#sharedpain

ALFRED DE DREUX

Time Stops | Tom Lucitor

Combined soulmate AU of Time Freezing and Shared Pain!

Warnings - none

Characters - you, Tom Lucitor, Star Butterfly, Marco Diaz

Requested - nah man no one wants to request anything😅

♡ ♡ ♡

In the world you lived in, time went by extremely fast. Well, for you. It seemed like the earth was moving on its axis a little quicker just for the benefit of rattling you. The people on the street always seemed to be hurrying. Whenever people spoke, it always seemed rushed. The school work you received was always as high as the pyramids. Sometimes all you wished for was for the clock to just freeze.

To stop time, even if just for a little bit.

As if that weren't making your life miserable enough, you also had to deal with your soulmate. You and your soulmate shared any harm that came to either one of you. Of course, you had no clue who your soulmate was, and frankly weren't that interested in figuring it out because of all of the "soulmate reveals gone wrong" stories that littered tabloids. Though, you had to admit, it did get a little annoying when your hands constantly felt like they were on fire. At first, you had thought you were the cause of it. You were a little klutzy whether you liked to admit it or not. But after it occured while you were washing your hands with cold water, when you were out getting the mail, when you were helping Star and Marco carve ice, and when they dared you to stick your hands in the freezer and your hands were STILL burning, you soon realized that it was probably your soulmate.

So, as revenge, you often rammed your knees or elbows against things in hopes that your agonizing pain would spread to him and balance out the pain they made you feel as well.

Only, you found it a little mind boggling as to how someone could manage to cause that much pain on just their hands. Maybe he was a pyro or something.

You were just a simple human teenager going through her own set of problems. You always tried your best, and attempted to make friends, but not many of them ever really stuck. Eventually, you were able to become pretty close friends with Marco Diaz, the school's safe kid, and Star Butterfly, a magical princess from Mewni. While you and Marco bonded over a shared fascination with karate, you and Star had more of an you-saved-her-one-time-and-she-got-heart-eyes-and-thinks-anything-you-do-is-amazing-now sort of way.

You loved the two of them to death, and as time went on, you began to realize the all too familiar shared pain experiences the duo were having. Not being too fond of romance yourself, you decided to indulge into your best friends' love lives instead of figuring out your own. It didn't take you too long to figure out that Star and Marco were soulmates. It all happened when Marco dropped a brick on his foot and Star screamed in pain in another room. But of course, you had to keep it inside because revealing soulmates to one another never had good outcomes. But you still secretly shipped Starco all the way.

In the present, the three of you were having a sleepover in the Diaz household. It was a weekly occurance for Star or Marco or both to just follow you to your house then kidnap you. Not that you minded, of course! After fattening yourselves up with plenty of junk food and Marco's nachos, and binge watching some TV shows, the three of you were sitting around in a circle as you braided Star's hair, sharing gossip and talking about everything in general when a sudden topic approached that made your heart rate pick up.

"So, Y/n," Star began as you moved on to another braid. "Have you figured out who your soulmate is yet?"

You reached for the soda sitting before you and raised the bottle to your lips. Let this be beer, you thought as you chugged the remains. It didn't help your speeding heart like you'd hoped.

"Nope. And I don't know if I ever will. Life's always been a little hard on me, and I don't think a soulmate is going to fix that for me. Besides, time goes by too fast for me anyways," you sighed, watching as Marco's and Star's movements seemed sped up compared to yours. You heaved a sigh and laid your head back against Star's headboard.

"Well, I've heard that once you meet your soulmate, as soon as you lock eyes, time us supposed to freeze. It only starts up again once you touch. But that's only for some people. Meeting your soulmate is different for everyone," Marco shrugged, biting into another nacho.

And some soulmates have met and don't even know it, you thought, eyeing your two best friends as they secretly stole glances at one another when the other wasn't looking.

"Well, it's kind of difficult for the shared pain to help us figure out who our soulmate is. I mean, besides the occasional bumps and scratches, the only constant pain I get from them is really weird..." You rolled your eyes, shoving some cheddar popcorn into your mouth. When did the topic suddenly turn to your love life?

Star turned to face you and raised an eyebrow. "What kind of weird?"

"Well," you swallowed. "It's always this constant burning sensation on the palms of both my hands. Like they're being set on fire or something. Isn't that strange? I don't know."

You heaved out another sigh and were about to continue your braiding of Star's hair when she suddenly flipped her whole body around to face you and started squealing. Even Marco had a smirk across his lips. You leaned back a bit as Star's eyes filled with hearts, being a bit creeped out. Everything was moving so quickly it was hard for you to keep track of what your friends were doing and saying.

"Oh my gosh, your soulmate is T-"

Star was cut short my Marco clamping his hand over her mouth. You furrowed your brows at his slightly panicked expression.

"Star, shush! You know we can't reveal soulmates to each other, remember?"

You couldn't help but gasp. "Wait - you know who my soulmate is?"

