#vdsweek2020

[azozzoni]

@vdsweek 8/12:

The last person Jens expects to see at the first party back at Uni is his one-night stand from the boy’s summer trip to Amsterdam. It seems like fate has smiled down on him, if only the guy would acknowledge him. Jens has a plan for that.

[peaceoutofthepieces]

VDS Week -> Day 6: Art

“But then you touched me. And I really wanted to believe in it.”

[pduwd]

As easy as a melody.

Chapter 1.

When he checked the hour on his phone, he already knew he was going to arrive late again. And this time it was clearly his fault.

Lucas should have gotten used to having a job and going to class at this point, considering he had been doing it since he was 16.

 Today’s classes started at 7:30 a.m. due to the teacher not going last week and having to retrieve all those missing hours, so he had to wake up early to be there when it was needed. Even without the classes, he would have felt sleepy: he spent the whole night looking for the perfect scores for his students. To be more specific, transcribing them.

He was a perfectionist when it came to music and internet scores weren’t as accurate as he would like to. There was always one thing he thought he could put better, he could find an easier way for his children to play those songs and he loved listening to the songs his student suggested. They helped him to get to know them better, see what they liked, what they didn't, how they were feeling...and he found new music to listen to. After that, Lucas chose the ones he liked the most to turning them into music language. Also, what kind of teacher he would be if he just printed what he found on those websites and gave it to those kids? They could do that too.

He liked taking his time to put all the effort possible on those scores.

After having lunch, his body needed a rest. During the week, his classes were at 7 p.m. so the idea of taking a nap sounded so tempting. But now, after seeing how he had to wait for the next bus, Lucas could maybe think that his idea wasn’t as brilliant as he saw it in the beginning.

His life might sound a bit stressful and messy: going to college for 6 hours every morning, teaching kids for two hours three days per week and preparing all the material needed for his lessons, studying for exams, taking care of everything that happened on his flat…yeah, it could be awful at some point, but Lucas would always think it was worth it. He wouldn’t change any second of it. Maybe the part of his mum being on a clinic.

She wasn't happy to leave Lucas alone, but they both knew it was the best for her, and she would go back home when she got the help she needed.

One thing people close to Lucas knew it was his mum was his favourite person on the world: she was truly a fighter. During all his childhood he had to listen how she couldn’t be a good mother because of her bipolar disorder, and how hard it must be for Lucas’ dad to take care of him. In his opinion, that was bullshit and people loved to criticize what they didn’t understand.

His mum was the person who was there for him whenever he needed it. She helped him and Kes with their art projects when they were kids and needed an adult supervising or doing the complicated parts.

She was there those nights he couldn’t sleep. For a long time he didn’t want to tell her why because he thought it was embarrassing, but she never pushed him to do it: she just smiled at him, kissed his curls while she put him on her arms to hold him until he fell asleep. Time later he finally told her he was afraid of the dark after watching that scary film Jayden stole from his dad collection. At first they had a long talk about why he shouldn’t have seen it and Lucas was really scared of making his mum feel disappointed. That day after school, she picked him up and took him to the supermarket to buy those shiny stars you can glue on the walls.

They spent the whole afternoon trying to find a way to put them on the ceiling to make Lucas’ bedroom like a night sky so he wouldn’t be afraid anymore, and after some troubles that included tiny fingers glued one another and two or three tickling fights, they got it.

Of course she had her bad days, just like everyone else. The difference was she needed a bit of more help and time to get out of them. And Lucas could never get mad at her because of them, he wasn’t like his dad. Instead, he took them as a way to return her all the love she gave him: it was his turn to slide on his parents’ big bed to give his mum all the hugs and kisses she deserved. He even learnt how to cook some things because sometimes she didn’t feel like doing it for herself and she always made lunch and dinner for Lucas, so making it for her made him like he could also take care of her and she could feel loved.

His dad never understood his way of seeing things. He usually got mad at his mum when it wasn’t clearly her fault and he tended to scream a lot.

Lucas never felt comfortable with his dad, or at least he couldn’t remember if it happened. He wasn't at home for long periods of time due to his work so Lucas didn't see him that much. When he was there, the man was harsh and with a complain on his mouth of how tired he was. He always seems to be disappointed if Lucas for things he didn't understand: his mum was never mad because he liked to paint his nails to match hers, why did he have to? He tend to sleep a lot and refused to play football with his son. And then he complained because Lucas didn't want to spend time with him. When him and his mum had a fight while he pretended not listen, only his mum visited him to make sure a five years old Lucas was alright and to say she was sorry for him having to listen to all of that. The list could go on, but he didn't want to get mad at this point because his dad behaviour.

Lucas thought it was understandable at some point: his father was tired and it was okay. When Lucas was tired he could be mean without realising it because he needed to sleep; or maybe all dads were like that and he was just being an annoying kid. But when he stayed at Kes', his dad was there to give them both a forehead kiss before going to bed. He went with them both to buy a skateboard when they were 12 and they saw the old guys skating near school.

He wanted to ask his mum about it but maybe she could feel upset so he prefered to stay quiet. Lucas felt kinda relieved when his mum kicked him out when he was 14.

She was the sweetest person in Lucas’ life, but he would never forget how she threw his dad luggage through the door. Most people felt sorry for Lucas but it could have been one of the happiest days for him.

During the bus trip, he thought how glad he was his dad never saw him playing the violin. It's not he was bad at it, he wouldn't have been teaching kids for two years if he was, but his dad wasn't the biggest fan of classical music. Of course Lucas practised when he was at home, he didn't go to any classes to learn after all. He guessed his dad never thought the violin sound that came out of his room was his son, he prefered to think it was a phase Lucas had for listening to the violin on his laptop, and he already hated that.

His passion for the violin and music in general, that came from his mother. It was something he inherited of her, or that’s what he liked to think: music was something that they both shared and it was their most beautiful bond. But it was something he didn't like to bring up to his head when he was in the middle of a bus on his way to his lessons.

He got lost on his thoughts the whole trip until the bus stopped. Watching the name of the bus stop, he walked out of it while he saw the academy building at the end of the street.

[skam-luart-mix]

21:21

I finally managed to breathe

My contribution for today is a bit off topic, but I think our scene was missing 21:21

[kartoffelblume]

Vds Week Day 5 - First Meeting

Part 2/2

Someone for more than one night

Part 1

This time their communication is even better, maybe Jens also sobered up a little by now but somehow it's even more fun than earlier.

They hit surprisingly often but so do the other two - and in almost no time Jens is at least as drunk as before again.

Then only one cup left in both teams, now it's all or nothing.

Jens throws with all of his concentration but he hits the edge of the cup. Then Kev throws, the ball bounces in the cup but both, Luc and Jens lean down quickly to blow it out of the cup again.

They succeed.

When Jens looks up Luc is really close. Again he contemplates if this is a good time to touch him, maybe even kiss him but be just quickly gets upright again, holding his hands up for a high five.

Now they have to hit - just once would be enough. Luc leans forward, bounces a little and throws directly into the cup.

They cheer loudly, Jens just lunging forward wrapping Luc in a hug, feels his laugh vibrating against his chest.

Once they rearranged the cups, once the last two, teams are in position and no one pays them attention Luc pulls a joint out of his pocket.

"Wanna go outside?"

"Hell yeah"

They disappear outside , Jens hopes no one follows them - he doesn't want to share. Not the weed and especially not Luc.

The stuff is good, from the Netherlands apparently. Once they sit on the ground, legs touching Luc starts talking.

"So, why did you really come up to us? Not because of the beerpong, right?"

Jens laughs lightly.

"No, not because of the beerpong."

He thinks for a moment before continuing, noticing how warm Lucs leg is against his own.

"Because of you"

Luc laughs, Jens isn't sure if he laughs about him but he doesn't care, the sound is way to beautiful.

"Because you wanted to get me in bed?"

He asks, boldly, his chin upwards, eyebrows raised.

"No! Or yes but not like that!"

Now Lucs eyes are big.

"I just... Wanted to get to know you, you know. If I would search something for one night I would've already found someone"

This again gets a chuckle out of Luc.

"Then why would you want to get to know me."

Jens shrugs.

"I don't really know. You look beautiful. You seem special."

There is a faint blush on Lucs cheeks now. He's even more beautiful like that.

"And I think it would be a waste to only have you for one night, so..."

Luc hides his red cheeks in his hands for a moment before he speaks again.

"So you thought challenging my friends to a beer pong tournament would help you get to know me?"

Jens shrugs again.

"Well it somehow did. And to my defense - I'm pretty drunk. I'm way smoother when I'm sober."

There is this beautiful sound again, this time more of a giggle but Jens enjoys it nevertheless.

Now Luc seems to remember the joint, both of them somehow forgot about it while talking but Luc lights it up again to take a long drag, letting the smoke escape through his mouth.

They sit in silence while he hands it over to Jens.

"So, you want to ask for my number?"

It's pretty straightforward but Jens doesn't mind, he nods quickly while exhaling the smoke.

"Wait"

He reaches for his phone and hands it to Luc while he takes another drag.

"So, you do that often?"

Luc asks once he gives back the phone.

"What exactly do you mean, going to partys, beer pong tournaments or talking to pretty boys?"

Luc laughs softly.

"Trying to get to know strangers. Maybe noticing they're not as special as you thought."

"If you're referring to yourself, you're way more special than I thought."

Again Lucs cheeks are tainted red.

There is silence for a few beats, just, the bass of the music heard through the walls.

"Is your 'getting to know me first' thing okay with kissing me now?"

The question comes little out of the blue for Jens, he expected Luc to laugh about him, maybe even text a few times or meet up for an actual date but not this. He can feel the heart in his rib cage.

"Yeah it is"

His voice is quiet but that's okay because Lucs face is already pretty close, maybe they're just sitting really close, maybe Luc already leaned forward a bit, maybe both.

"I'm glad"

Now Jens can feel Lucs breath on his lips, sees how his eyes alternate between looking in Jens eyes and on his lips, hears his own heartbeat even louder.

And then they both move at the same time, lips meeting lips, Jens can't help but to let his eyes flutter shut.

Soft. Warm.

There's something about kissing Luc that's just different than kissing anyone else, something in the way he moves his lips, the way his skin smells, the way his hand moves in Jens hair while Jens instinctively pulls him closer by the waist.

Then his brain just stutters to an halt and all he can think of are those lips.

He doesn't know how much time passed when they hear someone calling their names, Kev walking up to them, talking something about that the match is long over.

Then slowly, Jens brain starts working again and he lets go of Lucs waist. He notices Aiden standing behind Kev, grinning to himself.

"Oh we can leave without you Luc if you two need some more time..." he speaks up now, taking a step forward.

Jens wants to nod, wants Luc to stay but the boy already gets up.

"No worries. Bye Jens."

He winks shortly, Jens isn't even sure if je only imagined it, and then walks away, his friends following him shouting their goodbyes.

And he's gone.

Jens wishes him back, but even now he knows that staying here won't help so he gets up to search for his friends.

They are still at the beer pong tables, Moyo and Aaron in another mach while Robbe and the white haired guy are making out in some corner.

Just when he sits down he feels a vibration in his pocket - a message on his phone.

It's from a number saved as 'Someone for more than one night'

See you tomorrow at the small Café on campus?

