word count: 875

soulmate!au


Halfway through December, the mark appears. Piers knows what it means, of course. Everyone knows that once your mark appears, the countdown begins, and you will meet your soulmate within twenty-four hours. Even knowing about it from the stories Max has told him, it makes his stomach twist into knots.

He's never really given much thought to it. After all, who in their right mind would ever be stupid enough to love him? And yet, despite the confusion, there's a wave of giddiness. Maybe he isn't just broken and damaged, too far gone to love. He's believed he was for so long, but the numbers on his forearm, slowly ticking away, tell a different story.

Despite the way his stomach twists itself into knots, he can't help but smile as he changes out of his pajamas and hurries to the dining area. Max is already awake, as always, and the smell of a hot breakfast fills the house. Piers licks his lips, stomach growling.

"You look like you're about to pass out," his cousin-turned-guardian says, frowning. "What's up?"

"I… I have a bit of a situation," Piers says. "I think it's time." He lifts his arm so that Max can see his mark. "You know what this means."

Max grins because of course he knows. He still hasn't found his soulmate, but he has friends who have. "This is great!" He hurries over, hugging Piers tight, ruffling his hair as he pulls away. "I wonder who it is…"

"What if they don't like me?"

There it is. There's that insecurity and nervousness that he can't quite shake. His elation from earlier seems to fade. His own parents hadn't even wanted him. Maybe he's stupid for thinking some stranger might love him.

"Of course they'll like you. That's why you're meant to be together."

Piers isn't quite convinced, but Max says it with that kindness and gentleness that he just can't argue with. He shrugs, adding in a noncommittal bob of his head. "I s'pose you're right."

"Of course I'm right," Max says, poking his tongue out like a smug child eager to gloat. "Now, come on. We're decorating for the holidays today. Eat up."

Piers doesn't mind the decorating. Not really. It's easy work. Still, he's glad when it's mostly over, and all that's left is to hang the wreath on the door. He makes his way to the front of the house, the snow crunching beneath his shoes with each step. Max is already there, holding up the evergreen wreath and examining it.

"It doesn't look dumb?" Max asks, frowning. "The ribbon looks a bit more Easter than Christmas."

He's right. The pastel yellow looks strange in a winter arrangement, but Piers doesn't mind it. "It's a little unconventional," he chuckles, "but so are we."

"Fair. Looks like we've got new neighbors," Max notes.

Piers follows his gaze to the house next door. A woman and man get out of their van, followed by two young girls. A moment later, a tall boy with dark skin and a West Ham shirt climbs out, and Piers feels his heart melt. The boy is possibly the most handsome person he's ever seen.

What are the odds a new family would just happen to move in today? It can't be a coincidence.

"I should bake something for them," Max says. "Hmmm."

"Of course you should. That's what you do. You're a regular Betty Crocker, aren't you?" Piers teases.

"Sam, don't!" someone next door calls.

Piers looks over in time to see the youngest girl hurl a snowball at the boy.

"Mum, Sam's being a pest!"

"Mum, Dean called me a pest!"

Max shakes his head. "Come on. Cookies."

The woman is the one to open the door when they show up with the cookies. She smiles warmly as she accepts the plate. "You didn't have to go through all that trouble," she says.

"It was no trouble at all," Max assures her.

Piers snorts. "He loves any excuse to bake. Trust me, you did him a favor by moving in."

"Mum, have you seen my sketchbook? I tought I put it in my bag…" The boy from earlier appears, and he stops, eyes widening as he looks at Piers.

Piers feels it too, a tingling sensation where his mark is. Except when he looks down, he catches a glimpse of the mark fading away, a sign that he has found his soulmate.

"I'm Dean," the boy says. "Dean Thomas."

"Piers Polkiss."

Max seems to realize what's going on because he turns to Mrs. Thomas with his brightest smile. "Looks like the boys are really hitting it off already."

It's finally happening. He's met his soulmate, and Dean doesn't seem to mind at all. Piers grins. "You want to come by later and hang out?" he asks, cheeks burning.

"I'd like that."

And all too soon he has to leave and return to his own home. Once they're in the living room, Max lets out a dreamy sigh. "Oh, young love."

"Shut up. I only just met him," Piers groans.

But he can't help but smile. Their meeting was so brief, but it happened, and now Piers feels like things can only get better from there.