Linked
words - 2k+
genre - fluff, soulmate au!; whatever is written on your skin appears on your soulmates as well
featuring - noh taehyun x reader
a/n - this was a request and I hope it turned out okay...tbh I’m not super like educated on soulmate aus, so hopefully i did this okay?¿ ALSO, since I’m like posting from my phone due to my vpn not working on my laptop, the italics don’t transfer over to my posts, so hopefully it’s okay without the italics i originally had in there...
Taehyun stared at the writing covering his forearm, no longer questioning it as he realized what it meant a while ago. Everyone has a soulmate, and once paired up, everything written on your soulmate will also be written on you. Taehyun still remembers the first time your handwriting adorned his body. He had gotten out of the shower after coming home late from practice, threw on some clothes and jumped into bed. As he was checking his phone, he felt a slight tingle on his arm as the words be strong began to appear.
At first he freaked out, not showing anyone because he didn’t know what the words meant or where they had come from. But after taking some time, he realized he had finally gotten a soulmate.
The other members hadn’t gotten theirs yet, which was understandable because it often was a long process. But they couldn’t wait for that day to come, always asking Taehyun if anything new was written on his hands or arms. If he had any idea of who you were. But that was what he hated about this whole soulmate thing. How was he supposed to find you? He had only written something once or twice for you to see, being so busy and all. Plus how was he supposed to explain who he was to you? The whole idea of finding you excited Taehyun, but he was fearful that he’d never actually have it happen.
It had been a few months since he’d found out about you being his soulmate, though he still didn’t know who you were. But Taehyun liked it, your occasional words of encouragement gracing his skin keeping him sane through the craziness of promoting with his group. Today as he was stressed about JBJ’s comeback performance for their new song, the word relax appeared on his wrist with a slight burn like all the others did. Taehyun smiled to himself, taking a deep breath as he calmed downed and was ready to take the stage.
After the performance Taehyun and the boys changed and waited in the dressing room until it was time for them to head back to the dorm. “Hyung, you didn’t seem nervous at all today. Get a little note from her today?” Taehyun rolled his eyes as Hyunbin climbed into the van next to him. “I did.” Taehyun just smiled to himself as he looked at the word on his wrist one again. “Are you gonna say anything back? You never say anything back, please say something back! This is like a real life drama, you need to keep it interesting.”
“What do I even say? I don’t even know her, I don’t know what to say. And I’m not gonna write a paragraph to her telling my whole life story.” The two boys sat in silence as the van started off towards the dorm.
Without consulting the others on what to say, considering it was his soulmate after all, Taehyun grabbed a marker from his bag, quickly writing something on his arm while the other members were sleeping or distracted by their phones.
I know they aren’t for me, but I appreciate your messages
His heart was racing so fast as he put the marker back in his bag, scared to think that in a few minutes the words would be on your skin. That you’d finally know he appreciated your words of encouragement, whether or not the words were really meant for him. Would you be just as excited to receive a message from him as he was when he got one from you?
You were.
Lying in bed, you were ready to call it a night. Scrolling one last time through Instagram before putting your phone down at your bedside. As you closed your eyes, you felt the slight burning on your forearm that was vaguely familiar to you. Pulling your arm from under your pillow, you noticed the words beginning to appear, I know they aren’t meant for me, but I appreciate your messages. You were shocked, to say the least. You’d only found out about your soulmate a few weeks ago, because he had finally replied to you letting you know. It made you wonder just how long the two of you had been matched. If it was long, maybe he just wasn’t into the whole message thing. But you didn’t care, you still did as you normally did, writing words of encouragement for yourself on your skin. Figuring that the words would maybe benefit him every once and awhile too.
His responses before included a smiley face and thanks. So for him to send something so long, you were surprised. You wondered what to say back, did you start a conversation with him? Surely your arms would run out of space by the morning. Luckily the words fade after 24 hours. Did you give him a short response, a little pay back for his two previous responses?
You thought of what to say, your pen hovering over your skin for some time before you’d finally decided on something. Hoping it wasn’t dull or pushed him away from responding to you ever again.
They are for the both of us, I’m glad they help
It wasn’t long after that response that Taehyun had finally gotten up the courage to write to you and ask if you two could text. Though he enjoyed the messages on his arms, it wasn’t ideal for long conversations. At first you were a bit unsure, you two were taking the next step in whatever relationship this was and to be honest it made you nervous. But you agreed, giving him your number while he did the same. For now, you knew him as Tae. He was apprehensive to give you his whole first name, though it was common, in case you would realize who he was. But he knew you as y/n, you having no reason to keep your name from him. You talked frequently, still sending him words of encouragement as he really did love getting those messages from you. Sometimes he was late replying, or texted you at random hours. Just saying it was because he was busy with friends or working. It made you wonder what exactly his job was that kept him up until 2 sometimes 3 in the morning. But you two agreed on no specifics, at least not yet.
Though you liked it, keeping things interesting, you couldn’t help but feel like you didn’t really know Taehyun. Sure he didn’t know too much about you, but he did know your name. Why couldn’t you know his? It made you feel as if he was hiding something from you, or he didn’t want to be completely honest with you. But if you were soulmates, surely you could tell each other everything about one another. IF the universe felt you were perfect for one another..
