ink and intentions
The energy backstage was electric, a lingering buzz from the show still thrumming through the walls. Crew members, friends, and a few stragglers from Austin's circle were scattered around, laughing, drinking, riding the high of another sold-out night in New York. Mair stood near one of the couches as she watched Austin animatedly talk with his tattoo artist, who was setting up his machines. His shirt was already off, revealing a patchwork of ink across his chest and arms, and he looked completely in his element: grinning, energized, all adrenaline and excitement.
She'd flown in from school for the weekend to see him before he left for the European leg of his tour. These days, their time together always felt too short, stretched thin between flights, schedules, and late-night phone calls. But tonight, it was just them again. At least, it felt that way in the moments where he caught her eye from across the room, shooting her a look that still made her stomach flip, even after all these years.
She barely had time to react before Austin was behind her, arms wrapping lazily around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. His skin was warm, still damp from the show, and he smelled like sweat, cologne, and whatever liquor he'd been drinking.
"Wouldn't it be fun if I tattooed you?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing against her ear.
Mair huffed a laugh, twisting her head slightly to look at him. "Not really."
Austin groaned dramatically, tightening his grip around her waist. "Come on," he coaxed, swaying her slightly against him. "I'll be gentle."
She smirked, tilting her head back onto his shoulder. "Since when have you become a tattoo artist?"
"I've tattooed a couple people," he said, his voice smug.
Mair raised an eyebrow. "And they're still here to tell the tale?"
Austin rolled his eyes but grinned. "Yeah, I'm good at it." He turned her slightly so she was facing him now, his hands still firm on her waist. "Don't you want a Post Malone original?"
She bit her lip, pretending to think it over, even though a part of her was already intrigued. The idea of it—the recklessness, the permanence, him tattooing her sent a rush of something wild through her veins.
It did sound fun. And kind of thrilling.
But she wasn't about to make it that easy for him. Mair crossed her arms, lifting a skeptical brow. "You really think I'm gonna let you do that?"
Austin just grinned, cocky and sure. "I think you want to."
Mair tilted her head, still pretending to be skeptical. "Where and what?"
Austin grinned, sensing he was getting somewhere. "Something small," he said, running his hands up and down her sides. "I can tattoo your ass so it's just for me."
She let out a short laugh, eyes glinting with mischief. "And what makes you think you're the only one seeing it?"
Austin squeezed her waist in warning, shaking his head as if he refused to even entertain the thought. "You're so annoying," he muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile.
She shrugged, feigning innocence. "Just saying."
He ignored her teasing and pressed on. "I'll do the smiley face with X eyes."
She gave him a look. "Like the Marshmallow tattoo?" she asked, referring to the small face tattoo under his eye.
Austin groaned, already anticipating her dragging him for it. "I obviously didn't think it through when I got it."
Mair snorted. "So now you want me to get such a clearly meaningful tattoo?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
He grinned. "Well, it'll make it meaningful."
She rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything else, he leaned in, his voice low and convincing. "Plus, don't you think it'd be sexy to get tattooed by your boyfriend?"
Her stomach flipped, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up in her chest. Maybe it was the lingering adrenaline from the show, or maybe it was just him, the way he always made things sound like the best idea in the world.
Mair chewed her lip, pretending to deliberate, even though she already knew her answer. But she wasn't one to indulge Austin, she liked to tease him before she agreed to anything. Mair folded her arms across her chest, giving him an exaggerated skeptical look. "Oh, now you're trying to convince me with 'it'll be sexy'? Is that your strategy?"
Austin leaned in, flashing a grin that could only be described as mischievous. "You know it works every time," he teased, brushing his lips against her ear. "Come on, baby. It'll be fun. It's not like anyone else is gonna see it but me. It's our little secret."
She narrowed her eyes, pretending to consider the idea, even though she felt the excitement growing. "You're really trying to get me to let you tattoo my ass?" she said, her tone mocking but with a hint of curiosity. She saw how excited he was and she couldn't deny that she was excited too. "You'll be gentle?" she asked, her voice dripping with doubt.
Austin smirked, stepping closer and resting his hands on her hips. "Of course, baby," he said, his voice low. "You know I'm good with my hands."
Mair feigned a scandalized expression, her eyes widening dramatically. "Oh my God Austin!"
