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"So, we've reached the most critical moment," the host's excitement was already creeping up his cheeks, that rising redness always made Tony think the man might burst into flames any second, "and it's a question that nearly all of us are curious about. I hope you'll answer it honestly!"
Tony nodded noncommittally; he could already guess what people were fixated on.
"It's the mark that everyone born into this world has—Mr. Tony Stark," the host coughed nervously twice, "do you have a soulmate mark?"
The spotlight on stage, and the eyes of the audience below, all focused on Tony. He slowly brought the microphone closer to his mouth. "Of course, of course I do. I'm as human as anyone else. But you're not just asking if I have a mark, right? Come on, Jimmy, stop beating around the bush."
"Have you met your soulmate?"
"I have, but he's never met me."
"So, our legendary playboy only had a chance to admire from afar?"
For once, Tony didn't banter back, only letting out a dry chuckle.
"Wait, he? Oh！ so it's a man. Is that why you didn't approach him?"
"Kind of, but that's not the main reason. It doesn't bother me that much, you know that." Tony winked at Jim at just the right moment, eliciting a wave of cheers and laughter.
"I bet if it were you, I wouldn't even care if you were human in the traditional sense."
Tony puckered his lips and blew a kiss.
"So, Mr. Stark, would you mind telling us where he is now?" A good host knows when to craft a perfect moment for a regional headline.
People only ever know the name of their soulmate—a mark etched somewhere on their body since birth. They've grown up watching that mark, faint and almost unnoticeable, just like how difficult it is to find a soulmate. Because apart from the name, they wouldn't get any more information.
The only confirmed fact is that the mark vanishes if the soulmate dies. Few soulmate pairs have ever married throughout history. Nowadays, some people have even developed apps to help others find their elusive soulmate. The concept of a soulmate is no longer much of a secret to most people.
Jim knew Tony wouldn't reveal an exact location, but even a rough region—New York, the U.S., the Americas, China, or even all of Europe—would give them weeks of headlines.
Tony was silent for a few seconds. Jim grew nervous, hoping he hadn't overstepped and angered the superstar. But soon enough, Tony said, "I don't mind. I don't know his exact location, but I know for sure that he's asleep in a coffin somewhere."
The audience collectively sighed, and Tony nodded appreciatively. Jim let out a muffled gasp. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark."
"It's alright, it's been many years. I'm lucky. At least I saw him once as a child," Tony said, hiding clues within his words, like "a few years ago" and "as a child," giving the media something to speculate on. "Hey! How about you, Jimmy? Where's your mark? Mine's on my arm, near the bicep. I used to see it every time I showered, and honestly, it was kind of creepy. I'm glad it wasn't in a weird place. That would've been even creepier, right?"
"Definitely. Mine's in a strange spot, so I'd rather not say—considering some people might be enjoying their dinner when this airs." Tony knew he was lying, but continued to joke along, letting the show end in laughter.
------
Pepper turned off the TV and looked at Tony, who was sitting at the bar, drinking. The sound from the show had drowned out what Tony had been saying. "Tony, what did you just say?"
"Do you believe in soulmates?" Tony swirled the glass in his hand, then took a big gulp.
"Tony? I' m not sure I understand…"
"He' s not dead." Tony interrupted her. "His mark is still on my arm, faint like a stain that won' t come off no matter how much I scrub."
For the first time, Tony spoke the truth about the life or death of his soulmate. Pepper, knowing the full story, hesitated and asked, "Are you planning to tell people?"
"Of course not!" Tony was a bit agitated. The glass in his hand reflected his grip, which had turned his knuckles white. "It's not something to be proud of, Pepper. My soulmate is America's pride and joy, Captain America. He was the hero my old man worshipped, a man who disappeared before I was even born. Me, with an old man? If the media found out, wouldn't I be a laughingstock?"
"Tony, I know that's not really what's bothering you…" Pepper gave him a knowing look.
