Warnings: arguing, name calling, logan and roman does not like each other at all, they kind of despise each other, kissing someone to shut them up (dont try this at home kids), so technically a kiss with no consent, not that either of them minds, logan is done™, annoyance, anger, irritation

Soulmate au - you can't see the color of your soulmates eyes (aka ur soulmate has green eyes? U cant see the color green), not until after you've kissed them (any kind of kiss, forehead, hand, lips, whatever)

--

"Wrong. Actually, you're supposed to-" Logan said, not being able to stop himself after listening to his most infuriating classmate telling his professor the wrong answer with a confident grin.

"Oh, shut up, nerd. We already know you think you're smarter than everyone." Roman Prince said with a dramatic eye roll, far too confident for someone who had just been so wrong. If Logan had been incorrect about such a thing in front of the entire class he would have shut up and never spoke again, a mentality he desperately wished his classmate would adopt. What he wouldn't give to never have to hear his stupid voice and his even stupider remarks, all the names he would come up.

"You can't blame me for thinking I'm smarter than you, you can't even-" Logan began, being interrupted by the stern voice of their professor.

"Logan. Roman. Do I have to make you leave my classroom? Again?" He said, staring at Roman and then Logan. Right. Logan clenched his jaw, forcing himself to turn his attention back to his own, correct, calculations. There was no use in ruining his own opportunity to learn just because his classmate was his normal jerk self.

"Well, if he can just mind his business, then maybe the rest of us can-" Roman began stubbornly, of-fucking-course choosing to keep arguing. Logan wanted to groan but he kept quiet.

"Okay, that's it. Get out, both of you. Please." He said, looking tired and exasperated and Logan felt sorry. Sorry that their professor also had to deal with Roman that is.

Roman scoffed in offence, standing up from his seat and beginning to collect his things.

"You too, Logan. I don't care how great of a student you are, if you disrupt my class you have to leave too." His professor said when noticing that Logan was still sitting down, scribbling equations in his notebook.

Logan stood up, scowling in the direction of Roman as he put his things back into his backpack, only having taken them out fifteen minutes earlier. Of course Roman would manage to get them kicked out of class before half had even passed.

They both walked out of the classroom, Roman making sure not to hold the door for Logan, and when it shut behind the both of them and they found themselves standing together in an empty hallway Logan made sure to keep a distance between himself and Roman, didn't want his idiocy to contaminate him.

"Great work, Microsoft Nerd, getting us both kicked out of class again." Roman said, muscular arms crossed over his chest, Logan once again being hit by the fact that if they ever got into a physical fight then he would probably not stand a chance, so punching Roman was not an option.

"I got us kicked out of class? You absolute- I haven't drank enough coffee for this." Logan muttered that last part to himself, not waiting around to hear Roman's surely infuriating response and instead turning around and walking the other way, leaving Roman there, deciding to leave campus to go and buy a cup of coffee and then study the pages of math he was supposed to be doing at that moment.

He muttered to himself, mostly insults directed at Roman, some aimed at the entire universe. Why, oh why, did he have to share multiple classes with the one person he couldn't stand? It was impossible to get things done and concentrate properly with that blundering idiot around. He was loud, and for some reason popular too, always talking and laughing with a group of people, bothering everyone else around. And he was dramatic, Logan knew he was a theatre major, he'd seen him on stage the few times his best friend had dragged him to see the plays.

Speaking of his friend...

"Hi, Logan." A far too chipper voice rang out to him through the hall and he spotted his friend, Patton, walking towards him.

"Got thrown out because of that Roman kid again?" He asked, and Logan hated that it was not the first time this had happened, to the point of it being his friend's first guess as he saw him missing a class.

"Arrived late to class and won't be let in by your strict teacher again?" Logan shot back, Patton only smiling, making a little gesture of not caring.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's go get coffee." He said, pulling Logan along.

Logan should maybe have felt suspicious when Patton insisted to pay for Logan's coffee as well, even more so when he let Logan sit and complain about how stupid his classmate was and how unfair it was that he was thrown out too when Roman had started it and been the one to keep going when their teacher warned them.

"I cannot believe how confidently he will be shouting his incorrect answers, it's pathetic, can't he just open up a textbook and read, learn some facts for once and give the rest of us some peace and quiet. I'd pay to never hear his voice again." Logan said, sipping the last of his coffee, in a slightly better mood after the hot drink and the opportunity to complain about Roman for twenty minutes.

Logan hadn't been able to stand Roman ever since the first day he met him. The fact that Roman had been sitting with a group of other students, being the loudest and most dramatic one of them all hadn't been a good start, continuously interrupting Logan as he tried to get some peace and quiet to study between his classes. Then he had realized he shared several of his classes with that student and just as Logan had expected Roman wasn't exactly the quiet student in class either, which annoyed Logan because what college student didn't have the good manners to shut up?

And then Roman had been the only other student who always raised his hand to answer their professors and teachers questions and Logan had had a spark of hope, because even if Roman was loud and extra and dramatic, maybe he was smart, a good student, not just a pretty face (Logan absolutely denied to have ever found Roman pretty, he was too annoying to be pretty).

But no, Roman raised his hand only to seemingly come up with the wildest of guesses to the questions, sometimes blurting the answer out without getting permission to speak, a few times even talking over Logan when he thought his answer was better (spoiler alert, idiot, it wasn't). And not to mention how rude Roman was any time Logan corrected him, having come up with an array of unflattering names to call Logan.

All of this made Roman Prince the one person Logan could absolutely not stand, the one and only to with only a few words irritate and infuriate Logan beyond measure. Roman made Logan figuratively see red, which was ironic, since that was the one color Logan couldn't actually see.

"Anyway," Logan sighed, forcing himself to focus on the fact that he at least had two classes today without Roman, "how are you, Patton?"

"Oh, I'm good, Lo. I'm perfect." He said, a finger tapping against the paper mug that held his half finished coffee. He looked like he wanted to say something more, and Logan sat there quietly.

"Hey, Logan. There's this party... Hear me out." Patton said, holding a hand up to quiet Logan who was already shaking his head, internally pleading that Patton wouldn't say what he thought he was going to say.

"There's this party on Thursday, and pleasepleaseplease, pretty please with a cherry on top, you have to come with me. I will owe you forever. Virgil is going to be there and you know I have a crush on him, please?" Patton said, pressing his hands together and pouting with his best puppy dog eyes. Logan knew he was screwed.

"Patton, why can't you go by yourself?" He said, trying his best to show in his voice how miserable the idea of going to a party made him.

"Logan, you know I can't do that! That's scary. And you're my bestest friend in the entire world and you have to come with me, please? I need you. What if I find out Virgil has already found his soulmate? I'll need your shoulder to cry on." Patton said and Logan leaned his head in his hand, sighing.

He absolutely did not want his friend to be crying on him, Logan was not the best at feelings in general and seeing as Patton was a pretty emotional guy he really didn't understand why he seemed to enjoy Logan's company so much.

And he didn't understand Patton's excitement about finding his soulmate. He'd known Patton for five years, this was not the first boy Patton had fallen for and convinced himself that they were soulmates. He'd been wrong all other times and was always devastated after finding out the person he liked so much was probably not the person he was destined to love.

Logan thought that was bullshit. Sure, the topic of soulmates intrigued him, why soulmates existed and how and all that, but he wasn't particularly excited to be swept off his feet by someone. If and when he fell for someone he wasn't going to let something like soulmates decide for him if it was worth it to stay with that person or not.

"Fine. I will go with you." Logan said, because he knew he couldn't just let Patton go alone to a party where there might be a lot of drunk idiots. If something happened he wanted to be there, make sure no one as much as glared in Patton's direction.

Patton jumped up from his seat with a squeal, running around the table to hug Logan tightly.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you so much, Lo, you're the best!" He exclaimed, still tightly holding onto him. Logan rolled his eyes, exasperated but fond about his friend none the less.

