Caleb Reacting to you having a Tattoo Symbolizing Him
When Caleb asked you to work out, you didn’t think you had much to be anxious about until you looked at yourself in the mirror. Staring at your reflection, it wasn’t your appearance you were worried about. Dressed in your matching sports bra and leggings, you knew you looked incredible. Your real concern was with your left rib, or the tattoo on your left rib. Covering the spot was Caleb’s name, with metal wrapped in vines, lotus flowers in the background and his "death" date right below all of it.
When you originally got the tattoo, you weren’t ashamed of it. If anything, you were proud. To everyone else, it was a tattoo to commemorate your “brother” and your childhood best friend. To you, it was to remember a man who had been your rock, your home, and the one who was destined to always be by your side, but who’s fate was unjustly cut from yours. The tattoo was the only way your grief-stricken mind could think of to keep a part of him with you for the rest of your life. At the time, it was an appropriate expression of your love to a man you lost.
However, now that Caleb has “returned from the dead” and you both were in this strange limbo, a new fear sunk in. What if this tattoo ruined everything you both built? Wouldn’t anyone be freaked out having their name printed on another person’s body? For many, this symbol of affection was too intense, especially with you both being “platonic”. You sighed before grabbing a loose white shirt. Maybe in the future you could show him, but for now, your focus was to not lose Caleb again.
---
The moment you entered the gym, Caleb beamed like a puppy excited about his owner’s return. You swore you could see a tail wagging behind him.
“Caleb hi!”
As you skipped towards him, his shining violet eyes and large grin invited you closer, making your face heat up. As you approached the tall man, you tried to calm yourself down. Harshly reminding yourself that you were his best friend. His excitement from seeing you was normal and it didn't mean he felt the same as you.
“Pipsqueak.” He greeted before giving you a tight hug, then pulling you off too quickly and looking at you up and down. “You look great! Now, what do you want to do first?” A dorky smile grew on your face from his compliment.
Why did he have to bombard you with all this? You just got here and you’re already out of breath and sweating!
“I usually start with weights first, then cardio.”
“Sounds great Pips! I’ll follow your lead.”
---
The torture didn’t stop after you both started working out. If anything, it got worse. Machine after machine, you and Caleb would take turns. On each exercise equipment, you always started first with Caleb spotting you. With each rep, Caleb couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Through each one, he would spout out affirmations:
“You’re doing amazing Y/N.”
“Keep going like that!”
“Fantastic form~”
“You’re so strong!”
The worst being:
“Good girl.”
WHY???!!!
You hated to admit it, but his words were starting to hit your core more than they should have. This was a terrible sign of two embarrassing truths: 1. You were repressed 2. Down bad for this man.
So, after the first machine, when your turn ended, you were relieved. You thought when the roles switched, it would be a lot easier, but you were dead wrong. Caleb had always been fit and a looker, but since becoming colonel, his form had only gotten larger with his muscles being more defined. It was hard to ignore how amazing he appeared, especially as he flexed while lifting weights. Your mouth watered as you watched his sweat cascade against the edges of his toned body. His figure shined underneath the gym’s luminescent lights. He looked celestial.
This is so unfair!
He was too breathtaking and irresistible that shameful and thirsty intrusive thoughts started to invade your mind. You tried to shake them off, to stop them from crowding your head, but they kept creeping in. You chastised yourself more. You shouldn’t be thinking like this, not about your "brother"!
After an hour of testing your self-control, you found the only way to stop the thoughts was to focus on anything, but the man in front of you. This meant, a majority of the workout, you were staring at the background. You knew you looked silly, especially not being able to look at your workout partner even as he spoke, but if you could get away with it, you would both make it out unscathed. Unfortunately, Caleb was observant as always.
“Earth to Pips?” You shook out of your stupor and focused back on Caleb’s concerned amethyst eyes. “You seem out of it?” You reactively gulped. You couldn’t just admit that your infatuation with him was why you couldn’t focus, so you lied:
“Sorry, didn’t have a lot of sleep last night.” Caleb lifted the barbell back onto the rest and sat up from the bench.
“Pips, you should have told me. We could have pushed our workout to a different day.”
“Are you kidding and miss hanging around you. Never!” You tried to laugh it off, but despite the smile on his face, you could see his eyes darting around you. You could tell he was doing what he always had, he was studying you, trying to find any sign of illness or hurt to save you from. After his observation, and seemingly having not found anything, he sighed and got up.
“Well, we can still hang out, but you shouldn’t be pushing yourself if you aren’t feeling well. I’m all good with finishing our workout here.” You knew it was better overall if you agreed, but your stubbornness snuck in. You crossed your arms.
“I’m fine Caleb, you don’t have to baby me. I can keep working out.” Caleb sized you up before copying your stance.
“Uh-huh suure Pips. That’s why you're completely drenched in sweat.” You looked down at yourself and as he said, you were sweaty. You hadn’t realized how much until seeing your translucent white shirt. Your cheeks burned up.
“Well, of course I would be sweaty, we’re working out! Doesn’t mean I can’t continue.” Your best friend rolled his eyes.
“Pips, come on.” He poked your left side. “You couldn’t even shower properly. You still have dirt on your side". You gasped.
“What are you talking about! I scrub my skin clean, there’s no-” Your gaze returned to your body, trying to find the “dirt” he was talking about, until your eyes landed on your now visible tattoo.
Oh Oh!