Jens can't help but to grin wide.

Yes. Definitely

He sends back, just now noticing how content he feels.

*Let's see how you think about that when you're sober

I'll probably wonder how I scored a date with the most beautiful guy while completely drunk

He gets a laughing emoji back.

Maybe I just like your honesty.

He puts the phone back in his pocket, collecting his friends to go back home.

A couple of months later

"Hey" He plants a little kiss on Lucs mouth, accompanied by the kissing noises Kes and Jayden make behind them (Jens still can't believe how he got their names so wrong in the beginning)

"Hey, how was your day?"

"Kinda boring. But now you're here."

Luc grins wide as he starts pulling Jens away from his friends. They sit down at the side of the skate park, legs entangled.

They talk for a little while longer until the words get lesser and the kisses more and soon Kes is next to them announcing they have to leave. It's already dark even though it's the middle of the summer so get their boards and walk together.

It's a party, the last big one this semester. And then, tomorrow, they both will pack their stuff for their first shared holiday. Jens can't wait.

At the entrance they meet Moyo and Aaron who are already a little tipsy.

"This time we'll win!"

Aaron announces with a huge grin and Moyo cheers behind him.

"We'll see"

Jens looks over to Luc who's already grinning at him. Of course they'll win again.

"Let's go search Robbe and Sander"

They find them on the dance floor, twirling each other and laughing.

Once they reach the couple Moyo and Jayden each pull one of the boys with the group.

"Beer pong tournament!" Moyo exclaims, full of joy.

And Jens still almost can't believe how seamlessly their friends merge to one big friend group, how hes able to put his arms around Lucs shoulder and leave tiny kisses on his cheek while walking over to the Beer pong tables.

He looks around and feels just that - happiness - in every last fiber of his being.

[vdsweek]

VDS Week 2020

So, based on the response to the survey, I’ve decided to make this page to host VDS Week. Nothing will change other than all the content will be reblogged here for everyone to find it more easily.

I’ve also decided, based on the responses I got and the date of Elippo week, that VDS Week will be held from the 10th-16th August. I hope this gives people time to create content (especially after finishing schoolwork) while also not seeming too far away!

Please tag everything #vdsweek2020 so I can reblog it!

The layout is as follows:

Monday, 10/08 - Fics / Headcanons

Tuesday, 11/08 - Soulmates / Coming Out

Wednesday, 12/08 - GIFs / Edits

Thursday, 13/08 - Roommates / Enemies/Friends to Lovers

Friday, 14/08 - First Meeting / Aged-Up

Saturday, 15/08 - Art / Playlist

Sunday, 16/08 - AU

Notes:

As with the previous VDS Week, you do not have to take part in every day! I have included two prompts in most days to give a broader choice while still giving everyone something to work with. You can do something for one prompt or the other, or separate things for both, or one work combining the prompts — it’s all up to your interpretation! If you feel like making multiple works for one prompt, that’s okay too!

For ‘AU’ day — this is basically a free day, since everything VDS is AU, but this is an opportunity to pick your favourite ‘out there’ idea and create it. Whether you want to do a Harry Potter AU, or a famous AU, or a royalty AU, whatever you like! This can again be manifested in any form - fics, gifs, moodboards, playlists, etc. It may be a good opportunity to collaborate!

On days with fics/gifs/art - please feel free to take this as a literal prompt. Fic day does not mean you have to write a fic. You can create anything inspired by this prompt. GIFs or art based on a fic, a social media edit in which Jens/Lucas is a fic writer, etc etc, anything you like! Same for GIF/art day - if your comfort zone is fics, write something based on a gif set or a piece of art!

Going off the previous point, please feel free to collaborate. Contact another content creator and suggest a fic edit you have that they could make gifs of, or vice versa! Many responses I got when I asked what the best aspect of the first VDS week was simply said the fandom. Talk to each other, support each other, create with each other! If you don’t want to reach out to a particular person, send an ask to this page with your idea, or even contact me personally and I will try to help! (Here or on @peaceoutofthepieces.)

If you have any questions, please don’t be afraid to ask! Anonymously, directly, however you feel most comfortable. If there is anything else that comes to mind or I discover I’ve left out, I’ll update you.

Create, collaborate, and have fun!

[alwaysin-myhead]

That little smile on your face when you think about vds🥰

*cut to me daydreaming about vds*

[pepethehobbit]

We are more than just good friends

5 times Lucas and Jens feel what the other feels because they are soulmates but are too dumb to realize it and 1 time they finally do. 

You can read it also on AO3 here.

1. 

“This movie is so shit.” He leans into Lucas space to whisper it quietly so he doesn’t disturb the other people in the cinema. They didn’t know which movie they were going to watch. They only had money for a sneak preview. So far, “The shape of water” isn’t really appealing to Jens’ taste, to put it lightly. Right now, the protagonist is shagging the fish man and Jens is really weirded out. Lucas silently snickers next to him.

“It really is. Wanna get out of here? I don’t wanna finish this.”

Those words are music to Jens ears and he nods excitedly. “Yeah, come on. Five euros is not worth finishing this movie.”

On their way out of the cinema they can’t stop laughing and Jens is once again distracted by his best friend’s beautiful smile. For quite a while now it seems that the way he always saw Lucas has changed from his best friend to a crush so big Jens wonders how it remains unnoticed. He is definitely in love with Lucas and he can’t deny it any longer. With every passing day he wishes more and more that Lucas is his soulmate. Because if he isn’t that would mean that Jens would someday see Lucas with someone else other than him and that thought hurts him more than anything.

The thing is, so far, he has still no idea how he is supposed to find his soulmate. Usually the signs which point you to your soulmate start to appear when you turn 18. Jens’ 18th birthday was two weeks ago just like Lucas’, with only a day difference. But he hasn’t gotten any of the common signs so he still doesn’t know how to look out for his soulmate. Every soulmate pair has a different way of finding each other. Some are more common than others, like sharing a skin, a name tattooed on your wrist or a hand print that changes color when your soulmate touches you. But there are also rarer ones, like hearing each others thoughts, hearing them sing when they are nowhere near you or knowing what the other feels.

Jens hasn’t had any signs even closely resembling that, so it had to be something else. The moment he realized his feelings for Lucas he knew he would test some common signs once they both turned 18. Since then he tried drawing on his skin to see if it appeared on Lucas. When he saw that it didn’t he was disappointed but he still had some others to test. He touched him casually on the arm hoping his hand print would be there turning to color and he has searched his whole body in the hopes of Lucas’ name tattooed somewhere on the night he turned 18 but even those signs did not appear. He also couldn’t hear Lucas thoughts, which, to be honest, he was kind of glad. Jens never wanted to be these kind of soulmates, he would still like some privacy even from the person he is supposed to spend the rest of his life with. But two weeks have passed and no signs of any kind that would help him identify his soulmate. That also means no signs of Lucas being his soulmate and Jens begins to think that he needs to accept that Lucas might very well not be the person the universe decided for him. Moreover he doesn’t notice a change in Lucas’ behavior so he probably only sees Jens like he has always seen him. As his best friend.

A sudden ringing pulls Jens from his thoughts and finally away from staring at Lucas’ smile, which changes immediately to a frown when he gets his phone out to see who is calling him. Jens looks at the screen and sighs. It’s Lucas father and that is never a good sign. He has the talent of changing Lucas’ mood from happy and content to angry and sad in a matter of seconds. “Don’t answer it, Luc. Ignore him.”

Lucas looks up from his still ringing phone and into Jens eyes. He looks conflicted, like there is nothing he would rather do but then: “No, I can’t. It’s probably about mom.”

Jens sighs. He knows Lucas is right but he just didn’t want to ruin his happy mood and see him upset. Since his mom has been admitted to an institution Lucas father has been crawling back from where ever he was after the divorce. He has always been controlling and seemed to think only he knows what was best for Lucas and his mother. He manipulated them and tried to play each one against the other to get his will. But he underestimated the strong bond that Lucas shared with his mother and she finally filed for divorce two years ago.  Now he is back again and tries to worm his way back into her life. Lucas answers the phone with a cold voice that Jens hopes will never be directed at him.

“What do you want?” Jens can’t hear the other side of the conversation but he sees the effect it has on Lucas. His expression gets angrier by the second and Jens hates it. He hates that he can’t help and that Lucas has to deal with a shitty and manipulative father, when he deserves all the love in this world.

“Well, that’s not my fucking problem, is it? If mom has put you off her visitors list then she has her reasons, good ones too. And I won’t do a fucking thing to convince her otherwise. You can’t control her anymore, okay? She doesn’t want to see you and I sure as hell don’t want to either.” With that Lucas hangs up the phone and shoves it angrily back into his back pocket. He begins to storm of in the direction of their bikes and Jens hurries after him to catch up.

“Hey, Luc! Wait!” He stops behind Lucas and gently grabs a hold of his arm when he stops at the bike racks. It’s summer and they are both wearing shirts so his hand comes in contact with Lucas bare skin. Suddenly he feels anger wash over him, mixed with a little bit of sadness. Jens wonders why his mood suddenly changed so quickly from pure worry to anger. But Lucas is his best friend, it’s only natural to feel angry at his shitty father right?

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Jens asks hesitantly. Lucas looks up defeated, the angry look on his face replaced by something else and just shrugs. “No, not really.” His voice is filled with a sadness that seems to overcome Jens as well. He can’t hold himself back and he pulls Lucas into a tight hug and offers as much comfort as Lucas needs. The other boy falls into him instantly, tugs his face into Jens’ neck and a feeling of gratitude and safety overcomes him. He briefly wonders why, but he is just always grateful that Lucas is in his life and there also isn’t a person in the world where he feels more safe than in Lucas’s arms so he shrugs it off to him being a sap when it comes to his best friend.

They hug each other for a few minutes, saying nothing. Lucas pulls himself out of the embrace and Jens lets go reluctantly. “Can we go to yours and violently shoot some zombies on your xbox?” Lucas’ voice is still laced with sadness but also with a certain kind of determination that seems to reflect his unwillingness to talk about the conversation with his father. But if it’s distraction he needs, Jens is more than happy to give him just that.

“Sure, I always knew that you only like me for my toys anyway. Even when we were twelve you would always try to steal my Pokemon cards.” Jens has to grin because he can see Lucas laughing at his answer. Lucas playfully shoves Jens away and says: “That’s right. I only use you for your xbox. You definitely have no other redeeming qualities for me. I definitely don’t like you because of your personality, that’s for sure.”

Jens pulls a fake offended expression and with his hands he makes the movement of getting stabbed in the heart. “You wound me, Luc. How will I ever recover from such heartbreak?” He tries to lace his voice with as much drama as possible and it seems to have the desired effect. Lucas laughs even harder, hits Jens bare forearm with his hand and lets it stay there. Jens suddenly feels an overwhelming feeling of fondness and happiness come over him with Lucas still touching his arm.

“Oh shut up, you idiot. Let’s just go.” Lucas still laughs while he says it but pulls his hand away now turning to unlock his bike. Jens still feels happy but it isn’t as overwhelming anymore as it has been when Lucas touched him. God, his feelings are really out of control that even such a simple touch can make him so happy. It’s like he is feeling for two when it comes to Lucas. His feelings for him only strengthened since his birthday and Jens blames this on the still lingering hope that Lucas is his soulmate.