Austin chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't act so innocent, Mair," he said, giving her a little nudge with his shoulder. "You know exactly what I mean."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Well, you better be careful," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, still pretending to be wary. "I don't want you messing this up."
Austin smiled, leaning in slightly. "It'll be fine. I'll be careful, I promise," he reassured her. "You'll barely even feel it."
Before she could respond, his tattoo artist who had been quietly setting up in the background interrupted with a laugh. "I'll supervise him," he said, raising an eyebrow at Austin.
Austin shot him a look of mock offense. "Hey, I've got this," he said, but his smirk said otherwise.
Mair raised an eyebrow at the tattoo artist, still unsure. "I hope you know what you're getting into," she said, crossing her arms again.
"Don't worry," the artist said with a grin. "It's not my first time babysitting this guy."
Mair let out a breath, deciding to go with it. "Alright, let's do this.
Austin clapped his hands together in excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face as he saw Mair's hesitation start to melt away. "Alright, let's do this!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. He helped her carefully lay down on the table, positioning her just the way he wanted. Mair could feel her heartbeat quicken in anticipation, a mix of excitement and nerves swirling inside her. She could barely contain the smile tugging at her lips, he was really going to do this.
Austin turned to the tattoo artist, who was already prepping the space, making sure everything was ready. Austin pulled on the artist's headlamp, securing it with exaggerated precision. "Now I look like a professional, right?" he joked, adjusting the lamp so the beam hit just right. He winked at Mair before turning his attention back to the machine, watching closely as the tattoo artist gave him a quick refresher on how to work the machine.
Mair couldn't help but watch him, her heart thudding a little faster. Something about the way he was leaning over the equipment, focusing on the task at hand, made him look even more handsome than usual. The glow from the lamp cast a warm light across his features, and she couldn't help but appreciate how he looked in that moment, both playful and serious at the same time.
Austin glanced over at her, catching her watching him. "You good?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Mair swallowed, her breath catching slightly as she nodded. "Yeah—I'm good," she said, her voice betraying a hint of nerves. She could feel herself getting excited in spite of it.
He grinned and stepped closer, hands resting on her hips again. "Alright, can you pull your pants down a little?" he asked, his voice suddenly quieter, more intense.
Mair's eyes met his, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "You can do it," she said, her voice low and playful, knowing exactly how he'd react.
Austin raised an eyebrow, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You're making me work?" He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "You're trouble"
Mair just smiled, leaning back against the table, her heart racing in a mix of excitement and nerves. Austin's grin only widened as he moved to help her, fingers brushing the fabric of her pants as he slowly and carefully pulled them down just enough to expose her skin.
The moment felt oddly intimate. The buzz of the tattoo machine hummed in the background, but all Mair could focus on was Austin's steady hands and the way he looked at her like this was a new kind of challenge and he was more than ready for it.
She watched him carefully, her chest tight with anticipation. "You sure you know what you're doing?" she teased, trying to keep her voice steady.
Austin looked back at her, his grin softening into something a little more tender. "I got this, baby. You're gonna love it," he promised, before turning his focus back to the machine, the hum growing louder as he prepared to start.
Mair let out a small breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Okay, let's just get it over with," she muttered, half to herself, half to Austin. She was trying to put on a brave face, but there was no denying the flutter of anticipation that ran through her veins. This was happening.
Austin gave her a soft smile, the tattoo machine in his hand buzzing to life. He was careful at first, his focus entirely on getting everything right. But, as she'd expected, his touch wasn't as light as she would've liked. It was a little more forceful than she anticipated. Mair immediately tensed as the needle made contact with her skin. "Fuck, Austin, I knew it would hurt," she groaned, clenching her fists into the table. The sting was sharp, a quick zap of pain with every movement of the needle. Her body tensed slightly at each press, the sensation far more intense than she had thought it would be.
Austin paused, looking up at her with a mix of concern and amusement. "Sorry, Mair," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I swear, I'm being careful."
The tattoo artist, who'd been standing by watching the whole time, spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Austin, you can use a little less pressure. You're not carving a tree, mate," he said, chuckling lightly.
Austin rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. "Got it," he muttered. He looked back down at Mair, a sheepish smile on his face. "Sorry, baby," he repeated, adjusting his grip on the machine.
