Work Text:
"Do you have a soulmark?"
"I will not answer that."
Someone in the back of the room, someone groans.
His PR Manager rolls his eyes so hard they might get stuck that way but Rin hasn't made it this far in his career by being a people pleaser.
"With all due respect," the impertinent interviewer starts again, "Your relationship status has been vague at best for the last years. Your fans are longing for information and we feel that they deserve-"
"They deserve it?" Rin's looking at her now, hopes his eyes portray every single drop of hatred he feels for this woman. "Do you have a soulmark?"
"That's- That's private!" She rushes to defend herself.
"Ah, so you do understand that term? I will not answer that question and that's that. I'm here to play soccer not to answer questions about whether or not I'm still available. Which I'm not."
"I'm still single," Bachira pipes in from his left, directing all attention back to him. The tension in the room dissipates within moments of him chattering away.
-x-
"Long day?" You ask when he steps inside your shared apartment.
"You have no idea," Rin answers, letting his temple sink against your shoulder for a moment. He can feel himself recharge from touch alone.
"Watched your interview," you mumble, your breath moving the hairs in the nape of his neck. He shivers and your hand finds the spot, circling warm and safe over his exposed skin. You always know what he needs. He wishes he could say the same about himself.
From down the hallway, a gurgling sound alerts his attention.
"Go," you tell him, stepping aside to let him through, "Dinner's ready in ten."
-
"Hey little monster," he greets as he pushes the door fully open. His daughter's lying on her back, turquoise eyes locked on the mobile above her head, the little soccer balls dancing in the air. She waves her hands when he lifts her out of her bed and drools on his shirt with a confidence Isagi could only wish for.
"How are we feeling today?" Rin asks the little monster, chuckling when she almost hits him in the nose, "That great? Amazing. Mom's made dinner, you're hungry?"
She farts and he's quietly laughing now at her antics.
"What did I do to deserve you?" He asks her quietly when she's managed to grasp his thumb, sucking on it as if she's hoping for milk.
I tickles a little where he can feel her first teeth coming out. It tingles when she gnaws on the tiny soulmark. He has only one. Yet.
-x-
His head is resting heavy in your lap, his daughter sleeping soundly on his chest.
It could be a perfect evening if not for his restless mind.
Rin lifts his left hand, looks at the tiny mark on his thumb. It's a monster, the same oddly shaped lump he would draw as a child. He knows it resembles his daughter because he knows he chose her. Ever since the day he knew she existed.
"Do you want me to check again?" You ask. Your voice is soft and he can hear your book close, can feel your hand find its way into his hair. "Maybe I missed it last time..."
"I'm sure you didn't." He says even though it hurts him. Because he chose you, years ago and every day since, has even the ring to prove it, yet there's no sign of the mark he longs for the most.
But you have one, oddly placed on your chest, just a little left of your heart, the color of his eyes.
"Rin," you whisper, leaning down to press a kiss against his temple, "I know you love me. I don't need a spot on your skin to prove it to me. Although I think it would only be fair if it appeared on your ass or something similarly pathetic."
He can feel his lips quirk up into a smile. That's the effect only you can have on him. And your daughter, but that's just genetics at play.
"Maybe," you hum, "You need to choose yourself too. Accept yourself for who you are."
-x-
It takes him one more year, a heavy loss and therapy, but Rin makes it.
He can look into the mirror now without hesitation, can look at his flaws and his strengths and say, as honest as he's ever been: "This is me. I like me the way I am. But I'm still improving. Just watch me."
"Boop," his daughter makes in the bathtub, pressing her finger against his abdomen. She laughs, mouth wide open. "Boop," she makes again.
He picks her up and cradles her against his chest, filled with warmth and happiness, especially when you fall into their laughter.
"Hey," you suddenly say, "Did you notice that?"
"Huh?" He asks, lowering the little monster back into the warm water. "What do you mean?"
"You've got a spot there." You point to where he'd just been booped.
There, in the color of your eyes, is a soulmark.