Ink
Soulmate Au where whatever you write on your skin shows up on your soulmate’s skin
Keith-centric — open to be any ship with Keith
Keith had always been artistic from a young age. Doodles that made it onto everything from sketchbooks to school desks, his own skin included, had been his one effective coping mechanism. No matter the emotion, art could hold his hand and pull him through it. Whether it was doodling on his hand to keep anxiety at bay, or a sketch of people he saw in the library when he felt that the world did not want him, it was something that he had always done. Something to help himself.
I think you’re a good person.
The comment had appeared under a large drawing that he had done on his skin while he had been in a particularly low and insecure mood. He did not dare to respond. He knew exactly how the words got there, and he knew exactly who put them there. The very idea of it was terrifying to him.
But, placing ink on his own skin was a habit deep-seeded in himself. One incident was not enough to deter him from it. He persisted.
A month later, another comment appeared. One about how Keith’s style of art was one of their favorites. It was less personal, easier to digest. So, he let it stay, answering only with a one word response of thanks.
It continued on, his soulmate leaving little notes by his art. The sweeter ones pulling a smile from him, the encouraging ones eventually reassuring him.
It snuck up on him, just how close him and his soulmate had gotten through the exchanges, how much he had let this person in. Yet, he could not bring himself to regret it. This person had joined his life, whether or not he had a voice or a face to match to the words that would appear scrawled across his skin next to his art. A reoccurring action in his daily life had now been to check for new words and comments, and he hoped, deep down, that his soul mate had made it part of their life to check for the things Keith left for them as well.
The day he drew his first piece specifically for his soulmate, he was not sure exactly how or what he was feeling, just that he needed to get it out. His soulmate had learned how to distinguish the differences between what emotions Keith felt when drawing in what art styles. He trusted them to know what he was trying to say in that moment.
And they did.
That became how the pair talked. His soulmate writing words across both their skins, and Keith’s art decorating the same areas in response. Words had never been his strength, but art had. The arrangement was perfect. He wanted this, wanted the connection to grow, even if it meant making himself vulnerable to another person.
And the connection did grow, they did meet. It was not the extravagant meeting that some people always talked about wanting, just a bump when they had both been crossing the street in opposite directions during the summertime. But, Keith liked it that way. Both of them had the same drawings and late night words decorating their skin, leaving no doubt just who they were to each other. The day ended with coffee for two.
But, the anxiety kicked back in. What if this meant their relationship needed to change? That the two of them would actually need to talk and not stay in the comfortable communication that they had already created together. Words were not his forte.
Though, he had the best soulmate he could ask for. Because his soulmate loved him for him. His way with words would not change, but it was okay. Keith’s art was just as much expression as any words his soulmate could give him. He never needed to write down a single one, his soulmate knew him well enough to see every emotion in every drawing.
Together they knew the meaning of a picture is worth a thousand words.
