The one I'm using is the underlined one

tempted to give BadTimes a name like I did Xemon. You can offer names if you want.

takes place in a spinoff AU to the DM (drunk monopoly) AU 

word count: 2500

TW: slight mentions of homophobia + bad parenting. (not too big of a part in this)

-------------

[Xemon POV]

Until recently, I've always felt cold. 

It was always a sign my soulmate was far away --- something I preferred--- and that I wouldn't meet them soon. 

I'd never liked the concept of soulmates. Being the reincarnations of someone in the past, and being fated to be with the reincarnation of your past self's lover.

It sucks. I'd much rather be in Xisuma's shoes; he doesn't have one. 

I don't need a soulmate anyways. I preferred the cold anyway. 

It feels weird to be warm for once. I feel like my soulmate might be trying to find me. If our ages are close, we're both 18, so they can legally actually try and find me. 

"Hey, Xemon, you in there?" Badtimes asked, waving his hand in front of my face. He should be used to my zoning out by now. I've always done it, so he's just fucking with me. 

"I'm back. What were you saying?"

"Since we've been planning to move in together, is it alright if I bring Jam? She and Jellie fight so much, and Scar isn't moving in with Grian yet."

"Yeah. As long as she doesn't do much in my room."

"She's a hypo-allergenic breed."

"I'm not allergic, I just don't like cats."

"How can you not like cats?!"

"I just don't. I'm neutral towards them."

Badtimes huffed, and I think he's kinda pissed. So what. It's not my fault I don't have any significant emotional connection to cats. 

"Wait, what do you mean Scar isn't moving out soon??" 

"He and G may be soulmates, but they're both dirt poor."

"Aren't Grian's parents rich?"

"Yeah, but he wants to make money on his own and all. That's why he's working at that one Smoothie place."

"Oh."

He nodded and leaned back into the beanbag chair. 

"Wait, Xem, promise me that once you find your soulmate, or they find you, you won't abandon me?"

"Why the fuck would I?! I already established I don't care for a soulmate." 

"Okay, thanks."

"Mhm."

----

The entire gang (Boatem and Badtimes) and I were hanging out at the 'Smoothie Shop' Grian worked at. 

"We" were arguing over the best type of game, which was obviously Knife Go Fish. [Scar and Grian agreed on Merged Life-Monopoly/LifePoly, Pearl didn't have one, Mumbo was focused on his smoothie, and Impulse and Badtimes were arguing over the best flavour of smoothie.\

"fucK-"

"What's wrong?!" I think that's Pearl or Scar. Maybe both?

"I've just gone burning hot- I feel like I'm in fire, which normally would be a good thinG-"

"Maybe your soulmate's nearby?" Badtimes, definitely.

"That's not normal, is it?" Mumbo.

"Well, he's been freezing for most of his life, you spoon!" Grian.

There was then a loud sigh, probably Impulse. 

"Get off of the table you're going to knock over our smoothies, and I used a week of free smoothies on them!"

"Not until the burning stOPs-"

"finE-"

As we were arguing over my laying on the table, the door opened with the bell above ringing, with the burning getting worse.

And even worse yet, two voices rang out.

"Wels, I'm telling you, I'm getting hotter! My soulmate has to be in here!"

"I know, but we're literally at a smoothie shop."

"Hey, I wasn't as fortunate as you and Jevin! You guys met at school." 

"I know, now, Hels, let's just order something before you scare your soulmate."

"Fine. Though I wouldn't scare them, they can feel the warmth too!"

"It'll be hot to them, they don't live in a warmer climate as we did."

----

As if on cue, Grian chuckled. "Guess my break's over."

"You're doing this to spite me, aren't you?"

"Nooooo"

"You're an ass."

And he's left. 

I'm sure most of the group figured out one of the two guys who came in is my soulmate. 'Course, only Badtimes was bothering me, but I've tuned him out. 

----

Grian's dragged Scar away from the table, despite him being on shift, Mumbo had to go work on some PC build commission thing, Badtimes had to feed Jam, and Impulse and Pearl had to go look at apartments. 

Which meant that I was basically alone. 

I wouldn't've minded it, Aether, I would've preferred it in the past, but the fact that my soulmate is in the fucking shop, I do not like this.

Especially knowing that he was searching for me. 

I could just leave, but I feel like that would make me seem like a bad person.

I mean I am, but he's kind of my soulmate. 

So I'm just going to keep laying here, and drinking my smoothie.

I don't like the heat.

Who, in the name of Herobrine, chose to only have the heat or cold disappear when you have an emotional kiss with your fucking soulmate.

