Au: Real/Modern world (still minesonas) 

Word Count: ~1.8k

Bdubs always imagined that when his string appeared, it would lead him to a complete stranger, who would just so happen to be the man of his dreams. He always thought that his soulmate would sweep him off his feet. So when his string appeared on a warm Thursday afternoon, Bdubs was quick to follow it's pull. But when he bumped heads with Doc, of all people, he felt disappointed, in some way. Of course, that didn't stop his heart from pounding as the crush he used to have on him and kept repressed for so long resurfaced.

Doc never thought about who his soulmate would be. He knew that the scarlet thread which appeared at random on a person's ring finger was never wrong. But then he bumped into Bdubs and was confused. Was this a joke? The universe can't be serious, this has to be some elaborate prank. Yes, Bdubs always pulled pranks on him back in high school, maybe this is another one? Doc knew he was kidding himself by thinking that. Then again, after seeing Bdubs again after two years, how did he manage to look so much older yet retain that cute baby face?

"Well hi, Doc!" Bdubs cheerfully sang, grinning. He didn't bother to try and suppress his blushing.

"It's uh, been a while, huh?" Doc awkwardly replied. Memories of their last interaction two years ago resurfaced in both of their minds. The hybrid immediately felt bad for yelling at him back then. The freckled brunette's guilty feelings returned as he remembered that he was in the wrong back then. He opened his mouth to apologize when Doc unintentionally cut him off. "Would you like to have lunch? My treat?"

"Free food? Yes please!" Bdubs joked, hoping his laugh didn't sound too forced as Doc led them to a nearby restaurant. They didn't really say much as they were seated and ordered their food. Once the waitress walked away, Bdubs tapped his foot, feeling agitated as Doc looked up at the sky through the window.

"Hey-" Doc began to say, but was surprised when his 'soulmate' exclaimed;

"I'm sorry!" The taller brunette looked at the smaller one across the table, feeling concerned.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I was just acting so stupid back then," Bdubs held his forehead with his hand as he continued to apologize. "I don't know why you continued to put up with me after high school, especially after I pulled so many rude pranks on you. I never took your feelings into account. You were right to yell at me two years ago when I ruined everything for your college final. I know there's nothing I can do now to make up for everything, but just know that I'm sorry," he bit back tears as he looked away, slumping in his seat. "And I'm sorry you got stuck with an awful soulmate,"

"That's not-"

"No matter how hard you try I still find you easy to read. I could see the disappointment in your face when we saw one another," he mumbled, wiping his eye quickly as a single tear managed to escape.

"I also need to apologize," Doc sighed. His heart shattered when Bdubs' practically cried, and felt awful for everything he had said.

"What do you mean?" The freckled boy looked to his soulmate, confused.

"I overreacted in college, I-"

"No, that was well deserved. You almost lost the chance to be valedictorian and your spot at the top of our class. I knew how important that was to you and yet I-"

"Losing my best friend wasn't worth it," Doc blurted out. Bdubs jumped at the words 'best friend'.

"I always thought you hated me and tolerated me because Keralis told you to," he admitted.

"Sure, at times your pranks were a little much, but for the most part, I found them endearing. I knew you meant well. Besides, I never should've pushed you away like that. You never deserved to hear something like that."

"Doc.." Bdubs didn't feel like he deserved an apology.

But then the waitress arrived with their food, and the awkward silence set in. "Since we're soulmates, I guess I don't need to hide it anymore," Bdubs sighed, pulling the toothpick out of his sandwich. "Since high school, I had a crush on you, and the reason I kept pulling those dumb pranks was my weird way of showing I liked you. When we got to college, I forced myself to repress my feelings, since I was believed we weren't soulmates." He took a bite of his sandwich, all the while not looking up at the hybrid across from him. Doc took Bdubs' hand and squeezed it.

"I never should have told you to 'get out of my life'. You're not stupid, and I definitely don't hate you. I never did. I hope you know I forgive you for what happened, but I don't expect you to forgive me right away," Bdubs' eyes widened, but still wouldn't look at him. Reaching an arm over the small table, Doc put a hand on his cheek and gently turned him so that Bdubs would be facing him. "I don't care what it takes, I will do whatever I can to make it up to you, okay?"

The freckled brunette could no longer hold back tears, letting them silently stream down his face. Turning his head a little into Doc's hand and pressing his own against it, Bdubs nodded. The hybrid wiped away the tears before stroking his soulmate's hair.