He asked quietly, "Is that better?"
Mair let out a small sigh, still feeling the sting but trying to push through it. "It's fine, just hurry," she said, her voice strained but trying to keep the irritation from showing. The initial shock of the pain was starting to wear off, but she was definitely ready for it to be over.
Austin gave a little nod, his eyes flickering with a hint of guilt as he adjusted the machine's pressure again. "Alright, I'll get it done faster," he said, a little more focused now. "I swear, it's gonna look awesome when it's done."
Mair managed a small nod, even though the pain was still lingering with each press of the needle. She tried to relax, closing her eyes and letting herself get lost in the rhythm of it.
Just as Mair was starting to get used to the constant buzz of the tattoo machine and the discomfort, it suddenly stopped. The absence of the buzzing sound made her breathe a little easier. She had almost forgotten she was in pain, her mind focused on the end of the process. She propped herself up, ready to stand and get this whole thing over with, when Austin's voice stopped her.
"Wait a second," he said, his voice light but insistent. "I need to take a picture."
She paused, glancing up at him with an amused but exhausted look. "Seriously?" she said, half-laughing, half-groaning. "You really need a picture of my ass?"
Austin just grinned, completely unphased. "Of course I do. Gotta commemorate this masterpiece," he said, his tone playful but with a hint of pride.
She rolled her eyes but didn't protest. With a soft sigh, she let herself lean back against the table as he pulled his phone from his pocket. Austin snapped a quick selfie, his face beaming with satisfaction as he showed off his work. "Okay, now let me get one for the archives," he said, handing his phone to the tattoo artist.
The tattoo artist smirked, clearly entertained by the whole scene, and snapped the picture for him. "You two are something else," the artist muttered, but his tone was good-natured.
Austin helped Mair gently sit up, offering his hand to support her as she stood. She felt a slight twinge of discomfort, but nothing too unbearable. As soon as she was on her feet, he had her turn toward the mirror, showing her the fresh tattoo.
Mair squinted at the image, inspecting the small smiley face with the X's for eyes. She wasn't sure what she expected, but when she took in the tattoo fully, she couldn't help but smile. "It's not great," she said, her tone teasing. "But—it is kind of cute."
Austin laughed, his face lighting up with satisfaction. "See? Told you it'd be awesome."
He leaned in, brushing a hand over her shoulder. "It's perfect," he added softly, giving her a look that was part pride, part affection.
As the moment hung between them, with Mair admiring the small smiley face tattoo and Austin standing proudly by her side, the tattoo artist's voice suddenly cut through the quiet atmosphere.
"Alright, you ready, Posty?" he asked, his voice laced with a knowing amusement.
Austin grinned, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Fuck yeah, man," he replied, clearly hyped about the next part of the night.
Mair chuckled softly and grabbed the chair, pulling it closer to Austin so she could sit beside him, watching the whole process. She couldn't help but tease him a little. "You're really doing this, huh?"
Austin just laughed and shrugged. "You know it. Gotta keep the tattoo collection growing."
Mair settled into the chair next to him, her legs crossed as she watched the tattoo artist prepare the machine for his work. Her thoughts drifted back to the weekend, how she had flown in from school just for this show. It was a rare treat, seeing Austin before he took off for the Europe.
"So, how's school going?" Austin asked, breaking the brief silence, his voice a little softer now.
She leaned back in the chair, stretching her legs out in front of her. "I got an A on that marketing exam I was worried about," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips. "Pretty proud of it."
Austin grinned, his eyes lighting up. "That's my girl," he said, his voice warm and affectionate.
Mair felt a flutter in her chest at the praise, a rush of fondness for him washing over her. She leaned forward a little, watching as Austin shifted to prepare for his own tattoo. "Are you excited about Europe?" she asked, her tone a little curious. She knew he was about to head out on tour, but it was still hard to believe how quickly everything had changed.
Austin nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Hell yeah, I'm excited. It's going to be amazing. But I wish you could come with me," he added, his voice softening slightly.
Mair smiled, a little bittersweet at his words. She knew he wished she could be there, but with school, it just wasn't even a possibility. Still, the thought made her heart swell. "I'll be here waiting for you," she said, trying to sound upbeat even if a part of her wished she could be by his side.