"I love you too, Patton. Now please let go, I can't breathe." His friend let go, smiling apologetically and then shaking his hands in excitement, almost jumping where he was standing. It attracted a few glances from other customers, but when Logan gave them a cold stare they always turned away.

"Oh god, Lo, what if I get to kiss Virgil! You've seen him right? He is so pretty, and he has always been so nice the few times we've talked. And he's adorably shy! I made him blush once when I told him he looked gorgeous and oh god, Logan, if we are soulmates I am the luckiest guy alive!" Patton rambled as he sat down again, taking one more small sip of coffee.

Logan almost wanted to tell him not to get so ahead of himself, he didn't want Patton to get so sad if it turned out they weren't soulmates.

No, Logan wasn't awfully impressed by the whole soulmate thing, but if anyone deserved to find their soulmate it was Patton. If only to make sure Logan wasn't dragged to any more college parties.

(Was it worth it to find Virgil and convince him to kiss his best friend just to get it over with? Logan had seen him around once or twice, he could do that. Almost, it was almost worth it, but Logan also really didn't want to get involved.)

"Do you want the rest of my coffee? It's cold though." Patton asked, pushing the cup in Logan's direction. Logan took it and drank the last of it with no hesitation.

"Shall we go to class? Mine starts in fifteen minutes."

Logan and Patton got up from their seats, throwing away the empty paper cups. Patton linked arms with Logan, dragging him along as he rambled on about Virgil and how good he was at painting and how he was doing a group project with him in their soulmate studies class and how that was how he had found out about the party because Virgil had apparently asked if Patton was going to.

"Do you think that means he wants me to be there? I told him I might be and he smiled, oh Logan he has the prettiest smile, and he said he hoped to see me there. Do you think that might mean he likes me? Gosh, I really hope he likes me too, I just like him so much and I really really want to get to know him better." Patton's words were an endless stream that Logan barely listened to as they entered the college building again, Logan a bit too busy sending the iciest glares possible towards the group of people sitting with Roman Prince in the hallway.

Hopefully the rest of the day would pass without having to lay eyes on that prick.

--

It was Thursday, the day of the dreaded party.

Logan had wished more and more every day that he had said no to Patton, considered every possible excuse to take his promise back, but any time he brought up the topic of the party Patton was so excited and ended up rambling for ten minutes about his crush.

Logan had given up quickly. He really didn't need to know that Virgil furrowed his brows and stuck the tip of his tongue out when concentrating particularly hard on his paintings, or that his, to Patton, grey eyes sparkled so prettily in the sun light.

Despite Logan's desperate hope that something drastic would happen to make the party get cancelled, a fire, the cops shutting it down before it even got started, a global pandemic, anything, it seemed that it was to no avail. Patton showed up outside Logan's dorm dressed in a white button up and a bright blue skirt almost the exact same color as his eyes, excitedly bouncing on his heels.

"Let's go!" Patton shouted and grabbed Logan's arm, pulling him along and barely giving Logan time to lock his door. Logan had dressed in, pretty much, his usual attire. Dark blue jeans, a neat black button up, and his favorite deep blue tie. It was the clothes he felt the most comfortable in, he was nowhere as bold as Patton.

They could hear the party from afar, the beat of loud music and the buzzing of many voices. This was pretty much Logan's nightmare, if he was being honest. A house full of drunk college students, loud music, far too much people and far too much alcohol.

They stepped right in because the door was wide open. Logan had seen students out on the lawn too, people dancing to the music that could be heard through the open windows, students making out, loud laughing coming from a pair of bushes (Logan didn't want to know what was going on in there) and if all that was enough to make Logan wrinkle his nose in distaste... well, let's just say it was worse inside the house.

The hallway and the living room was packed with students who were dancing to the music, some dancing so closely that Logan wasn't entirely sure if dancing was the only thing they were doing or if they were trying to have intercourse with their clothes on. Not that they were all wearing much clothes.

Patton scanned the room, obviously looking for Virgil, and Logan helped, thinking that the sooner Patton found Virgil the sooner they might kiss and then no matter what the consequence of that was Logan might be allowed to go home. Patton couldn't spot him, and Logan saw nothing purple. (Virgil's hair was dyed a deep shade of purple, but Patton wouldn't know that, it being the one color he couldn't see).

They made it upstairs, Patton holding on tightly to Logan's hand, which Logan was actually thankful for. This was not a place made for him. He was an introvert. An introvert who liked studying and getting a decent amount of sleep on Thursday evenings. For god's sake, were these students aware of the fact they likely had classes in the morning?

At least upstairs it was a bit less crowded with people, and the music wasn't as loud. Logan surveyed the room, seeing a group of people sitting on a couch and playing Xbox games, a group of girls sitting and talking and laughing on another couch, some people dancing together, a lot of them all drinking what was most likely alcohol.

"I'm going to go look in that other room over there." Patton said, letting go of Logan's hand and disappearing before Logan really caught what he had said. He sighed, feeling incredibly lost.

He heard the sound of boisterous laughter that made him freeze and turn his head, because he recognized that laughter, had been bothered by it many times in class and in the campus library.

Oh no, this was going to be worse than what Logan could have imagined. Roman was there.

Logan internally cursed at himself and his own idiocy. Of course the popular, handsome, dramatic, extroverted Roman Prince was at a college party, he was probably at every party possible, chatting up whatever his type was and kissing as many people as possible.

Roman did strike Logan as the kind of person that would be very invested in finding his soulmate, kissing everyone he could to see if it was his 'fated love'. Logan pitied whoever was Roman's soulmate, hoped that person didn't mind loud, stupid, and obnoxious theatre kids.

Roman stopped in his tracks as he saw Logan, his smile dropping slightly. To Logan's horror Roman was now making his way over to him, as if they had any reason at all to socialize. Roman was the last person Logan wanted to talk to, and he didn't want to have to engage in a conversation with a single person in this house.

Except for maybe Patton and Virgil. He'd only talked to Virgil once, briefly, long enough to see that his eyes were purple, which he then of course forwarded to Patton who had been jumping around for several minutes, claiming that Virgil was for sure his soulmate.

Once again Logan really hoped Virgil was in fact Patton's soulmate. Patton was so sure of it, if he was wrong he'd be so upset. Logan didn't want his best friend to be miserable, and neither did he want to deal with Patton being like that. Though, right now Logan had bigger problems than a possibly teary Patton in the future.

Roman stopped a step away, crossing his arms over the white crop top he was wearing that was showing off his tan skin and the fact that he exercised. His pants were either gray, or a shade of the color Logan couldn't see, just like the choker around his throat, and he was also wearing a white pair of boots that had a heel, making Roman the taller one out of the two of them. For some reason he was wearing a fake crown, or maybe tiara, oh his head and Logan wondered if it was something he had stolen from the theatre costume closet.

Logan stared Roman right in his grey eyes, for the first time realizing that Roman shared the same eye color as his soulmate, which wasn't that uncommon, Logan had seen plenty of people with grey eyes throughout his life, but it was annoying to think that if he met his soulmate he might be reminded of this idiot every time he would look them in the eyes.

"Hey, I didn't know nerds went outside." Roman said with a wide grin, and how dare he grin at Logan like that? The audacity of him even speaking to him...

"What do you want, Roman?" Logan asked, not wanting to spend one second more than necessary in Roman's presence. It was bad enough that they shared several classes together, no, it was bad enough that they went to the same college.

"What? I'm just wondering why you're here. You don't exactly strike me as the outgoing party type. You seem more like a... a 'stay at home and study all night' type." He said and laughed. (And what was he so happy about? Logan saw no reason to show even the tiniest of smiles.)

"You don't know anything about me." Logan said, absolutely not going to let Roman know he was correct in his assumptions. This was the first party Logan had ever gone to, not counting the second grade halloween party.

