Together At Last

Every day is the same drivel. People attempting to approach him, but their auras speaking a whole different story other than friendliness. Calum shoos everyone away, as he doesn't want to deal with those who want to know him simply to figure out what he is. And honestly? The blond isn't sure what he is, so he wouldn't be able to help them anyway.

Looking in the mirror, Calum gazes upon the markings on his shoulders with a tinge of sadness. He's been around for so long, yet the fish and rabbit resting there haven't gained color. They remain grayscale against his shoulderblades, making him wonder if they would ever exist. Would he have to wait another thousand years before his soulmates were born in the world? The thought makes grief build in Calum's heart. He's been alone so long - all he wishes for is someone who understands and will be there for him.

Yet at the same time, the immortal doesn't want to meet his soulmates. What if they were mortal, and doomed to die in a hundred years, at best? Calum couldn't bare the thought of finally meeting those destined to be his, only for them to succumb to their mortal lifespans. Letting out a heavy sigh, Calum puts on his shirt and decides to face the day as he always did - head on and without complaint.

***

The fish is the first one Calum feels. He doesn't know what it is at first. Feeling water splash against the fish marking, the blond took off his shirt in alarm, surprise coursing through him when he notices the fish gained a little bit of color. Not the vibrant ones it would when they met, but enough to tell him they're alive. And happy tears fell down his cheeks, for finally, finally, one of his soulmates was in this world. Finally he wouldn't be alone.

But Calum knows his soulmate could be anywhere in the world. He heard stories; people don't meet their other half (or halves) until they're mature. So Calum waits. He's waited this long - what's another eighteen years?

Fifteen years pass before Calum feels a kick against his other soul marking. And he knows this time; his little rabbit was finally born in this world. He remained calm and composed around others, but when he returns home, the immortal wraps his snow leopard around his two soulmates. I'm here, he whispers to them. And I'll find you, no matter what it takes.

***

The first summer after his soulmates were born is the absolute worst. Calum's illness flares up - he was in the sun for merely half an hour, but it was enough for his body to overheat and make him miserable. He barely makes it in his home before collapsing on the floor, all energy drained from his body. He feels a violent urge to vomit, but years of control makes it so Calum can control his stomach, so he simply lays on the floor, moaning in pain.

Surprise courses through him when he feels coolness on his skin. It's like someone is pouring water on him. And it feels like his head is resting on someone's lap, confusing him even further. He has no idea what's going on in his delirious state; all he knows is the hand stroking his hair and the water covering his body feels absolutely heavenly. He passes out with the sensations making him feel just a bit better (and honestly, even though it doesn't help overly, it's enough to lure his weary mind to rest).

In his sleep, he sees two people not far away. One of them has black hair and pointed ears, making him wonder if they're immortal. And the other is a tiny thing who looks at the taller one with worry in their eyes. They're speaking; Calum can't hear the words, but the mumble of their voices is enough to calm his racing heart and make him truly fall asleep.

***

Four years later is when Calum meets his first soulmate.

It's dreadfully hot and the blond has no idea why he's out in this godforsaken heat, but something tells him it's important to be outside. And his gut has never proven him wrong, so there he sits, under the shade of a large, bushy tree. Sweat pours down his forehead and he feels gross, not to mention his vision swims every now and again. I should really go inside, he tells himself, and moves to get up. Unfortunately, fate wants to be cruel, and he faceplants in the dirt.

Calum isn't sure how long he lies there. However, he can feel the fish on his right shoulder swimming and moving about, and if he wasn't delirious from heat, he'd know what that meant. The one who the marking belongs to isn't far away. He feels his inner leopard growl as someone approaches, but the immortal can't bother to move - he's far too weak to do anything besides lay there. A cool hand brushes back his hair, and even in the state he's in, Calum knows the touch.

"Ah, my snow leopard... I never thought I'd find you in a place like this," a gentle, soft voice echoes in his ears. The hand moves from his hair to scratch behind one of his ears, making Calum mewl. "Let's get you inside, hm?"

