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“Soulmates are tricky. Some people have several, some none. But by far the greatest percentage are people with one red string of fate on their finger linking them to their love.” Irratino explained. He and Logico were walking back from a mathematics conference, and he thought that it was only fair that on the way back, he should get to talk about his beliefs.
“Even for you, Irratino, it seems like a stretch. Even through sheer coincidence, sometimes Marot and astrology seem like they have some validity. But the soulmates thing is just a shot in the dark.” Logico replied, no real bite behind his words. This was a familiar rapport.
“Actually, deductive, I think you’ll rather like this one. Of all things, soulmates are the most provable, if also fickle. Trained eyes can actually see the threads all around us!”
“From the pronoun and your attitude, I’m assuming that you have a so called trained eye for soulmates?”
“Correct! Anyone with enough practice can, if they open their minds. Even you, Logico. Learning to do so would certainly help with motives for all the murders you have to deal with. But I was, well, not to brag, but a fair prodigy at it. My mothers used to let me jump rope with theirs when i was a child. At long last, your proof of the paranormal! Unless you’re calling me a liar.” Irratino tried to playfully shoulder bump him, but Logico avoided it easily and Irratino stumbled into the street.
“Well first off, you are a liar. But I don’t doubt you think you can see the red strings or whatever it is. The human mind is capable of impressive delusions with enough belief.” He shook his head. “But I’ll let it be for now. It’s a fascinating idea, however illogical. But if you’re so good at it, why haven’t you found your soulmate by now?” The question was accompanied by Logico yanking on Irratino’s jacket pocket to get him back onto the sidewalk and not run over by a F150 going at least fifteen miles over the speed limit.
“It’s not that simple, Logico. With enough concentration, one can see their own thread, but many, including me, don’t choose to do so. When people that can see it meet their own soulmate, the string will slowly appear, linking them. It will become noticeable and opaque when the person realizes they’re in love with their soulmate. Can you imagine the thrill?”
“Avoiding the question, I see.” Logico teased. “Tell me this, then. If I have a thread, where is it going?”
Irratino, thinking fast, pointed in the vague direction of west. “That way.”
Logico laughed. “Tell you what. I’m going to get you a logic puzzle book. If you can solve all of it without consulting paranormal sources, I’ll let you guide me on a magical soulmate search. Deal?”
He smiled, avoiding Logico’s eyes. “Better start packing!”
They parted ways shortly after that, Logico heading to solve yet another murder. Irratino hailed a cab and went home, staring at the string wrapped around his finger. He wasn’t lying to Logico about his string, it did point west. But only because Irratino was pointing in that direction as well. Their string was linked. Most of those at the institute knew how to see soulmates as well, which explained how gossipy they were after that first meeting. Months later, they would look at him with pity that he didn’t yet understand, as they helped him with his disguises and plan to fake his death. When Irratino fell truly in love and saw his own string for the first time, Logico wasn’t even there, still a few steps behind Irratino on his mission for revenge. The very worst part was seeing him again as Mister Shadow. The string linked them, but there was something wrong with it. A few feet out from Irratino, there was a patch of black on the string, the kind described when someone’s soulmate was dead. In a way, they both were, Irratino reborn as a mysterious stranger after being murdered on an island, and Logico so determined and distraught he was unrecognizable. Keeping secrets was something Irratino was well versed in, including this. But he had a better reason than normal. He didn’t want Logico to feel pressured, or that Irratino had only fallen for him due to his esoteric beliefs. That didn’t stop him from feeling guilty. Logico hated when he kept secrets. If he asked, Irratino would tell him. And he would ask soon enough. After all, he was a very good detective. And Irratino was getting impatient.
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“Do you think about it much?” Logico asked Irratino. The two were sitting in the den of Irratino’s mansion that Sunday, after a particularly easy solution to the weekly prank Irratino pulled. Logico had to give it to him, his determination was endearing, if aneurysm inducing. He seemed particularly proud of the puzzle this week, and Logico almost felt bad solving it in ten minutes. Almost.
“Think about what?” Irratino asked him, lazily brushing his hair.
“Your soulmate.” Logico didn’t quite know why he was asking. He obviously didn't believe a word if it, but the concept hadn't left his mind. Irratino put the brush down and gave him a strange look.
“Not really. I have faith that the universe has it all figured out.”
“So you’re not going to go after them?”
“Who said that?” Irratino challenged.
“But you told me you can’t see your string yet.”
“I told you that people who haven’t met their soulmate can’t see it. I never said I couldn’t.” And he accused Logico of being pedantic.
“You know who your soulmate is, then. Why haven’t you told them?” Logico asked, looking at the floor. Typical of Tino to keep secrets.
“They don’t believe in this stuff. Also, I’d rather them know that I love them for them, not just the string. They’re smart. They’ll figure it out.”
That got his attention. “That’s nice of you.”
“I’ve been dropping a lot of hints. If they don’t ask me soon, I’m just going to have to tell them outright.” Irratino grinned at him, and the full connotations of what was going on hit Logico like a truck. The soulmate delusion was most likely caused by already existing feelings, right?
“I don’t think your soulmate is very good at this sort of thing.” Logico said in lieu of an apology for not getting it sooner.
“They should try anyway.” Irratino responded without missing a beat. “Logico, you’re a detective. Asking hard questions is your job.”
Logico decided to take the bait. He’s been through scarier things, right? “Am I your soulmate? Do our imaginary strings connect, or whatever?”
Irratino laughed. “Yes, they do. We are. And for someone who supposedly doesn't believe in the occult, your putting a lot of stock in this”
“It seemed like an easier way to gauge your emotions.” Logico defended. “I still think its bunk. But we have other things to talk about.”
Irratino moved himself from his chair to the couch, leaning on Logico and grabbing his hand. The thread was shorter than it ever was, almost nonexistent as they were so close. Finally, soulmate. He thought as he smiled at Logico, who had the same look as he did when he solved a case, with a hundred times more warmth. “Yes, Starlight, we do.”