#Soulmate Identifying Marks

[xxbottlecapx]

Fic where soulmate identifying marks exist and Steve and Eddie realize they're soulmates during s4 but after Vecna, Eddie makes no move to be with Steve because he's scared.

Steve tries to at least befriend him, but Eddie is so scared of Steve being homophobic or something stupid like that that he does his best to cut all contact. Eddie doesnt want Steve to 'experiment' with him or something.

Eventually Steve stops trying, and they're just friendly enough to co parent the kids.

Flash forward a year or two and Eddie finds out Steve has known he was bi since Scoops and tries to start something with him only to find out that Steve was so heartbroken because he thought Eddie hated him that he got his soulmark removed. Eddie essentially has to build up Steve's self esteem and convince him he's worthy of love because Steve has spent the past few years believing that he's so unlovable that the person who's supposed to contain half of his soul can't stand him.

[sea-owl]

Me and bestie @thekatebridgerton were talking about a funny yet stupid idea for a polin soulmate au. I have to share it with you all.

In this au soulmates have matching marks on their skin that can appear anywhere. The more detailed mark, the deeper the bond. They generally appear around the time young adults are introduced into society. While some do try to find their matching marks others prioritize different aspects when selecting a marriage partner.

The Bridgertons, who are all known for their families' tales of soulmates, all have very detailed marks on some part of their bodies. Some have better responses to the marks than others. Violet herself very much wishes that each one of her children finds their soulmates like she did.

Across the street in the Featherington House, marrying ones soulmate is treated more like a fantasy. Lord and Lady Featherington were not soulmates. Portia had married for security and was determined to make sure her girls did the same as well.

The third born daughter, Penelope, never received a mark. Her skin remained unblemished from the day she was born. It's not as if she didn't look either. She looked almost every day the first season she debuted, but nothing ever appeared. Perhaps she wouldn't have been as disappointed as she had been if she wasn't in love with one Mr. Colin Bridgerton. But as fate would have it, he was born for someone else and Penelope was destined to be a spinster.

With her fate sealed in her mind, Penelope focused on her writings and built her empire as Lady Whistledown.

Years pass, events happen, and suddenly Penelope finds herself engaged to the man she fell in love all those years ago. It has been a whirlwind of a season and she's still unsure of how she got to this point. Why was Colin so insistent on marrying her? He has a soulmate out there, yet he keeps refusing to take any of the outs she gives him.

It was during one of these attempts that Colin appeared to finally have enough. He was in love with this woman damn it! And she loved him! Soulmate or not, and he was going to marry her.

Kisses were exchanged, clothes came off, and hands roamed. Colin's hand was currently on his favorite physical attribute of his wife. Slightly lifting it for a better grip, something caught his eye. Excitement began to fill him as pulled Penelope over to a mirror.

"Colin what-?" Penelope began to question as she stared at herself in the mirror.

Colin pressed a kiss to her temple. "Look," he said as he lifted her breast.

Hidden by her breast was a soul mark. One that matched perfectly on the man who was standing beside her, grinning at her through the mirror.

[kbirbpods]

Fandom: Batman x Danny Phantom (DPxDC)

Rating: Teen & Up Audiences

Length: 1,609 words

Ship: Danny Fenton/Jason Todd

Summary:

Jason has a romantic soulmate. The problem is… he doesn’t know their name. Until they quite literally tear their way into his life, that is.

Notes: Soulmate Identifying Marks, Jason is Red Hood, (very) background trans!Tim, (very) background Tim/Kon/Bernard as soulmates ~

[catflowerqueen]

Thinking about a hypothetical “soulmate-identifying marks” In Stars and Time au… and I think a good possibility for it might be if each country had its own version of the mark, and that if you had a soulmate from another country, you would also gain that version, too. So, like… given how important flowers are in Vagaurde, maybe they have something like a picture of a flower that will grow and eventually bloom once they meet all their soulmates/recognize and accept the soulmate connection. Ka Bue could have gemstones.

And the Forgotten Country could have the ability to see colors.

Assuming that soulmate families can be extremely large, it would make sense for the colorblindness to be a widespread phenomenon—especially if the marks are less “country” specific and run more along the lines of genetics. People from the same country would have similar genetics, but as more people moved, migrated, and travelled around having kids and starting families with people from other cultures and regions, the different soulmark types would also spread. So, like… Odile would have had something like a 50/50 chance on getting either the gem or the flower, and happened to get the gem from her dad’s side of the family. Or maybe she did get the flower, and that just helped to deepen the issues she had with her dual heritage.

But with how widespread genetics and soul families would be… that means you have more chances that a person’s soulmark would be the color thing. Or that one of their soulmate’s marks would be the color thing. To the point where a good portion of the world simply couldn’t see color anymore. Or, at least, a good portion of Vaguarde, and possibly Ka Bue, couldn’t, given their close proximity to the Forgotten Country and the higher likelihood of intermarriages and immigration happening between those two cultures.

Or it is simply that the nature of the memory-altering stuff going down with that country simply made people forget how recently the inability to see colors happened, or the loss of knowledge made them forget the mechanics of that particular soulmark so they just assume it is more widespread than it actually is, or it became more widespread than it should have because it is a lot harder for someone to declare and accept a soulmate connection if they can’t perceive that something is wrong—can’t read a name written in the country’s language, can’t recognize a flower or gem native to the country, can’t remember a soulmate who happened to be living in or visiting the country at the time of the tragedy…

And it could also be as simple as a case of a language barrier—other countries not realizing that “shade” is not synonymous with “color” as far as translations go, or simply thinking the two words mean the same thing. Like the whole “roses are red, violets are blue” thing, if the original language simply didn’t distinguish between blue and purple. Thinking that perhaps someone describing something as “lightless” is just them using their country’s word for the color “black,” not realizing that something else is going on.

So in the case of Siffrin and co., they would all have to rely on seeing their own flowers/gems/whatever showing up somewhere on Siffrin’s skin to be able to recognize them as being part of the soul family, because they would more than likely not be able to recognize his own mark—the flower or gem or name that represents him—on their own skin given that it would more than likely take the form of something from the Forgotten Country.

But once they finally do… their whole world would explode into color once more.

…And one could assume the whole red sky deal was just because reality was literally breaking around them at that point, and had nothing to do with soulmarks or soulmates at all.

[ohboyhowdybuckaroo]

i'm standing on my box, tapping the mic, and saying loudly for the people in the back that six eyes would be a sensory nightmare. gojo is lucky he is the universe's baby girl or he would be having the worst time at all times. thank you and good night.

comes from frame pieces ch. 4 of the jigsaw soulmates au.

