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Jack finds a bruise on his hip that he doesn’t remember getting.
And it’s a big one, too. Dark purple, blue, and an angry looking black.
Surely he would’ve remembered getting a bruise like this, right? Apparently not. He usually has a good memory, too. But this seems to escape his mind.
Fuck. He’s losing it. He’s only 20 and he’s already having dementia. Or maybe he fell and hit his head and that’s why he can’t seem to remember the bruise? He must’ve fallen hard enough to cause both the angry bruise and his memory loss.
His head doesn’t hurt, though. It probably should, if he fell that hard. Jack checks and makes sure that there aren’t any bumps on his head. Nope. He’s just… crazy.
Good to know.
--
He has class at 10:30 AM, then he has to go to work at his campus’s bookstore.
Jack really regrets choosing a class this early, but he had basically no other choice with the schedule work wants him to keep. Still, he’s not a morning person by any means. He prefers to wake up around noon, but now he has to wake up at 9 AM in order to eat, finish any last minute things for class, and make the walk across campus.
It sucks. And now it sucks even more because of the bruise on his hip. It hurts . Jack presses his hand against it during his walk, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
Thankfully, class goes by without any issues. Jack sits in the back of the class and takes notes the entire time, trying to process what his professor’s saying before they move onto the next slide. Somehow, he manages to do just that without needing the professor to go back for him. It’s the small wins in life.
After his professor dismisses them, Jack packs all of his things up and heads toward the campus bookstore. There aren’t that many people in the store around this time, just a few students scanning the shelves for a book their professors want them to buy, but, ultimately, they’ll never use. Mikey’s standing behind the counter, scrolling through his phone mindlessly, and Nate’s in the corner, unloading a box of textbooks.
Jack places his bag down under the desk in the small office and goes out to the front where Mikey is. “Hey, dude.”
Mikey looks up at him and smiles, slipping his phone in his back pocket. “Thank god you’re here. Nate wants to actually work. I’m so bored.” He whines.
Jack can almost hear Nate’s eye roll. Mikey can be so whiny sometimes when he doesn’t get what he wants. Jack can’t imagine being in a relationship with him. Poor Nate.
“Well, dude. You wanna hear about the craziest shit?” Jack needs to get Mikey’s opinion on his random bruise. He’s not going to be able to figure it out on his own. He can admit that his head’s a little empty sometimes. It comes with the price of being an athlete for so long when he was younger.
Mikey’s eyes immediately light up. “Yeah!”
He’s so easy to entertain.
Jack pulls down the side of his jeans to show the nasty bruise on his hip. It still looks just as bad as it did this morning, and feels just as bad, too.
“Ouch, where did you get that?” Mikey crouches down to look at the bruise and pokes it with his finger.
“Ow, asshole.” Jack swats Mikey’s hand away. “It hurts .” He pulls his jeans back up. “I don’t know. I don’t remember getting it.”
“Were you drunk?” Mikey raises a thick eyebrow.
“No!” Jack immediately says. “I don’t… think I was.”
Mikey laughs. “You were probably drunk and fell or something.”
“Yeah, I guess.” It still doesn’t explain how he wasn’t drunk, but whatever. His brain hurts. He doesn’t want to think about it anymore today.
—
It’s rather odd that he’s had random injuries over the years that he can’t explain. When he was a child, he found bruises all over his body, and they began to get progressively worse as he got older. Then he fractured bones without even having touched them. At one point he even ended up with sinus pressure for months without any reason why.
He’s always just assumed that he’s done something to cause these injuries. But now… what if he hadn’t? Or what if they’re indicative of a severe problem with his body? He’s genuinely beginning to feel scared.
He needs to talk to his mom.
--
Ellen answers on the second ring. “Hi, sweetheart.”
Jack sits down on his bed and curls up against the wall. “Hi, mom.”
“You sound upset.”
How can she tell with just two words? Mothers just have superpowers, he guesses. That doesn’t make it any less creepy, though.
