Written for Hogwart's Romance Awareness Challenge, Day Ten: You have a mark (can be a symbol/picture/anything you like) on your body. Your soulmate will have a matching mark, and the Twins Event: Fabian and Gideon Prewett.
Word count: 984
catalyst
The mark on Fabian's left hip tingled when he meets Edgar Bones for the first time, and that's how he knew.
Or at least, began to strongly hope, since without visual confirmation it's actually impossible to know for sure who your soulmate is-and even then it's not a guarantee either, since no two marks are perfectly identical. They complete each other though, and Fabian has longed to know who the flaming torch inked on his skin refers to since he's been old enough to know what soulmates were.
"Do you think he felt it too?" he ponders out loud, fingers trailing over the mark.
"Felt what?"
With a yelp, Fabian startles so badly he trips on his feet and almost knocks his head against the mirror, which yells, "Hey, be a little more careful with your surroundings, boy!"
"Gideon, hi, what are you doing here?" Fabian asks, trying to save face.
His twin just arcs an eyebrow at him, unimpressed.
"You've been in that bathroom for almost two hours now. You thinking of coming back out anytime soon?"
Fabian glares at him. "I'm sure it hasn't been that long," he says, but he does leave the room. The mirror is still talking after all, and honestly, Fabian has better things to do than listen to an enchanted piece of glass.
"Sure it hasn't," Gideon drawls as he follows, but he appears willing to drop that matter for once.
Fabian collapses backward on his bed, eyes staring up at the ceiling. Unconsciously, his fingers drift to his mark again.
"Bones, uh?"
Fabian chokes on his saliva. "I- Wait- What, no, how do you…" He realizes it's useless trying to hide anything from his twin, and sighs, propping himself up on his elbows so he can see him. "How do you even know?" he whines, grabbing at a pillow he can use to smother himself. He has a feeling that'll be a better alternative than talking about this with his brother.
(thankfully, Molly isn't here as well, because their little sister would never let him live this down)
Gideon rolls his eyes. "You really aren't nearly as discreet as you think you are. Also, he's just your type."
That is very true, Fabian thinks, biting back a groan. "It's not just the, you know.." he feels obligated to point out, gesturing vaguely with his right hand to shape a man's body.
"The hot body?" Gideon smirks. "Because from the way you spent the last hours touching yourself I think that might have something to do with it."
"Why are you like this? Why?" Fabian moans into his pillow. "You know that's not what happened-that nothing happened, so why would you even say something like that?"
Gideon simply shrugs, still smirking. "Older brother privilege."
Fabian scowls. "Eleven minutes doesn't count!"
"I was born before you, ergo I'm older," Gideon replies. "Now tell me all about your maybe-soulmate and why you're here mooning over him instead of out there with him, like you would usually be. You're not usually this shy."
"We've only had one conversation, it's not like there's much to tell," Fabian protests; but well, he does actually want to talk about this to someone. "And I'm not shy," he adds, glaring.
"You'll have more in the future," Gideon dismisses quickly. "He's in the Order too, isn't he? And literally nothing stops you from seeing him before the next meeting. In fact, I think you should, if only so that I do not have to deal with you making eyes at him during the entire meeting."
"I do not make eyes."
Gideon stares at him, the who do you think you're talking to? clear in his eyes. "Fabian, I love you, but you always make eyes at the men you're interested in."
"Well, you're not any better when you're interested in a girl," Fabian retorts.
"Nice one, Fabian, very clever," Gideon says sarcastically. "Very fifteen-year-old of you too."
Rolling his eyes, Fabian decides to change subjects. "Anyway," he says, "Edgar's different." He shrugs. "I don't know why, or how I know, but I just do. And I don't want to screw this up."
His twin's face softens. "You're not going to screw anything up, Fabian, come on."
"I don't know. It's not like any of my other relationships have worked before."
"Join the club," Gideon snorts. "Besides, this is your soulmate-"
"-probably my soulmate-"
"-your soulmate," Gideon repeats, ignoring the interruption, "it'll work out."
Fabian sighs, a smile pulling at his lips. "Thanks, Gideon."
"You're welcome. Now just promise me you're going to actually do something about this. And no more locking yourself inside the bathroom for hours on end."
"Yes, mother," Fabian drawls, rolling his eyes again. "Do I have your permission to wait until at least tomorrow, or should I just leave now?"
"You can wait until tomorrow," Gideon replies magnanimously, swatting at his brother's arm.
"So glad I have your permission. Now could you please leave? I have other things to do."
Gideon blinks, a teasing smirk slowly spreading over his face. "I see how it is… I'll leave you alone then."
Choosing to ignore the innuendo-things always do go so much smoother that way-Fabian shoos his brother away. "You do that then. And please don't come back."
Winking, Gideon laughs and dances out of the way of Fabian's kick. "Have fu-un!" he sing-songs as he leaves.
Fabian smothers his scream of frustration in his pillow. From the still open bathroom door, he can now hear the mirror telling him to, "Go get his man!".
Honestly, his life sometimes.
But well, he remembers the way Edgar's smile during their (too) short conversation had made his eyes crinkle and shine, pulling at something inside Fabian's chest.
Even if they aren't soulmates, he thinks, whatever might be between them would be worth exploring. He has a good feeling about them.
