fic: just like a tattoo (i’ll always have you) (April Fic Challenge)

[csi_sanders1129]

Title: just like a tattoo (i’ll always have you)
Chapters: 1/1
Author:csi_sanders1129
Ratings: K+
Word Count: 1221
Pairings/Characters: Chuckie Finster, Tommy Pickles, Phil Deville, Lil Deville, Kimi Finster, Dil Pickles
Synopsis: In which college is fast approaching and the gang goes for one last adventure.
Comments: Written for my April Fic Challenge 2021, Prompt: Green. Future fic. Can technically follow my other Rugrats fic, Future Plans. Title from Jordin Sparks, Tattoo. Comments and kudos would be awesome. Enjoy!

Tomorrow, everything changes.

Tomorrow, Kimi leaves to begin a year abroad in Japan. At the end of the week, Phil is moving to the west coast for his school, and two days after that, Lil is heading east to hers. Three days later, he and Tommy move into their dorm at State College.

So, today is their last adventure. Not forever, but for a while, certainly. They've spent nearly eighteen years inseparable, and now… Now, they'll need plane rides and coordinated schedules to see each other. It's a lot to get used to.

But, none of that matters today. He drags Kimi away from rechecking her suitcases for what is probably the tenth time today and the two of them head out right on schedule. He drives his well-used car down the street to the Pickles' house to pick up Tommy and Dil, and Phil and Lil wander over a moment later from their own house. He revels in the chatter of the full car as they drive away. He knows he'll miss it once it's gone – even though the impromptu concert Phil and Dil are hosting is very, very off-key. Kimi is discussing packing techniques with Lil – or trying to, at least, over the singing. Tommy's busy recording it all on his camcorder.

Finally, they arrive. It's a generic little strip mall on the edge of town. At one end is a sub shop, then a dog groomer's, then a hair salon, and on the other end of the row of businesses is their destination - a tattoo studio.

"You guys ready for this?" Tommy asks, the six of them piling out of the car. None of them have ever gotten a tattoo before, and everyone is sort of nervous about it. Still, a chorus of agreement follows.

The artist tattooing them, Ramon, is well prepared for the onslaught of clients. Tommy set up the appointments a few weeks, when they'd all finally managed to agree upon a design. After a round of introductions and obligatory paperwork, Ramon gestures to his set-up – already clean and sterile and ready to go. "Alright," he says, "Who's up first?"

"I'll go," Chuckie volunteers. As much as this seems to surprise the others, he has his reasons. One, if he does it, no one else will chicken out. Two, he'd rather not build up the anxiety by watching the other's go first. Three, he wants to get it over with and enjoy the rest of their last adventure without said anxiety hanging over his head.

Ramon beckons him over and talks him through everything that's happening. Since Chuckie has opted to get the tattoo on his left ankle, Ramon disinfects and shaves the area, lays out the stencil already bearing the design and makes sure Chuckie is happy with its placement. "You want one of your buddies in here?" He asks, before the process really begins.

Chuckie very much does. He asks for Tommy, who promptly comes in and claims the extra chair in the room, settles in close to Chuckie as the tattoo gun turns on. The others lurk in the doorway, watching from a distance.

"You can do this," Tommy assures him, his ever-present camcorder angled toward the tattoo. Still with his free hand, he doesn't hesitate to catch Chuckie's hand in his and hold tight.

Chuckie nods, very pointedly not looking at the tattoo gun, eyes squeezed shut, when the needles first make contact. Then, awe and relief – "…That's it?" He asks, as Ramon continues outlining the design. "That's not bad at all," he breathes a heavy sigh and loosens his grip on Tommy's hand. "Feels kinda funny, actually."

Ramon laughs and keeps working, glad his client has calmed down.

The others seem much less tense after that. Conversation picks back up and Chuckie lets the bits and pieces he catches distract him from the tattoo as it progresses from linework into color and shading. Phil, Lil, and Kimi are all discussing the cool sightseeing they can do around their new schools while Dil pleads with them to let him stowaway for the trip. Tommy stays with him.

Soon enough, that tattoo is done and Chuckie's staring down at Reptar, vivid green with crisp black lines. Ramon talks him through the aftercare and lets him go.

"You did great!" Tommy tells him, clapping him on the back. They leave the room while Ramon cleans up and takes a break before setting up for the next tattoo. "And it looks fantastic!"

The others crowd around, getting a closer look. They wholeheartedly agree and commend Chuckie for being brave enough to go first.

"I'm next!" Kimi eagerly declares. She sits like a seasoned veteran, comes out some time later with a slightly smaller purple Reptar on her foot. Phil goes after that, gets a purple Reptar on his right shoulder. Then Lil gets a green one on her left shoulder.

The group takes a break after that. They get some pizzas delivered for everyone and sit around on the sofas in the tattoo studio's front lobby reminiscing about old times. When lunch is over, Dil takes his turn, comes out with a purple Reptar on his thigh. Tommy pops in and out of the room to record periodically all through the day.

And then, it's Tommy's turn. He, like Chuckie and Lil, has opted for a traditionally green Reptar, though he's putting his on his forearm. Chuckie goes in with him, holds his hand like Tommy had done for him, holds the camera, as well.

Tommy flinches at the pain when it first starts, but like everyone else, he adjusts quickly to the odd sensation and soon enough, his tattoo is done, too.

They thank Ramon for his work, pay him a considerable sum of pooled money, and take their leave, piling back in to Chuckie's car. They stop for ice cream and then, a spur of the moment decision, they go to the nearby park where they'd always played together when they were little. They settle around a picnic table as the sun starts to go down. Once the ice cream is gone, the girls run off to the swings, Dil challenges Phil to a race to the slides, and Tommy and Chuckie meander over to the jungle gym, perching on the bars and watching the others.

"So," Tommy says, breaking the comfortable silence they've fallen into.

"So," Chuckie agrees, hates that he has to be the one to bring reality crashing back down around them. But, it's getting late. "We probably have to head home, soon. We're getting up super early to take Kimi to the airport in the morning."

"I know," Tommy says, staring down at the fresh tattoo on his arm, hidden beneath the layer of protective film covering it. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he admits. "I'm glad we're going to State together."

Chuckie doesn't know what he'd do, either. The goodbyes he has to say are going to be hard enough, but saying goodbye to Tommy would be… impossible. "Me, too," he says, leans in to the arm Tommy throws around his shoulder.

Tomorrow, Kimi leaves for Japan. Phil and Lil for their own adventures not long after.

Tomorrow, everything changes.

But there is one constant, at least.

Nothing can separate Tommy and Chuckie.