A/N: Hello all, this is my second story attempted in the MCU. Obviously I own nothing that you recognize. Beth and all OCs are mine however. This is a polyamory fic so if that isn't your cup of tea, please consider before continuing on. I'm also trying my hand at the soulmate/soul-mark universe I've read a few stories in b/c it fascinates me. Canon compliant up to CA:WS. AU in that Bucky was found prior to CA:CW and integrated into the Avengers. Please read and review. I haven't really written anything seriously for a few years now and I know there's things I've missed, strings I've left dangling, but I'm so happy to finally have a Muse who's sticking around this time I just have to get it out while She's still around. Any constructive criticism is welcome. Thanks for reading!
The last thing Steve expected to see while out training in the Canadian woods with Bucky and Tony was the ground reshaping itself underneath their feet.
They'd been out training in small groups for a week after their last mission had gone less than smoothly. Bucky didn't have the same well practiced integration with the rest of the team and tended to 'go rogue' as Natasha put it.
Steve and Bucky were paired up trying to take down Tony, who had full use of his suit. As Steve ran, he mentally tried to find an explanation for the terrain changes. The area Tony had chosen wasn't anywhere near an earthquake fault line or boggy area. This instability - it was simply… bizarre.
As the ground shifted and changed, Steve struggled to keep his footing. Bucky seemed to be having the same issue.
"Hey, Stark, we've got a problem. Terrain's changing on us." Bucky's voice was labored with his breathing as he ran, trying to get to stable ground.
"Yeah, I know. I'm having my own problems with it." Tony's voice came over the comm in Steve's ear and Steve could tell by his tone that Stark was frustrated with something.
"What's going on Tony? Where are you at - " Steve was jerked to a stop as the ground opened up underneath him and he fell three feet down into a hole in the earth. Whipping his head to the right, he saw Bucky in a similar predicament. Placing his hands on the sides of the hole, Steve attempted to push himself up but the ground, which had previously been malleable and motile, had suddenly solidified - rendering him completely immobile from the waist down.
Looking up to the trees, his mouth fell open in shock.
"Uh guys, anyone notice the trees are alive?! Er- well, more so than normal?!" Tony was suspended 30 feet in the air, struggling against thick vines that had wrapped around him and was attempting to sear them off with all the firepower he could use without injuring Steve or Bucky who were still well within range but more and more of the thick, rope-like vines wrapped around his arms and legs.
Steve continued to struggle until he felt his soul-mark begin to warm underneath his suit and he looked wildly over to Bucky, whose own eyes had popped wide at the sudden sensation on his own chest. With shaking hands, Steve pulled down the top part of his suit and looked suddenly on the vibrant green knots and scroll work that formed a triquetra over and around his soul-mark's own half circle and Bucky's half circle.
"Bucky?" Steve's voice shook. He and Bucky had known they were missing someone who would complete their soulmate bond because of the blackened ring that ran all along the outside of each of their soul-marks but they had never found who that missing person was. Bucky had suggested they might be dead since they'd been 'on hiatus' for decades and Steve had had to agree with him at the time.
"I know, punk. I know." Bucky's voice wasn't so steady either.
"Uh, guys, still stuck in a tree here. Spangles, you done playing strip training and care to give me a hand?" Tony's voice broke through the muddle of Steve's thoughts and he was about to say something when Bucky's breath caught and drew Steve's attention to the ground below Tony's feet.
A woman stood there, shadowed by the trees, her silhouette fading into the backdrop of greens and browns behind her.
Her hair was long and dark and her clothing appeared to change color with the light filtering through the canopy overhead.
Stepping forward, she gestured to the vines holding Tony aloft. They gently eased him back to the ground before unwrapping themselves from his limbs. A flick of her fingers had Bucky and Steve rising out of the earth that encased them. When Steve's boots were completely out, he looked down. There was no sign the earth had ever held a person. Grass and other lichen grew under his foot as if it had always been that way.
Steve looked to the woman and began to examine her for details for he was certain, this was the person who had completed his soul-mark.
