Oneshots and Short Stories

Perfection

It was just another busy day in the long, long line of busy days.

You stood at the center of a crowd in the packed train station, the underground air stale and carrying the faint scent of cigarettes. Trolls and humans alike milled about the platform, absentminded chatting and the shuffling of cramped feet the only noises, excepting the faraway clatter from down the tunnel.

Your name was Karkat Vantas, and you were a troll on his way to work. You straightened your jacket and looked, almost nonchalantly, at your wrist, and at the words there.

just the way you are. Those five simple words, etched into your wrist since you were born. Everyone had it- humans, trolls and cherubs alike. Half of a quote, and somewhere out there was a person who had the other. Once you met, you would know that the person was your soulmate, your other half, as the completed sentence faded from your skin.

Some people found them in childhood, matching up with their young friendships. Some found them during their adolescence, completing the words in the heat of young love.

Others never found them at all.

You sighed and pulled the sleeve back down over the words, looking up to check the time. You had been so distracted daydreaming about your quote that you hadn't noticed the train that pulled up before you, and when you took a step forwards to get a better look at the electronic sign, the jostling of the crowd to board the train made you lose your footing.

You cried out, but it was too late. You were falling towards the open door, and you were certain to land on your face and turn up to work with a bruise...

"Woah there!"

Your descent was suddenly halted, and you exhaled slightly with the sudden stoppage. Someone was holding your shoulders with wide, strong hands, keeping you from falling.

You looked up to see a human, with freckles across his nose and blonde hair. His eyes were masked behind deep black aviator sunglasses, but he seemed concerned nonetheless.

"T-thanks." you stammered as the human pushed you up. He was inside the train, and he pulled his arms back in, placing them in the pockets of his crimson jacket.

"You all right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." you responded, brushing yourself off. "If you hadn't been there I don't know what would have... happened..."

You trailed off as you noticed a soft golden glow coming from inside your sleeve. Hurriedly, you pulled it down, seeing the words inscribed on your wrist shining a bright crimson red.

The human looked shocked, and pulled his sleeve up too, only to reveal the same occurrence on his wrist. With the air of a sacred ritual, he clasped your hand in his, laying your wrists side by side so you could both read the words.

You are perfect just the way you are.

You hissed, a sharp intake of breath, and looked up at him. Your eyes met and, to your amazement, his face widened into a joyful grin.

Then, all of a sudden, the train doors slid shut, forcing you to pull back in fear of losing your hand. The human behind the glass reached out for you, the smile replaced with a mouth open in shock and longing, and you wanted to grab his hand again.

The train clicked and began to move, and desperation filled your throat. You found yourself sprinting along, frantically trying to keep the pale human's face in your sight.

"Who are you?!" you cried, even though he couldn't hear you, and he placed his hands on the window, mouth moving with words that did not reach your ears. He was so close- almost like you could reach out and touch him...