Austin reached over and gave her hand a squeeze, his fingers warm against hers. "I know, baby. I know."
He grinned at her, his expression lighting up as he continued, "We'll have a good time in St. Tropez for your spring break to make up for it."
Mair's heart skipped a beat, a smile tugging at her lips as she squeezed his arm affectionately. "I can't wait," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and warmth. The thought of escaping to somewhere as beautiful as St. Tropez, made her feel giddy. It would be their time to reconnect, away from the whirlwind of his tour and her busy school life.
Austin leaned back, looking at her with that familiar, soft expression she adored. "It'll be perfect, I promise." He pulled her closer for a moment, his hand still resting on hers, before turning his attention back to the tattoo artist, who was now starting on Austin's piece.
Mair squeezed his arm again, her eyes meeting his with a promise. "I'll be counting the days," she said, a playful spark in her gaze.
Austin's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've already been booking stuff," he said casually, like it was no big deal.
Mair raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, genuinely curious but trying to mask the excitement building inside her.
He nodded, not missing a beat. "Yeah, but it's a surprise." His voice had that familiar teasing tone she loved, as though he knew exactly how much she'd be itching to find out more.
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, though there wasn't a hint of anger in her voice, just the slightest bit of playful frustration. "You're such a tease," she muttered, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Austin chuckled and leaned in close, his hand resting on her shoulder as he whispered, "You'll love it, I promise. It'll be worth the wait."
Mair couldn't help but laugh softly. "You're impossible," she said, but there was warmth in her tone. She knew Austin loved pulling off surprises, and as much as she wanted to know the details right now, she was willing to wait. She always was, especially for him.
They both settled into a comfortable silence again as the artist continued working on Austin's tattoo. The buzzing of the machine filled the space, and the rhythmic sound seemed to add to the laid-back atmosphere between them. Mair relaxed, her fingers resting gently on the edge of the chair, her gaze flicking between Austin and the artist.
After a few moments, Austin broke the stillness, his voice casual but with a hint of mischief. "Hey, how mad would you be if I got your name tattooed?"
Mair gave him a deadpan look, not missing a beat. "Very," she replied, her tone playful but firm.
Austin smirked, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Come on, I love your name. 'Mairead Saoirse' would look so good on my arm."
Mair shook her head, a small laugh escaping her lips. "No, it's bad karma, and it'd probably wind up spelled wrong."
Austin rolled his eyes, leaning back slightly as he looked at her with mock indignation. "Never, baby. I think I know how to spell your name." His tone softened, and he added more seriously, "It's special to me, you know?"
Mair met his gaze, her smile softening as she read the sincerity in his eyes. She felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, but she still wasn't sold on the idea of his name permanently etched on his skin. "You already have one too many dedicated to me," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure that counts as a collection."
Austin chuckled, his grin widening. "I can always add another. I mean, it's not like I don't have room for more, right?"
Mair smiled, but it wasn't in agreement, more like an affectionate, resigned grin. "You're insane, but I guess that's part of the charm."
"Well, that and my excellent taste in tattoos," he teased, his voice light. But beneath the humor, there was something deeper, something that reminded Mair, as it often did, just how much Austin cared.
Austin's grin widened as he tilted his head toward her. "But, um—I did get another one for you," he admitted, watching her expression shift.
Mair's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. "What?! When?"
"Last month," he said casually, like he hadn't just dropped a bomb. "It's cool, you'll like it."
Her arms crossed over her chest as she eyed him. "What is it?"
He smirked, enjoying this way too much. "You'll have to wait and see."
Mair groaned, tilting her head back dramatically. "Come on, you can't just do that! Drop a bomb on me and then tell me to wait?"
Austin chuckled, completely unbothered. "I'm teaching you patience," he said smugly. "You don't have a lot of it."
She gave him a sharp warning look, but he just grinned.
Sighing, she shook her head. "Austin, was the Beauty and the Beast tattoo and the Princess Daisy tattoo not enough?"
His face lit up like he'd been waiting for this exact conversation.
"You know I don't even particularly like Beauty and the Beast," she huffed.
Austin immediately cut in, all faux-offense. "It's a metaphor, baby."
Mair scoffed. "A metaphor for what? That I was held captive and forced to fall in love with you?"
