Take Me Home • •

[Phoenix Austin McKenzie]

Nix was having far too much being home in Las Vegas. He had put himself in pain more times that he ought to have done with his shoulder, simply because he had allowed himself to get so carried away at times. This was his home and while he planned to have a future in New York he would always return to the cheesy shows and fancy casinos of Las Vegas when he needed an escape. The best thing this time was that he got to share it all with Payton and tell her stories about his childhood while he took her out into the desert or taught her how to play some of the tables in the casinos out on The Strip.

It wasn’t often that anyone came out to the City of Sin with him and his usual hyperactive persona seemed to have only grown with the longer they spent there. His ma kept reminding him that he ought to be resting that arm of his, but Nix didn’t listen. Most days he had things planned for his girlfriend and on the days that they did stay home they were still in the pool or joining in the antics with his brothers and water guns or balloons. No one would suspect that the McKenzie boys were all adults now, especially not when they were all together and running about like kids on Christmas morning all the time. They had always been like this though and now with their lives pulling them in varying directions it seemed like this was the way that the brothers relaxed and let everything go. For a few weeks in the summer, Derek didn’t have to worry about anything at the office, Nix didn’t have to think about crime and murders and the family could just pretend like they were all teenagers again. It was just nice this time that he had Payton to share it with, and he hoped she was enjoying it now that they had settled in a little more. He knew that they could seem like a lot at times, but it was just fun and games and the kind of memories that could easily fill a scrapbook; if anyone hovered about with a camera.

Today they were just walking around the city, drifting into the malls and some of the smaller stores on a more relaxed afternoon together. None of the family were with them and it was a chance to go shopping, grab some lunch and Nix actually relaxed the arm in the sling for once, rather than getting excited and trying to wave it about. His blue eyes fell on the neon sign of a tattoo parlour and he tugged on Payton’s hand to get her attention before pointing towards it. “I want a tattoo! And piercings! Do you mind if we see if they can fit me in?”

[/color] It had been on his to-do list for a while now, but Nix just hadn’t been able to get around to it before now and he figured there was no better time than the present. If they couldn’t fit him in for what he wanted then they could just leave it and he’d make an appointment in New York for the ink, but knowing Vegas like he did, he knew there were parlours on most corners and his optimism told him there would be time and room for an appointment.
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• • •

TAGGED! Payton <3
WORDS! 605!
OUTFIT! Vegas Baby!!
LYRICS! Take My Hand - - - Simple Plan
NOTES! <3

[Payton Elouisa Rhodes]

Payton had slowly developed a place for herself in the McKenzie family. For the first day or two, she'd been hiding away in Nix's room and staying very close to his side when she ventured out, but, now, she was enjoying herself and actually having fun in the steamy city. It was completely different from New York and, with so many freaks roaming the streets here, it made her feel a little more normal as she snapped photos and played tourist with her crazy boyfriend. She'd been getting along with the brothers, too, and their various girlfriends. Mrs McKenzie was still her favorite to hide away with, and she liked helping the older woman clear dishes or set up for a meal. Even if she was booted out of the kitchen on occasion, Payton had fun spending time with her, and was even teaching her bits of sign language whenever she was home.

Even if she was fond of the insane nights out, she'd always prefer the relaxed trips where she could walk hand in hand with Nix and watch him tell stories about his hometown. Her camera was slung around her neck, one hand laced tightly with Nix's as they strolled in the afternoon heat. Using her free hand, she lined up a shot, snapping a few photos before her boyfriend began tugging on her fingers. She blinked up at him, rolling her eyes playfully as she was dragged towards the tattoo shop. "Don't you have enough?" she signed, shaking her head but following after him through the doors. Payton blinked in shock as they waltzed into the place, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the designs and general business of the shop. She slid her fingers back between Nix's, sticking close and letting him decide where they went in this bizarre little store.

WORDS: 403!
TAG: Nixxy!
LOCATION: Vegas, baby!
OUTFIT: PRETTY TOURIST!!
MUSIC: Mine by Taylor Swift
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Phoenix Austin McKenzie]

Nix could recall telling Payton time and time again that she’d fit in, that his family would love her, but now it just seemed near to perfect that she had the proof of everything he had said. He could run his mouth a mile a minute, but he didn’t lie to anyone; especially not to Payton. He knew his family to be as open and accepting as it seemed possible, but they had seen a variety of characters invited into their home over the last thirty or so years. The brothers liked to test their ma’s patience when they were younger and there had been so many times when friends would dress up just to get a reaction from the McKenzie matriarch. It had been fun, but each and every time she had embraced them into the home. There hadn’t been a doubt in his mind that Payton would be just as welcome; especially since she was probably more normal than the rest of the household!

