A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and favorites! Disclaimer: The idea(s) around Soul Bonding are not my own. They belong to sanam on AO3. That is all, enjoy!
Derek has always wanted a tattoo. They're dark and manly, and most of all they look cool. However, since his relationship with Sally and maturing a little more (yes, it's possible, even for him), he's realized that he doesn't want to do things just to look cool. If he's seen as cool, so be it, but that should just be because of his natural sense of self, not because he wears a leather jacket or was in a band. All of this, of course, he would never tell anyone aloud. But thinking never hurt anybody, right?
Derek's point is, that once he realized his reason for wanting to get a tattoo was materialistic – getting one just to get it – and egotistical – wanting to look cool – he didn't really have the guts to get one anymore. But getting a Bonding mark was the best of both worlds, (yes, Derek just made a Hannah Montana reference, get over it). He didn't have to explain to anyone why he had the mark because no one would question it. That's why Derek had always wanted to get a cool looking Bond mark, if he ever got Bonded. He'd also never admit this out loud to anyone, especially Casey, but their Bonding mark was pretty cool. The way the smallest of the three marks on his neck was a triangle that pointed like an arrow toward his heart when he turned in the mirror. The way the medium sized mark was a splatter like a paint ball explosion on his wrist. And finally, the rings of circles on his chest with the bullseye right over his heart. Derek had to admit, they all looked pretty cool. He almost wished he could show them off, the way he would show off a tattoo. At the same time, some little part of him liked that they were a secret, covered by Casey's makeup and his thick leather wrist watch. They were his alone. Well, his and Casey's. He tried his best to ignore that last bit. So far, it was going pretty well. Derek was, after all, a master of denial.
Unfortunately, what Derek can't deny are his nose-bleeds. They happen suddenly, without a ten-second warning, giving him no time to prepare or make it look like an accident. The first time it happened at hockey practice was right after he'd made a goal during one of Coach's new offensive drills. All of a sudden, there was blood dripping on his lips and down to his chest. He nearly jumped out of him skin until he realized it was just a nose-bleed.
"I get that you are excited, Venturi, but try to not bleed all over my ice." Coach had shouted at him from where he stood next to the rink.
"Sorry, Coach!" Derek had shouted back.
"Yeah, yeah. Get to the nurse." Coach had then blown his whistle and the team had started a new drill. A couple of the guys (read: Josh and Will) had snickered, but Coach had them skating so fast they shut up pretty quickly.
This went on for a few days, before some of the guys started thinking he had a nose-bleed problem or a terminal illness or was constantly horny (which he was, but not the point). It didn't help the fact that he was already taking the longest showers and changing last in the lockers. Even then Derek sometimes cut it close, because the makeup would wash off his body before he'd anticipated. Sometimes Sam would wait for him, seeing as he understood that Derek was just trying to hide his marks, but that just made things worse. People would get ideas, two guys staying after in the locker room together. Derek decided to shower at home after that. When they had morning practices, he'd take the last stall facing the wall and wait until everyone was gone to change. He told Sam to go on without him. Wouldn't want to make Sammy late for first period after all. Derek counted himself lucky that he didn't care of grades or getting to class on time. It was a blessing, really.
However, the hockey practice nose-bleeds had almost gotten so frequent that Derek knew people were just itching to ask what was going on. A couple of guys (read: Josh and Will) had even tried, but Sam or Ryan, the team goalie, would tell them to stop being stupid and save Derek from having to answer. When coach pulled Derek into his office, Derek knew he was in trouble.
"Anything you want to tell me, Venturi?" Coach said, expectantly.
"Um, no, Coach," Derek replied. If this stupid Bonding thing got him kicked off the hockey team, Derek was going to have words. (With whom, he didn't know quite yet. But that wasn't important.)
"Derek, you've been getting nose-bleeds every practice for the last week and there's nothing you want to share?" Coach looked doubtful.
"Sorry, Coach, I don't know what to say." It wasn't even like Derek could tell him that it was because of the Bonding because he'd heard in the teacher's lounge that a few of the athletic staff were against Bondings. He couldn't take the risk of being thrown off the team, just because fate had decided he needed a soulmate.
"Well, whatever it is, you better fix it," Coach said. "And soon, Venturi. I need you ready for the next game, not bleeding on the bench."
