Chapter Text
Lee Minho didn't have time for soulmates. That's what he told himself from a young age. As he grew up, he paid little attention as those around him found their forever love, one eye turning the shade of their partners.
The first time Minho asked his parents why they had matching symmetrical colored eyes, his mother explained that his would change once he locked eyes with his soulmate for the first time.
Minho hated that. He loved the light purple hue of his irises. Why would he let fate change one of them? Why should he let fate decide who he was supposed to love? It made no sense to him.
From that point on, he made it a point to avoid eye contact as best he could, staring at noses and mouths, looking around during conversations. On the rare chance he accidentally locked eyes with someone, he'd run to the nearest reflective surface to make sure his lilac eyes were still intact.
Many people thought him rude, or at least a bit silly. The latter were his best friends, Felix and Hyunjin, who happened to be soulmates themselves. They would often tease him about his habit, telling him how great being soulmates is. Minho smiled but always brushed them off. He was happy on his own, he'd say.
He never voiced his real fear. That his soulmate wouldn't want him. He knew it was rare, but he also knew it happens. So instead of getting his heart broken, he thought it better to just come off as rude.
That worked until Bang Chan.
They had met at their shared internship their last year of college. Despite Minho's habit, Chan was extremely friendly. Always bringing Minho coffee, helping out with any task that Minho struggled with. Minho couldn't help but enjoy Chan's presence in his life.
After a couple months, they even started hanging out outside of work, eventually bringing their friends into the fold.
Minho was glad to have more friends, but he was even happier to be able to spend more time with Chan. As the weeks went on, Minho felt his pulse start to quicken when Chan was near. He felt weak when Chan flashed his gorgeous smile.
In quick glances, Minho found out that Chan had onyx eyes. One day while looking in the mirror, Minho imagined what it would look like to have one eye the color of obsidian. It was only then he realized how far gone he was for Chan.
His mind starting racing, thoughts ranging from Chan being his soulmate, to him not being his soulmate, to him being his soulmate but leaving him to rot. This was Minho's worst nightmare.
From that point on, he tried to avoid Chan, but being coworkers and often project partners did not allow for such an easy way out. Minho tried to double his efforts, barely looking at Chan if he was in the same room. However, it was hard to not look at the man, especially when he was such a handsome sight. Minho allowed himself the smallest of looks, even so, having some close calls along the way.
It wasn't until weeks later, after their friend group visited the bar they frequented, that Felix mentioned how Chan kept looking into Minho’s eyes all night. Minho felt his blood run cold. His head started spinning as he absorbed the implications.
Did Chan like him too? Did Chan know that Minho liked him? What was going on?
Feli tried to calm him down. After Minho cried in his arms and confessed his feelings for Chan, Felix assured him that everything would be okay. Minho didn't believe him, but agreed with his friend anyway.
He went home and weighed all his options. Considering Chan's amazingly kind personality, Minho deduced that Chan wouldn't be the type to let him down harshly, soulmates or not. After deciding that he would to try make eye contact with Chan the next opportunity he'd get, he tossed and turned all night, nerves not allowing a wink of sleep.
The next day at work, Minho was typing away when he heard someone shuffle towards him. A hand reached past him to put a large coffee on his desk. Minho took a deep breath and turned to look up at Chan.
As their eyes locked, he heard Chan gasp. Minho could hardly breathe as he watched Chan’s right eye change into the most beautiful shade of amethyst.