Laughing at his girlfriend Nix turned to her with excited eyes and a cheeky smile. “I have hardly any!”

[/color] His nose ring had been in place since high school and he had resisted time and time again to have more added to that collection. The last temptation had led to his tongue being pierced, which led to days of lisping and eating nothing but soup. Considering his wild student days were supposed to be behind him now, Nix didn’t seem to make any conscious effort to merge with the rest of the adult world. He’d be working in the labs soon enough and would probably spend more of his mornings swapping the metal for the retainers he kept for “special occasions”. It probably wasn’t even professional, but then that would be the last word anyone could use to describe the hyperactive forensic scientist.

Inside the little tattoo parlour, Nix skipped over to the desk, beaming at the woman standing behind it. He quickly priced up, with her help, the things that he mentioned and settled on the tattoo and just one cartilage piercing. Luckily there was an artist available for the design he wanted and he had the cash in his wallet ready. “You can hold my hand while he colours me in.”[/color] He joked to Payton as he filled out the necessary client card and the woman went through to speak to the artist. He could start off small and add more to design later, if he wanted to. Nix just hoped Payton wouldn’t be too bored hanging out here for a little bit.
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• • •

TAGGED! Payton <3
WORDS! 467!
OUTFIT! Vegas Baby!!
LYRICS! Take My Hand - - - Simple Plan
NOTES! <3

[Payton Elouisa Rhodes]

Payton had been the professional little lady since getting her job at the Apollo. It wasn't required, technically, especially on days where they weren't prepping for large shows, but she still kept on the nicer clothes, if only to match her boss. She liked dressing up, and, she always liked feeling a little more confident because of a new pair of shoes or a new outfit. It was the girly side of her coming out, and she embraced it a lot more when she knew she was going out somewhere with Nix after she was freed from the crazy theatre.

She rolled her eyes at his excitement, not stopping him. "Your mom is going to kill me," she signed, already picturing his mother's reaction when he returned home with new ink and a brand new piece of metal somewhere on his body. Payton didn't mind at all; she never had from the start. But, she didn't want the blame for letting her boyfriend run wild in the city.

Keeping close to Nix, Payton let her eyes wander around to the pictures and books around the shoppe. She didn't bother trying to pay attention to the woman behind the counter, knowing she'd only frustrate herself while attempting to read her lips. Smiling up at her boyfriend when he spoke to her, she nodded and reached up to kiss his cheek while he filled out the forms.

Payton wandered away from him after another moment, her eyes on a quote scribbled in black ink. "I'm the toughest girl I know." She bit her lip, looking down at it before glancing back at Nix. If he was getting one, why shouldn't she? Besides, she had the cash saved up yet. Payton crossed back over to Nix, tugging on his hand. "I want one," she grinned up at him, already figuring out where she was getting the pretty words written.

WORDS: 403!
TAG: Nixxy!
LOCATION: Vegas, baby!
OUTFIT: PRETTY TOURIST!!
MUSIC: Mine by Taylor Swift
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Phoenix Austin McKenzie]

Nix and professional were probably never going to go hand in hand. It was a good job that he intended to spend a few solid years working in the crime labs rather than attending the scenes. He doubted many of the people there would appreciate a brightly dressed young man with Nix’s hyper attitude dealing with the aftermath of their tragedy and loss. He could put the effort it when it was really asked of him, but he just wasn’t comfortable in suits and crisp shirts; he would always be the kid in the bright plaid and Nike sneakers. There was a chance that it would change when he finally fell into work once his shoulder was back to 100%, but he honestly couldn’t see his life becoming serious in every other way. Once he stepped from the labs he would be back to the cheesy grinning, skipping down the street Vegas boy he had always been.

Shaking his head, Nix pulled Payton close for a sweet kiss. “Nah, she won’t. She’s already completely aware that there is no holding me back when it comes to something like this.”

[/color] Ma McKenzie had given him an earful when he came home with the nose piercing, but ultimately had dropped it, just sighing and shaking her head whenever it cropped up in conversation. By the summer when he came home with the silver ball in his tongue the older woman had pretty much given up hope of talking any sense into her youngest son. He was who he was and she would jokingly just blame the atmosphere and culture of Vegas for pretty much everything he did by that point, adding in a quiet “you’ll regret it when you’re older” from time to time.

