For Ombreoscura on Tumblr
Prompt: Soulmates AU
The first time they met, they were clashing like the day and the night, however, the impression was lasting. The marks were too.
They just didn't know yet who the other person, that had left such a big expression on their mind was, so quick and fleeting the meeting. Yogi lay on the roof of the castle, one hand shielding his eyes. He wasn't sure what to do, this wasn't how he planned to meet his soulmate after all. Not on the cold streets, in the bitter unforgiving cold of the winter.
The sparks had set of flying as soon as Yogi had gripped his wrist, his wallet in the thief's hand was falling to the ground. And there had been spark everywhere, beautiful colours, the colours of them, orange and blue intertwining in a beautiful play. Yogi had wanted to say something, but the words were forgotten before they came even close to his mouth.
He remembered the light eyes widening in shock and then with a pull, he disappeared into the crowed once more. Yogi's gaze dropped to the wallet, before he collected it and tried to run after him.
He didn't have any luck.
By the time he was in his room, it was long past midnight and he had found no trace of the thief that was meant to steal his heart.
"Isn't it cold there?" he heard his father's voice from the edge of the roof.
He shrugged slightly. "I don't find myself caring about the cold right now."
"You've been thinking about him," he mentioned and sat down next to Yogi. "Do you really think just thinking helps?"
"I didn't find him again…" Yogi mumbled.
His father nodded. "But it was late, maybe he was scared too. In his line of work this is all kinds of dangerous." He ruffled Yogi's hair. "Maybe you have to melt his heart before you can win it."
Yogi sat up, nodding slightly. "I'll… I'll try again tonight. Thanks dad."
And maybe that was how he found himself again in this dark alley and the bitter cold (his wallet he had left at home this time. Trust was good, precaution was better).
"So you did come back," a smooth voice called from the roof. Yogi's gaze snapped up immediately. There he was, the same light blue eyes, the black hair – so exotic for Rimhakka. Was he even from here? "I wasn't sure you would even come back. Forgetting all about me would be much easier, don't you think?"
Yogi narrowed his eyes. "That's like giving up the one person that will make you the happiest. How ridiculous would it be to give up happiness over bad first impressions?"
He seemed to halt. "The first impression would be correct in this case. I am nothing more than a thief." And then he jumped down, for a moment Yogi was terrified he would hurt himself, but he landed on his feet, lithe as a cat.
Yogi could feel the blush up his cheeks. That was it – his future. He reached out, offering his hand. "I'm Yogi." He waited a moment, hoping that maybe realisation would hit the thief, maybe make him fawn over him like everybody else.
But no such thing happened. "You'll excuse me, if I won't give you my name," he answered.
"I can't force you," Yogi answered. "But I'm sure you've got to give me anything, I can't very well walk around and call you thief."
The young man across from him seemed confused. "I don't know what you think we're going to do. Surely, not what this just implied."
Yogi's eyes narrowed. "I won't let you leave just now. There has got to be some neutral place we can talk."
"Fine. But I'll have to go home in an hour," he answered curtly. "So better pick quickly."
Yogi gripped his hand, the gloves they both wore were enough so the sparks weren't send flying again – luckily. Meeting up with someone looking like him, would be fine, making it public that he had a soul mate right on the island without a planned marriage surely wasn't. "I know a place that knows me well enough to put it on my tab."
"What? Scared for your wallet?" he joked.
Yogi chuckled softly. "Is that so weird?"
Yogi leaned over the table, his coat hanging at the door where it belonged, but his companion hadn't let go of his. It was odd for Yogi, because who would steal a jacket? But he knew better than to comment.
The waitress had immediately agreed to his wish for a tab, she had even asked whether she should extend it to his family or just for him. Yogi had laughed softly. "It's just for tonight. I forgot my wallet a home, miss."
But now his companion didn't seem pleased with the food – or the menu. Yogi wasn't sure which. "Can I help you?" he asked softly.
He shook his head. "Just thinking how much money must have been in your wallet a few days ago when you seem to come here frequently."
Yogi blinked. "I had just bought a lot, it shouldn't have been too much. Don't worry." He sat up a little straighter. "Why do you do that anyway?"
He looked up, almost surprised at the question. "What stealing? I have to survive too."
"But there exist honest work too… there shouldn't be a need for it." Yogi mumbled softly. He wasn't sure how he could be so open with it.
But he just shook his head. "It's not enough. You've never left this side of the city have you? This rich side I mean."
Yogi blinked. He hadn't. It was dangerous in the slums. His father had always told him stories when he was small of the interesting things that were there, but Yogi always thought they were scary. "I—you can come with me. The slums are scary."
"Nobody lives there because they want to," he answered. "But I can't come."
Yogi narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you choosing them then over a life here?"
His companion grinned. "Maybe there isn't this choice for me. I can't leave the hut I call home."
The waitress came back, ready to take their orders, but his companion seemed unsure. "Just tell here your favourite food, they'll fix it up. You have my sparkling personality with you today," Yogi joked softly and took a sip of water.
