So I saw an AU prompt by tumblr user lady-pyrien and used it with permission. Check out their blog. It's lovely and all things spamano. I hope you enjoy this.

Without furtherado...


"There is no such thing as a soulmate…and who would want there to be? I don't want half of a shared soul. I want my own damn soul." –Ely, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List

In ancient times, it was believed that when humans were created, they had two heads, four arms and legs and two sets of genitalia. Zeus, fearing these creatures were too powerful and would take over the gods, ripped the two halves apart, leaving them to long and search for their other half. Sometimes the soul mate was male, other times female. But of course, it was just a silly story. But then…why do we still search for our other half?

Lovino had never believed in such silly stories. He found the idea of the party thrown in front of the whole town on the eve of one's sixteenth birthday to be so pointless. Everyone would gather in the reception room of the old shabby building in the center of the town to wait for the newest sixteen year old's wrist to itch and burn at the stroke of midnight and hear the first words they'd hear their soulmate speak. As soon as one heard those words, they'd know somehow that this was the person made for them. A wedding would be held within months. The old concept of dating had been thrown out the door when humans started getting these vague notes scrawled upon their bodies. Yes, it was all very silly.

Yet here Lovino was sitting on the edge of the stage watching as people he'd never met before laughed and talked with each other, their eyes finding their way to the boys and the clocks. Streamers were hung throughout the room in reds and pinks along with balloons. A heart shaped red velvet cake sat perched in the center of the layout of various foods. It seemed like it would be expensive, but the town pulled together every time someone turned sixteen. It had been months since the city had a reveal. They were hungry for another. They craved it. Lucky for them there were two tonight.

"Isn't it all so beautiful and exciting?" Feliciano gushed as he pushed himself onto the stage next to his twin.

Lovino glanced at his brother who was dressed in a lovely custom fitted black tuxedo that was far too formal for the boy. His hair was still fell in that same childish way giving him the appearance of a child trying to play an adult. Lovino rolled his eyes. They'd both needed to be presentable, but Feli never took things seriously…not that this was something serious. It was bullshit.

"What's so exciting about being put on display to feed their hungry hearts?" Lovino muttered. "It's bullshit anyway. You know that."

"Lovi!" Feliciano looked horrified.

"What? It is! It doesn't make sense. You read it for the entire town to hear and then what? Word gets out and some asshole says the sentence to you. It's bullshit," Lovino hissed glaring at his shoes.

"It's not! You have to say what's written on their wrist back or it's not real," Feli insisted.

"It's bullshit," Lovino repeated once again.

"Why do you think that, Lovino?" Feli almost whispered, gently touching his brother's arm with his fingertips.

"I just do."

Both boys fell silent. Lovino's heart raced as he glanced at the clock for the hundredth time that evening. 11:59. Why was he reacting this way? He didn't care, really, he didn't. He tugged at his sleeves and swallowed. That's when he felt it. A strange itching, burning sensation on his right wrist. He winced and rubbed it at the same Feliciano whimpered next to him. It was more painful than he'd imagined it to be.

"You felt it?" Feli asked, his voice strained.

"Si…" Lovino breathed.

"Lovi?"

"What?"

"I'm scared," Feli took his hand.

Lovino glanced at him then back at the crowd. Nobody had yet noticed it was midnight much to his surprise. He and Feliciano had made a pact to show each other before anyone else when they were five. Lovino remembered it and he was sure his brother did too.

"Why?" Lovino asked in a bored tone pulling his hand away and crossing his arms.

"What if it's blank? What if I don't have a soulmate? What if nobody loves me?"

Lovino wanted to laugh. Nobody love Feli? Ridiculous. Feliciano was probably the most loved person in the entire town if not country. He was so bubbly and kind. Feli was the type of person anyone could care for. Sure he was annoying, but that was because they were brothers and brothers were always annoyed by each other.

"Don't be ridiculous, idiota."

"Well it happens…" Feli swung his feet slowly, his head down.

"But you don't feel anything. Besides, I told you, it's bullshit."

Feli sighed and took Lovino's wrist. This was part of the pact too. They'd look for the other. It was far too nerve wracking and scary to do on their own. Lovino turned toward his brother, hugging his legs to his chest and sighed as he rested his chin on his arm. He closed his eyes, suddenly too nervous to think.

Feliciano gasped. Lovino looked up suddenly. Feli was staring, confused and sad, at the blank wrist of his brother. Lovino's stomach sank. He tensed and tried to push away the panic rising in him. No. No. No. He stared at it himself before quickly pushing the other up. Maybe, maybe it was just the wrong side? Nothing. Tears pricked in his eyes. He looked up slowly at Feliciano, whose eyes were already full of tears.

"I told you it was bullshit," Lovino hissed, his eyes in a tight glare. He jumped up.

"Lovi, wait!" Feli insisted, stepping in front of his twin.

"Leave me alone!" Lovino snapped, shoving him out of the way.

"You didn't look at mine!" Feli cried, defeated.