“How do I know if something’s wrong with me?” Jack asks.
“What do you mean?” He can hear her frown through the phone.
Jack curls up tighter and winces when his hip hits the wall. “I… woke up with this huge bruise on my hip. I don’t know where I got it from.”
“Hmm,” Ellen hums. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“No,” Jack says. “At least I don’t think so.” He takes a deep breath. “I was thinking, and I realized that this keeps happening to me.”
Ellen remains silent for a moment.
“Is there something wrong with me?” Jack knows his voice sounds so small, but he can’t help it.
“Oh, honey…” Ellen sighs. “You know, I got you tested once. There was nothing wrong with you.”
“But then why is this happening to me?”
“The doctor said that while it’s rare, you may have a soulmate.”
A soulmate ? Jack’s never heard of soulmates before. He thought that was just a trope in the movies or something. He never realized that soulmates could be a real thing. And what does it have to do with his injuries? Is his soulmate doing this to him? Is he like a voodoo doll or something?
“I…I didn’t know those existed.”
“You’ll feel all their injuries, honey.”
What the fuck is happening to his soulmate then? All of these injuries… they must be in trouble. “Mom, I think my soulmate’s in trouble.”
He hears Ellen shift the phone around on the other end. “Why is that?”
“They get hurt a lot.”
Ellen laughs softly. “There are a lot of explanations for that, honey.”
Yeah, but none of the other ones seem to make sense. They could be getting hurt at work, but what kind of toxic work environment is that? The only response that Jack can come up with is that his soulmate is being abused. He needs to find them and help them.
“I guess,” he says. Jack will just say it to make his mom happy.
That’s all he can do.
--
“What the fuck, Jack?” Ty says, shaking his head. He’s sitting on his bed in their dorm room, trying to study for an upcoming test. But of course, Jack has to just burst into the room and begin ranting about god knows what.
“This is important.” Jack says, flopping down on his own bed. “I have a soulmate and they’re in trouble.”
“You have a what and they’re in what?” Ty blinks rapidly in surprise.
“Ty, a soulmate. And they’re in trouble.” Jack says as if it’s the most obvious thing.
“And how did you come to this conclusion?”
“Because I keep getting hurt, and that means--” Jack stops for a moment. He catches the Devils game on Ty’s laptop with the volume all the way down. “Wait, what if they’re…”
“Jack, I have no idea what’s going on.”
Jack scrambles up from his position on the bed. “I need to do some research!” And with that, he leaves the room.
--
He decides that he needs to go see the Devils practice. The arena isn’t that far from his university, so he can make it easily and get back without any questions from Ty. Hopefully, what the players go through is consistent with the injuries Jack keeps finding on himself. He enjoys watching hockey, but he’s never paid much attention to the roughness of it until now. Maybe he’ll even find his soulmate here, but he honestly doubts it. Yeah, like his soulmate would be a member of the New Jersey Devils.
Jack’s on his way to the entrance of the building when he accidentally bumps into someone, spilling what Jack assumes is hot coffee over both of them. He winces as his hand is burned and shakes it to relieve the ache.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
Jack looks up and finds Nico Hischier, the captain of the fucking New Jersey Devils looking down at him. Oh fuck. He’s even hotter in person. Jack can’t believe that he just bumped into him. Oh god. He really fucked up. The man is going to hate him now, and they just met.
“No, no, I bumped into you. God, I’m so sorry. I’m so clumsy sometimes.” Jack rambles.
Nico laughs softly. “I think we both hit each other.”
Jack looks down at Nico’s hand and notices the small burn. It’s in the same place as Jack’s own burn. Huh. That’s a coincidence.
“You don’t have to make excuses for me.”
“I’m not.” Nico furrows his ridiculously thick eyebrows.
“Sorry, I-I’m Jack.” Jack holds out his non-burned hand to Nico.
“Nico,” he smiles and shakes Jack’s hand.