He snickered. "Exactly."
She rolled her eyes but wasn't done yet. "And the Princess Daisy tattoo? I don't even play as Princess Daisy!"
Austin shook his head like she was sorely mistaken. "But you did. The first time you came over, and we played Smash Bros, you picked Princess Daisy," he said, pointing at her as if to emphasize the importance of this memory. "I'm very sentimental like that, Mairead."
Mair rolled her eyes, but her smile was lingering. "You don't think I know that? You've always been that way."
Austin raised a brow, amused. "Been what way?"
"Sentimental," she said, nudging his knee with hers. "You've still got that dumb plastic keychain I bought you from my family trip to Cape Cod when I was sixteen. The little lobster one with the googly eyes? It's literally hanging off your Bentley keys, like it belongs there."
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "He's my good luck charm."
She wasn't finished. "And you keep every letter I've ever written you. Like full-on, folded in envelopes, shoved in your guitar case, glovebox, your drawer."
Austin gave a mock shrug. "They're important."
Mair tilted her head and looked at him, softening. "That's what I mean. You remember the little stuff. You hold onto it. I know you're sentimental, Austin."
He stared at her for a second, smile pulling at his lips, and said under his breath, "Yeah—because it's you."
Mair groaned, exasperated but amused. "Okay, and the impatience thing? That's part of me too. So can you just show me already?"
The tattoo artist paused, glancing up with a slight smirk. "I'll give you two a minute."
Austin laughed and gave her a teasing grin, dragging it out on purpose. "I love seeing you beg."
She shot him a sharp look, crossing her arms. "I don't beg."
"Sure you don't," he said with a wink, before finally reaching for the cuff of his jeans. "Alright, alright. Calm down, gremlin."
With an exaggerated amount of effort, he lifted his pant leg and angled his leg toward her.
Mair blinked, then blinked again. "No way!" A slow, disbelieving smile crept across her face as she recognized the familiar figure inked on his leg. "Kagome?"
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Your girl. Had to show her some respect."
Mair was already out of her chair, crouching beside him as her fingers hovered over the tattoo like she couldn't believe it was real. She finally let her fingertips lightly trace around the edges of the healing ink, careful not to touch the fresh lines. "This is—" she shook her head, beaming. "Okay. This one is pretty cool."
Austin gave her a smug look. "I told you you'd like it." "Inuyasha makes me think of you," Austin said, his voice a little quieter. "I watch it all the time when I'm on tour. Helps me sleep."
She glanced up at him, her heart pulling in that soft, familiar way it always did when he let the sweetness slip through. "See? You're such a softie."
He shrugged, eyes warm. "Only for you, Mair."
She stood and rested her hands on his shoulders, cocking her head. "I guess I am the only one you have a tattoo shrine for."
She shook her head as she sat back down beside him, still smiling as she tucked herself against his side. "No more though," she said, her voice warm but firm. "Nothing's gonna top this one."
Austin looked over at her, eyes flickering with a mix of pride and affection. "I'm just glad you like it," he murmured, watching her with the kind of gaze that made her heart stir every time.
Mair reached for his arm, her fingers sliding around it until their hands met. She threaded their fingers together and lifted his hand to her lips, kissing the spot just beneath his knuckles. Her thumb brushed gently across the back of his hand.
"I love it," she said softly, still holding his gaze.
The corner of his mouth pulled into a crooked smile. "Good," he whispered.
She leaned in and kissed him then, a slow, lingering kiss that didn't need to lead anywhere, it was just for them. Just a quiet moment tucked into the chaos of backstage life. His hand tightened slightly in hers, grounding the moment even more.
When she pulled away, she rested her head lightly against his shoulder, still holding his hand in her lap as the tattoo artist returned to work on Austin's other arm. The buzz of the machine resumed, and people continued talking and laughing a few feet away, but for a little while, it felt like it was just the two of them as her fingertips tracing his palm absently, his knee nudging against hers every so often.
She looked down at their interlocked hands, then up at his focused face. There was so much movement around them, but he was her still point. And just like that, the adrenaline from the show, the ache from the tiny tattoo, the hum of travel and touring, all of it melted into something quiet and sweet between them.
They didn't say much after that, but they didn't need to. Their hands stayed intertwined the entire time.