[rocketinthesky]

We’re not meant to be, but my heart refuses to listen

Max already found his soulmate, and is in a committed relationship with her. But why is his heart defying fate and pulling him back into George’s orbit?

- A Soulmate AU (GAX)

-fluff, slight angst, happy ending, canon divergent, rated Teen and up

Part II —> (Part I) (OR read on ao3)

Didn’t quite work out, though.

The information whirs around in Max’s mind like an incessant chant, George’s soft whisper still hot against his skin every time he remembers his words.

They’re on break for the summer, and Max doesn’t really get to see George. It would be easy, in theory, to text him if he’s free to hang out. Maybe for a game of paddle. Or lunch. Or a drink. But it’d be equally weird. They’re friendly, not exactly friends.

When race week comes back around, Max finds himself anticipating seeing George more than the actual race. Part of it has to do with the car devolving into a shitbox mid season. Max feels a little resigned. He has already locked in the championship. He doesn’t have the mental energy to expend towards a car that stopped performing.

His eyes immediately latch onto George when the man appears in his Mercedes polo, approaching the spot where he and a few other drivers are standing and idly chatting.

George meets his gaze, holds it. He grins, wide. All teeth, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Nose slightly scrunched up in that cute way of his.

Max smiles, clapping him on the shoulder when he’s finally standing next to him. He gets swept up into a conversation with him—random small talk about whatever really comes to mind. His eyes continuously flicker down to his exposed wrist, the husk of a tree inked on his skin, delicate branches reaching out and bare. He absentmindedly scratches his own wrist.

“Planning to grab dinner at this Italian place later with Lando and Alex. Wanna join, mate?”

The invite takes Max a little by surprise, but the answer leaves him faster than he can even process it.

“Yes.”

George’s responding beam feels like the lifeblood running through Max’s veins.

Dinner goes well.

Contrary to expectations, he doesn't end up fourth-wheeling the three friends. Rather, George seems to be striking up conversation with him more than the other two, and Max can't find it in himself to complain.

They don't drink since they still have their third free practice session tomorrow, but Max still feels a slight staticky buzz under his skin at how close George is next to him, their sides touching. Max has to fight the urge to press closer still. He can't possibly be that greedy.

Max and George head back together, George offering to drive and saving Max the uber fee to the hotel. It helps that they're staying at the same hotel.

There's something about talking to George that makes it difficult to...stop. Max keeps wanting to prolong the conversation, wanting to hear George's voice, a lot rawer and deeper, a little slower and language less refined than when he's talking for the cameras. It's always engaging, interesting, sometimes a little ridiculous with the constant banter.

Max can't help but lament reaching their hotel, signaling that they need to part ways for the night.

When Max reaches his room, he flops onto the bed with a groan. He can still feel the heat of George's palm seared onto his shoulder from when he said 'goodnight'. He turns over his wrist, stares at the rose inked on it. It looks wilted to Max, even though he knows that's physically impossible.

Just then his phone buzzes with a phone call. He sighs when he sees the name, feeling a bone-deep exhaustion settling within him. The guilt eats away at him as he picks up, and greets his girlfriend. The guilt isn't enough to force him to pretend to be happy. He'll just hope she thinks it's because of the race preparation.

He perks up a little, not so much with excitement, rather with his nerves setting alight at her hesitant yet unyielding words.

"We need to talk, Maxy. Not now, obviously. When you're...back. I'm sorry for springing this onto you right now. I just...sorry."

The call disconnects, not giving Max the time to either process her words or come up with any response.

Shit. Max thinks. Shit, shit, shit.

He fucked it up, didn't he?

Max, for all his oblivious demeanor, knows that those words, that tone, can only really mean one thing. What pains him—no, scares him—is that he feels a sickening sense of relief over it.

He wants to throw up.

Grabbing his phone, he opens up Instagram and instinctively finds himself opening up his messages with George. They haven’t sent any messages in weeks. Max doesn’t think they’ve ever had a proper conversation over text, even.

Max

what’s ur room no.

?

George

508

Max blinks a few times at his phone screen, unable to process reality. The reality of him impulsively asking George about his room number, the reality of George telling him without demanding any sort of explanation.

He gets out of bed embarrassingly quick, barely remembering to grab his room key-card before walking out, making his way towards George’s room.

George opens the door at the second knock. Max’s breath catches in his throat seeing him; George, shirtless, only donning a pair of boxers. He must’ve been ready for bed.

“Did i interrupt your sleep?” Max croaks out, feeling both apologetic and flustered. He tries very hard to keep his eyes focused on George’s face and not let them wander down. He notices George looking over him too, definitely noticing that Max is still wearing the same shirt and khaki shorts from their dinner prior. George, thankfully, doesn’t mention it.

“Nah, mate, you’re good.” George smiles. He back away from the door, opening it wider. “C’mon in, then.”

Max does, a tad dazed from everything that’s been happening. He hangs his head low even when he walks over to the sofa and plops down. The cushion shifts and he feels the air beside him become warmer as George situates himself right next to him.

“Everything alright, Max?”

“Yes,” Max replies, all too quick, mostly out of instinct.

Obviously George doesn’t buy it, but he doesn’t push it either. He claps Max’s shoulder and gives it a short squeeze. The fleeting touch is alarmingly grounding.

“Anything to drink?”

Max turns his head enough to flash George a wry grin. “Gin and tonic?”

George barks out a laugh. “Not until the race is over, buddy.”

Max grimaces, sighing in defeat. “Just…plain water then.”

As George walks to the mini-fridge, Max’s eyes follow him of their own accord and he’s rudely reminded of George’s…bareness. Jesus, did the boxers have to be so tight? Max swallows around the shameful lump in his throat, quickly ducking his head just as George turned around to head back to him. George's lack of self-awareness is starting to annoy Max just a little as he accepts the offered water bottle with a murmured thanks.

They stay like that, sitting in silence. George quietly scrolls his phone, still next to Max, the heat of his body emanating off him and sheathing Max in a warmth that has the numbness subsiding a little.

Max idly scratches at his soulmate mark on his wrist, ignoring the tenderness of the spot from his repeated abuse.

“Earth to Max,”

Max registers the palm waving right in front of his eyes with a jolt, blinking away the bleariness of his eyes. He raises his head to find George looking at him, a hint of worry leaking through the friendly smile he’s sporting.

“Huh?”

