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.
Week 1
"Ah. Miss Potts. Glad you finally came," greeted Tony. "I was afraid you've been avoiding me."
"The shop needed my assistance," Virginia reasoned, setting his meal down on the table beside his bed. "But I heard that your leg is beginning to grow less swollen. You'll be starting your sessions with Doctor Banner soon."
Tony seemed to grow excited at that. "Yes! And speaking of sessions, today we can start with ours." He gestured to the small pile of books upon his bed before moving his lunch to his lap.
As he ate, Virginia inspected the new additions to the bedroom, reading the titles one by one and rifling through some of the books.
Workings of the Soul.
Accomplishing Completion.
Famed Marks and the Souls that Owned Them.
Renowned Soulmates.
The Split Souls.
Of Souls and their Meeting.
"You were serious," concluded Virginia, tearing her eyes away from the books.
"Of course I was! Did you think it was a jest?" Hurt flashed across his face.
"No, no. Not at all. I simply did not think you would give me a lecture complete with books and references." Virginia took a seat beside the bed.
"Well, my valet was kind enough to send a portion of my library. That and I pay him to do whatever I tell him to."
Miss Potts smiled. "Ah. So you wrote to him, I see. Does he have the designs for your magical escape chair?"
Tony barked out a laugh. "Kindly leave your mockery outside my chambers. And it is not a magical escape chair," he said, pointing his spoon at her. "It is a chair that will allow me to move on my own. It runs using a crank, nothing magical about it. "
"You are using it to escape, let us call it what it is."
"That is…partially true," admitted Tony much to Miss Potts' satisfaction. "I'm only using it to escape this bedroom as well as to avoid my unhappy valet who happens to be named Happy. However, I assure you that until I have completely convinced you of your good fortune as a marked woman, I won't leave you."
The intensity in which he said the latter sentence made Virginia suddenly fluster. She moved to pour him a glass of water.
"So, these are all from your personal collection, is it?" She asked, handing him the glass.
Tony proudly nodded, mouth full of water. He swallowed and said, "I'm not just a master craftsman of weapons, Miss Potts. I consider myself quite well-versed in Soulsery." He raised his cutlery again to prevent his host from speaking. "Now, as per our agreement, I shall continue eating the meal Cook has prepared and I ask that you kindly read to me the marked pages of The Split Souls."
Almost as if to remind her of their previous arrangement, he took one big spoonful of peas.
Virginia took a breath, located the pages, and read.
"Before the arrival of man, there were six Infinity Stones." She looked up from the book and said to Tony, "I know this story. There were six gemstones and from it came the universe."
"Read on, please," was all Tony said.
Miss Potts sighed and continued. "The soul stone in particular, was found split into two. The Allfather gave the split stones to his two sons. Thor and Loki used each of their own gemstone to craft the first humans. But the humans they created were unwhole. They had a yearning, a desire for something more. They craved another soul to complete their split existence and would covet it like no other.
"Chaos erupted as each human consumed soul after soul, never quite finding the one to quench their thirst. To establish order, Odin the Allfather used the remaining five Infinity Stones to give each man a soulmark, a way for them to find his or her soulmate, one that will complete them, and make their soul whole again. Man will covet no more, no less."
The marks ended there and Virginia put the book aside. "If you expected me to find this story unfamiliar, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. Every child is taught the Creation Story in the schoolroom."
"Yes," Tony agreed, putting his meal aside and then taking his medicine in one gulp. "But what they do not teach us is that it is our very nature as humans to yearn for our soulmates. We seek for another to complete our split souls."
Virginia stared at her guest, not quite following what his point was.
"Now, newly marked individuals do not feel the yearning. Some, like myself, voluntarily choose to meet their soulmates because they look forward to it. But you, who dislikes soulmarks and soulmates, however, do not feel the need to do so because… it has only been a few days since you received your mark, hasn't it?" asked Tony with a knowing look on his face.
"Yes," Virginia said softly, feeling a phantom pain in her chest.
"Days are easier to handle. Your soul is only just beginning its yearning stages. When days turn into months and the months into years, and marked persons stay incomplete, the yearning grows until it is physically impossible and excruciatingly painful to resist and delay meeting your soulmate. It is like dying, Miss Potts."
The memory of a man bent over his dead soulmate's form flashes in Virginia's mind.
Virginia frowned and licked her suddenly dry lips. "Is that supposed to change my mind about my soulmate? Why would I want such a weakness?"
"It is not a weakness," said Tony. "It's a—"
"It is!" insisted Virginia, eyes flashing with traces of grief. "When my mother died, I saw my father die with her. He is not as he used to be, Lord Stark. These days he retreats into his study and leaves the business to me. He wishes to see me complete and it is the only thing stopping him from giving up his own soul to reunite with my mother." She shook her head. "I don't want to be like that, to feel every thing my soulmate feels, to have my life complete and suddenly torn apart, to feel that loss, that gaping hole. I do not yearn for that weakness."
