Gorillaz: Soulmate AU Ficlets

The Uncanny Timing | Russel

⌚: Everyone has a timer on their wrist that counts down to the moment of meeting your soulmate

That faithful morning in the subway train to work felt noisy that day. It was as if the faint murmurs of the other passengers were anything but whispers, uncomfortable under the crushing weight of the idle noise. Each sound scratched at the walls of your ears. A lone drop of sweat pools at your temple, then slides down along the side of your face. Your palm was sweaty from holding onto the burning railing that hung above your head.

You were running extremely late for work; it was painful to consider the fact you never were before, too. That was a streak never to be wiped clean from your record.

You despised caring so much about it, being unconsciously pressured by the thought of getting a cut from your measly pay every that month, because it felt like it was killing you faster than what you bargained for. You still housed with your parents. You barely even got this one internship, this one job, while you restlessly think to yourself that you were too easy to replace. Well, that wasn't supposed to sound so miserable really. But regardless, that was why it was that important. You can't loose the only thing that would help you pull yourself together any time soon.

Point to point, then end to end. That was usually how the subway moved. Another thing to ponder about as you stood there in the noise of both the people and your thoughts. You were nearest to one end of the subway network. The office? Out there on the other far end of the network. Seeing the situation as either convenient or not was very possible, yet, neither the thought of them was helping. There was a small lump in your throat, an odd urge to cry welling from deep within your chest.

You felt miserable, more and more so as time continued to pass you by. These dark thoughts were quick to consume you and the world around you. It felt like drowning in a sudden flood, your chest reverberating as the air pressure felt like it was changing-

"Hey."

Failing to hear the first time, a pair of distant eyes blinked as a  response. You were in a total blank state before gentle pressure was squeezing at your forearm. Your breath hitched from the surprise. Your throat felt tight for a split second too, and it was certain you looked thoroughly spooked when you turned your head to the stranger who spoke. Frankly, he looked just as startled as you thought you were.

It hasn't even been five seconds when he was starting to let you go. You felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere around the both of you, making you realize how awkward the scene must have been for the man. You forced in a breath or two of fresh air to speak up. "I... I-I'm so, so sorry." The unintended stutter was left unnoticed. "Standing around gets really tiring, right?" You ended it there, chuckling faintly. Even your attempt to save face was a flunk, you thought. His silence, then, meant either he understood or was too disturbed to say anything about it.

Feeling weak, you felt yourself wilt, like a flower that's met its end. Your legs barely supported your weight that felt a tenfold, and your arm that remain suspended in the air while you kept holding on felt numb enough to make your muscles burn. There wasn't any point to continue at that state. So near, yes, but it doesn't feel as if it was worth it after all that. Your face contorts as you looked down at one of the watches around your wrists. Your watch didn't even have batteries. You had to face the man from earlier, after all.

You took a breath of fresh air. Eyes scanning the distant calm that washed over the man's face, you were focused and waiting for the smallest sign that he'd help you again. "Excuse me..." The words croaked as they came out of your throat. 

Then he turned again, subtly aloof yet curious as he found himself dealing with this odd stranger again. He did not speak immediately, though he complied to your simple and final request- the time.

He fumbled to pull his sleeves up, just enough to see his own watch and timer. You watched as you assumed his eyes narrowed to see better. Though it was odd it took him a few more seconds than necessary, you were never in the mood to point out those kinds of details in purpose. Blandly, you moved to compare your time to his. It took just as as long as he did, when he stared at the timers strapped around his wrist.

00:00

Blinking quietly, the timer went, ignoring the wide eyes that gazed at it. You knew what that meant. You also knew everyone did, so you ended up muttering a soft curse from disbelief.

There was a thoughtful hum that you've heard from him, only moments before a deep but whispery voice started to slip out of his mouth.

"We've all been there." He first said. Simply at first, as he wasn't moving to turn his head to meet your gaze before a split moment's hesitation. "...Name's Russ. You?"