The Ex And The Soulmate

we knew that.

Surprisingly, Steve was the first to come in. I would've expected Tony or Bucky. Steve picked up on my shock. "We couldn't decide who you would want to see first. So, here I am. Sorry if you're disappointed."

"Not at all." I shrugged.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked as he approached me. He sat on a chair nearby and I moved to face him.

"I had awful timing, I guess."

Steve chuckled. "You can't control that. It's stressful, for everyone involved."

"So it's true? Bucky..."

"Yes." Seriousness took over Steve's face, his posture. I could see his protectiveness in his eyes. "It wasn't him, though. He wasn't in control, he was forced. Bucky would never do that, he idolized Howard."

"Really?" I questioned. "I mean, about the idolizing. I know Bucky wouldn't do that. I mean, at least I hope my soulmate isn't a murderer. Brain washed I guess I can deal with." Steve laughed at the joke, but it was shallow. This was hard on him too. "How's Tony? He knew?"

He nodded. "I suspected a while ago. When I told Tony, we found out it was true. He's... struggling with it. Of course he knows it wasn't Bucky's fault, but to actually see the person who did it..."

"Yeah. I get that." I wondered how I'd feel if I saw the person who hit my parents. She survived. It wasn't her fault, accidents happen. Especially car accidents in New York. But, my parents are gone because of her. "I don't think I could handle seeing him if I was Tony."

"We're discussing... options. We're all open but the main thing is, Bucky needs us. He can't go anywhere else and he's not safe as long as Hydra exists and well... neither are you."

"How do we knew this isn't too much for Tony? I mean, he's already lost so much because of me now and-"

"What do you mean because of you?" Tony's voice from the doorway interrupted me.

I froze. I had been feeling guilt over our situation, him losing Pepper because of me just for me to show up with my soulmate, knowing he didn't have a true one. But how could I explain that to him?

"Cap, can you give us a minute?" Tony walked towards us, sitting in the seat that Steve just got out of and moved it closer to me after he left the room. "Candy. What are you talking about?"

"I just-I feel bad about you and Pepper, her leaving because you saved me. And then I found my soulmate and you..."

"Don't have one?" He finished my sentence. Speechless, I nodded. Tony sighed before continuing. "Firstly, Pepper would have left anyway. I wasn't the greatest boyfriend, she always wanted more from me I couldn't give. Truthfully, she wanted a soulmate. She struggled a lot with hers being platonic, same as mine. As far as having a soulmate, I do have one. Platonic soulmates are not... Well, let's just say that it's not like you remain the same. Bruce being in my life now has changed me. And maybe we're not sleeping together, but I couldn't live without him anymore. Besides, I'm Iron Man. A romantic soulmate would just expect too much of me, I'd always let them down."

I tried to imagine my life with a platonic soulmate. I never did the friend thing very well, I had acquaintances, but never really felt like I fit in anywhere before. Until that kiss with Bucky.

"Listen Candy. This is going to be hard because of who your soulmate is. But not because you found him." Tony grabbed my hands. "I care about you, I care about your happiness."

"I want you happy too, Tony. I don't want us being here to hurt you."

"Knowing you're safe is the best thing for me. If I can help keep you safe, that's enough." Tony kissed my hand before walking out of the room.