"Jarvis." Tony refilled his glass and downed it again. "Okay, Pepper, you're right. But I still need to get this mark removed. Damn it, it's too noticeable."
"You've already tried everything, Tony. You even cut it once, but it healed right back," Pepper said, her tone almost resigned. "There wasn't even a scar left."
"Soulmates—useless, except for driving you crazy."
"Tony, why are you so fixated on this? And why now?" Concern flashed across Pepper's face, making Tony want to stop joking around.
He lifted his right arm, rubbing the spot where the name was. "It's been stinging lately."
Pepper stood up in disbelief, her mouth opening as if to say something but no words came out. "But…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. There's no record of soulmate marks causing pain. I must be the first. Hey, I'm breaking new ground again!" Tony raised his glass in mock salute, though there was no alcohol left.
"This isn't a joke, Tony. I'll schedule a doctor for you tomorrow. I'll also push back your interviews and appearances, especially anything dangerous." Pepper's voice became serious.
"No, I'm fine, Pepper." Tony stood up, using his body to block Pepper's rising insistence. "Besides, it doesn't hurt that much."
Pepper still frowned at him, not backing down at all.
"You can go home, Pepper."
------
"Steve Rogers."
Tony stared at his profile, feeling a headache coming on.
The name on his arm had darkened slightly, shifting from a stain to something more intentional, like a tattoo.
"Old man......" Tony muttered. He didn't know why he disliked him so much, but he just did. He hated the soulmate system—the idea of having someone's name permanently etched on his arm for life irritated him to no end.
"So the pain means he's waking up? Cheers." Tony frowned, taking a sip of coffee, then closed the hologram, heading off to a high-end party to find someone to distract him from the frustration.
Nothing ever troubled him for long.
------
Tony made a dazzling entrance, the music swelling around him. After subduing Loki, he didn't look in Steve's direction. But to his surprise, Steve greeted him first, so Tony gave a half-hearted nod and dryly said, "Captain."
Tony's first impression of him wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The ridiculous uniform and cheap-looking helmet—if you could even call it a helmet—made him cringe. When Steve took it off, Tony saw that it was just a hat. Was S.H.I.E.L.D. really that broke?
Steve seemed to sense something and turned to look at him. Tony quickly averted his gaze, pretending to focus on Loki.
Their conversation wasn't particularly pleasant, but Tony took some satisfaction in seeing the discomfort on Steve's face. His right arm, however, kept throbbing, as if reminding him, "Hey! Be nicer to your soulmate!"
When someone burst into the cabin and knocked Steve aside, Tony's arm hurt even more. He immediately directed his pent-up anger toward the hammer-wielding intruder.
To his surprise, Steve followed him. Tony glanced at the sky, then at Steve's simple outfit, and finally at the shield that had left a mark on his armor's chest. He frowned under his mask.
As much as Tony didn't want to admit it, Steve was incredibly strong. That made things even worse, so on the return trip, he chose to banter with Thor instead of looking in Steve's direction.
One more thing Tony didn't want to admit: He liked watching Captain America's confused expressions. Dropping technical jargon and complex scientific terms just to enjoy the puzzled look on the blond hero's face became a little game for him.
And another thing—Steve was good-looking, the type Tony would actively pursue.
But Tony was certain Steve knew they were soulmates. That's why he kept his distance, resorting to sarcasm and mockery to send the message "Leave me alone." Yet when Steve cheerfully demonstrated that he understood the metaphorical language of the century, Tony rolled his eyes to hide the laughter bubbling inside. He only stopped when those blue eyes turned his way.
Who would've thought the stern, righteous Captain America could be called "adorable" sometimes?
------
"Banner, do you believe in soulmates?" Tony couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer, though he only tried for about two seconds.
"Uh… I've never gone looking for mine."
"What's your soulmate's name? I wouldn't mind using some of my resources to help you find them, since I'm a fan of yours."
"No, no need. Thank you, but I think it's better to just let things happen naturally." Banner smiled and politely declined Tony's obvious offer with ulterior motives.
