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Knowing that your someone's soulmate usually brought a jittery feeling. Theo had been no different. When he grew up enough to learn about it he became saddened, telling his mom that he didn't see the line like other kids had. That it must've meant he didn't have one. Of course the woman had laughed and soothed her son's head, "it's okay Theo, you do have one. You see, they both can't see it. More often it's that one can see it and the other can only when they fully think that it's their soulmate. Which means if you meet someone and they say they see the line for you, they could be telling the truth." Younger Theo noted her words with relief.
"Have you seen your line?" The mother's warm smile didn't falter, but something in her eyes did.
"Make sure that you fully believe them first. You must have trust and utter love in that person first. All I'm saying is to be cautious" she said, not paying any mind to his question. Before Theo could wonder if he hadn't spoken loud enough she pulled him along to tuck him in.
It was sometime after her death that she had learnt her father and mother were never soulmates. That she had been confused about the topic and there hadn't been anyone there to explain to her the concept as to why she didn't see it. By the time she knew, she was already pregnant. Which meant she had lived her life never knowing her soulmate, and whoever had been attached to her had to move on to someone else. Always wondering where the end of that line would've left them.
From then on Theo didn't think he'd ever believe someone if they told him. If he couldn't see it then how could he know it was true? Yet he couldn't confirm if it was true or not until he managed to convince himself that he was in love with them. And then what if they had been lying? He just got himself emotionally attached to someone that wasn't meant to be? Yeah, no, Theo didn't want that. It actually worried him. Whether his partner be a girl or guy, he didn't want to be fooled. For whatever reason the person would have to fool around anyways.
Ever since his mother's death he had lost interest in a lot of things. It was only expected that he lost interest in soulmate's too. He simply gave up. Besides, it was the person who could see the string that had to find him. What good would it be if he did? It was like expecting a blind person to find…anything! (Which was kind of funny since he had glasses but the metaphor was for a completely blind person-)
Time in Vegas was a bore. The trio of a family were the only occupants in the deserty lands of the neighborhood for a good while. That was until the Pavlikovsky's moved in. Another small family made up of just a father and son, though this he'd only grow to realize later while at school. When an accented boy with curly hair plopped down next to him on the bus home referring to his looks to Harry Potter. In actuality he should've realized earlier when he saw the unfamiliar boy take a seat in honors English. But it wasn't uncommon for students to enroll after the date so pardon Theo for being a bit slow to the connection.
Boris was slightly odd but sweet. He had good intentions and was a complete opposite as to what most teens who drank (heck even adults) acted like. Not only drunk but just in general. Theo found himself taking a few sips from a beer. Something he never dreamt of doing. His mother's death had changed a lot about what he used to do or act like. It was like he was a completely different person, only a few fragments of the old Theo was left. Not that he was completely innocent then either, he had smoked back at his old school.
That was the reason they were in the museum in the f-
Only a month had passed but Theo and Boris were practically never apart. They indulged in drugs together, slept together, ate, shopped, shared, they practically lived with each other on days Larry, Xandra, and Mr. Pavlikovsky were out. Theo didn't know what was about him, but Boris quickly became his closest and most trusted friend. Maybe even just person in general. He's loved people in the past but never to the extent of this.
"Potter, I have something important to tell," Boris surprisingly did sound awfully serious. Which was very out of character for him. Throughout the whole month together Theo didn't think he ever saw him even remotely close to mad or serious. Even when drunk, at most he's been philosophical which was in a way serious but not quite. Just adding nonchalant to his already laid back point of view.
Theo nodded "sure, what is it?" He was slightly thinking it wouldn't actually be anything important, but one of the things he learnt was that it was pretty impossible to tell what Boris was going to do.
"So, I didn't want to say it earlier because..well it didn't seem like the time. Hard to just say something to stranger, y'know? Either way, I uh.. we're soulmates" he blurted, a nervous smile replacing his usual cocky one. Theo felt his blood run cold. Lifeless but standing, as though his spirit just left his body. This should've been a happy occasion… Boris noticed his reaction and panicked, unsure about what to do. It wasn't like he's really dated anyone and obviously he's never told anyone this before. So he was just as nervous as Theo.
