#maybe i should really turn that 'born to die' drawing into a t-shirt too. perfect time to do that

[seaofreverie]

Every once in a billion years I suddenly get very lucky and pick up one band merch delivery on one day, and then get another band merch delivery from another band on the very next day

[gaypopandlockmein-blog]

Hands of Time

Pairing: You / Shownu

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 2,820

Genre: Soulmate!AU // Non-Idol!AU

Summary: In a world filled with soulmates, you never really think about meeting yours. It will happen, but the when is harder to pinpoint; unless you happen to have a count down attached to your wrist. Now it’s only a matter of time before you meet them, and you aren’t sure how to feel.

Everybody on Earth has a soulmate. Soulmates can have a timer on their wrists or the red string of fate tying them together; they can have the name of their future partner on them or a small tattoo that matches someone else’s. Since before I, or my parents, or even my great great grandparents were born, soulmates existed in the world, though people never truly noticed that they were being led to said person.

I find myself looking down at my wrist again, watching the timer tick away. I’ve got three days, seven hours, fifteen minutes and twenty-six, no, twenty-five seconds before I officially meet my other half. Dropping my head into my hands, I rub at my temples and whisper over and over to myself that this was pre-ordained. Whoever I meet is going to be the love of my life, for the rest of my mortal existence. A deep sigh escapes me as I imagine all the possible situations.

There have been accounts of soulmates that clashed as soon as they met, even if they were supposed to be together. There are sob stories of soulmates who die before they can meet; tales of ones who meet but can’t be together. The longer I sit here in this coffee shop and think about all the things that could go wrong, I start to feel sick, and shake my head of the thoughts rattling in my brain. This is no time to be panicking over this. You’ve still got a few days, and you don’t even know what will happen. No point in psyching yourself out over it.

“Y/N?”

My head raises at the sound of someone saying my name. I immediately start beaming, standing from my chair and wrapping the guy in my arms. “Oh my god! Hyungwon, what are you doing here? I thought you went abroad for that modelling gig!”

His cheeks turn a slight shade of pink. I wave him towards the table that I’m sitting at, offering him the chance to turn it down if he wants. Hyungwon gives me a small smile, taking a seat opposite me, cupping his coffee between his large hands. Comfortable silence settles between us for a moment before he opens his mouth, eyes drifting around the shop.

“I actually…met my soulmate while I was abroad. I-I didn’t exactly expect it, you know? Threw my whole career into a bit of a,” he sips at his drink before continuing after making a face, “a rough patch, if you will. Anyway, I finished the modelling job there, spent some time with them and then came back home. I’ve got another job running here for a while, but it’s hard to focus when they’re not around.”

I can see as much, since Hyungwon has been looking around this entire time. His gaze can’t seem to focus on any one thing, and the only time it does is when he’s glancing at the phone he set on the table, face up to show the screen. A soft sigh escapes my parted lips as I prop my chin up with the palm of my hand. Leaning into it, I wiggle my brows a little, causing Hyungwon to snort and shake his head, floppy brown hair swishing over his forehead and eyes.

“Well you can’t just tell me you met your soulmate and tell me nothing! What are they like? Are they a model as well? Wait, wait! I wanna see a picture!” I gush, reaching over and grasping his hand.

Hyungwon rolls his eyes, lids drooping in their usual manner as he picks up his phone and pulls up a photo. Handing me the object, he starts talking about their job and what they’re like, causing me to beam at my best friend. The two of us have known each other since primary school, always being there to defend the other whenever someone decided it would be a fun idea to pick on the one of us. It was the one thing that got me through all those years of bullying and frustration from my parents to be the perfect kid.

“Ah, I’ve got a friend meeting me for lunch, so I should be going. I’ll text you later, yeah? Maybe you can meet Shownu sometime soon. If you’re still single and all,” Hyungwon teases, pocketing his phone as he stands and throws out his coffee cup.

I stick my tongue out at him, standing as well and packing up my things. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I curse loudly, drawing the attention of multiple patrons in the shop. I can hear Hyungwon laughing at the door, and an apology falls from my lips before I’m rushing out after him and shoving at his tall frame.

“Shut up! That was so embarrassing!” Brushing some hair back from my face, I chew on my bottom lip as I pull out my car keys. “I’d love to meet one of your friends though. It’s not like I’ve had much time to socialize with anybody outside of my computer and all those people I have to help on the phone. You have no idea how hard it is to care for an art gallery.”