His smile is the prettiest thing that Jack’s ever seen in his entire life. He doubts that Nico looks at him and thinks anything of the sort. Of course, because why would a professional hockey player find a regular college student attractive? He’s nothing special. But he can dream.
“I know who you are.” Jack says, trying not to sound like he’s had a huge crush on the man for years.
“Right,” Nico says. “So you’re going to watch us practice?”
“Yeah,” Jack says. “I had the day off, so why not?”
“I hope you enjoy it.” Nico smiles again. “Nice to meet you.”
And with that he’s off, entering the building and getting lost within the various hallways that lead to different places.
Jack’s stunned. He can’t believe he just met Nico fucking Hischier and spilled coffee on him.
He’s such an idiot.
—
Thankfully, the rest of Jack’s time at the practice arena goes by smoothly. He watches the team practice and joke around with each other until their coach yells at them to pay attention. Then, in what feels like such a short time, the players are going back into the locker room and heading home.
Jack finds that what they experience on a daily basis does make much more sense for the injuries he has sustained over the years. So he guesses his soulmate is probably a college hockey player or something else of that nature. They’re definitely not professional. He wouldn’t be that lucky.
He just needs to wait.
--
The Devils are playing the Flyers, a known rival and agitator, and Jack’s excited to watch. He squeezes in next to Ty on his bed and wraps his arm around the other man. Jack feels like he’s going to vibrate out of his skin with the amount of energy he has currently.
“Dude, relax.” Ty groans.
“I can’t help it. I’m excited.” Jack says.
He can’t wait to see the aggressive play from both teams, and even hopes there will be a fight at some point. Maybe even Nico, like he did that one time against the Predators. That was one of the hottest things Jack’s ever seen. Ugh. He’s so gone for the man.
It’s almost embarrassing.
--
During the second period, Nico takes a hit from one of the Flyers’ defenders. He didn’t see it coming, and it’s clear that he’s in pain.
Strangely enough, that’s when Jack feels a searing pain in his shoulder. He yelps and holds his shoulder, leaning forward on the bed.
“Jack, what’s wrong?” Ty asks immediately.
“ Hurts ,” he moans. It’s one of the worst feelings he’s ever had in his entire life. Oh, fuck. This must have come from his soulmate. What happened to them? Jack can’t even think about it right now, his shoulder hurts so much.
“What can I do?”
Jack inhales a sharp breath. “Ice, I guess.”
Ty climbs off the bed and leaves the room.
Jack vaguely sees the trainers come to get Nico from the ice, and watches Nico hold his own shoulder.
Ty comes back with a ziploc bag of ice in record time, handing it to Jack so he can hold it against his shoulder. Almost immediately, the pain begins to lessen into a dull ache.
Jack sighs and sits back. “Thanks,”
Ty places his hand on Jack’s back. “You’re good?”
“Yeah, I don’t… I don’t know what happened.”
“You know, I didn’t believe you until now.” Ty says.
“About my soulmate?” Of course Ty didn’t believe him. Jack doesn’t really blame him. It’s a rare occurrence, like his mom said.
“Yeah, but now I do. That was wild.” Ty chuckles, rubbing a hand across his face.
“I know,” Jack shakes his head. “And I don’t even know who it is.”
“You’ll find out, eventually.”
“I hope so.”
--
Jack’s looking at the fresh broccoli when someone touches his arm and moves past him.
“Sorry,” they say.
Wait. Jack knows that voice. He looks up, and… Nico. Here’s Nico, again.
“Hey, Nico.” Jack says. “It’s okay.”
“...Jack?” God, he looks so cute when he’s puzzled.
“Hi,” Jack says, smiling softly.
“How have you been?” Nico asks, placing his hand on Jack’s arm.
Electricity shoots through Jack’s arm at that simple touch. He doubts that Nico feels it, too. “I’ve been good. Busy.” Jack says. It’s not a lie, either. He’s been pretty busy with school and work and trying to figure out who his soulmate is, but Nico doesn’t need to know about that last part.
