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When John was about 14 and just getting out of the shower, looking for any body hair to brag to his friends about later at school, he saw his mark for the first time. In the presenting moment, he freaked out and thought that perhaps he was dying. He than rationalized with himself and nodded in the mirror before moving.
He trotted his damp ass down the stairs - towel only - and stopped directly in front of his mother. “Mom, why do I have a mark on my back?”
The question caught the woman so insanely off guard that all she could do for a solid three minutes was laugh. After she managed to take a breath, she politely asked to see the mark in question and gasped when John - after a tiny amount of persuasion - turned and pulled the towel far enough to see the said mark.
John, of course, took the gasp as something horrific and started freaking out. It took a moment for poor Mrs. Anne Price to be able to calm her son down enough to be able to get through to him. “Oh darling, I’m sorry for scaring you. It’s quite well, I assure. It just means you have your person now.”
“My person?”
“Yes. Like your father to me. Soulmate, love. Remember when I told you about that?”
John does remember.
After a moment, John smiled. “I want to see it again.”
Anne smiled softly and nodded. “Indeed dear. Dinner will be done close to 5 like always. Be at the table… dressed.”
“Yes Mummy.”
“Thata boy.” She patted him on the head and gave him a fat kiss on the forehead before John pulls away.
On his way to his bedroom, John runs into his father.
His father, Major Richard Price; ex-military, served in Vietnam on an American base as a surgeon, a tough son-of a-bitch who takes no shit, and a wonderfully loving father to his two children.
Richard lifts a single perfect eyebrow at his son’s state of dress. “Son, why do you look like you just took a dip in the lake… naked?”
Smiling sheepishly, John shrugs. “Mum said I have my person now.”
It took a moment before Richard’s eyes go from confused to knowing. “Ah. That explains it. Go on, I’m sure your mother already told you that dinner will be ready by 5.”
As John begins to slip past his father, the man ruffled his hair. It was a tad strange. After all, despite being a loving and supportive parent, his father was never really physically affectionate. Don’t get the man wrong, he hugged his children and kissed their cheeks when needed, but only when appropriate. He like to show his love using gifts or service.
To get his hair ruffled was a big thing and John decided to ride the high of it.
___
John slowly began to loose the joy of having his mark.
Over time, he began to learn not everyone gets a mark. Some people simply don’t have one. It wasn’t necessarily rare or anything, but it was a bit strange not to have one. But John always, some how, ended up in bed with the people who didn’t have marks.
And every time when things got interesting, he between the mattress and a man above him, the other would stop, freeze, and mumble apologizes before leaving.
John never blamed them.
Not having someone “fated” to you and vice-versa probably sucked ass. In fact, he had a friend at one point who simply broke because they never had a mark. He didn’t pity people, no, they don’t want pity. He simply… understood the way they felt in not feeling worthy enough.
Despite that, he still felt a tad bummed out when they left.
For Christ sake, he’s 23 and still a virgin because the men who he chooses to take home get too upset to continue.
Which is why John is sulking in a corner at a pub while his platoon celebrated a win.
“Drinking alone or room for one more?”
Lifting his eyes from the sticky wood, John blushes immediately at the face grinning down at him. “Uh, room I guess.”
The man grins wider, more genuine, and scoots in the booth. “So, what’s a pretty guy like you doing all alone?”
“Hey, don’t judge a man for drinking alone.”
“Cheers to that mate.” Both are quiet for a moment. “You do seem in need of a pick-me-up, however.”
He’s tempted to tell the man to fuck off, mind his business, go away. But… he seemed genuinely intrigued and kind. “Just… thinking about stuff. What about you. Why did you decide to talk to some random guy in a crappy bar with shit whiskey instead of going to the better bar down the road and less sad people?”
“Alright, you got me there. I must admit, I like the military type… considering I am and everyone in the military truly gets the ‘heres my number out of kindness but I’m not going to call because we both know that’s a bad idea’ ya know?”
Alright, that’s fair.
“Ok. Still doesn’t add up to the sad guy part.”
“You seem cool.”
“Right.”
Mystery man stares at him with a certain look and John blushes again. “Nikolai.”
Something about the man’s name clicked in his buzzed mind. He can’t think about it right at the moment with three glasses in, but it meant something…
“… Price.”
The man - Nikolai - laughs. “What kind of shit call sign is that?”
Grinning, John shakes his head. “Not a call sign, last name. John Price.”
