Sterek Library (a03 Edition)

Happiness And Misery Go Hand In Hand

By: Skchorpion

When the marks first started appearing, Derek didn't know what to do.

There were colours, light blue and green and pink and yellow, all over his left hand and right hand's palm. Derek tried to wash them off, but nothing happened. He didn't want to show his hands to his mother, so he started to hide them when possible. After some time they disappeared and Derek felt relief, but not for long. They came and went, different each time. Sometimes there were marks on his legs, too. When he got one bright orange stripe on his left chin, Peter noticed. Even though Derek tried explaining it to him, he couldn't stop Peter from telling Talia.

"Derek, show me your hands," Talia asked cautiously. Derek tried hiding his hands behind his back, even though he knew he'd have to commit sooner or later anyway.

"C'mon, Derek, it's not like Talia will make you wash your own jeans for two months," said Peter impatiently. Derek took his hands shyly and offered them to his mother without daring to look up. He would gladly wash his own clothes forever, if it meant the marks would disappear. Talia, however, seemed surprised.

"You know... In some myths, it is said a person can have a physical connection to their other half in life," she finally said to Derek.

"Can you make them go away?" Derek pleaded. "Please?"

"Even if I wanted to, there is no way that I would know of. But you should understand that this is a gift from life that not everybody gets. So wear it proudly, and one day you might find your soulmate through this connection," Talia smiled at his son.

"Does it work the other way, too?" Peter asked his sister. "Does everything that Derek do appear on the other person's skin, too? Or is it just a one-way thing like mind-reading?"

"I do not have all the answers. I think Derek should find this out on his own, but for now, both of you should go back outside," Talia ordered. "Food will be ready in half an hour."

***

After a while, the bright-coloured marks stopped appearing.

Derek didn't feel relief. He felt anxious, as if something bad had happened.
The markings were gone. It was like he had lost his connection to his other half, someone whom he didn't even know. Perhaps they had just grown out of this weird art-phase. Still, Derek lingered. What if he won't find his soulmate anymore? Even after all these years, he didn't know whether or not this connection works both ways. Peter had been eager to find out, but Derek didn't feel like writing on his hand at all, because if he wrote something down, too, he would take the blame for everything from then on. So for once, Peter didn't get what he wanted. But now.... Now Derek was curious. He missed the markings on his hand that would make him feel less lonely at times. Just general knowledge of that there is someone out there that one day will be everything for him, cheered him up at his darkest moments. He missed his soulmate's messy markings.

He took his usual black pen and started to write, but then stopped. What would he even write, "hey, are you ok?" ? If it really did appear on the person's hand, they would be really confused and probably not in the mood for answering. Derek sighed. He can't even write "be careful" on his wrist, because it may sound like a threat to some people. And he doesn't even know what kind of person his soulmate is. Are they paranoid like him? Are they kind? Are they dangerous? Are they scared of werewolves.... Derek's mind wandered off. It would be better to just not write. Perhaps it is better if he forgets about the connection. After all, it is easier to never find your soulmate than to bear the truth that werewolves often have to deal with whilst having a human partner. The truth of being a threat, of being dangerous for your most beloved ones. The pain of fear in your soulmate's eyes. Derek didn't need any of that. He put his pen back on the desk and went straight to sleep