What It Is To Burn

“Come on babe, please?” Andy begged and Dess could only shake her head as she looked down at his shirt and tried not to laugh. It was the Fourth of July and they were stopped for a break. Currently Andy was trying to get Dess and Kit to join him and the guys for a baseball game, but neither girl seemed interested.

“I really don’t want to go babe.It’s fucking hot out and you look way too ridiculous in that shirt.” She laughed again, fanning herself as Dess looked down at Andy’s shirt once again and smirked. He was wearing a flag printed t-shirt, but of course he had cut it to bits and it was hanging off of his lanky frame.


It was the day before the tour would enter Canada and most people on the tour were using the off time to rest. Then there were people like Andy who couldn’t sit still and had to constantly be moving around-doing something or seeing something new. Dess was one of the people who wanted to rest. All she and Kit wanted was to lay around the bus all day, fanning one another and then they would pop their heads out of the bus later that night to catch some fireworks.

A huge group from the tour had decided they wanted to go enjoy the ultimate American pastime-baseball. Andy really wanted her to go, but Dess was feeling sicker than ever and she just wanted one day of down time. Looking down at her nails-the paint was chipping and maybe she could redo them today, Dess smiled and then looked back up at Andy.


“I love you. Go have a boys day. Kit will be here with me-we won’t get in to too much trouble.” Dess said as she turned to face her best friend and winked. Kit had come over early that morning to get away from Sleeping-all of whom were sick with colds and acting like a group of over grown babies.

“Fine. I want to watch the fireworks with you later tonight though.” He pouted as Andy looked down at her. Dess looked adorable today with her blonde and pink hair down around her face, a slight curl to her tresses and she had actually done her makeup that morning. Maybe she was beginning to feel better?

“I promise you have first dibs on holding my hand tonight babe.” Dess smiled up at him as Andy only shook his head and bent to kiss her. Her lips felt ice cold and he could feel her shivering underneath his touch, but Dess was still being stubborn and refused to go see anyone.

“…love you Dess.” Andy said, his lips curling into a smile as he looked down at her with a soft look in his eyes.

“I love you too Andy-don’t get too crazy.” She said as Dess watched Andy walk off the bus and she turned to Kit. Her best friend looked exhausted and both girls really needed this day off. Most of the girls on the tour were all suffering from exhaustion and it seemed like a lot of them had chosen to stay behind today to get some much needed rest.


The two girls spent most of the day laying around the bus, the air conditioner up on the highest setting to ward off the unbearable heat. Dess sat at the kitchen table, fanning herself with an old issue of Kerrang Magazine and she sighed. She had been feeling even worse than before-her headache seemed permanent and she woke up every morning feeling sick to her stomach. She had never liked sleeping on the outside of the bunk-she always fell out, but with the threat of being sick, she needed to be able to get to the bathroom quickly.

As she looked over towards Kit, Dess smirked and took in her best friend. The buxom red head had on a pair of short jean shorts, a pale yellow crop top and her hair was piled ontop of her head and yet she was still sweating buckets. The two girls were bored and perhaps a change of scenery would cool them down a bit.


“We should go do something…” Dess said suddenly, running a hand through her hair, pulling the strands up and off of her neck as she looked towards her best friend. Kit was fanning herself with one of Jinxx’s books and her bright green eyes only stared Dess down.

“Like what?” Kit asked, ceasing her fanning as she looked to Dess with a raised eyebrow. The blonde was dressed in an old pair of black shorts and a pale blue the Used tank top that barely covered anything it was so full of holes and rips-apparently Dess had been taking fashion tips from Andy lately.

“We passed a tattoo place on the way in here…we could borrow one of the vans or just hoof it.” Dess suggested and Kit got that evil gleam in her eyes. It had been forever since she had gotten any ink-she was constantly taking care of Sleeping that she never had any personal time.

“Well I’m sure as shit not walking in this fucking heat, but I know someone with a car we could borrow.” Kit said, her smirk wide as she and Dess giggled and both girls hopped up and headed off of the bus.


