Chapter Text
“His soulmate’s going to be pissed,” Niles snickered to Odin.
“Your soulmate’s heart will be pained with anguish after your life’s flame extinguishes once Leo notices.” Odin replied.
“It’s his own fault really, he should stop sleeping during his morning class,” Niles closed the lid to his marker and threw it in his bag, “and I don't even know if my soul mate would care anyways. From what we’ve talked about I know he’s an English professor in Japan. He seems like an uptight asshole, though” he paused to think, smiling devilishly, “it just makes me want to tease him all the more. He hates marks on his skin so we don't talk as much as Leo and Takumi do, but I just really want to mark him mine, though not with ink.” Niles started making lewd motions with his mouth.
Odin rolled his eyes. Niles rarely phased him anymore. “At least he’s not your best friend’s elder sibling.”
“Didn't I just go to your wedding this past summer? Having marital problems already?”
“Perhaps things worked out for the better, but we were but five and twelve when we learned of our eternal connection. She was babysitting Leo and I at the time. We’ve had to work through a lot over the years, and, I’m certain you’ve deduced this, but just because someone is your soulmate, doesn’t mean you don’t have to work for your relationship or that it always turns out. Even if you're both the same sex.”
“Oh I am more than aware. That’s why I don’t mind making it difficult for this bastard here with the easy-going relationship. Have you ever read anything on his arm when they're writing in English? The two get along so well it’s sickening.”
“We became acquainted with you in highschool, so I guess you might not have known this, but they couldn’t understand each other for the longest time for obvious reasons. Takumi and Leo finally received lessons in each other's language when we were roughly nine, but once they could finally understand each other all they could do was argue for several years.”
The bell for the end of class rung and Leo stirred from his slumber, lifting his head off his desk. “It’s torture to have classes this early.” He grumbled and moved to grab the books sitting in front of him, catching a glance at his arm as he reached to close the textbook. Dicks. There were dicks all over his right arm in permanent marker. “You’re dead to me Niles!” Leo shouted to the man already running out of the lecture hall to his next class, who turned to blow him a kiss.
“You should apologise to Takumi about the unfortunate circumstances, Leo,” Odin remarked, “though, I haven’t the slightest idea how you would apologise for such a transgression and I certainly hope Takumi wasn’t wearing a t-shirt, or that he had a sweater so that he could cover it. However he could be in bed by now, so you might be safe.” The blond laughed and stood up to gather his things and leave. The three friends shared their morning class, a general English, but they all had separate courses the rest of the day as they all had different majors.
Leo quickly pulled out a pen to write on his left arm. I’m so sorry , he jotted down quickly, Niles is a total asshole and I fell asleep during my morning lecture. It’s permanent marker, so I won’t be able to get it off until I return to my dorm room.
Leo’s soulmate slowly wrote out a reply. You’re damn lucky I'm in bed, and that I'm in an incredibly good mood. Can I call you in the morning with some good news? I should be getting to sleep; unlike a certain someone I like to stay awake for my classes. Don't worry about the long distance costs, it's something I really want you to hear, not read.
I'll talk to you tonight then.
Leo sighed as he made his way to next class. A fourteen hour time difference wasn't an easy one. While they often left messages for each other to read upon waking, or when there was a spare moment, a back and forth conversation could only happen during a small window of the day.
Classes could not have gone by any slower. Leo enjoyed school, but wanted nothing more than for evening to come and to talk to Takumi. As finals were coming up in a week, classes were more self-study sessions than real lectures, and being unable to concentrate, Leo decided to head back to his dorm to study there. There wasn't anything he needed to ask his professors, he was confident that his 4.0 average wouldn't waver with this final exam.
Niles was already in their shared dorm when he arrived. He was sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling and seemed completely oblivious to Leo joining him.
“Niles, are you okay? You're not exactly one to space out.”
The white-haired man jumped in response to the voice. “Ah, Leo, I'm sorry I didn't notice you. I'm just shocked. I couldn't focus on studying anymore.” Niles held out his left arm to explain. In perfect handwriting a single line of text made its way down his forearm. I'll be seeing you in a couple of weeks, was all it read, and Niles’ soulmate had signed his name in Japanese. Subaki Leo could read.
“What? Is he coming here?” Leo questioned his friend.
“I don't know, this is all I've gotten. I gave him our phone number, so I don't know why he can't just call me about it.”
“Maybe he will later? Takumi said he's calling with good news when he wakes up, if he's in Japan there's a good chance he's sleeping now, and long distance calls aren't cheap”
“I guess so. I want to ask him so many things but I don't want to upset him by marking up his skin. His attitude just makes me want to tease him but when I do he just ignores me for a week or two. I just don't know if meeting is a good idea, he sounds like so much work.” Niles rested his hand in right palm and stared at the writing on his arm. “He usually washes all of his writing off immediately.”
“And you're not difficult? I'd say that's a good sign he hasn't washed it then, maybe he's come to see your teasing as endearing? You have no sympathy from me though. Who the hell draws dicks all over someone's arm! You’re damn lucky he was in bed. Anyways, I need to go and try to scrub this off. I don't want him waking up with it still there.”
His arm hurt. The permanent marker really did not want to come off and Leo had to rub his forearm raw to get all of it off. It was a good thing pain didn't transfer between soul mates as well. Distracting himself with studying to pass the time was normally an easy task but the dull burn of his scrubbed arm was enough to keep him from his getting too deep into his escapism.
Leo glanced at the clock for the hundredth time that afternoon to read that it was finally four o'clock. Takumi would be calling in the next hour. Realising he forgot to have lunch he head to the kitchen to make some instant noodles. It put him closer to the phone as a bonus, he didn't want Niles picking up the phone. Leo received a monthly food allowance, but spent it minimally and bought books instead. This month he had bought himself another bookshelf with the money, because books had begun forming towers on the floor. So instant noodles are eaten three times a day during the week, if he even remembered to eat.