The immortal can do nothing but acquiesce the request. Compassionate hands reach under his armpits and help him up - cool water dusts over his frame as the stranger moves quickly. He takes him in a car and blasts the air conditioning, and combined with the water on his body, Calum is coherent enough to look at his soulmate.

The first thing he notices about the man is his eyes. They're blue - blue as the ocean itself. A scar rests his cheek, causing a brief stint of anger to pulse in the blond's blood. Who dared to hurt his soulmate? But it's short lived as the man reaches forward and brushes his fingers against Calum's cheek.

"I'm Leif," his soulmate murmurs. "You?"

"Calum," the immortal whispers back, closing his eyes. The touch of his soulmate feels absolutely divine. It soothes his weary mind and makes him feel somewhat normal again. "You have no idea how long I've waited to meet you..."

Tears linger in Calum's eyes before falling down his cheeks. Leif lets out a soft sigh, catching them with his thumb before flicking them away. "I'm sorry," is the simple, yet heartfelt, reply. "I never knew what it was like to not be able to feel one of my soulmates... I can't imagine how you suffered, having those marks, yet feeling nothing from them."

"It was... torture," Calum mumbles, taking a deep breath before staring in those beautiful blue orbs. "I just... hope I'm worth it."

"Worth it?" Leif blinks. "Of course you are, dove. I don't know how long you've been here without one of us, but I swear - you'll never be alone again."

"Heh." A wet chuckle drips from Calum's lips. "I'm..."

"Immortal?" the black haired man supplies. Calum tips his head, confusion written on his features, and Leif lets out a quiet laugh. "When you meet your soulmate, they become immortal as well. So rest assured, my love. We'll be by your side until the world burns, and even then."

The fear Calum felt for so many years is ripped away by those simple words. He can't help it; he reaches across to rest his head against his soulmate's chest. Listening to his heart, having his arms wrapped around him, the immortal feels at peace.

But they still have to meet their rabbit; they won't truly be complete until the little one joins them.

***

Calum and Leif live happily for a number of years. Both of them know their rabbit is close to maturity, so it'll soon be time to meet them. However, neither of them expect to meet them the way they do.

It starts gradually. Calum starts to get tired far more frequently, falling asleep much more often than he usually does. And, unbeknownst to the immortal, blood drips from his lips whenever sleeps. It worries Leif immensely - he knows his snow leopard has an illness, but it's one no one knows anything about.

The first time Calum fell asleep out of nowhere alarmed Leif. He tried to wake the older man up, to no avail, concerning him to the point he never left the blond's side until he awoke. When he did, Calum gave Leif an apologetic smile and told him it was part of the illness he has. He told him it was nothing to worry about; he dealt with it for years and medication he'd gotten in the past five helped. Leif should have left it at that - only he didn't.

The black haired man knows immortals rarely get sick, and a small margin have chronic health issues. But that's where the research ends; no one knows anything about the chronic illnesses immortals get. All that's written is they would be fatal to mortals, but immortals are built stronger, and can handle things which would kill your average man.

So Leif put it aside for the time being. As long as his soulmate isn't going to die on them, that should be enough, right? Wrong. Leif wakes up, constantly, in the middle of the night with worry for the blond. Yet when he sees him, curled up against him and looking peaceful, the dread Leif feels lessens just slightly.

When Calum starts dripping blood, that's when Leif knows he has to do something. The immortal's body isn't handling the sickness as well as they thought it was, that much is obvious. Dark circles linger under Calum's eyes, his skin becomes sweat slicked and pallid, and he doesn't have the energy to move off the couch the majority of the time. Leif can't help but shake the feeling, one day, he'll try to wake up his soulmate, only for him to be dead.

He does whatever he can to help his snow leopard. Cast water magic over him, give him liquids so he doesn't become dehydrated, make him eat little bites of food, yet it doesn't feel like enough. It feels, every day, Calum is slipping away and there's nothing Leif can do to stop it, no matter how much he wishes to.

