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Erik stared at the mirror in his bathroom, at his own grey eyes and brown hair. His body was almost entirely covered by clothes, only a black t-shirt and an unbuttoned red shirt visible in the glass surface. Almost. His eyes averted to his left hand, leaned against the sink.
For perhaps the hundredth time since Saturday he pressed his right pointer against the side of his left palm. He felt it. Everything was normal. Then, he dig his nail into his skin, just so slightly. He felt pain. He still felt pain, so why didn’t he feel it two days ago?
He kept replaying the situation from that day in his head. A hand against his. Touch, just a brief one. Delicate. Quick. Painless.
“Erik” he said, maybe an hour before that, looking at his peer standing in front of him. He was a bit shorter, had big blue eyes and was really, really cute. To the point where Erik started regretting that he left his pin with bisexual flag at home. It was usually pinned to his backpack, occasionally to his jacket, but today was not the day.
“Charles” the boy replied cheerfully. Raven, Erik’s friend from the school’s theater club, raised an eyebrow while looking at Charles, and Erik didn’t know why, but he also didn’t really care. When Raven asked if her older brother can join their weekly hangout, he didn’t think he will get hit by a wave of gay panic.
But, well, the hangout went smoothly – if you ignore that Erik forgot how to speak every ten minutes – and Erik would probably think nothing of it, if not the fact that Charles seemed to completely ignore that he should keep a safe distance from everyone. Well, unless he was a masochist.
Sometimes Erik could see a couple holding hands on the street, so close to each other, closer than anyone else – and he would always look away, unlike most people who stared. Soulmates. Shoving how happy they are together in everyone’s faces.
It’s not that he was jealous (he was) or touch-starved (a bit). He had his family, the only people he could touch without the burning pain. There was still this weird, tingling sensation, but it was not pain. Erik has never experienced the feeling of someone else’s touch without an unpleasant addition.
Until Saturday. Until Charles’ hand brushed against his, because he was absolutely careless and getting too close to people, and he didn’t feel pain. He didn’t. Feel. Pain.
And Charles didn’t react.
Erik was so stunned he didn’t say anything. He thought that he was going to have the biggest mental breakdown of his fucking life. He probably found his soulmate, and that supposed soulmate didn’t even say anything! He just kept talking to Hank without stuttering once and didn’t seem to be aware of Erik’s internal crisis.
Maybe it was just his imagination. Maybe he didn’t really touch Charles. Maybe his skin just brushed against Charles’ loose sleeve. Maybe Erik was going insane.
“Erik!” he heard. The voice was accompanied by the sound of a hand slamming against the door. “Get the hell outta there!”
He sighed and decided to coax his hair for the next few minutes to annoy Ruth even more. He found it funny. And sitting here longer meant that he kind of postponed going to school, in a way.
Well, at least he wouldn’t meet Charles there. He was homeschooled – he called it his parents’ airs. Erik didn’t really care why, but that meant he had no idea when he will see Charles again. Would it be weird if he went up to him the next time they meet and said “hi, I think you’re my soulmate, can I touch you and potentially cause us both pain to make sure?”. Probably a bit, but not the weirdest thing on earth – he saw people do that before. But, honestly, Erik met him once. Once! They barely knew each other. He can’t do that. Especially if he was wrong. Even if Charles wasn’t his soulmate, he was still nice and cute as hell. Erik didn’t want to ruin that from the start.
He got out of the bathroom and passed Ruth, who angrily shut the door behind herself. Sharing a bathroom with someone who almost always got up later than him worked out wonderfully. For Erik. Not for his sister.
Though today Erik didn’t get up as early as usually. He didn’t sleep well for the past two days, busy thinking about Charles. His potential soulmate. Erik tried not to hope for too much. What was the chance that he found his soulmate at the age seventeen? What was the chance that his friend’s brother was his soulmate?
Erik greeted his mom in the kitchen and began eating breakfast, still thinking about that brush of hands. God. He needed to find out whether he was right.
★★★★★
“Raven~” Erik began, leaning against the locker.
“The fuck you want?”
“Why so aggressive?” he asked and got a raised eyebrow in return. “Alright. Is Charles gonna come with you also this week?”
“And why do you care?”
“…No reason”
Raven looked at him like she didn’t want to tell him purely out of spite. She (aggressively) shut her locker and turned to Erik.
“I can ask him if he wants to”
Fuck yeah.
“Slay. Thanks” he quickly said and hurried to his classroom, not waiting for more questions from Raven.
Now he just had to wait till Saturday.
★★★★★
To their contentment, the skate park wasn’t crowded. Raven (who was holding a skateboard) crouched next to Charles (who was putting on skates). She was eyeing him with uneasiness.
“Are you sure- ”
“Yes” he cut her off, not even looking at her. She put her hand on his arm, making him turn his head towards her. The familiar tingling sensation spread through his body. That one, he could feel.