“I said, you’re welcome to crash here for the night. If you want.”

Max’s face is alight at the mere prospect of spending the night in George’s room, and it must show if the teasing glint in George’s eyes is anything to go by.

“Mate, why would i crash on your couch when i have my own bed just downstairs?”

George chuckles and shrugs. “You can take the bed.”

Max arches a questioning eyebrow. “Why would you take the couch when you have a perfectly comfortable bed to sleep in?”

George laughs loudly this time, nudging Max’s side as he does so. “I’m a gracious host, not a doormat. The bed is big enough for two grown men and then some.”

Max’s heart leaps to his throat. George Russell might just be the death of him.

“You’re serious?”

George shrugs noncommittally, as if he didn’t just offer his colleague and rival racer to sleep beside him in the same bed.

“Your call, Max.”

Max’s treacherous heart has already made its decision.

Max only hesitates for a moment, seeing George already settling under the covers on the left side of the bed, contemplating if taking his shirt and uncomfortable shorts would be too bold and strange. But he’s too exhausted to be hung up over it and decides fuck it before divesting himself of his shirt and shorts till he’s only left in his boxers, just like George. George would have no right to complain since he brought it upon himself, and of course he doesn’t look like he’s even thinking of complaining as he watches Max tentatively getting into bed.

The distance between them is a chasm, further widened as they both curl up on their sides and face each other. George’s chin is tucked under the sheets, mouth hidden beneath them, but from the crinkles at the corners of his eyes Max can tell he’s smiling.

Max suddenly feels like a kid again, having a sleepover with a friend. Sharing a bed, fighting the urge to giggle for absolutely no actual reason other than the lack of burden in their company.

George’s company lifts the weight off Max’s shoulders, just a little, and he finds himself fighting a grin, a little incredulous at this whole situation. It’s George who breaks first, shaking with suppressed laughter, before Max ends up giving in and joining.

It’s a strange sight; two grown men giggling like children, sleeping in the same bed, facing each other. The distance between them feels lesser now, though neither have shifted closer.

“Feels like I’m back to our karting years again.” George says.

He’s resting his head on his hand, wrist exposed. Max’s eyes are wired to look, mirth dimming the slightest bit as he sees that same inked tree for the umpteenth time.

“Yeah.” Max says, wistfully. “Feels a little silly.”

“Silly’s good, sometimes.” George says, quieter now.

Max’s eyes turn to look into his. Everything about George is infinitely softer under the yellowish dim glow of the lamp which is still on. Max’s fingers itch with the urge to rake through George’s bangs. They’ve gotten quite long, the curls almost reaching his brows.

“It is.” Max says, clenching his hands into fists under the sheets to stop himself before he can do such a thing.

“G’night, Max.” George says, twisting his body towards the nightstand to turn off the lamp.

“Night.” Max mutters, burying himself deeper into the comfort of the sheets, letting his eyes fall shut with the darkness now sheathing the room.

He has the best sleep he’s had in a long, long time.

Funny story, this will have one more part aha. Welp :pp i rly am just going with the flow. Let’s see where Gax take me! Originally i thought this would be angstier but as always i’m just not very good at that lol this was pretty fluffy. But wtv Gax deserves happiness! They deserve fluff!!!! Ty for reading and i hope you enjoyed hehe <33

[archivingfanfiction]

Lost Time Without You

by rotasha

In a universe where your soulmate’s injuries show up on your skin, Bruce is convinced he doesn’t have a soulmate, and Clark is seriously concerned for his soulmate’s well-being.

-

Soulmates Clark x Bruce!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33665278/chapters/83663635

[ghoulishcraving]

obsessed with the idea of a soulmates au where the marks are usually a small to medium thing, think 10cm 20 or so is a big ass mark and will is out there with a full upper body even extends a bit towards his thighs (or full body) mark.

hannibal obviusly too, and its one of the reasons they both cover their bodies in layers of clothes even on summer.

Hannibal is not interested on his soulmate, or well he is scared of having such a thing and that important too (as the abnormal size of his mark indicates), a person that would be so thoroughly ingrained and melted onto himself who could inevitably rein over his life. (although a bit hopeful at the idea, someone capable of understanding him, of seeing him?) and the mark itself is, revealing of his true nature, even with his dark gothic aesthetics and peculiar sense of humor theres no justification for such a visceral mark.

will is embarrassed, not even his mark can be normal and although he is a bit hopeful at the idea of one he is a scared of what kind of person would be his soulmate, and the mark in itself is not very reassuring, the size and such a design weird, creepy, dark and possessive over his whole body. He who has been running from his darkness his whole life and just wants to be normal knows just from looking at it that his soulmate is a monster and there would be no going back if he met them, so he hides it, like he hides himself.

[fromthefirstmomentitouchedyou]

Soulmate au

Alex is so mad he could spit. He hates this wedding and these upright, rich assholes and most of all he hates his royal fucking highness, Prince Henry and he’s about to say all of that when the beeping starts, a long, low whine that cuts through the elegant classical music playing and Alex reflexively looks at his wrist where his soulmate timer sat and feels all the blood run from his face.

No, this can’t be happening, it just can’t. And certainly not with Prince Henry. His soulmate could be anyone else in this room it doesn’t have to be henry.

But a second later the exact same low hum begins to emit from the identical bracelet on Henry’s wrist. He thinks the shared look of horror on Henry’s face is the closest they’ll ever get to agreeing on anything. He attempts to hide his hand in his pocket but it’s too late….every head in the room turns to them and some of the have iPhones and Alex’s gut clenches. He can’t get out of this.

A moment later Henry is being dragged away by handlers and Alex feels himself being tugged away in the opposite direction but he can’t help but to look back at Henry, at his soulmate. And wonder how they’re going to get out of this.

[ghostlynimbus]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington Characters: Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington Additional Tags: Soulmates, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Soulmarks (Name Tattoos), Temporary Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler, Background Relationships, Abuse, Child Abuse, Abusive Neil Hargrove, Neil Hargrove is His Own Warning, if it happens in s2 it might happen here, Rating May Change, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Summary:

In a world where your soulmate's first name appears like a tattoo somewhere on your body sometime around the age of five, certain secrets can be hard to keep.

A soulmate identifying marks AU.

-

If you like me & my work  and you have the money to spare any tips appreciated. Capitalism is rough and I am not built for this shit.

Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/ghostlynimbus

[wolfgirl-sister]

Taken

His eyes lit up when he heard my name for the first time, and his jaw went slack in a silent gasp. I knew the words he would say before they even left his lips, those same words that had been in every romance movie I had ever seen: "I think... I think you might be her."