He was just waiting for the tattoo artist to call him through when he felt Payton tugging on his hand. Watching her signed message, he broke out into another huge grin and nodded his head, understanding her words. “Go for it, gorgeous! What are you thinking of getting?”[/color] He asked curiously, before checking with the woman at the front of store to make sure there was an artist and the time available to squeeze Payton in. There was, and soon the woman was sliding the forms over to Payton for her signature, while checking through the back with the artists, letting them know that they had customers ready to be inked.
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• • •

TAGGED! Payton <3
WORDS! 438!
OUTFIT! Vegas Baby!!
LYRICS! Take My Hand - - - Simple Plan
NOTES! <3

[Payton Elouisa Rhodes]

Payton heard again and again that she should be more daring. She should step out of her shell, do something new that she wasn't comfortable; it was all the same, again and again and again. Since the romance with Nix, she had been going out of her little box, and this surprise decision was just another baby-step forward. Payton was getting that tattoo, and she was going to be damn proud of it.

The only catch was, she wasn't getting it somewhere visible. She could already hear that lecture from Paige, and the one from her boss wasn't going to be a lot better. No, she'd get it somewhere she could hide easily, that way, at least no one could be offended or surprised that the silent young woman had branched this far out of her comfort zone. Payton kissed Nix back, smiling against his lips but already picturing Mrs McKenzie's face when they returned home with the new ink.

At his grin, she pulled him back over to the picture that had caught her eye, pointing to the pretty quote and looking up at his face to see his reaction. Even if it wasn't big and gaudy, or even complicated and sweet for that matter, the words struck a chord in Payton's heart, and that was what had driven her mind to say yes without a second thought. "What do you think?" she signed, biting her lip as she waited for his answer.

Payton went back over to the desk, quickly filling out her forms and signing her name at the bottom of it all. She looked them over one last time, processing all of this before she really commited. She was about to get a tattoo, an unremovable reminder of this trip to Vegas, of herself, and of the thoughts that surrounded that simple quote. This was going to be a part of her forever. With a shake of her head to clear it, she handed over the forms and grabbed Nix's hand again, ready to watch him get his ink and to get her own.

WORDS: 403!
TAG: Nixxy!
LOCATION: Vegas, baby!
OUTFIT: PRETTY TOURIST!!
MUSIC: Mine by Taylor Swift
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Phoenix Austin McKenzie]

Anyone who tried to predict Phoenix’s next move was usually a bit of an idiot who was clueless about the man with the white blonde hair. He very rarely followed any sort of pattern and even his morning routine was full of chaos and backtracking from bathroom to bedroom to kitchen, three times over before he was in any state to leave the messy, but cosy, confines of his small New York apartment. If he got a tattoo on a casual shopping trip then it was just something he did and then if he chose to read a book while hanging upside down on his bed then it was just something he did. Nix was Nix and it was a whole load of fun to be him, especially when his quirks or little ideas were passed on to the people around him.

At least Nix could cover up most of the things he got done. This tattoo would be hidden whenever he didn’t choose to wear shorts and his hair covered his ears like they were permanently in need of it. The nose ring could be swapped for the BioFlex retainer that his ma always made him wear for “special events”, though there hadn’t been a wedding or occasion of equal formality in a few years now. His tongue one could be overlooked and it wasn’t like it ever did any damage. Nix had the potential to look smart, but he saved that potential for when it was absolutely needed and just spent the rest of his time rambling on and dressing the same way he had done when he was in high school.

His blue eyes took in the tattoo design that had swayed Payton’s decision and his lips twitched upwards into his usual lopsided smirk. It seemed just right for her and if she was only ever going to get one piece of ink on her skin in her life, then this was the piece that won Nix’s vote. “It’s perfect; just like you.”

[/color] He said, brushing the hair out of her eyes and kissing the tip of her nose lightly before skipping back on over to the desk. He had his moments of sweetness, but they still didn’t seem to slow the hyperactive Vegas boy down any.