“Charles, you know I worry”
“Raven, I didn’t sneak out of the house with you just to sit here and watch” he said. “Even if something happens, we’ll go to a hospital and I’ll be fine. As always”
Raven sighed quietly, letting go of him.
“Don’t make that face. You might get hurt as well”
“But I would feel it”
“Sounds like a skill issue to me”
“Fuck you” Raven muttered and stood up. She had 911 on speed dial, and if Charles does hurt himself (again) she will lock him in one of the kitchen cupboards.
Charles couldn’t miss a single opportunity to get out of the house. Their parents didn’t really let him. Not feeling pain didn’t mean that he couldn’t get hurt – it actually meant quite the opposite. He has literally bitten off the tip of his tongue when he was little, burnt himself countless of times and didn’t even notice, broke his arm and also didn’t notice. Pain didn’t sound like a fun thing from what he heard, but by god, did he wish to feel it at times.
He carefully stood up, not wanting to trip, which would be easy while wearing skates. Especially because he didn’t exactly did it often, as most of physical activities were forbidden for him as too dangerous. He hated it, but grew out of purposefully doing everything he shouldn’t do. As much as he didn’t like it, he knew that it was for the better.
Which didn’t mean that he didn’t want to get out of his prison house once in a while. His sister had a normal life and could sometimes show him how it looks. Like now.
No matter how reckless it could seem, soon he was skating with Raven and her friends. Particularly with Erik. They just clicked when they first met, and Charles, who was pretty deprived of social interactions, was quick to befriend everyone who showed interest. And Erik did. He was so nice, and so interesting, and so handsome, and Charles became a bit infatuated. Just a bit. It’s not like he has been thinking about him for the entire week and almost started screaming when Raven said that Erik asked whether he’ll come with her to their next hangout. Of course the answer was yes. Totally not because of Erik.
He pretended not to stare (unsuccessfully) at Erik’s smile (and at the pride pin attached to his jacket). Charles didn’t really have much to talk about in the real life sphere, but it turned out that they have pretty similar taste in books and shows. He was just talking about The Priory of the Orange Tree – something his online friend Moira recommended him, completely not because of the romantic subplot – when he got a bit too invested in his ramble and forgot that falling was a possibility. With his questionable skills at roller-skating, quite a high one.
Before he could react in any way, he was falling to his death laying on concrete, his right hand under him, his eyes shut tightly in an instinctive reaction. Fuck. That was embarrassing. Also, Raven was going to kill him. And then their parents were going to kill them both.
Erik didn’t think much before rushing to Charles and helping him stand up, which wasn’t really the easiest while wearing skates. Only when he looked in Charles’ blue eyes again, he realized that they’re touching.
He immediately let go, almost jumping back, as if he still expected to feel the pain – but now, it was obvious. Charles was his soulmate. Holy fucking shit, he found his soulmate! They’ve found each other. Charles had to know that too.
And he didn’t say anything.
No surprise on his face, not a single word falling from his lips – and Erik didn’t know what to do. Was Charles waiting for his move? Or did he not want Erik for his soulmate?
“Are you alright?” he asked, because what else was he supposed to say?
Charles laughed nervously. He seemed stiff, as if he was afraid to move, and he was awkwardly holding his right hand in front of himself. From what Erik saw, Charles fell on it, but it seemed to be fine except for a few scratches. Erik has broken a hand before – he was sure that if Charles’ was broken, he would be wailing in pain.
“You see, the thing is, I don’t know”
Erik frowned in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, well, I don’t really feel pain. Like, at all” he muttered, clearly slightly uncomfortable. “Genetic mutation”
Erik blinked, puzzled. How was that even possible? But Charles had no reason to lie to him. If he couldn’t feel pain, then he- OH.
Erik let out a short laugh, just as Charles did before. Oh god. That would explain why Charles didn’t even blink when Erik touched him.
Oh fuck. Charles doesn’t know.
How the hell was Erik supposed to tell him that? Fuck. As if his life could get any more difficult.
“Charles!”
Sure it can.
Raven quickly made it over to them, jumping from her skateboard and barely stopping it from rolling away with her foot.
“We’re going to a hospital. Now”
Charles wanted to protest, he really did, but he knew that it might not end well. He’s been there so many times before, he knew that his stubbornness won’t give him anything. Well, maybe except for complications after unnoticed and untreated injuries.
“Yeah” he sighed, then turning to Erik. “Sorry, I have to”
“Wait” Erik blurted out. Charles was his soulmate. Erik was afraid that if he doesn’t tell him now, he will never build up the courage to.
“Not now, Erik” Raven snapped. She urged to leave already, because, for fuck’s sake, Charles could potentially have any injury, and he shouldn’t even be here with her. Their parents were going to kill them both, and then Raven was going to kill Charles.
“Raven, it’s important- ”
“More important than Charles’ health?!”
“I’m not saying that- ”
“So let us go”
Erik nodded, frustrated. For a moment he watched Raven and Charles walk away, the girl holding a phone next to her ear. There goes his chance. There goes his soulmate.
Before he could think it through, he rushed towards them.