"Yogi-sama is right with that," the waitress agreed with a soft smile.
"Something with meat then," Gareki told her. "Whatever."
"And the chocolate cake for dessert," Yogi added. "To whatever whatever is." He laughed softly. "I'm going to take you here again, I'm sure I can quiz you on the menu soon if you study it like that every time."
His companion snorted. "Will there be a next time, I wonder?"
Yogi nodded slightly. "There will always be a next time!"
"What is up with the menu? There is nothing anywhere close to a normal price range." He said as soon as the waitress was out of earshot. "What is the food made of?"
Yogi blinked. "There is edible gold on some. On the cake I ordered too. It's really pretty."
His companion groaned softly. "Just what are you? This isn't normal at all."
"Eating outside shouldn't be normal, but a special occasion anyway. The cook would be annoyed otherwise." Yogi answered smiling.
"A cook? You've got your own cook? What are you, a spoiled brat?" he mentioned. "How do we possibly be meant for each other. Your parents will disown you when you keep pursuing me."
Yogi shook his head, smiling brightly. "I told them about you, they are pretty fine with it. They just want me to be happy after all!"
"They won't be forever, so you should look for alternatives," was the curt reply.
"Don't be so heartless," was the answer. "My parents will love you. If you tell them your name. I mean, it makes things awkward."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine then, you'll never find me anyway. It's Gareki."
"Gareki," he tested the name and his stomach seemed to flutter. "That's a nice name."
He shrugged. "I guess so."
"How old are you, Gareki-kun?" Yogi asked him, softly. "You look a whole lot younger than—"
"I'm sixteen," he was interrupted. "How old are you twenty?"
It kind of felt like a hit in the stomach that his soulmate was so young. That wasn't terrible normal – but not really abnormal either. "I just turned twenty-one… what are your parents doing?" he asked mortified.
"Dunno," Gareki answered. "I don't have parents, I can't remember them too well either. Just some people who sold me." He snorted. "It took me a week to flee, I'm better off now."
If the waitress hadn't returned just in that moment, Yogi was sure he would have started crying on the spot. That wasn't right. Not right at all. "I'm so sorry, Gareki-kun…" he mumbled.
He shrugged. "I told you, it's better now. At least there is enough food."
"Whenever you're hungry, I'll invite you!" Yogi assured him. "It won't be any problem now."
He shrugged again. "Don't worry about me. I'm good at surviving by now."
Yogi wasn't sure how much heartbreak he could take, but surely there had to be a limit. He stared at his plate, remembered all the times he had declined food because he just hadn't liked it, how he couldn't even remember going to bed hungry once in his life. "I want you to be living too, Gareki-kun," he mumbled. "I can't imagine how your life must be like."
Gareki seemed surprised and looked up from his food. "What's the difference anyway? As long as I survive I am living."
"Next time, when we meet I'll buy you everything you want without asking questions. When do you have time?" Yogi asked leaning slightly forward.
Gareki snorted slightly. "Tomorrow, same place one hour earlier. There are some things I need to pick up anyway." He went back to his food, eating a little too fast for Yogi's opinion, or maybe that was because he knew of Gareki's fight for survival now? "The food is really good, but still too expensive. You can live a whole week on the money you spend for one meal."
The true revelation came when it was time for dessert. Gareki tried one piece and then mumbled, "The kids would love this…" Then he halted. "How late is it?"
"Just past—"
"I need to go home then. Thanks for the meal." Gareki told him hasty.
Yogi stood up. "Wait a moment, just two minutes. You can wait that much can't you?"
"Alright, but no second more. I'll wait outside."
Yogi had ended up buying some more pieces of cake and of the meat and got them to pack it – quickly. But they were used to almost impossible requests by now. He dumbed the packages in Gareki's hands. "I'd help you carrying, but you didn't seem too enthusiastic on me learning where you live so… have a nice evening and stay save, Gareki-kun."
Gareki halted and looked at the boxes. "What's in there?"
"You said the kids would love this, so I got some cake for them. And some meat. Depending on what they had for lunch today – just throw it away if they don't like it."
"I won't do that," Gareki assured him. "Thanks. Gather all your pocket money for tomorrow, Yogi."
"I'm looking forward to it, Gareki-kun!" he called after him and waved until he had lost sight of him.
Yogi skipped some stairs as he ran up to his room almost crashing into his father on the way. His father laughed softly. "Did something good happen, Yogi?"
"Gareki-kun agreed to meet me again tomorrow!" he exclaimed happily. "He's sure you'll disown me as soon as you meet him, but he's so wrong about it. You'll love him! He's so bright!"
"Bright enough to impress you?" his father asked. "That can mean a lot."
"He knows a lot about everything!" Yogi exclaimed. "I can't wait for him to see the library! He won't ever want to leave it."
His father laughed softly. "He certainly sounds interesting, Yogi." He ruffled his son's hair. "I can't wait to meet him."