So... hows about that soulmate!AU Cashton x Reader one you were on about???
YES THANK YOU FOR REQUESTING YOU LEGEND WHOOO
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It was often difficult for Calum and Ashton. Being a pair of soulmates in a band, having their whole lives splashed across magazine covers for everyone to see.
It was why they had kept their relationship secret for the whole time that they had been in the spotlight.
Hiding their relationship in the way that they had to was one of the most difficult things about their band’s rise to fame and Michael and Luke, knowing that, had done everything they could to make it easier for the pair of them.
They’d go out with their own soulmates and attempt to find small, closed off areas that paparazzi were sure to never find them and tell Calum and Ashton about it so they could go on private dates there.
Which was how they had ended up in the night cafe.
Their hoods were up, sunglasses covering their eyes as they walked in, Ashton’s hand clasped in Calum’s in a sense of silent solidarity.
Ashton’s thumb was tracing over Calum’s tattoo, the way it always did when he was nervous - the tattoo of Ashton’s uniquely patterned initials that had appeared on Calum’s wrist when they had first met - the same way that Calum’s initials had appeared on Ashton’s shoulder.
That was how it worked - everyone was born with their initials tattooed somewhere on their body in an individual, unique style. When they met their soulmate, their initials would appear onto the others body where they first touched the other.
“Sorry about the wait,” the waitress said, a pretty smile on her face.
She had introduced herself as Y/N. There was only one other person at work in the cafe with her and Calum had assumed him to be the owner.
It had been pleasant for the couple to have their background chatter as they worked on their order, giggles occasionally coming from them as Ashton and Calum spoke in quiet, hushed tones to each other.
“That’s alright,” Ashton promised, leaning back and dropping Calum’s hand onto the table. Calum bit his lip, feeling the absence of Ashton like a pain in his chest.
“Thank you,” Calum said gently as the woman placed his order down in front of him. Y/N smiled in response.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” she returned.
As Y/N turned to walk away, Ashton reached out and grabbed at her wrist.
“Sorry - just, before you go-” Ashton cut himself off, his eyes wide as they looked down at where his hand had made contact with Y/N’s skin.
Black lines swirled out from his touch, forming the AI pattern he knew so well from seeing it every day on both Calum’s wrist and his own chest.
“C-Cal,” Ashton whispered. Y/N stared down at her own wrist, her eyes wide in shock.
“What the - what the fuck?” She responded.
Y/N raised her other hand tentatively holding it out to him. Ashton swallowed and held up his wrist for her. As soon as her fingers brushed against his wrist her initials blossomed out onto his skin and the two of them stared at each other in awe.
“What?” Calum’s voice was low and confused.
“I thought you two were soulmates,” Y/N said in distress, looking at Calum and Ashton.
Calum raised his own wrist, his sleeve dropping down to show the tattoo that was identical to the one now on Y/N’s own wrist.
“What’s going on?” Calum croaked, looking at Ashton fearfully. Ashton reached across the table to take his hand, squeezing it as assuringly as he could manage.
“It’s alright, Cal,” Ashton promised.
“What if...” Y/N bit her lip and shook her head.
“What?” Ashton probed, desperately wanting to hear her thoughts.
“Can I...” Y/N reached her hand out, her eyes wide. Calum nodded and Y/N’s cool fingers pressed against Calum’s exposed shoulder from where his jumper had slid down slightly.
The three of them breathed chuckles as they saw Y/N’s initials appear on Calum’s skin and Ashton shook his head, his eyes shining slightly with tears.
“Well...” he said. “Any chance you could get the rest of the night off?”
