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[b]Unnecessary Soulmate AU #2:[/b] Faint Scars
[b]Characters:[/b] Jecht Rutella
[b]Setting: [/b]Literally like a summary of canon Jecht's life, but if canon world had soulmates. Soulmates are a "perfect match", people whose personalities compliment each other and can naturally give their match what they need, whether that need is something to help them grow as a person or feel happy or something else, it all depends on their personality and desires. People tend to have more than one soulmate, with the most common being platonic relationships. The names are added on their body throughout their life, especially if a person goes through a life changing event or goes through a major personality change. Although supernatural creatures are not public knowledge, they exist and most immortals also have soulmates. Immortals go through many soulmates in their long lives, with names fading into a faint scar at the soulmate's death.

♥♥♥

Julian had been born without a soulmark, like most children. Infants did not have a sense of self, did not yet have a personality, so it made sense there would be no "perfect match" yet. During his human life he only ever received one mark: in the center of his neck was the name "Nicolas Marquis".

After he turned into a vampire, Nicolas still never faded away. Julian became Jecht and he gained a few more soulmates as time passed on, but most turned into faint scars in the end. Only Nicolas remained with him and Jecht felt the name was his one comforting constant in his neverending hell of a life. "No matter what happens, I am not alone. I still have at least one soulmate still out there." he chants to himself, desperately, on nights he feels like giving up.

Therefore, in 1644 a moment happened where he panicked after seeing Nicolas no longer written on his neck. The name he desperately clung to had changed into something different during his sleep. Jecht wondered what on earth happened to Nicolas for him to change his name to "Trixxtal", which was followed by a string of several other names. The sheer number of new names Nicolas gave himself was so long that it looped around his neck like an obnoxious collar. Jecht could only react with, "What the fuck kind of name is this?", as he stared bewildered at his reflection.

Upset that the pretty name Nicolas had been changed into whatever the trainwreck word necklace on his skin now was, Jecht decided Trixxtal was now his least favorite soulmate. But he had more important things to worry about, like taking care of Hope on his own now that Keziah had died. He didn't think about Trixxtal for a long time, especially after meeting Vittoria. Her name appeared on his body immediatley after they first met, something that had never happened to him before, and Jecht concerned himself with the soulmate right in front of him. He even got along with her husband Massimo - suprisingly another soulmate of his - and Jecht was happy having a friendship with him. He felt happy for a time, but it did not last. He gained a precious son but lost his daughter after she ran away from home. Jecht kept his romantic relationship with Vittoria from Massimo, pretending all he had with both of them was platonic, not wanting to risk upsetting him and being too selfish to admit his deception with Vittoria. Then Massimo killed Vittoria and Dante over being vampires, and Jecht killed him in retaliation. All at once he lost his child and two soulmates, one by his own hands, and he left the country in despair.

He vowed not to get involved with any more of his soulmates; he just seemed to bring disaster into their lives.

Five years later, he comes across a man who looks at him like a ghost. On the man's arm is a faded scar: Jules Leronada. But on his other arm, like a mirror, was the script "Jecht Rutella". Jecht gazes back into his haunted eyes, feeling just as apprehensive, and carefully asks, "Trixxtal?" It is not hard to narrow him down; Trixxtal's name is the only one Jecht had left.

Jecht ignores his vow and travels together with Trixxtal. Despite his childish declaration years ago, Trixxtal turns out to be his favorite soulmate. Never before had he felt so exhilarated; life as a pirate with his soulmate is the most fun he ever felt. It is only when he sees Trixxtal near death, when Jecht literally beheads the almost murderer in a blinding rage, that he reconsiders his feelings of their adventures. He fears his friend and soulmate getting into more danger.

"You're okay...You're okay, Trixxtal." he cries, curling his body against him in a desperate embrace. "I was afraid you would die." he bares his feelings out in the open, instead of bottling them inside like normal. Jecht actually cries for once. He squeezes Trixxtal's hand, afraid of letting him go.

As pirate captain, Jecht begins to plan more carefully after that battle. He trains the crew harder and more vigorously, determined not to lose anybody to an enemy. And he begins to wonder if his feelings for Trixxtal were changing from friendship to romantic. He does not confess anything like love just yet, but there are times he gets close. Jecht tells Trixxtal he is his heart, his reason for living. He cannot see himself ever being happy without him in his life.

Of course, the arrival of another soulmate complicated things. Cepheus and Trixxtal are soulmates, but for some reason Cepheus ends up befriending Jecht instead and Trixxtal becomes jealous and possessive of Jecht, blatantly disliking Cepheus over it. The situation makes Jecht remember that not all soulmates get along and that some end up disliking each other so much, the name disappears completely. It takes less than a month for Trixxtal's skin to be clear of Cepheus' name, although Cepheus' shoulder remains unchanged. Trixxtal hates it even more when, after Jecht acknowledges Cepheus as one of his best friends, their names appear on each other.

