Chapter Text
Gram didn't believe in soulmates.
Not when his parents had been soulmates but all they'd done was argue and fight until finally when Gram was fifteen his mother left and never returned.
Not when he watched his father rejoice when his mother was finally gone and have his new girlfriend move in a week later.
Not when he found out his mother had remarried and was expecting a baby when he was seventeen.
Not when he saw his father lose his mind when he found out his mother had a new family.
Not when he saw his mother one day at the store and she pretended she didn't know who Gram was and told her kids to follow her.
Soulmates weren't real.
Then he met Black.
The first day he met Black he prayed Black was his soulmate. He checked his soulmark when he got back to his dorm but didn't see a change. He thought maybe it wasn't time. He knew though. He knew Black had to be his soulmate.
Him and Black became best friends quickly and Gram knew one day his soulmark would change and say Black was his soulmate. He just knew it.
Then Black met Eugene.
Then Gram watched as Black and Eugene stared at each other with wide eyes.
Then Gram watched as Black and Eugene told each other that they were soulmates.
Then Gram watched as Black and Eugene started dating.
Black was not his soulmate.
Gram wanted to hate Eugene. He really did. He really tried too but she was so nice. She knew Black and him were close and let them spend time together just the two of them without complaining. Whenever Gram third wheeled she made sure to include him in the conversation. She called Gram her friend and got him meaningful gifts for his birthday and Christmas. She could keep up with Black and his law talk and always had something interesting to say.
Gram couldn't hate Eugene.
So for two years he watched Black and Eugene date. They were perfect together.
"Eugene and I broke up." Black said as he walked into Gram's room.
"What?" Gram asked, shocked. "Why? What happened? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be trying to fix things? She's your soulmate."
Black threw himself on Gram's bed and just stared at the ceiling.
"Black." Gram said, walking over and looking at him.
Black didn't say anything.
"Black." Gram walked back to his bed and looked down at Black. "What happened?"
"We figured out we love each other but we aren't in love with each other." Black said. "We've been talking about it for weeks now and today we finally came to the conclusion that we should break up. We're better off as friends."
"But...you're soulmates." Gram said.
Black turned and raised an eyebrow at Gram.
"So? Just because our soulmarks match doesn't mean we have to be together. No matter what society says." Black said.
"You two looked so happy together." Gram said.
"We don't hate each other Gram. We just aren't in love with each other. We'll still be friends. Nothing will change except that we won't be dating anymore." Black said.
Gram didn't know what to say.
"I thought you didn't believe in soulmates?" Black asked.
"I don't." Gram said quickly.
"Then?" Black asked.
"It's just that I was there when you two met. I saw the moment your soulmarks matched." Gram said, trying to explain.
"Not all soulmates end up together. People might be against the idea that some soulmates are platonic but that's just how it is sometimes. Why should we marry someone based on a mark on our body that matches?" Black scooted over and patted the spot next to him in the small twin bed.
Gram laid down next to Black.
"I just thought you two were…" Gram didn't know how to say it.
"We did at first too but as time went on we realized some things." Black said.
"Like?" Gram asked.
"Like that what we thought was romantic love was really just love for each other. I care about her and she cares about me. But we aren't in love with each other." Black said.
"I just-" Gram was shut up by Black putting a finger over his lips.
"Stop asking questions and let's just sleep. I'm tired." Black yawned.
Gram turned and saw Black taking his jacket off and throwing it somewhere and then wiggled out of his jeans so he was only in his boxers. He threw the jeans too and Gram heard them hit one of his stacks of books and knock them over.
"Oops." Black said, smiling at Gram.
Gram flicked Black in the forehead and sighed.
It wasn't new that Black slept over at Gram's place. He practically lived here these days. Besides, White kicked him out of their apartment every Wednesday so he could have date night with his boyfriend. Black usually just came home with Gram on Wednesday's and they played some video games or watched a movie while they ate take out. The only reason Black hadn't come home with him today was because he had made plans with Eugene.
Gram reached over and turned off the light and then turned on his side facing Black and closed his eyes. A few minutes later he felt Black move and then arms around him. He opened his eyes and saw Black asleep hugging him like every night they slept in the same bed. Gram stared at Black for a while before falling asleep with his arms around Black as well.
The next morning Black woke up Gram by hitting him in the face and complaining about the sun shining into the room. Gram had forgotten to close the balcony blinds so the sun was shining in their faces. Gram got up and closed the blinds before getting started on breakfast while Black continued sleeping.
Half an hour later Gram woke Black up and told him breakfast was ready.
They ate and then took turns showering before heading to school. Black didn't want to drive today so he rode with Gram. And if Gram drove his motorcycle a bit faster than usual so Black would have to hold on to him a bit tighter nobody had to know.
