All Along || Asra x Reader (Soulmate/Modern! AU)

Introduction

Walking down from the apartment into the shop, I was met with Asra packing his suitcase... again. "Didn't you just get back the other day?"

Startled, he jumps slightly before turning back, his white curls sticking to his forehead due to sweat. He chuckled softly before walking over to me. "I was called to be somewhere again. You know how business is." Neither of us spoke for a long, awkward moment. "I... um," he looked back to his suitcase before walking to it and finishing zipping it up, "I've got to go now. I'll keep in contact as much as I can, don't d- uh- set the shop on fire."

"Yeah yeah, I won't. Can't assure you someone else won't." He smiled at my attitude, like he usually did when he was running behind too much to argue, and side hugged me. "Make sure you stay hydrated and eat while you're away." I said, moving the hair out of his eyes so he knew I noticed the sweating.

"Of course, anything for my favourite employee." He reached for a water bottle on the counter beside us and I jokingly glared at him.

"Your only employee, Mr. Doesn't-Pay-Any-Rent." He splashed some water towards me. Then he suddenly stopped and went to his satchel bag. "What, forget your phone or something?"

He shook his head and pulled out a box. A box I recognized. "I'm leaving these with you this time. For safety and... I think you're ready for them."

I stared at the tarot deck that Asra made himself. He's so proud of this deck, so much that he checked on the cards before me when I fell down the stairs with them. "Are you... serious?"

"How often do I joke about these cards?" My eyes widened at his response and I carefully took the cards.

I was already used to the cards, Asra taught me with them, but they felt different this time. They felt louder. Before I could do anything, I watched him grab his things and leave without a word.

"Asra, wait!" I quickly yelled, chasing behind him, but he was already gone. I only huffed and turned the light-up 'open' sign off. As soon as I locked the door, the lights in the shop flickered.

"Haha, fuck that." I tried to quickly close things up when I heard the back door creak softly. I reached under the counter and grabbed my metal bat. "Who's there!" I yelled in the direction of the door. The soft sounds of shuffling stopped for a short moment. 

I tightened my grip on the bat and raised it over my shoulders. I glanced towards the backdoor and saw black fabric moving, and within an instant the bat was removed from my hands and I was pinned to the front door. A tall man with red hair was towering over me. A white doctors mask with red, glass eyes turned to the side, as if he were looking for something.

I took a deep breath and shoved him away. "What is wrong with you!" I reached for an umbrella in the holster beside the door, but he quickly regained himself and grabbed my hand.

"Woah, not so fast there." He pulled me back from the door and into the opening of the shop. "I just want to know where the witch is." 

"A witch, I don't know what you're taking about." I said, slowly advancing to the backroom. He took the mask off his face and I saw the deep grimace he was hiding. "If you want something, then you're going to have to buy it."

"I'm not here to steal. Where is he at?" Is this guy really that desperate to see Asra?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I reached behind the curtain of the backroom and felt around. "What the-"

"Looking for your walking stick?" I turned back to see him placing it on the counter beside him. "It isn't my first time here, you silly little goose."

"Asra isn't here. He's on another trip." I finally gave in, realizing he's probably more dangerous than what I can deal with. "If you wanna go looking for him, be my guest, but that's all the information I have." 

He sighed and I noticed the grip on his mask getting tighter. The more I looked at his face, I noticed how familiar he was. "Then I guess I'll be-"

"I've seen you before." His eyes met mine at my sudden outburst. "You're a wanted criminal."

He smiled and advanced towards me slowly. I dashed past him to the walking stick, knowing who he is added even more of a level of danger, but when I turned around with the stick in my hand, I caught a glimpse of his black cloak vanishing out of the backdoor. His voice trailed from the alleyway into the shop. "I'll be back for the magician."

I locked both sets of doors and mindlessly walked up the stairs to my bedroom. Extremely confused and full of adrenalin.