---

I've never been comfortable with the idea of soulmates.

"Don't worry!" My parents would tell me. "Once you meet him, it will all make sense!"

I didn't want it to make sense. Until I met the man whose name was marked on my body, I was not and could never be whole. The thought would keep me up sick with anxiety. I had an other half that I was separated from, rent asunder and if I couldn't find it, then I would never be happy.

"You'll meet him and your whole world will change!"

All my life, people blamed my unhappiness on being unable to find my one. Some even go so far as to pry for the name, thinking that if they just help, all will be well. That I'll forget how they treated me. A girl I used to call my friend once pulled down my pants to get a glimpse of my thigh, hoping to see the name for herself. My mark is so covered in scars that it's illegible. I can never make myself forget it.

Of all the people in my life, the only person who has ever been able to truly comfort me is my sister. She met her soulmate as a kid, at the time a rare and fortuitous occasion, but when they died in middle school, she was left truly and undeniably alone. She understood my frustration, knowing that while even a gaping wound would eventually heal, the knowledge that you're only half of what you should be will always stay fresh.

She understood the feeling of whispers behind your back, that you would never have a soulmate or that you hated the idea of having one. Her thigh has the same scattering of scars that leave their name unreadable. But more than that, she taught me how to move on. She helps me find value in myself as an independent woman in a society, and I remind her that we aren't broken.

Because of my sister, I don't care if I'm "complete". I don't care that I'm destined to meet someone who will fix the unfixable, who will make everything better. I am enough, for myself and for her.

She was my first kiss. And my second, and my third. I've stopped counting, but she's still keeping track. We carved our name in the other's thigh and swore it would be the last blood shed over a name. I'm too busy being enamored by the most beautiful woman alive. She fills me with joy and wonder, and every day I'm in awe of the fact that I have the opportunity to spend it with her.

---

I always knew this day would come. It's hard, but I look him in the eyes and my breath catches. My chest feels hollow, as if the only thing left inside me is my free-falling heart. I don't even have to ask for his name because my body knows he's The One.

"I'm sorry," I say, and adjust my bag, already taking a step past him. "I already have a soulmate."

---

Originally published on AO3 under WeaselWoosh

[ice-cap-k]

Star Fall

Cross-posted on AO3 here: Star Fall

__________________________________________________

Have you ever loved someone so, so much that you actually hated them?

Pearl did. She loved Scott with a raging resentment.

Scott did. He hated Pearl with a cold fondness.

And as the fire scorched the earth around the two of them, Pearl found herself sizing Scott up. 

She was bloodied. She was bruised. She had killed again and again. 

He was pristine. There was no blood on his hands by choice and by convenience, but that meant little to her. He was a dead shot with a bow and more skilled than any of the people whose blood now coated her axe head. 

The few wolves she had left at her side growled bloodthirsty encouragement. Not Tilly, though. Tilly was gone. Part of Pearl’s soul wanted to leap forward to attack with them as Scott stood frozen in shock and awe at what she had done. Cleo was already dead on the side of the hill. What was one more slaughtered friend?

‘Fallen star’ Cleo had once called her by mistake. Technically that was Scott. He was the star child. He was the flash of brilliance.

Pearl was the moon. A beacon in the dark. Powerful enough to raise tides and shape the land as she saw fit. But she had still fallen. Just like Scott. They had taken each other’s hands and strode into a perilous world where bloodlust set in like a disease. It was them against the world. And then Cleo came knocking and it became three against infinity. They were supposed to gaslight, gatekeep, and girlboss their way to the end.

Cleo was gone now. So was Martyn, but he had no intention of standing by Pearl’s side after he realized he and Cleo were inextricably linked. Scott had abandoned her. The mirrored beat of his heart alongside hers was still there, though, even if he didn’t want it to be anymore.

They were never compatible soulmates anyway.

But the other half of her, the one who remembered what had been before things had gone so wrong… that part was still reluctant. 

Both of them stared each other down from either side of the hill. Neither was ready to make a first move. The space between them felt as vast as the distance between the moon and the stars.  

________________________________________________________

Pearl, Scott, and Cleo sat on the mossy roof of the Scottage. They were sprawled out, taking a moment to relax now that the boogeyman had finished their kill for the day. It was time to take advantage of the quiet lull before someone ended up losing another life and went red. 

They were content to lounge comfortably along the awning and while away their time as they sat and talked. Pearl, in her boredom, had found a Sharpie and reached for the nearest thing she could draw on. In this case, that was Scott’s arm.

“Are you thinking about home?”

“Maybe,” Pearl said with a smirk. “Now hold still, Scott. I’m almost done.”

“Just to be clear, you’re not doing me next.”

“Aw, Cleo.” Scott’s arm shifted in Pearl’s grasp, so she tightened her grip a little. Not enough to hurt him. Just enough to keep him still. She re-adjusted the silver marker in her grip and used it to point at Cleo teasingly. “You’re no fun. It’s not so bad. Think of it like a temporary tattoo.”

“Sure does tickle a lot for a tattoo,” Scott huffed. His fingers flexed against Pearl’s wrist, trying to relieve some of the pressure of her grip. She held on tight, dismissing his discomfort with a click of her tongue. 

Cleo snorted. “Thanks. But I’ll still pass.”

Pearl stuck out her tongue at the other girl.

The stars that danced in Scott’s eyes glittered when he smiled. “That’s alright, Pearl. You and I can match. I’ll do you next.”

“Why thank you, Scott. I would love that.” She went back to the drawing on the inside of Scott’s forearm. The silver ink showed up surprisingly well against his pale skin. She filled in the dark side of the moon she had sketched, leaving interwoven layers of lines to make up the illusion of shadows and highlights. A smattering of hand-drawn stars speckled the inside of his elbow. She hadn’t smudged anything yet. 

It was a pretty accurate representation if you didn’t count the stars. She knew a few constellations by heart, but not how they would fall in line within the moon’s orbit. Especially not from an Earthside view. Instead, she had focused on the way the light lit up the edges of craters and darkened the depths of dome-like valleys. 

“Aaaaaaand… Done!” She finally let go of his hand and smiled as he pulled it back to look over the details. For being a bored doodle on her friend's arm, it may have just been some of her finest work. “What do you think?”

