THC

House: Ravenclaw

Class: Head of House

Category: Theme

Prompt(s) chosen: [Trope] Soulmate Marks, [Theme] Travel

Word count: 1496

Notes: Modern AU, non-magic AU,

I'm not letting you go

It's an important business meeting that Percy cannot miss no matter what. He even scheduled his flight two days in advance to give himself plenty of time just in case something happened. Percy liked to plan everything out, but the universe never seemed to like his meticulous plans. A huge snowstorm swept in while he waited for his flight. He had arrived the recommended three hours for an international flight and had been working on one of his assignments while he waited.

He sighed as a huge line formed at the airline's desk as other customers tried to reschedule their flights. He took his time neatly packing his stuff away before he joined the line. Due to his job, traveling was a regular occurrence, and it was clear to anyone around him that he was seasoned in navigating an airport. His briefcase was designed for travel and slid onto the handle of his carry-on suitcase.

Despite being well versed in this kind of thing, he always hated it when his plans didn't work out. He'd have to schedule his flight for the earliest availability, and he didn't know when that would be. He just hoped nothing would come in the way of his meeting.

"I hope it doesn't take too long to get a new flight," a voice behind him spoke.

Percy turned around to face the man behind him. They were a similar height, and Percy assumed they were around the same age. The other man was wearing more of a casual outfit compared to Percy's button-up shirt and slacks. Percy felt the mark on his upper-arm burn a bit, but he tried to shrug off the pain. It did that sometimes, and he never really knew why.

"I'm Oliver by the way," The man stuck his hand out to Percy.

Percy shook his hand, "I'm Percy."

"Where are you headed?"

"Beijing," Percy shuffled forward in the line but stayed in a position that allowed him to speak to Oliver. "I have an important meeting there."

"I'm also headed to Beijing but for sports training," Oliver nodded his head forward to signal for Percy to move up again. "Hopefully, you make it to your meeting."

"I gave myself an extra few days just in case something like this happened. We shouldn't be trapped here that long."

Oliver laughed, "Let's just hope you didn't just jinx it."

"You believe in that sort of thing?"

"Not typically," Oliver shrugged, "But this would be the one time it would happen."

Percy tilted his head to the side in contemplation, "I suppose you're right."

They continued chatting until they reached the front of the line. There was a red-eye flight to Beijing that evening, but it would mean being in the airport for another eight hours. His company had reimbursed him for Business class seating, and thankfully, that included access to the airline's business lounge. Percy made his way there after getting his new ticket and found a chair with a desk that was near the wall. He'd need the outlet access if he was going to be stuck there all day.

When it came time to board the plane, he hadn't expected Oliver to be on the same flight. He knew they were going to the same place, but it never crossed his mind. Percy also hadn't expected their seats to be right next to each other.

Business-class had larger seats which meant there were only two to a row. Percy had the window seat that he preferred. He already felt exhausted, and he rarely slept on planes, but he figured he wouldn't have difficulty on this flight. Especially since it was a twelve-hour flight and a red-eye.

The flight attendants went through all the necessary information, and soon after the plane got ready to take off. Oliver shifted next to him, and he watched the other man pull his sweatshirt off. The both of them had taken their coats off when they sat down, but Percy assumed that even the sweatshirt was too warm for Oliver. The plane would cool drastically once they were in the air and settled from all the moving they did to get on the plane.

The action gave Percy the perfect glimpse at the mark on Oliver's arm. Percy was level-headed, and while he thought about meeting his soulmate, he knew the logistics against it happening. Everyone talked about how fate would bring soulmates together at some point, but Percy never truly believed in that. But that was before he was sat next to his soulmate on a twelve-hour flight.

Soulmate marks appeared anywhere on a person's body, and they only matched up with that person's soulmate (or in rare cases, soulmates). Marks differed in many ways. Some looked like scars, and others looked more like tattoos. It was difficult to tell what was a soulmate mark on someone's body if it was visible. Only soulmates would know right away.

Percy's own mark was an inky black and gray rendition of an aster flower that sat on his bicep. The same flower was etched into Oliver's arm.

Oliver looked at him in confusion when he noticed Percy staring at the mark, "It's an aster flower."

Percy snapped from his thoughts as he registered what Oliver said. The other man must have thought that Percy was admiring the mark or trying to decipher it.

"I know," Percy whispered, "I have the same one on my arm."

It wasn't the most eloquent way to tell someone about a soulmate mark, but Percy hadn't quite planned for it to happen. Oliver's eyes widened, and Percy unbuttoned his shirt enough to get the top of his arm out. While Oliver's mark was on his right arm, Percy's was on his left, so the marks lined up when they sat next to each other.

"Oh," Oliver gasped and the plane suddenly pulled into the sky. They had both been too preoccupied to notice it had made its way down the progress strip. "I didn't expect for this to happen."

"I hope it's not unwanted," Percy found himself saying.

"No," Oliver shook his head, "I'm quite pleased about it."

The twelve-hour flight gave them plenty of time to converse and get to know each other. Percy found out that they lived relatively close to each other in London which would make life easier once they were back home.

Although he had been tired when they boarded the plane, he didn't want to drift off to sleep now that he had figured out Oliver was his soulmate. Percy wasn't one to like talking to others, but the conversation flowed between them in a way that Percy couldn't explain. He understood now why his siblings talked about their own soulmates in such a way. It felt right being with Oliver.

They decided to share a taxi to the hotel that they both had accommodations at. The airline had helped them fix their reservations due to the delayed flight. Percy was glad that they would have time to be with each other before their obligations. He hadn't asked when Oliver was headed back to London, but he hoped the other wouldn't be in Beijing for too long.

They spent the day exploring Beijing together. Oliver managed to drag Percy out of his comfort zone and try new foods that Percy may have opted out of before. Percy stuck to things that he knew he liked and rarely tried anything new. He knew that it wasn't the best mindset, and maybe that's why he had been given such an adventurous soulmate.

"Good luck at your meeting," Oliver said as he dropped Percy off at his hotel room. His soulmate had to wake up early for his training and wouldn't be able to get breakfast with Percy.

He had found out that Oliver was training in Beijing for two weeks. Percy would have to return to London to his dismay. Oliver promised to find him the moment he landed in London since separating from his soulmate would be difficult now that they've met. The longer they went apart the more their marks would hurt.

"Wait," Percy stopped Oliver from walking back towards the elevators. "Does your mark ever hurt sometimes?"

Oliver thought for a moment, "Yeah, it started sometime during university."

"Where did you go to university?" Percy felt his breath catch in his throat. That had been when his mark started to burn as well.

"King's College," Oliver answered calmly.

"I did as well," They both stared at each other in silence, "Do you think we met in university and never realized?"

"It's possible," It would explain the aches his mark caused over the past few years. "At least we know each other now."

"Promise you'll see me when you get back?" Percy asked, suddenly scared that London would change everything for them.

"I promise," Oliver leaned over to press a kiss onto Percy's forehead. "I'm not letting you go this time."