With a quick stop by the main office and a small white lie saying that they needed to borrow a van to go out to get groceries, Dess and Kit were cackling as they buckled their seat belts with Kit behind the wheel. Dess held on for dear life as Kit screeched around the bus depot, a slight smirk on her face as she made a sharp turn and Dess would swear that the van was on only two wheels for a few seconds. They traveled down the road, both girls going over ideas with one another and finally they decided on two things.

Both of them were going to get a best friend tattoo, but Dess also wanted to get some lyrics and a new piercing. Kit wanted lyrics as well, but she smiled as she wanted to keep them a secret until after the deed was done. Within ten minutes and no accidents the girls were finally sitting outside of the Porcelain Skin Tattoo Parlor. Dess took in a deep breath as she got out of the van, her flip flops slipping on the pavement but thankfully she caught herself.


“You ready for this?” Kit asked, coming over towards Dess and throwing an arm around the blonde’s shoulders. Dess loved getting tattooed-there was something relaxing about the entire process, but she was also worried. You really weren’t supposed to get tattoos while sick because it fucked with your immune system but fuck it.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Dess smirked at her best friend as the two girls walked arm in arm across the near empty parking lot and entered the building one right after the other.


The parlor was thankfully clean looking, with deep purple walls and black tiled floors that gleamed under the soft lighting coming from several lamps that were spread throughout. There was a young guy sitting behind the counter, his eyes on his phone as the girls approached. Dess took in the walls-all of the flash art shining behind their glass protectors and Dess smiled. She loved being in tattoo parlors and if she hadn’t gotten in to comics and designing shirts-tattoo artist probably would have been her next career choice. Kit cleared her throat, making both Dess and the kid behind the counter snap their heads to attention.


“Oh. Hey-sorry…how can I help you?” The guy looked to be about twenty with his light brown hair and blue eyes…he kind of looked like Andy. Dess smiled at the kid and Kit only grunted-she wanted to get this done and get back to the bus for a nap before she had to get back to babysitting her band of babies.

“Yeah, we’re both here to get two tattoos a piece.” Kit said and Dess smiled as she raised her hand.

“I’m also looking to get something pierced.” Her smile was soft as the kid behind the counter smirked at both girls, taking in Dess’ sleeve and Kit’s partial sleeve before handing over their paperwork to fill out.


As Dess filled out the usual information: Name, Age, Placement, Type and Driver’s License Number she felt a bunch of butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. She knew exactly what she wanted-she and Kit were both getting one half of a broken heart, almost like those necklaces that girls gave one another in middle school except instead of Best Friends For Life they were getting Misfit Bitches For Eternity. Dess smiled as she thought of her other tattoo and the piercing she was getting and she looked over towards Kit.

Kit had planned on getting lyrics as well, but refused to tell Dess what they were until they were permanently inked on her pale skin. Kit was up first, telling Dess to hang back as she was getting the lyrics first and wanted them to be a surprise. A small girl with a wide smile on her face came out and checked things over on her paperwork before leading Kit back towards a small studio room.

She waited for what seemed like forever and suddenly Kit was in front of her, her shirt lifted up until Dess was staring at her pink and white bikini top. Right underneath Kit’s right boob the skin was bright pink, but tiny inky words were forever lain on her flesh and as Dess read over them she felt tears come to her eyes.

I am the chosen, Wretched and Divine
I am the unspoken, the one they left behind
Fearless, fight until we die
I am broken, the Wretched and Divine


These words, written in a fine script, looked delicate against the harsh redness of her skin and all Dess could do was stand up and bring her best friend in to a hug. Those words had been written by someone who meant the world to Dess-someone who Kit didn’t always get along with and yet even she could have a respect for them. Suddenly Kit lifted her left middle finger and Dess laughed.

One half of a broken heart with the letters MBFE written right beneath it and Dess smirked as she looked past her best friend and saw that it was her turn. She walked slowly towards the tattoo artist, smiling at the small girl as she handed over her paper work and removed her shirt. Her lyrics would go on her right shoulder, while her matching tattoo with Kit would go on her right middle finger.


