Work Text:
Porco was going to get in trouble when he went back to camp, he just knew it. His mommy and daddy wouldn't let him have fun in the forest while they were camping, and more than anything he'd wanted to explore at night. His brother had to be a goodie two-shoes and wouldn't back him up at all. So he'd taken it upon himself to go exploring on his own, and his family would be none the wiser.
Except now Porco realized that he was lost. Hopelessly lost, with no idea how to get back to the tents the rest of his family were sleeping in. The sounds of bushes rustling, owls hooting, and crickets singing all filled him with a sense of dread. What was going to happen to him out here? He yelped whenever a raccoon stepped on a twig and snapped it. He hadn't been expecting the sound.
No matter which direction Porco looked, everything was the same. It was all dark, and the tree branches extended as high up as he could see. He couldn't remember the way he had came, otherwise he would turn around and go back. Exploring by himself in the dark wasn't as fun as he thought it was going to be. Maybe if his big brother were out here with him, it would be different.
More than anything else, though, Porco was afraid of his mommy yelling at him when he made it back to the tent. She was scary when she was mad. And sneaking away from the campsite, at night, so he could roam in the woods by himself? Maybe he would be better off if he got lost and never made his way back home.
Eventually he found a small clearing that seemed to be brightly lit compared to the rest of the forest. Porco felt an immense sense of relief, and despite the exhaustion starting to overwhelm him he started to run. Above him was a clearing in the treetops. The moon was full, and the moonlight washed over the clearing. Moonflower blooms hung on vines, and a small lake seemed to extend off into the distance. Across the water, a deer was sipping at the lake. Porco looked around in astonishment at the sudden change in scenery.
"What are you doing here, child?" Porco jumped in surprise when he turned around. An elderly man was sitting underneath a tree. From what Porco could tell, he seemed to have a large book and an even larger bag next to him. He wasn't dressed in ordinary clothes, though... not even ordinary for old people! The man put down his book and the calligraphy brush he had been writing with. "Are you lost?"
"Uh... uh-huh..." Porco shuddered when the man stood. He was tall... way taller than any person he'd ever met before! Even more than Bertholdt's dad! He started to walk backwards away from the mysterious man, but instead he tripped and fell. Porco shuddered when the man approached. Much to Porco's surprise, the man gingerly extended a hand to help him up. Porco hesitantly reached out and took his hand, then stood. The man walked back to where he had been, then sat back down. Unsure of what to do, Porco followed suit and sat down next to him. "What's that?"
"This is my book. Inside is a listing. Everyone who has a soulmate is listed inside this book." Porco's eyes went wide with wonder, but when he tried to peek inside he found himself unable to understand anything. Nothing even slightly resembling the alphabet was inside. The man laughed to himself and shook his head. "Now now, Porco... you can't read inside my book."
"You know my name?" The old man nodded with a knowing smile. Porco cocked his head. "What's your name?"
"My name is Yue Lao. I know everyone's names." Porco's eyes went wide in amazement at what the man had to say. Everyone? That was so many people! Definitely more than a million! "My book here says who everyone's soul mate is. Inside my bag I have red thread. Everyone is bound to their soulmate with my thread."
"Everyone? That's so many people!" Porco cocked his head. "Do I have a thread?" Yue Lao nodded and gave Porco a smile. "Wow! But where is it?" Porco looked all over his body, but found himself unable to find any threads on his body.
"My thread is a red thread that ties soulmates together, little one. Only I can see it, unless I give someone the power to see the thread." Porco's eyes went wide, and he got excited.
"I want to be able to see the thread, mister! Please?" Yue Lao looked at Porco with a skeptical look. He shook his head and crossed his arms.
"You don't understand exactly what you're asking for, little one. You might become saddened by being able to see people's threads. Your time will come one day when you will meet your soulmate." Porco chewed on the inside of his lip while the old man spoke.
He wanted to be able to see the thread. In truth, he wanted to see the thread so that when he went home, he would see his thread connected to his best friend down the street. His friend Bertholdt was his favorite person in the world! What if... they were soulmates? And they would get married and be happy together one day?
"I want to be able to see the threads!" Porco insisted. Yue Lao shook his head, then stood. A soft light came from his fingertips, then he reached down and pressed the tip of his pointer finger to Porco's forehead. Porco opened his eyes, but when he examined his own body he noticed no difference. He frowned and looked back up at Yue Lao's face. "I can't see the threads?"
"You don't see them all the time, young Porco. Focus on the ankles, and the threads will reveal themselves to you." Porco looked down at his feet, then focused on his ankles. Just as Yue Lao had said, a red cord tied to his ankle extended off into the unknown. "Don't try to follow the cord, little one. You will meet your destined in due time."
"Wow!" Porco smiled at his ankle, then looked up at the mysterious man. He'd stopped wondering why the man was so tall, but again the thought started to cross his mind. "Hey, can you help me?"
"What is it, little one?" Yue Lao was again looking inside of his book. The calligraphy pen was floating in the air while he focused on the book. Whatever he was working on, he seemed like he wanted to get back to.