Derek nodded. "Understood, sir." Coach was probably the only person Derek called "sir" out of legitimate respect.
The next day, after grinding his teeth all during his and Casey's 'bonding time' on the couch after dinner, Derek was sure the nose-bleeds had stopped.
However, when they were taking a water break halfway through the practice, Derek felt the by-then familiar drip of blood down his lips. He quickly sought out Sam who was already back on the ice.
"Hit me." Derek said, leaning in so no one could hear.
"What? Dude, your nose," Sam said.
"I know. Punch me in the face!"
"What? Why?"
"So everyone thinks that's why my nose is bleeding," Derek explained.
"You're crazy," Sam replied.
"Venturi! Richards! What's going on over there?" Coach yelled from the sidelines.
"Sam, please. I'm begging you," Derek pleaded.
"Fine!" Sam punched him. Hard.
"Ow!" Derek had trouble not falling on his ass, from the momentum on the impact.
"Not that hard!" He whisper-shouted. The team had stopped lounging around and was now approaching them. Coach was yelling and coming on the ice too.
"You told me to hit you!" Sam whispered back.
By the time the whole team and Coach had surrounded them, Derek had a nice red mark on his nose and the nose-bleed was on full blast.
Needless to say, Coach had suspended Derek and Sam to the bench for the next couple practices for "fighting among teammates" but that was the last of it.
The nose-bleeds ended a few days later after Casey and Derek had lounged on the couch again the night before. For that, Derek was immensely grateful.
The Venturi-McDonald weekend with Ralf came and went. Ralf deciding he had feelings for Casey was quite the surprise, but thankfully it had all worked out.
Except one morning Casey had stopped Derek in the hall and asked, "Why are you so angry lately? And something else, that I can't put my finger on…"
"Don't know what you're talking about, Case," Derek had brushed past her. She obviously hadn't figured out jealousy yet. Not that he was jealous. It was just- Well, it was a guy thing. Another man moving in on his girl. Not that Casey was his girl, but- oh, you get the point.
Fighting Dancing with Casey in Dance Mania was pretty fun. Teddy moving into the Venturi-McDonald household for a week was not. Casey and Derek kept up their 'bonding sessions'- video games or lounging on the couch these days- and the nose-bleeds seemed gone for good. However, Derek would never admit it, but he still got pretty uneasy when Casey was too far away. Some days, when it got really bad at school, he'd skip class and find where she was and sit outside her classroom until the period was over. Just to keep the nausea down, of course.
It got to the point, where Derek was walking with Casey to class so much that even Ralf and the hockey team had noticed.
He told them all that Casey was merely tutoring him. That was all. End of story. There were a few doubtful looks, but a few appraising ones too and everyone moved on.
Of course, Josh and Will, the two morons of the team had made a few jabs about how Casey and Derek looked almost like friends in the halls.
Sam and Ryan had stood up for him, but Derek didn't really need defending. He simply showed them up on the ice and that was the end of it. He wasn't voted team captain for nothing, after all.
It was right before Christmas when Derek was in the kitchen with his dad that Bonding came up again. Dad was going on about how Nora was happy with Derek and Casey getting along now, and that subsequently made dad's life easier and blah di blah, until Derek caught something that made him perk up in inquiry.
"Wait, so you're okay with this dad?" Derek had asked. "Me and Casey?" Derek clarified.
"Yeah, why not?" His dad had answered, as if they were talking about the wretched weather.
"What do you mean 'why not'? I thought you and Nora thought it was wrong!"
"There's nothing wrong with being platonically Bonded to Casey, Derek." His dad had replied, as if that was obvious.
Derek was too busy stuck on, platonically Bonded? to check no one was listening in.
You see, Derek still believed that guys and girls weren't able to be just friends. It gets too complicated. But the fact that Casey obviously still believed that they could just be friends was telling. If she had convinced herself that the Bond between Derek and her was platonic and then told Nora and Derek's dad this, then that explained why Nora and his dad had been so relaxed around Casey and Derek hanging out more lately. Hell, it explained why Casey was so relaxed about hanging out with Derek more lately. However, Derek wasn't sure that he believed it. Dr. Gilmour had specifically said that their Bond was too strong to be platonic, it was Class A, after all. Casey had probably just convinced herself of the platonic idea so that she could stay with Truman. Derek shook it off. Not his problem.