As a last resort, he takes Calum to the same doctor who prescribed his medication years ago. He lifts the immortal in his arms, who's become deathly thin and weighs almost nothing. His head falls back against Leif's arm as he puts him in the passenger seat, then speeds to the woman's office. He can only hope she can do something... Leif can't imagine telling their rabbit their beautiful snow leopard succumbed to an unknown disease.

When Leif enters the office, the receptionist takes one look at the man in his arms before yelling for Dr. Ambrose. People seem jilted Calum gets in ahead of them, but Leif can't give them a second thought. He goes in one of the rooms, setting Calum on the bed. The blond's breathing is choppy and harsh - the younger man holds back tears as he gently holds on to the blond's hand. It's sweaty and gross, but Leif can't find it within him to care. He... he just wants Calum to be okay, damn it.

He doesn't expect to feel the rabbit running around his ankle, yet his head shoots up when someone stops in front of the doorway. It's the same person Leif remembers speaking to in his dreams, and he knows, without a doubt, this is their rabbit. His purple eyes are wide as he takes in Calum, and he, hesitantly, walks in the room, looking at the immortal lying lifeless in the bed. Warmth floods the mark on Leif's ankle, and color springs to life. He wants to be happy they finally have their missing piece, but did the timing have to be so bad?

"Is... is he...?"

"I'm not sure, little one," Leif whispers, motioning for their rabbit to come closer. He does, and glues himself to Leif's side, tears brimming in those gorgeous violet hues. Leif wants to take away his pain, but he doesn't know how to, not when their third is possibly dying.

"I'm, I'm Cora," their rabbit says, voice quiet. "I remember your name... Leif... but who's our snow leopard?" Cora reaches forward and brushes back Calum's sweat slicked fringe, tears falling down his cheeks as he tenderly smooths the immortal's hair.

"Calum. He's... he's an amazing soul. You'll see," Leif murmurs, tightening his hold on Cora. He can't imagine the turmoil he's going through, finally being complete, but perhaps only for a short while. "He'll pull through this."

"He... he doesn't look so good," Cora mumbles. He pulls his hand away and buries his face in Leif's shoulder, tiny frame trembling with the force of his emotions. "He's so... gorgeous, even like this... but will I ever see him at his normal state?"

"You will, sweetheart. You will."

It's all Leif can say before Dr. Ambrose walks in. She looks at the triad, a knowing look in her orange eyes, before moving towards Calum. "I was afraid of this."

"Afraid of this?" Leif parrots back, one arm securely fastened around their small one as he arches an eyebrow. "Did you know this would happen?"

"Not necessarily, but any immortal with a chronic illness has a chance to become deathly sick. And that's what's happened to Calum," Dr. Ambrose explains, sighing sadly. "There is a small chance for him to survive, but it requires both of you."

"I'll do anything!" Cora exclaims, looking the doctor dead in the eyes. "I just met him; I don't want to lose him..."

"You must feed him your soul energy. Since you three are bonded, your souls are connected. That is the only thing which can save him."

Leif nods just as Cora does. "How do we do such a thing?"

"Channel yourselves, focus on healing him. It may take a few days, as Calum is knocking on death's door, but you still have a chance."

Looking at Cora, Leif sees passion in his eyes, the same burning in his own soul. They take one of Calum's hands in theirs, closing their eyes and focusing on sending healing to the immortal. It takes naught but a few minutes, and it's draining, but Leif almost cries when Calum's eyes are open and a weary smile rests on his countenance.

"Hey..." Calum whispers, voice hoarse. His eyes focus on Cora, and the smile widens. "My little rabbit..."

"My gorgeous leopard," Cora whispers back, embracing Calum and holding on for dear life. "I promise we'll heal you."

"Don't... don't exert yourselves. I'll... I'll be okay, as long as I have the two of you," the immortal murmurs. Leif can't hold back anymore; he squeezes in the embrace and clings to Calum as if his life depends on it. "I'm... I'm sorry to have scared you..."

"Just be okay again," Leif whispers. "That's all we can ask for."

Calum nods, nuzzling his soulmates and letting out a content purr. He's not out of the woods yet, but as long as his soulmates are here, he knows he will be.