Lovino didn't turn around. He had to get out of here. He had to go home. Maybe his was somewhere else? Maybe it was just late? Maybe it was right? Of course nobody could ever love him. He was rude, quiet unless he was making a snarky comment. He'd never believed in any of this. Why was it tugging at him now? What the fuck ever.

"Lovino! Lovino, stop!"

Lovino didn't respond to his grandfather's protests. Fuck him. Fuck everyone. This was all so stupid. As if turning sixteen magically made everything okay because that worry, that doubt that you'd be alone forever was gone. Well fuck the fucking universe. What kind of cruel joke was this?

He felt strong hand on his shoulder and he was spun around to face his grandfather and the rest of the crowd. Feliciano was still standing by the stage, hands over his mouth and nose as tears fell down his cheeks. Party goers stood staring and whispering, with confused looks on their face. And his grandfather's face mixed with concern, confusion and anger inches from him.

"What is going on? Did you and your brother have another fight? You can't let that get you down. You'll be finding your soulmate soon! Now let's go up and tell the town," he smiled.

"No, Nonno, I can't. I-"

Lovino suddenly couldn't speak. Panic had taken over, causing him to freeze. His grandfather was pulling him toward the stage, toward Feliciano who was shaking his head as new tears poured. Had he even looked at his wrist? Their grandfather took Feli's hand as well and guided the two crying boys to the stage.

"Apologize for whatever was said and smile. You're both so close. Meeting your soulmate is so magical. You're reborn," he said softly.

"I'm sorry, Lovino," Feli whispered hugging his brother.

Lovino couldn't speak. He couldn't move. His grandfather pushed Lovino's sleeve up and gasped. Then took the other.

"It…It's blank…" the man mumbled to his grandson, forgetting that the mic was on.

The crowd responded in gasps and whispers. Lovino snapped out of his shock and ran off the stage once again heading for the exit, Feli on his heels. He was so embarrassed, so scared. It wasn't fair! He ignored Feliciano and ran as far as his legs would take him. He needed to go home.


Feliciano stopped at the door as his brother sprinted into the night. It wasn't fair. Though Lovino would never admit it to anyone, Feliciano knew how much he wanted love, how much he needed it. He'd grown up in the shadows and never really fit in with anyone. He'd grown cold over the years. Feli knew Lovino really did believe in the soulmates.

"Feliciano?" The boy turned around at the sound of the rough voice. "What does yours say?"

The boy figured he must be from out of town. He'd never seen him before and Feli knew just about everyone in town. It wasn't a big place and their grandfather was very well known and liked. He made sure his grandsons were well socialized. Feliciano shakily pulled his wrist and breathed a sigh of relief. He gasped and tried to hold back a smile. He felt so guilty smiling at a time like this.

"Feliciano? What does yours say?" Feli cooed, holding up his wrist.

The tall, blonde held his up too, revealing the identical line. Feli couldn't breathe. Tears filled his eyes and a giggle from his throat. His amber eyes were locked on the sapphire ones as he took a step forward.

"My name is Feliciano Vargas. I guess we're soulmates," he smiled.

"I'm Ludwig Beilschimdt. Um, yeah…I guess so." The older boy smiled. "I'm eighteen."

"I'm sixteen. Oh, um, you probably know that."

"Yeah…" the blonde rubbed the back of his head and shifted awkwardly.

"You've been waiting awhile, huh?" Feliciano asked cheerfully, glancing behind him at the door.

"Um, yes. I supposed I have."

"Well you can talk to my grandpa for now about everything, but right now I need to find my brother. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah. Okay," Ludwig nodded shifting once more.

Feliciano smiled and took a step outside and turned back around to find Ludwig had not moved an inch. He took a step forward and pulled him into a kiss, before moving back, giggling.

"I've always wanted to do that," Feli giggled. "I'll talk to you soon!"

Feli stepped into the night. He knew Lovino had probably gone home, but checked all his hiding places first. It was around 2am that he got home. He found Lovino's suit thrown carelessly on the ground in the bathroom. Feliciano chewed his lip as he picked them up and walked into the dark room. He flipped the lamp on and found Lovino curled up in a ball on the bed in only his boxers, silent tears falling down his face.

"Lovi?"

"Come here. I didn't read yours," Lovino muttered, sitting up suddenly wiping his eyes.

"It's okay," Feli said softly unsure how to tell his brother he'd already found Ludwig.

"Feli, we made a deal and I'm sorry. I ran out. Turns out I do care, but it's still bullshit. Now get your ass over here now."

Feli took a few steps and sat down on the bed. Lovino pushed the sleeve back and read it aloud with a slight laugh at the end. He shook his head as if to say figures. Lovino stared at Feliciano for a moment.

"Were they there?" he almost whispered. He stood up and began to pace slightly.

"Si…" Feliciano nodded, playing with his hands.

"Fuck…" Lovino threw a book across the room before yelling. He collapsed on the floor. He stared at his wrists and whispered. "I felt it, though, Feli. I swear I did…"


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