He ran his fingers along the inside of his arm. The constellations in his eyes whirled and shifted as they scanned the detailed drawing of the moon. He was wary of smudging the ink; careful not to let the tips of his fingers brush against the last few lines she had drawn. There was starlight in his smile, the motes of bright brilliant light dancing around his head in shades of red, yellow, and green.  “It’s so pretty! I’ve just decided I’m never washing this off. I never want it to go away.” 

Pearl’s heart swelled with pride. 

“Now it’s my turn to do you.” Scott held out a hand for the marker. Pearl dropped it into his palm and started rolling up the sleeve of her midnight blue hoodie. She offered the inside of her arm eagerly. 

“Okay. You got to draw your home on me. So that means that I get to do the same to you.”The silver-tipped marker hung over her skin for a moment as Scott contemplated how to start. He nodded to himself, coming to some sort of decision before pressing the felt tip against her skin.

Scott was right. It did tickle.

Where her moon was made up of round dots and soft lines interwoven to give the illusion of color differences, Scott’s stars were made of hard edges and sharp lines. The arms of the stairs were thin like needles. The dotted paths connecting them were precise and evenly spaced as the constellation began to wrap around the sides of her arm.

Pearl recognized the blown-up image of Corona Borealis, the “northern crown.” The broken lines gave the cluster of stars its shape, while a few other surrounding stars were drawn suspended in the open patches of skin towards the top and bottom of her forearm. 

At some point, the half-drawn scene seemed to catch Cleo’s attention. She rolled over to get a better look at Pearl’s arm. Bits of moss still clung to her bright red hair as she shook it out. “That’s really good,” she said, sounding impressed. “Do all fallen stars know how to draw right off the get-go, or are you two just special like that?”

“Ah-ah-ah! I’m not a star child, remember,” Pearl corrected her. She would have waggled a finger to punctuate her point, but she didn’t want to move her arm and mess up Scott’s work. 

“Fine. Do all celestial beings automatically come with massive amounts of talent or do you have to work at it like the rest of us?” Cleo’s words came out clipped. She was short on patience, but well-meaning and almost teasing as she motioned between Scott and Pearl. 

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Scott answered, as he added a few radiating lines out from the far edge of the constellation. “You both know that I’m perfect in every way.” That got a few laughs out of both of the girls. 

Pearl shrugged the shoulder of the arm Scott wasn’t working on. “Nah. Me and Scott worked at this. I still practice sometimes. It’s not like I just popped into existence knowing how to build like I do.” She leaned back, looking off toward the cobblestone towers rising over the trees to the south. “Grian, though, he’s built different. If he told me that he’s always known how to make things look nice, I’d believe him.” 

The smirk on Cleo’s face widened. “And now you’re using those skills to build a death chamber.”

“Yup!”

“Brilliant.”

There was no guarantee Pearl would ever experience the boogeyman curse, but she wanted to be prepared. She wasn’t like Scott who tiptoed around the idea of death. Cleo and her were more alike in that regard. She was ready to welcome the thrill of the kill. “Thank you for helping me, by the way.”

“Of course. We’re a team. We’ve got each other’s backs…” There was a harsh glint in the back of Cleo’s eyes. A subtle growl to her words as she drew them out. Pearl could tell that BigB’s betrayal at the Fairy Fort was still fresh on her mind.

Pearl didn’t want her worrying about that again. She and Scott wouldn’t do that. Scott was far too honorable, and Pearl had been open with her plans for the trap she had been building underground. “We are,” she stated plainly, hoping the immediate response would help soothe Cleo’s nerves. “And I wouldn’t want to work with anyone other than you two.”

“All done!”

Scott finally released Pearl’s arm. The drawing shimmered in the late evening. It reminded her of her own eyes, the silver ink light and radiant like the disc of a full moon. The interconnected lines of the constellation were like a map leading to someplace neither Scott nor she could ever return to. It looked like he was feeling a little homesick as well. 

But this was their new home now. Their new normal. They were embracing it. 

“I love it. Thank you, Scott. Are you sure you don’t want one to match, Cleo?”

Cleo’s lip curled. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked back and forth between both Scott and Pearl’s arms. Finally, she relented with a sigh.

“They are rather pretty, aren’t they?”

That was all the permission Scott and Pearl needed. Scott immediately uncapped the marker once more, while Pearl pulled another out of her pocket. This one a more bronzey copper. 

“What do you think, Scott?”

“I think we stick with a theme.”

“Do we do the Earth for Cleo?”

“I think we do the Earth for Cleo.”

Cleo rolled her eyes, but she held out her arms dutifully. “Why would I expect any different from the two of you? It’s not like I’m the only one from here.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Alas, that world was never made to last. True to who he was, Scott shone bright. He outshone everyone, even. The star child who tried to avoid killing others at all costs ended up the last one standing. 

Pearl was happy for him. Her and Cleo had cheered for him from beyond the edge of existence, where Grian’s watcher magic kept the lost souls at bay. And when Scott joined them, they embraced him with open arms and congratulations. 

Their alliance of three had stood strong until the end, and then it was time to say “So long. Until next time.”

But ‘next time’ involved meeting up in another world, for they could not return to the last.

This new world they were visiting was run by different laws. In the last world, lives could be traded like currency, but in doing so you ran the risk of running out. This was made even more risky with the presence of an insatiable desire for death that came and went called the ‘boogeyman curse.’ Pearl hadn’t minded that part so much.

By the law of this new world, though, you were bound to a soulmate.

Pearl wasn’t sure why the inside of her forearm felt all tingly when the tether was tied around her heart. Warmth spread from one side of her inner arm to the other in a wide, uneven C shape. It was pleasant but unexpected. Nobody else she had seen since coming here mentioned anything about a tingly feeling. 

When she pulled up her sleeve, she could see an uneven curve of dots interconnected by broken, glowing lines. It shone silver like the moon. Cold like ice.

Odd.

The others, they didn’t have anything like that. None of them mentioned the trace of needle-like sensations. 

They mentioned the overlapping emotions as two souls overlapped into one. They talked about how they could feel a second heartbeat. They complained at length how there would be an occasional twinge of pain in their ankles as if landing after a big fall, or scratches against their skin as if a mob had attacked them. 

Pearl had that as well, but it seemed like everyone else also had a strange quirk that had developed outside of the norm. For Joel, it looked like the iris in his left eye had lightened to a muddy red.  When she ran into BigB, it was the pair of fluffy ears growing out of the sides of his head. (It didn’t take much for her to figure out whom he had been conjoined to). Hers just happened to be lines glowing on her arm.