"I need to find my way back to camp... I'm lost." Porco fidgeted with his fingers. Without even looking pu, Yue Lao summoned a small mote of light and pushed it towards Porco. Porco looked at the small mote in astonishment. He tried to touch it, but his fingers passed right through the magical light.
"Follow my mote, little Porco. It will take you back to where you belong." Porco nodded, then followed the mote as it guided him through the forest. Relief flooded through his body whenever Porco saw the familiar campsite come into view. By the time he was finally back to camp, he was dead tired. Marcel didn't stir whenever Porco crawled into the sleeping bag next to him. Porco barely had time to think about the stranger he had encountered before he was pulled into a deep sleep.
"What are you so excited for?" Marcel asked whenever they were riding back home. Their weekend camping trip with their parents had ended, and now Porco was excited to go back home. He could see if he was any closer to his soulmate! He blushed to himself, but denied it, whenever he thought about his friend Bertholdt. Whenever he was home, he'd go over and see their ankles tied together! After that, they could go play together with their scooters. They needed to get as much time in playing as they could before they had to go back to school, after all.
"I just want to get home and go see Bertholdt. His dad got him a cool new scooter. It's a Razor scooter!" Marcel raised a brow, earning a frown from his little brother.
"But we already have Razor scooters...?" Marcel cocked his head in confusion. Porco stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms. Their parents were chatting and listening to old people music in the front seat.
"Yeah, but I couldn't race Bertholdt before! It wouldn't have been fair, since my scooter was so much better than his." Marcel shrugged. He couldn't refute his brother's point. The two of them started bickering about something unrelated to their conversation. At least until their mom threatened to take away their game console at home. They arrived home early in the afternoon because their parents insisted on leaving the campsite early in the morning.
"Oh? Porco, leaving already?" Porco nodded and ran outside the door. He knew for sure that the threads that Yue Lao showed him were for real and for true! His mommy and his daddy had red threads around their ankles that connected them to each other. Marcel had a thread, too, but Porco wasn't sure where it was going off to. The only thread he was concerned about was the one attached to his own ankle.
Porco excitedly ran up to the door of his friend's house, then knocked. He heard heavy footsteps on the other side of the door, then a very tall man looked down at him. "Oh? Porco? I guess you're here to see Bertholdt. And you got your scooter? Where's your helmet? And your kneepads?"
"I got them, I got them. Can Bertholdt come out and play?" Porco asked, but Bertholdt's father only shook his head with a knowing smile. "Pleeeaaase?"
Porco noticed the red thread around Bertholdt's dad's leg seemed to be broken. Bertholdt didn't have a mom, he said she went to Heaven when he was only a baby. Did the threads break when one of them died? He had so many questions, but without Yue Lao he'd have to figure it out on his own. Porco perked up when he heard Bertholdt's voice from inside the house. He was promising to wear his kneepads and helmet when he got on his Razor."
"Hi, Porco!" Bertholdt chirped. Porco smiled at Bertholdt's wide grin. "I got some cool stickers for my Razor, come look! Daddy helped me put some stickers on my helmet, too!" Porco followed behind Bertholdt and walked to the garage where the scooter was. He stared at his ankles and focused so he could see the thread attached to his ankle.
Porco looked at his ankle. Then he looked at Bertholdt's ankle while he looked for his elbow pads. A pit started to form inside of Porco's belly.
Bertholdt's thread wasn't attached to his ankle...? And when Porco looked at his ankle, the thread went somewhere else. In the opposite direction of Bertholdt, actually. He swallowed and shook his head. This was wrong, it had to be wrong. Yue Lao must have made a mistake in his book! Porco shivered. Bertholdt noticed his friend wasn't responding to any of his comments about the cool sticker on his helmet. It was holographic! It was snorlax!
"Porco? Are you okay?" Bertholdt asked. Porco swallowed and nodded his head.
He wasn't okay.
It didn't take long for Porco to learn who his new worst enemy was. In class one day, the teacher introduced a new student. An immigrant boy from Russia who had moved with his family. The boy seemed shy and spoke with a thick accent. The teacher introduced him as Reiner Preobrazhensky, but when he wrote his name he wrote it down as Райнер Преображенский. Nobody in class knew what to say. His introduction was difficult to understand, and sometimes he didn't seem like he wanted to talk to anyone. Or rather, he didn't know how to talk to anyone.
Some of the students decided they couldn't pronounce his last name, so they started calling him Braun. Reiner didn't seem to object. His grasp on English didn't seem to be very strong, and he seemed to be having trouble with his school work. As kind a soul as Bertholdt was, he gravitated towards Reiner. Especially whenever it became clear Reiner was having difficulty making friends. Reiner and Bertholdt clicked immediately. Oftentimes Porco would want to spend time with Bertholdt only to find that he was hanging out with Reiner.
One fateful day, Porco noticed that the thread on Bertholdt's ankle tied around Reiner's. The two of them were bound together by the thread, and in that moment Porco stood and shoved Reiner against a wall. It felt like the right thing to do in that moment, when anger overtook him and all he could see was red.