“You sure you want it right here-it’s gonna sting like a bitch since it’s right on the bone.” The girl asked as she applied the stencil to Dess’ right shoulder blade and Dess smiled. She had lost a lot of weight-she was mostly skin and bones at this point but that wasn’t going to stop her.

“Yep, I’m pretty okay with pain.” She smirked as she held up her finally completed Batman sleeve and the tattoo artist smiled as she took in the sleeve silently. Suddenly there was stinging sensation and Dess squinted her eyes closed as she tried to not cry out in pain.


Kit had come over, taking Dess’ hand as the girl chiseled away at her shoulder blade. She felt like passing out and then she felt ridiculous-this was not her first tattoo nor would it be her last. So why was it so fucking painful? Finally the girl finished with her shoulder and moved to sit in front of Dess as she applied the stencil to her middle finger. That tattoo almost hurt worse than her shoulder blade, but by this point her whole body felt numb and Dess could handle the pain. Finally she was done with her tattoos and as Dess looked over her shoulder in the mirror she felt tears come to her eyes.


I think it's gonna be alright, now
I think it's gonna be okay
Just close your eyes
'Cause we are only sparks
But together burning bright


“Now are you ready for your piercing?” The girl asked, breaking Dess’ spell as she turned from the mirror and smiled at the shorter girl.

“Yeah.” She said simply as Dess took a seat in the only chair in the corner, Kit hovering over her like a protective mother hen. She watched as the girl silently prepared everything and Dess smiled as she approached, that long ass needle held in one gloved hand a small black hoop held between the fingers of her other hand.

It wasn’t as painful as Dess remembered and as the girl finished up and placed the ball into the hoop of her new piercing, Dess could only smile up at Kit. Two new tattoos and a new-ish piercing-well this certainly was one way to celebrate their nation’s birthday.

After getting everything finished up and paying for everything, Dess and Kit were on their way back, stopping by a small grocery store to pick up some last minute things before they entered the bus depot gates. The girls laughed at Tammy’s shocked look as she took in the girls-especially Dess- when they turned the keys back in and then headed back towards Black Veil Bride’s bus. Dess looked at her watch as they approached, smirking as she knew that Andy and the guys were due back at any time.

Dess sighed as she looked at her watch: 6:15 and the guys still hadn’t come back yet. She only hoped that they would come back reasonably sober, especially Andy but there were no guaranties with this group. Kit was currently snoozing lightly on the couch, one arm over her eyes to ward off the fading sun and Dess only laughed as she looked down at her middle finger. She and Kit were linked for life-not just by a tattoo, but by their pasts.

Kit had always been beat down in her life-she had always wanted her parents to be like Dess’ so the red head spent a lot of time in the Montgomery household. Suddenly there was a noise coming from right outside the bus and as Dess looked out the window from her spot at the kitchen table she couldn’t help but smile. The boys were back and while they sounded jolly and like they were in good spirits they also mostly sounded sober.


“Dess?!” Andy’s voice called out to her from the steps of the bus and Odessa only smirked as she turned in her seat to fully face the front of the bus. She crouched down so that all Andy would see would be the top of her eyes and head and she couldn’t help but feel nervous. What if he didn’t like her piercing? What if he hated her new tattoos?

“Hey babe!” She called out, her voice slightly muffled by the back of the bench, but soon Andy appeared, his ridiculous shirt slightly damp from sweating in the heat from the day. His blue eyes shined as they landed on her and he gave her a weird look as he approached, his head cocked to one side and his smirk wide and slightly confused.

“Whatcha doin?” Andy asked and suddenly there was a grumble from the couch as Dess turned her head slightly and saw that Kit was awake and not happy.

“God! Could you two love birds keep it the fuck down?!” Kit shouted as she sat up and grumbled some more as she headed towards the back of the bus. Dess laughed as she heard Kit grumble a few more times and then all was silent as she sat there and looked up at Andy with playful eyes.

