Bonds That Tangle
Four months have pass since the fallout at the graveyard, which was the last time Bruce had seen Jeremiah. Bruce had been relieved that Gordon had survived but Jeremiah was able to escape capture. No one knew where he was except when he wanted to be seen. Every time Bruce saw him on the TV, he would have Alfred turn it to a different station. It hurt to see his soulmate causing chaos around the city, even if Jeremiah thought he was doing the right thing.
Another reason was because they were running out of time.
A new soul bond pair needed to be in consent contact as they settled into the bond and fate made a cruel consequence for those that didn't do otherwise.
The first time Bruce almost faded was when he was at a party for a charity and his glass had slipped through his fingers and crashed to the floor. Bruce had been able to spring a story that he had been tired and people believed him. That night, Bruce laid in bed wide awake as he clenched his hand in his other and tried to fight the knowledge that he was fading.
Fading, as in dying, ceasing to exist because one was not with their soulmate.
That was a week ago, and there have been an increasing number of times he's faded for a few moments, each time getting longer. Alfred didn't know about it, Bruce didn't want him to know that he found his soulmate. He would want to know who and Bruce couldn't tell him that it was Gotham's fastest growing criminal. The people that did know was Fox and Gordon and Bruce made sure to stay out of contact with them. The last thing he needed was for them to try to bring him in to give an attempt at capturing Jeremiah.
No, Bruce had his own plan, and if that was to die for the sake of protecting Gotham from Jeremiah, so be it.
It was late at night, Alfred was in bed but Bruce was awake in the study, glazing out the window to stare at the crescent moon.
The longest a couple had last without fading was four months. After that, they faded and the world wept at the tragedy.
That was tonight.
He wondered if Jeremiah would come to him. The soul bond worked both ways and Jeremiah would fade at the same time as Bruce if they didn't have any contact. Could they still touch if everything else around them went through them?
Bruce tried to touch the window with his fingertips but they slide through. He let out a shaky breath and clenched the hand into a fist.
He heard what sounded like a ruffling of clothing behind him.
Bruce turned his head away from the window and saw Jeremiah standing a few feet behind him, looking as put together as ever. He was dressed in the same kind of suit he's been wearing recently since this whole thing started. Tonight he was dressed in a dark purple suit that almost looked black with the lighting and a dark green dress shirt. Bruce felt a pang of longing and hurt at the sight of his soulmate being close after these past few months, but then noticed that one of Jeremiah's red gloves was off, leaving his hand bare.
"You would use our bond against me?" Bruce questioned in a whisper. He relaxed his fist and brought the hand down to his side. He already knew the answer to his question, Jeremiah had used the same tactic before to get what he wanted from Bruce.
Jeremiah stared at him for a few moments and Bruce felt a sense of bitterness by the fact that he couldn't read anything in the pale eyes that belonged to his soulmate.
"I do what is necessary to keep us alive." Jeremiah eventually answered just as softly, not blinking. "You would have us both die then see me free."
"You only see me to prolong your life, not ours." Bruce argued, turning to face Jeremiah completely. "If you turn yourself in, I would visit you, but I cannot love someone who's done what you've done!"
There was silence, the two staring at each other for Bruce didn't know how long. He was angry at Jeremiah for coming here but also angry at himself for not trying harder to avoid him. If he really tried, he wouldn't be here at his own home as if waiting for him. Eventually, it was Jeremiah that broke the silence.
"You're my soulmate Bruce." Jeremiah stated calmly as he reached out with a bare hand and took the required steps closer. "You already love me."
Bruce made a pathetic attempt at backing away, not reacting nearly fast enough and Jeremiah's hand took hold of the side of his neck.
Bruce couldn't help the sigh that he let out as the familiar spark flared at the spot they were touching and the warmth spread through his body, relaxing him. Bruce dully took note that Jeremiah hadn't made it strong enough to make Bruce go limp, but allowed him to remain standing.
With the contact made, they would no longer fade, but it can happen again if they go another four months without contact. It was an annoying trait of the soul bond, but most people didn't fight against it once they found their soulmate. They were supposed to be your perfect balance after all.
Bruce wasn't aware that Jeremiah had moved until he felt his hand move along his neck and then there was an arm wrapped around his waist and a chest against his back. Bruce will forever deny that he leaned back into the hold. He knew that as soon as Jeremiah was done satisfying the bond he would leave and Bruce would be left feeling bitter and angry at himself for giving in easily. Oh, he was sure that if people knew, they would argue that Jeremiah used their bond to make him submissive, but that wouldn't make him feel better because it wasn't the truth. Not completely anyway.
He knew that deep down Jeremiah wouldn't have to use their bond to have Bruce connect with him. They were soulmates and they desired one another even if they fought against it. It was in Bruce's instincts to not fight Jeremiah as it was Jeremiah's with him. More than anything, they wanted to be together and Bruce knew that he was at his happiest when he was in Jeremiah's arms.
The realization made Bruce's breath stutter and it would have been too much to ask that Jeremiah didn't hear it. He felt Jeremiah lean his head right next to Bruce's, his hand on his neck tightening slightly then relaxing.
"Your pulse has increased." Jeremiah whispered, his cool breath in Bruce's ear causing the brunette to repress a shudder. "Trying to fight the hold?"
Bruce tried to shake his head but Jeremiah tightened his grip again and made Bruce hold still.
"Doesn't matter." Jeremiah continued indifferently in his ear. Bruce wished that he could see his face to try to read him, but Jeremiah was making sure he couldn't. "We've done enough to satisfy the bond for now. I'll see you in four months Bruce. Try not to die until then."
With that, Bruce was suddenly pushed away and he stumbled forward. He was able to keep his balance but when he turned around to talk to Jeremiah the room was empty.
Without Jeremiah's touch, Bruce felt his anger come back but also a decent amount of guilt and bitterness was added. Placing his hand to his forehead, he walked to the sofa and collapsed on top of it, dully taking note that he didn't go through it like he would have a few minutes ago. He laid down on his side and curled into a ball.
Jeremiah had said that they were soulmates which meant Bruce already loved him. After tonight's epiphany, Bruce realized that his anger and guilt was not because Jeremiah was his soulmate and causing havoc in Gotham, at least not all of it. It was because with all that, Bruce ached for him anyway.
Bruce fell asleep that night with his hand stretched out as if unconsciously reaching for something that wasn't there but should be.
There you go. Another one is up. Hope you enjoyed it and will leave a review for me!
