So I'm in love with soulmate au's and I've written one before for Qrow/Winter, there's still a thousand more variations.

This is one where you're born with your soulmate's name written on you. There are rare possibilities where you are born blank, or that a name appears on you after you grow to care for a person deeply enough. Those, however, are platonic soulmates and are more friendship focused than romantic.

She is only seventeen when her soulmate rejects her. Winter isn't quite sure what she expected from him. He was a perfect stranger, after all.

She just had hoped that the stories were true. The stories Klein had whispered to her and Weiss late at night, the beautiful tales about true love and the beauty of knowing that there was someone out there meant for you.

The name had always been a source of comfort for her. When her Parents grew loud a few rooms over, their screams and accusations rattling the walls, Winter would run her thumb over the name. She hoped that wherever this person was, they could feel her reaching out.

Qrow Branwen. His name was written in a messy, close together scrawl across her shoulder.

When she finds him, she feels her body go rigid. There he was, gorgeous and tall- a bit older than she had anticipated but handsome all the same-and everything she had hoped for. And the illusion had been shattered when he reached for the flask at his hip and messily gulped.

"I'm not your soulmate, kid. There's only one name on me and it ain't yours."

She could smell the alcohol on him and her stomach had rolled with worry and disgust.

"That isn't possible." She had retorted, stepping towards him. She had been so eager, so ready to accept him and this- but he jerked away, stopping her in her tracks with a dark, warning look.

Her hands fell to her side, fists clenching. Fury coiled in her belly, white hot and aching. She reached up to the buttons of her shirt, fingers shaking furiously as she unbuttoned them and tore the shoulder down.

She felt ridiculous, baring her skin to him. "This, this is you. This is your name." She said, forcefully, feeling foolish and so angry.

His eyes fell on the name imprinted in black across her collar bone. She was silent, hoping he would speak up and just confess. But he shook his head.

He rolled his sleeve just over his wrist, lifting his hand to show her the name written in dainty cursive across his skin. Summer Rose.

"Sorry." He said, shortly, sounding anything but.

"I don't understand."

He shrugged, adjusting his sleeve. "Believe me, you dodged a bullet." He informed her.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. There were occurrences of unrequited soulmates, but they were rare. Surely she couldn't be-

"I don't know what to do." She admitted.

He capped the flask and shoved it into the pocket on his hip. He met her gaze and she felt a pleasant warmth spread through her. How could he not feel the same?

"You keep living. Move on. You'll be better off."

She tore her gaze away.

"Take care of yourself, Winter."

When she looked back, he was gone. There was an ache in her, longing and sinking into her bones. She stood there for a moment, the warmth she had previously been enveloping in fading into a frigid cold.

Then- a flutter of hope.

She had never told him her name.