We pause at my car, my arms wrapping around Hyungwon, who returns the hug and ruffles my hair as he steps back. I squint up at him and smile, feeling a lightness overtaking my chest at seeing him again. It feels like ages since I’ve hung out with any friends of mine, especially Hyungwon, who travels a lot. After a minute, I gasp, eyes widening in surprise.

“Wait! Is he a model too?”

The question seems to catch Hyungwon off guard, his face twisting in confusion before registering the inquiry. He laughs, doubling over and clutching at his stomach as he shakes his head. I frown, kicking at the ground and punching his arm playfully.

“Aish! Don’t laugh at me! I want to be prepared if I’m about to meet another attractive model,” I quip, watching as Hyungwon waves his hand and collects himself.

“He’s not a model, sorry. It’s hilarious that you asked though, because there are plenty of agencies that have been trying to get him to work with them.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he straightens up and steps back so I can get in my car. “He’s a dancer, usually works with students teaching classes or can be found choreographing for musician’s music videos. I think you’ll like him. I’ll text you later and we’ll set up a good time for all of us to hang out. I might bring Minhyuk and Jooheon.”

The thought of seeing more of my friends has me nodding happily and telling Hyungwon to text me before I pull out of my spot. Waving at him from my window, I glance at the clock on my wrist and shiver. Just three days, Y/N, and then you’ll meet your soulmate.

My eyes flicker down to my wrist again, heart racing in my chest as I realize I’ve got five minutes before I’m going to meet my soulmate. Hyungwon is sitting beside me, fingers flying over his phone screen as he texts someone, perhaps his friend, perhaps his soulmate, I don’t know. I’m so focused on my own sickness rolling in my stomach that I don’t think about it. A throat clears on my left and I turn, seeing Minhyuk with a raised brow staring back at me.

“What’s wrong? You look like you might be sick. Are you not interested in watching this movie? We can always change,” he states, expression worried. It reminds me of my mother’s face when I’m sick and I swallow thickly, shaking my head.

I move my arm over and show him the clock there, watching Minhyuk’s eyes widen in surprise. “Your soulmate is gonna be here?! Oh my god! This is amazing!”

I place my hand over his mouth, hushing him, looking around and sighing out when I realize no one was paying attention. My lips pucker and brows furrow as I give Minhyuk an ‘are you kidding me?’ face, causing him to return an impish smile my way. He mouths ‘sorry’ after I pull my hand away and I sigh softly. Every time someone walks in, I find my gaze falling to my wrist and then jumping back to them, thinking, maybe this is the one.

Of course, it never is, and as the seconds are finally counting down, I think I might explode from the excitement and panic racing through my veins. Just as the time runs out, Jooheon, and who I assume is Shownu, come wandering in. I’m aware that Jooheon isn’t my soulmate, given that he found his own ages ago, so my eyes flit right to Shownu, who tilts his head to the side when he sees me. They make their way up the steps, pausing in the aisle before Jooheon starts shoving his way to a seat beside Minhyuk.

My entire nervous system lights on fire, glancing down to my wrist and seeing that, yes, I am out of time. Returning my eyes to Shownu, I see him look at his own wrist, a surprised expression taking over his features. It’s cute, the way his lips part slightly and how his eyebrows shoot towards his hairline. When he finally glances back at me, I can see his own excitement and worry settle on his face, body stilling briefly. This gives me a chance to give him a once over, taking in his body and features. I must admit, I can understand why so many modelling agencies want to work with him.

He’s got the physique of a boxer, all thick thighs and broad shoulders, clearly muscular underneath the t-shirt and jeans he’s wearing. His black hair is short, fluffing up at the front and standing out against his tan skin and dark brown eyes that swim with all sorts of questions that I’m not sure I can answer. My gaze travels down his face, pausing on the full and pouty lips that are still parted in a small ‘o’ of surprise. A throat clears beside me, reminding both myself and Shownu that we’re at a movie theatre and that there’s a show about to start.

“Umm, Hyungwon, mind if I sit here? I like being in the aisle seat,” Shownu asks, voice deep and slow. It’s obvious he’s thinking over his words carefully, making sure they don’t seem too suspicious or awkward.

Hyungwon glances up from his phone, nodding as he stands and moves to sit on the other side of Jooheon, who’s talking off Minhyuk’s ear as he smiles brightly. Once Shownu sits, the theatre darkens, previews starting to play on the screen, meaning we can’t exactly talk. I chance a peek at him, watching the light from the screen illuminate his face until he glances at me, catching me staring. We both look away, blushing darkly at the fact that we were caught.