At the counter everything was checked over once more and then the couple were guided through to the back where all the interesting works of art would come to life. He chatted with the artist and kept hold of Payton’s hand in case she needed his attention to explain anything or pass a message on about the design her artist was finalising up for her now. Nix had been here time and time before with his friends, but he was usually just the moral support and the jackass making jokes when they ought to be keeping deadly still; it’d be interesting now he was going to be the one unable to squirm about!
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• • •

TAGGED! Payton <3
WORDS! 527!
OUTFIT! Vegas Baby!!
LYRICS! Take My Hand - - - Simple Plan
NOTES! <3

[Payton Elouisa Rhodes]

Most of the people who knew Payton couldn't believe she was dating Nix. He was the complete opposite of her; they had hardly anything in common at all. Not the way they dressed, or the books they read, or even their career interests -- they were polar opposites. But, he made her happy. Not everyone may have seen it, but Pay got to witness the gentler, sweeter side of him that made her fall even harder for him each time he gave her a glimpse.

She was hoping that the tattoo wouldn't hurt too much. She really didn't want to spend the remainder of the trip writhing in pain, but, at least she'd be doing it with Nix. Pay didn't want to leave his side while they were in the little shoppe; she didn't want to be left alone with thse strangers. If they tried to ask her questions or make small talk, she wouldn't be able to respond in the slightest. At least, if she had Nix nearby, she could communicate a little.

Payton couldn't hide a smile at Nix's compliment, and she pulled his face back to hers for a sweet kiss in thanks for it. When he said things like that, Pay had learned that he actually meant them, instead of using them in the half-lying way many people did. He meant every word he said though; he always did. His honesty was part of the reason she felt like she could be herself around him. He seemed to like what he saw enough to keep coming back, and it only encouraged Payton to open herself up more and let him deeper into the complicated mess that was her life.

She kept a hold of Nix's hand as they were guided back to the artists. A nervous smile was on her lips, but it didn't falter as she looked around the strange place and at the artist who was about to mark her body forever. Squeezing Nix's hand, she signed, "Where're you getting yours?" Pay watched his face for his answer, smirking as she thought about how he'd react when he found out where she was getting hers.

WORDS: 402!
TAG: Nixxy!
LOCATION: Vegas, baby!
OUTFIT: PRETTY TOURIST!!
MUSIC: Mine by Taylor Swift
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Phoenix Austin McKenzie]

Nix had never been one to fuss or worry about the opinions of others when it came to his own life. As long as the choices he made didn’t hurt anyone, he was happy to continue being who he was and living his life the way he wanted to. So what if a few people had raised an eyebrow when he had told them about his girlfriend? They weren’t the ones dating her, and Nix was glad of that; he had never been the kid who liked to share the things he liked most of all. He didn’t believe in some pattern that he had to stick to or group of people who he could acceptably socialise with; Nix had never been that kid and he never would be. For as long as Payton was happy with him, he would stick goofily by her side, stealing kisses and spinning her around just because he could.

Nix had only ever watched his friends get tattoos before, so this would be his first and he wasn’t exactly going with simple and small. Still, he had survived being shot and had a handful of piercings that he had heard could be worse than some tattoo pain, so he wasn’t in the least bit worried about how much it might hurt. He had tried to stop joking about his pain threshold and the whole incident of getting shot, mainly for Payton’s sake, but it was kind of his go-to humour to laugh about it just to show that it hadn’t actually been the worst thing in the world to happen. The recovery was frustratingly slow, but he would recover completely and have a neat little battle scar to mark the tale.

He spent a few minutes talking to the artist about his design, just finalising a few things and nodding in understanding when he was told he’d have to come back for a second session at least to get the colouring finished. Nix didn’t mind popping back in the following week before they returned to New York; it wasn’t like they had come to Vegas with plans set in stone. Plus, it would be an excuse for another final shopping trip before they swapped the neon lights of one city for another. Grinning down at Payton he took a moment to get his balance before slapping his left calf. “Right here! It’s the easiest place to cover up since, y’know, I’m supposed to be a professional soon.”

[/color] He pulled a face as though he was repulsed by the idea, when in fact the thought of being able to finally achieve his dream was enough to give him the energy to do a backflip off a desert rock. “You’re up first, gorgeous. Mine takes too long for you to sit through and just watch.”[/color] He also didn’t want his reactions or jokes to influence Payton now that she had chosen to have her skin inked, too. If she went first there was no chance of her backing out or panicking if Nix showed an iota of pain, even if it was just for a millisecond.
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• • •

TAGGED! Payton <3
WORDS! 555!
OUTFIT! Vegas Baby!!
LYRICS! Take My Hand - - - Simple Plan
NOTES! <3