“I know about being busy,” Nico laughs.
The sound is music to Jack’s ears. “Yeah,” he says.
“I have to go, but it was good seeing you again.”
“You too,” Jack smiles.
That wasn’t as awkward as the first time they met, which is good. There’s always room for improvement, though. If they do manage to see each other again, that is.
--
Jack manages to gather enough money together to afford seats to the next Devils home game. They’re not great seats, but he can see the ice relatively well without the use of the jumbotrons, so he considers that a win.
He also gets to watch Nico warm up, which is another win. Jack loves watching the way Nico’s body moves, and he has a hard time taking his eyes away. But eventually, the game does start, so he has to tear his eyes away to watch the rest of the game.
Nico’s slammed into the boards multiple times during the game, and each time, Jack feels pain in the different parts of his body. He thinks it’s really interesting that his soulmate must be playing at the same time as this game. It’s also funny, because well, he’s at a hockey game and they play hockey.
But thankfully, the rest of the game goes by easily, and the Devils win 3-1. He always enjoys watching the boys win, especially Nico. The man really works his ass off for this team and gets nothing in return most nights, so it’s great to see him be swallowed up by his fellow teammates after a win. He deserves it.
More than anything.
--
He goes to another practice to watch the team and almost immediately runs into Nico again. Jack honestly doesn’t know how this keeps happening. It’s almost like the universe keeps pulling them together or something.
Nico laughs when he sees Jack again. “I keep running into you.”
“I can say the same about you.” Jack smiles. He still loves hearing the sound of Nico’s laugh. Someone needs to pinch him before he says something stupid.
“Would you maybe want to hang out sometime?” Nico asks, and Jack has to stop his mouth from falling open. Nico Hischier, the captain of the New Jersey Devils wants to hang out with him ?
“But I’m just a college student.” Jack says.
“Well, we keep running into each other, so why not use it to our advantage?” Nico’s eyes light up as he says it, as if he hopes Jack will say yes.
Holy shit. Nico Hischier wants to hang out with him.
“Okay,” he says. “Sure. I guess we should swap numbers?”
Nico’s already digging his phone out of his pocket and handing it to Jack. “Here, you can put your number in. I will text you.”
Jack shakily types his number into Nico’s phone and hands it back. Seconds later, there’s a ding on his phone with a message from Nico. This is really happening. Wow.
“Thanks,” Jack says.
“Of course,” Nico smiles. “I have to go, but I’ll text you!”
Jack still can’t believe it.
Nico Hischier. Texting him.
Wow.
--
Do you want to come over to play video games? Jack reads the text as he collects his backpack after a shift at the bookstore. Huh? Nico wants him to come over to his apartment? Holy shit. Jack can’t believe it. Okay, be cool, be cool.
Sure. He sends back.
Nico sends him his address and tells him to be there in an hour.
He can do this. He can.
First order of business is to get home. Second, take a shower and make sure he smells good.
It will be fine. He just needs to breathe.
--
Jack arrives at Nico’s apartment five minutes after the set time. He really did try to be early, but he spent too much time making sure his hair looked good, and then… yeah.
When he knocks on the door, Nico opens it within seconds. Oh, he looks so good. Jack could honestly start salivating. He’s in a simple white t-shirt and a pair of jeans that hug his ass perfectly. Fuck. Jack has to tear his eyes away and look up at Nico’s eyes.
“Hey, come in.” Nico smiles and steps aside to let Jack in.
Jack brushes past him and tries not to focus on the smell of Nico’s cologne as he does so. Ugh. This is going to be a difficult day.
“Make yourself at home.”
Jack sits on the couch in the middle of the room that has the best view of the tv. He looks down at his hands, playing with his fingers until Nico comes to sit next to him, holding out a bottle of water. Jack grabs it and takes a sip before placing it on the floor next to him. “Thanks,” he says.
“Of course,” Nico smiles again.