Logan turned around and quickly made his way towards the room Patton had disappeared into, hurrying after his friend who was hopefully still in there and hopefully currently kissing a certain purple haired artist.

In that room the music from downstairs could barely be heard, but another speaker was placed on the middle of a table, playing some other music, and Logan spotted Patton in the corner of the room. Thankfully he had finally found Virgil, and the two of them seemed to be in a deep discussion and, soulmates or not, Patton probably didn't have to worry too much because Virgil was smiling at Patton as if he was the prettiest artwork he'd ever laid eyes on.

Logan studied them for a few seconds, not wanting to interrupt them and definitely not wanting to be a third wheel. He spotted a couch in another corner. There were only two others, presumably, guys sitting there and drinking what Logan guessed was beer. There were at least twenty unopened brown bottles on the low table in front of the couch.

He didn't exactly want to sit there and feel awkward until Patton was ready to go home, but the thought of joining the people who were dancing or going back out and risking running into Roman again was worse, so he walked across the room and sat down.

It was an uncomfortably soft leather couch, Logan sank too deep into the cushions, and he really hoped they weren't sticky because if so that was probably either spilled beer, vomit, sweat, or piss.

"Here, take one, dude." One of the guys sitting on the couch said, grabbing a beer and handing it to Logan who awkwardly grabbed it, mumbling a thanks that was too quiet for anyone to hear. The guys didn't seem to care, diving right back into their conversation about a computer game that Logan only knew the name of.

Logan opened the bottle with his dorm key, taking a few sips of the gross drink. Logan wasn't much for alcohol and he had never seen the appeal in getting drunk, but if he was going to sit here and wait for Patton while hoping that Roman didn't enter the room, well, he might as well drink one beer because that wasn't enough to have any effect on him and he was really thirsty. He didn't think it was worth venturing downstairs to find somewhere with running water.

Logan sipped his beer and pulled his phone up, spending probably half an hour reading up on the subject they were talking about in his biology class, wishing he'd brought his textbook or his homework because that would be a lot more entertaining than listening to this music and watching people drunkenly dance.

Though the thought of Roman finding him doing homework at a party was horrid, and after finishing the fifth article he had been reading he turned his screen off and put his phone back into his pocket.

Screw this. If he went back to his dorm now he could get a bit of studying done, or at the very least get almost a decent amount of sleep. Or five-six hours at least, it was only half past twelve. Why did parties have to go on during the night? Logan didn't exactly understand that part. Was it only to get that feeling of doing something they weren't supposed to?

Logan looked over at Virgil and Patton, seeing them dancing together and Logan sighed. He didn't want to interrupt that, and he supposed he could survive another while. Logan tried joining in on the conversation the other two were having, but they had been drinking considerably more than Logan and despite them seeming like nice people it wasn't very easy for Logan to talk to them.

He gave up after ten minutes, pulling his phone out again and reading more interesting biology articles on that same topic his teacher had brought up in the last class. Why should he give a fuck if Roman saw him? What was he supposed to do, feel awkward about not being a drunken idiot?

Logan would rather kiss a stranger than let Roman's stupid opinions affect his actions.

As the clock on his phone showed that it was past one in the morning Logan had had enough, feeling exhausted and miserable, longing for his bed, or maybe a cup of coffee. He stood up and made his way through the room which was now a bit more crowded than before but not terribly so, compared to downstairs.

"Patton, I'm going home." Logan said over the music, tapping at Patton's shoulder and somehow making his shift his attention from Virgil who gave Logan a quick two finger salute. Thankfully Patton nodded and hugged Logan, not trying to plead for him to stay longer.

"Thank you for coming, you're the best!" He said, and then he turned his attention back to Virgil. Logan almost felt a little sad as he looked between them. Even he was beginning to think the two of them were soulmates, they seemed to get along so well, and fit together that way soulmates were supposed to.

Logan pushed away the very hasty thought of longing. While soulmates wasn't something Logan was excited about he sometimes couldn't help wondering what it would be like if he found his. Would they fall in love? Be best friends? Something in the middle? Would his soulmate enjoy stargazing? Would his soulmate be interested in listening to Logan when he wanted to talk about the subjects that he was passionate about?

Well, Logan didn't think there was any use in dwelling over those things. He had no way of knowing if he was going to meet his soulmate anytime soon or if they were going to meet at all. Some people never found their soulmate, and Logan supposed that it would fit if he was one of them, as he didn't really care all that much. He wouldn't say it was too much of a loss going through life unable to see red.

Logan made it out of the room, back into the other room where he had unfortunately run into Roman. He hoped Roman had had the common sense to go home by now (after all, he knew Roman also had a class at eight in the morning, since it was the same one Logan had), but no such luck.

Logan hadn't even made it through half of the room before Roman was suddenly in front of him, seriously, was the guy keeping a close eye on him? He stopped, eyeing Roman carefully, wondering if Roman was as drunk as many of the others at the party was. He didn't look like he was, but what did Logan know?

"Bet you've never even played a party game, huh?" Roman said, raising his eyebrows provocatively, pulling Logan along towards a group of people who were sitting on the floor in a circle with an empty bottle of beer in the middle of them.

Logan had absolutely nothing to prove to Roman, of all people, but he still let himself be pulled there by Roman, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing him back out. He was no coward and he wasn't about to let Roman think so.

"You spin it, specs." Roman said, smirking, and Logan wondered what kind of disgusting game it was Roman had gotten him into. If this was truth or dare then at least he was partly safe, not having any big secrets to keep.

With a probably sour expression he reached out and spun the bottle and the others cheered as it slowed, slowed to point directly at Roman. The others in the circle and the onlookers whistled and laughed, chanted something about a closet. Roman looked oddly uncomfortable.

"Come on, dudes, you have to go in the closet!" Someone cheered and Logan was helped up to his feet, Roman too, and then they were both practically shoved into a nearby closet that Logan hadn't noticed before he was inside of it.

The door was shut harshly and Logan thought he heard the sinister sound of a key being turned in the lock. There was an incredibly weak lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, barely making the tiny room bright enough to properly see Roman.

Well. This was fun. Logan's own personal torture chamber.

"We don't have to kiss." Roman said to break the silence, glancing at Logan and seeming more nervous than anything else.

Wait- kiss?

"What? Why in the world would we kiss?" Logan exclaimed, taking a step back in the small space, his back almost hitting the wall. Had he done something to make this insufferable man think he wanted to make out with him in the closet during a miserable party?

"Seven minutes in heaven? Duh, it's kind of the rules? Well, not exactly the rules, you can do anything else, but at this kind of party? You kiss." Roman said matter-of-factly, in the voice you'd use to explain something to someone particularly dim witted (the voice Logan always wanted to use when forced to interact with Roman).

Logan stared at him, having absolutely no idea what he was talking about, why would anyone play a game that meant you were supposed to kiss someone while locked in a closet?

Logan, as during so many other instances, failed to see the fun in the situation.

"You don't- oh, you didn't realize. Well, of course not, you're too much of a nerd to know something like this, I should've seen that coming." Roman said with a snort, seeming like he was speaking to himself rather than Logan, which was somehow perhaps more irritating than anything else.

"Oh, but why won't you just shut up for once?" Logan exclaimed and grabbed a hold of the bastards shirt, ignoring his offended hey as Logan pulled him closer. He did the only thing he could think of to shut him up; he kissed him, right on the lips.

Maybe Logan actually was insane, but it did indeed get Roman to finally, finally, be quiet (oh the silence was music to his ears).

Roman pushed Logan back, eyes wide in surprise and he almost gaped, making Logan want to roll his eyes, but before he could do so Roman's lips were on his again and his back pressed against the wall.

And of course the popular and handsome guy was also a great kisser. Logan would have scoffed if he hadn't been busy kissing back, distracted from his thoughts by Roman's warm lips on his.

