Fandom One-shots

Scars

I saw a post on Pinterest a while back about a soulmate AU that I wanted to write about. Basically, a person is inflicted with the same birthmarks, scars, cuts, freckles, etc as their soulmate.

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF SELF-HARM THROUGHOUT ENTIRE CHAPTER.

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Remus winced and glanced down. It wasn't that he was hurting, it was just uncomfortable. Gashes slowly opened on his wrist, revealing pink flesh and an absence of blood. He inhaled sharply, knowing what was happening.

"Remus, darling, are you alright?" His mother asked, leaning across the table. The young man nodded and quickly drew his sleeve down all the way over his palm,

"I just —" He croaked. "Bathroom." He stood up sharply and hurried from the room. He was shaking. He wanted to help. God, all he wanted to do was hug his soulmate and tell them it would be okay. He just wanted that. But he could do nothing. Another bloodless line sliced its way across his wrist. He got to the bathroom and closed the door. Trying to think.

He glanced up at the small medicine cabinet, and an idea began forming. He reached up and pulled it open, revealing a disarray of pills, hairspray, and other bathroom appliances. He grabbed a small razor from the back. He felt another gash open on his wrist. He glanced at it. The cut was much more rigged than the first two, almost as if Remus's soulmate was shaking. Or crying. A soft, dry sob bubbled in Remus's throat. He had to help.

He sat down on the edge of the tub and grasped the razor firmly in his hand. He whimpered as the blade sliced into his skin.

After a few minutes he had successfully written, IM HERE. A pause. No more cuts opened up, nothing. Just Remus's own blood pooling so that the letters became illegible to him. But his soulmate, his soulmate would be able to see it clearly.

• • •

"Quite unlike Prongs to fall to sleep." Sirius chuckled looking beside him at his sleeping friend. Remus smiled. He thought a nap sounded lovely. He had had yet another full moon last week. It almost seemed like they were getting worse as time progressed. But maybe he was just able to remember more about them.

"Yeah, it's is." Remus agreed, glancing at the door. Peter has left a while ago to go and find Lily Evans for James. So far, it seemed, he had been unsuccessful. Remus sighed and lifted his arms above his head, folding his hands behind his back. He had every intention of falling to sleep as well.

"Moon!" Sirius gasped lurching forward. "Merlin, what happened?!" The young Black grabbed Lupin's wrist and pulled it down to his waist. Lupin jerked his arm away harshly. It was personal. It was between him and his soulmate. He loved Sirius, but he didn't want to have to explain why he had scars on his arm.

"Stop it!" Remus hissed. "It's none of your business." Sirius bit his lip and folded his hands in his lap.

"Sorry." Sirius raised his arms up in what looked like a move of submission. His sleeves fell down and pooled around his elbow. His forearm was left exposed, showing thin cuts, not unlike Remus's. Sirius had planned to lower his wall in hopes that Remus would lower his. But Remus was focused on something else entirely.

"Merlin." Remus breathed grabbing Sirius's arm. "That's not . . . That's not possible."

Now Sirius was confused.

Sirius was silent as he allowed Remus to run his thumb over the healing wounds.

"You've got — you're . . ." Remus exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, his heart thumping loudly. He
hoped Sirius couldn't hear it. Finally, he just held out his arm and let Sirius take hold of his wrist and look. "Here." He whispered, pulling his sleeve back to reveal the words: IM HERE. Sirius frowned and glanced back at his own wrist.