Star brushed his hand off her mouth, and continued to hold on to it in what might be excitement. She grinned her signature toothy grin at you. "Of course we do!!! Oohhh this is perfect, you two are made for each other, why did we never see it before? Marco, we have to get them together!"

She proceeded to do some more squealing and Marco tried to calm her down as you sat in your own silence, trying to calm the flashing world before you. Time, slow down, you whispered in your mind. Things were happening too fast.

They knew your soulmate. But if they knew your soulmate, how hadn't you figured it out yet? It was probably someone you'd never met before. Though some soulmates meet and never know it. You hoped your case wasn't one of those. Or Starco's.

Grabbing ahold of the soda you wished to be alcohol, you attempted to drink more only to realize the bottle was empty. Sighing as you set it back down, you let the newfound knowledge seep in.

Who was your soulmate?

♡♡♡

About a week later, you were woken up from your homework-induced coma by the sound of your phone going off. Groaning as you picked it up, you mustered up your best hello.

"Y/n! Marco and I are going to a ball tonight, and you're coming with us!"

"But-"

"I'm outside your house, come on, we're going shopping!"

♡♡♡

Of course, being best friends with Star Butterfly also included being dragged along with her to big fat fancy balls in different dimensions with different proper etiquette and creatures you had never laid eyes on before.

After trying on countless gowns, Star had finally settled on something her usual style and you had picked a modest gown of your favorite color that gently trailed along the floor with a small slit up the side. Of course, Marco was just wearing one of his tuxes. You couldn't help but have an internal fangirling moment when Star and Marco froze staring at one another all dressed up. It was absolutely adorable the way that they stuttered out compliments to one another!

On the carriage ride to the ball, Marco and Star were acting really strange. Extremely giddy, like they were sitting on the edge of their metaphorical seats, waiting for something amazing to happen. You decided to savor their anticipation for as long as you could. When Star Butterfly bit her lip to refrain from letting out her evil fits of laughter, you knew she was plotting something.

The carriage rolled up to a stop by the castle, and since you had gotten used to life with Star, you delicately hopped out and waved goodbye as the carriage flew away. Turning back to Star and Marco, you grinned internally once you saw they were holding hands as they beamed up at the beauty of the castle in the night sky.

"Okay, everyone, are we ready? Y/n, you're going to meet someone very important tonight!" Star grinned over at you. You furrowed your brows.

"And just who am I going to be meeting tonight?"

"Oh, no one!" Marco quickly sputtered out before Star could say another word, pushing you both inside the castle. You were never really one for balls, especially ones from alternate dimensions, but with Star Butterfly, you were a fellow girl and you didn't quite have a choice. With Star's hand firmly gripped around yours with excitement, she led you and Marco through the throng of creatures conversing, burning to death in unicorn blood, and messing with trash cans. The three of you made it about halfway through the night fueled by trio dancing and the interesting assortment of food and drinks that were suspended midair on flying tables that you had to race to catch.

Finally, it was time for you to meet this mysterious person.

You had been dabbling in a bit of table racing with Marco, betting on which tables could get away from the creatures trying to have a taste of the substances they held faster, when Star came up behind you and grabbed your shoulders.

"N/n!" She shouted, making you scream in surprise. The three of you burst into a fit of laughter, Star wrapping her one arm around your bare shoulders and holding Marco's hand with the other.

"Are you ready to meet him?" She practically shrieked into your ear.

"Him?"

"Him. His name is Tom Lucitor." Marco answered.

"Tom Lucitor," you repeated, feeling a strange sensation of butterflies flutter around in your stomach at the name. Star couldn't contain herself anymore and burst out into a fit of giggles, whirling you around and attempting to fix your hair while you stood there in confusion and nervousness.

"Star, this isn't another hook up is it?" You questioned, narrowing your brows. Marco bit his lip to contain a smile and Star simply laughed, squishing your cheeks together.

"Don't worry, N/n. I've got it all under control!"

"I sincerely doubt that." You whined, leaning your head against Marco’s shoulder. 

“OH MY GOD THERE HE IS! TOM!” Star suddenly launched away from the two of you and began screeching her way through the crowd. You and Marco tried to keep track of the piled blonde hair through the crowd, but lost her after she passed by a dolphin. Wringing your hands together nervously, you turned to Marco once again and snapped him out of his longing gaze in Star’s direction by smashing his cheeks together so he would face you.

“Dude, I don’t know if this is a good idea. I mean, I’m weird. I’m awkward. And this is probably a hook up, one that I am not in the mood for! There’s no way he’s going to like me. He’s probably going to think I’m weird or creepy or ugly or-”

“Y/n, stop,” Marco laughed, grabbing your hands and holding them in his own. His brown eyes were warm as he offered you a smile. Marco had known about your self-consciousness for a while now, and your suicidal past with depressive tendencies. Your life had never been easy, and your brain sure wasn’t letting you off the hook. 