"Just who do you think you are?" Porco growled against Reiner. Reiner's eyes were wide, but immediately Reiner shoved Porco off of him. Marcel caught sight of the scuffle and ran to Porco, then grabbed him to restrain him. Reiner backed away, because he was confused on why he was attacked suddenly.
"Отъеби́сь!" Reiner barked out in response. Nobody knew what he said, but Porco ground his teeth at the reply. Reiner frowned and backed away. "Не будь жо́пой!" He crossed his arms and looked on the sidewalk. Bertholdt went to Reiner's side and asked him if he was okay while Porco strained against Marcel's hold on him.
"Porco! What are you doing?!" Marcel asked. His voice was raised, and he was thankful that their parents weren't around to witness anything. Porco jerked his arm away from his brother and looked at the ground, then felt tears prickling at his eyes. Instead of confronting him for acting like a jackass, Bertholdt was asking Reiner if he felt okay. Reiner was mumbling to Bertholdt, then shook his head. "Reiner didn't do anything, he was just standing there! What's gotten into you?"
"I want to go home, Bertholdt..." Reiner's words were sad. Bertholdt nodded and walked alongside Reiner in the direction of his home. Their ankles were bound by the red thread, and Porco swallowed.
And just like that, Porco knew that the time he was spending with Bertholdt was over. Because of Reiner. Porco felt tears drip down his face while Marcel began to look at him with concern. The two of them walked home while Porco cried silently to himself.
Reiner was taking Bertholdt away from him. At one time, he was Bertholdt's best friend! He was supposed to be Bertholdt's soulmate, and they were supposed to be married! Yue Lao's threads were wrong, they had to be! But Porco knew that if he told anyone about being able to see the threads, he'd be called crazy. There was no way he could talk about what was wrong. About why he was upset.
It didn't take long for Reiner to start becoming more fluent in English. He was assimilating well into his surroundings while keeping a certain Russian flair about him. Porco stayed jealous.
As they got older, Reiner bulked up. Puberty hit him like a truck, while Porco remained of an average build. Suddenly Reiner was the star football player, not him and not Marcel. Marcel wasn't bothered, but Porco missed being the one who was praised.
He wouldn't dare even think about trying to start a fight with Reiner now. Reiner was big, and Reiner could crush him. Marcel wouldn't defend him anymore, either. As they got older, Porco's grudge wore Marcel's patience thin.
Of course, girls seemed to love foreign men. Superficial girls enamored with Reiner's Russian accent were all over him, even though Reiner didn't seem interested in any of them. Why couldn't he go for one of the popular girls? It was so frustrating to see one of the most popular guys in school hogging Bertholdt. Especially when he could have anyone he wanted! Why Bertholdt?
Porco could come up with any reason in the world why he hated Reiner. But in reality, there was only one reason. One tiny little reason that Porco couldn't stand the sight of Reiner. It was the same reason why he shoved Reiner against a wall years ago. It was the reason why he'd drifted apart from his one-time best friend. It was the reason his heart broke almost every single day.
Bertholdt leaned his head against Reiner's shoulder while they sat together after school. Porco felt his eyes burning when he looked away. The pair kicked their legs while their fingers threaded together. Unbeknownst to the pair of young lovebirds, a red thread connected their ankles together.
"They won't last." Porco grunted to his brother. Recently, the school nerd Armin had started dating certified badass Annie Leonhart. Porco saw the thread on Annie's ankle connecting her to Hitch, who at the moment was pestering Marlowe. Armin's own thread was connected to Jean, which came as a surprise to Porco. Over time, he'd gotten a bit nosy. He liked seeing who was destined to be with who.
Some pairing surprised him, like Annie and Hitch. Annie seemed frustrated with Hitch's antics, and Porco would be the first to say he found Hitch annoying. The thought of those two being soulmates was ridiculous. Other couples seemed to make sense, even if they weren't dating yet. Sasha and Niccolo weren't dating. But there was a thread connecting the two, despite the fact that they never seemed to interact with one another at all.
The most shocking revelation was that the school janitor, Levi, was bound to the history teacher. There had been some speculation on what he must be like outside of work. Porco knew that he was probably a completely different person around Mr. Smith.
"Why are you always so pessimistic, Pock? Maybe Annie and Armin will get married and have beautiful blonde babies!" Porco wanted to gag at that. It was hard to be idealistic and talk highly of couples he knew weren't going to work. Some couples were obviously doomed to fail. Nobody was surprised when Jean and Eren publicly broke up in the McDonald's parking lot. "You always seem to think you know who's meant to be."
"Maybe I can just tell? Geez, just look at those two. Doesn't it seem like Armin is just talking at Annie and not to her?" Porco pointed out. Annie was doodling on a scrap of paper while Armin rambled about something. Marcel rolled his eyes at his brother's comment.
"Why else would they be together if they didn't like spending time together, then?" Marcel prodded. Porco scoffed.