“Charles!” he yelled. Both Charles and Raven turned towards him, Raven furrowing his eyebrows and still speaking to whoever she was calling.
“Wha- ”
Erik wordlessly pressed a kiss to his lips, very quick and careful. When he drew back Charles was staring at him, wide-eyed (and so was Raven, but Erik didn’t really pay attention to her). Erik could feel heat on his cheeks, realizing what he had just done.
“Shit. Sorry, I panicked. You’re really cute. And you’re my soulmate, by the way” he rambled. Charles blushed slightly, visibly not knowing what to say. Oh god. His soulmate?
“No. Fucking. Way” Raven muttered. She looked like she was about to strangle them both. Then she quickly went back to her phone call. “No, sorry, I wasn’t talking to you- Yes, oh my god, it’s just- yeah, yeah”
“Woah” Charles mumbled, looking at Erik and smiling slightly. “That’s- you know, I had no idea”
“Yeah, I figured”
God. He did it. And maybe Raven will soon go to jail for murder, but at least he managed to (awkwardly) tell Charles. His soulmate. His soulmate! Would he make it even more awkward if he kissed him again?
“STOP” Raven interrupted, no longer distracted by her phone. “You” she said, pointing at Charles “are going with me, and you… my god, I’m gonna fucking kill myself”
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving you alone” he said to her, and then looked back at Charles. “I’ll- call you later?”
“Yeah” Charles said, grinning. “Sure”
“Fuckers” Raven muttered. She would gladly grab Charles by his arm and drag him away, but she was afraid that she could accidentally worsen some injury they weren’t aware of. Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Get out of my sight, Lehnsherr”
“On it. Bye” he said, purely to Charles, who seemed not to care that Raven was losing his mind. Erik got punched in the arm by her, which meant that she prioritized hitting him over the burning pain they both felt the moment she did so. It made Erik decide that it really is time to go, and tell his entire family and friends and the whole damn world that he had found his soulmate.
“Bye!” Charles called when he was walking away, gazing at him dreamily. His soulmate. Wow.
Raven rolled her eyes. One of these days Charles was going to kill either her or himself.
★★★★★
Charlie: I see it!!
Charlie: be there in a sec
Erik smiled and put his phone down to look at the door, which soon opened. Charles walked into the café and grinned, immediately walking up to the table Erik was sitting at. It wasn’t hard to notice that his right hand was in a cast, starting roughly where his knuckles were and ending a bit before his elbow. Erik wasn’t surprised; Charles called him the same day he had the accident and informed about everything that happened after it.
“Well, at least it doesn’t hurt” he said then before thinking it through properly. He wanted to apologize, but Charles started laughing, so he assumed that stupid, slightly inappropriate jokes were allowed.
Charles sat down across him, but before he could start talking a waitress set down a plate and a glass on their table. As she walked away, Erik pushed the plate slightly towards Charles.
“You said you liked brownies. I thought I’ll order so you don’t have to wait. Wasn’t sure about the drink, though” he said, taking the glass with lemonade he got for himself. He sipped a bit through the straw. It was good, and, more importantly, cool. It was extremely hot outside.
“Aw, that’s so sweet of you” Charles said, his grin becoming even bigger, if that was possible. “I’m sorry it took so long before we could meet. My parents got furious, I had to wait until they calm down a bit”
“Don’t worry about it” Erik assured, watching him lift the fork with a piece of brownie to his lips. He knew that if he kissed Charles now, he would taste chocolate. He really, really wanted to do that, or to hold his hand, or hug him. He just wanted to be close to him, closer than that. Maybe he will today; his house was nearby, and he was planning to propose they go there soon. If Charles agrees, and if Ruth won’t decide to torment them, they’ll be able to do whatever they want.
“They still don’t know we’ve found each other. They’ll lose it when they’ll learn that my soulmate is a boy” Charles muttered. The words had a certain weight to them, and Charles’ smile dropped a bit, but soon it returned to his face. “But that’s not important. I hope you’ll excuse that I won’t tell them for a while yet”
“Of course” Erik said. For now, he just wished to be happy with his soulmate. They can deal with their problems (Charles’ shitty parents, Erik’s overly curious family) later.
Charles’ hand was now rested on the table, and Erik reached for it. Charles eagerly let him intertwine their fingers, even though he couldn’t really continue eating after Erik did so.
“It’s going to be alright”
Now, that they had each other, everything was going to be alright. Erik will make sure of it.
Charles looked at him with a glisten in his big, blue eyes, and Erik found himself thinking about how cute he was yet again.
“Can I kiss you?” he blurted out, feeling heat on his cheeks. “Sorry I did it so randomly last time. I kinda panicked”
Charles chuckled and leaned closer, pressing his lips to Erik’s in a kiss much longer than the one they shared in the skate park. He did taste like chocolate.
“I’m not mad about that, if that’s what you’re afraid of” he said after he drew back a bit. Not much. Erik was really glad because of that.
Everything was going to be alright.