Tony
Tony has always thought the idea of soulmates was bullshit.
Like, how is some stupid mark going to dictate who you love? Isn’t love based off of your feelings? His parents had had a (relatively) happy marriage, and their soulmarks didn’t match.
He had always thought this, until Afghanistan. He had spent all of his time making that suit, all in an immense amount a pain. He had pitied whoever shared his mark, because they obviously must be in the same amount, if not more pain than he was.
Finally, after three months, he escaped, and was able to return back home. Pepper and Rhodes were so happy to have him back, and Tony was excited to see them!
But, for once he couldn’t stop thinking about his soulmate, whoever they were. Did they resent him, for putting them through that pain? Did they want to find them? He looked at the 3000 on his arm, for the first time without disgust, but with curiosity, and, hope.
Maybe having a soulmate isn’t the worst thing.
He wondered what they were like. What gender? Did they have a job, if so, what was it? What did they look like? What were their passions?
He continued on, the mark crossing his mind ever so often. He was only 25, so he had plenty of time to find whoever this was. And he ran a multi- billion dollar company, he didn’t have the time to sit around and think about the person who shared his mark. They could be half- way across the world.
Apparently, he had been acting differently, not concealing his thoughts as well as he had hoped (And He has always thought he had a good poker face.), because Pepper came in one afternoon with her “We need to talk face” on.
“Hey Tony.” She said, sitting on the couch in his office.
“Alright, what’s up?” Tony asked suspiciously.
“Nothing in particular..” She tried, but Tony wasn’t easily fooled.
“Yep, definitely something wrong. Did I do something? Forget a meeting, Miss a deadline?”
“No! No, you’re fine. You just seem..” Pepper paused, to think of what to say. “Different? Maybe more reserved? You’re always in deep thought. Anything you want to talk about?” Her tone wasn’t pushy, but seemed inviting.
“Alright, Pep. I guess I’ve been putting..a little more thought into this mark on my arm.” He said, pulling up his sleeve and gesturing to the 3000. “Since Afghanistan. I guess it just put things into perspective, in a way. Does that sound dumb?”
“No..I’m not surprised. It probably made you realize how..human you really are.”
“I guess that’s true.” He sighed and stood up. “But, I don’t have the time to dwell on it. Do we have anything big coming up?” He put his business face on.
“Let’s see, you have three meetings tomorrow, two the next day..oh! You have that charity dinner on Thursday at eight, don’t forget.”
“Alright. I should be getting home, thanks Pep.”
“Of course, anything for my best friend.” She smiled.
“I’m touched.”