Warrior - Chapter Eight One

It was impossible for me to move my eyes away, even though I wanted to look into Arnav's eyes and be like what the fuck?!

But it just wasn't fucking possible!

All I could do was stare at the massive tattoo on his right arm in complete shock!

"...well, what do you think," I heard Arnav ask.

I could hear the nervousness in his tone but I honestly couldn't give it any attention, still gaping at his arm like I was a fucking fish out of water!

What- like what-!

For real, like- what?!

I'm glad we're both on the same page because what the fuck?! And hold up, he fucking told me he was going to get it on his chest for sure, so what fucking changed?

I need answers! "What the fuck?!"

A snort escaped from Arnav, which helped me click back to reality and look up at him with a gaping-fish-face.

"How did I know that was going to be your reaction," he grinned.

"Uh, cause it's pretty fucking predictable! What's not predictable is the fact that I never expected my fucking face on your fucking arm!"

It's seriously my face! My fucking face! On his arm!

What the fuck?! "What happened to you getting a tattoo on your chest?!"

"Uh, well... I mean it was my intention at first, but then after going through concepts and sketches, I thought it would be better to just do it on my arm."

"You planned on getting a tattoo of my face on your chest?"

Blush instantly filled his cheeks but I was in no mood to tease him. "Not exactly-"

"Then what exactly? Because my face is staring back at me with a hat on its head."

Arnav instantly frowned. "It's not a hat, it's a helmet; a valkyrie's helmet."

"A valkyrie-?"

Looking back at his tattoo, I realized that he was right. 

Wait a minute.... "You... why me in a valkyrie's helmet?"

His cheeks reddened a bit more. "Well, uh... given the warrior that you are, I thought that I would honor that... with this."

My eyes drew back to the tattoo, and I'm still in complete shock. The fact that my face is now etched into his arm... and I mean I look hella fierce in it! The way my eyes are, I mean shit! It's like looking at picture of myself- well, technically it is. But the artwork, I mean... my gosh! Even the way my hair is flowing... it's amazing! I look so intense, so fierce, so powerful!

"Valkyries were Odin's handmaidens, right," I said, still keeping my eyes on the new tattoo.

"Yes; they were warriors and would also decide which of the fallen soldiers would be granted a place in Valhalla. But that's just one of the myths."

I only hummed in return, still staring away because my brain wasn't capable of getting me to do anything else, my whole being just malfunctioning. However, as I'm staring at the tattoo, a memory pops in my head of the time when Arnav and I had stayed at my parents' place. At the time, I had figured out that name of his dadi was Aarohi because he had her name tattooed on his left arm. Given that she held a big place in his heart, I assumed that Arnav wasn't the type to get portraits of people tattooed onto his body. 

And yet....

My heart thumped in my chest as I felt my throat swell up a bit. "You should go wash up, I'm sure your mom will have the food ready any moment now," and I stepped away to go back in the room.

"You're not mad," I heard Arnav call out from behind.

I paused, my eyes slightly widening.

Am I?

Turning back to him, I see that he's genuinely trying to figure out if he's somehow offended me.

Quite the contrary, actually. 

"No, not at all. You better hurry and wash up," and I walked away, leaving the room.

Holy shit! Holy shit!!! Holy-! I mean-! What the fuck? What! The! Fuck?!

He has my face on his arm! He has my face on his arm!!! He literally got a tattoo of my fucking face on his arm, like what-? What-?

Geez-us-! Fuck! Fuck!!! Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!!!

Fuck!

And it's on his arm! His arm! Somewhere where people can easily see it if he's wearing short sleeves- holy shit! Holy-! I didn't even realize that until now!

Everyone is going to see it! Everyone! As soon as he joins everyone at the table, everyone is going to see it! I mean NK has already asked about it, so Arnav's definitely been keeping it a secret from everyone, so when they-! Fuck! They're all going to see it and... and...

And what?

Pausing in the hall, I placed my hand on the wall, supporting myself.

Arnav loved his grandmother, which is why he made a tribute to her, by getting a tattoo of her name. But he has my fucking face inked to his body! So what does that...?

It would appear that the virgin badass tattooed CEO has fallen in love with you.

My heart thumped in my chest once more, only this time, it continued to thump, rather than it's usual one-beat. In fact, it was starting to race in my chest, warmth spreading in my body as the wind within it got knocked right out of me.

What was it you were thinking that day? Something about how there's now a friendship? A sense of closeness, protection... love?

My mind instantly filled with that trail of thought, as well as everything that had surrounded it.

It just may be the case-

No.

...no. It can't....

No.

But-!

No! No, no, it can't- I mean... no.

NO!

What-?

Bringing my hands to my ears, I blocked out the voice, forcing myself to clear my mind.

You can't block me out!

I have to! I must! I can't-! I just... I can't do this! I can't-!

Can't? Or won't?

What-?

You may act all strong and believe yourself to be some strong ass bitch, but you're nothing more than a fucking weakling!

My heart thudded in my chest, feeling as if it were burying itself.

You're not strong... you're weak - you're insecure.

You're a coward.

My hand slipped from the wall, causing me to fall, but I quickly caught myself, getting a hold of the wall once more.

I... I-

I felt my pocket vibrate, so I reached in and pulled out my phone to see a text from Ivy. Ignoring it, I quickly called her.

"Ma'am-"

"Ivy, I need for you to do something for me."