Work Text:
Eli Moskowitz was sitting in the tattoo studio chair, with nervous hands on his lap, trying to control his anxiety. Her long blue hair was tied in a ponytail, falling on her shoulders and contrasting with the soft and illuminated environment of the studio. Today was an important day for Eli: he was about to get his first tattoo. It wouldn't be just any tattoo, but one that represented everything he felt and loved.
The tattoo would be a whale. The whale has always been something special for Eli - a symbol of freedom, strength and vastness. He felt an inexplicable connection with the ocean and its inhabitants, especially with these gentle giants who swim without limits. The whale represented the way he often felt: as if he lived in a huge ocean, where the world sometimes seemed too big and, at the same time, he still had the need to explore every part of it.
Next to him, Demetri watched with a soft smile. He was always by Eli's side when he made important decisions, and he knew how much this tattoo meant. Demetri, with his calm manner, never judged Eli for being who he was, and knew how much his boyfriend dedicated himself to his passions, such as Eli's hyperfocus on marine animals. Demetri gently touched Eli's hand, a silent gesture of support.
"Are you ready?" Demetri asked, his gaze warm and attentive.
Eli looked at him, trying to hide his nervousness. "I am. I know what I want." Eli's voice was firm, but his fingers trembled slightly, as if he felt the weight of something big about to happen.
The tattoo artist, a man with tattoos on his arms and a calm look, approached with the machine ready to start. He smiled at Eli and asked if he was comfortable, and Eli nodded, trying to relax.
When the needle touched his skin for the first time, Eli felt a slight chill, but soon the sensation of pain became familiar, almost reassuring. He closed his eyes for a moment and gave himself to the process, feeling the machine tracing the contour of the whale on his shoulder. The pain, in fact, seemed like a mark of something that was part of it - something he wanted to carry forever. The process took some time, but Eli felt at peace. Each trace that took shape was like a confirmation that he was on the right track.
When the tattoo was finally completed, Eli got up from the chair and went to the mirror. The whale, large and graceful, was perfectly drawn on his shoulder. The image flowed, with the lines of the drawing recalling the smooth and powerful movements of the ocean. Eli smiled when he saw the result, gently touching the fresh paint. It was as he had imagined, a representation of the ocean that has always been part of it.
Demetri approached and looked at the tattoo with a satisfied smile. "It was amazing, Eli," he said, running his hand over his boyfriend's shoulder. "You captured what you wanted."
Eli smiled back, his blue eyes shining with a quiet emotion. "Now it's mine. I've always been a whale. I just needed something visible to remember that."
Demetri laughed softly and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. "You've always been a whale. I just needed something to show the world."
Later, Eli and Demetri met their friends at the dojo. The atmosphere was relaxed, with everyone warming up for training. When Eli came in, he hesitated for a moment. He knew that the tattoo meant a lot to him and now he was about to share it with others, not just as an image, but as a piece of him. He took off his T-shirt with a quiet gesture, revealing the whale tattooed on his shoulder.
The dojo was silent for a moment, and then Miguel, the first to react, looked wide-eyed. "Wow, is it a whale?" He asked, amazed. "That's awesome!"
"Yes," Eli replied, touching the tattoo with a lightness that indicated the deep meaning she had for him. "It's my first tattoo. I've always felt a connection with the ocean, and the whale... that's how I see myself. Free. Huge. No limits."
Johnny, watching with a sincere smile, commented: "I always knew you had something like that inside you. Something big, that doesn't fit in the boxes. This tattoo makes sense."
Eli felt a warmth in his chest when he heard his friends' words. For a long time, he felt it was different, but now, when looking at their reaction, he realized that, in a way, he was being seen. Not as something strange or out of place, but as someone who finally allowed himself to be who he really was.
Demetri, who was next to him, put his hand gently on Eli's tattooed shoulder and smiled. "The whale is yours, but the ocean is where you will always be."
Eli smiled back, touching Demetri's hand. He knew that, with Demetri by his side, he would always have a place where he would feel at home. The ocean, with all its depths, would always be there, and now, his tattoo would be the constant reminder that he was free. Free to be who you were, without fear and without limitations.
The friends continued to observe, and Eli felt he didn't need to say anything else. The tattoo, the way he felt and how others saw him at that moment, spoke for itself. He was at home, as always outside - free, as big as the ocean, and at ease in the world.