"So have you…" Tony lowered his voice. "Have you ever felt anything from the mark? Like itching or pain?"
Banner finally looked up from the screen. "Pain? You…?" Banner wisely didn't finish the thought, coughing twice instead. "I haven't heard of marks causing pain, but soulmate marks are still something the scientific community hasn't fully figured out, so…" He gave Tony a knowing look. "But I have heard of people feeling a slight itch when they're very close to their soulmate. Though it seems to vary with each person's constitution. Everyone's experience is different."
Tony patted Banner's shoulder in thanks.
Banner quietly added, "Some say it's the mark reminding them not to miss their chance."
------
Tony and Steve worked together almost seamlessly, as long as you overlooked the fight they had before teaming up.
And if you ignored Coulson's death, it was almost perfect.
Tony could tell Steve was feeling down, and he was grieving too. But at least, like Steve, he wasn't the kind of fool to wallow in sadness.
As they exchanged words, Tony was surprised to find Steve was able to hand him the perfect connecting lines at just the right moments, keeping their conversation flowing smoothly. Tony outlined Loki's plan bit by bit. When he saw Steve's head tilt up as he followed along, Tony felt an unexpected happiness. For the first time, as Tony Stark, he felt like he was the only person in someone's eyes, not because he was a billionaire or Iron Man, but because he was just a smart, articulate, regular genius.
The stinging in his arm snapped him out of his reverie.
Steve was still looking up, waiting for Tony's next words. The conversation ended with Loki's destination—Stark Tower. Only then did Tony snap back to reality and curse under his breath as he walked down the steps to join Steve on the way back to the ship.
------
After launching the nuclear missile into space, Tony barely remembered what happened next. All he could recall were the holographic displays going black one by one, his body growing colder, and the overwhelming sensation of falling. Then, everything went dark.
Death didn't scare him. He only regretted that, in the end, he still felt so alone.
When he finally woke up and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was those blue eyes staring at him. He froze for a moment, his body instinctively gasping for air. His vision was blurry, but he kept his eyes wide open, fixed on Steve's. The stinging pain in his arm brought him back to his senses, even though his whole body hurt like hell. The pain in his arm was still the most noticeable.
"What happened? Don't tell me someone kissed me," he muttered, still looking in Steve's direction. Steve tilted his head up and calmly told him, "We won." Only then did Tony's muscles relax, and part of him wished Steve's next answer would be a "yes." God knows how much he wanted to kiss those lips.
Realizing what he was thinking, Tony panicked a bit. In the silence that followed, his mouth—perhaps for the first time—spoke before his brain could catch up. "Has your butt always been that perky?" he asked, pointing at Steve's rear.
Hulk immediately turned away, grunting as he breathed heavily. Thor, on the other hand, boomed, "What does his butt have to do with anything?"
"Uh… Stark?" Steve frowned at him, looking utterly confused.
"Call me Tony, Captain. And forget what I said. Anyone want some barbecue?" Tony gave his friends a thumbs up.
It seems like he wasn't so alone after all.
------
Everything went smoothly after that. Everything was under control, except for that barbecue.
The food was fantastic, but Tony didn't have the appetite for it.
Steve was sitting too close to him, causing his right arm to hurt so much he could barely lift it.
Annoyed, Tony ended the meal quickly and, as soon as he walked out of the restaurant, he swung his right arm forcefully.
"Is something wrong, Tony?" Steve asked, concerned by his gesture.
"Oh no, it's fine. Just stay a little farther away from me." Tony was back to his prickly self. Damn soulmate system, Tony cursed internally.
Steve raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were past the hostility."
"Yes, we are. It's just me," Tony rubbed his nose, "my poor choice of words. I'm not uncomfortable with you, Captain."
Steve gave him a long, deep look. "You've changed."
It was a statement, not a question. Tony rolled his eyes in his mind.
"Seems like the old man's insight is as sharp as ever."
"Sometimes, Tony, you act like a child."