"Maybe Armin has a big dick? How should I know?" Marcel's brows rose, and he met Porco's eyes. Porco stifled a laugh at Marcel's incredulous reaction to what he had said.
"Really? You think Armin and Annie... did it?"
"The hell should I know? All I said is they aren't going to last." Porco leaned back in his seat. The lunch provided by the school was actually decent. Porco managed to snag a couple extra milk cartons, which he finished quickly. Marcel hummed and put his hand against his cheek while he ate the cookie he got with lunch.
"You'd tell me if you thought my relationship was going to last, right?" Marcel's voice was teasing. Marcel had dated around, but Porco never offered any comment. Even if Porco knew the relationship was doomed, he wasn't going to hurt his relationship with his brother by telling him it wouldn't work. All that would do is drive a wedge between him and his brother.
"I think I'll stay worried about my own relationships before I worry about yours." Porco swatted away his brother's hand when Marcel tried to swipe away his cookie. Porco grabbed the cookie and took a bite, then handed the crumbs to his brother.
"Gee, thanks. You never seem to want to date anyone! Don't tell me my little brother doesn't have a crush on anyone." Porco grumbled at the teasing and shoved his fists into his coat pockets. The way Porco chewed on his cheek and averted his gaze all but confirmed that he did, in fact, have a crush on someone. Marcel broke out into a grin and poked his brother's shoulder. "Oh, you do! My little Pock has a crush!"
"Can it, Marcel!" Porco pulled away, and Marcel smiled apologetically. Marcel pulled away, then gave a tiny smile to his little brother. "It doesn't matter anyways."
"I'm sorry, Pock. You know I have to pick on you a little bit, it's what big brothers do. Why don't you just tell them how you feel? If you're such a love expert, you shouldn't have any problem making them swoon all over you." Porco gave Marcel an unimpressed look. Marcel wasn't sure what else to say.
"It... won't do me any good to confess my feelings. He's already with someone." Marcel was surprised at the 'he' but decided that wasn't important right now. What was important was the flash of sadness in Porco's eyes. Marcel tried to remain optimistic and put his hand on Porco's shoulder.
"C'mon, Porco. Don't talk yourself down like that. You're always saying couples aren't going to work out. Maybe he's with someone and it isn't going to work? Who do you have eyes on, anyways?" Marcel didn't mean to pry, but he couldn't do much to help out his brother if he didn't know anything. Porco chewed his lip, then sighed. Marcel could tell he was nervous.
"...Bertholdt." Marcel was surprised at that. Bertholdt? Down-the-street, childhood friend Bertholdt? For some reason, Marcel thought about how Porco got unusually fussy every time Bertholdt fell off his scooter and scraped his leg. Porco had called Bertholdt's kneepads lame, which made Bertholdt take them off. Porco had been so upset when Bertholdt got hurt.
"You... like Bertholdt?" Marcel bit his lip. Bertholdt and Reiner were definitely a happy couple. They weren't overly affectionate in public; they didn't even hold hands or anything like that at school. But Reiner had taught Bertholdt a good deal of his mother tongue, they had sweet nicknames for one another... Reiner went to every one of Bertholdt's swim meets, Bertholdt went to all of Reiner's football games.
More than a few times, Reiner had been covered in hickeys whenever they showered in the locker room.
And the way they looked at one another, the way they talked about one another... they were more in love than almost any other couple at the school.
"I know. I don't even have a chance. I can't compete with that Russian oaf." Porco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I wish I said something before Reiner moved here." Marcel sighed and shook his head. Porco closed his eyes and sighed.
"We were just kids then, Porco. Even if you told Bertholdt you liked him then, you don't know that things would be different now." Their ankles were never bound by the thread of fate. In his heart of hearts, Porco knew Marcel was right. But that didn't make it hurt any less. To this day, Porco had never been able to see where the thread on his ankle went. He was supposed to have someone out there for him... but that didn't make the pain he felt any less real.
"I know. But it still kills me to see him so happy with someone else." Porco again exhaled heavily. "I just wish it was me that was making him happy. But it isn't." Marcel put his hand on Porco's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I know somewhere out there is my person. I just wish things were different."
"I know, Pock. I'm sorry."
"Oh! Porco!" Bertholdt waved at his friend and approached him. Porco gave Bertholdt a smile when he approached. Bertholdt's hands were fidgeting with the straps of his messenger bag while he stood before him. "I was wanting to ask you something. Do you have a minute?"
"'Course I do. What's going on, Bertholdt?" Porco still felt butterflies, no matter how much time passed. Bertholdt had matured into a handsome young man. The sweaters he wore looked like they were made for middle-aged men, but somehow Bertholdt made it work.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to come over to my place tonight. We haven't hung out just the two of us in a while." Porco cocked his head in confusion, then looked at the ground for a moment. He chewed his lip.
"Where's Reiner at?" Bertholdt was silent for a moment, then sighed. Porco noticed that Bertholdt was silent. "Bertholdt?"