Logan probably wasn't thinking at all, no common sense must be left in him if he was kissing and letting himself be kissed by the one person that could infuriate him like no one else. The person who had seemingly done everything in his power to annoy Logan for the past six months of classes.

Or maybe the annoyance and the anger towards the other was what was driving them on, making Roman steadily place his hands to Logan's waist as their lips moved together, Logan's hands resting on Roman's chest, ready to push him away the second he decided that this wasn't the way to take his frustration out on Roman.

Logan hadn't exactly kissed anyone before but he quickly got the hang of it, it wasn't very difficult, though he would probably have been angry that his first kiss was with Roman Prince if he wasn't so busy trying not to get entirely lost in the feeling of Roman's mouth on his and Roman's hands moving up his torso, which was all surprisingly overwhelming in a good way that made Logan feel slightly offended at the fact that Roman of all people could make him feel that way.

They parted for a mere moment, breathing harshly and searching the others expression for any uncomfort for a heartbeat or two before Logan gripped to his shirt and pulled Roman closer again, kissing him as if his life depended on it or, well, as if it was his only way to act on the pent up annoyance from six months of petty arguments and name calling.

At least this loud jerk was a good kisser, good enough to make Logan forget about time and the fact that he a few minutes ago had desperately wanted to go home and sleep, now instead he shivered slightly under Roman's hands, a shiver that had nothing to do with being cold and everything to do with the way Roman's teeth had pulled at his bottom lip.

He felt Roman smile against his lips and he was about to pull back to breathe and maybe even laugh a little, laugh at their situation and how good it felt to be kissing Roman, but before he had the chance to there was a click heard from the door and a moment later it was pulled open, making harsh light from the ceiling lights of the outside world burst their little bubble.

They parted quickly to the sound of people ooing and awwing and laughing, no doubt the rest of the people who they'd been playing that stupid spin the bottle game with. Roman looked out at the people, grinning almost a little apologetically, letting himself be pulled out of there and-

A harsh pull back into reality, one might say.

Logan shook his head at himself and at his stupid behaviour. What, exactly, was he doing going around kissing someone like Roman? Logan got out of the closet and made it to the stairs before anyone could pull him back into the ring of people who were all beginning to sit down again.

He fought his way downstairs and towards the door, through all the people and the noise, feeling all types of weird and not necessarily in a good way. What the hell was he doing? That wouldn't be awkward next time they saw each other in class.

Logan walked outside, quickly putting distance between himself and the house full of all those horrible students, between himself and Roman. Feeling stupid, stupid. He could only breathe properly again when he no longer heard the noises of the party, was no longer plagued by that eardrum shattering music from the ground level of the house.

Logan took deep breaths and stared up at the dark blue sky, noting the few stars visible despite the light pollution. Instead of going to this party until the early hours of the morning he could have taken the bus out of town, gone stargazing. Oh how he longed to get to sit down and watch the stars on some quiet hill for a few hours. No other people, no noises from cars, no nothing, just him and the stars.

But he didn't have time for that, hadn't had time for this party either, really. He should have just stayed at his dorm and studied. Patton better be really grateful Logan forced himself to go.

When he got back to his dorm he kicked the door shut and locked it, not even bothering to turn the lights on, just stumbling into bed to get a few hours of sleep before his maths class at eight in the morning.

--

When Logan woke up he was exhausted. Whatever idiot had thought it was okay to throw a party on a Thursday evening deserved a slap in the face. Or at the very least to pay for the coffee Logan so desperately needed. Curse Patton for having the ability to convince anyone to do anything, he pitied his friends soulmate, they would be absolutely chanceless to those eyes.

Logan was about to sit up, but then he actually properly remembered last night, or maybe this morning would be more accurate- Logan groaned and pushed that thought away, realizing he had something far more important to think about.

He and Roman Prince had kissed.

Logan pressed his hands to his face, cursing loudly, using a few choice words that he would love to say to Roman's face. How the fuck had that happened? If he had wanted to shut Roman up that bad, why not punch him in the mouth? He'd certainly fantasized about doing so before.

After a few minutes of wallowing in his own misery and wondering how absolutely horrible it would be to see Roman's smug face in class today, he decided that if he was going to make it through the rest of the semester he just had to ignore Roman completely, and definitely ignore that they had ever kissed. Pretend it had not happened.

Yeah, he could do that.

It wasn't as if the kiss mattered anyway. They didn't like each other, never would, no matter if Roman was a good kisser or not, that didn't fix his entire personality.

Logan looked out over his dorm room that was brightly lit up by the daylight coming through his window, eyes passing by the pride flag he'd hung on the wall on his first day to make the room feel more like his.

Pride flag, NASA posters, some succulents by the window, his favorite books.

His breath caught in his throat and he forced himself to remember how to breathe as he stared at his pride flag again.

The top stripe was no longer grey.

The top stripe was no longer grey.

He slowly put two and two together, fearing the conclusion he knew he was going to draw.

He had kissed Roman last night.

This morning he could see a color he hadn't been able to see the day before.

"No." Logan said, to himself, to the universe which was surely laughing at him now as his horrifying reality set in.

Roman Prince, the most infuriating classmate Logan had the displeasure of knowing. Roman Prince, the loud and extra theatre kid who was always listening to Disney music on a speaker. Roman Prince, who was a surprisingly good kisser. Roman Prince, who was, since the world apparently hated him, Logan's soulmate.

"No. It can't- Wh- ...No." Logan shook his head again as if that would change the facts, fumbling for his glasses but only seeing the color clearer as he'd put them on. He stared at the flag for a few minutes, unable to tear his gaze away as he fathomed his fate. He buried his face in his hands again, letting his eyes shut.

Roman. Prince. Was. His. Soulmate.

Logan reached for his phone, prying his eyes open to find Patton's number, his mind reeling with what he wanted to tell his friend, rants about how he was never ever going anywhere with Patton again and how it was his fault that his life was now so much more difficult and embarrassing.

"G' mornin', Lo, whassup?" Patton said, sounding half asleep even over the phone and Logan changed his mind about panicking over Roman, instead pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. It was not Patton's fault. Logan made the decision to come to the party himself. And he was certainly the one at fault of joining in on that game. And he had kissed Roman first, if only to shut him up, it was still his fault.

"Just making sure you got home safe." Logan said, forcing down any possible word vomit about Roman and the fact that the world was a very, very unfair place.

"Aw, don't worry, Lo. After you left I stayed with Virgil and we left like an hour after you did." Patton said and Logan could hear his smile in his voice. Logan wasn't exactly interested in hearing Patton ramble about Virgil and how they had danced and what they had done after the party and how pretty he was, especially not now when he had his own problems to deal with

"That's, uh, that's great Patton. I have to make myself ready for class now. Bye." Logan said and hung up, dragging himself up from his comfortable bed where he would love to spend a few more hours, glaring at the pride flag hanging innocently on his wall as he walked by it.

Logan had never cared much about his soulmate before, he had no reason to start now.

He brushed his teeth, glaring at himself in the bathroom mirror the entire time. What he wouldn't give to not see that he had a red toothbrush. There had been such small odds of him ever finding his soulmate when that soulmate was Roman, why had he had to go and ruin that? He could have lived his life blissfully unaware.

Sure, Roman was attractive and a good kisser and- But he was Roman!

Logan spat toothpaste out, washing his mouth with mouthwash before getting into the shower, letting the at times scalding hot and other times freezing cold water of the dorm shower wake him up properly. Then after he got out of the shower he got dressed, a pair of black jeans, a blue button up, a darker blue tie.

Sadly his wristwatch and his phone both said he had to run to class to get there on time and Logan hastily gathered his things from his desk where he had been studying before Patton knocked on his door yesterday and doomed him.