“Just sitting here.” Dess said, her voice small as she finally popped her head up and smiled at Andy-the new lip ring shining brightly in the sun as it came in from the window. Andy’s mouth dropped slightly as he took in Dess’ new accessory and then he was sitting next to her with one finger out and she smirked as she felt his finger tip touch her skin slightly.

“I thought I said stay out of trouble!” Andy laughed before placing his lips against hers and he smirked. Now he knew what it was like to kiss someone with a lip ring and he certainly understood Dess’ fascination with tugging on his whenever they kissed passionately. They couldn’t do that yet though-her lip was still swollen and Andy didn’t want to hurt her.

“Well we stayed out of trouble for most of the day!” Dess said as she smiled and watched as the rest of the guys climbed the bus steps, giving her a funny look as they passed, but CC actually stopped and reached out a finger to touch her lip.

“Did you go fishing again Dess?” CC joked as he removed his finger from her face and Dess stuck out her tongue at him.

“Hey! I’m the experienced fisherman here remember!” She called after the drummer as he walked towards the back of the bus. Suddenly Kit appeared, a frown on her face as she walked towards the front of the bus, but stopped and turned to face the couple before walking down the steps.

“ Dess, you better find someone else for me to walk down the aisle with at your wedding because if it’s still Ashley Purdy come October I am not going to show up!” With that Kit disappeared down the steps and Dess could hear her best friend huffing as she walked across the parking lot towards her own bus.


Andy and Dess spent the next hour and a half talking to one another quietly about their days and Andy seemed to love her new tattoos, but he really seemed to be obsessed with her lip ring. She kept playing with it, biting down on it and sucking it into her mouth but then she would wince as it was still sore. She had completely forgotten how much she liked having a lip ring and Dess smiled as she looked towards Andy.

He was leaning up against the wall of the bus, his legs spread out before him, but his head was turned to look out the window. Dess peaked her own eyes through the blinds and a soft smile came to her face. Kellin’s wife and daughter had shown up to celebrate the day and Dess noticed that there was a sense of longing behind Andy’s eyes as he looked out on the little family.


“October will be here before you know it babe.” Dess said, reaching a hand across the table until her fingers ran over his skin. Andy smirked softly as he trained his blue eyes on her and his smile widened.

“I know-I just want it to get here so badly. I want to watch you walking down that aisle towards me more than anything right now. I want what he has…” Andy said, his voice growing soft as his eyes glanced back out the window and took in the little family. Kellin had Copeland up in the air and even though the singer was getting over a cold he still looked over joyed.

“We’ll have what they have babe…trust me.” She smiled as Dess grabbed for Andy’s hand and both of them stood, stretching their arms above their heads before heading off towards the door of the bus.


It was dark enough now for the fireworks to be seen and as Andy led her over towards a patch of grass, Dess smiled. Everyone-no matter how sick or tired they had been feeling-had come outside to watch the bright bursts of light make the night sky glow. Dess could see Kit standing off in the distance with Justin and Jesse, but with Ashley nearby she knew that her best friend would stay away.

Silently Dess wished that the two could get past everything-at least until after the wedding and then they could kill one another. Andy sat down and pulled her towards him and Dess cuddled against his chest, Andy’s knees bent up so she could rest her arms on them. Suddenly the night sky blossomed with lights, loud popping noises making them all jump and Dess smiled.


“You remember the first time we ever saw fireworks together?” He whispered into her ear and Dess smiled as she leaned her head back to rest against Andy’s chest.

“New Year’s Eve…almost two years ago.” She said but her eyes never left the sky.
“It’s been an amazing almost two years with you babe…” His voice was low and Dess said nothing as she felt his lips graze the side of her head.


Two years. They had been in one another’s lives for two years and as she sat there Dess couldn’t help but hope that they would have more than just two years together. But deep down she felt scared that that just wasn’t written in the stars for them.

Notes

So sorry it's taken me so long to update! So if you could get a tattoo with Dess-what would you get?

Review <3

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