Christmas and New Year's came and went. Derek stayed away from mistletoe and pretended to get a phone call during the New Year's count down. By 3-2-1 he was having a lovely chat with an imaginary girl named Lilah. He was lame sometimes, yes he knew this.
To be honest, though, he's never been single so long. It's just that after Sally left, he couldn't see himself seriously with anyone else. He still flirted sure, but he was never really with someone. It felt odd.
It also felt odd writing his own will. Derek had always thought if he died that Casey and the family would organize everything for him after he was gone. A nice ceremony with all his friends and family, a rock concert in his honor, and then they'd move on. He never gave thought to all the shit that he'd actually have left behind.
Once the rest of the family caught wind that Derek was writing his will, Derek had used the prospect of inheriting all his fame and fortune to make Edwin do all his chores for a week. Even Marti wanted some of the cash and had pitched in to get Derek food and snacks when he wanted it. Lizzie just rolled her eyes and said she would make enough money on her own one day; she didn't need Derek's money. It reminded Derek of how much Lizzie was growing up, with the way she sounded so much like Casey. Speaking of Casey, she was busy writing her own will. Derek wondered if he was included in it all, but that was the extent of his thinking about Casey's will.
Dad and Nora had given a few suggestions about how to handle Derek's finances and such, but in the end Derek made the decisions on his own. His hockey trophies and trading cards would go to Edwin. His room would go to the Lizzie, seeing as she had by far the smallest room. And the rest of Derek's valuables would go to Marti, because she would cherish them for all that they were worth. Oh, and the Prince and all of Derek's money went to Casey, seeing as how she'd know what to do with it. He actually didn't quite trust his parents to keep track of all the cash that his future self would hopefully earn. The thought was somewhat troubling.
On their way to the doctor's office, however, it got awkward between Casey and Derek again. Derek was jammin' to his favorite rock radio station when Casey leaned over and promptly switched the channel:
He was a punk,
She did ballet.
What more can I say?
He wanted her.
She'd never tell.
Secretly she wanted him as well.
Derek coughed. Casey looked at him, then quickly turned away. The song continued.
Now he's a superstar
Slammin' on his guitar
Does your pretty face see what he's worth?
Casey turned off the radio. They sat in silence the rest of the ride.
"So, Derek, Casey, how has your month been?" Dr. Angelino asked when they finally arrived at the hospital. He was accompanying Dr. Gilmour again and they had switched to monthly meetings instead of weekly ones a few months back.
"Fine," Derek said.
"Good, actually," Casey replied. "The migraines and nose-bleeds have stopped completely now that we have scheduled in more time together."
"That's great to hear, Ms. McDonald," Dr. Gilmour said. Dr. Angelino nodded his head.
"So, have you two finalized your wills?" It came up in their last meeting with the doctors that their wills should be done before the registration came through. April was approaching faster and faster.
"In fact, we have," Casey spoke for the both of them. Derek was starting to get used to it. It was less annoying seeing as he didn't have to speak about legal documentation as much with her doing the negotiation for the both of them.
"Wonderful," Dr. Angelino commended. "Mind if I take a look?"
"Um, not at all," Casey replied, giving copies of both their wills to the good doctor. When she took Derek's from him, Derek can't remember.
After a few moments the Dr. Gilmour spoke up: "Now I see here, Mr. Venturi, that you are giving all your money, including your inheritance, to Ms. McDonald, is that correct?"
Derek's will was pretty short, but he didn't think that part stood out like a sore thumb exactly. It was like Dr. Gilmour was trying to pick out the one thing in that letter that Derek was uncomfortable with Casey knowing and specifically said it out loud for exactly that purpose. Okay, maybe he was exaggerating a bit, but still. He could almost hear Casey "aw"-ing at him for giving her his imaginary money. It was strictly for investment interests anyway. Derek didn't see the big deal.
"Is that written on there? I should probably cross that out. Do you have a pen I can borrow?" Derek asked.
"Der-rek!" Casey chastised.
"Kidding," Derek said.
"Well, it all looks good, then," Dr. Angelino advised.
