RAISON D'ÊTRE ( bucky barnes ) 一 under editing

THIRTY-THIRD

RAISON D'ÊTRE
THIRTY-THIRD

WHILE EVERYONE HAD GONE TO get changed, suiting up into their outfits as Steve had put it, Rome had remained patiently waiting by the car she'd arrived in with her back to everyone. Unlike the others, she'd been the only one not to have something else to change into, opting to fight while dressed casually in her jeans and jacket that she'd been wearing for two days now. When a few minutes had passed in awkward silence, Rome had snuck a glance behind her and nearly turned red when she saw Bucky's shirtless chest, looking away quickly and clearing her throat. Even though the two had been dating for quite some time, there was always a part of her that was simply embarrassed to see a bare chest. Call her old fashioned, but it always made her turn cherry red and her heart thump oddly in her chest.

She felt strange standing there, surrounded by people who'd been called heroes. Rome had always thought her world was odd 一 one where witches, vampires, and werewolves were the true things to go bump in the night, the one where everything mysterious and magical was true and fact and fiction were more intertwined that someone originally believed. She was so used to being in her element but now she felt like a fish out of water. Perhaps this is what Bucky had felt like whenever she'd gone to speak with fellow witches, each time she performed a spell, and made her realize simply how mundane he was compared to her witch life.

She felt a gentle poke in her arm and Rome nearly jumped, turning to spot Ianna standing before her with a duffle bag in her hand. Her cousin couldn't quite meet her eyes, awkwardly standing there as she held out the bag. "Here," she said quickly, to which Rome gave her a wary look. What had happened to the angry, crying girl she'd seen not even a day ago? What happened to the frustration and the rage, the tension that'd only been growing since last night? "Calm down, it's not a bomb. It's just some clothes I packed that might help with the fighting and stuff. I used it officially before I got this suit." Slowly, she gestured to the sleek black suit she wore.

It was all black, tight and clinging to Aline's body like it was a second skin, yet she didn't appear to be visibly uncomfortable in it. There were no sleeves, revealing her tanning shoulders and arms, and a hood with some intricate silver and gold detailing. When Rome looked closer, she could spot tiny stars and constellations, and little runes on the fabric. It made her heart swell when she recognized them 一 Nordic runes, the first language they'd ever learnt. However it was the necklace that took her breath away. Dangling from Ianna's neck was a tiny green crystal, one that wasn't any bigger or thicker than her pinky finger.

"You kept it," Rome whispered quietly, eyes locked on the necklace. It'd been shortly after they left their village when they got their necklaces. Her, Ianna, and Renata had each gotten one 一 Ianna with a lovely emerald green, Renata with an ocean blue, and Rome with a wine red crystal. While they were technically talismans, little trinkets to help them channel their magic and do spells, it was also something they'd gotten together, as if to mark their new lives together. A secret promise they'd made.

Ianna... she'd kept it? Why? After everything they'd gone through, after all those hateful words... Ianna had kept the necklace. The tribrid girl could have just as easily tossed it away, thrown it in the deepest ocean and never looked back, but it remained around her neck. I thought she hated me, Rome thought, brows furrowing as she thought. I thought she never wanted to see me again.

Ianna looked down, reaching for the necklace. Awkwardly, she tucked it into her suit. "Yeah," she said, nodding.

There was another thick tension between the two girls, but this one didn't feel as angry and rage-inducing anymore. It just felt awkward, like they'd reached a silent agreement. Rome didn't want to fight anymore; she hated fighting in general, but it hurt even more to fight with someone she loved. When they were young, they had rarely fought and when they did, they'd made up quickly. Now they were older, (very) grownup adults, and Rome wanted to put this behind her. She wanted this fight to end, but even if Ianna didn't forgive her, she just wanted her to know that she was sorry.

She was sick of all the fighting 一 with Ianna, with Stark and Ross, with everything. All the witch wanted was just some peace, nothing more.