So Pearl decided not to think much of it. After all, there was so much to see in this great big world.

______________________________________________________________________

“Scott! Scott, wait!”

It felt like she was crash landing all over again as Scott turned his back on Pearl. If she closed her eyes, she could almost convince herself that the pain in her heart was one and the same as the pain when she fell. 

The crushing weight in her ribcage was doubled and staggered as the betrayal and frustration weighing down on Scott mixed with her own heartbreak and grief. Their hearts beat in unison, breaking further and further apart as they did.

All she had wanted was a bit of fun and adventure. So what if she got a little hurt along the way? She hadn’t gotten the two of them killed. 

“But you could have,” Scott hissed, reading her mind. He turned on her, fingers curling at his sides. “I was scrambling like crazy to get enough food to take care of the both of us, for you!”

“I was being careful!”

“You went into the NETHER!”

Pearl winced. She couldn’t exactly deny that.

“I can’t believe you. I don’t see you for one day, and you go and do something like that?! You do realize me and Cleo were looking all over the server for you, right?”

The tingling in her arm burned with his anger. She set her mouth in a thin line, not willing to show how much his words bothered her. But that wouldn’t work. They were bound. He could feel her unease as easily as she could feel his fear. His stardust was threaded throughout her moonstone-clad heart. 

Considering they could tell what the other was feeling, she didn’t have to say it out loud, but she replied out of courtesy. “I was looking too. But I couldn’t figure out my soulmate. And then I bumped into Martyn and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun exploring.” 

The anger faded away. To Pearl’s surprise, the secondhand emotion turned to bitter disappointment.

“You couldn’t figure it out?” 

There was genuine hurt in his expression when she looked him in the eye. He held his arm out and rolled up his sleeve. The inside of the forearm was shining dimly, just like Pearl’s. Only the marking on his arm was different. It was a large circle made up of curved lines, shadows, and a smattering of stars.

“Oh…” So that wasn’t a large sideways C on her arm. It was the Corona Borealis. 

She had forgotten about the doodles they had drawn a couple of worlds ago.

As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Scott’s emotions soured. He could feel her guilt welling up and there was nothing she could do to hide it from him. “I can’t believe this. You actually forgot.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did! You didn’t even realize what that was, did you?” he snapped, pointing at her arm. “You weren’t looking for me. You were looking for anyone who fit the bill for a soulmate.”

“But I’m glad it’s you. We can be Gatekeep, Girlboss, and Gaslight together. Just like last time.” 

She reached out towards him, but Scott flinched away. He stumbled back into the trees, putting as much space as possible between the two of them. 

“No. No Gatekeep. No Girlboss, and no Gaslight. Not this time. Me and Cleo were there for each other while you were off risking our lives. As far as I’m concerned, she’s my soulmate.”

__________________________________________________________

It was awfully lonely up in Pearl’s tower.

There was Cleo and Scott, who were doing their best to avoid her. And then there was the rest of the server. 

Ren had called her a witch. BigB had agreed. She was pretty sure Bdubs and Impulse were afraid of her. Martyn still wasn’t talking to her. Joel and Etho were alright, at least until she stole Joel’s chest plate. Whatever tentative friendship they had before that had gone out the window.

At least she had Tilly. The wolf was resting its head in her lap, begging for scratches around the ears. She whined, shoving her head into Pearl’s stomach.

Scott would feel that. It wouldn’t hurt him, but he would be feeling the rough scrape of the wolf’s claws as Tilly tried to crawl into Pearl’s lap. Just like she could feel the stiffness in her shoulders from Scott’s long day of chopping trees and tunneling out the mines. 

Pearl absently rubbed at the space between her wolf’s ears as she stared at the mark inside her arm. The constellation glittered back at her with cold silver light. She could remember the way the marker tickled against her skin as Scott had drawn it. 

She should tickle Scott back.

Tilly whined as she gently pushed the wolf out from her lap. She followed at Pearl’s side as she looked out the window. 

There was a snow-covered mountain in plain view. That would work.

So she took the ladder two rungs at a time. When she reached the bottom, she spilled out the bucket of water in her inventory so Tilly could leap down after her. The wolf splashed paws first in the puddle she had made. From there, it was only a hop, skip, and a jump to get to the snowy side of the mountain. 

As soon as she found a pile of powdered snow, she submerged her arm all the way to the shoulder. Soon the tingle of the mark was overshadowed by the bite of the cold. Pearl pushed herself deeper into the snow drift until she was standing in it. Goosebumps appeared on her skin. It was starting to sting.

Hopefully, Scott felt that tickle.

Tilly, ever the loveable ball of fluff, leaped into the snow next to Pearl. Pearl reached out to scratch the wolf’s scruff and she rolled onto her back. Clumps of snow went flying as the wolf kicked them up, growling with glee. 

It gave Pearl something to keep her mind off the cold. Scott’s annoyance was already starting to kick in. Pearl could taste steak on her tongue. Her belly felt full, despite not eating. Scott was eating for the both of them. 

He wasn’t coming. She could practically hear his thoughts. No matter how much she tried to get his attention. He had Cleo. It was time Pearl accepted that.

So she focused on the here and now. On her and her wolf. She laughed, flinging her hands out to send a flurry of snow raining down on Tilly. 

__________________________________________________________________

Teaming up with Scott and Cleo had been a bad idea. It was a good idea in that if the four of them were ever going to work together, now was the time. The entire server was in chaos, and they were stronger together than they were apart. But it was a bad idea in that both Scott and Pearl couldn’t calm down around each other. There was too much suspicion. Scott was nervous that she would make trouble. That worry planted the thought in her head. It was tempting, but this was also the deep dark where they could easily lose one of their precious lives. And honestly, Pearl was nervous they would leave her alone again.

They were trying, but it wasn’t going the way either of them had hoped. 

It was a good thing wardens were blind. The light emanating from both of them kept half the cavern well-lit. Scott’s starlight outshone her own moonlight, and she let it. Not everything had to be a competition and she was trying to stay on her best behavior.

Scott spared Pearl a look out the corner of his eye as they tiptoed across patches of skulk. “You’re not going to pull out a bucket of powdered snow, are you?”

“No.” She pulled the hood tighter over her head as an excuse to avoid eye contact with him. “But I could if you want another tickle.”

“No thank you. I’d rather not.”

Cleo and Martyn were still laying out a  trail of wool on the other end of the cavern. It would be a while before they caught up

“You know what, Scott, it might have been hard to forgive you at the start of the season for just abandoning me like that, but you know what? We’re pretty good. You’re a pretty good partner.”

