Chapter Text
Roman is sitting in the lobby of Soulmate Services, anxiously twisting a red ring around his left ring finger. Most people who come here are using the Service's register, hoping to find their soulmate and change their colored ring to a white one. Also waiting, is a middle aged couple wearing gold rings. They aren't looking at each. They seem to not be able to stand each other. Perhaps, they are a pair with common names, mismatched and married to the wrong person. Or, they could just be another sad story of soulmates unsuited for each other.
Whatever anyone's reason for coming to Soulmate Services today, Roman guarantees he is the only one coming in for this particular problem. Something is wrong with his soulmark.
Every person, aside from a sad few, is born with a name written onto their left ring finger. Doctors can take a magnifying glass and see the name of the person a baby is meant to love. It's even recorded on a person's birth certificate. They never change, even in death.
Roman's soulmark is changing. For months he denied it. He's a romantic, he has dreamed of the day he would meet his true love from the moment he learned what the writing on his finger meant.
Seamus. Roman was supposed to fall in love with a man named Seamus. But, now his mark is fading and Roman can't help but worry. What if his soulmate has died? What if there was a mistake when he was born and he is actually soulless?
Roman almost doesn't hear the receptionist call his name. He stands up, a bit shaky, and follows someone back to a doctor's office. Hopefully, a soulmate specialist can alleviate Roman's fears. He sits down in the chilly office and waits some more.
An older, grandmotherly looking woman with curly-haired woman and bottlecap glasses enters the room, clipboard in hand. "Good morning, Mr. Kingsley." She extends her tight hand out to shake Roman's, which he does. Even left handed people shake with their right; left hands are too precious. The doctor sits down. "So, it seems we are having some concerns about our soulmark?"
"Yes," Roman squeaks out, nervously. He clears his throat and tries again. "I am, yes. It... Um... I don't know. It's just different than it was." He keeps fidgeting with his ring.
"I'm sure it's nothing dear." The doctor smiles reassuringly. "May I take a look?"
Roman's stomach is in knots. Showing someone your soulmark is supposed to be an intimate moment between soulmates. He nods however and slips off his red ring. What used to be crisp black lines spelling Seamus is now half blurry and faded. Roman holds his hand out.
The doctor takes Roman's hand and examines his mark. Her soothing smile slips into a confused frown. "Oh dear..." That doesn't sound hopeful. She gets out a magnifying glass and small light to get a closer look.
"What is it?" Roman asks, unable to keep the tinge of fear from his voice. "What's wrong with me?"
The doctor looks up and smiles again, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing dear. There's nothing wrong with you. It's just... I haven't seen something like this in almost thirty years."
"What is it? Did something happen to my soulmate?"
"No dear, I'm sure they are just fine. This is... Oh dear how do I put this delicately... Your soulmark has been changed. Someone has tattooed over your true soulmate's name."
Roman freezes. "That... What... Why?" He can't get a fully formed sentence out.
The elderly doctor pats Roman's hand. "It used to happen in less accepting times when a baby was born with a same sex soulmate. I must be honest, I don't know why it would be done now, though."
"Was it... Did my parents have it changed?" Roman's head is reeling.
"Unfortunately, it almost certainly was their decision."
"I... I don't understand... Why would they do that?"
"I don't know dear. That is something you will have to ask them." The doctor can only offer a small, sad smile and some word uttered in a grandmotherly voice. "The good news is, your true mark will come back. That's what's happening now. The ink that was used in the cover up has been breaking down since the tattoo was given to you. I expect in four to six weeks, it should all be gone."
"And... Then I'll know who my true soulmate is? I won't be soulless?"
"You're not soulless, dear. That is the problem with fate, you can't escape it. Even if someone tries to hide you from it."
Roman is still shocked, but he's put at ease. "Thank you doctor." He slides his ring back over his soulmark, shakes the doctor's hand again, and leaves her office.
It's time for Roman to have a conversation with his parents.