Slowly, Rome took the duffle bag from her cousin's grasp and placed it on top of the car. She cleared her throat awkwardly, pausing as she tried to find the right words. "I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye but..." An exhausted sigh left her lips, and she briefly looked away from Ianna. "Well, I suppose family rarely does, but I am sorry. Truly, Ianna, I am." I'm sorry I hurt you when you needed me most, Rome wanted to add. I'm sorry I left you before, I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough.

Ianna just nodded sadly and pursed her lips. "I'm sorry too, Andromeda."

It took everything in her power not to widen her eyes with surprise at Ianna's acceptance and apology. Usually it'd be Rome to admit her fault with Ianna denying any responsibility, but now... now she seemed different. While she still acted childishly at times, Ianna had grown. Maybe not physically, but she was more mature, and it made Rome's heart fill with joy.

Another figure appeared behind Ianna, and both women turned to look. It was the pretty brunette from earlier, the one Rome had seen kissing and holding onto Ianna, but now she was dressed in a red corset-like top with tight pants and boots. The witch eyed Ianna's supposed new soulmate as she walked closer to the two. She was pretty, there was no doubt about that, with high cheekbones and a gentle looking face. She looked sweet too, she noted, but her eyes shone with a gleam of sorrow. Whatever she'd lost, Rome was just glad she had someone to help her through it. Despite the kind smile on her face, she still appeared visibly anxious. Rome could tell from the way she played with her hands, twisting and twirling the silver rings that decorated her fingers.

"I'm glad to see you too making peace," she said, taking Ianna's hand and smiling directly at Rome. The brunette girl had a slight accent, and Rome could just place it somewhere in eastern Europe but she couldn't identify anywhere specifically. She pressed her lips against Ianna's cheek then held out a hand for Rome to shake. "My name's Wanda, I've heard... certain things about you."

Rome remembered briefly Sam saying that name 一 Wanda, with a gentle tone to it, as they walked down the streets to meet with the others 一 but she hadn't thought to think that might be Ianna's soulmate. She looked down at Wanda's extended hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Wanda. My name's Rome Molstad. I'd like to say I've heard equally pleasant things about you, but it wasn't until yesterday did I hear of you." She let their hands drop then cleared her throat as she watched the couple warily. "So, this is... your new soulmate?" She made sure to emphasis on new. Despite how happy the two looked, there was still a part of her that was skeptical.

Ianna nodded after a moment. "Yeah," she said slowly. "Trust me, I've done some research. There's not a lot to explain our situation. But it doesn't really matter." When she said that, it didn't surprise Rome to hear that 一 having a second soulmate was always believed to be impossible, so of course there'd be no information on it. Having a soulmate is rare enough as is, having a second one was... well, it was impossible.

Then she looked to Wanda with a loving gaze, smiling at her so sweetly. "She's great, true me. Much more than I deserve." Ianna wrapped a delicate arm around Wanda's waist then kissed her cheek.

Rome nodded slowly, watching the couple as they interacted and spoke to her. The way they held each other and talked to each other, it looked... almost like Ianna was back with Madelaine. She'd never though she'd see Ianna so happy again, especially not with those sweet eyes, calming aura, and gentle little touches. Losing Madelaine had been rough for the tribrid, and Rome had expected her to never fall in love with anyone ever again. She thought her cousin would fall into an endless pit of grief and despair, but it appeared like Wanda had been the one to pull her out of that. In that moment, she didn't care if their relationship was false or not, or if this soulmate thing were actually true. All that mattered to her is that Ianna was happy, and if being with Wanda made her feel like that, then Rome felt happy.

A/N: i just saw captain marvel... she
is the best definition of big dick energy
i've ever seen & let me tell you, sister,
i am HERE FOR IT!!!!!

also i know some people are probs a bit
upset at how quickly i made them make
up but like... after a thousand years of
spending time with someone, it's kinda
hard to hate them after loving them for
so long & all rome really wants is to be
back with her cousin and be happy