"How do I know you're being honest?"
"What? Why would I lie about that?" Boris seemed genuinely bewildered by his concerns which only made Theo get irritated. An instinctive defense mechanism, most emotions turning to annoyance. Not the best but it would do.
"Because! People are liars and this is a perfect way to trick people. Once you know that they don't see the line then anyone can mess with them" Theo seethed, he felt his breath coming and going quicker but maybe it was just his heart beating fast making it feel like that. For a moment neither spoke, Boris' smile had left him though.
"Has..someone done that to you?" It seemed oddly specific to just be a fear. Theo seemed like an overthinker but no one could conjure something like that without having something to base it off of. Theo calmed too. He didn't know why he'd gotten angry, perhaps it was due to the failure to express things correctly. Boris also was too genuine to stay mad at for long.
"No. My father did it to my mom though, he tricked her into thinking they were soulmates and she didn't know better until she was pregnant with me.. I trust you, and you're dear to me but I don't know if I could believe that we're soulmates. I mean, what's there to prove it? It's not like I can see it so I don't know how we're supposed to know and I just don't want to be lied to. Not that I think you're a liar! You're great and I mean kind of silly and concerning at times but I like being friends with you!" He rambled. Boris took back what he thought earlier, Theo was very much an overthinker. "I just don't know if we're meant to be anything more" he reasoned, breathless from his rant and sheepishly pushing his glasses up.
Theo had been expecting another stunned silence. To his surprise he got a grin.
"That's okay, I shall prove it then. I don't know how, but I will. I will get you to believe that way you can see for yourself and all will be well," Boris did not know why he was saying it like it was an easy task, it definitely was not. It was hard to prove something that wasn't there. The only way for this situation to get resolved may be to get Theo to fall for him that way he'd see the line binding them too.
Then maybe they could get married or something. Do whatever Theo wanted.
The next few weeks went by as if nothing happened. Which irked Theo because how could someone confess to being a soulmate and then not act right away. It was giving suspicious and caught. Or Boris was just thinking how on Earth he was going to show him something that wouldn't be able to be seen with all this doubt and hostility. Ultimately making it Theo's fault. But could you blame him? He didn't want to succumb to the relationship fate of his parents. Theo found Boris attractive, he'd be lying if he denied it, the boy was incredibly nice, a bit wacky but there was charm to it. Everything about him was tempting Theo's mind, making the urge to want to kiss him more and more. They were always so close they probably could and not much would change between them. (Theo had a strange deja-vu of that happening, funny enough).
Regardless of all of that Theo still didn't (couldn't) allow himself to admit to the possibility that they were soulmates. What were the chances of that? That he even actually ever meets his, no less, at a young age. It seemed everything was too simple and outlandish, if Theo knew anything, then this all would be just some trap. Like a trick question in math! But way worse because life hated him and he hated himself.
Boris needed to find ways to get Theo to believe that they were soulmates. It was more than just getting Theo to like him or have a crush. Theo had to understand that they were meant to be. And that was where the main issue was. Boris felt confident he was doing well in swooning him, but it was to completely sell it that they at some point, in any life, were meant to be with each other. Something that they bonded over so strongly that could prove they were compatible and made to fill in each other's missing pieces.
They already had a lot in common, they came to realize. Boris even made a joke one night,
"Hah, we both have no mother," yeah and did an obscene amount of drugs together, what was the point?
"That doesn't mean anything"
"No, it doesn't. But still funny, no?" It was kind of amusing. What were the chances they both were broken boys who struggled with family? Though Theo supposed it was exactly that last part that led them together in the first place. If either of them had grown up in even a slightly normal family, or had a slightly better life, then they wouldn't have met at all. It was because of all the downs they faced that they found each other to be the ups in their miserable little life's. And even if they had vastly different personalities, they somehow balanced each other.
