Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or any of its characters and lines from the movie used in this story. What is written here is for entertainment purposes only. I do not make any profits from it.
"You received your mark?" asked Lord Antony Stark, suddenly less interested in the scantily clad woman in front of him and more interested in his friend's narration.
Antony, or Tony, had spent a huge portion of his life researching about soulmarks. Having none himself, he has always been interested in other people's marks and how they appear.
"Right in the midst of battle," said Sir James Rhodes. "I felt it engrave itself upon my skin. It was one hell of a distraction. If it wasn't for your armor, Tony, I would have been shot like game."
Tony proudly smirked. Iron Hill's weapons and armor were the finest and most sought after weaponry.
"Well? Was it painful?" Tony had heard it said that every person felt the appearance of their marks differently.
"The bastard thought he could get me at my side, but the chainmail is strong—"
Tony rolled his eyes. "I meant the mark, Rhodes." His friend did enjoy a good battle tale.
"Ah. Not terribly so. It was more a fluttering annoyance than a searing pain." Sir Rhodes rubbed his arm in recollection. "I wonder if my soulmate felt similarly when the mark appeared."
"Have you visited the Soulmark Directory?"
Tony has never stepped foot in the small house that contained inside its walls the Directory of Marks.
It is said that whenever a person receives his or her mark, the insignia will appear in the Directory. Only the Director of Souls, appointed by the Gods themselves, can reveal the identity of the soulmate and arrange a meeting between pairs.
"Haven't had the time. Tomorrow perhaps."
Tony grew unusually quiet. There was one more question left for him to ask, but even his dear friend could not give him the answer.
Sir Rhodes knew what the Lord of the Iron Hill was thinking and comfortingly said, "Oh, don't fret, Tony. You'll get your mark soon enough. At the very least you can continue to enjoy the company of these wonderful ladies."
Tony's eyes darted to the women in the establishment and admitted that being unmarked did have its benefits. He at least was allowed a little promiscuity, unlike Rhodes who was now untouchable due to his being marked.
"But you get to Complete," replied Tony. "No matter how many women I dally around with, I can't lay with them in the fullest sense of the word."
Completion was another matter exclusive only to a pair of soulmates. Completing with somebody who wasn't one's soulmate was considered a grave sin, one that even the so-called Merchant of Death was not willing to commit lest he anger the Gods.
"Ah yes. Finally, if I do say so myself," said Rhodes with a grin. "All the stories have rather made me quite curious as to how Completion will be like."
A hand snakes its way around Tony's shoulders and he looks up to find Lila, one of his favorite women, looking down at him with a tempting smile.
"I hear congratulations are in order, Sir Rhodes," said Lila, awarding the soldier a genuine smile. "Let Lord Stark and I celebrate in your name."
Tony looked at Rhodes who only laughed and waved him away.
"By your leave, Sir Rhodes," Tony bowed dramatically before being led away by the lady.
Tony was more than grateful for the temporary distraction Lila offered, even if it wasn't Completion.
As happy as Tony was for his friend, he could not help but be a tad envious of James Rhodes and his marked state, and thus would rather have their time cut short that evening.
From all the marked individuals that Tony has met, everyone attested that finding their soulmate changed their lives, it ushered in a new world—a gift from the Gods.
And Tony did not appreciate the fact that he who prided himself in creating the newest armor, in heralding revolutionary weapons, in being the most advanced among his peers, would likely be the last to receive the mark, would likely remain unchanged.
No, he did not like being left behind at all.
…
Iron Hill welcomed its master back late in the night.
After Mister Jarvis had ushered his lord over to the bathing chamber and sent him promptly to bed, Tony had fallen deeply asleep dreaming of thunder and an explosion of lightning.
It struck him in his dreams and a searing pain in his chest awoke Tony. He clutched at his heart only to bring his hands away.
His chest burned to touch.
Tony tossed his nightshirt aside, aiming to locate the problem, and what he saw stole his breath away.
Right in the center of his chest was his soulmark, blazing red, almost as if it had been left on fire.
The mark wasn't the intricate ornate designs that many had boasted their marks to be. Tony's mark was rather simple: a lone leaf with specks of color peppered all over it.