He pushed textbooks and pens and his laptop into his backpack, zipping it shut and feeling even more miserable at the realization that there was no time to make or buy coffee, the one thing that could improve Logan's day, as exhausted and stressed as he was.

Logan hoisted the backpack up, opening the door - only to slam it shut again at the sight of the one and only Roman Prince standing right outside in the dorm corridor.

That bastard knew where he lived, and now he was waiting outside Logan's door to- to do what exactly? Tell Logan how unhappy he was to find out he was his soulmate? Talk about them being soulmates?

No thanks. Logan leaned against the wall, singing deeply as his backpack slid down his arm and to the floor with a thud. He couldn't do this, he had not got even close to enough sleep to be able to deal with that obnoxious man, not at not even eight in the morning. At least he normally had coffee with him in class.

There was a knock on Logan's door and Logan scoffed, staring at the closed door with distaste, making no move to open it. He crossed his arms over his chest, staring into the floor as he tried to think. He did not want to face Roman. And he did not want to miss his class since this was the class he had the most absence in, thanks to the one and only person now knocking on his door again.

"I'm not going to leave." He heard Roman's voice call through the door. Logan briefly considered prying his window open and escaping through there, but he quickly disregarded the thought, coming to the conclusion that he was being stupid and making things even more embarrassing. Logan swore quietly before willing himself to open his door again, which took all his strength to force himself to do.

Roman was still standing there, holding a cup of what smelled like coffee in each hand and smiling at Logan.

"What are you doing where and what do you want?" Logan said, sounding so rude that he almost felt bad about it. Almost.

"When I went home from the party this early morning I could see the dark blue of the sky. Before that I could see the dark blue dresses and shirts people were wearing at the party. I can see the dark blue that your shirt and tie is. I can see the dark blue that is your eyes. And guess what? Only happened after we kissed." Roman stated.

Great, Roman was bright enough to figure that out.

"I don't have the energy or capacity to deal with this." He said, wishing that Roman could have kissed some other blue eyed people at the party last night, then maybe he wouldn't know exactly who his soulmate was and Logan could pretend that he was as incapable of seeing red and pink as always.

"Sucks, specs." Roman said, walking right past Logan and into his dorm, as always stepping on Logan's nerves with such ease. Logan took a slow and deep breath before closing his door and turning around to face Roman who was now standing in the middle of his room, looking at the things Logan owned, his books and posters, smiling at the sight of the pride flag.

Logan was eyeing the coffee Roman was holding, but he didn't say a word as he walked over to his unmade bed and sat down. The sooner Roman said what he wanted the sooner he could get out of Logan's dorm and let him try to come to peace with their situation. He had yet to have time to try and figure out what to do, which left him confused and unsure. He hated not knowing what to do.

Roman thankfully didn't sit down next to Logan on his bed, instead he pulled Logan's desk chair out and sat down face to face with Logan. They sat quietly for a moment, the extravagant man before him for once seeming to struggle to find his words.

Since they were staring at each other already Logan took this time to actually examine Roman's eyes. Unsurprisingly his eyes were the color Logan had previously not been able to see. His irises were a darker red that were slightly brighter red around the pupil. His eyes certainly fit with the rest of him, somehow adding to his often so extravagant appearance.

"Your eyes are red. That's ridiculous." Logan said tiredly. If Patton was there he would surely be scolding him for being so unpleasant towards the person who turned out to be his soulmate, but Logan could not bring himself to care, he could shame himself for his behaviour later.

"What, there's something wrong with me having red eyes?" Roman said with an ever so dramatic eye roll.

"No. There's something wrong with me being able to see your red irises after kissing you because it is absolutely ridiculous that you, of all people, is my soulmate." Logan said, rubbing his temples. Roman huffed.

"Well, I'm not exactly thrilled about it either." He said, looking down and seemingly realizing he was still holding two cups of coffee. He extended one towards Logan who sceptically stared at first the paper cup and then at Roman, struggling to fathom why he would offer him coffee.

After a few seconds of internal debate he decided coffee was worth anything, even if it was possibly poisoned and even if Roman was the one giving it to him.

"Have I ever mentioned you're irritatingly handsome?" Roman said as Logan threw caution to the wind and took a big gulp of the near burning coffee which he then proceeded to almost choke on when he heard Roman's words.

"What?" He said, trying to wrap his mind around the entirety of the bizarre situation he found himself in. Roman shrugged, taking a sip of his own coffee.

"Well, it's one of the reasons you're so annoying. Super smart and attractive guy who keeps correcting me and being really irritating? How can I not find you insufferable?" Roman said, almost defending himself.

"What?" Logan said again. Roman placed his cup of coffee on Logan's desk and he considered telling Roman to move it from the homework it was standing on. He did not want to turn in anything with more coffee stains than necessary.

"Come on, Logan," Roman said, quite possibly using Logan's actual name for the first time, "we're soulmates. We can't just ignore that."

"How is this even supposed to work, though? I mean, soulmates are supposed to understand each other. Make each other better people and inspire. Not hate each other and barely stand to be in the same room together." Logan pointed out, wondering if Roman had somehow forgotten that whole thing.

They had spent months and months arguing and despising each other, getting riled up as soon as the other opened their mouth to speak. Were they just supposed to put all that behind them and suddenly become all lovey-dovey and happy just because they were soulmates? Logan didn't think he could do that.

"I don't hate you, I just think you're an insufferable know-it-all." Roman said.

"Like, I don't know if you've ever considered this, but you could just be quiet and not point it out every time I'm incorrect or do something wrong. We can't all be super intelligent nerds." Roman continued, letting his irritation show in the tone of his voice during that last part.

"If you don't want to be corrected, then you should perhaps think through your answers and not just take your first best guess at everything. And what does it matter? If I don't correct you someone else will. And if they don't then you will be spreading around misinformation, surely you can't want that? Not to mention the fact that you just seem to be doing it to infuriate me." Logan said, drinking more of his coffee, choosing not to tell Roman that it was far too sugary since it was a lot better than having no coffee at all.

"...Okay, I'll admit, it's fun to annoy you and sometimes I rile you up just for the hell of it. But maybe sometimes I'm actually doing my best, and I don't need you calling me an imbecile in front of the entire class when I get something wrong." Roman said, crossing his arms and giving Logan a look that was hard to read.

"...I don't hate you either. I just think you're far too confident, and loud and dramatic and an absolute nuisance to have in class." Logan said, not yet ready to apologize for anything, but he could admit that much. And Roman was smiling. Ugh.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes, Logan drinking his coffee. Okay, so they had admitted they don't hate each other, where did they go from here? Apparently Roman was thinking about the same subject.

"I don't know about you, but I'm willing to give this a chance. Have you ever heard of soulmates hating each other throughout their entire lives? I haven't, so maybe if we just tried to, like, have an actual conversation or spend time together without yelling at each other, who knows. We might be soulmates for a reason." Roman said with a shrug, and Logan had no idea how he could talk about these things and seem so casual.

"I suppose... I suppose that would be alright. It would be unlikely that specifically our soulmate connection is a mistake when no one else's is." Logan said, even though part of him hoped that that really was the case. But, as Roman had said, it was unheard off that soulmates didn't have some kind of relationship together, a relationship that didn't consist of arguments and glares.

Gross, Logan had just agreed with Roman.

"Alright!" Roman stood up, reaching a hand out and helping Logan up for his bed, that overly confident tone in his voice back, together with his wide grin that always annoyed Logan.

"Let's go to class." He said, still holding onto Logan's hand as he took his coffee and waited for Logan to grab his backpack and his own half empty cup of coffee. Class! Logan had completely forgotten about that.

"Fuck, we are so late." Logan groaned as he checked the time, glaring at Roman as he was pulled along towards the building where their classroom was, since it was as usual all Roman's fault that they were missing class, but his glare didn't hold that same distaste as always, and based of the way Roman looked at him and smiled maybe he noticed that too.