"Ah, it's nothing... Reiner went to Russia with his family. His grandma passed away, they're going away for a funeral. He's supposed to be back some time next week." Bertholdt scratched the back of his head, then kicked his feet. "We had an argument before he left. I'm a little bit upset with him right now." Bertholdt didn't seem particularly keen on saying anything more than that.
"Oh. I mean yeah, we can hang out tonight. I can come over to your place." Bertholdt smiled at Porco. He stopped fidgeting with his messenger bag, then scratched the back of his head. "I guess I'll see you after school, then?"
"Yeah. Dad is picking me up today, so I'll be home after you're done with football practice. Just come on over. I'll probably be in the back yard." Bertholdt glanced up when the bell rang, signaling that it was time to go to their next class. Bertholdt never did just disappear into the crowd; he towered over most other people. And he was still growing! Bertholdt would probably be taller than his dad in the end.
Knowing he was going to be hanging out with Bertholdt, just the two of them, made Porco feel an excitement he wasn't sure he'd felt in years. He had to admit, he was nosy. Why was Bertholdt avoidant when Reiner came up? What did they argue about?
Were there problems in their relationship?
Maybe they would talk about it when they hung out. School flew by, and Porco damned football for making him stay to practice. Marcel wanted to go on a date with some girl after practice, so Porco decided to walk to Bertholdt's house. It wasn't too far away, and soon the familiar beige home came into view. Porco steered clear of the front door and instead went to the back, where Bertholdt was inside a small storage shed.
"Oh! Porco! You snuck up on me there. You would've scared me to death if I didn't hear that stick snap." Bertholdt laughed and invited Porco inside of the storage shed. "I came out here looking for something that was mom's. But look what I found!" Bertholdt produced an old helmet with a faded-away sticker. "My old helmet I wore when I rode my Razor. The Pokémon sticker is completely faded though. I can tell from the shape it was a snorlax sticker."
"Haha, yeah. I remember you used to love watching Pokémon almost every morning. You even knew the whole poke-rap." Bertholdt laughed at the memory, though now he was a bit embarrassed to be reminded of the poke-rap. "You still have all your old trading cards?"
"Of course! They're put away in my room. I loved those cards. I know they're worth a lot of money now, but I don't want to sell them. They're sentimental, you know? Maybe we can look at them later." Porco smiled. Bertholdt looked around, then shrugged and stood. "I found my old Razor, but it's way too small for me to do anything with now. We can go ahead and go inside. I don't think I'm close to finding mom's old jewelry box."
"Sure? I can help you look." Bertholdt shook his head and stood. He gestured for Porco to come on out, then he locked the shed back up.
"Yeah, it's fine. Dad and I can look around this weekend. I think finding and going through some of mom's old stuff with dad might be nice, anyways." Bertholdt opened the door to his home, then held it open for Porco. "Dad's still in his home office, he's got some deadlines he has to meet soon so he's working overtime. I'll warm up some of our leftovers. We had goulash last night."
"Goulash? Sounds good to me." Porco grabbed a can of soda from Bertholdt's refrigerator and took a seat at the table. Bertholdt sat across from him after their dinner was warmed up, with a can of soda for himself.
"I was thinking we could watch something on Netflix? Surely we can find something to watch. Or we could play with my playstation. What are you thinking?" Porco enjoyed the flavors of the goulash. "I'm trying to learn how to cook some Tuscan food. Nonna hasn't visited in a few months, but she told me when she came back she'd help. Next time you come over, I'll make cavallucci!"
"Cavallucci? What's that?" The way Bertholdt's eyes lit up at the question made Porco's heart swell. "You look excited, it must be good."
"Nonna shared the old family recipe with me. I can't make it the way she does, because she uses Tuscan honey. But she promised next time she came to visit she would bring me some. She's been helping me with my Italian, too." Losing his mother so young meant Bertholdt didn't get to grow up speaking Italian every day and sharing those experiences with her. Porco's heart hurt for him.
"When you make them, I'll try not to eat them all up then. Hope they're worth all this hype." Porco's words were spoken smoothly. Bertholdt blushed and laughed, then scratched the back of his head. After both of them finished eating their goulash, Bertholdt grabbed their dirty dishes and went to the sink with them. "Hey, I'm going to use the restroom. I'll be back."
"Oh? Okay. You can go ahead to my room. After he's done working, dad wants to try and fix the tv in the living room. The sound is acting up." Porco nodded and went to the bathroom. After he was done he went to Bertholdt's room and sat down on the beanbag cushion. His messenger bag was haphazardly tossed onto the floor. "Sorry, I hate leaving dirty dishes out. Reiner gets wound up over dirty dishes. He's rubbing off on me, I think."
"Hm." Porco didn't want to talk about Reiner. Instead, he adjusted so the beanbag felt more comfortable. "Any ideas on what you want to watch?" Bertholdt shrugged and grabbed the remote, then started scrolling through the shows with Porco. "Hey, want to look at your old cards?" Bertholdt grinned at Porco, then grabbed the binder from his bookshelf.