"I don't think that's a bad thing."
Thor's head popped up between them. "Friends, let us not quarrel."
Tony pointed at Thor's head and said to Steve, "See? He's more like a child than I am."
Steve laughed, and Tony joined in. Thor, not knowing what they were laughing about, laughed too.
------
After the Avengers formed, Stark Tower became their primary residence, and Tony often found himself wandering into the training center—usually when Steve was there alone for extra sessions.
Natasha was the first to notice Tony's habit. As a little payback for Tony's earlier disregard, she offered to join Steve for his extra training sessions.
Sure enough, Tony started showing up later and later.
"Stark," Natasha called out when Tony entered one day.
"Call me Tony," Tony corrected automatically, then added, "Please."
"Un... whatever. Are you trying to into Steve?" Natasha wasn't one for beating around the bush.
"No."
"Bullshit. Do you want me to tell him? I wouldn't mind being the messenger."
"I thought you were born in Russia." (This is Tony making a reference to owl mail from Harry Potter, which is British. He's just messing around.)
"Since when does the playboy hesitate when it comes to pursuing someone?" Natasha smirked, clearly amused by Tony's rare hesitation.
"I'm not trying to get with him. I'm just… observing."
"Observing what? You've seen him in a tight suit before, has there anything else to obeserve?"
"Nat," Natasha raised her guard at Tony's sudden familiarity, "have you noticed whether he has a soulmate mark?"
"…Do you know you're being way too obvious?" Natasha wasn't about to cover for him.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
------
"So, he's really your soulmate?" Banner took a bite of the snack Tony handed him, declining a second offer.
"Mm-hmm," Tony mumbled through his own mouthful of snacks. "So, do you think I should go after him?"
"What?" Banner looked like he wasn't sure he'd heard right. "Of course, that's what most people dream of."
"But I just don't want to. I don't want to be dictated by anything, not even my own body. I don't want to go after him just because he's my soulmate or whatever. I want to go after him because I want to, not because of that damn mark. Damn it, my right arm still hurts."
"Tony," Banner cleared his throat.
"Sorry."
"Maybe you should follow your heart."
"But I already…" Tony glanced down at the glow coming from his chest.
"I think you know what I mean."
"Maybe." Tony set the snack bag down and walked out of the lab.
"Just let it happen naturally," Banner said, popping another handful of snacks into his mouth.
------
"Captain?" Tony called out when he reached the training center and didn't hear the usual sounds of sparring. He knocked on the door, feeling a bit uncertain. If Pepper saw him like this, she'd think he was being impersonated.
He didn't see Steve in the usual spot by the punching bags, so he called again.
"Captain?"
"Tony? Is that you?" Steve's voice came from the one corner of the room that had light. Tony walked over.
He was curious about what Steve was doing. When he got closer, he found Steve hurriedly gathering some papers. Tony was quick enough to grab one and unfold it.
It was a drawing—just simple pencil lines, but Tony could tell it was drawn very well. It was of Tony's "heart."
"Funny, you happened to grab the one that belongs to you." Steve looked embarrassed as he stood up, trying to take the drawing back, but Tony dodged him.
"Why are you drawing this?" Tony asked, even though he had once hated his heart, as it was a reminder that he didn't have a real one.
"Uh… because I thought it was beautiful."
The elderly man was terrible at lying, so he told the truth.
Tony resisted the urge to tear up. "Huh, I thought you'd go for a suit of armor or a helmet or something. That's the symbol of Iron Man, after all."
"But I drew Tony Stark, and that's the essence of Iron Man, isn't it?"
"Yeah, thanks. Uh… are you good at drawing?" Tony sniffed, looking for any excuse to change the subject.
"Before I joined the army, I was an illustrator." Steve's expression softened as he recalled the past. "I used to paint on the streets, watching people rush by. Their smiles made the paper more vibrant. I'd watch the sunrise and sunset, and sometimes I'd greet the moon alongside a stray dog that happened to sit by my feet…" Steve trailed off, his mind drifting back.