"G'night Potter" Boris whispered, pecking Theo on the head after he turnt out the light to further down. Theo, surprisingly, didn't protest at the action. He was too sleepy and high and for that moment, he let himself think that the kiss felt right. That it was just a fraction of things they could (should) be doing. And in the glimmer of his lidded eyes, he wasn't completely sure if the red strip he saw was real or not. Too tired and dazed to wonder if that had been the line Boris could see his whole life. Or maybe that was just his mind conjuring what he thought it'd look like, he was on drugs after all, hallucinations were not a shock. But in reality he didn't think about either, he barely even acknowledged it. Only some small sober part of himself, way deep, back in his head, would remember the sight.
Locking it away until it was convenient.
Which it would never be because Boris was too good to be linked to him.
Boris would have random spurts of when he wanted to go over the top with trying to prove their fates together, most of the time he didn't try too much. If they were really in love, then it would come naturally, had been his thought process. Though he saw the very there line, so he knew they were in love, the pounding in his heart whenever Theo sat close to him or looked at him with a certain happiness in his eyes, was proof of that. But he couldn't help but try to swoon Theo. Just because they were soulmates didn't mean they were immediately in love. If that had been the case then Boris' situation would've been a lot easier.
Whenever they saved up enough money and ate out instead of cooking or doing delivery then Boris happily declared them dates, no matter Theo's protesting. He'd make attempts to hold hands too, but that could've been because he was just an overly touchy person in general. (Theo was blaming it on the last reason, not letting himself admit how much he liked the warm hands on his skin. Even if the alcoholic's hands were kind of clammy).
They'd just gotten back from a 'date' and we're gently swinging on the partly done playground when Theo saw it a second time. It's what made him remember the first time. Both times Boris had been there, both times the string went in his direction, both times Theo was secretly content with whatever was going on, only one time had Theo been high. Meaning this time had no logical meaning. Theo shouldn't be seeing this line at all unless…he was having a heat stroke. It was unbearably hot in Las Vegas, especially the part they lived in. And they both had an awful habit of wearing long sleeves outdoors. Theo was probably dying from the heat.
Boris had been rambling so he didn't notice any change with Theo. Yeah, some soulmate.
Theo made sure not to mention, imply, or say that he saw the stupid line twice. He was scared that he was one of those types who said things they didn't mean to when drunk so he tried not to get heavily out of it, and if he did then Boris was just as much or worse meaning hopefully it'd be at least hard for him to remember it too.
Unfortunately, it was actually during one of those blackout night's that whatever happened had been exciting and dangerous because Theo woke with a bruise on the side of his face. In the space a bit above his eye. He didn't want to suspect it was Boris, he wasn't sure if Boris could even hit that hard, and he didn't find a reason for that to even happen. Boris suggested he might've fallen on something or something along the lines of that. And while that was good and all, Theo didn't really care about the origins of it and rather getting it off.
They had school the next day and with how dark it was, it wasn't very plausible to think it'd be gone by tomorrow. And while a simple lie would have sufficed for teachers, it was the students he was worried about. They were always looking for some sort of topic in their boring life, and Theo's father being a gambler had apparently gotten out, along with his 'ex' alcoholism. He wasn't sure if the teachers believed these very true rumors but coming to school with a bruise a week or two after those rumors swarmed did not look good.
And as much as Theo hated Larry, he didn't want to get sent away to an orphanage or something. And even if he did somehow end up back with his previous family, Boris wouldn't be there. So yes, he was frantic about how to get rid of this. Xandra's makeup was off limits, they were different tones too so it wasn't a very efficient option to begin with.
He rambled some of this out loud, and Boris left at some point saying he had an idea. Which was…concerning. He didn't know how trustworthy a plan of Boris' was. After some time of thinking too much and petting Popchyk, Boris finally came back. He was led into the bathroom and…it was stupid, but Theo was on edge and didn't really know what happened next. Or how his face was suddenly submerged under frozen water. It felt too much like his nightmares, too reminiscent of suffocating in ash, because well..he was suffocating. Water wasn't too different. He couldn't think as he flailed his arms and tried to stop himself from instinctively taking breaths.
He was let go, Boris wasn't sure what was wrong and Theo didn't even look at him properly before slapping him.