A kiss that requires both people to actually be in love with the other. 

Who?

Because I would like to have a not-so-peaceful talk with them. 

---- 

After some time, I heard the same voices from earlier, with the one pressuring, who I assume is my soulmate.

This eventually led to him walking over and awkwardly sitting across from me. 

"Hey, so, uh, you're my soulmate, right?"

"Mhm."

"Oh Herobrine, this is so awkward." I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to hear that.

"Anyways, my name's Hels."

"Xemon." 

"Nice to meet you. I was wondering if you wanted to get to know each other?"

"Sure."

"Here, one moment." 

He's taken a napkin from the table and is writing something on it, before sliding it over to me.

"My number, I've got to go now. My brother's been bothering me about this the entire time."

"Alright. Bye, Hels."

"Bye, Xemon."

----

As soon as Hels, and his brother, left, Grian came over to the table. 

"So, you finally met your soulmate?" That fucker's taunting me. 

"Maybe."

"I know you did."

"How the fuc-"

"I told him to come over here and talk to ya. Both of you wouldn't make any progress on your own."

"you moTHER FUCKEr-"

And he's left.

He's an ass.

----

One of the few times that I didn't have plans with the others, or with X, Hels and I managed to get a time to hang out.

He'd wanted me to give him a tour of sorts, of our small town. [I know everyone, everyone knows me typa town.]

"And there's Grian's family home." I point out, motioning towards Grian's house; one of the nicer places in town. If you were born here, you'd call it a mansion, but it isn't type of thing. 

"Damn."

"Yeah. Everyone envies his family when they grow up here. Now cmon. I'm only pointing out certain landmarks, the ones you'd need to get around."

"Okay, okay."

"My place is just down the roa- Well my parents and X's place. Most of the group'll still call it my place though." 

If he wants to deal with my nonsense, then he has to catch up. I've run down the street, and towards my dads' place.

I can tell he's following me, I hear his footsteps. 

"And here we are!" I shout at him, as I motion to my old home. Xisuma is out looking at College campuses and my Dads are at work. 

"Why'd you run-?"

"Well, I want you to see what you're dealing with, being my soulmate. And because, since you're probably going to be forced into the gang, you need to know your way around the house. They all have a key, and usually come in at like 3 am, and we dick around in the basement."

"Sounds like fun."

"Or, Grian convinces the others to steal all of our snacks."

Hels chuckles, and I'm pretty sure I became bright ass red. 

"So, where to next?"

"Inside, I just said that dumbass. Now, cmon. No one's home, so you won't be questioned."

"I just realized, how are you not reacting to the heat?"

"I taped three icepacks to my chest and back."

"Smart." 

"Now, cmon in."

He nodded and walked through the front door, and I followed behind. 

The tour of the house was quick, showing my dads' room [Without opening the door], Xisuma's room, and my old room [which still had most of my stuff in there. I haven't had the time to move most of it to Badtimes and I's apartment.], and the living room/kitchen area.

I'd skipped the basement, just motioning towards the door to the steps, which was in the kitchen. 

"It's a nice place. Nicer than Wels and I's place before I forced him to travel and, well, find you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Our mom didn't like that Wels' soulmate is Jevin, and she'd become a shit of a parent."

"What-?"

"She's a homophobe. Jevin's a dude."

"Oh."

"Wonder how she'll feel that you're my soulmate." 

"I'll just charm her."

"You probably could. She'd love you. Before Wels and I, y'know, got our temperature cues, she'd disliked Jevin."

"When you were 5, she didn't like him?"

"Yeah."

"Damn."

He shrugged and laughed. "Well, Xem, want to continue showing me around the town?"

"Yeah." 

Wait.

Did he just call me Xem?

 Fuck it. No one else can call me that now. 

----

I'd ended the tour at where we'd met up at, and well met in general at, the Smoothie Shop. 

"Hey, Xemon, want to head over to the hotel Wels and I are at? I want to keep hanging out after this."

"Sure."

"We're outside of the town, and I drove over here, so I can drive us if that's fine?"

"It's okay."

----

We'd made it to Hels and Wels' hotel room after around 15 minutes of driving. 

Apparently, Wels had gone to explore the town their hotel was in, so we'd be hanging out alone.

"So, since I don't know much about you, what's your favourite colour?" He brought up, looking over at me.

"Blue, or Red. What's yours?"

"Ebony."

"That's oddly specific-"

 "I guess it is. I used to make everything ebony when I was younger."

"Nice."

"Y'know, I've wanted to test this, since Wels told me awhile ago, but touch negates the heat or something like that?"