After eating, Bdubs suggested they take a stroll through the park since neither of them really had anything planned that day. They walked awkwardly side by side down the street, the string tying them together hanging in between them. "That's a really pretty skirt," Doc pointed out rather bluntly. "I remember when you started wearing them in our second year of college. I don't know if I ever told you before, but you always looked really pretty in them."

"Ah, thanks," Bdubs blushed, scratching the back of his neck as he looked away. Thankfully, the crosswalk light they stopped at turned green, and the shorter brunette started walking and hoped his face would cool down. Ah, but what does it matter? We're soulmates after all. He reminded himself.

Being lost in his own head, he didn't hear the taller brunette's warning of the car that wasn't slowing down. It wasn't until he felt the string on his finger being yanked, and feeling himself fall backward that he saw the car speeding past. Bdubs expected to fall back on the pavement but was instead met with the warmth and comfort of someone's body. Looking up, he saw an anxious Doc looking back at him. "Sorry," he smiled, and as much as Bdubs would love to stay like that, he stood up straight.

"Don't scare me like that," Doc muttered before taking Bdubs' hand and crossing the street.

As they walked aimlessly through the park, Doc never let go of his hand, too worried about what could happen if he did. Bdubs stopped in front of a fenced-off garden full of newly-bloomed flowers. "You know, no matter how hard I tried, I don't think I ever stopped loving you," he quietly admitted.

"Even when I said those awful things to you?" Doc mumbled.

"Even then," Bdubs nodded. "As soon as I realized I went too far, that my little prank ruined that mixture, I hated myself. You made me realize that I had never done anything to deserve your friendship. I was so scared that I could somehow make things worse, so I did what you said and left. I convinced myself that you'd be better off without me around, dragging you down," as his words continued to pour out, he took his hand out of Doc's and covered his face. Tears flowed down his freckled cheeks as things he always kept inside managed to find a way out. "And yet I still manage to ruin your life by being your soulmate." Bdubs leaned into the fence in front of him, feeling like a pathetic mess.

It was here that Doc realized just how much negative impact his words had on his best friend.

"What. Did. You. Do?" Doc gritted his teeth and glared at Bdubs. His last final of college, his chemistry final, was clenched in his hand. A test tube that was supposed to be perfectly clear without a single bubble was now a dark red.

"Calm down, I only added some food coloring!" Bdubs laughed, holding his hands up in defense.

"Calm down?! Are you kidding me?! You know how important this project is. I can't just fix it! This is due tomorrow afternoon and now I don't know if I'll be able to do it all over again by then!"

"Listen, Doc," the freckled brunette's face quickly dropped. "I-"

"No, you listen. For years you've pulled these stupid pranks on me, and they just kept getting worse and worse. I hate you, Bdubs. Do you have any idea how stupid you can be?"

"D-Doc..."

"I don't want to hear it," the hybrid pointed towards their dorm door. "Get out. Don't ever talk to me again. I never want to see you again." Tears welled up in Bdubs eyes as he left, without saying another word.

The next day when Doc returned to his dorm after submitting his chemistry final that he miraculously managed to recreate, he found all of Bdubs' belongings gone. He wanted to call his friend and apologize, but he just couldn't swallow his pride.

Doc dropped to his knees in front of Bdubs. "God I'm such an idiot. I ruined everything we had over something so trivial. I'm sorry you thought you ruined my life, but you never did. Clearly, I'm the one who ruined yours. I feel awful that you got stuck with such a douchebag." The shorter soulmate turned around and stood over his taller soulmate.

"Don't talk bad about my Doc like that," he smiled, placing a hand on Doc's head. His soulmate looked up at him before hugging his waist, clinging to his skirt.

Helping Doc to his feet, Bdubs wrapped his arms around his neck. "I forgive you," he whispered into the hybrid's ear, who hugged him tightly. Doc pressed his forehead against his cute soulmates, grinning.

"You're the best soulmate I could ask for, I love you Bdubs."

"I think you're pretty great too," he laughed. The taller brunette lifted him up, spinning him around. When his feet touched the ground again, the shorter brunette leaned into Doc, their faces inches away. "I love you so much Doc," he muttered before they kissed.

Bdubs' heart felt like it was going to explode. He didn't think he'd ever get to feel this way. The person he'd love for years was finally by his side, and he couldn't be happier.

Once he felt the softness of his soulmate's lips, Doc was glad that he knew no one could steal him away. The universe couldn't have made a better choice for him.

The scarlet thread that held them together, broke off into fragments of light, disappearing into the afternoon sky.