They unlock their bikes and make their way over to Jens’ house. The rest of the evening is just spend with playing video games and every time their skins would accidentally come in contact with each other, Jens would feel a wave of happiness overcome him, even more than he was already feeling with Lucas so close next to him.

2. 

It’s another night of Lucas and Jens just chilling at Lucas’ flat. On the day Lucas turned 18 he moved out from his father’s house. Even though his parents divorced two years ago he still had to live with is father. Lucas knew he would move out as soon as possible to get away from his father’s controlling grasp. And because he couldn’t live with his mother he rented a small one bedroom apartment, one where the bed and the kitchen are in the same room. It’s really tiny but Lucas feels much more at home than he ever did when he was still living with his father. This was three weeks ago now. During all this stress and his father trying to meddle in his mother’s life again he barely had the time to realize that the signs for his soulmate should start to appear soon. Honestly he is kind of glad. He doesn’t think he is ready to find his soulmate yet. He doesn’t want to unload all of his baggage to a new person and dragging them down with him. Lucas is much more content to just spend his time with Jens and the boys.

Actually, Lucas begins to think that he couldn’t ever feel more comfortable around anyone than he already does with Jens. So his soulmate, whoever it may be, would have to deal with Lucas and Jens being a team. In a weak moment when Lucas doesn’t have the strength to to suppress the way Jens makes him feel he thinks that maybe Jens could be his soulmate. But then he shakes himself out of it, because his friendship with Jens is far too important than to risk loosing it all over a stupid crush.

Then his traitorous brain usually supplies him with the very unhelpful thought that he is way past a crush and probably very much in love with him. But he doesn’t recognize any signs on Jens’ part that he feels more for Lucas than a strong friendship. Also, now that everything is beginning to settle down again, he realizes that no signs on how to find his soulmate have actually appeared. Same for Jens because he would have told him if they did. That also crushes the hope that Jens is his soulmate, because surely they would have noticed by now. So he continues to suppress it as good as he can without letting him be distracted by how Jens’ whole face lights up like the sun when he smiles or how he pushes his hand through his hair and Lucas wanting to be the one that does it instead.

Jens gets up for more snacks and asks: “Want anything?” Lucas shakes his head and tries to concentrate on the movie instead of how good Jens looks in his loose and low hanging sweatpants and a t-shirt that rode up a bit revealing a part of his toned stomach. Honestly it’s not fair. Jens just seems to have this aura of effortless beauty surrounding him that makes it even harder for Lucas to ignore his feelings. Not only is he the best person Lucas knows he also has to fucking look like that, it’s not fair. Sometimes Lucas curses the universe for giving him Jens but not in the way he wants to and then he kicks himself for such a thought. Because even if they are not lovers or soulmates or whatever, first and foremost they are best friends, have been since Lucas moved to Antwerp when he was twelve and Jens immediately asked him if they wanted to trade Pokemon cards when he noticed Lucas moving in next to him. And besides, there’s probably a universe out there where Jens and Lucas are soulmates and that thought calms him down a bit. At least in a parallel universe a version of him gets his happy end with Jens.

Jens comes back after a few seconds, because really the distance to the kitchen is exactly three steps from his bed where they are sitting on, laptop between their legs, playing the movie. He plops down next to Lucas much closer than they have been sitting before. It’s not like they are shy with touching each other, after being friends for so long you develop an intimacy where you feel comfortable with each other. But the touch of their bare arms sliding against each other suddenly makes Lucas feel nervous, much more intense than probably appropriate for the situation. It’s like Jens amps up his feelings, like he is feeling double the amount than he should.

Jens doesn’t move away from Lucas and he isn’t about to protest. Despite his nervousness he still feels incredibly comfortable with Jens. It’s not like they haven’t cuddled before when they were watching a movie, but it’s the first time since Lucas realized his feelings for Jens are not platonic anymore. Still he can’t help but relax when he feels Jens’ body heat radiating into side. The nervousness stays but it is more subdued the longer they stay like this.

He feels a surge of courage flow through him and before he can question for what Jens shuffles down the bed and lies his head on Lucas’ shoulder. He freezes for a second and Jens seems to notice. A feeling of worry overcomes him and the nervousness is back again but that’s probably because Lucas worries that Jens thinks his behavior is weird. After all, they have cuddled like this before, there is no reason to freeze like this. Jens voice sounds small and apprehensive. “Is this okay?”

Lucas shakes himself out of it. Of course this is okay. They are friends. They can totally cuddle without Lucas making it weird. He concentrates on how good it feels with Jens being so close to him and even before he can answer he feels how Jens relaxes against him and lets himself fall further into Lucas side, as if Jens could feel how Lucas unfreezes. An enormous feeling of relieve and comfort overcomes him.

“Yeah, of course this is okay. I like cuddling with you, you needy baby.” Lucas likes to think he sounds teasing but he is afraid it comes out more fond than anything else. But Jens doesn’t seem to notice and just snuggles in even closer. Lucas puts his arm around Jens shoulders and lets his hand rest on Jens arm.

Jens huff out a laugh and his voice is soft when he replies: “Hey, watch what you’re saying. This needy baby can leave anytime and get his cuddles from Robbe.” At that Lucas involuntarily squeezes Jens arms a bit tighter so he doesn’t even get the idea of going anywhere. A feeling of excitement suddenly bursts through him and he feels how Jens’ other hand comes up to cover the one still on his arm as if he doesn’t want Lucas to move it. Right now, he feels so incredibly content and happy and he is blown away by the intensity of his feelings for Jens. He knew he was in love but that even such a simple gesture can make him feel so much… Lucas is overwhelmed. Since his birthday his feelings for Jens seem to have doubled whenever they are close. He doesn’t try to think about it too much, because the universe still hasn’t given him a sign for his soulmate and right now he just wants to feel this with Jens while he still can.

He answers way too late and his voice is probably way too soft but he can’t change that now. He pulls Jens closer to him and says: “Don’t you dare.”

3.

Jens wants to get away. This girl has been flirting with him for the last twenty minutes, or trying to at least. It’s not like he is actually flirting back. He is just being nice because he doesn’t really know how to get out of the conversation without sounding like a complete douche.

He needed this party to be a distraction. A distraction from his frustration about still not having any signs for his soulmate, a distraction from the fact that no signs point to Lucas. But while he is trapped in a conversation with a girl whose name he forgot the second she introduced herself, he realized he would much rather spend his time with Lucas than trying to get him out his head. He searches the room for him in hopes of making him come over to save him.

He spots him in a corner with the other boys playing a round of beer pong. As far as Jens can tell, he and Sander are loosing horribly while Robbe and Moyo are going strong. Aaron is standing next to the table with a whistle like he is an actual fucking referee, as if this game really needed one. God, his friends really are dumbasses, he loves them so much. Sander he hasn’t known for too long but he is Robbe’s soulmate so he has a feeling they will get along just fine. So far, they bonded over their mutual hobby of teasing the hell out of Robbe. Jens has never seen his friend so happy since he had found Sander just over a month ago.

He doesn’t know how to get Lucas attention so he just stares at him and hopes that he will notice Jens’ cry for help. Still, he is really surprised when after just a few seconds of intense staring Lucas actually turns around and meets his gaze. He looks pleadingly in his eyes and back to the girl that is still talking his ear off, despite not having said anything back in the last fifteen minutes, just nodding occasionally. Lucas seems to understand. He leans over to Sander to whisper something in his ear and makes his way over to Jens. He faintly hears how Aaron blows his whistle, probably to tell him that he can’t just leave and that he is breaking the holy rules of beer pong.

While he is coming closer they never break eye contact and Jens’ expression changes from pleading to relieved. Thank god, Lucas is coming to save him. He tries not to get too distracted by how good Lucas looks tonight and fails miserably. His blone curls have fallen into his face, his freckles have intensified in the summer sun making him looks so unbelievably cute, he is wearing a loose hanging floral shirt with the first few buttons undone, his blue eyes still looking at him with a beginning smile on his face and Jens is suddenly finding it hard to breath. God, Lucas is so gorgeous. He is still a bit lost in his admiration when Lucas arrives next to Jens and just throws an arm over his shoulder. Before he even has time to say anything, Lucas pulls Jens down to him and gives him a smacking kiss on his cheek. He is a bit too stunned to react right away but soon a pleased and happy smile spreads on his face. He looks at Lucas in wonder but he is looking at the girl. Without much hesitation and a lot of fake friendliness in his voice he asks her: “What are you and my boyfriend talking about?”

Jens has to hold back a cough, because what? He thought Lucas would come up here and just pull him away with some dumb excuse. Anything else than what actually just left his mouth. He is stunned into silence. He feels how Lucas’ arm leaves his place over his shoulder and a second later he intertwines their hands together. A shock of jealously overcomes him. Now Jens is really confused. Why is he jealous all of the sudden?

“Oh wow, uhm hi. So he is your boyfriend?” Jens faintly registers that the question is directed at him. He turns his attention back to the girl and tries to sound convincing and not like he is totally surprised by what Lucas has just uttered.

“Yeah, uhm, that’s right. We’re together.” After he answered he feels a rush of satisfaction and happiness overflow him. He feels how Lucas squeezes his hand a little tighter and Jens can’t help but look at him again. How he wishes those words were true. Lucas looks genuinely happy and he has this smug smile on his face that Jens doesn’t know how to interpret. He still doesn’t look Jens in the eyes but he can see that his expression changes and now he looks expectantly at the girl.

“Uhm, okay. Well, I really have to go now. My friend is probably looking for me. It was nice talking to you.” Jens barely acknowledges her leaving because he is still too busy staring at his apparently fake boyfriend. When she is gone, Lucas finally looks at him.

They are still holding hands, Lucas doesn’t make a move to pull his hand away so Jens doesn’t either. He enjoys the feeling way too much and he wants to savor it while it lasts. Even though he knows that Lucas just said it to help him get rid of the girl he wants to live in this bubble of pretending a bit longer. So this is what it feels like to hold Lucas’ hand the way he wanted to for so long. Still, next to the reminiscence of shock and the happiness he feels, he feels something else as well. Worry.

“Was this okay? I know we have never done that, but that girl seemed like she wouldn’t get it if I said I was just your friend.” Lucas sounds worried. He turns his gaze downward and awaits Jens answer.

“What? Of course, this was okay. Thank you for saving me.” He squeezes Lucas hand again for good measure and a huge feeling of relieve comes over him. He is not quite sure what he is relieved for but at the moment he is far too happy to have Lucas for himself again than to question his ever growing confusing set of feelings when ever he is close to Lucas. Lately, it sometimes feels like not all of what he is feeling when he is with Lucas are actually his own feelings. Like that jealousy? Who was that for? But right now, he doesn’t want to think about it. He is happy for Lucas’ presence and that is enough for him right now.

“Okay, good. The kiss and the hand holding wasn’t too much?” Lucas voice is still laced with a bit of worry but the smile returned back to his face. Jens smiles back and looks down at their still tangled fingers.