--

Logan had, to the relief of his teacher, bit his tongue any time Roman had been his obnoxious and irritating self during their classes. He'd been ignoring Roman as much as possible, praying that none of his classmates had been playing that party game with them and seen them kiss, because if it spread around that Logan had been kissing Roman then he didn't know how to show his face in class.

It had been mortifying enough to walk into class late at the same time as Roman, leaving his classmates to draw their own assumptions from that. At the very least Logan had gotten Roman to let go of his hand. He wasn't sure what Roman thought, but Logan really didn't want to go around announcing that he and Roman were soulmates.

Roman had seemed to, at least for now, keep his remarks that were only to annoy Logan to himself, and he hadn't been called any stupid name. Maybe because he didn't say a word all class. As he put his backpack on and left the classroom he could have swore his teacher gave him a grateful look.

He supposed their teachers were as relieved as Logan was that he didn't have to argue with Roman.

Since Roman apparently thought that it was now his duty to follow Logan around he was close behind him as Logan made his way to where he was sure to run into Patton. Logan wondered briefly if Roman was now trying to irritate him into stop ignoring him, and that thought was the only thing keeping him from telling Roman just how annoying he was. Even when not trying to actively ruin Logan's day Roman was still in his way and distracting him.

Logan spotted Patton, who was standing outside the art classroom, talking to Virgil (no surprise there). Logan considered not greeting his friend and instead leaving him to chat with his crush without interrupting. But then Patton spotted him and smiled brightly, waving him over.

"Hi, Logan, how are you doing? Um, and why are you being followed around by Roman?" Patton asked after having pulled Logan in for a quick and tight hug.

"He-" Logan said, then going quiet simply because he had no idea what to say. He glanced back and gave Roman an exasperated glare. Roman was casually leaning against the wall, scrolling on his phone and looking up when realizing they were talking about him.

"Turns out the nerd is my soulmate, now I have to convince him to give me a chance." Roman said, of course telling them exactly what Logan didn't think they had any reason knowing.

"You're doing an absolutely splendid job not infuriating me, who could find it annoying to be late for class and to then have you following them around all day?" He muttered, anger having flared up at Roman revealing that personal and embarrassing information.

How did Roman think this was going to work out between them? He had such a talent for angering Logan and it seemed that Logan was just as good at making Roman angry. The two of them being soulmates made no logical sense. They had nothing in common and while they didn't hate each other they still didn't like each other.

Logan saw no real point in trying, though he did suspect that if he told Roman to leave him alone then Roman would do the exact opposite and pester him until Logan agreed to give him a chance to prove that he wasn't only extra and obnoxious.

"He's your soulmate?" Patton exclaimed loudly, but thankfully no one except the four of them were close enough to hear. Virgil stared at Roman, then looking between him and Logan, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Oh, shut up, panic at the everywhere." Roman said, which was apparently the only thing it took for Virgil to burst out laughing, laughing so hard Logan almost got worried if he was able to breathe. He glanced at Roman, seeing him roll his eyes.

"Wait, if you're soulmates... did you two kiss?" Patton stared at Logan with wide eyes and Logan felt his face heat up and he scoffed. He was not going to dignify that question by answering it.

"This is priceless, I've had to listen to you rant about how irritating and smug you find Logan for ages, and the two of you are soulmates? Christmas came early." Virgil said, still laughing and leaning on Patton who seemed to agree with that last statement but for different reasons.

"Oh, I've been listening to Logan do the exact same thing! Maybe you have more things in common than you think." Patton said, clearly amused, much more so than Logan was.

"I think I am going to go back to my dorm and study." Logan said, leaving no room to argue and walking away before they convinced him to stay. He knew Patton wouldn't think Logan was too upset with him.

The sound of hurried steps behind him alerted him that Roman was still insisting on following him around and Logan managed to ignore him all the way to his dorm, but losing his temper slightly when Roman tried to follow him inside.

"Roman, for the love of god. Do you not have anything better to do than prove to me that I don't want you around?" Logan said, pushing his glasses up and giving Roman a look that he hoped properly conveyed how he felt about having someone following his every step.

"You said you'd give this a chance." Roman said, frowning. "How are we supposed to do that if you won't talk to me or even pretend I exist?"

Logan set his backpack down on his desk, too stubborn to admit that Roman had a point. He pulled his laptop from his backpack and set it on his desk, then his textbooks. Roman was standing in the doorway, observing his every move, and after a few seconds Logan turned around to face him, bracing his hands on the edge of the desk behind him.

"Look, Roman... I just don't understand how this would work. We don't like each other. Is it really worth trying? Maybe we should just be grateful for the access to the full spectrum of color and part ways. Do you really think that this will go well?" Logan asked him, having been thinking of their morning conversation the entire day, doubting their chances more and more as he'd thought back to every interaction they had ever had. This morning they had had their first barely civil conversation.

"Let me take you on a date, we have to try. I won't just walk away from my soulmate, I've been dreaming of finding, well, you, I guess, ever since I was little. You being a stuck up nerd isn't going to squander my chance at love." Roman said, both bringing a blush to Logan's cheeks and making him decide that even when Roman was trying to be nice he was still a jerk.

"We might not be romantic soulmates, don't get ahead of yourself." Logan scoffed.

"Well, the way you were kissing me makes it hard to think you don't find me attractive." Roman said, matter-of-factly, and Logan couldn't say anything to dispute that since he, in fact, did think Roman was stupidly good looking.

"I'm not going to let this whole soulmate thing decide for me who I will and will not love. I'm not a mindless slave under the concept of soulmates." He said instead, trying to ignore his brain reminding him of their kissing, now in the light of the day refusing to acknowledge how much he had enjoyed it until they'd been interrupted.

(His heart did absolutely not beat harder at the memory of Roman's kisses and his steady hands on his body.)

"And you think I'm the dramatic one?" Roman said, with a laugh.

"Look," he said, walking up and taking Logan's hands in his (which really didn't help Logan's blush), Roman looked him right in the eyes, "let me take you on a date. You can prove you don't hate me, and I can show you that I'm serious about this. I'm not doing this to ruin your day. I was thinking about this all night and while neither of us is particularly happy about this I really don't want to just give up without even trying. Why not at least take the chance?"

"So... will you go on a date with me or do I have to annoy you into agreeing?" Roman said, no doubt fully serious about his threat.

"Fine." Logan sighed, pulling his hands from Roman's and trying not to look directly at his bright smile.

"Don't worry, nerd, I'll take you on the best date ever." He said, immediately making Logan worry. Not that he would ever tell Roman so, but Logan had never gone on a date before. He'd never felt the need to, not having had any crushes yet. As far as he understood a date was pretty much the same as hanging out with a friend, only that there was romantic intent and the people going on the date might kiss or... such things.

Logan hoped Roman wasn't thinking he'd get to kiss Logan again just because he was taking him on a date.

"Great." Logan said monotonously, hoping that Roman would now leave, but instead the dramatic theatre kid sat down on Logan's desk chair again.

"So, what do you want to do?" He said, looking around Logan's room, maybe for inspiration, and Logan felt slightly self conscious over the glow in the dark stars he'd stuck to the ceiling. In the dark they made the room much more homey, but in daylight they looked silly and Logan really did want people to view him as someone who was serious and respectable.

"Do you like stargazing?" Roman said, eyeing the glow in the dark stars before looking at Logan again.

"Um..."

"You do, don't you? You've got a map of constellations nailed to the back of your door." Roman said and pointed. Logan ignored the voice in the back of his mind reminding him of what he'd always wanted out of a soulmate; someone willing to stargaze with him.

"I suppose that is an acceptable way of spending my evening." Logan said, careful not to show a trace of emotion that could make Roman anymore insufferably smug than he already was.