The whole ride home Casey teased Derek about giving her his inheritance while he either ignored her, threatened to kick her out of the car, or defended his decision. He tried to get her to turn around a few times so that he could change his will, but Casey refused. She was smug the rest of the way home. It was disgusting.
Valentine's day was awful, although Derek denied everything and did his best to act casual in the face of meddling siblings and concerned friends. He went on a date with Stephanie that weekend, a girl from school, and it wasn't half bad. But she was no Sally and even Casey was a better conversationalist. It was toward the end of February when everything slowed down and things started to go downhill again. It started, as usual, with Casey. (That sentence alone should tell you how the rest of the month continued.)
The truth was, that Casey didn't even know what was going on. But some guys in the hall and some girls in the bathrooms were rumored to be picking on her, calling Casey a Klutz and a grade-grubber and everything else that she sadly actually was. Derek swallowed his pride and, being Casey's step-brother, found it in himself to protect her from this. He cornered the guys in between classes and told them to lay off or face the wrath of the entire hockey team. Derek then spread a rumor that the girls who were talking about Casey behind her back were just jealous of Casey's grades because they were failing two classes. It turned out one of the girls was failing history. Derek felt sickly victorious. The same girl came to Derek two days later and asked for studying tips, and when Derek laughed in her face, she changed tactics and asked for a date instead. Needless to say, he said no. But she still agreed to his request that none of the girls tell Casey herself what Derek had done for her. He wasn't worried about the guys snitching because it would just ruin their own reps. See, Derek could think ahead sometimes!
Next, March came around and school midterms came with a rude awakening. After hearing about his D average from Paul and one very terrifying dream about his future, Derek decided to call in reinforcements: Edwin and his dad.
The reinforcements turned out to be a bust, seeing as Ed didn't know twelfth grade material and dad hadn't studied in years. Derek told them he was going for a bathroom break to get away from the chaos and ended up face to face with Casey.
Casey turned out to have been driven completely crazy by exams, because she actually suggested they study together. Not as in tell everyone they were studying together, as was their cover story for what Edwin had come to call their 'crazy sibling bonding times', but actually study study. Derek laughed.
"I can feel your worry, you know," Casey reminded him. "I know you actually care about your future, Derek." The fact that Casey could apparently feel all his emotions all the time was a fact that Derek locked in a vault, hid the key to, and threw in an ocean. Figuratively, of course. Because if Casey could feel all his worry and shame and hopelessness about his grades, then what else could she know about him? Did she know things that even Derek himself hadn't realized? Casey was talking to him and he was worrying. He physically shook himself to stop the train of thought.
"They say the best way to study is to teach," Casey was saying. It seemed like she was trying to convince herself.
"Who says that?" Derek asked her dubiously.
"You know," She sounded uncertain, "people." She finished lamely.
He shook his head fondly at her.
They stayed up almost all night. When Derek woke, there was a textbook on his face and Casey's lap pillowing his head. He startled himself awake. Casey mumbled something incoherent next to him.
"Casey, wake up," He tried to shake her awake, to no avail.
"Mm-rm-ah-dm," she muttered. She lazily rubbed her eyes and sat up, blinking at him.
"Hey, you look cute with bedhead," Casey mumbled, still half awake.
Except no, that can't be right, because Casey McDonald using 'Derek' and 'cute' in the same sentence? Totally bizarre. It's not like she has a crush on him or anything. She wasn't tripping over herself when he was around or wearing blue eye shadow when they hung out. Which they have been, a lot.
So it must have been a mistake. She was seeing things. Or Derek was hearing things. Because the Casey he knew would never ever call him 'cute'. Ever.
About thirty seconds later, after trudging half blind into the bathroom, Casey seemed to realize what she had just said because she ran back into the room and shut the door.
"I'm so sorry," Casey said. "I didn't mean that. I thought you were someone else. And that I was still dreaming."
"Must've been some dream," Derek joked weakly. No. What was he doing. Giving her an out? This was perfect embarrass-Casey material and she was obviously lying. Casey always seemed to forget that Derek could tell when other people were lying to him because he was so good at it himself.
"Yeah," Casey gave Derek an awkward laugh and left the room. Derek let her go. It was part of his new morally conscious adult self. That was all. He was simply deciding not to use this against her. Not like he was avoiding anything himself. Nope. Not at all.