“We are still holding hands.” Jens says in a teasing voice that he hopes gets the smile on Lucas face to grow even further. First he is overcome with realization which is quickly replaced by a sudden feeling of embarrassment. That however is gone quickly when Lucas removes his hand as if he had been burned. Jens is again confused and a bit hurt. Lucas really didn’t have to remove his hand so forcefully as if he was disgusted by holding it. Also Jens had been aware that they were still holding hands, he is the one that pointed it out, why did he feel the realization hit after he already said it? Jens blames the alcohol for the way his feelings seem to give him whiplash this evening. Still he can’t help but already miss the way Lucas hand had felt in his.

“Oh right, yeah, shit. Sorry. I didn’t even notice. Didn't want to make you uncomfortable.” Lucas looks down at his hands which are nervously playing with the hem of his loose floral shirt.

“You didn’t -” Jens attempts to say, but is interrupted by Lucas again. His voice seems to find back his usual confidence and a cocky smile appears on his face. “Anyway, come play a round of beer pong with me. Sander and I were loosing terribly, we need at least one good player in our team against Robbe and Moyo.”

“Luc, even with me on the team we don’t stand a chance at winning. You are that terrible.” Jens is glad that they are back to teasing each other. This whole conversation with Lucas really confused his feelings and he just wants a normal evening with his best friend, without his pining to make everything harder for him.

“Hey, I’m not that bad! Last round I managed to hit one cup! That is more than I ever did!” Lucas voice sounds hurt but his giant smile betrays him. Jens has to control his laughter. God, he really had to fall in love with an adorable idiot. “Luc, you’re kinda just proving my point.”

Lucas rolls his eyes but continues to smile up at Jens anyway. He grabs him by the arm and begins to pull him in the direction of their friends. “Just come on, already. They’re waiting for us.” Jens gladly follows. He will sort out his feelings another time.

4.

“Come on Jens, aren’t you gonna show me your skills?” Lucas nearly shouted as he ran up to sit next to Jens on the half pipe with his skateboard in his hand after finishing his trick. With a heavy release of breath he plops down next to Jens and nudges his shoulder playfully. Jens grins easily when he turns his head to look at Lucas and his voice is full of humor.

“No, how could I? You know, I am much better than you, I don’t want to steal your spotlight.” Lucas fakes offense and pushes Jens again for good measure, but he does know that it’s true. Jens is the one that taught im skating in the first place. The effortless beauty that surrounds Jens seems to translate to everything he does. Lucas loves watching Jens skate, he looks so chill and smooth like it’s no effort at all. Before he can say anything back though Jens continues. This time he nudges Lucas’ shoulder and with his head he motions him to follow his gaze.

“Besides it’s much more fun to watch them than to skate myself. It’s a shit show, honestly.” Jens laughs while he says it but for Lucas it sounds like his voice is carrying an awful lot of fondness. He follows Jens’ gaze and spots Robbe and Sander. They must have arrived while he was busy practicing. An instant wide smile spreads across his face as he takes in the scene in front of him.

Robbe is currently standing across from Sander who is clinging desperately to Robbe’s outstretched arms like his life depends on it and his feet are wobbly standing on a skateboard. Robbe looks like he is having a hard time controlling his laughter and Sander like he is about to die.

As Sander nearly falls down when Robbe motions him to put his foot down to give him some speed Lucas can’t help but let out a loud surprise laugh and turns to Jens to say something when he finds him already looking at him. Lucas is only momentarily taken aback from the way Jens smiles at him and agrees with him. “You were right, this is much more fun. How long have they been here?” He turns his gaze toward Sander and Robbe again so doesn’t miss anymore failures.

He feels how Jens’ gaze stays on him for a while before he turns around as well and answers: “Not long, like ten minutes? But Sander looks like a lost cause, I don’t think he actually wants to learn, he just wants an excuse to cling to Robbe.” His voice is full of fondness but Lucas thinks also tinted with a little bit of sadness.

Lucas is genuinely happy that one of his best friends has found his soulmate and seems to be finally truly content, despite all the shit he had going on with his own family drama. But as he watched them he couldn’t help but also feel jealous, because he still hasn’t found his soulmate and no signs at all point to Jens, even though he wishes for nothing more.

As if to prove Jens’ point, Sander falls down again, which looks suspiciously like he did it on purpose and lands safely in Robbe’s arms. They don’t make a move to detangle themselves from each other and Lucas unconsciously leans in closer to Jens as if he was craving his touch as well. Their arms are touching now and while he and Jens watch the two lovebirds break away from their embrace to kiss each other gently, he feels a sudden pang of fondness, longing and sadness flow through him, all at the same time. His feelings are very confused right now. He truly is happy for Robbe but he must have mistaken his jealously for longing, because right now he feels nothing more strongly than wanting to have what Sander and Robbe have. It nearly overwhelms him how strong the feeling is and he hadn’t realized that he felt it with such intensity. And because the person he is longing for is right next to him he can’t help himself and turns to look at Jens.

He again finds him already staring back at Lucas and their faces are much closer than they were before. With their arms still touching he suddenly feels an enormous amount of love rush through him and the look in Jens’ eyes seems to reflect that. Lucas can’t help but continue to stare into those beautiful eyes which look at him wide and hopeful. He is hopeless when it comes to Jens and he can’t change his expression into something less revealing. It feels like hours have passed staring into Jens eyes but it was probably only a few seconds. A feeling that could be described as “oh shit” overcomes him and Jens scrambles away from Lucas putting some distance between them.

“Uhm, sorry, I… I have to go. I promised… I promised mom to, uhh, to pick up Lotte. Sorry.” With that Jens grabs his skateboard and basically runs away from Lucas.

Confusion. Total and utter confusion is what Lucas is feeling right now. Because what the fuck just happened? As soon as Jens put the distance between them the feeling of love was still there, like it usually always is when Lucas is with Jens, but the intensity lessened by at least a half. Also that feeling that he couldn’t describe other than “oh shit” stopped just as suddenly as Jens disappeared. He didn’t really know what it was for. He would have been content to just stare into Jens’ eyes some more if it meant that he looked at him like that.

While he was looking directly into what felt like Jens’ soul it felt like he could actually feel the same for Lucas. But why did he run away? And why does Lucas always feel these confusing set of feelings whenever he is with Jens? Sometimes it just feels like his feelings aren’t even his own and other times his feelings were just so intense but lessened as soon as Jens was gone.

With that thought another one forms. It’s not very common, not at all, Lucas doesn’t know anybody with these soulmate signs, but he has read about them once and hope begins to blossom in his chest. Soulmates that could feel what the other feels when they are touching their bare skin. It’s long ago but Lucas thinks he remembers the interview with the soulmate couple who had these signs. They said that when the other felt something different to their own emotions it would feel like their own at first, but after a while they were able to distinguish between their own feelings and the ones of their partner’s. One partner said that they can also blend out what the other feels, for example if it’s pain they are experiencing. They also said that when they feel the same and touch, the intensity of that feeling doubles.

Before Lucas can think about it any further he is stripped from his thoughts by Sander and Robbe suddenly standing right in front of him waving their arms in front of Lucas’ face. “Hello? Ground Control to Major Lucas?” It was Robbe that spoke and at that Sander turns to his boyfriend and gives him an unbelievably fond look, like he can’t believe the boy right next to him is truly his.

“What?”, Lucas asks dumbly. Robbe rolls his eyes but smiles. “Where did Jens run off to so suddenly?” At the mention of Jens Lucas finally returns completely to reality and shrugs, trying to come across as unbothered. “I don’t know, he just stood up suddenly and rambled something about having to pick up Lotte.”

“Huh, that’s weird. I thought Lotte was already with their mom.” Robbe just shrugged and continued talking. “Do you wanna come get some fries with us? Sander deserves some reward after embarrassing himself in front of the whole skate park.” Robbe’s voice is teasing and Sander actually blushes a bit. But he just pushes his elbow into his boyfriend’s side playfully and his voice is full of confidence when he says: “I don’t get embarrassed. Besides, how could I feel embarrassed when you are here to mend my wounds.”

Before Robbe can say anything Lucas decides to answer his question so he would be spared by another loving and cheesy answer that would make him long for Jens even more. “No, actually I’m gonna go home too. I need to work on my port folio that I have to give in at the academy.” With that he stands up and turns around to leave. Over his shoulder he shouts his goodbye and he can see the confused expression on both of their faces. But Lucas doesn’t want to explain himself now. What he needs is time to think. Alone.

While he is skating through the streets of Antwerp to get back to his apartment he thinks back to the interview with the soulmate couple. Everything they described seem to fit what Lucas has been experiencing recently. Whenever he was close to Jens his feelings for him would go crazy, but what if those feelings were just Jens’ on top of his own? What if the high intensity of his feelings was the result of Jens feeling the same as Lucas? But that would mean that the love he just felt when they were sitting on the half pipe was not just his own. It would mean he felt his own topped with Jens’ and that just couldn’t be true, right?

And then his thoughts go back to how Jens basically ran away from the skatepark, ran away from him and the lie he told about picking up Lotte and the possibility shrinks even more for Lucas. Why did Jens run away from him so suddenly? Was he so uncomfortable with Lucas and with what he probably saw in his eyes? Because Lucas didn’t even try to look like he isn’t in love with Jens and maybe his feelings were just so intense because Jens was so close. And anyway, isn’t a soulmate supposed to love you back? If Jens were his soulmate he probably wouldn’t have ran away.

When he arrives home he throws himself on his bed and just wants to sleep. Jens definitely isn’t his soulmate. It can’t be. It’s just Lucas being in love and confused; Jens doesn’t feel the same. He tries to forget about it, because he can’t stand the hope. But the thought planted its seed in Lucas mind and already grew roots so deep that he can’t stop thinking about the possibility until sleep finally pulls him away.

5.

Jens wakes up confused. He faintly hears a song playing and when he recognizes it he fully sits up in bed wide awake and scrambles for his phone. He had personalized Lucas’ ringtone ages ago to Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne. It was funny to him then because after Jens offered to trade Pokemon cards on the day Lucas moved in next to him he took him skating. It was obvious that Lucas has never stood on a skateboard before and he crashed into Jens multiple times and even gave him a small scar. After that he changed his ringtone because he had to honor Lucas terrible skills somehow. When he showed Lucas the next day he just looked very unimpressed but Jens could see the smile that started to form on his face. Since then Lucas obviously has gotten much better and now Jens admires how effortless and beautiful he looks when he skates, as if he has not a care in the world.

He thinks of his odd behavior today at the skatepark and winces. God, he was so close to just get rid of the distance and kiss Lucas senseless. He felt so in love with him at that moment, the way he laughed so beautifully when he watched Sander and Robbe, the way he leaned into Jens as if he didn’t even notice, as if he was naturally drawn to him. And then Lucas looked back at him and he could’ve stared at him forever but then Jens remembered that the universe has not given him a sign for his soulmate yet and he didn’t want to try his chances with Lucas only to have it ripped away when Lucas’ soulmate would show up.

He made up some dumb excuse and left. He feels so bad about it, Lucas looked so hurt and confused, but as soon as there was some distance between them he could think more clearly. He was still feeling in love with Lucas but it lessened in its intensity and Jens wonders if he overreacted. Still his plan is to avoid Lucas for a bit but the universe seems to have other plans.

Jens notices the time and a feeling of worry fills his entire body. It’s 2.30am and Lucas is calling him. Something must’ve happened. He immediately throws his plans to ignore Lucas into the wind and picks up his phone.