Nikolai pulls up short. “No shit?”
“No?”
Then, it hits him like a tidal wave.
Could this really be his Nikolai. The one drew on his back so gorgeously it still takes his breath away? The one who he’s supposedly fated to?
“Well, it’s been real but I have to go.”
Then Nikolai leaves the bar.
___
It’s five years when he sees the man again.
Price had hardened.
That last bit of boyishness to him gone.
His team had gotten into some deep shit and his family paid the price. As well as more than half the rest of the team.
All with their lives.
He’s even more quiet than before. Picked up on the habit of cigarettes like his father. Picked up on the drinking like his grandfather. Picked up on the shutting people out like his brother.
He’s a new man.
Nikolai is too, but in a whole different way.
The other looks happier than before. Price isn’t jealous, he isn’t.
“Is that… my god it is. John Price! Kate, get your ass over here! Holy shit, I never thought I’d see you again. Kate, this is John Price. John, this is Kate Laswell.”
Price nods at them both. “Nikolai, Ms. Laswell.”
Kate stares at him for a long moment before nodding to herself. “Kate, please. Wonderful to meet you. Are you here for the Germany mission or Russian?”
“Russian.”
“Oh, so are we. If you’ll excuse me, my fiancé is expecting me to call her before I take off. I’ll meet you two on the plane?”
Nikolai nods with a smile and Kate nods again and leaves the room.
“So, John-“
“Price.”
“… Price, how have you been?”
“Shitty. You?”
Nikolai looks at him, closely, and his eyebrows drop slightly. “Whatever… whoever you lost, I’m sorry. Anything I can do?”
How the actual fuck did he do that? What, can soulmates read minds and Price just didn’t learn or get the power? “Um… thanks.” It’s awkward for a moment before Price sighs. “Want to get drinks after?”
Nikolai smiles softly. “Only a few, I don't drink much anymore.”
Hmm…
The two stare at another for a long moment.
Nikolai places a slow hand on Price’s stiff shoulder and squeezed. “Let’s get the bad guys, ya? I’m sure we have lots to talk about later.”
The shorter of the two nod and fights the blush by turning and wondering to the plane. “Ya, let’s get the bad guys Indiana Jones.”
“No fucking way. You’re the third person today to call me that.”
“Aw, is Indi embarrassed by his hat?”
“No, I just don’t see it.”
Price let’s himself smile a bit for once.
___
“Oh Indi!”
Nikolai doesn’t wear his hat anymore, but Price could never bring himself to stop with the nickname. Maybe he just liked to see the way Nikolai would turn a tad red in the face.
“Kill yourself Price.”
“Aw, but I brought a present.”
Nikolai doesn’t look up from the paper on the metal table of the quiet bar. “We are not keep it. Zoey already has half a zoo because of us and I’m pretty sure Kate will kill us if we add on to the collection.”
Price is quite long enough that Nikolai sighs deeply before looking up,
To see a masked man standing awkwardly to his right.
“Price, what the fuck did you do?”
“He was on the side of the road ok!? Literally actually.” Price huffs and glared at Nikolai like he did something wrong.
The man flinched and Price coos at him before turning back to Nikolai, “This is Ghost. Ghost, meet Nikolai. He’s an ass and you shouldn’t listen to a word he says.”
Glaring at his friend, Nikolai nods to Ghost. “Nice to meet you kid. Take a seat while I scold this one.”
Price sticks his tongue out at him like the mature 28 years old man he is.
“I’m keeping him.”
“No you’re not-“
“I already sighed the adoption papers.”
Nikolai sighs. “Price-“
“Nik.”
Freezing, Nikolai locks eyes with Price. The two share a few looks and Nikolai sighs even deeper and nods and Price gives him a small smile and takes his free hand, holding it for longer than needed before squeezing it and letting go.
“Well, Ghost, tell me about yourself.”
“Nikolai…”
Nikolai pins Price with a look and Price is daring enough to stare back. Another tiny conversation between looks filter between them before Nikolai glared. “Fine.”
“Thank you.”
Price gives Nikolai one last look before turning his full attention to Ghost.
Nikolai hides a tiny smile while sipping his soda at how much Price looks like a… father to the young man.
___
“JOHNATHON PRICE!”
