When we got to the tower I hesitated. Looking out of the window seeing the daunting building I wondered how this would go. Bruce, Steve, and Natasha are the only ones that know what this is about and they were okay with Bucky but there's no telling how everyone else will react.
"It'll be okay." Natasha said from the drivers seat.
I took a deep breath. "Being with you guys has been a dream. Getting shot and brain washed was a nightmare. I just don't see where I fit in. Soulmates of not I-" I cut myself off butting my lip.
"When I was eleven my sister and I got separated. She was taken into the red room and I was forced into being an assassin. Clint saved me years later and brought me here to be a shield agent. I went back and killed the man responsible dismantling the red room but I never found my sister." I took her hand and watched as she drew comfort from me to continue. "My point is There is no fitting in. Being a part of this life isn't about what you're supposed to do it's about doing what you think is right and doing to the best of your ability."
"Do you- do you like the whole soulmate thing? Is it real or are we all just going insane?"
"I think it's real. I think we would've found you even if we didn't have that ocean tattoo."
"I'm sorry about your sister."
"We have what we have when we have it."
I chuckled at that one and squeezed her hand before we both got out of the car and made our way into the tower. Time to face the music.
Everyone was there.
Tony and Bruce were sitting on the couch talking to Peter about something while Clint Steve and Thor were standing next to the floor length window and talking. Natasha and I just stood there at the entrance for a minute I could tell that she was waiting for me to make the first move it I didn't and no one noticed that we were here.
I watched them as they interacted Tony and Bruce looked like dads talking to their kid and the three by the window looked like friends catching up. But the atmosphere had a light feel to it so knowing what could potentially happen made me feel guilty. I didn't want to be the cause of this feeling going away. I didn't even want to interrupt. They all just looked so calm.
That feeling of interrupting went away though as I heard my name in a their conversations. Making me smile.
"I know we're late but you had to start eating without us?" I said raising an eyebrow at the open pizza box that sat on the coffee table.
"Sorry A. But hey! You're here." Peter said throwing his pizza on his plate and running up to me and hugging me. His enthusiasm is heart warming but his hug made me wince as he rubbed against my still healing stomach. "You're hurt? Are you okay?" His eyes searched from the wound and I lifted my shirt for him to see.
"I got shot, but I'm okay Bruce stitched me up. But at least I'm out of my cast." I tried to joke about it but he wasn't having it he frowned and hugged me again just more gentle this time. Then he helped me to the couch sitting me down next to Bruce. Not that I needed help.
"Who shot you? What happened? It's only been three days since I last saw you but I feel like I missed so much."
I looked around and saw that everyone had gathered and were all paying attention. Steve and Natasha looking guilty, Tony and Bruce knowingly watching, and thor and Clint looking angry. "I thought you three knew. Natasha told me about the group chat."
"Well it seems they forgot to mention a few things." Clint said pointedly looking at the four that already knew.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be it wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, Ariel, that one was on us. We need to communicate better."
"So do I. I should've called or something. I will next time." I said nodding to myself making a mental note to communicate more. "Umm while we're on the topic of communication I wanted to let you all know that I- Uh-I have another mate."
"What!?" Peter practically yelled making me jump.
"Do I have to repeat it?"
"His name is Bucky. The winter soldier." Steve said crossing his arms.
"What?" Tony and Clint asked angry.
"That guy is a national terrorist." Tony said getting to his feet and pacing. "No way. No."
"You can't just say no to this." Then they stared arguing only thor and Peter were quiet. I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them trying to remind myself that I wasn't at home and I wasn't in danger.
Peter sighed heavily and wrapped me up in his arms and thor came to my other side and got close to us practically shielding us from the rest of the room. "Just let them hash it out, A, it'll be okay."
"Lady Ava," thor said making me peek out setting my chin on my knees. "I hope you are well. Better than you look."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I said shakily. "Distract me. How's Asgard?"
"Asgard is well. The realms are at peace, and the coronation ceremony is being arranged. Father is ready to step down from the throne. But... I don't burn for the throne like I do for you."
"Another thing we have to talk about." I whispered. Looking deep into Thor's eyes. I didn't want him to give anything up for me and I knew it'd be hard for me to stand by his side in Asgard as Queen but I can see how it'd work especially with his and the warriors three's support.