As the movie officially starts, I feel the barest touch against my hand, causing me to shiver. I suppose this is taken as acceptance, because the weight and warmth of Shownu’s hand encloses mine, sparks racing through my body at the mere touch of his skin against my own. In all honesty, I don’t remember any of the film since I’m so wrapped up in the fact that I’ve found my soulmate, and he’s holding my hand and…oh wow. Standing out in the foyer of the theatre, I think, he’s even more handsome when there’s actual light; the thought making my heart skip a beat in my chest.

Rubbing at my eyes, I blink a few times, pretending I’m merely adjusting to the change in brightness. The rest of the boys file out after Shownu and I, stretching their arms to the sky and talking about how good the movie was. Neither Shownu nor I speak, occasionally sending a furtive glance at the other before looking away just as quickly. The weight of an arm crashing around my shoulders has my knees bending before I manage to stand back up.

Jooheon smiles down at me, ruffling my hair as he starts to chatter. “So, we’re all going out for pizza and beer, right? I’m dying to let loose, even for an hour. There is way too much going on in my life. How’ve you been though, Y/N? Hyungwon told me that you stopped working at the coffee shop.”

I nod, fighting the urge to find Shownu behind Jooheon. “Yeah, I started working as an art gallery curator. It pays better and I get to spend time with people who have such amazing ideas. Sure, making coffee was great, but it killed my back and didn’t give me the chance to hang out with people and do things with my life.”

The mention of art has Minhyuk going off, talking all about his newest project. Most of the night is spent like this, trading stories about how our futures have been, whether we’ve met our soulmate, and family life. Shownu is quiet much of this time, merely watching me interact with the others with an occasional statement dropped in to seem invested in the conversation. I can feel his gaze on me though, nearly burning through me as I stand up to step outside for a minute and get some fresh air. Leaning against the side of the pizzeria we’re at, I crack one eye open when the door opens a few seconds after me, Shownu stepping out and inspecting the sky.

“It’s a beautiful night, no?” His voice is soft, drifting on the breeze. We stand there in silence for a beat longer before he turns to me, walking over and propping himself against the wall next to me. “I never thought I would meet my soulmate through Hyungwon, of all people.”

Snorting, I nod in response. “Me either. I kind of always assumed it would be Minhyuk or Kihyun, since they’re always trying to play matchmaker for everyone.” My eyes drift to his face, heart skipping a beat when I see how close he is. One of his hands brushes mine, the sparks returning immediately and shooting through me.

He smiles softly when I inhale quietly, eyes raising to meet mine in a question before he laces his fingers with my dangling ones. It feels right, leaving me leaning into him before placing my head on his shoulder. Breathing in deeply, I get a whiff of cologne, something spicy and warm, with a hint of soap. I don’t know how long we stand there, merely basking in the presence of each other before the door bangs open and we hear Minhyuk scream.

“I FOUND THEM! THEY’RE OUT HERE MAKING OUT!” He runs back inside, clearly still yelling about Shownu and I.

My cheeks burn as I hide my face in his shoulder, groaning about how absolutely idiotic our friends could be. Shownu chuckles, his body shaking as he does so, making me smile and bury my head further into his shirt. I feel the pressure of his free hand against the back of my neck, causing me to move away from his shoulder and look back up at him. His gaze is deep, drawing me further into him without noticing my body moving.

The touch of his lips against mine fills me with fire, all the nerves inside me jumping to life. I surge forward, crushing my mouth to his and gripping at the back of his hair, earning a groan from Shownu. The kiss is sweet, despite the bruising nature of it, leaving me both breathless and desperate for more. His fingers slide up to the back of my head, tilting my head and giving him better access as his pressure increases.

I feel his tongue glide over my bottom lip and think nothing of opening mouth for him, an exhale shoved from my chest at the touch of him. We must look like horny teenagers with the way we’re kissing, but I don’t give a fuck, clinging to him as if he was my only lifeline. It’s the sounds of hoots and hollering that make us pull away, both panting with our heads down as blushes burn our faces. The guys all are shouting at us, but we can’t look at them, eyes only raising enough to stare at the other.

“I suppose we should go back inside and finish eating. Something tells me we won’t be able to do that again until we have our first date,” Shownu murmurs.

His comment makes my heart race, fingers still tangled with his as he leads me back inside. The other boys are teasing and poking fun at us, but I’m not listening, thinking only about the fact that this was my soulmate. I think I can get used to it.