So many classic cards. It really took Porco back to a time when things were simpler. When he and Marcel would wake up early and watch Pokémon and would then play with their gameboy colors. Pokémon Silver had been his version, while Marcel had Pokémon Gold. Bertholdt grabbed a small box that sat alongside the binder of cards. "Here's my favorite. I think it was everyone's favorite card." First edition. Holofoil. Charizard. Bertholdt glanced over at Porco with a smarmy grin. "My dad got me this one as a special gift a while back. I was upset because I accidentally lost my original charizard card. This one is graded PSA 10. It cost him a lot of money... but the fact that he put so much thought into a gift for me is what I really like."
"How much is this card worth? If you tried to sell it right now?" Bertholdt laughed and put the card back into its box. It was sealed to keep it in immaculate condition. "It has to be a lot, the way you talk about it."
"If I tried to sell it right now, I could get at least ten thousand for it." Porco choked on his drink. Ten thousand?! What?! Bertholdt turned around when he heard Porco cough. "Be careful, Porco. I don't want you choking." Bertholdt flipped through his old binder of cards. Most of them weren't even close in value to his charizard card.
"That's so much money!" Bertholdt nodded, but then shrugged.
"Yeah. But I'm not selling it. It was a special gift from my father to me. He got a bonus at work and I was sad that my old charizard was gone. My old one wasn't super special. Not a first edition or anything like that." Bertholdt pushed play on a documentary that seemed interesting. The two of them watched for a moment, but it didn't catch their attention. Bertholdt mindlessly went back to looking through the shows on Netflix.
"Are you feeling okay? Better than you did earlier?" Porco asked after a short silence. Bertholdt closed his eyes, then sighed. He ran his hand through his hair then crossed his arms. "Hey, we don't have to talk about anything you don't want to."
"No. I'm fine. Reiner and I just got into an argument." Bertholdt moved so that he could pull his legs to his chest. He did that often, ever since he was a child. Maybe it was comforting to him? Porco couldn't be completely sure. "Shortly before he had to go back to Russia, he was talking about all these things we were going to do one day. Sometimes he talks about things in the future... I don't know. It's scary. Thinking about the future. It's not like I'm afraid of commitment or anything like that..."
"He's upset because he thinks you aren't committed?" Porco cocked his head and frowned. Bertholdt was one of the most loyal people he'd ever met. Did Reiner not see that?"
"Well. Reiner has some abandonment issues. His father walked out on him when he was young. Reiner doesn't know why, he just remembers that one day his dad said he was going to buy milk and never came home." Bertholdt let go of his legs and stretched them out. Porco didn't know much about Reiner's family. He had an aunt and uncle who lived with his mother, and a younger cousin. Anything else, Porco couldn't be sure. "He was talking about getting married one day. It scared me."
Porco knew they would. Yue Lao's thread of fate bound the two of them together. Bertholdt didn't know that, but he did. "Why'd it scare you? You two always look happy at school." Porco hated saying that out loud. Reiner made Bertholdt happy. Not him. Jealousy bubbled within him, but Porco quashed it for Bertholdt's sake. Bertholdt's sigh was heavy.
"I am happy with him. Reiner is smart, thoughtful, kind, handsome... my dad told me that Reiner reminds him of how he and mom used to be. I never imagine my life with anyone else... so why does the thought of marrying him scare me?"
"Do you love him?" Porco's question was blunt. Bertholdt almost looked offended at the question.
"Of course I love him. If I didn't, I wouldn't be upset that Reiner was so hurt. I hate that he's so far away right now. His babushka is gone, and he's upset over me freaking out on top of that. I hurt him." Bertholdt fidgeted with his fingers. "But... marriage seems a bit much. I'm only seventeen. That's years from now."
Porco wanted to tell Bertholdt why Reiner was an asshole. Why he was the better partner. Why he should dump Reiner and be with him instead. But he couldn't do it. Not now. And he wasn't going to jeopardize his relationship with Bertholdt by making a move.
"Maybe... he just wants a promise. That you'll stay by his side." Bertholdt chewed his lip.
"Yeah, a promise." Bertholdt sighed, then put on a movie. He left briefly to make some popcorn. After he came back, he and Porco went to talking about the bad CGI and wondering how the movie did so well in theaters.
Porco walked alone down the city street. It was the summer break before he would be going to university. As of right now, he was interested in studying history, but he had plenty of time to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He was attending Marley University, coincidentally the same school that Reiner was attending. They weren't far from home; Liberio was a quick drive away. They were close enough that Reiner regularly went home to spend time with Bertholdt.
After their conversation in his bedroom, Bertholdt got Reiner a promise ring. Apologized for being aloof. Reiner had apologized for smothering him. Promised to live more in the moment. They'd seemed happier than ever.
It got easier as time went on. The pain had faded away, for the most part. Eventually, Porco managed to accept that Bertholdt was in love with Reiner. It hurt, it hurt terribly. But Porco finally, finally was able to let go of his grudge. Reiner didn't seem to harbor any ill will, and the two of them had begun something of a friendship. They were going to live together as roommates in their dorm, until he was able to move into a home with Bertholdt.