"So, how about I pick you up at nine when it's getting dark, we go and get coffee, my treat, and I drive you to this spot I know where the stars are visible? Yeah?" Roman said, almost sounding excited, to Logan's confusion. He didn't fully understand Roman's belief that just because the two of them were soulmates their rocky and nonexistent relationship would for sure mend itself.

"Alright. Fine, I suppose that sounds... nice. Don't be late." Logan said and Roman grinned, not cocky or smug, just... joyful.

"I won't be." He said, then finally moving to leave Logan's dorm, giving him a wink before closing the door on his way out. Always so confident when he had no reason to be.

Logan grabbed his desk chair, moving it back to the desk and sitting down on it, resting his head in his hands and trying to think. During the past ten hours he had found out that the one person at college that he actively disliked was his soulmate, but now he had also agreed to go on a date, tonight, with that insufferable person.

Logan didn't doubt he was getting himself into something he wouldn't soon forget.

Logan opened his backpack and got his laptop and biology textbook out, starting to write an essay his teacher had assigned earlier this day, glad that he had been reading up on the subject yesterday. It wasn't the most interesting essay Logan had had to write, not distracting enough to take his mind off of his ...soulmate.

Logan sighed as he worked, now constantly distracted by thoughts of Roman Prince. The fact that Roman could now distract him without even being in the room was criminal and Logan had to admit that it offended him a great deal.

Logan switched to his math homework after an hour of struggling to put together sentences that conveyed his point well enough, terribly aware of how the clock kept getting nearer nine. He paused in the middle of an equation, pulling up google on his laptop and typing in 'weather'. Hitting enter he saw that the sky was going to be clear all night. At least that meant that no matter how awkward and how much of a failure this date might be at the very least he was going to be gazing at some pretty stars.

Calmed slightly by the promise of a pretty sky he set to work, finishing a few pages of math to keep his place ahead of the other students and to be fully prepared for the test that was soon coming. Maybe he could bring his telescope, get a closer look. He'd brought it with him when he left home, but not yet had time to use it. Oh, how Logan missed the stars he had had such easy access to when he lived with his parents.

Maybe Logan was almost looking forward to the date. Minus the Roman part of it.

At eight thirty he looked up and realized he had forgotten about eating dinner and he rushed to make himself something to eat. One minute before his phone said it was nine there was a knock on Logan's door. At that point he had already gotten dressed and finished his very quick dinner. Logan opened the door, of course finding Roman standing there.

"Are you ready?" He asked, offering Logan a hand. This evening Roman was dressed in a red button up, similar to the blue one Logan had chosen to wear, a white pair of pants, a sparkling pair of earrings that had heart shaped red pieces of what might be glass. He looked good, Logan sadly had to admit.

"Yes." He said, the thought of bringing his telescope slipping his mind and he took Roman's hand, feeling unsure and suddenly very nervous. He didn't know what to expect. Roman brought Logan's hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.

He hadn't thought he'd feel himself blush before they'd left his dorm, and yet here they were.

Roman led Logan off campus to where his car was parked, holding the car door open for Logan. It was odd, really odd, to have Roman treating him with respect after months of the opposite. He didn't mind it, of course, but mumbling out a quick thanks almost felt wrong.

The car ride to the coffee shop was quiet except for the radio that was quietly playing music, one of Roman's own disney playlists, Logan suspected. What surprised Logan the most was how the silence between them wasn't that awkward. Logan watched Roman as he drove, pleased to note that at least his soulmate was a careful and responsible driver.

It only took a few minutes until Roman parked the car outside a small coffee shop Logan hadn't ever been to before. It was a cozy place, Logan thought as they stepped inside. Small with warm lights and comfortable chairs and couches. Not too many people. Maybe Logan could sit here and study on his free days.

"What do you want?" Roman asked, gesturing to the list of drinks you could order. Logan didn't need to look at it.

"Just a black coffee, please." He said and Roman raised his brow, making Logan ready himself for him to scoff, but Roman nodded.

"Large?" He asked and after a moment's hesitation Logan nodded. Roman went up to the counter ordering Logan's black coffee (large, no sugar) and then a drink to himself that seemed insanely complicated, Logan wasn't even sure it was coffee. But the barista nodded and chatted with Roman while making their drinks, Logan realized Roman likely knew the barista, they were probably friends or something.

A few minutes later he was carrying their drinks as he walked up to Logan who had stayed back, not wanting to interrupt and not having anything to say anyway. He handed Logan his coffee with a smile, linking their arms as they walked back out to the car.

Why was he trying so hard? If it didn't make no sense Logan might have thought this was some elaborate joke, a cruel trick.

Roman raised the volume of the music slightly as he kept driving, humming along quietly. Logan found himself oddly focused on the small smile on Roman's face. He took a sip of his coffee, looking out the car window, wondering where Roman was driving them. Probably someplace just outside of the city.

"You're a theatre major, correct?" Logan asked, unable to stay quiet any longer.

Roman wanted them to give the whole soulmate thing a chance? Fine. He would try, tonight, but he wasn't giving Roman any second chances. If he didn't enjoy tonight he was not going to waste any time trying again.

"Hm? Oh, yeah! I love theatre, my dream is to perform on broadway. Acting is... really fun, I've wanted to become an actor since I was a kid." Roman said, surprisingly open and honest. He quickly glanced over at Logan, sending him a smile, yet another one that wasn't smug or irritating, just... soft, in some way.

"How about you? I don't actually know what you're studying." Roman then said, Logan almost not hearing his question since he was busy trying to figure out why Roman was smiling all the time. He couldn't be smiling about being in Logan's company, right? Soulmates or not, they didn't get along and that was that.

"I'm planning on teaching. As a college teacher. Teaching maths." Logan said, not giving up any details of his life story.

"I'm not surprised." Roman said and Logan couldn't figure out if that was supposed to be insulting or not. Logan shrugged.

"I just want to teach, spread knowledge." He said. There wasn't really anymore than that to it.

"I would know, you correct me enough." Roman said, in a joking way but Logan somehow felt like they were on dangerous territory talking about that. The last thing he wanted was to get into a fight with Roman now, he didn't want to get dumped at the side of the road.

"So, as a theatre major, are you currently acting in any plays?" Logan asked since he knew the college held plays now and then, not that Logan had gone to any that Patton hadn't forced him to go to.

Just as he had always thought Roman found it easy to talk and the remainder of the car ride was filled with Roman's voice, explaining the play they were currently doing in great detail.

"Here we are!" Roman said a minute or two after having turned onto a small dirt road. He parked the car, jumping out, quickly coming around the car and opening Logan's door for him before he had the chance to do so himself. Roman got a blanket from the trunk of the car, and a backpack.

Logan looked up at the sky while he waited, his breath catching in his throat at the sight. There were more stars than Logan had seen since he moved to this town for college. Roman had been right, this was a good place to stargaze.

"You like it?" Roman said and Logan nodded before having time to remember that he wanted to seem unimpressed by Roman. He followed Roman out on a field, continuously glancing up to marvel at the cheer amount of stars in the sky, almost stumbling several times.

Roman found a spot he deemed good and he spread the blanket out over the grass covered ground, sitting down. Logan sat down too, a bit away from Roman who was taking small sips of his drink, looking at Logan rather than the stars.

"So, soulmate, tell me about yourself?" Roman said, and it was still so bizarre to Logan that Roman was his soulmate, he still hadn't gotten the time to really make peace with that fact.

"I don't, uh..." Logan looked down at his hands holding tightly onto the warm paper cup of coffee, "I'm not sure what to say."

It just felt too weird to sit there and talk about himself and pretend they were friends when it was the furthest someone could come from the truth.

"Come on now, Teach, don't be annoying, just relax and enjoy yourself, you don't need to be so cautious." Roman said, reaching a hand out to nudge Logan's shoulder, playfully maybe, but as always it was so very easy for Roman to push his buttons even when not meaning to. How did Roman think Logan was just going to start relaxing around him like that?