“You are amazing, whether you’d like to believe it or not. You’re beautiful, brave, kind, funny, and loyal. You’re also pretty badass too. Remember when you helped me and Star break out Pony Head from St. O’s? When you found that baseball bat and just went crazy smacking all those guards? You’re an amazing person, and the only person who doesn’t see that is yourself. He’s going to love you, believe me,” he suddenly winked at you, which made your eyes widen. “You two are closer than you think you are.”

He gently let go of your hands and smiled once again at you, only this time, you gave him one back. 

“Thanks, Marco,” you softly said. 

“Anytime, N/n-”

“HERE SHE IS!” You were once again interrupted by a screaming Star, only this time she was dragging someone along with her. Your heart began to pound with anticipation as she pushed the person into you. Not even having a change to take a good look at the person, you only saw a flash of pale lilac before he was practically shoved onto you, his height causing his chin to slightly bump against your head before he gently grabbed your arms to steady you before pulling back. 

“Y/n, this is Tom! Tom, this is Y/n, the girl I had been telling you about.” Star’s voice called out, only for some reason, time seemed to slow down drastically for her words seemed a little warped. Furrowing your brows, you slowly raised your eyes from the floor to take a good look at the person standing before you. Starting at his black as night tux and his shoes which were, wait, were they on fire? His strangely colored lilac skin which at first glance looked creepy, but was actually kind of unique and cute once you got used to it. Finally, your eyes landed on his face. He had beautiful salmony hair that was complimented by a set of horns on each side of his head. You breath hitched as you finally pieced together from the third eye just who were looking at. 

Tom Lucitor. As in demon prince of the underworld Tom Lucitor. How the hell did you never-

Then you finally met his eyes and the second that your e/c orbs met his red eyes, time suddenly froze. 

Star’s face was frozen into her squealing position next to a smirking Marco who had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. The tables had stopped flying, some suspended in midair, and the creatures who had previously been chasing them were frozen in the most weird facial expressions with their tongues sticking out. But none of that mattered, because for once you had finally gotten time to stop. And not only that, but the only people who weren’t frozen were you and the demon hybrid standing in front of you, the electricity between you two making it almost impossible for you to break eye contact with his beautiful and emotional red irises. 

Tom was the first to break eye contact, though reluctantly, and took a look around at the frozen figures before the two of you. You however, found it difficult to look away from him. You barely knew the mewman, and yet you felt such a connection to him. 

“Is the world frozen right now? Did Star freeze time again?” He questioned. Ugh, even his voice sent tingles down your spine. 

"It's t-the Time Stop," you stuttered out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "Marco told me about it. It happens once you meet your soulmate and time continues only once we, um, physically touch."

A smirk danced across his lips and you felt your chest tighten. "Well, I don't know about you, but I kind of like the world like this. Time moves much too quickly without you, gorgeous." He winked at you. Your pulse begin to race, each beat as hard as a sledgehammer as a blush grew on your cheeks. Bashfully looking down at the floor, you sensed him step closer to you, already feeling the warmth from him radiate onto your exposed skin.

“This may seem a little out there since we just met, but you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” Raising your head once again to meet his lovestruck gaze, a smirk grew onto your lips as well.

“Are you sure you’re not just saying that because we’re soulmates?” Crossing your arms across your chest, you playfully teased him. He laughed then, grinning over at you, and it was then that you realized that even though he was a demon hybrid, you honestly didn’t care. Humans sucked anyways. Sorry, Marco.

“I may be a bit biased, but I still think that you’re gorgeous. And I’m just now realizing that you probably have had to deal with the other end of my anger issues...” he let out an awkward chuckle and scratched the back of his neck. Giggling, you dared to take another step towards him, sensing the sparks drifting between you two.

“Having my hands feel like they were on fire most of the time is definitely not as bad as the rest of my life has been up until recently. Plus, you’re not too hard on the eyes yourself,” you did your best attempt at flirting, feeling the burning in your cheeks. Even Tom had some color dusting his cheeks as he eagerly stepped even closer to you. You swore that you could see the fire dancing in his eyes. 

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting to know you,” he smirked.

“The feeling is most definitely mutual,” you giggled. A comfortable silence passed as you stared into each other’s eyes before you realized that the two of you couldn’t stay like this forever. 

“As much as I could definitely get used to just the two of us in a time frozen world, we should probably start time back up again, huh?” You asked, smiling softly. He stepped even closer to you, closing the distance bit by bit until your foreheads were almost touching. You felt the intense desire to just reach out and wrap your arms around his neck to kiss him, but suppressed yourself, instead choosing to wait to see what he did next. 

He smirked as he lifted his hand to hover next to your face. Your breath hitched once again until he finally cupped your cheek in his hand, so close that if you simply moved an inch, your lips would be on his. As soon as his warm skin touched your cheek, time started back up once again, only this time it was moving at a much more even pace. 

You never expected your soulmate to be a demon prince, but you already knew you wouldn’t trade Tom for anyone else. 

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