Chapter Text
Have you ever heard of a soulmark? Everyone has one. You’re born with it. Some look like words or phrases. Rare ones are a full sentence. But all of them, every single one is to do with your soulmate. Their first words spoken to you, burnt, marred, stained onto your skin from birth. They can say anything really. A lot of people have a simple soulmark that reads ‘hey’, like it was written in tomato sauce before it was wiped away – staining the skin. Others have had words like ‘excuse me’, ‘you’re funny’ or ‘fuck off’. No matter what the words are, it’s guaranteed their soulmates will say exactly that to them the first time they ever meet.
Minho’s is no different. But ever since he was old enough to understand the meaning of the soulmark and be able to understand what his actually said, he’s hated it. Not once has he ever looked forward to meeting his so-called soulmate. Because if his soulmark is actually what his soulmate will say to him the first time he meets him – he doesn’t want him. At all. Not in his life. Not anywhere near him. Because why?
Because Minho’s soulmark simply and plainly said, ‘That’s a dumb name for a cat’.
Clear as day on his shoulder blade. It was quite neat too, not smudgy or hard to truly understand. Which made it worse. It’s not like he could pretend it might actually say something else. No. It’s a literal insult to his love for his cats. Something he’s had since he was a baby. And anyone who insults his cats, put simply – isn’t worth his love.
But so far, at the age of 27 he hasn’t heard one person say that to his face. Unless, of course, they’ve asked what his soulmark is, and he tells them or shows them. Then they say it, laughing in disbelief. But obviously, that doesn’t count.
Maybe Minho’s soulmate died an unfortunate death. Attacked by cats, just to make it more ironic.
Either way, by now Minho has almost forgotten about his soulmark. And tonight is no different. He’s at his friends' house party. Chan, has just moved into his very own home. Not an apartment or shared flat. But a house he bought with his own money. And for Minho and his friends, this was a pretty big deal. Even though they were mid to late 20’s respectively, they weren’t the most matured people around.
Chan was definitely the one out of the group to have his head screwed on the most. Mind you, he was also the same man who taught all of his friend what a ‘shoey’ was and would be the first to strip naked in front of his friends the minute he got slightly tipsy. So, although his head was screwed on somewhat, even Minho knew there was a lot of thread to go.
The party had started at 6pm. Minho had been there since 3pm that afternoon, helping set up for what was sure to be a big night. Balloons and streamers, food and drink everywhere. Chan had asked Minho to cook some of his favourite items, including kimchi, jjajangmyeon, seaweed soup and lamb chops. Thankfully Seungmin had told him that he’d take care of the kimchi, leaving only 3 dishes for Minho.
“That’s not how you do jjajangmyeon,” Seungmin’s deadpan voice filtered into Minho’s ears.
“Go away,” is all Minho replied, concentrating on mixing the final dish all together.
“I think you’ve done it wrong,” Seungmin steps closer and leans down, eyeing the noodled dish closely. “Yeah you have definitely fucked it up,”
Minho stops mixing the dish and stares at the younger man’s head below him, his black hair styled sharply for the night.
“Do you want a neck slap? I will do it, happily,” Minho smiles big and bright as Seungmin looks up, slightly craning his neck.
“You know what – maybe I was thinking of something different, this looks perfect,” he gives a goofy grin full of perfectly white teeth before standing back up. “I think it’s mixed enough, want me to go and take it to the table?”
Minho nods, leaving the serving cutlery in the bowl.
The music was pumping, though somewhat muffled thanks to the kitchen doors being closed. A current song was playing in English, and Minho isn’t entirely sure if he knows it or not. As he’s washing his hands he tilts his head slightly, listening and waiting for any recognition of the words. His eyes stare up at the ceiling, a slow smile spreading. He did know this song.
He remembers Chan showing him years ago and he’d actually liked it. Especially the guitar. It was AC/DC, but he can’t remember the name of the song. His head begins to bop to the drum beat as he turns the sink off.
“Ok everything is outside on the table – I think that’s it now for food,” Seungmin walks in holding the kitchen door open, the music growing in decibels suddenly. “Come on Lee Know, everyone is waiting for you,”
“I’m coming, I’m coming – who’s here now?” His hands find the hand towel as he holds his eyes on Seungmin, who is looking back outside.
“Uhhhh, Hyunjin rocked up before with Felix, a couple of Chan’s work mates are here, we know Binnie but he came with a couple of guys we don’t know,” Seungmin gives a pursed smile and nod, turning back to Minho.