"Shit! Watch where you're going, asshole." Porco grunted whenever a man bumped into him, then stuck his middle finger at him. Porco rolled his eyes and kept walking. He was on his way to a bar, where Marcel had invited him out for a night. A few beers with his brother sounded like a fun time, but Porco took an early bus and wasn't sure what to do. He was supposed to meet up at the park with Marcel shortly.
The sun was setting, but Porco didn't mind. Marcel usually worked until the bookstore closed. A flickering light caught Porco's eye, and he glanced up to take a look. "Psychic...? Paranormal expert?" Porco felt drawn to the storefront. Why, he wasn't sure. But he had some time until he needed to meet up with Marcel, so it didn't matter. He was just meandering along the city streets anyways.
When he went inside, it was different than he expected. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, truth be told. On the inside was a plush red sofa and a desk with nobody behind it. Porco raised a brow. The psychic must be with another client. Oh well. If they weren't done in a few minutes, he'd head on out. Porco sat only for a moment before a very tall woman came out.
Wow she was tall! Was she taller than Bertholdt, even? Maybe so... The woman gave Porco a knowing smile, then rose a brow. "Hello, Porco. Come on in."
"Hey, how did you know my name?" The tall woman turned around and gave him a chuckle. She shook her head, then gestured for him to follow her. Porco shoved his hands in his pockets while he followed. The smell of incense was pleasant. "Does the incense help with your being a psychic?"
"I'm a psychic. Why are you surprised I know your name? And no. Some incense burning is for religious or ceremonial purposes. But I just like the way it smells. It keeps me focused." The tall woman sat across from Porco. "You want guidance for the future. People almost never just stumble into my shop."
"I did, though. I'm just waiting for my brother." The woman seemed skeptical, like she didn't believe what he'd told her. She shrugged and sat at a table. Porco sat across from her and looked around quizzically. "What's your name supposed to be?"
"You can call me Yelena. You're seeking answers. In love. I can help you out with that." Yelena produced an opulent box, and inside with an ornate deck of cards. Porco swallowed at the sight. She wasn't wrong per se. He was still feeling some type of way about his situation. About Bertholdt. He'd been by Bertholdt's side since they were children. Harbored feelings for just as long. He moved on from hating Reiner, but he still felt... things. Jealousy. Frustration. Wishful thinking.
Yelena put the deck of cards on the table, then gave Porco a look that pierced directly into his soul. "Uh... do you want me to draw a card?" Yelena shook her head.
"No. Just tap the top of the deck a few times. Yes, just like that." Porco looked at Yelena in confusion. Part of him wondered how much this was going to cost. It wouldn't matter; he had a debit card attached to his parents' bank account. "There. Now shuffle the deck for me. It needs to be your energy spread throughout the cards." Porco did as asked, then put the card back down onto the table. Yelena spread the cards onto the table. "I'll do a five-card cross reading."
"Okay?" Porco wasn't sure how that worked.
"Think about your relationship. Now draw a card. Whichever you feel most drawn to." Porco did as asked, and repeated the process until he'd drawn five cards from the spread-out deck. Yelena looked down at the cross and nodded her head. "The first card you've drawn will provide insight on your role in this relationship of yours." Relationship with Bertholdt? Porco wasn't sure that phrasing was best.
When the card was flipped, Porco was greeted by a card with an old man on it. Yelena hummed, while Porco frowned. He wasn't sure what it meant. "What's that card mean?"
"It's the reversed Hermit. The reversed Hermit is indicative of isolation. Maybe lonlieness. You've allowed this relationship that you're in to make you feel isolated. Maybe it's making you feel lonely. You probably haven't been taking enough time for personal reflection." Porco chewed his lip. The more he thought, the more he felt frustrated. His pining for Bertholdt had indeed made him feel lonely. He was lonely because he'd so badly wanted Bertholdt by his side.
"...Oh." Yelena cocked a brow. She could tell he was thinking about what she had just told him. "Go on. I don't have all night."
"No need to rush. Marcel is running late tonight anyways." Porco frowned. Who was this woman supposed to be? "The next card will offer some insight into the other person's role in your relationship. Let's see here... upright seven of cups." On the card were seven cups, with different objects in each one. "Wishful thinking. You've spent a lot of time imagining what sort of future you might have with Bertholdt. But I'll bet you've never done a thing to make your wishes a reality. I see this card a lot with people who want to lose weight... but never do anything to make an effort."
Porco crossed his arms and stared at the cards, then sighed. "There was never a point in making an effort. We just aren't meant to be. We never were." Yelena smirked at that, but said nothing. Part of him was wondering if Yelena had some sort of motive, but instead she continued with his tarot reading.
"The third card here reveals information about the foundation of your relationship. What brought you together." The flipped card depicted a boy and a girl standing together, with the boy handing her a flower. "How sweet. An upright six of cups. Happy memories of the past. Childhood memories full of innocence. Thinking about him certainly brings you a sense of joy, because you had many good times together." Porco smiled to himself and remembered Bertholdt's helmet with the snorlax sticker on it.