“Thank you. I mean, we tested it last time and it worked well. It was just… you hurt my feelings when you went away with Martyn and then we looked for you for ages and I couldn’t find you. And then I was sad…”

Pearl pushed aside a screen of skulk as they crept towards the warden tunnel.  “You know, I’m just gonna talk to that for a second. How about the reverse, right? You were off with Cleo from my perspective.”

Scott frowned. “We bumped into everyone else. We were actually looking for our soulmates.”

“I was looking-”

“Hello,” Martyn called out. He and Cleo appeared from over the deepslate brick wall. “Have you found what we were looking for?”

“Yeah,” Scott said. He and Pearl looked away from each other, taking a few steps further apart. The conversation was essentially over, and neither of them felt any better about the situation. 

Pearl could feel it in her bones. This temporary alliance wasn’t made to last. Scott and Cleo were in it for themselves. So was she. 

__________________________________________________________________

It was all over, one way or another.

There could only be one survivor. 

Pearl was having a hard time looking at Scott and the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. The constellations in them were dim as he spotted Cleo’s body. Her hand went to the constellation on her own arm. The grief was overwhelming.

“I didn’t think it would end this way,” he muttered.

“To be honest, neither did I.”

She shifted the ax in her hand. They were linked. They could feel everything the other could. They both knew what had to happen. Scott’s thoughts drifted at the back of her mind. ‘She deserves it.’

He reached into his jacket pocket. “Pearl, you deserve this more.” She stumbled back as he pulled out a bundle of TNT.

“Excuse me! What do you mean?!?”

The starlight in his eyes flickered. The fuse lit. 

“Tilly death do us part, Pearl. Tilly death do us part.”

The fuse reached the top of the explosive casing.

“SCOTT-!”

There was a supernova of light and fire. A blast that rivaled that of a dying sun.

And then Scott’s starlight flickered out in the shadow of the moon.

[sea-owl]

The eight children of the Bridgerton family have been hiding a secret from their mother. It's not anything too bad, really, but when one lives in high society, some things are considered tabboo even if it's something as mundane as tattoos.

And the worst part is? They didn't even get these tattoos, their soulmates did and their soulmates are jerks who don't consider what is put on their bodies appears on also shows up on the soulmates. Tattoos are permanent!

Ironically enough, the tattoos all have that silver outlining to them, meaning all their soulmates go to the same artist.

Anthony was the first to have a tattoo show up on his skin. It was lilies going up his side. Tulips joined them on the other side later.

Poor Benedict had the most tattoos from his soulmate of all his siblings. This required him to get quiet good at hiding them with clothes and cosmetics. The biggest and most detailed piece was on his back shoulder, which was Cinderella inspired. The clock striking midnight with Cinderella' glass shoe sitting in front of it. Underneath is written "Have courage and be kind."

Colin's soulmate had tattoos only on their back. The left shoulder had a feather quill dripping ink. In different spots on his back were butterflies, with one half being wings and the other half being different quotes from literature.

Daphne's soulmate had a whole sleeve down their arm. The sleeve is composed of a compass at the shoulder with different map coordinates around it, and waves going down her arm, a tiny ship popping up here and there.

Like Colin Eloise's soulmate had their's only on their back, but their's also covered her entire back. It honestly looks like a garden with all the different plants and flowers she had. The most notable was the baby's breath that had twin flowers resting in the middle.

Francesca's soulmate had half sleeves on their lower arms. On the left was music notes to a song she would sometimes play if bored. On her right looked to be a memorial piece, to a brother, she would guess.

Gregory was the lucky one all his siblings would mutter. His soulmate only had a tiny ankel tattoo of a bird flying out of a cage.

Hyacinth's soulmate has gemstones on the inside of her forearm that looked to be partially buried in her skin. She was still underaged when that tattoo appeared, and Anthony almost lost his shit.

They all groan whenever a new tattoo appears because those are getting really hard to hide from Violet, okay? And makeup is expensive!

Anthony in frustration once broke the high spciety rules of soulmate writing and asked (demanded) his soulmate stop getting tattoos.

Kate immediately went to Sophie after reading that message and had her draw in marker a skelton hand, flipping someone off with pretty flowers around it. She's gonna let him think she did another tattoo.

Anthony about near had a damn anuyersym.

[chenziee]

News Coo

@lawluevents - Day 10: Pirate King Luffy AU/Confessions @onepiece-bingo: News Coo

Alternate summary: can't hide shit from Morgans...

HAPPY LAWLU DAY!!

I hope you enjoyed this series because I'm not done with it xD still have some bingo squares left 👀

[ Read on AO3 | series ]

—————

Stretching her arms over her head, Nami sighed in content. Peaceful days spent sunbathing in the Sunny’s garden were always the best.

“Caw!”

Nami paused, shielding her eyes carefully before she turned her eyes upwards, looking at the sky… just before a bundle of papers the News Coo dropped fell right on top of her head.

“Hey! I don’t pay your insanely expensive subscription to be treated like this! I’ll sue!” she threatened.

She only got another “caw!” in response. Somehow, it sounded to her like the stupid bird was laughing and she was so going to have a word with its employer.

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she grabbed the tightly wrapped papers, trying to untie the cord in a way that didn’t tear the news inside. She really should go grab some scissors. Who the hell tied this thing?!

She barely managed to finish the thought when Robin’s hand grew right in front of her, bearing the very scissors she so needed. Huffing out a small laugh, Nami thanked the archeologist who didn’t even move from her chair or so much as put her book down the entire time Nami was struggling with this stupid News Coo delivery.

The moment Nami snipped the cord, the tightly rolled bundle unfurled and Nami winced at being greeted with her own face smiling seductively up at her from a brand new wanted poster. Why did it keep going up? She couldn’t even collect a single berry from that stupidly high bounty… At least the picture was cute, she supposed.

“The boys are gonna get so noisy again,” Nami groaned to no one in particular. Maybe she should hide these, at least for a little while. Just hold on to this peace a little longer…

Quickly sifting through the stack of wanted posters for both their and Torao’s crew, Nami barely paid attention to the numbers—even their previous ones were stupid high, what did a zero here or there matter anymore? She would never understand why the others always made such a big deal about it. Except maybe Chopper and Bepo, the poor boys deserved to finally get some recognition by now; even Nami felt bad for them.

But then, she reached the end of the bounties and instead, a special report came to view.

And Nami completely froze, staring at the headline with wide eyes. She read it over and over and over again, trying to wrap her head around it but failing.

