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

App

I sat behind the counter of the shop the next day on my phone. It was after the usual tourism rush hour and I only had two tarot readings that day. As soon as I started thinking about missing Asra for the third time that day, I heard the bell toll and placed my phone into my pocket. "He- Portia?" I cut myself off when I saw the curly haired ginger making her way to my counter.

"Y/n!" She exclaimed, seeming super happy, "How have you been?"

I couldn't help but smile at her. "Portia we just saw each other yesterday. I'm the same." I walked out from behind the counter and lead us both to the back room. "How are you doing."

Her eyes squinted and she smirked at me. "That's why I'm here."

"Wha-"

She slammed her phone, face-up, on the table in front of me. "I got it." She waited a moment until she noticed my confused expression. "I got the app."

'The app?' I thought to myself before realizing what she was talking about. An anonymous game developer created a new app to make it easier to confess to your crush, figure out your feelings, and find out who has feelings for you when they enter a 10 meter-radius of the user. Many think it was a magician who made it, which had some of the locals questioning me about Asra, but to be completely honest, he's so mysterious I had starting believing them. Almost everyone in the district has it, and it seems that every tourist that comes by does as well.

Portia and I are the only two people I knew who didn't have it, but it seems that isn't true anymore. "You should get it! Maybe see if everyone really thinks you're weird, or if it's cause they like~ you." She cooed the last part. I only smiled at her and shook my head. "You can't keep using the fact that you have no storage space as an excuse. You literally have nothing on your phone. Except texts with your boss."

I could see the thought behind her eyes before she even spoke. "No. Asra and I are friends, roommates. There are no feelings there. Get your mind away from that place."

"But how do you know? I mean, he's sort of the 'keep-to-myself' type, right? And you're kinda the same way." She stopped to analyze my face to see if she could continue speaking. "Which makes sense, since he had to reteach everything to you after you came back."

She quieted down after mentioning it. From what I was told, I awoke from a coma three years ago and Asra volunteered to care for me and look after me until I felt comfortable to move away, but I could never bring myself to do it. I was never told why  or how I was put into a coma, but I suppose I'll figure it out at some point.

"I think you should get it, Y/n! Everyone has it, I'm even sure Mazelinka has it!" Hearing that her grandmother might have a romance app had me holding back my laughter.

"I guess I'll get it, and if I don't get any dings, I'm going to delete it."

She grabbed my hand and shook it, "deal!" 

Portia left soon after due to her palace duties, and I sat alone behind the counter for the remaining few hours. I stared at the open app on my phone. "I can't believe you got me to download this, Portia."

I turned off my phone and went towards the door. Before I could turn off the sign again, I saw something familiar in the distance. I squinted hard and saw Asra booking it towards the shop. I quickly moved out of the way and let him barrel in. "Y/n? What are you still doing down here?" He asked calmly after catching his breath like he didn't just panic run past me.

I was used to him getting back early from trips, but it's not even been a full 24 hours since he first left. "What are you doing back so early?"

"Oh, um, everything got cancelled. I'll finish closing up shop, you should get some rest."

"No," I was still a little confused, but I knew better than to ask him any further questions. "No I opened today so I'll close. You've been out and about. You should bathe and I'll make you some tea."

We made slight eye contact and there was something untraceable behind his. He only nodded and made his way upstairs, slowly taking off his coat and scarf as he went. I turned back around to close the door and was greeted by the same white masked man as before. "So he's finally home. Took less time than I thought. I truly thought Faust would be quicker with the news of my presence here."

"You- how do you know Faust?" Faust is Asra's snake familiar. She always accompanies him on his trips and various everyday activities.

"Oh, I know much more than you think I do. Now let me in to see him." Julian tried to peer past me, but I stood in the middle of the doorway.

"I'm sorry, but I won't. He's taking a bath right now and-"

"Y/n is that a late customer?" I moved to see Asra half-way down the stairs, still wearing his clothes and dry as fire wood. "Who were you chatting with?"

I turned back around to see the doorway empty. 'If he truly wanted to talk to Asra, he would've taken advantage of this opportunity.' "Ah, Portia just came for a quick visit. She reminded me that there's still some pumpkin bread in the pantry. I'll get you some with your tea."

I knew he could tell I was lying but if he brought up my lie, I would bring up his, and he knew it too. "I see. I guess I'll go sit in the bath while I wait. Make sure to make yourself some as well."

"Of course, bossman."

He rolled his eyes and left the room. I watched him re-ascend the staircase and then grabbed my phone. After I unlocked it, I saw that number of people who liked me went from zero to one. I checked the two notifications I had that were from Portia. I quickly told her about the number change and she seemed amused by it. Even more amused by the fact that I genuinely didn't know who increased the number. My mind immediately went to Julian, but that would mean that he's still around in the shop somewhere. It seemed quite impossible as he's very easy to spot out and the shop is quite small.

Then I thought of Asra, but as far as I know, he doesn't even have the app.