"Steve?" Tony had been entranced by the scene Steve was painting with his words, but the sudden silence made him call out softly, pulling Steve out of his memories.
"…Until the war started. The war destroyed so much, Tony. War destroyed so much." Steve lowered his gaze, his eyes still lingering on memories from long ago.
Tony didn't say anything, just stayed by his side.
"You know, I grew up hearing stories about you. My father used to talk about you, too. Your heroic deeds were enough to fill an entire childhood. The only things that accompanied me back then, aside from a few scientific instruments, were stories about you."
"It was an honor, Tony."
"Don't give me that useless polite talk," Tony frowned. "They told me over and over that you were dead, even though I stubbornly argued that the mark had only faded, not disappeared—that you were still out there, just missing, waiting for someone to find you."
"Wait, what?"
"Eventually, I stopped giving myself hope. My parents' death took everything from me, and during that time, the only thing left in my life was that mark—your name. Later, even that mark faded from my mind.
I stopped expecting anything. My mind became filled with only myself. Only I could give myself hope. Only I could give myself everything. Only I could keep supporting myself.
Now, you know me. Do you wanna say something?"
"Tony, I…"
"Please, don't say anything."
Tony leaned in, like a nervous teenager leaning in for a first kiss. When their lips finally met, Tony let out a soft sigh. He had been right.
Just pressing their lips together wasn't enough for Tony. He boldly pushed further—first lips, then teeth, finally tongue. He let himself fully take over Steve's mouth. The sound of their mingling breaths turned Steve's ears as red as they could get. Tony wasn't going to stop now, at least not yet.
He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue across Steve's palate.
Steve trembled slightly and grabbed Tony's arm, the sharp pain in Tony's arm stopping him in his tracks.
"Tony, Tony," Steve gasped for breath, sounding more exhausted than after three hours of training. "Wait, I… I need…"
Tony followed Steve's gaze downward and then grinned, flashing his teeth. "Looks like our old man isn't that old after all."
"Have you been feeling any pain lately, Captain? Maybe it's because your soulmate is nearby." Tony whispered teasingly in Steve's ear, his warm breath making the redness on Steve's ears even more pronounced.
"I don't… I mean, Tony, I…" Steve stammered, flustered like a child trying to speak for the first time.
"You don't know?" Tony paused his wandering hands, confused.
"What? Soulmate? I don't know." Steve looked at him with innocent confusion. "I've never seen anyone's name on me."
Tony, competitive as ever, felt a pang of jealousy toward Steve's body. He didn't believe Steve didn't have his name somewhere on him, so he looked Steve over thoroughly and even turned him around.
"Tony?" Steve was starting to feel a bit embarrassed under Tony's scrutiny and tried to protest.
"Ah-ha! Found it! It's on your perky butt!" Tony exclaimed triumphantly like a child winning a game, his thumb tracing over the mark before leaning down to kiss it. "You seriously never felt any pain?"
Steve seemed to think for a moment before answering seriously, "Never."
"Huh, that's not fair. My right arm still hurts." Tony extended his arm toward Steve, showing him the mark. Steve, imitating Tony, leaned down and kissed the mark.
"Tony, sometimes you really are like a child."
Tony pulled his arm back and, with a mischievous grin, bit down on the soulmate mark on Steve's rear.
"Kids wouldn't do what I'm about to do next…"
------
"So, this is the bond of soulmates?" Barton mused, watching the two of them walk around together all the time. "Are you sure they argued for an hour the first time they met?"
"That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but yeah, they were definitely at each other's throats back then," Natasha said with a smirk.
"So the soulmate system worked its magic?"
"I wouldn't say that," Natasha replied. "For the two of them, the soulmate system was just a catalyst, not the decisive factor. It's more like…" Banner approached mid-conversation.
"Okay, don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. Half of what you're saying goes over my head," Barton cut off Banner's explanation before it got too technical. "So they…"
"Just wish them well."