a marvelous story - avengers soulmate au

brick wall

That feeling when you hit a wall. A sturdy, ridiculous wall. A tall, immovable, impervious, impassable wall. A brick wall.

That was the feeling of going through a slump in your class work.

I'd run out of energy, time, and inspiration to write the papers for my classes. The short writing piece on Tony's lecture was easy enough the day after, but when finals ended everything picked up again. After the ridiculous amount of time getting far too comfortable with the slow assignments that were few and far between, I had almost forgotten the stress that came with these projects. So, with almost zero sleep and very little patience, I was trying to make a blueprint for a simple energy-efficient engine for a small self-sufficient vehicle.

But, the self-sufficent part was much too difficult for me. I knew only one person who knew more about engineering and science in general than my professors and I hated to turn to him, seem like I was just mooching for a easy A. I would not ask Tony for help. That's why I didn't meet up with him for any more dates, no matter how many times Nat invited me out to the mall with herself and a girl named Wanda, also on the Avengers' team, I always politely declined if it seemed as though Tony was going to be there. However, my anxiety grew as my deadline closed in, drowning me in utter worry. I was so ridiculously mortified of failing this class.

The only answer was to take a break and recharge. I hated that answer and tried to avoid it for a few days before it was a week and a half til the deadline.

Helen had noticed. And if there's anything you need to know about her, it's that she is an avid supporter of self-care. And she will not stay quiet when she thinks you need a little R&R.

So, here I was, in that same Starbucks in Washington Square. I was aimlessly scrolling through some videos on Facebook when I got an incoming call mid-drink of my cappuccino. I choked immediately, almost spitting up my drink.

I knew it was coming eventually, but I didn't think it would be this soon he'd actually call. I'd had boyfriends before, all of them treating me casually and as if we were just a fling until one of us found our mate, but they'd all gone for maybe months until they realized. Tony must be much more observant than I gave him credit for. I sighed as I mentally prepared and tried not to choke on my drink again as the call stopped ringing. It had gone to voice-mail. Shit.

Barely fifteen seconds later, the notification popped up on my screen and I bit my lip nervously. Should I listen? Yes. I couldn't ignore him now, he'd probably start scouring the city in fully-fledged Iron Man gear if I did that any longer. He obviously couldn't stand it as he started to send texts every minute. I had to silent my phone as I picked it up to listen to his voice mail. My thumb tapped over my pin number rapidly, I fumbled and messed up twice before getting it unlocked and finally got the app open to hear Tony's worried voice tear apart my rapidly-beating, selfish heart. I really should have sent a message through Nat or at least texted.

"It's Tony. Call me back, please, Sol. I want to know what's wrong."

The three simple sentences were to the point and dripping with concern from Tony's usually silky smooth and sharp voice. The tone didn't feel like the Tony I knew.

Wait, what was I thinking? I'd known him all of a month, maybe! But I was the one who ghosted him, was I not? God, I needed to get my priorities straight. I couldn't keep doing this. I'd tear myself apart before I met more than two of my soulmates. So, I did as he required. I called him back. Barely one ring thrilled through the speaker into my ear before the connecting click of a call sounded and the relief found in the sigh Tony released, it was excruciating. I chewed on my tongue a little. Silence met me for a moment before Tony realized I was not saying anything first.

"Hey, Sunshine. How's my bright girl?" He asked, opening somewhat normally. I tried to ignore the hurt in his voice when he said the silly nickname. It cut so deep. So deep.

"I'm sorry." I said softly, trying not to choke up in the middle of a Starbucks. Thre were already people around me sending worried looks and there was a person who walked over with an eclaire dressed in a barista uniform. They said something about promising it. Tony flipped his tone like a switch when he heard my voice from stress-laced and sad to comforting and worried for me.

"Don't apologize, you aren't in the wrong." He said firmly, continuing with a slightly less firm statement, "We all need space sometimes. When Nat needs space she tries to choke us out if we get too close." The joking aura of the tangent made me sniffle and laugh quietly simultaneously. I could see his smile, it was amazing to imagine it.

"I am, Tony. It's my fault. I ignored you, and I shouldn't have. It was my fault and I should have met everyone else by now and-"

"No, you sweet little Sun, you have nothing to worry your pretty head over. I can send Happy for you and we can just talk today, okay? Where are you?"

"I'm at the Starbucks. The one in Wasington Square." I smiled, remembering our silly little date and trying my best not to let tears fall as I stood and gathered my things. "Can you actually pick me up? I don't want to bawl my eyes out in Happy's car." He chuckled softly, shuffling that I assumed was Tony getting around sounding muffled through the speaker.

"Of course, Sun. Why don't you just wait on that little bench for me? I love you, see you soon." And he ended the call.

Wait.

Wait, what was that last bit?

I love you.

That idiot thought he was so slick. I thought some violent endings for him before I noticed my face was beet red and I had a half-drank cooling cappuccino and a free eclaire. I walked up to the counter and ordered a double-shot espresso and a raspberry jelly-filled donut for Tony.

My mind hit a brick wall with his bold statement as it mulled about my head and I waited patiently for my idiotically handsome and wilesome mate to whisk me away from my self-induced isolated hell.