Note: In this story, Jack refers to himself as 'Jaxx.' I hope that doesn't confuse anyone. It seemed like the perfect fit for this story.
Chapter 1: The Other Half of His Soul
Until that moment, Jaxxtrixxriiandraneek had no true knowledge of color. Everything was white or black, or varying shades in-between. His parents always spoke of soulmates as a wondrous thing, and Jaxx had grown up dreaming of the moment when he and his soulmate would gaze into each other's eyes for the first time, and color would fill the world.
But the years had passed, and life continued to be grey for the Greytrexian. Instead of moping about, Jaxx decided to apply for the Intergalactic Guard. Very few Greytrexians even considered leaving their home planet, but he was determined to see the universe.
This new planet, Earth, was amazing to behold – even in monotone. The air was fresh, the animals were delightfully unique, and the humans were all so tall and extraordinary to look upon. It helped that Jaxx found himself rather taken with the broad-shouldered aliens of his new planet. He wouldn't mind finding his soulmate among them, even if the thought made him blush.
And then, out of the blue, it happened. Recently promoted to pilot, with honors, Jaxxtrixxriiandraneek found himself attending the Captains' Gala. It was the one time each year that all of the captains in the Intergalactic Guard returned to Earth to mix and mingle with their current and future crewmates. Junior trainees were given the night off, but every recently promoted member of the guard was expected to attend. You never knew which captain you would be assigned under, and it was the chance to make a good first impression.
As Jaxx gazed around the room, he caught sight of a small group of senior staff members gathered around a particular human. At first, he seemed the same as all the rest, but the moment their eyes met, everything changed. The world, beginning with the Captain's dark eyes, blossomed into vibrant colors. It was an awe-inspiring moment that left Jaxx speechless and giddy at the same time.
The man turned away to talk to the woman next to him, but the Greytrexian didn't care. He'd finally found the other half of his soul — and in a HUMAN, no less. What would his parents think? It was so unusual. The little alien clutched his cheeks, unable to stop the smile brimming across his face.
"Someone is happy," his friend Trishika said. He turned to see that her skin was no longer a dull shade of metallic grey. Instead, her avian features were in full, colorful display. A lovely blend of colors that Jaxx didn't have the words for, as of yet.
"You're beautiful, Trishika," he whispered, staring at her in amazement.
"Thank you, dear. But I know for a fact that you like guys," she replied, a smile quirking across her beak.
"No, I mean I can see you — you're so colorful!" Jaxx nearly squealed.
"You found your soulmate," she hissed, grabbing him by the arms to pull him close. "Who is it?"
"He's amazing, but I don't know what his name is. He definitely noticed me, too. Do you think he knows I'm his soulmate?" Jaxx wondered aloud.
"Humans are a weird species. Once they reach maturity, the name of their soulmate appears on their wrist. We should go see if he has your name," the Avianrian said, perking up as she began to search the room. "What does he look like?"
"He's right over there," Jaxx said, pointing to the man standing between Sergeant Roscoe and a Ventrexian captain.
"The guy with the big shoulders, brown hair, and a very pronounced chin?" his friend asked, her lips curving down into a frown.
"That's him. Why? What's wrong?" A feeling of dread was beginning to creep up the Greytrexian's spine at the look on his friend's face.
"That is Captain John Goodspeed. Every girl at the academy has heard about him. He's a very accomplished captain, but he's also a huge flirt with the ladies. HE'S your soulmate?"
"Yes," Jaxx found himself whispering, his golden eyes drooping in uncertainty.
"Fate sure knows how to pick them. I'm sorry, Jaxx, but I don't think Goodspeed is interested in men, at all," she concluded, wrapping her arm around his shoulders for comfort.
True to form, the warm moment came to an end when the very people they were discussing walked up to them.
"There you are, Jack!" Sergeant Roscoe announced, as he and Captain Goodspeed approached them. "John, I want to introduce you to the best pilot in our graduating class. Don't let his size fool you, he can give anyone a run for their money."
"Hey, little buddy, I'm John Goodspeed," Jaxx's soulmate said, crouching to look him in the eye.
Jaxx was torn between blurting out the truth, and cringing at the way John was behaving. Taller aliens kneeling just to talk to him made him feel like they were seeing a child, rather than an adult, when they looked at him. Warily, he reached out to shake John's hand. The man's grip was firm, but on the lighter side. "I'm Jaxxtrixxriiandraneek, but most people know me as Jack. We… don't have last names on Greytrexia," he informed the man.