Drama on the pirate ship occurs. Tori is temporarily given refuge while they search for his parents, Jecht becomes injured by a wizard, Trixxtal is kidnapped, and the only thing that keeps Jecht sane is that Trixxtal's name has not faded. He still feels angry and drinks his problems away at a bar, but the drive to rescue Trixxtal motivates him to take action before the name fades away. In the end, Trixxtal is rescued. Some time after that, Tori's parents are rescued too. Jecht has even bonded with the child. It should have been a happy ending, but after everything several of his crew members have died. Cepheus has become another, barely visible scar on Jecht's skin.

Time passes and Jecht's relationship with Trixxtal is anything but harmonious. They are in love, have admitted their feelings for one another, but even being soulmates, each others "perfect match" does not mean it is a perfect match for a romance. In the best moments of their relationship, Trixxtal makes Jecht feel complete. He is happy, feels strong enough to take on any challenge, loves their talks and everything about Trixxtal. He wants to spend all of his time with him,  give him all the gifts in the world, and show off his devotion and love. At their worst, Jecht feels like Trixxtal deserves someone better than him, he feels weak and cannot control his temper, little things Trixxtal does annoy him and he snaps at him. But despite their turmultous relationship, Jecht refuses to give up on their love, and stays by his side. Or at least, he tries.

Eventually their toxic relationship becomes too much, Jecht fears he won't survive anymore of the poison. The name wrapped around his neck, that he used to (and still does) cherish so lovingly, now feels like a shackle chaining him to Trixxtal. A noose, ready to choke him to death. He leaves. He cries in private, nearly turns back, his body shaking at the thought he might never see Trixxtal again. Jecht had gone through this many times and always went back to Trixxtal, but eventually there was a time when he did not. He stays away for years, and at some point gets a new soulmate for the first time since Cepheus.

He avoids Trixxtal and in 1860, meets his soulmate Elijah. He is a human with fragile health, the son of a halfblood vampire and human. Elijah has been slowly dying all his life, like he has all the weaknesses of a human and vampire with none of their strengths. He reminds Jecht of a flower. Beautiful and gentle, resilient but fragile. They cling to the sun for life; but ultimately they are mortal, eventually they wilt away. Just like Elijah.

"I am just one person who loves you, out of so many others. And many more in the future will love you too. My name..." Elijah places a comforting hand on Jecht's teary face, then his gaze lingers toward Trixxtal's name still wrapped around his neck, "And others' names, we are carved onto your skin. Even after we are physically gone, we will forever be with you. Proof you have been loved and will always be loved. Please, do not forget this."

Elijah leaves him forever, but Jecht does not forget. He feels more at peace with himself.

The years go by once again and Jecht reunites with Trixxtal. Jecht never stopped loving him so he returns to his soulmate's loving embrace. But Jecht has matured. He is just as harsh with words, but he feels less angry and controls his temper better. He listens instead of yells. The two of them get along easier and they fall back into that perfect, blissful relationship that sometimes appeared during the calm periods of their past time together. Jecht, however, is less willing to put up with any more manipulations. They argue, but ultimately settle into a healthier relationship.

It does not last. Jecht and Trixxtal break up again, once more not on speaking terms. Jecht handles this separation better but he still misses Trixxtal, misses being in a loving relationship, and starts to pursue other people. The void they temporarily fulfill does not completely leave him until Jecht comes across an abandoned human baby in a basket.

He names him Joel and adopts him as his son. Jecht reflects on his previous attempts at parenting and tries to learn from them. He raises Joel telling stories about how much he loved his soulmate, to the point where his son acknowledges Trixxtal as his other parent. Jecht does not know how to feel, did not even realize he spoke about Trixxtal so often. His son eventually becomes a vampire, then goes off to have his own adventures and Jecht is ready to finally have time to himself and relax.

He moves to a new city and tells only three people his location, so he is in disbelief when he opens the door and finds Trixxtal had been knocking. After a panicked "I need help with this baby!" from Trixxtal and Jecht scolding him on how he was incorrectly holding the girl, the two somehow end up living together and raise Charlotte. Jecht does not know why he agreed.

It is a lie to himself and Jecht knows exactly why; he still and always will love Trixxtal. This time, together they resolve to make their relationship work for good. They love each other and were worth any hardship the future may throw at them.

Jecht looks at their matching rings and feels certain that, even in a world without soulmates, he would have fallen in love with Trixxtal.[/center]