Prompt from reddit u/patrickkseo: In this world, soulmates cannot hurt each other in any way or form, intentionally or unintentionally. You are an assassin hired to eliminate a powerful figure. As you close in for the kill, your bullets miss their mark and knives bounce of their skin. Things just got awkward.


Nico stared down the scope. He had his target exactly where he wanted him. Anubis' head was in the middle of the cross – the perfect shot.

"I'm taking the shot," he said into his mic.

"Confirmed," Annabeth said in his earpiece.

Nico inhaled slowly and held his breath. He felt the trigger coolly against his finger. He pulled it and took the shot.

Anubis' head fell to the side as his body crumpled.

Nico let his breath out, "Target down."

"Confirmed," he heard Annabeth say.

He raised his head and made ready to pack up his equipment. A movement made him view through the scope again and he felt utterly confused.

The target was standing, holding the side of the head where Nico's bullet should have entered his skull and killed him. However, he was fully alive and looking around for the source of the attack.

Nico picked up his rifle and got behind the wall next to the window he'd been looking through.

"What the hell is happening?" he asked himself aloud.

"What?" Annabeth asked, her voice confused.

"The target is still alive," Nico said, already dismantling his rifle, ready to leave.

"What?" Annabeth said. "You said the target was down."

Nico cursed, "He was down, but then he got up. I know I hit him." He picked up his bag and quickly made his way out of the building.

"Report back to HQ immediately," Annabeth barked in his ear.

Nico cursed again, "Roger that."


Nico reported what happened to Chiron at HQ and delivered his equipment. He then went to Annabeth's post, knowing she would hunt him down for answers either way.

She sat up when he came over and ordered him to sit, "What happened?"

Nico sat down in a chair and slipped his fingerless gloves on, feeling the nervous sweat on his palms. He shrugged off his jacket and ran a hand through his hair.

"I took the shot, and it looked like it hit, honestly," he said. "He went down and everything."

"Hm, I dunno, it sounds weird," Annabeth mused. "You know, there could be an explanation for this."

Nico stared at her, confused. Then it hit him, "No. No, no, no. That's not possible, it was probably just a mistake."

Annabeth didn't look convinced, "You did get another chance, right?"

"Yeah, a closer approach now."

She winked, "Then we'll know for sure."


Nico was looking intently at his target across the room, slowly sipping his drink. The chosen location was a meeting at a hotel with some of the biggest names in law in the city. Nico had gained access to the meet-up from his father being of high rank in the bank.

He'd dressed up in a black suit with a black shirt and white tie. He was placed against a wall, having a nice overview of the room.

His target, Anubis, being an aspiring lawyer and the son of the highly regarded judge Osiris, was present and was currently speaking to a young woman with a purple streak in her blonde hair. She was speaking animatedly with Anubis, clearly sharing a close relationship with him, seeing as she kept placing her hand on his arm as she laughed.

Nico slowly sipped his sweet drink as he kept a close eye on his target, paying close attention to his interaction with his female companion. Anubis looked relaxed as he spoke, his eyes surveying the room. Nico waited for the other's glance to travel past him, and wasn't surprised when they stopped at him, their eyes meeting. Without flinching, he sipped his drink again and blinked slow before averting his gaze.

He waited a few seconds before he glanced back at the target, finding him no longer looking back. Anubis was now speaking to another man who had his arm around the blonde woman's waist. His complexion was dark, and he had a warm and welcoming air about him. He spoke slowly with the blonde and Anubis, smiling a homely smile at the latter.

The woman suddenly leaned towards the target and whispered something in his ear. Anubis listened, and his eyes flitted back to Nico, who was still watching intently. The woman leaned back and kissed Anubis on the cheek before she pulled the other man away with her, turning her head and winking at the lawyer as she left. Anubis laughed and waved her away.

Nico found himself smiling as he watched the friends part. He looked away and frowned at his reaction. Never feel any attachment to the target.

He was caught up in reminding himself of his principles when shoes entered his personal space. He looked up and was face-to-face with his target.

"Hey," Anubis said. "You come here often?"

Nico snorted, "Really, you're going with that?"

The target blinked and facepalmed, actually facepalmed, "I'm sorry, I never do this." He reached out his hand, "I'm Anubis."

Nico grabbed his hand, "Nico."

Anubis smiled warmly, "Nico, huh. What brings you here?"

"My dad's Hades-"

Anubis raised his eyebrows, "Of Hades embankment?"

"Yeah."

The target whistled, "He was the one who started that business, wow. My dad, well, adoptive dad, is Osiris."

Nico smirked, "I know."

"How so?" Anubis looked surprised.

"You're kinda a big deal," Nico replied, sipping his long-drink while keeping an eye on his companion.

"Really?"

Nico smiled sensually at him, "I heard you were really good looking."