She was small; the top of her head barely reached his shoulder. Her hair was indeed long and dark, several differing hues of brown, which complemented her warm brown skin. She was wearing a muted colored tunic that came to mid-thigh along with dark brown leggings and her feet were bare. Steve's eyes ran over her quickly, assessing, cataloging things for future review when they finally came to rest on hers. The woman's eyes were bright green and they stared into Steve's blue ones as if they could see into his soul.
"You –", she pointed at Steve. "You're one of the two. Who is the other?" Her voice was husky but smooth as she spoke, glancing at Bucky and Tony who had removed his face plate to stare at her.
"That'd be me, doll." Steve let a half smile creep out. Trust Bucky to step into the fray when they didn't know what they were facing. "I'm James, but you can call me Bucky. That's Steve over there, but I always call him Stevie." The smile on Bucky's face, along with the wink he sent the woman had the effect he'd intended. She smiled in reflex as he stepped towards her and then looked at Tony.
"Who are you?" The question was softly asked but both super soldiers could feel something heavy in the air. "Why were they chasing you?"
"Seriously - you don't know me? Ironman? Hello? Tony Stark, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist? Any of this ringing any bells?" Tony seemed quite put out that he wasn't recognized on the spot.
"Ah - yes... well I'd heard about you on the radio but as I don't own a TV, I've never seen your likeness before. Why were they chasing you?" She asked again, this time with more force, almost threatening.
"Training exercise, doll. Trying to get us all to work better together." Bucky spoke again, moving closer to Steve, alarmed at the sudden fierceness she was directing at Tony.
"I see. Well then, if you say so... James." She smiled as she said Bucky's name and the heaviness in the air dissipated. Turning her back on Tony, she walked over to the boys who had come to stand side by side a few feet in front of her, effectively dismissing Tony from her attention.
Reaching up to the tie at the top of the tunic she wore, she undid the knot and pulled it down, almost baring a breast to show the entirety of her soul-mark. It was exactly the same as theirs; A vibrant green triquetra surrounding 2 matching half-circles, one with swirls of red and blue and the other with of bursts of yellow on a red background.
"Show me? Please." The urgency in her voice touched something in the two men and left them with questions but they did as she asked.
Steve obligingly pulled his suit down to show her the matching soul-mark on his own left pectoral above his heart. Bucky did the same and she sighed, a soft breeze drifted through the clearing where they stood.
Pulling her tunic back up, she retied the knot. "I'm Beth, which is short for Elisabeth. Nice to finally meet you two."
Beth gave a dazzling smile and reached out her hands to the boys. "Come with me. We have much to talk about. You too Iron man." When both Bucky and Steve had pulled their suits back into place, she turned, grabbing Steve's left hand since his shield was still on his back and Bucky's right hand and began to lead them back into the woods where she had emerged from.
Tony, who had been having JARVIS catalogue everything about the woman, was miffed that he was regulated to third wheel – no, fourth wheel status but followed, albeit from the air.
As they walked, Bucky looked down at the woman who was holding his hand. It had been decades since a woman had held his hand with any familiarity and he swore he could feel warmth seep into him from the connection.
They came to a large clearing with a small cabin at the center. Smoke curled up from the chimney and a delicious odor wafted out of the open window.
Following Beth inside, Steve instinctively looked for a mat to wipe his boots on but there wasn't one. The floor of the cabin was dirt... hard packed dirt that was easily swept. Bucky glanced at him seeing his confusion and, looking down, grinned in realization. "There's no worry about tracking dirt in here Punk."
Tony walked in behind the two super soldiers and took in his surroundings. The cabin was small by his standards but large enough to hold maybe 5 people at once with a large living and cooking area on the main floor and a smaller, sleeping loft suspended above the kitchen.
The woman, Beth, gestured for them to seat themselves at the wide oak table that delineated the space between kitchen and living room. She bent over and pulled a dish from the oven, turning it off as she shut the door. So that had been what smelled so delicious. Setting it on the counter to cool, she came and sat down across from the men who ringed her table.