But you respected his decision, figuring he had a good enough reason and he’d tell you eventually. Like most nights, you lay in bed. Scrolling through your phone, heading to YouTube only to find a video of your favorite group JBJ playing drinking games. Immediately you clicked on it, the idea of the members tipsy, or even drunk already making you laugh. As the video began your eye immediately went to Taehyun. He was your favorite member, and you’d been in love with him for a while. First seeing him when you randomly clicked on a suggested HOTSHOT music video, then again on Produce 101. You didn’t know what it was about him, but you were drawn to him. You loved his smile, his laugh, everything about him really.
You smiled to yourself as you watched the video, laughing at the members as they played the different games. But as Taehyun reached across the table, you couldn’t help but notice something on the back of his hand. Being a huge fan of Taehyun you knew he didn’t have any tattoos. And if he got one, surely you and other fans would know. Especially if it was on his hand. You paused the video, trying to get a better look. Only being able to confirm it was a word, the writing being unclear because of the video quality. Figuring there might be a better shot later, you continued the video. And as the boys all held up their drinks to cheers, you got the view of his hand you needed.
Immediately your jaw hit the floor as you saw the word smile followed by a smiley face. You had written that on your hand a little over a week ago, surely when this video had been filmed. First, you were shocked Taehyun hadn’t tried to cover it up. But now things started to make more sense. Why he didn’t tell you his full name, why he was always working so late or doing stuff with friends. He wasn’t lying to you, he just didn’t know how to explain who he was.
Sighing to yourself you wondered if you should message him, tell him you know who he is. But what if he stops talking to you? Afraid that you’re either a crazy fan, or you just don’t want to be with someone like him. Though neither of those were true, you decided not to say anything for now.
The following days after you’d realized the identity of your soulmate, Taehyun noticed you had been acting different. Well, as best he could through a phone at least. He tried figuring out what was wrong, but he got no response. It was true that you had been ignoring him, but it was the only thing you could do until you figured out how to tell him you knew. You didn’t want to stop talking to Taehyun, but now that you knew who he was. That he was your favorite idol who you had liked for so long, that he was your soulmate. You couldn’t help but question the things you would say to him, fearful you’d say something stupid and embarrass yourself.
But Taehyun missed your messages. Just wishing he’d get a little encouragement from you, but instead he got nothing. As he and the boys were getting ready for a big concert, Taehyun kept glancing at his arm. Nothing. The others noticed him, a nervous wreck to put it nicely. And they too became worried. “Hyung, you gotta try to just relax okay? You can do this without a message from her.” Taehyun nodded as their mics were being hooked up, realizing Hyunbin was right. He would have to go on stage and perform without words from you. Though he really didn’t want to.
And as the boys were told to walk towards the stairs at the back of the stage, Taehyun felt that all too familiar burning on his arm once again. Quickly rolling up his sleeve he wasted no time to look for the message.
You’re gonna be amazing, just breathe
Taehyun looked at his arm confused, the message unlike the others. And though he wished he could write back and try to understand, Hyunbin was pushing him forward as they were going to miss their cue.
He was able to focus and relax after reading your message, but Taehyun was still confused by it. Even as the concert went on, eventually coming to an end and the boys hurrying to change before the fan meeting afterwards. Pulling on his t-shirt Taehyun grabbed his phone to send you a quick text, though not having time to wait for your response as the crew quickly ushered the boys out of the dressing room.
As you waited with the other fans, you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. You smiled as you saw Taehyun’s names on the screen, swiping to open up the message.
[Tae]: Big day for you or something?
You knew he was probably so confused by the message, wondering the whole concert what you could have meant. He probably thought the message was a reminder for yourself, never once thinking that maybe it was for him and that you’d figured out who he was.
And as you began to move forward in line, Taehyun now coming into view, you had to quickly think of what you would say to him to explain who you were without being too obvious for other people around to notice.
Once at the table you greeted the boys, Taehyun being last, so you kept your words short as you didn’t want to forget what you’d planned. Standing in front of Taehyun you smiled wide, and he smiled back. “Thank you so much for coming, did you like the show?” As he spoke you glanced at his arm while his hand still held yours, seeing your words on his skin.
“Yes, I did. Taehyun, do you always write messages like this to yourself?” He looked at his arm, becoming a bit flustered as he wasn’t sure what to say. “Well-” He started but you quickly interrupted him, slightly rolling up your sleeve to reveal the words on your skin.
“Because, I do that too.”
Taehyun looked at your arm, then at his, and finally at you as you were smiling wide. Soon he was doing the same, wanting to step around the table and hug you and spin you around he was so happy. But he couldn’t, not with other fans there. And no one but his members knowing he had found his soulmate. Instead he just held both of your hands and smiled up at you. “These messages mean so much to me, I never want to go a day without them. I hope they mean a lot to you too.”
The crew was urging you to move on, though neither of you wanted to walk away from one another. But as you headed up the stairs to exit the venue, your phone buzzed in your pocket once again. It was Taehyun.
[Tae]: My name is Noh Taehyun, and I’m your soulmate. Gosh it feels good to finally say that…Meet me out back in 15 minutes? I’ll let security know you’re with me