WC: 509 || Ship: Screwtiorine || Rating: G

Concept: ABO FIC LETS GOOOOOOO - basically screwtiorine get bonded in the dreamscape to feel a few moments of such a thing, because screwllum cannot mark them as mates (note this is A!Ratio, O!Aventurine, and Enigma!Screwllum (in the dreamscape)). So I got thinking about how to keep the mating mark in reality...

He wakes from the dreamscape first. Stepping out of warm water, he breathes in shakily, still feeling the effects of the dream.

He turns to look back at the pool, back to Veritas and Screwllum. Though both men had turned in his absence, they didn’t subconsciously move toward each other. As if keeping that space open for *him. *

He stumbles to the bathroom, somewhat blinded by the lights in the room. When he gets into the bathroom, he doesn’t turn the light on immediately, instead taking a seat on the closed toilet.

He’s afraid, terrified really. Because he knows the second he looks into the mirror, he’s going to have to face the hard truth of his relationship.

*He’ll only ever be half-bonded. He’ll never have a bond with Screwllum, only with Veritas. He loves them both so much, but their bond will never be completed. *

He drops his head into his hands and tries not to cry. Just twenty minutes prior he had been so *happy*. The three of them—him, Veritas, and Screwllum—were all bonded in the dreamscape. He proudly wore their marks on his neck and he could smell himself on them.

Now? Now he doesn’t have that.

He keeps his sobs quiet, less he alerts Screwllum. Veritas will be harder to wake from the dreamscape, but he knows Screwllum’s environmental sensors will alert him to Aventurine’s distress. He breathes in and out and finally decides it’s time to face the truth.

He stands and turns on the light, facing out into the room. He sees Veritas and Screwllum and knows that he has to do this, has to face this.

He stands up and turns toward the mirror and—

*What?*

He stumbles the few steps toward the mirror, putting a hand on his neck and trailing his fingers over the mark. It’s not a bite mark like the other side, but it’s a faint butterfly whose lines seem to be made of ones and zeros.

It takes him a few moments to register that he can *feel Screwllum*.

Who is right behind him.

“H-how—”

“Answer: It pays to be a very important man in the galaxy and a Genius at that. I hold very important memories that the Garden does yet not have. It is of ‘no sweat’, as the phrase goes, to hand that knowledge over in return for a few favors. Black Swan was *very *helpful in this matter.”

“W-what— H-how—”

“Physical markings cannot transfer from the dreamscape to the body, but memories can. In this instance, the memories of the body and the soul stayed, but the mark did not. It did need a grounding mark, hence the butterfly. I hope you do not—” He cuts Screwllum off, wrapping his arms around him.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.” Screwllum hums and returns the embrace.

“I am a machine, Aventurine, but you love me regardless. I know this is not a true mate mark, but I hope it will be enough.”

“It is, *it is*.”

“Then I am grateful. For your love, and the acceptance of my mark.”