“Luc, are you alright?” He could hear chuckling on the other end of the line, so it can’t be that bad but he is still worried.

“Jens, I’m alright but I need you to drive me to the hospital. Can you get your mom’s car?”  

Everything in Jens freezes. “What?! Why?! Luc, are you okay? God, you’re scaring me!”

“Jens, calm down, oh my god. This is embarrassing…” At that Jens relaxes a little, Lucas really doesn’t seem to be in great danger or pain but why does he need to go to the hospital?

“Luc, if you don’t tell me what happened to you right now, I’m going to kill you.” He hears how Lucas laughs on the other end of the line.

“Well, I decided to paint tonight and didn’t realize how late it got. I went to clean my art supplies and then I wanted to go to bed. But I was more awake than I thought because I took a nap earlier and…”

“Okay, Luc, please come to the point where this is relevant to the fact that you need me to get you to the fucking hospital!”

“Damn, relax Jens. I was getting to that.” Jens can almost hear the eye roll in Lucas answer. “Well, then I saw all my dirty dishes laying around and I thought ‘Might as well?’ and when I cleaned the wine glass it broke. I must’ve applied too much pressure. Anyway, one shard of the glass somehow cut into my hand and it won’t stop bleeding. I think I need stitches.”

At the last part Jens worry comes back in an instant. “It won’t stop bleeding Lucas? What the fuck? Okay, just put on as many paper towels as you can. I’m coming over. I’ll be there in 5 minutes. Come downstairs so we can go directly to the hospital okay? Can you do that?”

“Yeah, okay. Thank you, Jens.” He has time to throw in an “Anytime” before Lucas hangs up the phone.

As if on autopilot he leaves his pyjama pants on, pulls on a hoodie and shoes, grabs the key for his mom’s car and is out of the house without asking. His mom won’t mind when he tells her tomorrow.  He tries not to let too much worry overcome him, a cut from glass isn’t life threatening, but when it comes to Lucas’ wellbeing Jens will always be alarmed.

The drive to Lucas’ apartment complex doesn’t take long with the car and he actually really makes it in five minutes. He pulls up the curb the moment he sees Lucas leave the building. Lucas spots him immediately and opens the door to the passenger side. He slips in and smiles brightly at Jens, which he finds a bit weird considering the circumstances. He tries his best to ignore the way his smile wakes up the butterflies in his stomach it and starts to drive in the direction of the hospital. He looks shortly over to Lucas, notices the red paper towels wrapped around his left hand and asks: “Is it still bleeding?”

“A little bit, but not as much anymore. But I think the cut is too deep to really heal without stitches.”

“Does it hurt?” He can’t mask the worry in his voice and he knows it. He looks at Lucas for a few seconds and sees him looking at Jens with a fond expression. Close to the one this afternoon at the skatepark. Again, Jens tries to ignore how that makes him feel. He needs to concentrate on Lucas now.

“Yeah, not gonna lie. I didn’t even feel it when the glass cut me but now definitely do. It’s not so bad though.”  

“Okay, that’s good. That’s good.” Jens doesn’t know what else to say because Lucas keeps looking at him while he is driving and it’s honestly a bit distracting.

He is saved by the car park of the hospital coming up and says: “We’re here.”

Jens parks the car, gets out and walks over to Lucas’ side to open the door for him. “Wow, what a gentlemen, Jens. Maybe I should hurt get hurt more often if it gets you to finally be nice to me.” Lucas was teasing, Jens knew he was, but the thought of Lucas being hurt caused him to flinch.

“Don’t joke about that, Luc. Do you know what horror scenarios I imagined when you said you need to go the hospital?”

Lucas looks at him apologetic and stretches his good hand out toward Jens and squeezes his hand shortly. “I’m sorry, Jens. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m fine.”

For the short amount that Lucas had held his hand Jens could’ve sworn he felt a dull but throbbing pain on the inside of his left hand, but that was gone as quickly as Lucas’ hand, so he must have imagined it.

Jens leads them to the entrance where they are told to sit down and that a doctor will come shortly to look at the injury. Apparently it was a very quiet night because after only five minutes a young looking doctor in a typical white coat came to lead them to an examination room. Jens followed as well without even questioning it and he thinks he sees how Lucas looks at him in wonder.

The doctor sits Lucas down and motions for Jens to take the seat next to him. He examines the wound silently for a short time and says: “Yeah, this definitely needs stitches. It’s a deep cut. A good decision to bring your boyfriend here, otherwise it would have a hard time to heal.” He says the last part directed at Jens who only stares at him in shock, unable to correct him. Lucas doesn’t either but instead grabs his hand tightly as he sees how the doctor gets the supplies he needs to stitch Lucas’ wound.

Jens feels scared all of the sudden and he swears he can feel the same pain in his left hand at exactly the same spot as Lucas has the cut. But Jens can’t think about what that means right now. He needs to focus on Lucas. He squeezes his hand tightly and tries to calm him down with his thumb drawing soothing circles across Lucas’ wrist. It seems to work because Lucas visibly relaxes a bit but he still looks very tense.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees the doctor smiling at them but then he turns his attention back to Lucas. “It’s not wide but deep, so I’m sorry to say but stitches will be necessary. I will inject local anesthesia so the process won’t hurt you okay? In a week or so, you should come back and get the stitches removed, then I will have another look at it.”

After that everything goes pretty fast. Jens is concentrating too much on trying to bring Lucas any comfort he can offer, but he swears he could feel the sharp short pain of the needle when the doctor injects it into Lucas’ hand and then nothing anymore.

After everything is done and they are walking back to the car, Lucas has still not let go of his hand and Jens isn’t about to do it himself. He feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude, safety and love. Just like at the skatepark it seems so intense that Jens is really wondering how he only realized this love for Lucas a few month ago. As he is overcome with this much love by just holding his hand, Jens’ old hope of Lucas being his soulmate returns. There is no way he is feeling this much for someone who he is not supposed to spend the rest of his life with. Right?

The car ride home is silent, sleep finally seems to catch up with Lucas. He closes his eyes and leans his head against the window. When Jens pulls up in front of the apartment building Lucas is asleep. He takes the chance to look at Lucas without the risk of being caught. Should it feel creepy that he wants to watch his best friend sleep? Jens couldn’t care less as he gets lost in the soft features of Lucas’ relaxed face. He looks so peaceful and content as if he didn’t just have to get stitches and Jens realizes for the hundredth time that he is hopelessly and utterly in love with Lucas.

He reaches over and gently pulls a loose curl that has fallen over Lucas’ closed eyes behind his ear and lets his hand stay at the side of his face. It feels like cheating with Lucas sleeping but he had always wanted to do that, stroke soothing circles across those high cheekbones and admire his freckles from up close. Lucas stirs awake slowly and Jens pulls his hand away fast.

“Hey, sleepyhead. We’re here.”

“Go away.”

Jens has to laugh, Lucas has always been grumpy after waking up. But it was getting late and they both needed sleep.

“Come on. Up you get. Can you manage alone from here?” There was nothing that he would like more than to go up with Lucas and stay the night with him to make sure he is safe. But he doesn’t trust himself with sharing a bed with Lucas because his sleeping self would surely try to cuddle and that would reveal too much. Lucas voice is still grumpy when he answers.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be fine.” He makes a move to get out but shuts the door again and turns to Jens, grumpy face replaced with an earnest expression. “Thank you, Jens. For everything.” His gaze is heavy and holds so much emotion that Jens is unable to look away. He swallows the lump in his throat and tries to answer with as much conviction as possible, so Lucas knows he means it.

“Anytime, Luc. I’ll do anything for you, you know that.”

Lucas only looks at him for a few more seconds, eyes wide at the proclamation and then he is out of the car. Jens watches him until he is safely inside and begins to drive home. He falls exhausted onto his bed but sleep won’t seem to take him. He is far too distracted by his thoughts.

Now that he has some distance from Lucas, he can think more clearly. He is pretty sure that he felt Lucas’ pain when he held his hand. But how is that possible? It couldn’t have been sympathy pain, because it was gone the second Lucas let go of his hand. And then there was the short pain when the needle entered Lucas hand which Jens is pretty sure he felt as well.

Could it be a sign? The sign he was hoping for so desperately? He has heard of soulmates who could feel what the other feels but it’s so rare that he didn’t even think about the possibility. But as he begins to think about it, it makes more and more sense. He thinks back to all those times where he felt so confused about his feelings, when he didn’t quite understand why he felt them.

The way he felt so angry when Lucas got the call from his dad, how he felt the jealously at the party when Lucas pretended to be his boyfriend and just now how he felt his pain. But there were also circumstances where his feelings were so intense, like the love he felt and couldn’t hide at the skatepark when they were watching Sander and Robbe, or at their movie night when he felt so unbelievably happy when he cuddled with Lucas.

Jens doesn’t want to get his hopes up, because what if he is just imagining things because he just wants Lucas to be his soulmate so badly? He can’t sleep until he did some more research. He pulls out his phone and starts to google. There aren’t many helpful results but he does find one interview with a soulmate couple who could feel what the other feels when their skin touches.  

Jens quickly scans the article and even though he tries to keep his hope in check it doesn’t work. The more he reads the more he is convinced he feels the same signs as them. This is his sign. This is how he finds his soulmate. When he touches them he can feel what they feel. And he feels it with Lucas.

His best friend is his soulmate and he is love with him.

Jens has never been so overwhelmed. Since he realized his feelings for Lucas he had hoped that he would be his soulmate but he never got any obvious signs so his hope had been crushed. The hope is back at full force now.

It just has to be him. It has to be. There can be no other explanation for what he is feeling. He barely has a mind to not just grab the keys again to drive back to Lucas to test his theory, instead he closes the article and opens his conversation with Lucas.

Can I come over tomorrow? I want to talk to you about something. It’s kinda important.

He doesn’t expect Lucas to answer him right away. He had been a sleepwalking zombie when he dropped him of, but Jens could wait until tomorrow morning. He waited long enough, he can wait a bit more. Also it’s probably smarter to have this conversation with more hours of sleep under his belly.

With the ever growing knowledge that Lucas might really be his soulmate and with the hope that makes him so unbelievably happy he gets pulled into sleep with a smile on his face.

+1

Lucas wakes up late. The late night trip to the hospital really did a number on him and as soon as he hit his bed he fell asleep with Jens on his mind. He is so happy that even though things were a bit weird between them yesterday at the skatepark, he can always rely on Jens to be there for him. It’s one of the reasons he is so hopelessly in love with him. Jens is generally a really chill person but he cares so deeply about the people he loves. Lucas is happy that he belongs to that group of people, even if it isn’t in the way that he would like. He needs to accept that Jens only wants to be friends with him.

But then he recalls his words from last night. “I’ll do anything for you, you know that.” Combined with the way he looked so sincere and caring is that really something you say to a best friend or is he again just overanalysing everything when it comes to Jens?

Lucas decides that even though he woke up at 11am it’s way too early to think about a problem of this gratitude. But when he checks his messages he is confronted with Jens anyway.

Can I come over tomorrow? I want to talk to you about something. It’s kinda important.