While Natasha took down shield and outed the Ponzi scheme to the public, thor was in Asgard, I was here with Tony and Bruce and the occasional Peter and Clint visits. Thankfully I was able to get some school work done, and I talked to my swim coach about the situation. The conversation went surprisingly well and I have full support in taking the time to get better. The week had been surprisingly relaxing but I still worried about my soulmates safety and the whole situation with my newest mate.
"She doesn't need another assassin in her life," Tony yelled making me flinch in peters arms. "Look where she is. She's been threw hell recently and now you wanna add an unstable terrorist? Great idea, Cap."
"It's not my choice or anybody else's. He's apart of this whether we like it or not."
"He doesn't have to be."
"What?" I whispered looking up at Peter when he just shrugged I looked at Tony who's gone quiet. "What did you mean just now?" I squeezed Peter's arm and shook out of his grip to stand on my own. "He's one of my mates. As far as I know and everyone else in the world knows there's no changing the fact." He looked down at his shoes which surprised me. "Or not? What do you know."
"Now's not really the time, Ariel."
"No, you're implying there's a way around the bond. Something no one has ever been able to do. What is it?"
Tony's lips pressed together but Bruce spoke up for him. "We've been researching... and there's a small chance that there is something one can do to evade the bond."
That made everyone go crazy again and this time Thor and Peter joined in but Tony and I just kept staring into each others eyes. Words like ridiculous and impossible were being thrown around but all I could wonder is why he was looking into this in the first place. I shook my head and found my bag next to the elevator. When the doors opened the arguments stoped and everyone was looking at me.
I opened my mouth to say something but quickly shut it once again. I didn't know what to say at this point so I just shook my head again and stepped into the elevator watching the doors close putting even more distance between us than ever.
Natasha's words from earlier flashed in my head making me laugh sadly to myself I suppose we really do have what we have when we have it and when it's time to let it go....
When I got out of the tower I took a deep breath for the first time since I left, and started to walk not really wanting to go back to campus right now and not wanting to go back to ask for a ride. So there I was walking the streets of New York alone for the first time since I arrived.
I don't know why I did what I did next, but there was no going back after the first dial tone. "Fuck,what?" The slurred gruff voice came threw the phone making me flinch.
"I-" when I finally got the courage to speak I got cut off.
"Don't think I don't know where you've been, you little shit. You think you can just decide to leave me? Well you can't. I'm coming for you and when I find you you'll wish you never tried to leave." My breathing increased and I felt the shakes begin just like old times. I sucked in a breath and quickly took the phone a away from my ear and hung up on him turning it all the way off.
I found an alley and slumped down on the dirty ground knowing that my legs would give out any minute. After a moment of staring at the opposite wall I started to laugh in a broken sad way while wiping at my wet cheeks. He was right. The first night he got drunk in front of me he yelled at me about how soulmates are just the closest people to you who have the most power to hurt you. He was right.
I let them get close. We built our bond together and now... they want out. It'd be easier for them Tony, Thor, Steve, Peter, Clint, and Natasha. Their lives would all be so much easier without me. They've been looking for a way out of the bond. He wants out. He wants to get away from me and I always knew that'd happen. I expected it but when it's really happening... I just never knew how much it would truly hurt.
I sat there for a while not paying anything any mind as I slowly became numb. Finally though as the sun went all the way down and the lights brightened around me I had to get up. I stood and looked around at the many people walking around and decided that I should call a cab. I turned my phone back on and just as I did a call came through. It was Clint. I bit my lip and watched it ring and ring until it finally stoped and I thought he'd give up but he called again and I watched it ring for a while and just as it was about to send him to voicemail again I hit the green button.
I didn't speak as I put the phone up to my ear but I knew he knew I had answered. "Hey," he whispered and I could even hear a smile in his voice. "Baby, I can only imagine what you're thinking right now but Tony was wrong to even look into breaking the bond. We don't want that- at least I know I don't." He took a deep breath when I didn't say anything in response. "Please say something."
"If any of you want out then why didn't you just say so? Why hide it?"
"I don't want out. Tony doesn't want out. No one does. He's just scared for you. We all are but he shouldn't have gone that far." I bit my lip as more tears escaped down my cheeks. "Can you tell me where you are so I can come pick you up?"
"No- I" I choked on a sob
"Baby, I need you to take some deep breaths."
"I need to go."
"No, Ava, don't hang up-" but I didn't listen I hung up and put my phone away. I looked around and saw a few taxis and waved my hands until one finally stoped. I got in and instructed them to take me back to campus and watched the city blur passed as they drove in silence.