He brought a finger over it again and lightly tapped the mark.
It burned but not too painfully. Tony reckoned it would cool given a few minutes.
Were soulmarks meant to be this raw, he wondered. Rhodey said his mark was more annoying than painful.
The Lord of Iron Hill's thoughts flew to his soulmate. Did she have the same dreams he did? Was she feeling the exact same pain, the same discomfort? Did she awaken just as Tony did? Where was she? Who was she?
Tony immediately got out of bed, the thought of his soulmate making him momentarily forget any discomfort. He rang the bell for his valet and it wasn't too long before Mister Jarvis came.
"Jarvis, prepare my horse!" said Tony, buttoning a new shirt and tucking it inside his breeches. "I am to the Directory. It's come! It's arrived! My mark!"
The valet made no move to leave. "The Directory is not yet open until the sun has completely risen, sir. May I advise you to wait until noon?"
Tony glanced out his window and noted that night still engulfed his lands. But he barely gave it a second thought as he hobbled on one foot, trying to get his other foot in his boot.
"I am determined to meet my soulmate, Jarvis. The sun won't stop a determined man the likes of me from meeting her."
"Your soulmate could be a man, sir. Let us keep your options open."
"It's a woman, Jarvis. I can feel it." Tony let his valet help him into his coat. "And I already have a name for her… at least until I discover who she is."
"And what name have you bestowed, sir?" asked Mister Jarvis.
"Pepper."
The valet raised a brow. "As in the spice, sir?"
"Yes!" Tony grinned. "Exactly like the spice."
"Do I want to know why you named your soulmate after spice, sir?"
"Because the mark it—ugh, I can't show you the mark at the moment but believe me when I say that my chest almost looks as if its been spattered with pepper." Tony chuckled at the description.
"What a delicious sight, sir," said the valet dryly.
"Be happy for me, man!" said Tony, grabbing his valet and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I am marked at last!"
He flew down the steps, adjusting his coat as he did so.
Jarvis followed behind him, holding up a lantern.
They walked to the stables.
"Expect me back by noon, Jarvis," instructed Lord Stark, saddling his horse.
"Shall I tell the cook to prepare for two, sir?"
Tony grinned. "Now, don't get too ahead of yourself. The Director hasn't even set a meeting with the lady."
With a buck of his knees, the horse along with its rider, galloped to town.
Iron Hill was located a mile away from the nearest Soulmark Directory. Tony calculated he would reach it by the time the sun was up.
He spurned his horse to go faster, passing by empty roads and unlit houses whose occupants have yet to awaken.
Tony finally exited the border of his lands and his heart thundered in anticipation, in sync to the thump of his stallion's hooves.
He couldn't help but feel a bit relieved to finally receive his mark. He thought the Gods would never grant him one.
He feared it would be one of life's secrets he would never be privy to.
But he feared no longer.
The burning sensation in his chest had died down and all Tony felt was his soulmark pulsing, and—
Fwip!
The stallion let out a pained neigh as an arrow imbedded itself on its hind legs. It stumbled to the ground as its legs tangled together. Lord Stark fell, his own leg trapped under the weight of his horse.
The horse made a distressed sound, neighing for its master.
Tony ran a hand over the animal, partly an attempt to calm him and partly to check if he could pull his leg out.
Thwak!
Another arrow struck the horse, permanently silencing him.
Tony looked around and swore. A group of bandits were heading towards him.
Tony cursed his own stupidity. In his haste, he had forgotten his revolver as well as the presence of the Ten Rings, bandits who plagued the roads when darkness claimed the day.
Tony should've taken better care. What worth was his soulmark, having a soulmate, if he was to die before he ever reached the Directory?
A bandit reached him, leering at Tony under a masked gaze. His eyes inspected Tony, his face, and his clothes.
Tony wasn't sure he'd make it to the Directory by noon.
…
Virginia was not aware she was screaming when her father woke her up.
"Are you alright, Ginny?" Mr. Potts asked for the second time, the lone candle in the room casting a soft glow on his worried features. Behind him, Virginia's maid Nancy hovered worriedly.