"Yeah... we had a lot of great times together. Ever since we were kids, I knew he was special. He'll always be special to me. I'll never forget the days when we played together. I miss how carefree we were." Yelena hummed. She'd heard that a million times before.
"Moving on. The current state of your relationship. Let's take a look." The card depicted a blindfolded woman with two crossed swords. "Two of swords, reversed. You're feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. You want to move on, but you're afraid you will regret it. Listening to your intuition is important. You have to trust yourself to make the right decision." Porco frowned at that. What decision? Bertholdt was destined to be with Reiner.
"...Let's get this over with. I'm not sure what to think right now." Porco leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. He was absolutely, positively frustrated.
"The future. Your card is the fool, upright. It's a sign of new beginnings, and unlimited potential. You're at the start of a new journey. You need to take a leap of faith, and see where the future takes you." If that didn't sound like generic advice, Porco didn't know what did. He was almost... disappointed in that? What was that supposed to mean?
"I always knew the relationship wasn't meant to be. There's no sense in thinking too much about it." Porco looked at the cards on the table. The hermit. Seven of cups. Six of cups. Two of swords. The fool. Yelena threaded her fingers together and looked seriously at Porco.
"What makes you so sure that it wasn't meant to be?" Yelena's voice was like a siren song. Porco looked at her with curiosity. He glanced back down at the floor. Would she think him a fool? Or would she believe his story?
"Bertholdt is bound to someone else by the thread of fate. I met Yue Lao a long time ago, when I was a child. I can see the threads." Porco was silent, as was Yelena. "Bertholdt's thread connects him to Reiner. They're meant to be."
"They don't have to be, you know." Yelena smirked while she looked at Porco. She shrugged her shoulders and took back her cards, then shuffled the deck. "Yue Lao is a god of marriage, that's true. I'm surprised you met him. He likes hiding in forests on a full moon. But even gods aren't infallable."
"What... what are you saying?" Porco frowned and listened to her. He listened more carefully than he'd ever listened to anyone before. Yelena hummed.
"Some people, like myself, can see the threads of fate. I can cut the threads and sever the connection between Bertholdt and Reiner. I can cut your thread, too. And tie your thread to Bertholdt." Yelena closed her eyes with a smile on her face. "These relationships take some extra work to keep the bond strong. Otherwise your cut threads can come undone. But it can work. I've helped people this way before. All you have to do is bring Bertholdt here, and I can bind you together."
"...What about Reiner? What would happen to him?" Yelena shrugged. Porco frowned and thought about his soon-to-be roommate.
"Why would that matter? You and Bertholdt would be joined." Yelena cracked her knuckles, then put her cards back into the box she'd gotten them from. "He'd lack a connection. Most likely, he'll marry someone who also doesn't have a connection with anyone. But those relationships never last. WHy does it matter what happens to Reiner? You'd get your happily ever after with Bertholdt."
Suddenly, Porco understood the meaning behind the two of swords. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. An impossible decision. Be with Bertholdt, or don't. Sever Bertholdt's connection with Reiner, or leave it alone. Porco swallowed and let his mind wander. He remembered Bertholdt's laugh, and he remembered his smile. He thought about all the times he'd said he loved Reiner, and all the times he fought with Reiner.
Porco swallowed. Yelena was staring into his soul. Porco closed his eyes and sighed.
"I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss." Porco watched Bertholdt press his lips against Reiner's, then the two of the smiled at one another. The crowd cheered, and now they were Reiner and Bertholdt Hoover. The two of them walked down the aisle together, then got into the limousine that would take them from the church to the reception venue. Porco smiled to himself and made his way out of the church. He rode with Marcel, who would give him a ride to the reception.
"They're such a beautiful couple... No, I'm not crying! Shut up, Annie!" Marcel wiped at his eyes while he and Porco got into his car. Porco looked out the window. It was a beautiful summer day. The flowers were in full bloom, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
He couldn't do it. Porco couldn't bring himself to sever the bond between Bertholdt and Reiner. As much as he'd desperately wanted Bertholdt for himself, Porco knew changing destiny wasn't the right thing to do. Bertholdt and Reiner were happy together. All severing their relationship would have done was destroy a good relationship. And leaving Reiner without a soulmate? Porco couldn't do it.
Sometimes he looked at his own thread around his ankle.
About an hour into the reception, after the mother-son and father-son dances, Porco found himself wanting more wine. Bertholdt and Reiner were chatting with Marcel and reminiscing old times. Porco had been having fun with the conversation, but he really wanted more of the Moscato at the bar. Porco accepted the glass, then turned around and took a sip.
Porco looked at his ankle, and noticed that his thread seemed like it was shorter than it had been before. He followed it, and saw the thread wrapped around another ankle. A short, black-haired woman was talking to Reiner, then she laughed. She turned her head and met Porco's eyes, then smiled at him.
He smiled, then went to introduce himself to her.