"I know what you're trying to do."
"Ohh, you do ? You need to be more specific, do you refer to my attempt to get you to take some rest, or me staring at this manuscript willing myself not to throw it across the room, or -" he didn't get to finish his sentence because Tony butted in.
"Very funny, smart guy. You know what I'm talking about." he didn't sound annoyed or angry in fact he could barely hide the worry in his voice, but Stephen wasn't planning to be the one who would start the conversation, because even though he didn't show it he was afraid of what it might bring.
"Stephen…"
"Tony…" he mirrored his tone only to get rewarded with an amused huff.
"You know, don't you ?"
"I know a lot of things Tony, you need to be more specific, unfortunately there are things that are beyond my interest to learn, so I can't answer your question."
This time Tony rolled his eyes, but the glint in his eyes confirmed to him that he wasn't going to let the conversation slide this time, he was going to try to get out as much as he could from him. The worst or best thing was that Stephen would let him, because he loved him, because Tony had become an inseparable part of him, because he knew him like no one else did, because Tony was the closest thing to having a soulmate and he didn't look forward to losing that.
This conversation was long overdue, simply because Tony was extremely perceptive when it came to Stephen, but he was also quite sensible, so the fact that he didn't try to pull the truth out of him sooner was a miracle indeed. Still he wasn't going to start.
Tony seemed to have read his thought process from his expression because in an instant he was by his side and his expression softened.
"You know you can tell me everything right ? I can be an ass at times, but I'm not an idiot. I'm a genius and I know that something is bothering you. Also I've noticed that you have been trying to build a bridge between me and Rogers these past two months."
Stephen purposely ignored the whole building bridge thing and how it caused his heart to clench painfully in his chest.
"Hey...it's alright." Tony interpreted his silence as a need for comfort, that's why he gently took one of his hands and raised his gaze to meet his eyes.
"Please, Stephen...I want...no, I need to know. Is it something I did ? Do you want to take a break from me ? Have I...am I difficult ? " the uncertainty and slight tremble in his voice was what got through him and pushed him to act.
He pulled Tony to sit on the couch next to him and reached with his free hand to caress his face before stilling himself for what would be one of the most difficult conversations in his life.
"Never. You're probably the best thing that has happened to me."
"Probably?" He joked.
"Hush...you know what I mean and even death would have a hard time to make me leave you, so don't even think about it. I just…"
"You found out, didn't you ? That Steve is my soulmate." Knowing that didn't sting any less when it came from Tony, still he nodded in answer before he continued.
"Yes, I know and I know what you two have been through, you told me yourself...but now when there's no imminent threat to the world when the avengers are slowly, but steadily mending their wounds...I can see it and it's hard."
"See what ?"
"Your soulmate connection, like you're two sides of the same coin, the pull between you, I can almost hear it straining, desperately trying to bring you together…"
"No. I don't care...I don't want him." Tony interrupted him with sharpness in his voice.
Stephen refused to acknowledge it and stubbornly continued pouring his heart out.
"Having a soulmate is rare, finding them almost impossible, people long for this connection, for the feeling of belonging...it's selfish for me to keep you from it." He was painfully aware of how it sounded, which was why he immediately rushed to calm him when Tony started panicking.
"What are you trying to say? I'm not...I want you, you idiot! Couldn't care less about Rogers. Can't you see that ?"
"I know...I know. It just...at times…" he took a deep breath, pulled his hand back and made an offer trying to sound as if his heart wasn't breaking.
" I don't mind...sharing you. I can see how he sees you, you have a long history behind you, I don't want to take it from you, the feeling of holding your soulmate close. What I'm trying to say is…if you want to you can have me and him both. No need to suffer being apart from your soulmate." he hadn't realized that his gaze was turned towards their hands, so when he lifted his head to meet Tony's eyes, his breath caught in his throat.
Tony wasn't mad, there were a few emotions fighting in the depths of his eyes, but what outshone them was the love.
"Tony ?"
"You self-sacrificing idiot. What ? You thought that if I'm talking to Rogers I want him back ? That I would keep you both, you because you love me, him because he's my soulmate? Screw the universe! Screw the whole soulmate shit that ruins people's lives! Screw Rogers! In fact, don't do that." He lifted his hands and reached forward to hold Stephen's face, his thumbs rubbing circles on his cheeks.
"I chose you. There's no one else, no stupid soulmate connection would make me change my mind...I'm yours Stephen and I know you...you do mind sharing, you can barely stand to look at him when I'm around. I choose you and I'll choose you as many times as you need before you accept the fact that I love you and that I'm not going to leave you until you want me to. Do you ? Do you want me to leave ?"
"Never. You're right, but for you I'm willing to do a lot Tony…"
"You won't have to do anything you don't want to. Rogers is in the past and he will stay there forever, I don't need a soulmate when I have you, you're all I want and need. Please...please believe me." he was pleading, his eyes shining with unshed tears, yet his voice remained steady and strong, reassuring.
"I do." he whispered before he bent forward to press their foreheads together, finally letting go of that tension in his body.
They stayed like that, breathing each other’s air, before Tony caught his lips in a fierce kiss and he kept kissing him until every thought on his mind got replaced by his presence and love.
"I love you...I choose you...you and only you." Was whispered between kisses and Stephen greedily drank those words until he was overflowing with love.
When they finally pulled back he pulled Tony into his arms and held him, mentally thanking the universe for the gift of love.
That lasted a few moments less than he intended because Tony's lack of patience kicked in and he was pulling Stephen towards their bedroom, his lips pressing urgent kisses on Stephen's neck.
That night Tony did his best to reassure him of his love and devotion that by the time he finished there was no more doubt left in his heart, he simply held Tony close, promised him to never leave his side and drifted off to sleep.