"Oh, I'm sorry if I feel tense and unsure about spending time casually with you after we've argued at least once a week for the entire semester we've spent at this college." Logan said, giving Roman a stare as he spoke.

Roman looked away, shrugging. Logan saw in the corner of his eye how Roman took a deep breath and lied down on his back, one hand around the drink that he rested on his stomach as he quietly looked up at the stars for a few seconds before speaking.

"That's fair, but you haven't been very nice to me either, and I'm doing my best to look past that. I'm not good at these kinds of things, but I don't want to just... give up? Can't we try to forget all our past interactions just for now? See if we can make a better impression." Roman said, almost sounding hopeful.

Logan wasn't some kind of monster, he didn't want to hurt Roman's feelings, not when he was being respectful and nice even (he'd bought Logan coffee, twice, that has to count for something), but he still felt that this all seemed so much easier for Roman than it did for him.

"Why are you so adamant of trying to make this work? After everything, why would you want to spend time with me? Neither of us have given the other any reason to want to stick around." He said slowly, really wanting to make sense of it. If this had all been up to Logan then he would probably never have gone to talk to Roman, he would have just chosen not to have a soulmate.

Roman shrugged, still looking up at the stars, taking so long to answer that Logan at first thought he would never get a real answer to the question.

"I suppose... realizing we are soulmates was a bit of a wake up call. It made me think of what I had always wished for in a soulmate and it made me think of how we were treating each other. I felt kind of ashamed, I guess. I never wanted my soulmate and me to bring the worst out of each other." He glanced quickly at Logan, who felt a little taken aback. They really hadn't been bringing each other's good sides out, had they?

"Like you said this morning. We should inspire and bring the best out of each other. I don't know about you but I have always wanted to find my soulmate, I've been excited about it my whole life. I want that someone who will eventually be the person who makes me better, who is supposed to make my life better just by existing."

"Doesn't the concept of soulmates just sound amazing? And if that someone in my life for some reason is you, well, I guess I'll just have to grow up and accept that, right? People make the soulmate thing seem really easy, but maybe it isn't always that way, and if that's the case... I'll do my best." Roman said, rolling over onto his side, resting his head in his hand as he gazed at Logan, taking a long sip of his drink.

"And also, you're attractive and I liked kissing you and I wouldn't mind if i got to kiss you again." Roman added, with what could only be described as a flirty smile. Logan didn't respond, too busy thinking over Roman's words and trying to understand how he felt about all this himself.

"You look so surprised. I told you this morning that I don't actually hate you. Your way of thinking you're so much smarter than everyone else in the room has just always rubbed me the wrong way. Smart and hot, it's just unfair." Roman mumbled and Logan shook his head in disbelief.

"Are you aware that you are one of the most popular and most well liked students? Not to mention attractive, it probably factors in with how many people hang around you all the time." Logan said, and Roman stared for a second before sitting back up and leaning closer, smiling.

"You think I'm attractive?" He said, of course focusing on that. Logan was unsure why Roman would be surprised, he seemed like the kind of person to assume everyone in the world thought he was gorgeous.

"I think you're insufferable and that you're far more confident than you should be." Logan said, but there was no real bite in it like there would've been only two days ago, or even this morning.

"Right back at you, Specs." Roman took another sip of his drink.

"Anyway, it's not like all those people are really my friends. Sure, I talk to them, but that doesn't mean I spend a lot of time with them. Virgil is my friend, we've been friends for forever." He said. They sat quietly for a little while, Logan finishing his coffee that was beginning to get cold and in his head naming all the constellations he could spot (which was a lot).

"I've been kind of meaning to ask. Why did you kiss me yesterday? Obviously you didn't want to have anything to do with me, you still don't, not really." Roman said, breaking the silence and making Logan think back to his own action that landed him in this situation.

"...I really wanted you to shut up, your voice was aggravating me, and you'd been talking about kissing and perhaps I wasn't thinking properly but, well, it worked, didn't it? I got you to be quiet for about five minutes." Logan said, placing his empty cup of coffee on the grass next to the blanket.

Though if he hadn't and had instead suffered through those seven minutes in the closet while completely ignoring Roman then he wouldn't be in this mess now. He might have had to listen to Roman's voice for those whole seven minutes, but now he might be stuck with Roman for the rest of his life! Logan did an involuntary grimace.

"Maybe you've wanted to kiss me for a while and took your chance, since I now know you find me attractive." Roman said, obviously only to annoy him, but being annoying in a way that for once didn't anger Logan, instead just making him scoff and roll his eyes.

"I have absolutely no idea, and if that was the case I would be denying it until my dying day anyway." Logan said. He actually didn't know. He'd acted too quickly to think it through or to maybe even think at all. It had been more along the lines of instinct.

"Starting now, I see."

"Oh god, shut up."

"Make me." Roman said, wiggling his eyebrows and Logan was once again hit with how incredibly weird this all was (not only were they on a date together, were they flirting?).

Logan couldn't help it, he laughed, just a little.

Then immediately wiped that smile off his face as he noticed Roman staring at him with a look he wasn't sure what it meant. Logan stared back. "What?"

"I think that's the first time I've heard you laugh or seen you smile. You're always so serious, so... stoic. Unemotional." Roman said, which might be meant to be a bad thing, but that was exactly what Logan wanted to be seen as.

"Well, you're being a much more pleasant kind of annoying right now. Not as rude and smug as usual." At least that was the truth to Logan. Roman hadn't been calling him any names in a rude way and he hadn't raised his voice or started a fight.

"And you aren't as uptight and unapproachable as before." Roman said, Logan opening his mouth to say that he wasn't unapproachable, he even had a friend. Then he realized he never really gave anyone an opportunity to talk to him or get to know him, except for Patton who had somehow weaseled his way into Logan's life a few years ago.

"Have you ever tried approaching me with the intent of a casual and pleasant conversation before?" Logan asked instead of trying to defend himself.

"Oh, hm. You got me there." Roman said.

"I guess we never gave each other a chance before deciding the other was an insufferable bastard." Logan laid down on the blanket, as Roman had a while ago, his neck starting to ache from him looking up all the time.

"Have I changed your mind yet? I've been on my best behaviour, have I proven I can be nice to spend time with? Do you want to try to make this soulmate thing work?" Roman eyed him with a look that clearly urged Logan to say yes. Logan still really didn't understand Roman's excitement about soulmates but...

"I suppose spending time with you is not as disgusting as I had feared it might be, and since we apparently can have a conversation without raising our voices, so, it might be worth a try."

"I won't disappoint you, nerd." Roman promised with an excited smile. Logan was about one hundred percent sure that Roman was wrong about that, just because they were trying to do better didn't mean there wouldn't be days where they drove each other up the wall. It would be extremely unlikely if they just automatically turned into the bestest of buds because of their soulmate connection.

"Maybe stop calling me a nerd." Logan suggested, as a sort of first step, because the least Roman could do was to use his actual name.

"Noted, as long as you try and stop correcting me." Roman said and Logan nodded. He could always try, as long as Roman wasn't being blatantly stupid.

"We have a deal then." Logan watched as Roman spent a few seconds trying to place his drink in the grass without it falling over. Then Roman laid down again, probably deliberately ending up close enough to Logan that their shoulders touched.

They would spend a few more hours out there, Roman urging Logan into telling him about all the constellations he knew of, at some point during the night taking Logan's hand as he listened, and they would talk and talk and talk in an effort to figure out who their soulmate actually was, as a person and not as some stranger they took their frustration out on, and how a friendship or maybe even a romantic relationship between them would function.

And Logan would eventually have to admit that Roman Prince being his soulmate was not the worst thing in the world.

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Written: 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th January 2021
Published: 7th October 2021
Words: 14078

in case anyone has doubts yes of course virgil and patton are soulmates too, this just isnt their story