The Thing About Soulmates || Tony Stark

Part 1: The Reunion

A/N: when it says present day, it means like present day in the story. Not present day as in 2019, but more like present day as in the time before the Avengers were formed. So I'd say the year 2011?

-

Present Day 

Three hours. 

Only three hours till you could make up some lame excuse about Bea and leave. 

Just three simple hours.

You looked down towards your watch, groaning at what you saw. "I have to stay till five?" you whined, not wanting to do this. 

It wasn't like you didn't love your family, of course you did. It was just all of the things that a family came with. The questions and the small talks and all the catching up that everyone has missed out on for the past ten years. Oh, and don't forget the comparing.

'Oh you should see Megan's new house!'

'Have you met Adam's soulmate, Sherri?'

'Look at these pictures of baby Alex, isn't she the cutest?'

Even though they would never say it, everyone was always trying to get you to achieve more in your unsatisfying life. And although they steered away from the questions about work, they didn't shy away from your soulmate and living arrangements.

So you weren't surprised when you entered the living room and were caught in a conversation with your aunt within five minutes of arriving.

"Hey Aunt Becky," you greeted after being hugged by your second favorite aunt.

"Hey, [Y/N]," she responded, "How have you been?"

The two of you continued the small talk for a few minutes before she asked the question you were just dying to hear.

"Have you found your soulmate yet?" she asked, a small glint of hope in her eyes.

"Not yet," you sighed.

You knew that she was going to want more so you added, "although the voice has gotten quieter since I moved to New York, so that's a good sign."

"That's wonderful, dear. Has he-"

"Hey, [Y/N}!" a familiar voice called from the kitchen. You turned to your aunt who had a knowing look on her face when she nodded for you to go.

You ran to the kitchen, attacking the speaker with a hug.

"Wow, I didn't know you missed me that much," she chuckled, trying to get you off of her.

Once she was finally released from your death grip, you punched her in the shoulder. "Oh, come on. You know you missed me too," you smirked.

"Whatever," she huffed. 

"Cynthia, [Y/N], you comin'?" Megan yelled from outside the back door.

"We'll be right out," you responded before grabbing a chip and following Cynthia.

After chasing her through the doors, you paused, too many memories coming back to you all at once. The summer afternoons spent out here, creating games and just finding ways to have fun; the nights spent around the campfire roasting marshmallows and telling stories; and the cool autumn evenings that always had a cool breeze to tell you that school was coming soon and you'd have to say goodbye to the friends that you've made so many memories with. And somehow, all of these memories circulated around the one tree in the yard with the tree house, or as you like'd to call it, The Fortress of Imagination. Whether it was climbing to the top or sleeping under the stars, you always spent most of your time there. It had become the thing that kept you and your cousins together for so long. 

"[Y/N]!" Cynthia yelled, already up the old ladder that led to the small hideaway.

Your eyes opened, awaken from the daydream the sight had put you in. Radiating excitement, you ran to the tree and climbed the ladder just like you did when you were a kid.

"Glad you could join us," Adam remarked.

You just shot him an eye-roll, the comment not deserving of a clever comeback. You sat down, the wood creaking as you did so. The [Y/E/C] in your eyes couldn't help but catch the way that the light hit the wall just right, creating this beautiful green color against the brown of the wood. 

"So," Megan started, "how have you been? How's work been?"

"Well, I've actually been pretty okay lately. Bea and I finally found an apartment that's in walking distance of both of our jobs and it's right next to a cute little coffee shop that is owned by this adorable Irish family that makes the best cappuccino I've ever had."

"And work's been," you paused, not sure how to say this, "better," you sighed. "I got fired from my job at Cisco a few months ago, actually, and I've been working at the coffee shop next door. At least until I find another engineering job."

No one would meet your gaze until Adam spoke up. "Sherri just got fired from her job as well, so I've started working as a waiter at the local diner on weekends," he admitted.

"I'm drowning in student loans," Megan added. There was silence for a moment, everyone realizing that things weren't as perfect as they seemed. 

"Preston moved out of the house last March," Cynthia whispered, causing all of us to look up at her. 

You'd heard about the soulmates that couldn't make it work; the ones that just weren't the right match. You always thought they were just a myth, you didn't actually think they were real. But they were. And Cynthia had to deal with the fact that she wasn't meant for her soulmate. 

"Cynthia, I'm so sorry," you said as you reached over to give her a hug. The other two followed, whispering condolences into her ear.

"It's okay," she replied, "I've gotten used to it." 

After the group hug was dismantled, Megan stared laughing. 

"What happened to us?" Cynthia started giggling as well. "What happened to the hopeful twenty year old's that used to come here every year with good news?"

"Life," Adam chuckled, causing you to join in. 

"Our lives may sorta suck," you pretended to toast, "but at least we have each other."

"To us," the rest giggled. 

"Now I'm going to go get some much needed alcohol," Adam stood up, "who's in?"