A special meaning
by Belladonna
The tattoo
„Ever thought of getting one?“
-“One what?“
„A tattoo, dummy. Ever thought of getting one?“
-“No reason for self-mutilation, Starsk.“
„It's not self-mutilation, a tattoo has a special meaning. Or it's just
something you wake up with after you've been really really drunk and have no
memory of why the hell you thought it'd be a good idea.“
-“And you know that from experience?“
„No, happened to a buddy in the army. I have a bit different memories
associated with tattoos and swore that I'd never let a needle get close enough
to put ink under my skin.“
May 15th 1979
„No reason for self-mutilation, Starsk.“
Hutch remembered his answer to Starsky's question about tattoos from that day very clearly. And also what Starsky had said then.
„A tattoo has a special meaning.“
Today he definitely had to agree. It held a special meaning. An image, quote or name, for the person wearing it, it was important enough to have it inked permanently.
He had thought it over and over again and as Hutch sat down in the chair, he remembered the meaning his own would have for him – always reminding him of the day he'd failed protecting his partner.
May 19th 1979
„I swore, I'd never let a needle get close to me to put ink under my skin.“
That was exactly what he'd said to his partner those years ago.
Starsky remembered how his Aunt and Uncle were always telling him stories about the camps, their losses and pain and also remembered the haunted look in their eyes when they absently rubbed over the numbers tattooed on their arms.
He remembered what they'd meant for them.
Having thought long and hard about it, Starsky thought what his own tattoo now would mean for him, the date of the day he lived.
Notes: After I've finished this I realized I might have made a mistake.
I seem to remember to have read that it's forbidden in Jewish belief to actually
get a tattoo, but for the sake of the story and the image I wanted to portray,
let's pretend that it's not. I sincerely apologize if I might offend anybody
with this.