NCT Imagines (Requests Open!)

Embers of Envy (Yuta)

"Aren't you hot?" you asked, tugging at the thick fabric.  "It's the middle of summer."

Yuta shrugged.  "I get cold easily.  Eat your taco."

You frowned, knowing that Yuta easily overheated and only whipped out his jackets and hoodies mid-autumn.  

"Yuta, you're gonna get sick if you keep this on.  It's so hot and humid out.  Look, you're sweating!"  

You tugged harder on his sleeve, but Yuta adamantly refused to shed the layer.  He focused on dipping his taco in the queso without spilling it all over his lap.

"At least roll up your sleeves," you pouted, pushing the fabric up his arms. 

Yuta pushed your hand away, but it was too late.  You'd seen it.  Etched on his forearm in midnight black was the same moon emblem you had.  The edges around the ink were red, meaning it had appeared recently–possibly even a few hours before your rendezvous.

"Wait, I have the same one!"  Your voice was filled with desperation.

"I know.  And so does Taeyong.  You weren't supposed to see this."  He itched at the emblem as if it were a pesky mosquito bite he wished would disappear.  Is that how he thought of you?

"You don't want me?"  

Yuta could see the silent plea in your eyes.  With your pupils dilated, he could clearly make out his brooding reflection, which looked cruel with the tears pooling near your lash line.  

He cursed loudly, wishing he hadn't invited you to his stupid cologne launch.  He thought you'd want to be there since you'd supported him through all his ups and downs.  He wanted you to see him at his best and show you what he was capable of.  But you in that sparkly dress with detailed makeup and styled hair made you look like a princess right out of a fairytale.  And at his event that was all about him, all he could see was you. 

"I don't want to come between you and Taeyong," he said hoarsely.  "You're engaged to him, and he got his soulmate sign first."

You shook your head.  "Yuta, what if the universe really doesn't know who would be better for me?  What if its asking me to choose?"

"Impossible," he looked away.

You stared up at the sky through the sunroof that Yuta had opened so you could peer at the stars.  Was something up there on your side, after all?

The next morning, Taeyong and you were seated at a cafe with two iced coffees and a whole lot of tension between you.  With him in his short-sleeved shirt, you could clearly make out the identical soulmate sign emblazoned on his arm.  Part of you wondered if the universe was playing a cruel joke on you and shipping Taeyong and Yuta together.  The thought amused you and terrified you at the same time.

"Tae–"

"Let's call it off.  That's what you want, right?  That's what will make you happy?"  Taeyong asked without meeting your gaze.  You felt like the villain in his story.  

That was what you wanted, and you knew being with Yuta would make you overwhelmingly happy, but you hated hurting such a good person like this.  Taeyong was an innocent guy roped into the galaxy's wicked game of love.

You felt something clawing at your chest and wrapping itself around your heart.  The words got caught in your throat, yet you knew you had to say them.

"Taeyong, what we had was amazing for the time it lasted.  But I think the universe has someone else for me in mind.  Someone I can't look the other way for."  You explained your feelings honestly, and Taeyong listened patiently.  

He smiled, a sharp shudder running through his body.  At that moment, Yuta burst into the cafe, trying to stop you from saying anymore.

"Y/N, you have no idea what you're doing!" Yuta screamed.  You'd never seen him this worked up, especially at you.

His words made you angry.  "But I love you, Yuta!  And the universe has been so gracious as to let me decide for myself!"

Taeyong clutched his arm and smiled weakly.  "I want you to be happy together," he said while noticing the soulmate sign on Yuta's arm.  "Take care of each other.  Love each other."

He staggered, forced down onto his knees while his complexion turned red.

"Taeyong!" you yelped as you realized what was happening.  "Taeyong, you've done nothing wrong.  How could this happen?"

On cue, his forearm fractured and blistered.  The fire raced along his arm and through his veins, but he kept smiling.  His lips began cracking, and you burst into tears at the same time his whole body erupted in a column of flames.  The fire didn't seem to spread anywhere else.  It slowly chipped away at Taeyong who managed to force out a few more words until he was nothing but scorch marks on the wood panels of the cafe floor.

Yuta, who wasn't an emotional person, began sobbing uncontrollably.  Then he turned towards you with a mix of emotions burning in his dark eyes.  "This," he spat, "is the graciousness the universe has to offer."

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A/N: I haven't written anything this angsty or emotional in a while, so I really got immersed in this one.  Thank you to barbyneko for requesting this Yuta/Taeyong soulmate AU! It was very refreshing to write~

Question of the imagine:  Would you rather choose your soulmate or have the universe decide through a sign?