The entire 141 freeze what they were doing and slowly turn to stare at the their Captain. The card game gets abandoned seconds later when a loud bang is heard down the hall. Price lifted his eyes from his book slowly afterward and they glide over to the door where Nikolai crashes through seconds later.
“Yes Nik? What is today’s reason for breaking my shit?”
Nikolai points at him before moving across the room and ripping the book from his hands. “Up, now.”
Lifting an eyebrow in a similar manner his father would have, Price doesn’t budge. “No.”
“John.”
“Nikolai.”
“Get. The. Fuck. Up.”
“Go. To. Hell.”
The 141 slowly scoot away from Nikolai as the man lets a low noise from his throat out. “John Price, I am going to actually kill you. Get up.”
Rolling his eyes, Price reaches for his thrown book and turns to the page where he left off. “Get out off my base, Nik.”
“Price.”
“What!?”
“Get up!”
Standing aggressively, Price lifts his arms up before they dropped again. “Ok, I’m up, now what? Want me to start doing jumping jacks? Get the fuck off my base, you ninny!”
“Oh piss off, you know what you did.”
“What I did!? Are you taking a piss? It’s completely and utterly your own fuck up. I’m just showing you the consequences of you’re own stupid ass fucking actions you stupid arsehole!”
Nikolai takes a step closer to the other man and glares. “Cancel it.”
“When Her Majesty Queen Diana is guilty of being anything less than the perfect mother.”
____
They don’t speak for a long time after that.
It was a good three years before the two were even in the same room and another two before they have a civil conversation.
Today, Price stares at his supposedly fated who was sitting on the couch and watching some football… American football. The little traitor.
Sighing, Price rounds the couch and slowly sits on the cushion directly next to Nikolai and doesn’t say anything. He can feel Nikolai’s eyes on him until the next commercial break. They continue to sit in silence for a long time before Price sighs.
“They can’t even go three feet before a whistle!”
“That’s the point.”
“I thought it was to get to the end of the field.”
“Well… yes, but also to make sure the other team doesn’t.”
Price frowns. “Well why doesn’t the other team just take the ball then? Seems counter productive to let the other team have it. Tackle them and take the ball.”
“They’re trying.”
“Well, then, both sides suck.”
“… what are you doing?”
Not answering right away, Price shrugs. “Judging American football while my best friend - for some ungodly reason - enjoyes it.”
They go quiet again.
This time, Nikolai lefts his arm and lets it fall to the back of the couch, almost like he was going to let it land on Price’s shoulders before deciding not to last second.
They don’t talk about the way they fall asleep ten minutes later and wake up in a cuddle.
____
Price is in the middle of getting his shirt on when Nikolai crashes into his bedroom. “Nik, stop barging into my rooms like that. One day you’re gonna see something you don’t want to.”
The jokes falls flat when Nikolai looks down his back.
Shoving his shirt the rest of the way on, Price sighs, “What do you want, Indi?”
Nikolai blinks.
“You, uh, I wanted to see the wound.”
Oh right, he was shot in the arm today.
“Right. Well, it’s fine.” Nikolai is still staring at his back, Price realizes after a long moment of silence. “Nik? You alright mate?”
The bigger man crosses the room and is plastered over his body and Price hides a gasp by coughing. “Nik-“
Price doesn’t even attempt to hide the tiny yelp when Nikolai bends him over his desk that was a few steps over and pulls his shirt up.
“Nikolai,”
Fingers trace the name, over and over.
Price doesn’t have to see to know that Nikolai has a look on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
The almost gently motion of the tracing stops for one horrible moment before Nik does it again. “Why didn’t you tell me you had my name?”
Price, disappointingly to the both of them, stands up fully, “Don’t you have mine?” Nikolai shrugs. “What does that mean?”
Nikolai stares at him for a long moment before turning around and lifting his hair to show the back of his neck. There’s a large burn scar there. “My mother read the name and burned it off. I thought I saw John Price on it when I was younger but… well…”
He hides both a dark look and noise. “Nik…”
Nikolai turns around with shiny eyes and Price cups his head and drags him into a hug.
____
“Price-“
“Absolutely fucking not.”
The shit head has the audacity to tilt Price’s head up with his finger and then cup his chin. “Come on sweet thing, just once.”
Refusing to fall, Price breathes deeply. “You said that the last 19 times.”
“I’ll give you a kiss.”
Sighing deeply, Price writes the both of them passes for a week off. Nikolai grins wildly before leaning down and catching his husband’s mouth with his own.