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Sapnap had always known that George and Dream were not soulmates since they began their dating. It was because of, perhaps, the way Dream was never himself. He was always trying to “perfect” himself before meeting with their third friend. But of course, the two of them hated the idea of soulmates, so they dated each other to site the universe (but the universe worked in mysterious ways).
Sapnap had met his soulmate, luckily, very early on - the first year of high school, actually. Karl’s mark was a flame, as it should be, and Sapnap’s matching one was a maze. Karl really never explained the maze, but he suspected it would come out someday, not that it mattered. But, Sapnap had first seen the way Dream’s mark looked a few weeks after Karl and his first date - it was a pig. George hated pigs, with a passion. So that’s when it was really confirmed.
The two of them hated the subject of soulmates so much in fact that George never shared what his mark even looked like! (But, if Sapnap was honest, that guitar-shaped mark looked awfully familiar). But, Dream’s mark was the curious one, to Sapnap.
A pig? Really? Who in their right mind liked-
Oh.
1.
Oh, gods above.
Not that it mattered, it was the end of their sophomore year and George and Dream were still dating despite the fact they’d already encountered their soulmates. Even if they didn’t know it. The growing “friendship” between Technoblade and Dream was definitely hard to ignore - even George noticed it. George had brought it up to Sapnap many, many times.
-
“Does Dream have any kind… ‘connection’ with that Technoblade fellow?” George asked one day, full of fake confidence, because it was at that moment he realized George was starting to understand the soulmate affect, Sapnap knew, as he always had, even those who resisted it were inevitably drawn in.
“I’m pretty sure they’re just rivals, George,” Sapnap laughed, “They’re very insistent it’s platonic, so don’t worry. Any particular reason why you’re asking, weirdo?”
“I’m not a weirdo! You’re just jealous I’m prettier than you-”
“Untrue and fake news, I am hotter than you and I am no where near jealous of you of all people, you’re totally confused-”
“I am not ! Dream’s just been rather distant lately, and I haven’t really felt the need to try and drag him back, I guess I’m scared, Sap.”
“Don’t call me Sap, George,” Sapnap says quickly, only two people could call him that (Karl and Dream), before he said, “But dude, I feel like the person you should and need to be talking to about this stuff isn’t me. It’s Dream.”
George scowled, “Now I remember why we never hang out without Dream.”
“Yeah, cause I don’t baby you like Dream does - and you hate your ‘pretty’ privilege doesn’t work on me.”
George rolled his eyes, but decided to leave him alone after that. Sapnap was glad, because he really was right, the two of them did not get along in the slightest without their mediator.
-
“Tech!” Dream yelled from the hallway, and Techno looked over to the direction he was running from, red eyes dull with heavy information, as he was exiting Prof. Phil’s room (the two of them were considerably close, in a sort of father-son relationship), “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“Dre,” Techno replied, the nickname much easier to use now after a few months of Dream’s instance after their academic rivalry somewhat disergrated into whatever the hell was going on now ( a sort of friendship, chat added, perhaps) and Techno was inclined to agree, “Sorry, Prof. Philza wanted to speak with me. Apparently, Tommy and Wilbur have found their “soulmates” and Wilbur’s in pain because his soulmate is dating someone else. Which it isn’t uncomon that soulmates date other people just for the thrill of another relationship before settling down with their forever person, but Wilbur seems really upset.”
Dream frowned as he and George were some of the few non-soulmate people still in a relationship, as late high school is when soulmates start finding each other and although they may not date, they start to stick together, courting, friendships forming (and Dream was smart, he knew the pig mark could only mean one person, especially with the added crown - and he had gotten a peak at Techno’s mark during P.E. and saw it was a simple smile face - exactly like the design Dream had made on his hoodie, so yeah, Dream knew and he knew Techno knew too because he wasn’t stupid, unlike George, his boyfriend at the moment).
