Soulmate For Hire

Houston, I Have So Many Problems

I'm gonna go eat bread

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Timothy Drake Wayne did not have a soulmate.

It had been that way since the moment he was born. It didn't change when he turned 12, like all others did. It didn't change when he was adopted and took on a new name.

It never changed.

Because he didn't have a soulmate.

But he wanted one. He so, so wanted a soulmate.

Someone to love him unconditionally, to smile and laugh with him, to kiss him and hug him and care about him.

So why, out of all people, did he not have a soulmate?

Tim felt broken without one.

Soulmates were supposed to be your other half, so was he always to be broken and empty without one?

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Marinette Dupain-Cheng did not have a soulmate.

It had been that way since the moment she was born. It didn't change when she turned 12, like all others did. It didn't change when she became Ladybug and took on a new identity.

It never changed.

Because she didn't have a soulmate.

And she didn't want one. She didn't need one.

She didn't need someone to think they owned her, to tell her what to do, to force her into things.

Which was why Marinette was so happy without one.

She felt alive and full, even without one.

Soulmates were supposed to be your other half, but Marinette didn't believe that. She was perfectly fine without one.

---

It started with a lie.

But isn't that always how it starts?

Most romantic comedies start with a little white lie that doesn't hurt anyone, but then eventually grows too big to avoid.

And then, somehow, two people fall in love.

Except Tim--who didn't have anyone to fall in love with.

And his lie, oh his lie was the most batshit crazy lie he had ever told.

But could you really blame him?

Some would agree that yes, he was to blame for this whole mess. But others would say that his heart was in the right place and all that.

Well it might have been, if that "right place" was his chest, where hearts are typically held.

And if you were being technical, then technically this whole thing was Dick's fault.

It was Dick who proposed to Kori.

It was Dick who wanted a huge ceremony.

And it was Dick who asked everyone to bring their soulmates.

But despite all Dick's flaws, Jason did bring up Tim's soulmate.

Or lack of.

You see, all of Tim's brothers had soulmates.

Bruce had Selena.

Dick had Kori.

Jason had Roy.

Damian had Jon.

Cass and Steph had each other.

But who did Tim have? No one.