Lucas frowns in confusion. What does Jens want to talk to him about that he couldn’t just text? Or tell him when they meet up next time with the boys? He is not sure if he can really deal with Jens now, not after how last night made him realize once again that he is so hopelessly in love with is best friend. It’s exhausting sometimes, seeing Jens and experiencing the intensity of his feelings whenever they are close without being able to do anything about it. Sometimes they are so close and he just wants to kiss him. Kiss that beautiful smile right of face and pull his hand through his soft looking hair. With every touch and the following feeling of “this is right, why do you fight it?” it’s getting harder and harder for Lucas to resist the urge to close the distance between their lips.

But he is still his best friend and it sounds like Jens really needs him right now so he types out the only possible answer.

Sure, I’m awake now. You can come over whenever you’re ready.

He locks his phone immediately after so he doesn’t see if Jens saw it already. He had a late night as well and usually he sleeps even longer than Lucas. So he doesn’t expect Jens to show up anytime soon.

In the meantime, Lucas decides to get out of bed and have at least some cereal for breakfast. He sees the broken wine glass in the kitchen and groans. Shit, he still needs to clean up. He looks at his hand with the stitches and continues to remove the remaining shards of glass as careful as possible. When he is done he pours himself a bowl of cereal and settles back on his bed with his laptop open on YouTube. Just as he found a video he wants to watch he hears his doorbell. It couldn’t be Jens, right? It’s way too early for that. He thought he had more time to prepare himself for the sight of him.

He gets up to the speaker anyway and asks: “Who’s there?”

“It’s me, who else? Buzz me in.”

Lucas throat is suddenly dry as he presses the button to let Jens in. The wait for Jens to come up the stairs and arrive at his door feels like hours. Lucas is kind of afraid of what Jens wants to talk to him about. Is it about him? Did he realize Lucas’ feelings and comes to end the friendship? Lucas rational side of his brain knows that this particular thought is completely ridiculous, as Jens would never do that to him, but he is too nervous to think rational right now. He doesn’t even know why he is so nervous, Jens has given no clue that this is about him but Lucas has a definite feeling that it is and he doesn’t know where it’s coming from.

He opens the door so Jens can enter but he isn’t ready to see him yet so he walks back into his flat. Not knowing what to do he just walks back and forth keeping his head down until a soft and concerned voice interrupts his pacing and makes him look up into those beautiful brown eyes.

“Luc? Are you okay?” Jens’ eyes are full of concern. He must have looked so weird and nervous just running around his tiny flat but he needed to do something to calm his nerves. Lucas tries to play it off but he isn’t sure how convincing he actually is because his excuse doesn’t even make sense. “Yeah, sure just tired.”

“Okay…” Jens is voice is hesitant when he answers and he doesn’t continue. Lucas thinks he sees a nervous expression on his face as well and the fact that he doesn’t start talking about what ever he came over for kind of confirms it.

Lucas can’t stand the silence, he sits down on one of his chairs against his tiny dinner table and motions for Jens to do the same. Once he sits he feels how their knees touch under the table but he doesn’t move away. Somehow the contact grounds him and makes him less nervous. This is just Jens. His best friend who seems to have some kind of problem that probably doesn’t even concern him. Not everything has to be about him, but try telling that to his anxiety. But Jens still doesn’t talk and that is unlike him. Usually Jens is the one without a worry and able to talk about anything. It’s not often that Lucas has to be the one to coax something out of him. He tries to infuse his voice with as much support and comfort as possible to let Jens know that he is there for him.

“Sooo, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

Instead of answering Jens stretches his hand towards Lucas on the table and motions him to give him his hand. Lucas is confused at first, does Jens want to hold hands with him? But then he remembers his slightly injured hand and that must be what Jens wants to see, just to check if everything is alright. He puts his left hand on the table next to Jens and lets him inspect it. Jens looks at him the first time since they sat down and gives him a shy smile. Then Jens looks back at Lucas’ hand and begins to softly caress the inside with his fingertips, just drawing them back and forth and gently playing with each of his fingers. The way this gesture feels so gentle, careful and loving makes Lucas suck in his breath. Goosebumps erupt on his arm and he tries his best to not shakily exhale the breath he has been holding. Though he can’t shake away the feeling of how good it feels with Jens playing with his hand. It feels so intimate and not at all like a touch two best friends would share.

When Lucas doesn’t do or say anything to stop the boy in front of him, Jens seems to take that as a sign, because in his next move he slowly tangles their finger together and Lucas has to suck in another breath. Jens seems to notice because he finally looks away from their tangled fingers to find Lucas already staring at him. Lucas isn’t sure what his expression reads right now but probably a mixture of disbelief, hope and confusion. At least these are the emotions he is feeling right now. But there is also curiosity, nervousness and the ever present love for Jens which again seems to have doubled now that they are holding hands. He briefly thinks back to the soulmate article he read but is pulled back by what Jens says next.

“What are you feeling?”

Lucas must have heard that wrong. He probably asked how are you feeling, considering his left hand and their late night drive to the hospital. Trying to get his nerves under control and his voice to come out steady is harder than he thinks but he believes he manages somehow.

“I’m good. It doesn’t really hurt anymore. It’s more annoying than anything else.”

Jens smiles at Lucas fondly and shakes his head a little. “No, that’s not what I meant, Luc. I mean, what are you feeling, right in this moment as I hold your hand?”

Lucas is still confused but the hope that rises in his chest can’t be pushed back. Is Jens implying what he thinks he is implying? Did he have the same idea as Lucas with the soulmate signs? It can’t be, right? Jens seems to notice his confusion and softly squeezes his hand before he speaks again.

“I know, it’s a bit of a weird question but when I hold your hand, what are you feeling?”

Lucas tries to shake off his confusion and growing hope and just concentrates on what he is feeling and what Jens holding his hand is causing him to feel. But the only thing he can sense is his love for Jens and he can’t possibly say that to him now, right? The longer he concentrates on Jens and his touch the more he can make out other feelings as well. Love for his best friend seemed to have overpowered his other senses in its intensity but now he thinks he feels certainty and calmness coming over him. The certainty can’t possibly come from him though, because he is nervous as hell as he begins to think about what Jens question implied.

He can’t be thinking that they are feeling what the other feels right? But why would Jens want to know what he feels right now? And how is it the only real logical explanation about what he has experienced with Jens the last couple of weeks, how his feelings skyrocket when he touches Jens, or how he feels like he is experiencing someone else’s feelings. Jens wouldn’t ask him such a question for nothing, so he collects his courage, swallows down his nerves and answers Jens. Still, he can’t look him in the eyes as he says it, he keeps his gaze on their hands and that somehow makes him a bit calmer even though he feels like his heart is about to explode out of his chest.

“It feels right. I feel sure. But also calm and nervous at the same time.” He feels like he already said enough and he can’t bring himself to admit that the love he feels is the strongest out of all of what he is feeling right now. Lucas finally looks up in Jens eyes and is welcomed with a smile so wide that it takes his breath away for the third time this morning. God, Jens is so beautiful. Lucas looks at him in wonder and asks himself why his answer made Jens smile like that at him. With the way he is looking at him the hope in his chest is set on fire and he can’t hold it back anymore. Somehow he isn’t afraid anymore.

“I feel in love.”

As soon as he says the words he feels a huge relief come over him, if it his own for finally uttering the words or Jens’ he can’t really tell, probably a mixture of both. He keeps looking at Jens and his smile seems to become even wider. Lucas is in awe that he is the one that caused him to look so beautiful and happy. Jens squeezes his hand one more time before he answers.

“Me too. I feel love too. God, I feel so in love with you every time I am close to you. But I also feels other things. Things I don’t think are my own sometimes. I think when I’m touching you, I’m feeling what you are feeling.”

Lucas heart is beating out of his chest. He is probably still dreaming. This can’t be real. But on the other hand nothing has felt more real than Jens right now in this moment. Jens looks at him still with a smile but also awaiting his answer. Are they really having this conversation? Lucas wanted Jens so badly to be his soulmate and now that he very much likely is, he can’t seem to get the words out. He is overwhelmed.

“Jens, I can’t think. This can’t truly be happening. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Jens simply smiles at him fondly. “That depends, do you feel what I feel?”

“God, Jens! How would know? I can barely get my own feelings under control right now, I don’t know if my feelings are mine or yours.”

Jens suddenly let go of his hand and everything becomes a little bit less intense. Still he already misses Jens’ hand in his. He keeps smiling at Lucas though and that is enough to make his heart flutter a bit. Jens eyes him curiously and asks: “What about now? What do you feel now?”

“Well… I still feel love, but it’s less intense. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like you double my feelings whenever we are touching.”

“Yeah, that’s because I feel the same as you. Because we are soulmates.” And Jens says it with such a conviction and certainty that Lucas can’t help but finally believe it too. He was so afraid that he only felt like this because he loved Jens so much but if Jens feels the same then there really wasn’t any other explanation for what they both experience. A wide smile breaks out on his face and he looks at Jens with disbelieving eyes. Jens seems to have the same expression because he just smiles at Lucas and shakes his head a bit like he can’t believe it himself either.

He reaches for Jens hand again because he really wants to feel his touch again and as soon as he does the intensity is back. He looks at Jens face, from his beautiful brown eyes to his cute upturned nose back to his high cheekbones and finally to his soft looking lips. Jens seems to notice because he sucks in a breath and licks his lips. As he looks at Jens he can’t believe his luck that the universe chose such a perfect and beautiful person for Lucas.

“I can’t believe you're my soulmate. Do you know how much I wished that it would be you? I couldn’t imagine loving someone else as much as I love you.” Lucas knows that it’s cheesy but he is so in love and he can’t help himself. Now that it’s finally happening he lets go of all what was holding him back and opens his heart fully to Jens.

“God, Luc. Me too. I was hoping so hard that your name would appear somewhere on my body or that we would share a skin but that didn’t happen and I lost hope because no other signs appeared. I can’t believe it took us so long to figure it out. When I look back it’s so clear. It’s always been you.”

Lucas is speechless. Jens really is his soulmate. The person he is going to spend the rest of his life with. Well he knows that not all soulmates stay together and that they need to work on their relationship as any other couple has to do as well. But he has a feeling that Jens and him will work just fine. They can be dumb and oblivious sometime but in the end they figured it out, right? He was is his best friend first and that is important. He didn’t fall in love with him just because he knew that is what you do when you meet your soulmate. He fell in love with Jens even before he knew that they were destined for each other.

Suddenly the distance and the table between them feels way too much and Lucas needs to be impossibly close to Jens. He lets go of his hand and Jens looks at him questioningly which is soon replaced with a face of realization as Lucas goes around the table and just unceremoniously plops down in Jens lap, swinging his arms around his shoulders. Jens huffs as Lucas sits down but has to laugh about the abruptness of his action. Their heads are only centimeters apart now and honestly, Lucas prefers this. He can’t be blamed, now that he finally has Jens and knows that he isn’t going anywhere soon he doesn’t want to waste a second not in Jens’ close proximity.

“So, how do we celebrate this knew found knowledge of us being soulmates, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively but his smile is so wide, like he can’t contain his happiness. Jens laughs in return. “God, you’re such a dork. I love you.”

