I’m Sorry It’s Me (Soulmate AU)

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Word Count: 1,320

Warnings: Mentions of self harm

Created for the Tropetember Event - Alternate Universe

Soulmate AU where person gets the same injuries as their soulmate but without pain or damage.

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The sun shone brightly over my head, mocking my misery as it usually did. Thankfully it soon would die when winter inevitably came and I wouldn’t need to explain to literally everyone why I was wearing a hoodie in summer. How’s that for karma you ugly ball of gas?

I scoffed at it, sulking in its light for another moment before the familiar voices of my school grew closer. I looked up, taking a brief look around for my group before eventually finding them sitting on the floor by the wall and I quickly resumed my usual every day smile as I ran over to them.

“Heya guys!” I waved once as I came to a stop in front of them only for my smile to disappear when my eyes caught sight of Levi sitting in one of our friend’s embrace, face buried into her neck as he cried.

Without giving it another second of thought I crouched down to his level, grabbing a hold of his arm to inspect him. “Levi? What happened? Are you hurt? Who hurt you? Why are you crying?! What happened?! Did you fall?” I uttered out in racing questions every thought my paranoid mind jumped onto, unable to stay quiet and actually wait for his explanation.

Levi shook his head silently, wiping away the tears from his eyes with his hand before looking up at me. “Not me” he whispered, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a faded line just under his elbow.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight, my stomach twisting in guilt. But before I could say anything, Levi continued.

“My soulmate is hurting so bad and I can’t do anything about it” his voice broke once again as another wave of tears streamed down his cheeks. He lowered his head, his golden hair framing his face as he cried.

I stared widely at him, unsure of what to even say or do. It all happened so fast, nothing could’ve prepared me to encounter this first thing in the morning… I reached my own hand for my arm, clutching it tight under the sleeve of my hoodie as I lingered close to my friend, doing whatever I can to offer him even the slightest bit of solace.

Could it be…? Could it really be him?

# # #

The morning encounter lived rent free in my mind for the rest of the day. If I had a penny for every time I was told to ‘focus’ I might just be able to put my brooding to good use and become a vigilante. But the thought of my friend was impossible to shake.

Levi had in truth seen better days himself, his face remained tear-stained throughout the duration of the day and even hours later he still snuck away to the bathroom to cry. It shattered my heart to see him like that and I did all I could really, staying with him, holding him, distracting him, but it only did so much.

He was entirely heartbroken about the matter. And who could blame him?

As I stood by the school stairs waiting for him to finish talking with his sporty friends I found myself dwelling on the scar again. It looked so familiar, could it really be mine or was it just wishful thinking? Could it be fate or was it just my overwhelming want for it to be him?

If it was… would I even tell him? How could I? After putting him through all that hurt I doubt I’d ever be able to look him in the eye again. I didn’t deserve it. I’d be better off moving across the fucking world and forgetting he ever existed at all… or maybe just– no. Don’t think like that.

“Ready?” Levi’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I turned around to meet with his usual subtle little smile. Even after everything he’d gone through he still offered me the same smile. What an angel.

I nodded, waiting until he started down the stairs before following after him. He turned around to look up at me, about to speak up when he lost his footing, stumbling forward with a gasp. I reached out for him but I was too late, forced to watch as he landed on his knees on the hard pavement floor.

“Levi!!” I called out after him, jumping down the remaining steps and quickly crouching down in front of him, grabbing a hold of his shoulder with my hand. “Are you okay?!”

He looked up, lips parting to reply when his eyes caught sight of my leg, specifically my knees and he fell silent, eyes wide.

I quickly looked down where he was looking to find my own knees scraped red and bruised. A gasp fell from my lips and I bolted up, holding my palms up and seeing similar bruising on the base of either of them. Levi mimicked the motion himself, finding the same identical injury on his own body.

“Ro…?” his voice wavered, tearful blue eyes staring up at me in a mix of horror and utter shock.

It couldn't be…

My heart drummed violently against ribs, my chest heaving with every breath as I locked my gaze with him, staring at his piercing eyes as I took a step back, shaking my head. And without another word I turned around, taking off in a sprint away from him. The wind collided against my face, soothing the wave of heat surging through my body as I ran as fast as my legs could possibly carry me.

Despite the muffled sound of my footsteps slamming against the pavement I could hear Levi’s voice in the distance, calling out my name with a vigour that made me shudder.

Please, Levi, don’t.

I shook my head at the thought, hoping that maybe if I ran fast enough– maybe if I shut off every alarm blaring in my mind that it would all go away. But the longer I ran the more ragged my breathing got and before long a pair of footsteps caught up with me accompanied by Levi’s voice.

“Ro, please!! Stop!”

His hand gripped my arm, gently pulling me back until I was forced to a stop, chest heaving and lungs straining for every drop of breath those broken things could muster in. Levi came to a stop beside me, reaching out for me but I turned away from him, feeling the steam of tears on my face upon finally taking a moment to calm down.

“Ro…” his once soothing voice felt like nails on a chalkboard, reminding me of everything that haunted my every moment. He slipped from my arm and I was finally able to step away, lingering on the edge of the sidewalk, bordering on the silent street in front of me. “It was you… Did you– Did you know?”

My eyes shut tight, my lips pursing together to hold back whatever reply my stupid brain wanted to say. I wrapped both arms around myself, holding on tight as I faced away from him, knowing that seeing him alone would make everything so, so much worse.

“It’s okay, Ro…” his voice was barely a whisper but I heard it loud and clear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his head against my shoulder. “I’m here, Ro. No matter what, I’m here.”

The comfort of his words invaded my mind, drowning out all the blaring thoughts that held that choke hold on me until only his voice lingered, finally letting me rest. I shuddered and his arms tightened around me, holding me close to him in a silent and so very comforting moment.

I took in a shaky breath, unable to hold back the words that left my lips. “Levi, I’m sorry”

He shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry about–”

“I’m sorry it’s me”