Steddie One Shots

Soulmate

Steve stared at the spattering of black ink on his arm. His soulmate tattoo. Everybody had heard the stories of a soulmate tattoo. A tattoo that appeared when you were ready for it, when something had happened in your life that opened you up to the possibility and idea of having a soulmate. But soulmate tattoos had died out. They'd been around for centuries, but in the past 50 years, they'd died out.

But there Steve's was. On the inside of his right forearm, which meant no way of hiding it unless he wore long sleeves. The date of birth of his soulmate, inked into his skin forever. July 31st, 1965. He didn't know many people's birthdays, so he wasn't sure who his soulmate was. What he did know was that his soulmate was at least a year older than him, almost 21.

And conveniently, his soulmate tattoo had appeared right after he'd come to the realization that he was bisexual. That had to mean his soulmate was a boy, right? That had to be the significant event in his life that had opened him up to the idea of his soulmate.

Steve sucked in a breath before pulling himself off his bed to get ready. There was a pep rally at Hawkins High today and Robin had begged him to go with her. He couldn't say no to her, she was his best friend and he knew she was nervous about being around Vicky. He pulled on some jeans and a striped polo shirt, before deciding to switch it for a soft yellow sweater.

He fussed over his hair for an hour before darting out the door to pick up Robin. On the drive to school Robin was rambling like usual. And normally Steve didn't mind but his own thoughts were swirling and eventually he needed to get it out, needed to talk to her about it.

"I have a soulmate tattoo."

Robin snapped her mouth shut in the middle of her sentence, eyes wide as she whipped her head around to face him.

"Seriously?"

Steve nodded. Robin knew Steve was not the type to go and get a tattoo.

"Show me."

Steve sighed before rolling up his sleeve. The black ink was vibrant against his skin, glaringly obvious that it was there.

"July 31st, 1965."

"Yeah."

Steve rolled down his sleeve.

"But how? I mean soulmate tattoos have literally died out."

"I don't know. But it's there. And it. It showed up right after I. Right after I um."

"Right after you what Steve?"

"Right after I figured out I'm bisexual."

Robin drew in a sharp breath.

"So that means your soulmate is a boy. If your soulmate is a boy, that is definitely a significant event that would open you up to the idea of having a soulmate."

"So we both agree that my soulmate is a boy."

"Definitely. But I don't know anybody with that birthday. They'd have to be graduated by now, I mean they'd almost be 21."

Steve just shrugged.

"How am I supposed to figure that out? I can't just go around to every guy and say hey, when's your birthday?"

"I mean you could."

Steve fixed her with a glare.

"Or you could not. What you could do is show off the tattoo, let the person find you."

"Yeah, and then my parents would freak if they found that I not only had a soulmate tattoo but that my soulmate is a boy."

"Steve, when have your parents ever given a shit?"