And once again Lucas is overwhelmed. He knows this now, of course. But hearing it fall from Jens’ mouth so casually and freely makes his stomach do somersaults. He leans his forehead against Jens’, feels how their noses brush together, closes his eyes and just breathes him in. His hands move to either side of Jens face and he just holds him there, stroking his thumb over his cheekbone, like he always wanted to do. And he is overwhelmed with this feeling of love cursing through his whole body and he feels how Jens releases a shaky breath like he too is overwhelmed by what he is experiencing.

“Luc, can I kiss you now?”

Lucas can’t talk, is too overcome. Instead he just nods against Jens’ forehead and begins to lean his head to the side. Jens closes the remaining distance and when he finally feels those soft lips on his own he feels like this is what he has been waiting for his whole life. Nothing has ever felt more right than kissing Jens. Their lips move softly against each other and he feels how Jens’ hands come up to his waist to press him even closer to him. He can’t suppress the giggle when he feels how Jens opens up his mouth to softly nibble at his bottom lip. Jens smiles against his lips and goes in to kiss him again. Lucas tries his best to kiss back but soon enough another smile breaks out on his face and he can’t contain it. Jens has to laugh as well and then they are both smiling too much to really continue kissing but they try anyway.

When they break apart they just smile softly at each other and revel in the fact that they get to do this for the rest of their lives. Lucas is so unbelievably happy and he can’t wait for their future to start now. They have some stuff to figure out like every other couple but they will do it together, like they have been doing since they traded Pokemon cards when they were twelve. Lucas can’t contain his happiness and before he leans in to kiss Jens again he whispers against his lips: “I’m so happy that it’s you.”

________  

So, this is my contribution to VDS week, I hope you liked it!                   

Fun (?) fact: A while back I almost needed to get stitches because I broke a wine glass while cleaning, but I didn't want to go to the hospital so I just put a band aid on it once it stopped bleeding. It took so long to heal so I decided to make Lucas a bit smarter than me and just get the damn stitches. I also needed Jens to feel actual physical pain from Lucas because otherwise these dumbasses wouldn't have figured it out anytime soon, so I'm sorry for this, but I needed to hurt Lucas a little bit for Jens to finally figure it out. I hope you don't mind :D

Also, I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my dislike of "The Shape of Water" but this movie is just not up my alley and I actually left the cinema early because I was so bored. If anyone really likes this film, please tell me why, maybe I'm just ignorant :D

[azozzoni]

@vdsweek 8/13: roommates

[peaceoutofthepieces]

you were my crown

I managed to actually do that little scene for the royalty au :) I don’t know anything about how any of this stuff works so I literally just made everything up please don’t think I in any way tried to be accurate I’m talking out of my ass here.

I don’t know if anything will ever actually come of this, but this is an idea of what it would look like :)

~^~

Jens hates sitting in for Court. It’s less about the ‘criminals’ and more about the royals, the endless lines of knights and Lords and servants, eager to witness another fool. Jens doesn’t care much for fools, but he cares even less to laugh at them. He cares least for his formal attire, the sharp slacks and too-tight tunic, laced up by maids unable to even look him in the eye. They don’t even seem necessary. He’s overheating in his jacket, delicately buttoned up to the throat, the collar digging into his skin. He’d tried leaving the top hanging open, and it had hardly taken a second for his mother to give him a sharp glance, nodding to a maid that had hastily run to button it back up. Now he sits and suffocates and waits for whatever poor soul is being charged to make their way to the throne.

Jens straightens subtly in his chair, placed to the right side of his mother’s throne, and meets the boy’s eyes for half a second. Until his mother opens her mouth and orders a sharp, “Kneel.”

Before the boy can comply, one of the guards that had escorted him sets a heavy hand on his shoulder and forces him down, falling onto the stone floor in a manner that leaves Jens’s own knees aching in sympathy. The boy simply catches his breath and holds his chin high, looking straight at them and through, his jaw clenched. Jens drums his fingers on his knee in interest.

The same guard gives his head a forceful shove. “Speak your name to the Court.”

The boy takes a breath as some of his masqueraded confidence seems to slip. “Lucas. Lucas Van der Heijden.”

Jens licks his lips, cataloguing the sound of his voice, the way his mouth parts for an instant before the actual sound escapes. The name rumbles deeply around the room and seeps into the walls, encased in the brick in case it’s soon to be lost. Jens’s job is to watch, to note, and to only give judgement if asked. It often doesn’t take him long to form conclusions.

His conclusion of Lucas Van der Heijden is that he seems, at once, nothing and everything like a criminal.

He’s young, and clean cut, though his clothes are a tad too tight and an inch too short on his ankles, fraying at the hems. There’s a smudge of dirt on his cheek, a familiar sandy mixture that Jens has seen on all hostages of the castle cells. There’s an innocence to his youth and a diligence to his posture. His eyes hold a pleading light and a resolute film. Whatever his crime in regards to the Crown, he holds a loyalty to someone.

“State his crimes,” the Queen requests.

The opposite guard stares straight ahead as he speaks up. “Thievery and dishonor to the Court, Your Majesty.”

Jens can barely hold back a snort. He relaxes slightly. There’s rarely a severe punishment for a loaf of bread. The scene before him suddenly makes more sense.

His mother’s tone, however, is unusually steely. “Thievery of what?”

“Sir Viktor’s sword, Your Majesty.”

Jens blinks. A rumble of interest spreads through the Court. Lucas’s jaw tightens and he gives a minuscule shake of his head, so much so that Jens is sure he’s the only one who notices.

The Queen seems equally intrigued. “And what, boy, do you want with a sword?”

“I didn’t steal it.” Lucas speaks through gritted teeth, but his gaze doesn’t waver. “I’ve never even seen the sword before.”

“It was found under his bed, Your Majesty, free of its sheath. Sir Viktor had been missing it for a full day before organising a search.”

Jens barely resists rolling his eyes. If Viktor had been missing it that long, he’s almost in need of a punishment himself. He’s known Viktor for only over a year, becoming acquainted with him long after he’d already met his brother, Senne. Senne’s loyalty and honour, that Jens has become easily familiar with during the man’s service in his personal guard, did not seem to emanate as clearly from his brother. Jens has had few pleasures of his presence, and pinned his discomfort down to this unfamiliarity. As he sees Lucas’s expression tighten further, however, there’s something that doesn’t sit quite right with him.

The feeling only strengthens as the Queen raises her head and stares Lucas down. “You’d do best to not add dishonesty to your list, Mr Van der Heijden. The proof sits against you. If you claim not to have stolen it, how do you suppose it ended up with you?”

Lucas swallows. For a tiny second, his gaze flits over to the crowd on his left. Jens follows his gaze and sees nothing that stands out. “I didn’t steal anything,” he repeats. “I’m an artist. I have no reason for a sword.”

“And yet,” the Queen says lightly, “there was one so close to you. Are you able to explain that?”

Jens comes to the realisation too late, after noticing the hard lines of his mother’s frown and the steel underlining the easiness of her voice. This isn’t a trial—this is merely the sentencing.

“Someone else must have placed it there,” Lucas says, just as light, with just as much steel underneath.

“I’m sorry, Mr Van der Heijden, truly, but the evidence against you is not something I can simply dismiss as a wrong guess. Do you have proof, of anyone else who may have had access to your quarters? Even so much as a theory.”

“It’s not hard,” Lucas laughs slightly, “to access my quarters. From the way your guards stormed my home yesterday without so much as a knock as a notice, that seems fairly clear.”

Jens raises his brows as the Queen lowers hers. “You’d do well not to speak out of turn, boy. Evidently, my guards had every right to rip your home to shreds if they so pleased.”

Jens looks at her in surprise. He knows his mother holds a firm and stern rule, but she has never shown herself to be cruel. Jens would never have expected her to so openly disregard the rights and welfare of her people. He supposes Lucas is good at pushing buttons, and he’s somehow managed to hit a number of her’s through their short interaction. Jens glances over Lucas again, his curls scattered and shoulders straight, and feels a stab of worry in his stomach.

Help yourself, Jens silently urges. Try to win her over. Don’t make it worse.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Lucas seems to force the words out, dragging them from himself as if he was being made to pull his own teeth. “My mother—I take care of her. I worried that she would have been harmed in the fray.”

Jens watches his own mother soften slightly before regaining her resolve. “While that’s admirable of you, it doesn’t truly explain your resistance. Your lies, Mr Van der Heijden, may only lead to further searches of your home in an attempt to confirm either your guilt or your innocence. Would you not, in that case, rather save your mother the trouble?”

Jens swivels his gaze back to Lucas, watching the low blow hit, cataloguing the way the boy’s own resolve crumbles.

Then he straightens, undeterred by the hand still tightly clasped on his shoulder. “My mother has no involvement, because neither do I. I’m not lying. I stole nothing.”

The Queen regards him for another long moment, as does Jens. Then she releases a heavy sigh. “I was hoping that your cooperation would provide an option for leniency. A true explanation may have lightened your sentence, but the proof against you is overwhelming. I cannot believe that you are free of intent to threaten the Crown, due to the unusual action of your crime. I fear I have no choice.” She stands from her throne and steps down from the dais, looming over Lucas in her heavy red robes and shimmering crown. “Lucas Van der Heijden, for the charges of thievery and dishonor to the throne, I find you guilty and sentence you to death.”

The murmur this time is of a much more extensive volume, but it isn’t quite enough to drown out Jens’s incredulous burst of laughter.

All eyes turn to him, and he feels his shoulders stiffen. Lucas’s gaze is most prominent, evidently confused, with eyes wide and disbelieving. His mother’s are equally surprised, though underlaid with anger. Jens does his best to ignore his discomfort under the attention and keep a princely smile on his face. “Since when do we sentence death without proof? For a kidnapping of a sword that wasn’t put to use, no less.”

The murmur that he’d silenced picks up again, and his mother raises an unimpressed brow at him. “The proof has been presented to you as it has been presented to me. Are you aware of evidence we are not?”

“I’m aware that there is a possibility, however slim, that he is telling the truth. Even if he had stolen it and intended to put it to use, the sword has been retrieved. He presents no real immediate threat. If anything, I believe he would have committed the crime as a scared boy with family he wishes to protect. Surely that is something any of us can understand. He may be deserving of punishment, yes, but death?”

The room has fallen into utter silence. Jens doesn’t dare look at any of the Court members, but he chances a glance at Lucas. The other boy is staring back at him, with all surprise now wiped from his face. He wears a carefully constructed blank expression, that doesn’t break as Jens looks back at him.

Jens doesn’t know why he feels such a strong urge to save him. But now that he’s started, he can’t bring his own argument to an end.

“So what else do you suggest?” His mother asks this at length, unwillingly. He shouldn’t have spoken out. It wasn’t his place. It isn’t good for her, he knows, to have her rule questioned in public by her own son. But he’d argued without thinking, looking at Lucas and feeling an inexplicable need to stand up for him.

To protect.

“It’s his loyalty in question, is it not?” Jens raises a brow and waits for her nod. “So let him prove it. I’m sure someone youthful and strong could have a place serving the Court.”

The murmur picks up again. Jens resists the urge to roll his eyes.

His mother stares at him. “Your suggestion is to allow him a position in the castle?”

“He couldn’t be placed under more watch,” Jens says simply. “I would rather taste someone’s loyalty and perhaps gain a better bond than let a life go to waste.”

This murmur sounds somewhat agreeable, though it is silenced the second the Queen raises her hand. “There are no positions in the Court up for offer, and I cannot possibly gift a thief the sword he’d stolen.”