"So, you're my soulmates." Beth's voice was soft and her eyes gleamed with emotion as she ran them over each of the men in turn.
"Uh, nope. Not me. Sorry, babe, I'm already taken. I know it'll break your heart." Tony's sarcasm broke her gaze from the others and directed it towards him. "As much as I'd love to stay for this love fest, I have my own soulmate who's expecting me for dinner. Beth, was it? Thanks for not keeping me hangin'. Cap, IcePick, see you back at the tower… whenever." Tony wiggled eyebrows suggestively as he said 'whenever' and was out the door before anyone at the table could form a reply.
"And that's Tony…" Steve's voice held a note of chagrin but Bucky noticed he'd relaxed as soon as he heard Tony take off into the darkening sky.
Beth smiled at the two of them as if removing Tony's presence had freed something within her. "Oh, I'm so happy to finally meet you! You have no idea how long I've waited for this." She stopped and placed her hands over her heart. "My heart's too full for words."
Bucky smiled. "So Beth, I'm guessing since you have heard of Iron man that you've heard of Captain America?"
Steve's gaze shot to Bucky's. Going in feet first I see.
Beth chuckled. "Yes, and I know what you're about to say. The shield Steve carries has been pictured many times in the history books." She turned to meet Steve's eyes. "Hello, Captain."
The husky voice addressing him with his rank had a thrill run down Steve's spine, pooling between his legs, and he glanced at Bucky.
"Well if you know who am I, do I assume too much in supposing you already know who Bucky is?" Steve's voice held a note of caution as he watched Beth closely for her reaction.
"He's Bucky Barnes also known as the Winter Soldier if that's what you're asking." Beth's smile made her eyes squint as she looked with affection at Bucky. "I may not have a TV out here but I do have a radio." She motioned to the ancient radio and antennae over in the corner by the fireplace. "I heard all about your hearing before Congress and other debates on whether or not to charge you with treason but given the evidence produced that Hydra was behind it, I was glad when they decided to not charge you."
She turned back to Steve and answered his unspoken question. "It stood to reason that if I had Captain America in front of me and the person beside him was Bucky, that it was same person that I'd heard about on the radio."
"Now, since Tony has departed truly, let's have something to eat and we can ask each other the questions I know I'm at least dying to ask."
Beth rose and turned to the cooling casserole dish on the counter. "Either of you picky eaters?"
"Can – can we talk first? My stomach's doing so many flips, I don't know how well I'll be able to eat." Steve's voice caught and he swallowed as she turned back to the two of them.
"Of course." She opened the oven back up and placed the casserole back in the still warm oven.
"How-"
"What-"
Both Steve and Bucky's words collided with each other in mid-air and they stopped, grinning at each other.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" Bucky held out a loose fist and Steve did the same. They had begun to count when a smaller fist joined theirs.
Green eyes met two pairs of blue and they sparkled with amusement. "It's only fair. I have questions too, boys."
Bucky let out a chuckle and resumed the count. "1, 2, 3!"
He won and smirked at Steve. Turning to Beth, he made a 'come here' motion and she walked over to sit on the table top between both boys.
"How did you know where we were in the woods? You can manipulate the earth, can't you?"
Beth nodded. "Yes, I'm able to influence the earth. The ground told me you were coming and the trees told me something large was flying through the trees without care for those within. I intervened to stop you all before I realized who you were." She blushed as she touched the place over her heart where her soul-mark was hidden under her tunic.
"I'm sorry for trapping you but it seemed the best option until I could be certain you weren't here to hurt me."
"What? Who would be trying to hurt you?" Steve snapped into protector mode and made to rise but was stopped by a soft hand on his face. Rubbing a thumb along his cheek, Beth smiled. "I'm fine Steve. No need to look so fierce."
Steve sat back, bringing the small hand on his cheek that was spreading warmth into parts of his soul he'd thought would stay long frozen down into the protective circle of his hands. "My turn. What are you doing out here in this remote area? Why are you alone? We chose this area for training because there were no records of anyone living for hundreds of miles."
