"Etched Hearts and Broken Parts": Preview/Prologue
Tags: Soulmate AU, angst, romance, poly romance, EXO
They estimate that it was around 25 years ago when it probably started, around the time you were born. Soulmates. Children being born, growing up, and telling their parents that there was a name on their body that only they could see. Teenagers meeting a stranger with the same name, hearing their own name said by the owner of the ghost writing, and tattoos forming where the invisible monikers once stood.
“Somehow activated by hearing your soulmate say your name” you remember one scientist said on late night television. It was during the time when hundreds of cases of tattoos on minors started popping up. “You’re children aren’t lying, they really do see a name on them,” TV Psychiatrists would say on the talk shows your mom used to watch.
Name. Name. Name. NAME. Just hearing SOULMATE made you sick to your stomach. You knew from the first time you told your mother. With the way she looked at you, the way she didn’t believe you, you knew. At seven years old, with two names written in invisible ink on your wrists… you knew that you were broken.
~*~
You grunted as you put your bag down at the entrance to your apartment. The bag was weighed down with what felt like 50 pounds of headphones, and cables. You shuffled off your work boots and slid yourself down to lay on the cold floor which might not have done much for cooling you down, but it still felt good. You felt your white tank top sticking so tight to you from sweat it might have to be surgically removed, your black, and green plaid shirt was splayed out on the floor almost giving you angel wings and your rolled cuff blue jean shorts (which at the beginning of the day fell about an inch above your knees), had ridden so far up your thighs, they might as well be underwear at this point. Being chubby and in the heat is never a good combo.
“Don’t get your nasty sweat on the floor, I just mopped this morning,” your best friend scolded as she walked down the hallway and stood in front of you. She was in her normal lounge at home outfit, a black t-shirt, and heather grey leggings. You were in direct eyesight with her teddy bear slippers, and you poked one of the bear’s nose before sliding across the floor and crawling on the couch. “Tough day?” She asked as she set your head on her lap and ran her fingers through your hair.
“We got a bunch of newbies who didn’t know how to work any of the equipment and the client was almost an hour late. Apparently, she was with her soulmate and lost track of time AND it was an outside set. In the Summer! Do they realize this is KOREA, it’s hot as hell here! I sat by Satan on the subway ride home!,” you scoffed and scrunched your nose.
“I can understand wanting to spend time with your soulmate, but still that’s no excuse,” she said the coolness of her hand felt good on your forehead.
You heard the chime of the door opening and instantly jumped off the couch and started making your way down the hall. “I-I’m uh, going to go and take a shower, I-I-I… I feel gross,” you called out as you ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Yixing got off early today, you thought to yourself as you ran some cool water. You felt your heart start to ache and tears attempt to come to your eyes before you shook them away and got in the shower.
“Where is she?” you heard Yixing ask. His question was followed by pots and pans clanging around and the sound of plastic grocery bags crumpling. While the bedrooms were sound proof, everything else in the tiny apartment wasn’t, and it amazed you how well sound carried from the kitchen, down the hall, and into the bathroom.
“She went to take a shower, she’ll be out in a bit. They made her work in the sun all day! I should call that boss of hers and give him a piece of my mind,” she rambled. You figured she had probably taken a seat at the kitchen bar like she always does. Since they met, she’s always loved to watch Yixing cook… among other things.
“Did you ask her yet?” He asked.
“No, not yet. I was going to but, it’s so hard to bring up. Maybe we should both do it,” she said.
“Eh… it might be… awkward if I’m there. But yeah, we should both ask her, since we’re both part of it anyways,” he said. “But not today. Not when she’s tired. Maybe this weekend?”
“Yeah that would be great,” she said, “I’m so nervous.”
I guess it’s time, you thought. They’re going to ask me to move
~*~
“It smells delicious,” you said as you walked out of the bathroom still towel drying the hair on your head. The water was falling down your neck and down your cleavage which was made all the more prominent due to your sports bra. Your Harley Quinn raglan tee was damp at the shoulders, and your black pajama shorts were sticking to the inside of your thighs. You looked over at your best friend and Yixing who were just staring at you. “What? Does it not taste good?”
“No, it’ll taste good. I didn’t let this one touch anything, so it’ll taste good.” He winked at you as he pinched your best friend’s cheek.
“Hey! I’m not that bad! I swear, if you weren’t my soulmate I’d-,” she caught herself as she looked at you.
“Will you stop acting like that already?” You tried to laugh it off, “You make it awkward when you do that.” Your attempt at dispelling the awkward moment only magnified it, and the same atmosphere continued all through dinner.
“I’m probably going to be late getting home tomorrow,” you said as you cleaned the last dish from dinner and made your way to the living room. They were seated on the couch, cuddling and watching tv, another routine they had acquired after becoming soulmates.
“What? Whyyyyy?” your best friend whined as she moved Yixing’s arm from her shoulder and turned from her spot on the couch to face you.
“Apparently some celebrity couple has come out with an announcement and now I have to go with a crew to film their interview.” You said as you bent down and looked in your bag of cables to make sure everything that you would need for the next day was there.
“But you were supposed to have the day off! We were going to have a girl day!” She whined again.
“I know but… my boss says it’s pretty important and we’re really lucky to get this interview. I don’t really have a choice.” You sighed as you zipped up your bag and made your way towards her. “I’ll ask for a day off after tomorrow ok?” You tried to appease her by ruffling her hair. “Listen, we have to set everything up in the morning. I’m going to go ahead and go to bed.”
“Goodnight,” Yixing turned around and smiled at you awkwardly.
“Yeah. Night,” You returned just as awkwardly and made your way to your room.
~*~
“Celebrity couple reveal that they are missing a piece! Famous producer, composer, and lyricist Chanyeol and his soulmate, actor and model Jongin, formerly known as Kai claim to have a second soulmate!”
Yixing stared wide eyed at the television screen while his soulmate let out an audible gasp beside him.
“You don’t think, that’s not them… tomorrow. She’s going to…” just the thought of it shocked her and she couldn’t form any complete thoughts.
“It’s ok,” he said as he pulled her onto his chest and rubbed her back. He could feel the anxiety seeping off her and her heart was about to beat out of her chest. “Don’t worry. It’s not them, it can’t be. Don’t worry. I won’t let anything like that happen. I promise. She’ll be fine. We will all be fine.”
He reassured her but something deep down inside told him that he needed to do something. That they needed to do something, and fast.