"Luna, I swear to God, if you don't stop fidgeting, I'm gonna stick this needle somewhere you won't like!" Zoe's voice was stern but tinged with affection.
Luna Hawkins froze, her leg halfway through another nervous bounce. She shot an apologetic grin at her best friend and fellow tattoo artist. "Sorry, Zo. You know how I get before a big piece."
Zoe rolled her eyes, the action making the tiny stars tattooed at the corner of her left eye dance. "Girl, you've been doing this for years. When are you gonna realize you're actually good at it?"
Luna shrugged, her gaze drifting to the buzzing neon sign visible through the shop's front window. 'Crescent City Ink' glowed in electric blue, casting an otherworldly light across the rain-slicked streets of New Orleans.
It was nearing midnight, but the city never truly slept, especially not in the French Quarter.
"It's not just any piece," Luna muttered, her fingers absently tracing the intricate designs inked across her arms.
Each tattoo told a story - the compass rose for her wanderlust, the book for her love of stories, the crescent moon for her namesake. "This guy wants a full back piece. A dragon. Says he's been dreaming about it for years."
Zoe whistled low. "Damn, that's gonna take multiple sessions. But hey, big money, right?"
Luna nodded, but money wasn't what had her stomach in knots. There was something about this client, something in his eyes when he'd described the dragon. It was like he could already see it, breathing and alive on his skin.
The bell above the door chimed, cutting through Luna's thoughts. Both women looked up to see a mountain of a man duck through the entrance.
He had to be at least six and a half feet tall, with shoulders broad enough to fill the doorframe. His arms were a canvas of faded tattoos - anchors, pinup girls, and what looked like military insignias.
"Ladies," he rumbled, his voice as deep as Luna expected. "I'm looking for Luna Hawkins."
Luna stood, suddenly feeling very small in her 5'4" frame. "That's me. You must be Mr. Grayson."
The big man's face split into a grin, transforming his intimidating appearance into something almost boyish. "Please, call me Bear. Everybody does." He extended a hand that engulfed Luna's completely when she shook it.
"Alright, Bear," Luna said, finding herself returning his smile. "You ready to get this dragon on your back?"
Bear's eyes lit up. "Born ready, little lady. This dragon's been living in my head for too long. Time to set him free."
As Luna led Bear to her station at the back of the shop, Zoe called out, "Have fun, Lu! Try not to get crushed!"
Luna flipped her friend off without looking back, earning a rumbling chuckle from Bear.
"Don't mind Zoe," Luna said as she gestured for Bear to take a seat. "Her mouth runs faster than her brain most days."
"Nah, I like her," Bear said, easing himself onto the chair. "Reminds me of my kid sister. Never knows when to shut up, that one."
Luna smiled as she began setting up her equipment. There was something instantly likable about Bear, despite his intimidating size. As she worked, she studied him more closely.
His skin was weathered, telling of a life lived outdoors. There were scars too, some from what looked like burns, others... well, Luna didn't want to speculate.
"So," she said, pulling on a pair of black latex gloves. "Tell me more about this dragon of yours."
Bear's eyes took on that same faraway look Luna had noticed during their consultation. "He's ancient," he began, his voice dropping to an almost reverent tone. "Scales like burnished copper, eyes that have seen empires rise and fall. But he's not cruel, you know? Just... tired. Tired and lonely."
Luna felt a shiver run down her spine. The way Bear described the dragon, it was like he was talking about an old friend rather than an imaginary creature.
"He's curled around a mountain," Bear continued, his massive hands sketching shapes in the air. "But it's not just any mountain. It's his home, his prison, his treasure all at once. And there's this sense that he's waiting for something. Or someone."
Luna nodded, her mind already racing with ideas. This was why she loved her job. Every tattoo was a story, a piece of someone's soul made visible.
"Alright," she said, picking up her tattoo gun. "I think I've got a good idea of what we're aiming for. You ready to get started?"
Bear nodded, already shrugging off his shirt to reveal a back that was a patchwork of scars and faded ink. "Let's bring this dragon to life."
For the next few hours, the only sounds in the shop were the buzz of Luna's tattoo gun and the occasional grunt from Bear. Luna lost herself in the work, her hands moving almost of their own accord as she brought the dragon to life on Bear's skin.