Anyway, Derek got one A+ (gym) and all B's on his midterms. He was successfully on his way to a hockey scholarship and life was good. Well, he was still Bonded to Casey, but that was under control. All Derek had to do was beat her at Halo once in a while and let her put her legs over his while he was watching TV every other night.
Then Noel happened. It was afterschool and Derek was feeling uneasy again. So, as had grudgingly become his new remedy, he went to find Casey. He found her in the theatre sitting on the edge of the stage next to Noel. At least, Derek thought his name was Noel. Anyway, his stomach eased just being around Casey and his nerves calmed down. Stupid Bond. Stupid Casey. Stupid Fate and its Soulmates and-
"-Derek. I know about you two," Noel was saying.
Derek crept to the edge of the stage curtains and shamelessly listened in.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Noel. There's nothing going on between me and Derek." Casey then laughed awkwardly, the way she did when she was lying. Derek physically refrained from face-palming. Could she be any more obvious?
"Casey, I know you two are Bonded. I was there." Noel said. And what?! Derek thought.
"What do you mean you were there?" Casey asked. "Because I was there and I didn't see you. So, I'm pretty sure you weren't-"
Noel cut her off, "No, I was there. I was hanging out after school with my friends when all of a sudden we turned the corner and heard shouting. So, they elected me to go check it out. I overheard everything. But then I went to get the principal. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
Silence.
Derek was starting to get fidgety when he heard a sigh. Casey.
"Well, to be honest, I'm glad you know. It's been hard lying to everybody," Casey admitted. Derek should've known lying had been bugging her so much. She was after all a goodie-goodie. It was in her nature. She couldn't help it.
"Well, you don't have to lie to me," Noel said, laughing awkwardly. Casey laughed awkwardly back. God, it's like these two were made for each other, Derek thought. Then immediately froze because since when was Derek trying to get Casey together with other people? As far as he was concerned, fate was telling them that they were meant to be together. The day that Casey would just man-up, or woman-up whatever, and realize that she was fooling herself into thinking they could merely have a friendly Bond was the day they could actually move on with their lives. Derek had done denial. Now he was ready to accept this whole crazy situation and actually find happiness or whatever it was that couples had together. Except, now it had been silent for too long.
Derek peeked around the curtains, just in time to see Noel leaning in and Casey letting him! Derek whipped his head around and stood there quietly, waiting for the "Noel, I'm sorry I'm just not that into you," or the "Noel, how could you! I'm Bonded to Derek!" or even the "I'm so sorry, but I'm with Truman". But it never came. All Derek heard was silence and then the rustle of clothing, and then Derek had to leave. He would not be caught dead just standing there while Casey made out with some guy ten feet away! Never mind the fact that Casey was Bonded to Derek! Or that she had a stupid boyfriend!
Derek fast-walked all the way to his car. He slammed the Prince's driver's side door and angrily buckled his seatbelt, pulling out of the parking space with a squeaky refute from the breaks. He sped off the school campus.
What was Casey thinking? Who gave her the right to go kissing every guy she knew?
Derek stopped at a red light.
What is this? Am I jealous? No, Derek wasn't jealous, he was furious. Sure, he'd seen Casey kiss other guys numerous times. But now that they were Bonded, it was as if his mind was telling Derek that she wasn't allowed to be with anyone else anymore. And how messed up was that? Casey was with Truman, after all. Maybe that's why Derek was so mad: because Casey was cheating on sweet innocent Truman. Oh, who was Derek kidding, Truman was scum. The kind of guy that just never grew up and received a conscience, only out for himself.
The light turned green. Derek's foot slammed on the gas petal.
How could she? What the hell was she thinking? Why am I so angry? What is wrong with me? What's wrong with her? Why are we fucking Bonded? Do I like her?-
Derek ran a red light without thinking. It wasn't on purpose. It was just all Derek could process was the possibility of liking Casey and-
Derek saw headlights coming his way and froze up.
"Beeeeeeep!"
Derek swerved on pure instinct. He almost ran into a tree because he jerked the steering wheel so hard.
Breathe. Derek reminded himself. He pulled over.
I have feelings for Casey. Shit.