Virginia shook her head, more to calm herself than as an answer to the question. She had the strangest dream with lightning and thunder. It felt almost real.
She took a deep breath and then settled a hand over her wildly beating chest. But as soon as she did so, she hissed in pain.
"What is it?" asked Mr. Potts.
Virginia untied the front laces of her nightgown and opened it wide enough to look at the center of her chest. Glowing in red was some kind of mark, a triangle enclosed in a circle.
Nancy's eyes widened and she uttered her felicitations to her mistress. Then she hastened down to the kitchens to get Virginia some morning tea.
"You'll be off to the Directory soon, Miss," she said. "Best to be wide awake for that."
The Directory.
Yes, Virginia thought. She was now marked. She'll need to go see the Director soon.
The thought did not give the same amount of excitement it did her maid. Instead, Virginia felt a dread settle in the bottom of her stomach.
The coming of her soulmark meant only one thing: the disappearance of her freedom.
No more working for the family business.
No more managing the business' accounts.
No more morning walks.
Virginia's head whipped up to look at her father who remained standing and quiet.
"Papa, do I have to go to the Directory today?" she asked, barely able to keep the panic in her voice at bay.
Mr. Potts sighed and sat himself down on the side of Virginia's bed. He knew this day would come, that one day he would have to bring his only daughter to meet her soulmate, and she would be taken from him.
He wished the late Mrs. Potts were here to guide her, guide him.
"You'll have to at one point, my dear. No use denying that mark. And Nancy's seen it. Word will spread around the house that you're marked and if you don't see the Director, people will ask questions."
"Please, Papa," blurted Virginia pleadingly. "Give me time to pass over the accounts, to prepare the steward, to… say goodbye."
Mr. Potts' eyes softened and he took his daughter's hand to kiss it. "Of course."
He cupped her cheek. "I will not part from you, dear Ginny, if the Gods give you anything less than you deserve."
Virginia smiled. Ever since her mother died it has just been her and her father. Now… I have to make room for my soulmate, she thought bitterly.
Well, if her days were numbered, she might as well make the most of it.
…
Virginia basked in the pre-dawn's atmosphere. The smell of dew on the grass and the flowers spurned her in her walk, motivating her to reach her destination so as not to miss the morning's sunrise.
A few paces behind, the footman huffed after her. A large and muscular man, Happy did not profess the same enjoyment in early morning walks as Virginia did.
In fact, he detested it. But he doted on Miss Potts and would see that no harm came to her and thus accompanied her day after day.
What irked him was her insistence to leave the carriage behind and simply walk to the border of Iron Hill where she boasted the best sunrise.
"Come quick, Happy!" urged Virginia and Happy doubled his efforts. His lady was particularly energetic this morning and had left the house far earlier than usual.
Miss Potts was near the border when she gave a strangled cry for Happy and dropped to her knees behind a huge oak tree.
Happy drew on what energy he had left and quickly ran, finding Miss Potts kneeling beside an unconscious man. He had been beaten by the looks of it. There was an open wound on his leg and a gash on his forehead. His white turned dirt-brown dress shirt was beyond saving.
A trail of blood a few paces away told them both that the man had dragged himself over to the tree for protection.
"Bandits," concluded Happy.
The Ten Rings never killed any of their victims, but they did leave them behind in questionable conditions.
Virginia removed her morning shawl, wrapping it all over the man's leg. Finding the man had brought all thoughts of her soulmate flying out of her mind.
She placed a hand over the man's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. "He breathes still. Quick. Let us get him back to the house."
Happy frowned. "Is it wise to move him? What if we worsen his condition, what if his leg falls off?"
Virginia gave Happy a look. "If it does, I'll take full responsibility for it."
Happy sighed and easily lifted the man, slinging him over his shoulder while his mistress hurried beside him. Not for the first time did Happy regret leaving the carriage behind.
"When we get back I want you to bring him to the guest bedroom, call for Doctor Banner, and then tell my father what happened."
Happy grunted his assent.
Virginia spared the unconscious man another glance. When she walked out of the house this morning, she was determined to conduct her day like she would any other. But it seemed that aside from granting her a soulmark, the Gods had something else planned for her.
A/N: Comments would be lovely.