Spiritshipping Oneshots

Soulmate AU

Prompt: In which the last words your soulmate says to you are tattooed on your skin.

Jaden Yuki was lucky.

Very lucky, as it happened. He, like all others in his world, was born with a tattoo of the last words he'd ever hear his soulmate say. Hours and hours were spent with him twisting his arm back and forth under a lamp, trying to decipher the message, especially once he started duel school.

Most people didn't realize it until too late. His dad, for instance, had the words, "I wish my brother had won that duel." His mom was sent to the "shadow realm", whatever that was, when Jaden was still very young. Likewise, his mom had the words, "I can't live without you!" so she had known that she would be the one in the pair to die first.

Jaden could never stop pulling up his sleeve and staring at the words scrawled across his arm. When he reached Duel Academy, he made sure to compare with everyone else. His friend Syrus's were, "I'm proud of you, and I always will be." Alexis kept hers secret. Chazz kept trying to hide his but Jaden had managed to get a quick snapshot of the arm and figure it out later. The older boy's words were, "All your money and you couldn't buy me a treatment for the cancer." Alexis's brother, Atticus, had only one word on his arm- "Sorry." That one scared Jaden the most.

Everyone kept trying to see Jaden's arm, but he managed to keep it a secret- until his third year at the academy.

A new year meant new students, and he was delighted to have met one of them before formal introductions. His name was Jesse Anderson, from North Academy. The boy was energetic, caring and kind, quite like Jaden, in fact.

What made Jaden adore the boy so much was his deck. He called his cards his family and played them like one. When one was destroyed, he grumbled about it angrily but tried to get back on his feet. Finally, he stated that he'd bring out his ace monster- Rainbow Dragon. Those words caught Jaden off guard and sent him stumbling back. However, he regained his balance and ended up winning their duel.

Afterwards, Jaden tried to explain why he knew they were soulmates. Jesse was understanding and even allowed Jaden to take a look at his arm.

Jesse, like Atticus, had only one word, and that happened to be his name- "Jesse!" Jaden's eyes misted over a little, but he agreed that they'd both forget about it and try to have a normal relationship.

And they did.

Jaden and Jesse, for a couple of months, faced challenge after challenge together. Both boys were lively in what they did and made sure to always have concern for the other. When Jesse finally kissed Jaden, he made sure that Jaden was okay with what he was doing and that he'd be comfortable.

It was awkward, sure, but who's first kiss isn't? The boys were lying on Jaden's bed in the Slifer dorm, asleep late at night, when Jesse woke and decided that he wanted to kiss Jaden. With some difficulty, he woke the other and asked if he could kiss him. Jaden had nodded sleepily, but was fully alert when Jesse's lips bumped into his. Without hesitation, he grabbed the back of Jesse's neck and pulled the older boy on top of him, tugging him into another kiss.

Before too long, Jaden's shirt lay forgotten on the floor, along with Jesse's. Jesse swore to himself that he'd be careful with Jaden, but in the heat of the moment, he lost control. Jaden promised him that he was okay, but when the poor boy could barely stand without wobbling the next day, Jesse personally led him around campus, helping him get to class on time.

They spent four more nights like that before the school was plunged into another world. Another two passed with the boys in each other's arms before the battle to get them out of there took place. As they stood against the demonically possessed Marcell, Jesse chose to take a stand and finish his attack. Jaden's sleeve rose up with the force and Jesse smiled at it sadly before telling Jaden that he needed to stay and keep up the strength of his attack.

Jesse!

Jesse glanced at Jaden's arm one last time before turning back to the demon and calling out the words printed on his soulmate's skin.

Rainbow Dragon, take 'em home!

Y'all are allowed to cry now.