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**CONGRATS ON
YOUR MATCH**
*You've finally been paired. Here's the profile of your Designated Soulmate, and the location of your first meeting.
Don't be late!*
Eddie is late. He was supposed to be on his date one hour ago. Instead, he's turning off the engine of his bike in front of the Harrington's residence, in a quiet pampered neighborhood
He glances at the security cameras on the fence, but he's not worried. Steve knows how to avoid them, he proved it everytime he snuck out without getting caught.
Eddie's chip keeps vibrating. They don't have much time: ghosting your Designated Soulmate is an offense, if you don't show up, you're quickly found and arrested.
But Steve's window is still dark, so Eddie waits.
They fought about it all the time. Eddie wanted to cross the border and settle anywhere - Steve wanted to wait for them to be paired together. Eddie knew it was never gonna happened. And as predicted, he got paired with another lowclass worker, and Steve with some rich chick.
"I'll come get you," Eddie had promised. "When it happens, I'll be there, waiting for you. Keep your light on so I know you're coming."
Steve got angry. Called him dramatic. "What if I don't want to leave everything behind?" he asked. Eddie sighed, "Then I'll leave you behind with the rest of this bullshit."
It's been an hour and the light of Steve's windows is still off. Eddie's bag is heavy on his shoulders, the cold of the night slithers its way under his jacket - he can't wait anymore. He's not gonna let the Matchmaker decide who he can love. He gives a decisive kick to the bike, and the engine roars.
He says a silent and bitter goodbye to the boy who won't fight for what they have.
He's ready to drive away when a light blinks in Steve's window. Frozen, Eddie looks up - here he is. Eyes red and wet, one hand pressed against the window, the other one flickering the switch so Eddie couldn't miss the blinking light that says "wait for me".
A few minutes later, Steve climbs up the portal and lands softly in front of Eddie. He hooks his thumbs in the straps of his backpack.
"You were really gonna leave?" Steve asks with a sheepish smile.
"You were really gonna let me?" Eddie retorts.
Steve steps closer, but doesn't reach to grab Eddie's jacket, doesn't throw his arms around Eddie's neck, doesn't kiss him with this urgency usually vibrating between them. Instead, he rolls up his sleeve. Eddie hears the distinctive switch of a blade. Before he can stop Steve, his boy is already diving two fingers into the deep cut on his wrist, sliding out the chip.
Eddie stares at this small shackle they all wear in their flesh as it's tossed to the ground. Steve licks the blood out of his wound and step on the chip, burning the last bridge between himself and the Matchmaker.
Without a word, he hands the knife to Eddie.