Chapter Text
(Vax)
For Vax'ildan and his sister Vex'ahlia, the subject of soulmates was a complicated one to say the least. It had been a fact of life for as long as either of them could remember.
It was inevitable that some soulmates were born years apart from each other. Inevitable that one of the pair would be born with scars already tracing what should be unmarked skin. It was clear that this was the case with Vex'ahlia from an early age. As far back as Vax could remember, his sister had born scars that she had never received an injury for. As far back as he could remember he would turn to her, upon hearing a gasp of pain, to find her clutching her arm or side as a new scar carved it’s way across her skin. Vax hated his sister’s soulmate.
He had learned quickly never to voice that opinion too loudly. His mother would only sigh, her eyes filled with a sad understanding. And Vex’ahlia would shout at him that he couldn’t possibly understand. It was the biggest point of contention between the twins. One that caused an unwelcome divide between the siblings that only fueled Vax’s anger. He didn’t understand why Vex'ahlia and his mother would defend this person who they didn’t even know. This person who they didn’t owe anything to. This person who was hurting his sister.
Vax is five years old the first time he feels his soulmate.
Of course he doesn’t realize that was what it was at the time. His whole life he has associated the entire concept with pain. But this… this was as far from pain as the young half-elf could imagine. It was as if someone had poured something bright and molten into his mind, his body. It seeped through his blood and into his bones. Filling crevices and empty places inside that he hadn’t even known needed to be filled. Or even existed. Vex had run for their mother when he had fallen to the ground, tears welling unheeded in his eyes, unable to process what was happening.
They had both held him as he had shaken and cried himself out. Half formed apologies to his sister spilling from his lips.
Later their mother would explain that the things he was feeling was his soulmate being born. That he would only feel this again when the pair actually met.
Vax heard her words but it would be years before he fully understood what that meant.
(Percy)
For Percival the feeling of having a soulmate was one that one so instinctive that for a long time it was taken for granted. It was only later that he learned how unusual it really was. They were rare his father had explained. King, or hero, or peasant, no one could control or predict who would be marked. Not even the gods were immune. The story of the tumultuous courtship of the Lawbearer and the Wild Mother was one he and his brothers and sisters had been told in the temples.
None of Percy’s siblings had soulmates. This wasn’t unusual, even with a family as large as his. For the most part he hadn’t thought much of it himself. Whitney had been the one who thought it was so romantic. For Percy, it didn’t really sink in until one day while playing in Whitestone’s courtyard with his siblings when he had felt a sudden burst of pain in his left wrist and for a moment he swore he could hear the harsh snap of bone breaking.
It had hurt. He remembers that much. The unexpectedness of it making the pain all the more shocking and he had let out a scream that had frightened Vesper and the twins. Afterwards it had been a blur but not for the reason he would have expected. It was that day that he learned that pain was not the only thing that could be shared over a connection.
As the pulsepoint of shock and agony had raced along his forearm he had felt something else as well. Something that wrapped around him like a shroud. Numbing and distracting him from the pain.
Surprise. A growing sense of guilt. And strangely entwined with the other emotions. A deep, fierce joy.
Percy had barely understood what he was doing as his mind tried to reach out. Straining against the confines of his own skull. It’s alright, he tried to say. It was an accident. It’s okay.
He doesn’t think he’s successful in his attempt at comfort. It’s never been his strong suit in any case. His mother said it was because he was too honest for the white lies that were necessary for some kindnesses.
The alien feeling of guilt had only strengthened before fading entirely, and he was alone.