"What the hell's wrong with you!?" He yelled, getting hair from his eye and snatching his glasses that were on the counter. Because Boris had either been really smooth with his attempt at murder or Theo had just been clueless. It angered Theo more that Boris looked surprised. As if it was weird or out of the ordinary that he was upset.
"I…I'm sorry, you were worried about bruise, ice water helps. It'll be gone enough surface wise that teachers won't notice, I..I didn't mean to upset you. Just wanted to help" Boris said, actually sounding sad. He pecked Theo's check, the bruise in particular, as a sorry. "I used to do it before school, is why I thought it would help you too,"
Oh.. goddamn this idiot. No amount of religious work would give him enough patience to deal with the adorable idiot that stood in front of him.
Theo's annoyance simmered, he couldn't be angry at Boris, when he was it was never for too long. He always had some type of reason for whatever fucked up thing he did. In this case, he was just foolish to actually trust his father. Boris had long since abandoned that method, he only ever used it in elementary when he couldn't come up with believable excuses for the severity of his injuries. He bruised easier as a kid, the marks more dark and looked worse then they were.
So usually every morning he'd somehow get the injuries under icy water. And it always passed the teachers' stares. He just wanted to help, Theo now knew this, even if it was still stupid.
"You can't just force someone under water, Boris," Theo sighed, letting Boris dry his hair and face. "If anything, we'll just not go to school. But that means we have to go for the next few days because we've been missing pretty frequently," Boris nodded, satisfied with that idea. And Boris managed to bring the conversation to something else.
Why did fate pair him with someone so idiotically charming? Theo would never know.
Fate really was just trying to set him up it seemed, with the way it was going Boris might actually be his soulmate. Tie him to someone as strange and equally broken just because it could be done. Just because it would make Theo's life a bit more stressful, (but that was just him being dramatic, if he wasn't being defensive over soulmates then he'd regret the implications of his words. Boris wasn't an inconvenience, he made life better in a way, but sometimes he did things that genuinely concerned Theo).
He was stressed because he cared.
Someone give Theo a bucket to vomit in, all this love stuff was sickening. (He only tolerated it because it was Boris, though that part he didn't want to admit).
Over their time together he had to come to terms, he had to acknowledge the beating in his chest and heated face because it poked and prodded at him until he finally looked at it. He told himself they're probably soulmates and a small part of him fucking fluttered at that declaration. Soulmates was undoubtedly stupid still, but the fact he had one still remained, and he had accepted who it was on that other end.
He just went to sleep that night hoping he hadn't made a mistake. Boris wouldn't lie to him, he was too genuine for all his crimes and questionable actions. This wouldn't be like Audrey and Larry… this was Theo and Boris, they were actually meant to be.
Would his mother like Boris? He fell asleep before finding an answer.
Boris didn't sleep with him that night, for once being in separate houses but never for too long. The next day Theo had indeed seen that string, slightly skeptical he watched as it moved, waiting to determine if it was further or closer. If it was Boris or if he could just see it now because he accepted soulmates overall.
Boris was at his door, instead of giving Theo his attention he cooed and rubbed the dog that ran to him. The string ended where Boris did.
The day had gone as any other, Larry out doing who knows what, Xandra doing who knows what, and Mr. Pavlikovsky usually out of the picture. They had the Decker house to themselves apart from their furry roommate and they used their precious alone time doing weed and lines and shots of whiskey.
So like it was said earlier, just like any other day.
These technically illegal actions had become part of their normal, Theo didn't know if he was grateful or regretful about it.
Boris really had to put a cap on how much Theo could do of each in one night. Usually, he did, or tried to. It was hard to be responsible when also heavily under the influence. But Boris was accustomed to the effects of alcohol on him, so it was easier for him than it was for Theo. Theo had been fussed over his mother again, which Boris understood as to why but not from experience, just common sense. He couldn't really say he cared as much about his own mother's death as Theo did for his, that was probably a reflection either on him as a bad son or his alki parents.
Either way, Boris found him helping Theo the only way he knew how to. With an abundant of intoxicating substances that under any other situation would have Theo questioning Boris on the people he talked to. But of course looking for a way out of his taunting thoughts he didn't even bat an eye.