Classes went by fast and in the evening they arrived at the garage they worked at to find the others already there, including Black's brother who didn't work there but had been adopted by Gumpa (the garage owner) into the group when Black had introduced him to them.
"Gram, is my brother using you as his chauffeur again?" White asked from Sean's lap.
"I don't mind." Gram said at the same time Black walked over to his brother and flicked him in the forehead.
"Look who's talking. Doesn't Sean drive you everywhere and not leave your side?" Black said.
"Yeah but I love him." Sean defended kissing White.
Black made a disgusted face.
"I bet Black loves Gram too." Yok snickered and Black smacked him hard behind the head. "Hey!"
"Black and I are best friends. Of course we love each other." Gram said, walking over and putting an arm around Black's shoulders.
Black shrugged Gram's arm off.
"I'm getting a beer." Black said as he headed towards the fridge in the corner of the garage.
Gram looked at Black's retreating back confused and then noticed White was glaring at him meanwhile Sean and Yok shook their heads looking disappointed. Gumpa sighed and walked over and patted Gram in the back.
"What's wrong?" Gram asked.
"I thought you were supposed to be smart?" White asked, still glaring.
"I am." Gram said. "Top of my class."
"You're hopeless is what you are." Sean said.
"What?" Gram asked.
"I brought dinner!" Namo yelled as she walked in holding a bunch of bags. "Oh, what's with the mood?"
"Nothing. Here let me help you with those." Gumpa walked over and took most of the bags from Namo.
"Hey Namo." Black greeted her when he got back with a beer in his hand.
"Oh, hey Black." Namo smiled.
"Is Eugene coming?" Yok asked.
Gram froze expecting Black to look upset over the mention of his ex but to his surprise he didn't look bothered at all. Black and Namo shared a look though. Strange.
"Uh, yeah, she said she'd be a bit late but she'll be here." Namo said.
"Before she shows up I think I should let you guys know that Eugene and I broke up." Black said.
"Oh, that sucks." Yok said, looking at the others.
"I am shocked." White said nervously looking at Sean.
"Speechless." Sean said.
Black gave Yok, White, and Sean a look that Gram didn't quite understand. The four of them seemed to have an entire conversation just by looking at each other though.
Namo laughed nervously and clapped her hands.
"Dinner everyone." Namo announced.
Everyone got up and walked over to the table where Gumpa and Namo had taken all the food out of the bags and placed it.
"Don't you guys think Black and Eugene should try and talk things out?" Gram found himself saying a few minutes later as they all talked and ate.
Everyone suddenly went quiet and shared looks.
Why the fuck did they keep doing that?
"We already did. We're over." Black said from his spot next to him.
"But you're soulmates." Gram said.
Black sighed.
"What's with you and continuing to tell me that Eugene and I are soulmates? I already explained to you that we aren't in love with each other." Black said frustrated.
Everyone else stared back and forth at the two not wanting to interrupt.
"I'm just worried that you two aren't thinking straight and will regret this later. I care about the both of you." Gram said.
"You're right about one thing. We aren't thinking straight." Eugene said as she walked in and towards the table. "Hey everyone."
"Hey." Everyone greeted her.
"Gram why are you trying to convince Black to work things out with me? We're over." Eugene said as she sat down in the empty spot next to Namo.
"Because you're soulmates." Gram said.
Black slammed his eating utensils on the table.
"Can you stop saying that?" Black snapped. "Gram you're literally the last person to be arguing that two people who share soulmarks should be together. You don't even believe in soulmates. And it's insulting that you think you know better than Eugene and I when it comes to how we feel."
"What Black means is that Eugene and him have been talking about breaking up for a long time now. They know what they're doing Gram." White said sensing the tension between Gram and Black and trying to ease it.
"Wait, I thought you didn't know?" Gram asked White. "You said you were shocked when he told you earlier."
"Oh, um…" White looked nervously at the others.
"Gram, do you really think Eugene and Black should stay together just because they share soulmarks? That's very insulting to White and I." Sean said, trying to save his boyfriend's ass from exposing the fact that they had all known Eugene and Black had broken up. They'd broken up a month ago to be exact.
"How is that insulting to you two?" Gram asked, confused looking at the two of them. "You two are literally the definition of perfect soulmates."
"Um, Gram what are you talking about?" Yok asked.
"Sean and White have the perfect soulmate relationship. They've literally been inseparable since the moment they locked eyes and found out they were soulmates." Gram explained.
"Gram." Black said. "Sean and White aren't soulmates."
What?
"What?" Gram exclaimed turning to look at the couple.
"Sean and I don't share a soulmark." White said.