But Dream usually hated the idea of soulmates. Seeing Karl and Sapnap in love since before their high school days, the two of them going against everything together because it was them . Everyone at their high school knew of Sapnap and Karl , the perfect example of soulmates. But, Dream loved the challenge of being with someone who wasn’t his soulmate.
Until he met his soulmate, and now he isn’t so sure.
-
“Sap,” Dream started off one day as it was their weekly ‘alone-time’ away from Karl and George, “Do you think I could be happy with George, long term I mean.”
Sapnap looked up from the game, looking Dream up and down before letting out a puff of air in what could only be described as a snort, “Dude, I love you bro, but nah. George and you are middle school sweethearts and aren’t soulmates. Ain’t no way. Not only because of that, because sure, you’d be happy but you wouldn’t be the happiest. George doesn’t challenge you, he doesn’t make you better, he doesn’t make you laugh like others do, he stunts your growth because he’s just as fucked up as you, lol. Your soulmate may be the same, but from what I’ve seen, he challenges you-”
“Wait, you know ?!”
“Anyone with eyes and common sense should,” Sapnap grumbled, “I’m guessing you’re gonna ask me if you should dump George for Technoblade - and my answer is yes, for all the reasons I listed before.”
“But, George has given me so much-”
“No he hasn’t. Y’all barely spend time together anymore, when you do, you’re sitting in silence, or making out, which ew, but also, sex doesn’t equal love, you know? Like look at Karl and I for example, Karl is the sweetest person on this planet, and we met because we were mutual friends with Quackity, and I’m kind of a dick. Karl makes me nicer and I give Karl more of a fight to defend himself. We make up for the other’s weaknesses, but we have enough in common to talk and spend quality time together. You and George… well, he’s just… It’s not…”
Dream sighed, putting his head in his hands, “How did I get here?”
“That’s why most parents suggest staying single till ya meet yer soulmate, it makes shi’ easier, but you and George said fuck that, so yes, that’s how yer here.”
“I hate you, so much.”
“Nah, you don’t.”
Dream just glared at the other.
-
“George, hey,” Dream smiled at his boyfriend, not making any move to make an affectionate greeting, Dream knew he’d have to break up with the other eventually - but not yet. Not when summer was about to start, not when they worked together .
“Dream, hey,” George smiled back, reaching for his hand, “I’ve missed you. I feel like we’ve been so busy lately.”
Dream frowned at the emphasis put on the word ‘busy’. George had been spending time with other individuals as well. It wasn’t as if Dream had done it first, and it wasn’t like- (could it be considered talking if it’s with your soulmate even though you haven’t explicitly said it’s romantic? Nah …), “I’ve missed you as well. Is Wilbur well?”
George’s smile tightened, ah , “He is. And Technoblade?”
So that’s what it is , Dream acknowledges, “George.”
“I know.”
“We tried, didn’t we? To prove soulmates are a farce.”
“The system beat us, I suppose. Perhaps in another world this would be considered sad, terrible even.”
“It’d never have worked anyways.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do, George, yes I do.”
-
Dream remembers the first time he saw Technoblade; red eyes so bright that they reminded him of rubies, hair so long and pink it looked like the sugary treat known as cotton candy, those reading glasses Techno hated so much, a voice so deep it made Dream weak in the knees, arguements over grades and trying so hard to beat him so badly and even before the marks Dream knew.
Dream knew from the first day of freshman year when they were put in the same english class.
Dream knew George knew from the time the three of them were put in the same math class and Dream could not stop talking to Techno for the life of him.
Dream knew Sapnap knew from the first time in PE when their homeroom classes went up against each other and they paired up and kicked ass in volleyball.
Dream knew Prof. Philza knew when he constantly partnered them up.
Dream knew Ma knew when she assigned their seats next to each other.
Dream knew Techno knew when he called Dream ‘smiles’ and kissed him so softly after George and Dream’s break up a few months later.
And Dream knew that day soulmates weren’t all fake.
Dream knew then that it was okay.
Dream knew he loved Technoblade and that was all that really mattered.