"Oh, yeah?" Anubis said, leaning closer to him. "How am I holding up to the expectation?"

The assassin shrugged, "I've seen better."

Anubis raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?" He leaned even closer, a smirk forming on his lips, "Any way I can change your mind?"

Nico grabbed the other's tie and pulled him close, their mouths inches apart, "I don't know, maybe if I get a closer look." His lips ghosted Anubis' before he drew back and released the other, walking away and out of the hall, away from prying eyes.

He walked towards the lift which would take him to a higher floor, where his room was. He entered the lift and pressed his floor number when a hand stopped the doors from closing, allowing the form of Anubis to enter.

He met Nico's eyes and smirked, "Trying to escape?" He moved closer and crowded the assassin against the wall.

Nico grabbed the other's tie and pulled him close, "Not really." He wet his lips slightly and closed the distance between them.

Anubis' lips were soft and somewhat chapped as they pressed against his. Nico felt the other's arms encircle him as he kissed back and at the same time pressed him to the wall. The assassin lifted his hands to card into Anubis' hair, feeling the soft strands slip between his fingers. He felt the other's tongue slide against his lips and lightly bit it, causing his target to draw back with a surprised look.

"Wha-" Anubis began, but was cut off by the lift announcing their destination. Nico grabbed his tie again and pulled him away from the lift and down the hall to his room. He jammed his card in the lock and felt the other open the door. He stepped inside, Anubis hot on his heels. Once inside, he turned around and slammed his target against the door, capturing his mouth in a searing kiss.

He felt Anubis' hands grip his waist and pull him closer, kissing back fervently. Nico intentionally moaned and let his hands slip up and into the other's blazer, sliding it off Anubis' shoulders, hearing it fall to the floor. He would pick it up along with the rest of the clothes and burn them after the target was actually down. He wasn't worried about fingerprints in the hair and he hadn't touched any of the man's skin or furniture, so he'd be fine.

He pulled Anubis towards to bed and pushed him down onto it. He leaned forward, a hand placed on the man's thigh and his knees on the edge. He let his lips press against Anubis' and felt his hands cup his cheeks. He opened his eyes and saw that his target was lost in the kiss. He reached his other hand beneath his trouser leg and grabbed his knife. Keeping his eye on his partner and making sure he had his full attention in the kiss, he kept the knife horizontal as he brought it across the man's throat, expecting it to slice open and coat his hand in blood.

Nothing happened.

Well, something happened. Anubis moved his hand up to his neck, surprised.

"What was tha-" his gaze fell on the knife in Nico's hand.

The assassin threw all reason out of the window and jabbed the knife into Anubis' chest, feeling more than seeing it stop short on contact. He cursed and got up, making quick way for the door. He wrenched it open and had one foot out the door when a hand grabbed his shoulder and he was pulled back.

Anubis had a steel-like grip on his shoulder. Nico stared back at him and felt his heart skip a beat. The lawyer had a look of desperate hope on his face.

"You were the one who tried to shoot me," he said.

Nico stared at him, a heavy feeling settling in his chest, "But you didn't die."

Anubis frowned, "And you tried to slit my throat and stab me just now."

Nico felt the burning of tears in his eyes, "But you didn't die."

"Why did you target me?"

"I do what I'm told."

Anubis swallowed, "You know what this means, right?"

Nico's eyes flickered between the other's and he opened his mouth to speak. He spotted someone in the hall and pulled himself free, sprinting down the hall and into an open lift. He pressed the first floor and saw Anubis running to reach him before it closed. He bit his lip as he saw the desperate look on the lawyer's face as the doors shut in front of him.

Nico sank down on his knees and heaved a ragged breath. He felt like crying.


Nico sat on the floor, leaning against his bed, his head hanging low between his knees. He had reported to Chiron and handed in his equipment. The target on Anubis had been removed, since it was prohibited to target an employee's soulmate (Nico was still having trouble admitting it to himself).

What the hell was he supposed to do? He knew who his soulmate was, but he had figured it out by attempting to assassinate him. He was pretty sure that wasn't seen as the best pickup-line.

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. Might as well just get over it and move on, it's not like he was in a business where he could afford to have the weight of a soulmate on his shoulders. Romantic relationship were a weakness.

He got up and made his way to his kitchen, fixing himself a cup of coffee. He was about to take a sip when his doorbell rang. He frowned, he wasn't expecting one. He made sure he had his favourite black knife hidden under the bottom of his shirt. He made his way over to the door and kept one hand on his knife as he opened the door.

Anubis looked back at him with a warm expression, "Trying to escape?"

Nico felt his lower lip quiver slightly, "Not really."


A/N: Sorry it's been so long, guys.

MATT, my loyal, loyal reader. Please make an account so that I can actually answer your PMs :)