"How are we even going to test tha-"

And he's hugged me and we're laughing like idiotic children, and holy shit I'm in love.

And for once I don't feel warm as shit.

----

We'd ended up cuddling on Hels' bed in the hotel because we'd been tired of the heat. It's like 7-8 at night, and we've been talking most of the time, just about random shit.

I'm probably going to end up staying the night, because Badtimes went to stay at his family's place because Scar had Grian over, and he wanted to screw with them, and I don't have my key.

Besides, Hels' comfy. 

And I really like the way he's playing with my hair.

----

"Xem, Xemon wake up- I'm about to shove you off of the bed."

"Nhhhhg"

"Oh, you're awake now- Stop cuddling me closer."

"no."

"Xem, this is literally my last day here before I have to go home."

"What..?"

"I offered to help out at my family's flower shop. I kinda was supposed to be back today, but I asked to leave tomorrow since I wanted to at least hang out with you."

I'm not ready to go cold again.

Returning to the cold would feel so, weird.

Not only that, I'd miss Hels, my soulmate. 

I've sat up now, but Hels hasn't exactly let go of me either. Despite how he'd argued with me for me to get up, he's still kind of cuddled into my back. 

"When I leave, can you be there before I go? Wels and I rented a car, and we're at an airport nearby."

"How'd you know that I'm here?"

"I'd convinced my parents to let me stop at every airport I could. Wels tagged along because he needs travel experience to join this clan of knights at our hometown."

"Sounds cool." 

"I guess it is. Once I've gotten working experience, from the flower shop, I'll try to join too."

"So you need work experience, but Wels doesn't?"

"Nah. He used to help out at '"Granny" 's shop."

"Oh. Makes sense."

"Mhm. Y'know, I promise to stay in contact."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I'll visit when I can, too."

"You fucking better."

"I will, I will!" 

He chuckled, and so did I, and honestly life felt perfect in this moment.

----

Hels had forced me to head to the park with him. He'd brought me over to the swings, and we're swinging side-by-side while we talk about stupid shit.

"I don't understand how your Dads let you onto the treehouse roof-"

"They didn't. I did it mostly when they were at work. X would always shout at me to come down."

"Oh-"

I laugh, and he sighs. "You're an idiot."

"No, I'm not! You're the idiot!"

"Nope."

----

I'm helping Hels pack now. I might've been a bit clingy, so he ended up just asking me to help him.

We're basically done now anyway, so he's checking the time, and getting us a small snack or something, I don't know. 

"fuCK- Xemon! I'm going to be late for my flight if I don't leave soon, so just throw the rest of my shit in my bag. I can have anything that doesn't fit as a carry-on!" He called, and I heard him rush throughout the hotel room.

And so I did what he said, though not before swiping one of his hoodies.

I have no idea why he brought it, but it's mine now.

----

He'd forced me to go with him to the airport, and it was only a bit before he has to go through security. [He has some time, and he's using it to say goodbye.]

We're hugging, and he's sighed softly. 

"I just have one question."

"What is it?"

"Could I, erm, kiss you?"

"Go ahead."

And he's pulled me into a kiss, and honestly, it felt great. 

We've pulled away, he's waved and run off.

And I no longer feel sweltering, and I won't ever return to being freezing. Never again.

---- EXTRA ----

"Badtimes, I'm not going to be opening the damn door for you again. If you lost your key, bunk at Scar and Grian's." I shout across his and I's apartment, from where I was in the living room. 

He'd been forgetting his key a lot lately or losing it in his room, which caused him to forget it.

"That's not me! I got back while you were napping! Anyways, door-person, the door's unlocked!" Badtimes replied, from where I assume is his room.

The door's been opened, and I looked up to see...

Hels?!

He rushed over once he noticed me and pulled me into a hug.

"Hey, Xem."

"hI-"

He's put me down now.

"Wait, how are you here?"

"I might've lied to you about having a few extra shifts this next month, and that's why the past few days I haven't been in contact- Your friend group set this up since your birthday's coming up. So, happy early birthday-?"

"Thank you. Y'know, seeing you in person is way better than seeing you on a tiny ass screen. It doesn't do you justice."

"Wait- Xem, is that the hoodie I thought I'd left in the hotel? The one I'd ranted to you about missing because it was one of my favourites?"

"Maybeeee?"

"You're a lovable dumbass."

"Oh shut the fuck up."

"No. I know you love my voice, so why would I?"

"I'm starting to hate you right now."

"You could never hate me."

"Oh my goodness, just cm'ere and make out with me."

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