STRAW HAT LUFFY—THE NEW PIRATE KING

It really said that.

It really fucking said that.

“How?!” Nami cried loudly before she could stop herself. “What the fuck kind of sources—?! We literally left the island two hours ago!”

“Oh my,” Robin said with a chuckle, undoubtedly peeking over Nami’s shoulder with an extra pair of eyes. “Morgans’ quick. He needs to introduce me to the souls of the dead who report to him. I could use them as well.”

“Not now, Robin,” Nami groaned. She had hoped to get in one shopping trip before the world blew up but no.

Not only did the world get turned on it’s fucking head four times over in the span of the past maybe two months—and then eight times more once Robin pieced the poneglyphs together—now she couldn’t even buy some nice clothes in peace.

And judging by the hands that appeared like omens or disaster on the railing right next to her…

She was not not going to even get to enjoy one quiet, sunny afternoon.

—————

“Torao! Look!!” Luffy called, bursting with excitement as he propelled himself away from the garden and back to where Law was taking a nap with Bepo. He felt a little bad about the way he crashed right into the two of them, but he was just so giddy!

“Fucking—What the hell, Straw Hat-ya?” Law snapped once he got his bearings.

“Sorry. But look!” Luffy repeated, shoving the special report he stole from Nami in Torao’s face.

Luffy watched expectantly while Torao read the headline, his eyebrows furrowing more and more with each passing second. Well… that wasn’t a reaction Luffy was expecting.

“Torao?” Luffy tried.

Law was silent for a second longer before he slowly opened his mouth to speak, his eyes not leaving the paper in Luffy’s hands. “How the fuck does Morgans know we’re soulmates and why the fuck does he think we’re getting married?”

“Huh?” Luffy blinked a few times, tilting his head to the side. What was Torao talking about?

As he looked at the paper in his hands, he finally noticed he was holding it out backwards—the front with the headline announcing him conquering the Grand Line was facing towards him… which meant he was currently showing Torao the backside.

The backside, which was apparently also the front side with another bombshell headline.

Slowly turning the paper in his hands, Luffy quickly skimmed the announcement on the other side.

STRAW HAT LUFFY TO MARRY HIS SOULMATE, TRAFALGAR LAW

As he read the words over, Luffy hummed thoughtfully. “Oh, is this because I was planning to ask you once we got to Sabaody?”

“Excuse me?!” Law asked, full of shock, but Luffy didn’t pay him any attention.

“Who cares about that, look at this!” Luffy made sure he was holding the paper right when he showed it to Torao again. He was grinning so wide his cheeks were starting to hurt.

“Did you seriously just casually blurt out you were going to propose to me only to follow that with ‘who cares’?” Law asked flatly, his eyebrows shooting up as he stared at Luffy over the paper—and not paying attention to what was written on it, goddamn it!

“Torao~!” Luffy whined and raised the paper higher. “Pay attention!”

With a resigned sigh, Law finally turned his attention to the most important thing—only for his reaction to be completely underwhelming.

“You needed a newspaper to tell you were the Pirate King now?” Law asked in a tone that sounded so very unimpressed.

“This makes it official! Torao, come on~” Luffy said, a large pout on his lips as he slumped forward, sprawling himself over Law’s lap where he was leaning back against the still sleeping Bepo in a half-sitting position.

At that… Torao finally laughed, the sound light and easy and sending vibrations through Luffy’s body. Ah, Luffy really could enjoy this little moment forever…

“Sorry, I’m joking,” Law huffed, his body still lightly shaking with amusement when he leaned down to press a small kiss to Luffy’s temple. “Congrats.”

“Why are you so mean, I hate you,” Luffy huffed—but his grin made it back on his face full force and he giggled happily. “Thanks!”

Luffy almost had to stop himself from purring when Law’s hand found its way to his hair, running through the strands carefully, fingers lightly scratching his scalp. How did Law do that? Was Luffy turning into a cat now?

Oh well.

Leaning into the touch, Luffy felt himself relax completely. This really was the best day ever—the ending of his dream was within sight, he had the best ship and crew to see it through with, and he had his Torao right next to him.

The only thing that was missing was some meat and—

“The answer is no, by the way.”

“What?” Luffy asked with confusion, turning his head to the side to gaze up at Torao.

“To your proposal. I’m not going to marry you,” Law explained, closing his eyes momentarily. “Who put that idea in your head anyway?”

“Sanji and Penguin,” Luffy replied without hesitation.

Law rolled his eyes. “Of course,” he said with a sigh. “Look, do you even want to get married? Do you realise you’d have to stand there for the ceremony while the cake was right there and you weren’t allowed to eat any of it?”

Luffy paused while the information processed in his head. Damn, he really didn’t think of that…

“Yeah, okay.” Luffy nodded to himself decisively. “Can we just skip to the party?”

At that, Law laughed again, shaking his head as he ruffled Luffy’s hair. “Yeah, sure. I’ll ask Black Leg to make a fancy cake and all.”

“Yay!” Luffy cried before a snicker forced its way past his lips. “As long as you’re happy, too!”

Law rolled his eyes. “I feel like we’ve had this conversation before but you’re literally my soulmate and I love you so what the hell would we need a wedding for? Not to mention the World Government is basically on fire right now, who even has the authority to do weddings as it is?” Law asked in a tone that suggested he wasn’t looking for an answer before he added, “Also it’s just way too much of a bitch so yeah, I’m happy as it is.”

“Okay! No bitch ceremonies,” Luffy said, his voice shaking with laughter at the way Law clicked his tongue at the teasing remark.

And when Luffy pulled Law down to his level, the both of them smiling into the soft kiss they shared… Luffy decided not to mention this was the first time Law told him “I love you” directly.

After all, Law showed his love to Luffy every day in the way he smiled, the way he always left enough room next to him when taking a nap with Bepo, the way he brought out his precious Sora, Warrior of the Sea comic collection from the Tang’s safe storage space so that Luffy could read them.

He showed Luffy he loved him in all the little things, all the little moments they shared—just as Luffy did for him.

And Torao was right; they didn’t need words, a wedding, or even their soulmarks to know it.

[ohboyhowdybuckaroo]

I finished the last chapter of Frame Pieces AKA the first part in the SatoSugu Soulmates AU, but it's like 10 PM, so I shall instead post it tomorrow once I have the time to skim through it and when it's a reasonable hour lmao.

In the meantime, have the summary for the next chapter before we get into the weeds on the next story: