Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 778

Scripted In His Skin

The words had appeared for as long as Piers could remember. He wasn't alone in it, of course, almost everyone on the planet received words from their soulmate, after all. Piers wasn't interested in everyone else, though.

Stubbing out his cigarette on the wall, he looked up at the moon and sighed. It had been three days since he'd received what was supposed to be a daily message, and worry churned in his stomach.

His soulmate was an odd one, he had to admit, often leaving Piers with nonsensical messages and words that had to be made up a few times. He'd been left shocked a few times too, when sentences about death, or battle, or fighting crossed his inner arm.

Who on earth was his soulmate anyway?

It was a question Piers had asked himself time and time again. Would they be short or tall? Would they be kind or mean, have freckles, be warm or cold? He had no clues but for the words on his arm, and with those not appearing…

Piers refused to think about what it could mean. He had to keep faith that his soulmate was silent for reasons other than injury or worse.

He felt something wet hit his nose, and when he looked up at the sky, he realised that it was snowing.

Opening his front door to return to his room out of the way of his parents prying, Piers checked his inner arm once more, his hope dashed when he saw the skin plain and unmarked.

Maybe tomorrow would be the day.

…

Over that year, there were many consecutive days where Piers wouldn't get a comment etched into his skin. And then, out of nowhere, there would be words again, and Piers felt like he could breathe freely again for a little while, until the blank skin filled him with worry once more.

Whatever his soulmate was going through, Piers wished he could help.

We're going to make it out of this.

I miss Hogwarts too.

Harry will kill him. I know it.

The sentences left Piers filled with an uncertainty like he'd never known. Make it out of what? What was a Hogwarts, and why was his soulmate so positive that this 'Harry' was going to kill someone?

Piers didn't know what to think about any of it, but no matter the words, he couldn't ever be disappointed when he saw there were fresh ones marked on his arm.

…

By the time Piers was nineteen, his soulmates words were back to coming daily, often normal sentences like, do you want a coffee?

Piers was hopeful that whatever his soulmate had been through, he was okay now. Walking through the local dog park to the gym he worked in, Piers was so lost in thought that he didn't see the dog jumping at him until it was too late.

"Whiskey! I'm so sorry, mate. He doesn't normally do that… he doesn't tend to like people."

Pier looked up to meet the most delicious shade of brown eyes he'd ever seen. He shook himself, taking the offered hand to help him back to his feet.

"Don't worry about it," Piers assured the man. "He's a good looking dog."

He bent to stroke the fur of the bouncy labrador a few times before he smiled at the man and walked on.

That night, he was watching television when he noticed the black on his arm. Looking down at the words, he read them once, twice, a third time before he sat upright in his seat, staring at his arm.

He'd heard those words. Today.

Whiskey! I'm so sorry, mate. He doesn't normally do that… he doesn't tend to like people.

The brown eyed guy from the dog park appeared in Piers' mind. He twitched in his seat, wanting to run down to the park now, even though it would be useless. He'd… he'd go tomorrow, and as many days as it took to run into the guy again.

Groaning, Piers ran a hand through his hair as he remembered that the first time he'd met his soulmate, he'd been sprawled out on the floor. Not the best way to impress him, Piers thought.

Still…

He'd finally… he'd finally met his soulmate.

Nothing else really mattered.

…

"Hi."

Piers smiled, holding his hand out. "Hi. I'm Piers."

"Dean," the brown eyed man replied, the widest smile on his face. "And this is Whiskey," he added, gesturing to the labrador at his feet.

Piers grinned. "I remember. So… uh. What's a Hogwarts?"

Dean laughed long and loud, and Piers was pretty sure it was the finest sound he'd ever heard.

Written for;

Romance Awareness, Day 2 - A sentence your soulmate said in the day appears on your skin daily.

Auction - Hopeful

Cookies Crafty Corner - Cast On - Characters meeting for the first time.

Showtime - 11. Faith

Buttons - O4. Cigarette / W3. Freckles

Chocolate Truffle Craze; Sweet - Write Fluff

Sophie's Tearoom - Triple Decker Steak Sandwich - Impress