Jens doesn’t even think before he says it. “I don’t have a personal servant.”

There is, surprisingly, no murmur. The room is eerily quiet as Jens and his mother stare each other down and Lucas flits his gaze between them. It’s not a lie, and is perhaps even the reason he’s doing this. He’s tired of fussy maids lacing his shirts and buttoning his coats and buckling his cuffs. His sisters both have maid-servants, while Jens is left with an array of strangers carrying out various duties, never even able to become familiar with faces as they avoid contact and conversation at all costs. He does his best to be amicable with the castle staff, to form relationships, to form bonds. But aside from the few close friends he sees only on occasion (sons of various Lords in various agreements with his mother), and a few chosen guards, Jens spends most of his time alone.

He wouldn’t mind someone like Lucas by his side. Someone his age, who isn’t afraid to look him in the eye.

“You wish to risk letting a criminal become your personal servant? You would trust him to be so close to you?”

Jens lets his mother stare disapprovingly at him before shifting his gaze to Lucas. They consider each other, concrete met with intrigue, before Jens gives a simple shrug. “I would. It’s my risk to take, and I believe there isn’t much risk to it. If I am wrong, then I should get what’s coming to me.”

A few of the guards give a quiet titter in acceptance, and he watches as his mother looks at a spot in the crowd, before nodding her acceptance. She looks down upon Lucas. “Very well. You will have a guard assigned to you that will accompany you on any outings, alone or with the Prince. While you are in his service, there will, as always, be guards stationed at his door and extra security provided throughout the castle. It is only as a sign of trust towards my son that you are being given leniency. You should be grateful to him that you are leaving here with your life.” She looks to the guard on his left, the one that had spoken calmly to them without laying a finger on Lucas. “Assign him a room in the Prince’s quarters. Remain with him until the new measures are fully put in place. You are dismissed,” she tells the room at large.

Lucas listens to her silently, and remains wordless as the guard at his right yanks him to his feet. Jens watches on until his mother speaks up again.

“Jens, you are to accompany him now. If he is not to be trusted from the beginning then he is not to be trusted. You are also dismissed,” she says. “Though you will be meeting me again later to discuss this decision further.”

Jens bites back a sigh and rises to his feet. The intrigue spiraling up in him is quickly turning to elation. He feels that he had been entirely right to speak up and to continue to stand as his ground.

As he makes his way down the dais and is met with Lucas’s stony gaze, however, he considers that this may not be as simple as he thought.

[peaceoutofthepieces]

VDS Week -> Day 3: GIFs

‘Cause when we touch, touch, touch, I feel you blush, blush, blush, close your heart up, up, up, breaking me down, down, down - Haux, Touch

[peaceoutofthepieces]

VDS Week -> Day 7: AU

Royalty AU

When Lucas is brought in front of the Queen for his ‘crimes’, he knows it isn’t a trial, but a sentencing. No matter his youth, his strength, his work, he knows the Queen is rarely one for leniency, and Lucas isn’t exactly a valued member of the Court. In fact, he’d be surprised if a single person, servant or knight or monarch, currently watching on, had even known he existed before now. He’s more or less accepted his fate—death is probably the better option for him, anyway.

What he doesn’t expect is for the only person capable of swaying the Queen—her son, Prince Jens—to speak up and save him by offering a lighter punishment. To prove he’s worthy of forgiveness, he only has to prove he’s a loyal member of the Court; capable of serving the crown.

Or more specifically, Prince Jens himself.

Lucas bets he wouldn’t have saved him, and put himself in Lucas’s ‘more then capable hands’, if he was aware of the crime he’s being punished for. Lucas hates that he feels relieved—honored—that the Prince of all people had apparently seen something in him worth saving. That Jens had looked him at all.

He also kind of resents him for it.

[peaceoutofthepieces]

VDS Week -> Day 1: Fics

If ‘Starstruck’ by @justvibin (aka my fave fic ever) was a Netflix series

[azozzoni]

@vdsweek 8/14: First Meeting / Aged-Up

*

Shadows played across Jens’ eyelids, sunlight through the tree leaves, fluttering away and back again. He opened his eyes as the hammock swayed suddenly, and he found Lucas climbing on with him.

It was a difficult maneuver as Lucas slid into the hammock, halfway on top of Jens as he settled in and the hammock resumed its gentle sway in the breeze, the lush leaves of the trees above the porch moving with the wind. Jens only smiled as Lucas got settled, head on his shoulder, adjusting the knee pressing into his thigh.

“Where is everyone?” Jens asked. The house had been quiet for a while, and Jens had chalked it up to the mid-afternoon lull that always seemed to happen before they geared up for the night. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out on the porch, enjoying the quiet, listening to the birds twittering, his mind empty for once.

“They went into town for more beer,” Lucas murmured, and Jens glanced down.

Lucas’ eyes were closed, cheeks and nose pink from a lingering sunburn. Like this, Jens couldn’t help thinking of the first time he’d seen Lucas, all those years ago at first-year orientation, a stupid eighteen-year old who thought he knew everything, except that maybe he was into guys as well as girls. He hadn’t figured that out until six months into knowing Lucas, between accidental flirting, weird jealousy over guys Lucas dated, wanting it to be him Lucas greeted with a kiss.

Extricating his arm, Jens ran his fingers through Lucas’ hair as they lay there in the shade of the porch, the trees filled with the sounds of birds and insects, the gentle hum of summer.

Like this, Jens didn’t have to think. He didn’t have to think that this was their last summer like this, their last summer before the real world came rushing in and they had to think about things like jobs and graduation and what happened after.

He didn’t think about it a lot, but he knew Lucas did. Lucas thought a lot, a lot more than Jens did, and it drove them both crazy sometimes.

“Do you remember the first time we met?” he asked finally, brushing Lucas’ curls off his forehead. Lucas had let them grow out this summer, wild and dark, falling in a mess over his eyes too much of the time.

As he watched, Lucas’ lips curved up in a smile, and he felt the deep breath he took, half-pressed against his chest.

“You tripped over your own feet then boasted about how good you were at skating,” he mumbled without opening his eyes.

It hadn’t been his finest moment, Jens admitted, making a little huffing noise.

“That wasn’t the first time I saw you, though,” Jens said, and Lucas hummed a question.

Jens hadn’t talked to Lucas until a week after the orientation, until classes had started and they’d ended up outside a lecture hall, waiting for the doors to open. Jens might have tripped on the stairs when he’d caught sight of Lucas, before he even knew why.

“I saw you at orientation a week before,” Jens said, and he wasn’t sure why he’d never told Lucas this. Gazing up at the leaves, he sighed, fingers continuing to stroke back Lucas’ hair. “You were sitting with Kes two rows below me. I saw you come in, and for some reason, I couldn’t stop watching you.”

“It’s because I was the hottest guy you’d ever seen,” Lucas replied, sounding smug even with his face pressed to Jens’ shoulder.

“I didn’t know that then.” He couldn’t help smiling, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Lucas’ head.

“You do now,” Lucas mumbled, sounding perfectly content as the hammock swayed gently back and forth.

For a moment, Jens didn’t reply. He wondered how long the guys would be gone for, how long this moment of peace would last.

“Do you ever think about the time we wasted?” he asked finally, and he felt Lucas shift, the twitch to his cheek as he made a noise.

“What do you mean?”

“Before we got together,” Jens said. There had been so many months they could have been together, instead of Jens being confused, sleeping with too many girls because he couldn’t figure out his feelings, all the time he could have had Lucas to himself instead of having to watch him date other guys.

“That wasn’t time wasted,” Lucas said after a minute, and he lifted his chin to set it on Jens’ chest, gazing up at him. In the shadows of the leaves, his blue eyes seemed a shade darker, more serious. “We got to know each other, be friends… pine.”

“I didn’t pine,” Jens argued, catching the way Lucas smiled, and it still made his heart clench in his chest, even after all this time.

“I did,” Lucas admitted. “I thought I was falling for another straight guy.”

“Well, I thought I was straight,” Jens said, and Lucas licked his lips slowly.

“Guess we were both wrong.”

The rope of the hammock creaked as they swayed, and Jens smiled back at Lucas, sliding down so their lips could meet in a slow, languid kiss, relaxed and soft, taking their time exploring each other’s mouths, the kind of kiss the guys always rolled their eyes at and usually brought on teasing about when were they going to get married already.

If Jens was honest with himself, which he rarely was, he hadn’t felt like this about someone since Jana. He had thought, once, that he and Jana would be together forever, but things had never seemed to work quite the way he wanted. With Lucas, though, it was different. They clicked in a way he hadn’t really with anyone else, even Jana. With Jana, he’d been young, immature, made stupid decisions. They both had. While he’d made plenty of stupid decisions with Lucas too, it never seemed quite as bad as with other people.

Breaking the kiss with a sigh, he hugged Lucas closer, hands tight around his waist, eyes closed, lips pressed to his temple as they lay there in the relative silence of the trees.

“What about next year?” Lucas asked after a long minute of quiet and Jens opened his eyes slowly, blinking as the leaves shifted above them and the sun shone down for a second.

“What about it?” he asked, though he knew perfectly well what. Next year, everything would be different.

He knew Lucas’ eyes were open now, probably watching how he traced circles around Jens’ heart over his tee shirt, fingers trailing up his shoulder to his neck.

“I don’t want things to change,” Lucas admitted, and Jens hummed softly.

“They will.”

“I know.” Lucas sighed, letting his hand fall against Jens’ neck, resting gently against the skin. “But I still don’t want them to.”

“Me neither,” Jens murmured, pressing a kiss to Lucas’ temple. “I know one thing that won’t change.”

Lucas’ gaze skated up to Jens’, chin tilting up, and Jens didn’t have to say anything as Lucas kissed him, firmer this time, anchoring, reassuring for both of them.

“That won’t change,” Lucas agreed when the kiss broke, noses pressed together, and Jens smiled easily this time.

Settling back on the hammock, Jens let out a long breath, fingers tangling in Lucas’ curls again. “How long until the guys get back?”

Lucas made a soft noise on his chest. “Maybe half an hour.”

“Good,” Jens murmured, and he made no move to get up, closing his eyes instead and feeling the breeze moving the hammock, the warmth of Lucas against him, the steady rise and fall of his chest. There was at least one thing that would change next year, one thing that wouldn’t ever change. Jens was sure of it this time.

[peaceoutofthepieces]

Title: last night of my past life

Square Filled: Soulmate AU, Past Lovers

Pairing: Jens Stoffels/Lucas VDH

Trigger Warnings: None

Created for @skamevents

For the second day of VDS week, and as a very happy birthday to @sanderijzermans ❤️

~^~

One life, one soulmate.

No exceptions, no second chances. Of course, people meet other people who feel just as intrinsic as soulmates, and often spend their life with them. But, they still aren’t soulmates. Not having those chosen people does not lead to feeling like a star is missing from the sky. It doesn’t cause that constant lost, wandery feeling, like walking into a room and forgetting why you’re there. It isn’t an exception.

One life. One soulmate. That’s the deal everyone is dealt.

At least, it seems to be, for everyone except Lucas.

Read on AO3

[peaceoutofthepieces]

VDS Week -> Day 3: GIFs

van der stoffels + name etymology