Which somehow the topic shifted enough to have Theo straddling Boris while they kissed.
Yeah going from grieving a parent to making out, Theo was definitely long gone, his hangover was going to be hell.
They kissed and Boris was pleased to know that he for one would actually remember the night's events. Unlike Theo, he didn't randomly pass out and then have no memory in the morning. So he got to remember their passionate kisses and touches and on some nights even more.
Theo also didn't know what he said.
Boris kissed his knuckles like he was some type of royalty, sometimes the next day. He'd been awfully giddy and it was driving Theo….okay he actually found it amusing but he still forced himself to shoot glares.
"Why the fuck are you so happy?" He asked again, hoping to finally get an answer.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Boris giggled, as if he was trying to contain his excitement when he'd been flaunting it all day. He'd been doing even more romantic stuff then he'd usually try, like he gained more confidence if that was even possible. He did things he would be hesitant to do in their 'just friends' stage, it was like Theo unspokenly gave him permission.
Or confessed.
He had kept seeing the string a secret, even if he could officially see it now. He just didn't know how. Bringing it up was a hard thing to do when their conversations never stayed on one track too long, it also seemed dumb to just blurt out 'oh, hey, you were right, I can see our string'. So doing what he does best, he just kept it a secret. Or be thought he did. With the idea in mind Theo groaned and internally smacked himself,
"I told you, didn't I?"
"That depends..told me what?" Theo would've found relief if not for the cocky grin and tone Boris was using. Very clearly just trying to get him to say it again, this time sober. Theo shoved him from where they walked back home, getting laughter from Boris, which in return elicited some from Theo too.
Boris had such an influence on Theo, he couldn't even fake irritation without smiling at the stupid smirk of his friend. (Boyfriend now? Soulmate).
"You did," Boris finally admitted with a shrug, "so?"
"So?" Theo mimicked, they had a wordless conversation. Boris gave him a look, always reading Theo like it was nothing. "Only if you want to too," Theo finally gave into using words again. He didn't want to be responsible for whatever decision they made, though he was only rooting for one and would be quite bitter at the other option if chosen. Boris seemed to be on the same page as him though, or he hoped at least.
But Boris had been pining after him practically since they met. Even though he only acted more than a friend some of those days, the fact he liked him and the fact they were soulmates had not been attempted at being hidden.
"I think you know I'd love that Potter,"
"Cool.." Theo said both stupidly and awkwardly, something even Boris jokingly called him out on, with a snort Boris replied
"идиот, тебе повезло, я люблю тебя" and even though Theo only understood the constantly used insult, he could tell the next words were loving. Theo wasn't trying to be some overly lovey couple though, and really that didn't seem like it'd suit either of them. As touchy and affectionate Boris was, that only went so far since the teen was a free spirit, very ready to do whatever he wanted. Even when it was brash and probably stupid. Or when it's gentle and comforting. You never know what shenanigan Boris would pull, (he happily blamed most of their problems on Boris, because well it was usually his fault), but that spontaneousness was probably part of the charm.
"Let's go home and get high?" Boris suggested, twirling the umbrella,
"No, we have homework, and we should eat,"
"Could do both later," he waved off, earning a look from Theo. The last two times they said they'd do either thing 'later' they never did it. Theo ended up doing his assignment during lunch and Boris hadn't even bothered to do his.
"ну ебать, fine" Boris groaned dramatically. Theo wondered how Boris even made it to seventh grade with his lack of care when it came to education. He was half sure that if he wasn't around, Boris wouldn't even be going to school as much as he did.
"We'll get high after, but we're running low so maybe we should hold off after today" he reasoned. And they fell into a normal conversation. One that quickly changed topics as it usually did. It didn't feel like much had changed around them, from the outside nothing did. They both knew otherwise, the change was something only they could sense, and that was perfectly fine with them.
Maybe having soulmates wasn't as tedious as Theo had originally thought. Maybe there was some truth in having the right person for you out there, it may have only taken death and trauma to get there, but life, eh?