Requested by Kaneki Ken

Soulmate AU: Everyone is born with a necklace that heats up the closer you are to your soulmate

[name] = your name

[e/c] = eye color

[h/c] = hair color

Narrator's POV

You sighed as you leaned against the wall beside the door, waiting for your boss to call you in, though for what reason you couldn't tell.

'I do all my work, I kill everyone without question and dispose of them as instructed, and I don't ask questions.  I don't see why he's calling me.'  You thought to yourself.  Eventually the door opened, and you saw the second-in-command come out.

"He's ready to see you."  You gave him a blank look and nodded, walking into the room, standing before the desk, arms by your side.

"[name] reporting in as requested sir."  You said, feeling the usual what you called 'ghost heat'.  Even though you took your necklace off and didn't wear it, you swore you could feel heat on your chest where the pendent should be.

"[name],"  Francois said, lazily looking at you.  "Sit."  He commanded.  You nodded and sat in the chair in front of his desk.  "Care for a drink?"  He asked, already pouring more wine into his glass.

"No thank you sir."  You said simply.  Francois glanced lazily at you before taking a cigarette and lighting, placing it in his mouth.  He took a deep breath and breathed out smoke.

"Do you know why I called you 'ere?"  He asked.  You kept your look blank.

"No sir."  You said simply.  He eyed you, though you felt it was more your chest.

"You don't wear your soulmate necklace."  He stated, rather than asked.  You nodded.  "Why?"

"They are a liability, as I've seen in my past experiences with others.  I don't need a person who is supposedly my other half, decided by some strange fate."  You said simply.  Francois stared at you, as if trying to measure your resolve.

"You really don't want a soulmate?"  He asked, his eyes glazed over, showing he was indeed drunk.  You nodded.

"It's not needed.  I've lived as long as I have without one, and in our line of work, it's not worth having a soulmate, they just make us weak."  You said.  Francois stared at you before he chuckled, something you had never seen nor heard of.  He gave you a bitter smile.

"You're right, zhey are nothing more zhan a liability in zhis world, especially in zhe darker side."  He said, glancing back to the glass of wine in his hand.

"Indeed,"  You said simply, looking blankly at Francois.  He stood up, his back to you as he faced the fireplace.

"[name], did you ever zhink about leaving zhis line of work?"  He asked.

"Sir?"

"Did you ever zhink about leaving to live in zhe light?"  He asked with the barest hint of emotion, startling you a bit.  "To 'ave a normal job, to 'ave a normal 'ome, to get married, to 'ave children, to grow old with someone and just die a peaceful death?"

"..."  You remained silent, not sure whether the question was actually directed at you, or that perhaps Francois was asking himself these questions.

"Well?"  Francois asked, turning slightly in your direction, though you could only make out the outline of his face.

"Permission to speak freely sir?"  You asked.  He gave you a curt nod as you took a deep breath.

"As I've stated before, I do not need nor want a soulmate, as signified by me refusing to wear my necklace.  But there is another reason I do not wear my necklace."  You said.  Francois motioned for you to continue, you still unable to see his face.

"I gave up on that sort of future you described long ago.  If I had ever wanted such a future as you described, then I would not have come and asked to be in the mafia.  If I wanted such a future and were born into this, then I'd struggle and fight to have it, holding onto that small piece of hope till the moment I died.  But I wasn't born into this life on the dark side of the world, I was born into the light and I shunned it.  I shunned the light, I shunned the future I could've had that you described, and me not wearing my soulmate necklace, the very symbol of light and of hope for the future, I show my full resolve to remain in the dark and in this line of work."  You said, your voice never wavering.

The room was silent except for the sound of the fire cackling in the fireplace as you remained in your seat and Francois remained by the fire, his back to you.  You kept your eyes on his back, waiting for whatever Francois was going to do next.

"[name],"  Francois said, breaking the choking silence.  "You may go."  He said, his voice full of melancholy.  You nodded and stood up.

"I'll take my leave then sir."  You said without any emotion, giving Francois a bow.  You then straightened up and walked out the door, shutting it softly behind you before walking away, the mysterious "ghost heat" you felt earlier disappearing.

After a few moments, when Francois was sure he was alone, his fingers found their way to his shirt, removing the necklace he always wore, quickly noticing how the heat he was feeling earlier was gone, now replaced by a slightly cool sensation.

"Zhey definitely chose a person who compliments moi..."  He said in a quiet voice to himself.  He sighed as he looked down at his necklace.  Francois leaned his head against the wall, watching the light of the flames dance on the ground in an almost mocking manner.

"Dieu [God] you know me too well... well enough to punish me further zhan you 'ave been already..."  Francois said aloud with a sigh, placing his necklace back underneath his shirt as he glanced around the room that had previously been his father's office.  With a drag from his cigarette, Francois went back to his desk and sat at his chair, silence now engulfing the dark room, except for the mocking sound of the fire crackling, as if laughing at Francois's situation.

~Fin~