Something flickered in the back of Beth's eyes and she looked down. "As I'm sure you're aware, not everyone is comfortable with people they know having supernatural powers. I like my solitude; I've had time to get used to it. I'm quite comfortable here. The land provides me with all I need."
Bucky's jaw set as he read between the lines. "They ostracized you for your gift. Didn't they?"
Beth nodded once, staring at a spot on the floor. "People always fear what they do not know. I was six when my powers started to manifest. My parents wanted to put me in an institution but my grandmother stopped them. I lived with her until she died when I was seventeen. She was the only one who understood, who loved me without being afraid of me. She was the one who kept telling me I had a special bond with the Earth Mother and that our people had lost their magic because of the white man's temptations and that was why they rejected me. They forgot they were Earth Mother's children too."
"My grandmother was a Lakota Sioux Indian. She taught me about the Earth Mother and the balance of all things in life. She helped me find safe areas to experiment with my powers until I was able to control them. I'm much better now. I knew you were approaching far before you got anywhere close to me." Beth chuckled.
She fell silent and looking up, saw both men looking at her expectantly. "Oh! It's my turn to ask a question now isn't it?" Turning contemplative, her brows drew in towards her nose as she thought.
"What are your expectations of me as your soulmate?"
The soft question sank into Steve and he squeezed Beth's hands.
"Whatever you're willing to give, darling. We'll never ask for more than that."
"That's not to say we don't have wants..." Bucky grinned and winked.
"Buck!" Steve flushed from his neck up and the sight had Beth laughing out loud.
"Well, Steve that's very sweet to say and Bucky, I can't say I'm surprised you went there." A rosy color was flooding her cheeks and removing one of her hands from Steve's grasp, caught hold of Bucky's right hand. "What I meant was, do you expect us to live together? Be sexually involved?"
"I know from other's experiences that some people don't always have the same expectations when they meet their soulmate. My grandmother told me that when my aunt met hers, he didn't want intimacy, just a regular outlet for his... relief." Uneasiness filtered into Beth's voice. "I have heard from the radio about incidents where soulmates have chosen to live apart because they couldn't stand habits their soulmate had acquired prior to meeting but that the pain was tremendous."
"I- I want, I mean, I would personally like to know what your expectations are before we truly get to know one another. Just so- in case, we don't - we don't have the same ideas about one another." Beth's voice faltered as she spoke and she stared at the floor, her fingers leaving the boys' hands and coming to twist together in front of her.
Bucky looked at Steve over Beth's head, silently having a conversation with the other man.
Reaching out, Bucky tilted her chin up to look at him. "Doll, I know I speak for both Stevie and myself when I say, we have gone too long with that third of our soul that was you. We'd like to be near or with you for as long as you'll let us. If you're okay living together, we can do that. Stevie and I live together at the Avenger's tower in New York but if you're uncomfortable there, we will talk about relocating. As for sexually... " Bucky's voice trailed off and Steve jumped in.
"Bucky and I have been sexually involved since we were teenagers. If that's not something you're interested in, that's okay. It doesn't have to be that way between the three of us. Like I said before, we'll never ask for more than you're willing to give. Ever."
Beth had turned her head to look up at Steve from under her lashes and she let out a shuddering sigh as he finished speaking.
"Doll, why don't you tell us what you'd like from the two of us and we can start figuring out preliminary boundaries?" Bucky spoke softly as he ran the backs of his fingers down Beth's arm in a soothing motion.
"I... I want to be near you both. As close to always as possible. I've felt like I've carried this hole around in my soul for so many years... I never thought I'd ever find my soulmates. I knew that I'd cut myself off from that when I came to live here but... now that I've got you... Please don't leave me. Please. I-"
Beth cut off her words as a sob caught in her throat. Swallowing it down, she reached out to both men again, grasping their hands like lifelines. Gathering control again, she continued.
"I just want a family."
The words shot through Steve and Bucky like one of Clint's arrows and they moved as one- both engulfing the woman between them in a tight hug.
Steve kissed the top of Beth's head as he looked at Bucky with suppressed emotion in his eyes. "So do we doll. So do we."