“Oh yay, new people,”
“God, you’re so fun to party with,”
Minho rolls his eyes before play punching Seungmin’s shoulder. He grabs his drink – a very tall and full glass of bourbon and coke, before following Seungmin outside.
The night air is cool but not uncomfortably so, just enough to appreciate a fire going nearby. Minho steps through the open sliding door and glances around. The outdoor area is simple but nicely decorated. Chan has done a good job of making it homely. A simple glass table large enough to fit up to 10 people sits in the middle of the concreted area. To the left is the BBQ and to the right is a wall shelf that holds punnets of different herbs. Above, fairy lights hang from one side to the other. It doesn’t look as ridiculous as he’d expected. When Chan and Seungmin had begun hanging them earlier that day Minho had laughed, very dryly in their face. But now, that laughter was on him. It looks good, homely and welcoming. The ambience from the light was perfect, not spotlight bright that everyone could see that you forgot to do a pore strip on your nose, but enough to have a comfortable soft glow over everything. Add to that the side light on the house and the place was lit perfectly for the housewarming.
Chan is laughing with Binnie and 2 other guys he’s never seen before. One is reasonably tall and has a big bright smile, laughing and adding to whatever the conversation is about. The other is slightly shorter, also with black hair. His cheeks are full—plump in a way that suits his face, not weird or unfitting, just - soft. He too, is laughing loudly. Whatever they’re talking about must be a cracker, because all 4 of them are nearly in tears, struggling to talk.
Sitting next to them are Hyunjin and Felix, with Seungmin joining, taking the free spot besides Felix. They too are laughing, but nowhere near as fierce as the other group. Minho walks forward to the spot that’s free next to Hyunjin, settling in comfortably. He’s now between his ferret – which is what he and everyone else calls Hyunjin – and the guy with the cute cheeks.
The sweet burn of his drink coats his throat. It’s welcoming and feels ohsogood. The perfect prize at the end of a pretty damn hectic day. Felix turns to Minho, smiling his usual big goofy grin.
“So what’s this I hear about you needing a new stereo?” The deep voice flows through the air like a heavy fur coat. Minho has always been entranced by the tone of Felix’s voice. So deep, so smooth and a touch sultry.
“Oh god don’t get me started Lix,” Minho rolls his eyes, adding the dramatic flair he’s famously known for. “Your dang nephew – he must get it from you,”
Felix scoffs and feigns innocence, mouth agape and eyes wide. His shoulder length blonde hair framing his face perfectly. Almost unfairly.
“Me? I’m the perfect uncle! They obviously get it from you,” he sticks his tongue out playfully towards Minho.
“If all of my babies took after me, I wouldn’t need a new stereo,” his voice is deadpan and matter of fact. “Maybe the ferret has been around too much – the babo rubbing off on him,” Minho’s eyes crease slightly as he knows he’s about to be berated.
“What do you mean by that! I’m not babo! I’m not – am I. Am I? Guys?” Hyunjin looks between the 3 others, waiting for confirmation. It doesn’t come.
“Anyway,” Minho continues on, smirking as Hyunjin gives a rough sigh. “Doongi, for some reason has this infatuation with small cords at the moment,” again, he rolls his eyes as he stops for a quick sip.
“Oh dear,” Felix says as he wiggles slightly in the chair, getting comfier. “Don’t tell me,”
“Mmmmm, yes,” Minho purses his lips together. “I came home yesterday, popped the tv on and there’s only sound coming out from the left speaker – so I go to the right one and well what do you know,”
Felix is snickering, his hand hovering over his mouth.
“Fucking – Doongie, has absolutely shredded the back wires. Chewed to the shit house, he’s bloody lucky he didn’t get a shock!” Minho sighs and shakes his head. “I’m sure he is actually taking after Hyunjin now that I think about it, bloody babo,”
Felix is all out laughing now, eyes closed tightly and head thrown back. Seungmin closely mirroring the same expression. Hyunjin again, looks around with his mouth open in shock, although this time he is laughing.
“That’s a dumb name for a cat,”
Minho stops. Immediately.
The voice isn’t one he recognises so it can’t be one of his friends that have said it. But then that makes it worse. That makes it so much worse.
He turns, the guy next to him is smiling at him, a cheek full of food.
“What – what did you just say?” Minho’s eyes are wide and he’s unsure if he has actually heard correctly.
“I said – that’s a dumb name for a cat – Doongie,” He smiles then giggles. He fucking giggles.
Everyone is now staring at Minho. All of them know each other’s soulmark. And all of them just heard what was said.
“Well, shit,” Chan says smiling, shaking his head. “Who knew.”