"That's alright. And who is this lovely lady?" John let go of his hand, and stood back up, leaving Jaxx feeling like he'd missed the perfect moment. Instead, the Greytrexian watched as his soulmate turned on the charm as he spoke to Trishika. When the sergeant and captain excused themselves, John ever reached out to press a kiss to Trishika's hand, his dark eyes lingering on her… and never once returning to Jaxx, as they walked away.
"I'm sorry, Jaxx," the Avianrian concluded, her eyes focused on Jaxx as HE watched John mingle with a new group of graduates.
"He didn't know who I was. He must not have my name. I didn't… I didn't know soulmates came in one-sided pairings," Jaxx whispered, feeling tears prickling at his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Jaxx. Do you want to leave?" Trishika asked.
Jaxx took in a breath, and turned to her, pasting a smile on his face. "No. We came here to mingle, and we will. I'll learn to live with it. For now, I want to experience all these amazing colors."
Jaxx has only wandered off to find a bathroom. Instead, he ended up standing in the doorway of the campus library, watching two humans fornicating against one of the tables. Once he realized what he was witnessing, his face turned a bright pink. "Excuse me," he squeaked out, ready to shut the door and race out of the room.
The larger, male human turned his head, locking his dark eyes on Jaxx. "You mind, little buddy — we're a little busy," John Goodspeed said, his gaze holding no familiarity at all. The Greytrexian shook his head and slammed the door shut in his haste to escape the situation. In less than a minute, he was standing in the men's room, staring at his reflection in the mirror.
"He's not my soulmate. How could he be my soulmate? He barely knows I exist. Why would the universe pair me with someone that wouldn't want me back?" Jaxx choked back a sob, even as he felt the tears streaming down his cheeks. It just wasn't fair.
The next few years passed in a blurr for Jaxx. He'd catch a glimpse of his one-sided soulmate from afar, but the man usually had at least one lady attached to his arm. And they were always different. Trishika was right; he really was a womanizer. The only perk that came with finding his soulmate was the vast array of colors he now had to choose from. The color purple had become his favorite rather quickly.
Jaxx figured that life would continue this way forever. John would always pass him by, barely looking his way, and Jaxx would continue to pretend that he was ignorant of what bound them together. Life should have continued this way… but it never does.
"I remember you. Sorry, little buddy, I've forgotten your name," Captain Goodspeed said, crouching down to extend his hand to his new co-pilot. The Greytrexian shook his hand half-heartedly, but the big human didn't seem to care.
"You really don't have to lean down," Jaxx tried to explain, but John didn't seem to notice as he stood back up to wave at another crewmate.
"Come on then, I'll give you a tour, little buddy!"
"Little buddy…" Jaxx muttered distastefully under his breath as he followed his soulmate into the bowels of the ship.
Despite the initial awkwardness, Jaxx found himself warming to the human quite quickly. Perhaps it was due to the soulbond, even if it was one-sided, or just John's vibrant and trustworthy personality, either way, Jaxx enjoyed spending time with him. As long as they weren't around any females, of course. The moment John was around a woman of any species, he went into full flirt mode.
They were in the middle of a multi-level game of cyber chess when Jaxx first caught a glimpse of the mark on John's wrist. The captain was wearing a blue t-shirt that evening, rather than his uniform.
"Is that a soulmark?" the Greytrexian found himself asking, only to blush when the other man's eyes focused on him.
"That it is," John said, turning his wrist over.
Jaxx felt his heart skip a beat, before speeding up rapidly. That was HIS name. In Greytrexian symbols. HIS NAME on his soulmate's wrist. It WASN'T a one-way bond, after all. A relieved smile began to cross over Jaxx's face as he focused on the mark.
"I haven't met her yet," John suddenly said, tracing the mark fondly. "I'm not even sure what language this is in. When it first appeared, my father searched the Infinity Guard database, but couldn't find a match. Still, she's going to be a smokin' hot alien babe, I just know it."
A smoking hot alien babe. SHE. Jaxx was not under any illusion when it came to his species. Most humans did not find Greytrexians attractive; at best they were considered CUTE.
Once they were on the subject of soulmates, John wouldn't stop talking about his search for the mystery woman, which, in a way, made his womanizing rather strategic. How could Jaxx tell him the truth? He'd lose his friend, for sure, if he did. John would be devastated to find out that a stubby little MALE alien was his soulmate.
Note: Every fandom deserves a soulmate fic. Yes, little Gary will play a main role in this story, as well.