Soulmates (Ironstrange)

Chapter 2~ Stephen

{Third Person POV}

Flashback

Stephen laughed as his sister, Donna wrapped their brother, Victor in pink sparkly ribbon. "Kids, time for dinner!" The three heard Beverly's (their mum's) voice and raced downstairs, Victor still had a trail of ribbon coming from his ankle.

"HANDS!" Beverly said quickly before anyone started to eat.

Time Skip

Stephen stood in his room, the glorious sound of a bow against strings filled the entire 'Strange' household. Stephen loved playing the violin, when someone asked him what his favourite piece was, he was unable to answer because he loved so so many.

Every member of the 'Strange' family were musical, Stephen played the violin, Donna played the flute, even Victor was taking piano lessons. When their mum saved up enough money, they always visited the music hall.

Today

Stephen sat in the hard chair, the smell of antibacterial hand sanitizer filled the room. He said nothing, he stared towards the bed. A long monotonous tone filled the room, a poor and sickly woman who called the hospital home was gone.

{Stephen's POV}

I heard Donna shouting outside the hospital room, i could hear Victor crying. Dad was crying silently against mum's bedside, her hand placed delicately in his. I wasn't crying, i wasn't sad or angry, i was completely and utterly numb. I stared at the woman who had always been strong with her eyes closed, her chest still.

I heard the nurse shouting as Donna burst through the door and ran to our mum's bedside, she collapsed onto the bed and held on tightly to the legs beneath the thin hospital bed covers.

I sat there for what seemed like four years, just staring at the body. I was eventually being dragged away, "Come along Stephen. We'll see your mother again soon." I heard dad say in his signature deep voice. Donna was crying, Victor was crying but i still felt nothing.

Dad escorted the three of us back to the family car, you could tell he was barely holding himself together, trying to keep strong for us children. We sat in the car, dad and i sat in the front and Donna and Victor were in the back. It was possibly the most depressing car journey ever. I tried to talk to everyone, to calm them down but i opened my mouth and not a single noise came out from it- i honestly felt helpless.

Time Skip

We finally got home, i went upstairs and sat with my back on the door to barricade it. I closed my eyes, a tune came into my head. I grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and started composing, it was a beautiful piece, i already knew it was as i heard every note in my head as i wrote it down. Then i got up and grabbed my violin, i played the song so gracefully- it was the best piece i'd ever played and it was all for my mum.

Dad knocked gently on the door which i opened and looked into his face, he'd been crying. I hugged him, i felt his arms wrap around me. I saw Donna and Victor behind him and opened my arms to invite them into the hug, we stayed there in complete silence, enjoying the warmth which we hadn't felt in a while.

"How are you doing Stephen?" Dad asked me, i stayed silent for a moment before i shrugged. "I don't really know, i'm sort of, just, numb. I don't feel all that much." I said and dad nodded, he left my room to put Victor and Donna to bed.

"Son, if you ever need to talk, i'm right next door." He said and smiled as he closed my door quietly. I flopped onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling. I thought about the stars, the constellations.

An odd thought popped into my head, 'I wonder what my soulmate's star sign is.' That was the first ever time i'd thought about soulmates. My eyelids began to droop, they closed and i fell asleep.

Time Skip

I woke up with a jolt, it was still dark out. I checked my watch- 03:24, i sighed and tried to fall back asleep but failed. Alright then, i guess we're getting up. I thought to myself, sometimes going out on walks helps me sleep so, i grabbed a black hoodie and put on a pair of black converse before quietly making my way downstairs and out of the house.

I was walking along the road, it was quiet and dark. I saw a few people, returning home from a long night of clubbing or a late shift at work. That was when i felt a sharp pain on my chest, "Ahh fuck!" I said out of shock. I looked up and saw the outline of someone in front of me, they had stopped dead in their tracks.

I thought nothing of it initially and turned to walk away, i could sense the other person still watching me. "I'm sorry, can i help you?" I asked the figure, they stepped into the light which was being cast by a neon pink light.

"You- You're Anthony Stark." I said in shock, the boy nodded, "Tony, please. And your name is?"

"Stephen. Stephen Strange."