Fuck.
--
They’re in the middle of playing a horrible game of NHL when Nico shoves Jack in a well-mannered chirp. Jack, the uncoordinated fucker he is, loses his balance and falls off the couch. He hits his shoulder on the way down and hisses in pain.
Vaguely, he hears a noise of pain from Nico, too, but doesn’t pay any attention to it.
“Are you okay?” Nico laughs softly.
“Yeah, I’m just… gonna lay here for a few seconds.” Jack laughs and rubs at his shoulder.
“Okay, your few seconds are up.” Nico holds his hand out for Jack to take, and pulls him up back onto the couch.
Jack sighs and leans back against the couch. “That was rough,”
“Only because you suck,” Nico laughs.
Jack gasps, acting like he’s been offended by the chirp. “How dare you.”
Nico smirks, and it immediately goes to Jack’s dick. “It’s true.”
“Yeah… you’re right.” Of course Jack’s dick would get involved. He resists the urge to roll his eyes.
Only him.
“Good, because I’m not taking it back.”
What a tease.
Jack wonders what that mouth can do around his dick.
Okay. That’s enough.
He simply just laughs and they move on, talking about something else.
Thank god.
--
Jack’s over at Nico’s apartment again one night to watch a game. It’s easy, just hanging out together. He feels like he belongs around Nico, and he hopes that Nico agrees.
It’s all going well until Nico hits his hip on the corner of a table and hisses in pain. Somehow, at that moment, Jack’s also in pain. He grabs his hip and groans quietly before making sure that Nico’s okay.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah,” Nico says, sucking in a breath. “That really hurt.”
“You have to be more careful,” and apparently Jack’s soulmate does, too.
“I will,”
Sure he will.
It’s not like he gets thrown around for a living or anything.
Dummy.
--
Nico buys Jack tickets to the upcoming Devils game. He decides to go with Ty, since they’re right at center ice and Ty also loves the Devils.
They get there early to watch the team warm-up, and then they wait for the game to start. Nico sends multiple smiles Jack’s way during the game, and it’s pretty distracting when Jack’s trying to watch the game.
At one point, Nico gets slammed into the boards and almost immediately looks up at Jack, who’s wincing in pain.
It’s almost like… no.
That couldn’t be it.
No way.
--
“I was thinking, and…” Nico says, licking his lips. “I really like you, Jack.”
What.
“I was wondering if I could kiss you?”
Huh? Jack feels like he’s having a dream right now. He’s waiting to wake up and for this moment to be nothing more than a fantasy. But he pinches himself and he’s still awake.
“Yes,” he says before he can think about the answer.
They’re sitting on Nico’s couch, tangled up together when Nico leans forward and kisses Jack, making all the breath leave his lungs. Jack simply deepens the kiss and pulls Nico closer to him, and in his own devious way, Nico bites Jack’s lip. He yelps out and laughs into their next kiss, sloppy yet perfect.
Before they know it, they’re making out like teenagers on the couch, and Jack has his hands under Nico’s shirt, raking his nails against Nico’s back. The only problem is, he feels the sting in his own back.
What?
Jack pulls away with wide eyes and looks at Nico, who’s just smiling in return.
“Nico… I think--”
“I’m your soulmate?” Nico guesses.
Jack’s mouth falls open. “How did you know?”
“I had a suspicion when you first came here, and… you got hurt.” Nico says slowly, trying to help Jack process what’s going on.
“You mean when you pushed me off the couch.” Jack closes his mouth in a pout.
Nico kisses him again. “Okay, when I pushed you off the couch. And then when you kept reacting to me getting hurt.”
“I just thought my soulmate was playing at the same time.” Jack realizes he sounds monumentally dumb.
“You’re lucky you’re cute, because…” Nico trails off, laughing at Jack’s offended expression.
“And you’re lucky I like you.” Jack pulls Nico back into a kiss.
They’re both lucky to have found each other.
And they’ll never forget it.