shifts, pressing me deeper into the mattress, her knee still between my legs, and i gasp at the pressure.

"fuck," she breathes, her lips trailing down my jaw, her hands slipping under my shirt, fingers skimming over bare skin. she pauses, hesitating for just a second, and it makes my stomach flip because i can tell she's waiting—for me to stop her, for me to say something.

but i don't. i just arch into her touch, letting my eyes flutter shut.

she exhales, like that was all the permission she needed.

and then her hands go higher.

i suck in a breath, heart hammering in my chest. she kisses me again, deeper this time, and i feel her fingers tighten around my boobs, like she's afraid of letting go. i can't think straight, can't focus on anything but the way she's touching me, the way she's looking at me—like she wants me. like she really wants me.

it's almost too much.

almost.

she starts to push my shirt up, and that's when it hits me—how fast this is, how intense it is, how badly i want it but also... how i want to wait.

ellie must notice the way my breath catches, the way i hesitate, because she slows down. her hands still against my skin, and she leans back just enough to look at me, her expression shifting from hungry to something softer.

"we good?" she murmurs, voice rough, like she's trying to steady herself.

i nod, still catching my breath. "yeah. just—" i swallow hard. "maybe not yet?"

she blinks, then exhales, nodding immediately. "yeah. okay. yeah." she pulls back a little more, sitting up, giving me space, but her hands stay on my waist, thumbs tracing soft circles. "sorry. got carried away."

i laugh, breathless. "yeah, no kidding."

she huffs a small laugh, running a hand through her hair, looking half embarrassed, half fond. "you okay?"

i smile, reaching up to touch her face, running my thumb along her cheek. "yeah. i just—" i pause, tilting my head, teasing. "really wanted to see what was in that drawer, though."

ellie groans, dropping her head onto my shoulder. "jesus christ, leilani."

i cackle, wrapping my arms around her. "what? i think i deserve to know after all that."

"you deserve nothing," she mutters, but i can feel her smiling against my neck.

we stay like that for a while, tangled up in each other, not rushing, not forcing anything—just being. and it's nice. it's good.

it's enough. for now.