The world is made up of heartbeats.

Some are soft, subtle, only distinguishable when skin is pressed to skin.

Others are thundering, loud and oppressive, set against a backdrop of stark silence.

Heartbeats differ from person to person, some from day to day, erratically shifting as emotions spike and experiences shape us. No two people are meant to share in a singular beat for more than a few, coincidental moments.

And yet, on the rarest of occasions, there appears two hearts that match perfectly, held within individuals who cross paths by chance, ignorant of the connection spun between them. Two hearts, chained together for better or worse. Inseparable.

Though, oftentimes, the fated pair requires... a push, a catalyst, to recognize the feelings bubbling just beneath the surface. And that catalyst has innumerable forms...

"Heh... Your heart's beating pretty fast, brat."

"It's not as though you're any calmer."

"Nervous?"

"No worse than you, if the annoying thumping assaulting my ears is anything to go by. And no, I'm quite sure I'm not mistaking it for the thundering of my own heart."

"Ah, well... Can't be helped."

"Don't sound so sure of yourself. It makes my blood boil, hearing you so prideful."

"Prideful ain't the word for it. I'm just... excited, you could say. It's not every day you meet your literal soul mate, right?"

Not sure when I'll have the time or inspiration to write for this again... I'll just post it here for now so that it's on the list of potential fanfictions that may or may not come into being this summer.