“How have you not died of malnutrition yet?” Niles was still sitting on the couch, now watching some television with a cup of coffee in hand.
“When we eat at Camilla and Odin’s place on the weekends it probably makes up for what I don't eat during the week.” Leo shrugged.
“Odin’s so lucky with Camilla, they already had a long life together by the time Odin moved in with her. Here we are, with soul mate's in another country, and I never even thought I'd meet him. I've thought about having a life with him, but no matter what, one half is going to have to give up everything to be with the other. What am I even expecting when I meet him? To be swept up in whirlwind romance? Is his visitation temporary? Why is he going to be here in the first place?”
The words pierced through Leo's heart. Could he ever be willing to uproot his entire life to move to Japan? Sure, Takumi was his soul mate, but he hadn't even met the guy yet. As close as they were, they hadn't even made it clear to each other if they wanted to explore a romantic relationship. Platonic same-sex soul mates were just as common as romantic ones, but sometimes if feelings are mismatched it doesn't work out at all. Being soulmates isn't a guarantee and that the connection is called soulmates seemed cruel in those kinds of cases. Just because one half is gay doesn't mean the other is.
“For all the complaining you’ve done of him, you really want to make it work with him romantically, don't you? Does he know you're gay?” Leo was now sitting on the couch with Niles and his cup of noodles.
“I was five when he first wrote me.” Niles deflected the questions. “I guess that would have made him twelve? Anyways, you want to know what his first words to me were? ‘Stop writing, you're messing up my skin with your chicken scratch.’ I was just learning how to write, so I called him a meanie head and scribbled all over my arms. I even cried! I didn't mark my skin for a long time after that, I couldn't bear to make my soul mate hate me. Once I developed my current personality, however, I managed to talk to him a bit more, and he does respond more often than not now. I thought he didn't like me at all, it always felt like I was forcing him to talk to me. I know that not all so-called soulmates work out but maybe you're right. Maybe he really is interested in me. To answer your question though, no, I haven't told him and I have a feeling he probably doesn't want the same kind of relationship I do.”
“I get that, I haven't told Takumi either. Once we started getting along and learned how much alike we were I didn't want to chance pushing him away by telling him I had developed feelings for him. If I ever meet him I--”
Leo got cut off by the phone ringing, and he jumped up to go and grab it. “Hello, Leo speaking.” He was giddy, due to the cost talking to Takumi on the phone was a rare occurrence.
“It's so good to hear your voice Leo. I've missed it.”
Leo’s heart almost jumped out of his chest, he could hear a smile in Takumi's voice as he said that. Leo changed to speaking Japanese to keep Niles from understanding their conversation. He didn't need to be teased later. “I've missed yours too, it's been a long while since we've talked over the phone.” Leo had to work hard to not stammer over the words.
“Too long, and I'm sorry to keep you waiting on this, but it really was something I wanted you hear.” Takumi stopped for a dramatic pause and Leo felt his heart jump into his throat. “I'm going to be attending your university starting next semester. We're leaving once finals are over in a couple of weeks, and we'll have winter break to settle in. It's for two years, and there's a handful of us going. My English professor set it all up. As soon as Professor Subaki announced that it was your university he made an arrangement with I signed up immediately. Gods, I can't believe I'm going to meet you!”
“I, I'm, I can't believe it either, this must be a dream.”
Leo thought over the words Takumi had said once more. “Wait, did you just call your professor Subaki? Obsessed with being perfect, kind of uptight guy? Is he coming too?”
Takumi was completely thrown aback. “Yeah, why? How would even know him?”
“I don't know him, but I know someone who does. Give me a second here.” Leo moved the receiver away from his face. “Hey Niles,” he said, switching back to English,” I think Subaki likes you more than you know. You get two years to not mess it up.”
Niles choked on his coffee, throwing him into a coughing fit. “What are you talking about?” He managed to croak out, his face turning a deep red.
“I'll tell you more later.” Leo smiled and brought the phone back up to his ear, and smoothly slipped back to the Japanese. “Sorry about that, Subaki just happens to be Niles’ soulmate.”
“What? That lewd asshole of a roommate you have is his soul mate? The two couldn't be any more different!”
“I know, this is going to be hilarious, but I think they might really like each other. I mean, why else would Subaki have the exchange happen at this university? He must be terrible at expressing feelings though, Niles went on a huge rant about not wanting Subaki to hate him right before you called. Anyways, enough about them,” Leo hoped he didn't seem like a schoolgirl, gossiping about them as he was, “Where will you be staying? Hopefully not too far?”
“I'm staying in the dorms, so I'm nice and close to both school and you.”
Leo felt a blush creep across his face. “Th-that's great! It'd he nice if you were in the same building as me. Commuting every morning would certainly be terrible if you weren't in the dorms. I'll have to show you around the area. There are a lot of really nice shops.” He hoped his giddyness didn't translate into his voice.
“That sounds great. I have to head to class now, but I'll let you know when my flight will be landing if you'd like to meet me at the airport. You should bring Niles too if Professor Subaki doesn't tell him to come. Oh and make sure your clothes are all right side out and facing the right way, I don't need my classmates thinking my soul mate is an idiot.”
“I should have never told you about that. I’ll have you know that's only happened twice in the last month. I'll make sure I bring Niles but I'll be filling him on what's going on in general, Subaki seems to playing the ‘dark and mysterious’ game.”
“It shouldn't happen at all! But I'll write you later, I'm going to miss my bus. I'll see you in a couple of weeks.”
“I'm not a morning person, and I can't wait. Write you later.” Leo waited for Takumi to hang up before putting the phone back in it's place.