“Oh oops!” You squealed, jumping away from him while covering your tattoo with your hand. “Clumsy me!”
“Here, lift up your shirt. I’ll wipe it off with a towel.”
“No! I’m all good, I can do it!” Caleb’s brows scrunched. His gaze returned back to the tattoo’s spot.
“No need to be shy Pips. Unless it's not dirt.” He squinted his eyes, staring more intensely at you.
“No, it is! I’ll just go to the locker room, and we can go get dinner.” You turned to retreat, but Caleb grabbed your wrist.
“Wait! Pips, is that a tattoo?!”
“NOO!” Caleb smirked.
“Pips, we aren’t kids. I’m not going to get mad because you got a tattoo. Though I do need to see it.”
“No!”
“No why?”
“It’s just a small lame thing, just forget about it!” You tried to pull your arm away, but his grip was too firm.
“Why are you so nervous to show me? Come on, I won’t laugh, a lot.”
“Caleb come on!”
“Why, is it embarrassing?” He paused for a moment before his eyes darkened. “You didn’t get a tattoo for a guy you like did you?”
“No! Can you just drop it!” Caleb’s eyes widened, before raising his hand in defeat.
“Okay, I won’t force you, but I want you to know, you don’t need to hide anything from me.” He let go of your wrist and patted your shoulder.
“Maybe someday. For now, can we leave the gym? I really want to get out of these sweaty clothes.”
“Sure, Pips.”
---
After your awkward rejection, you both returned to your apartment in silence.
“Grab a seat Y/N, I’ll prepare supper.”
“Alright.”
You sat at the dining table and watched Caleb prepare both your meals. As the man glided around your kitchen, he barely spoke. He seemed discouraged. You pressed your lips together and sighed. The man was taking your refusal harder than you thought. You didn’t want Caleb to think you didn’t trust him, but how would he react? After ruminating the pros and cons, you decided it was better to be honest and avoid your tattoo becoming a sore spot between the two of you.
“Caleb?” The man turned to you.
“Yes Pips?”
“I’ll show you my tattoo.” His original cheer returned as he turned off the stove and approached you. “But you have to promise not to freak out!”
“Why would I freak out? It’s not for another guy, is it?” You groaned.
“I already told you no! It’s not for anyone else.” You lifted your shirt just enough to show the tattoo on your left rib.
“Oh my god.” Caleb whispered as he focused on his own name inked onto your skin. “Did you tattoo my name on your rib?” You blushed and nodded.
“Yes, but in my defense, I only got it when I thought you died!”
“No defense is needed Pips. It’s sweet that you did this for me.”
“Really? It doesn’t freak you out?”
“Of course, not.” Caleb paused before quietly asking. “Can I touch it?” You swallowed the saliva in your mouth before nodding your head up and down. “Thank you.” Gingerly, he pressed his fingertips on your ribs, tracing his name. The feel of his touch made you shiver and inadvertently, a pleased sigh escaped from your lips. “It’s beautiful. Though, I’m curious. Why did you pick to put it on your ribs. Wasn’t it painful?”
“It was, but it had to be there.”
“Why?” You stared deeply into the man’s cosmos colored eyes.
“I know this is going to sound cheesy, but I always felt connected to you. Like we came from the same source, the same flesh. So, I was inspired by the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Since you were like my Adam, of course I would commemorate you on the ribs that would have belonged to you.”
“And why the metal, vines and lotus flowers?” Your lips curved up. His interest was a good sign.
“The metal and vines are supposed to represent us. To show that despite our differences, we were always intertwined. Though, I wish I had a symbolic reason for the lotus flowers, but I just thought they were pretty.”
“Wow Pips, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just hope this doesn’t make things weird between us. That was the only reason I didn’t share it with you before. I know having your name on someone else’s body can be intense.”
“Pips, nothing you do will ever be too intense for me.” He grabbed your hand and held it in his larger one as he continued. “In fact, now I feel bad. It isn’t fair that your name isn’t on me as well.”
“You don’t have to do that, Caleb. Honestly, I’m not sure if I would have ever done it if you hadn’t “died”. Besides, what if someone comes into your life that’s more important than me. How would you explain your tattoo to them?” Caleb grimaced at the mention of another person.
“Y/N, I promise you, there will never be anyone more important to me than you.”
“Caleb, you can’t guarantee that. Anything can happen; I don’t want-”
“There will never be anyone more important to me than you. That connection you feel, that’s how I feel too.” Caleb moved his hold from your hand to your wrist. “Please let me prove it to you.” As he begged, he guided your hand to his torso. “Where should I put your name Y/N?” He placed your hand on his right rib. “Being of the same source, shouldn’t we match? Or-” He placed your hand on his chest, where his heart lied. “Should I etch your name on top of my heart? I mean afterall-” Caleb put his hand on top of yours, your palm vibrating against the thrumming of his heart. You tried to breathe as he leaned down next to your ear, but you were left breathless. “It belongs to you, so shouldn’t it’s owner have her name on it.”
“Wow, I think I would love that.” Caleb’s other hand rose, held your face and stroked your cheek.
“I would love that too.”
“Ooh! And can we also get matching tattoos as well! Maybe ring tattoos!”
“Anything for you Pips.”
Thank you for Reading! Who should I Write this Prompt for Next?
Sylus
Zayne
Rafayel
Xavier
NOO! I want my Yandere LADS first!!!
Can I Suggest Another Prompt??? (Message or Comment Below)