She started with the outline, tracing the sinuous curve of the dragon's body as it wound around the imaginary mountain. Next came the details - each scale meticulously crafted, the play of light and shadow across the creature's form.
Luna found herself pouring everything into this piece, driven by some instinct she couldn't quite name.
It was nearing 3 AM when Luna finally set down her gun, her back aching and her eyes strained. "Alright, Bear," she said, her voice hoarse from disuse. "That's all we can do for tonight. Want to take a look?"
Bear stood, stretching out muscles stiff from hours of sitting still. Luna handed him a mirror and positioned another behind him so he could see his back. For a long moment, Bear was silent, his eyes wide as he took in the work.
"Holy shit," he finally breathed. "Luna, this is... it's exactly how I saw him. How did you...?"
Luna smiled, a mix of pride and relief washing over her. "I just listened to your story and let it guide me. We've still got a lot of work to do - this is just the outline and some basic shading. But I'm glad you like it so far."
Bear turned to her, his eyes suspiciously bright. "Like it? Luna, you've made him real. For the first time in my life, I feel like someone else can see what's been in my head all these years."
Luna felt her cheeks warm at the praise. "Well, we've got at least two more sessions to really bring him to life. How about we schedule the next one for next week? Same time?"
Bear nodded eagerly. "Absolutely. Whatever it takes to finish this masterpiece."
As Luna began cleaning up her station, Bear carefully pulled his shirt back on, wincing slightly at the movement. "You know," he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "There are stories about tattoo artists like you."
Luna paused, a chill running down her spine despite the warmth of the shop. "What do you mean?"
Bear shrugged, but there was an intensity to his gaze that hadn't been there before. "Just old tales. About artists who can do more than just put ink on skin. Who can bring their creations to life."
Luna forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her own ears. "Sounds like some fantasy novel stuff to me."
"Maybe," Bear said, heading for the door. "But in my experience, every fantasy has a grain of truth to it. See you next week, Luna. And thank you."
The bell chimed as Bear left, leaving Luna alone in the suddenly too-quiet shop. She shook her head, trying to dismiss Bear's words. It was late, she was tired, and her imagination was running wild. That was all.
But as she turned to finish cleaning up, something caught her eye. The mirror she'd used to show Bear his tattoo was still propped up, reflecting the empty chair where he'd sat. Except... it wasn't empty.
Luna blinked hard, certain she was seeing things. But the image remained. There, curled around the back of the chair, was a dragon. Its scales gleamed like burnished copper, its eyes ancient and tired.
Just as Bear had described. Just as Luna had tattooed.
As Luna watched, frozen in disbelief, the dragon's eyes met hers in the mirror. It unfurled massive wings, stretching them across the reflection. Then, with a soundless roar, it launched itself out of the mirror and into the shop.
Luna screamed, stumbling backwards and knocking over her equipment tray. The clatter of falling tools snapped her out of her shock, and she looked wildly around the shop. But there was no dragon.
No movement at all except for the slight sway of the neon sign outside, casting shifting blue shadows across the floor.
Heart pounding, Luna approached the mirror cautiously. It showed nothing but the empty shop behind her. She ran a shaking hand over the cool glass, half expecting it to ripple like water under her touch. But it remained solid and unremarkable.
"I'm losing it," Luna muttered, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes. "Too many late nights, too much caffeine. That's all this is."
But even as she tried to rationalize what she'd seen, a part of her knew. Something had changed tonight. The dragon in the mirror had been as real as the tattoo on Bear's back. And somehow, Luna knew this was only the beginning.
With trembling hands, she began to clean up the fallen equipment, her mind racing. What did this mean? Was she going crazy, or had she somehow tapped into something beyond her understanding?
And most importantly, what would happen when Bear came back to finish his tattoo?
As the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, Luna made a decision. She needed help, someone who wouldn't think she was insane. Someone who knew about the weird and unexplainable.
Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through her contacts until she found the number she was looking for. It rang three times before a groggy voice answered.
"Luna? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Zoe," Luna said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I need you to come to the shop. Now. There's something I need to show you."
"What? Luna, what's going on?"
Luna took a deep breath, her eyes drawn back to the now-innocent looking mirror. "I think... I think I just brought a tattoo to life."