Tony pressed his lips together, looking apologetic at his hostess. So, this was the much deeper reason as to why Virginia Potts abhors the gods and soulmates.
"Virginia, I—Miss Potts, you misunderstand. The bond between soulmates is very, very profound and as such, yes, the death of one's mate can be very painful." Tony leaned forward as much as he could to meet his hostess' gaze. "I have spoken to a lot of widows and widowers. Obviously, they have chosen not to release their souls to reunite with their soulmates, similar to Mr. Potts… And do you want to know why?"
Virginia's eyes met his.
"Because there is something else anchoring them to this earth. A soulmate's bond bears fruit, Miss Potts. These are the children, the family they have created. In your father and mother's case—you. Your father might be mourning for your mother, might still be feeling her loss keenly, but he is not withering away. He is holding on to this earth for you in honor of your mother. It may not be in a manner you approve of, but he's doing his best."
Virginia looked at him, wanting to believe him desperately, needing to believe that her father loved her and her mother enough to stay in the land of the living.
Finally, she nodded, closing her eyes and expelling a deep sigh. "Thank you. I did not know I needed that."
"You're welcome."
They both shared a smile.
Tony cleared his throat. "If it's any consolation, my father gave up his soul mere hours after my mother died." He shrugged his shoulders, almost as if he was talking only of cheese and not a lack of love from his father. "So, Mr. Potts is doing a lot better job than my own father."
Pepper's lips turned down. "I'm sorry. Nobody deserves that."
Tony shrugged again. He and his father shared only two things: an undying devotion to Lady Maria Stark and a passion for crafting. Tony did not miss his presence.
"None of these mean that I have changed my mind about my soulmate," stated Virginia suddenly, giving Tony a pointed look.
Tony smirked. "You say that now."
Week 2
Doctor Banner pressed two fingers to the side of Tony's no-longer swollen leg. He tapped at certain areas, pressed, and kneaded.
"Do you feel any pain?" the doctor asked.
Tony shook his head, jaw suspiciously clenched tight.
Doctor Banner hummed knowingly and then pressed harder. Tony winced.
"You did that on purpose," the Lord of Iron Hill accused, glaring at the doctor.
Doctor Banner hummed. "Unfortunately, the bone is not healed enough for me to start our exercises. I would risk breaking it all over again. We will have to move our appointment to next week." He turned to Virginia who was watching from the side of the room. "Make sure he doesn't break that leg a second time trying to massage it on his own."
"I beg your pardon, but it sounded as if you delayed my recovery another week," stated Tony. "Banner, get back here and continue your ministrations. It's what I pay you for."
"I'll see you soon, Lord Stark," waved Doctor Banner, not even sparing Tony a glance. He said goodbye to Virginia and walked out the door.
Virginia turned to Tony who was pouting in his bed, resembling a child.
She walked over and sat by him.
"I'm sorry nothing seems to be going according to plan," said Virginia.
Tony sighed. "I must seem very rude, wanting to abandon your hospitality at my earliest convenience. I'm not trying to escape, I'm really not. Okay, maybe I was a week ago," he admitted with a chuckle. "I wanted to leave and find Pepper, but now that's not even my priority. I just want to get out of this damn bed, to see townspeople, get my hands working on something again."
Virginia looked at him sadly and said, "I understand. I would feel mad to be cooped up in my bedroom, unable to go out in the mornings to watch the sunrise."
"I noticed," said Tony, "You and unhappy Happy leave early in the morning."
Virginia gave him a questioning look and he said, "I see you from the window."
"I'm not trying to be the disturbing man who watches women from his window," Tony added causing Miss Potts to giggle. "I'm just… idle."
"Well, it's a good thing we have daily lessons on Soulsery then. To keep us both entertained. I hope it's not becoming too boring and uninteresting for you?" Virginia's lips formed a teasing grin.
Tony chuckled. "No. It serves a fine distraction. Shall we begin, Miss Potts?"
Virginia bowed her head.
"You're a woman of business," began Tony. "So, I shall speak to you in a language you are well-versed in—the language of costs and benefits."
Virginia shook her head, amused. By using the language of business, the Lord of the Iron Hill would be able to show her exactly what she could choose to gain by meeting her soulmate and what she could lose by delaying it.
"We'll start with the costs. As we've discussed before, it is physically painful to delay the meeting."
"I can deal with a little pain," stated Virginia.
"Ah, but it is not only you who's going to experience it, is it? Your soulmate will also feel everything. And unlike you, the pain would not be of his own choosing. I imagine that he will be confused as to why his soulmate has not chosen to see the Director, he will be wondering all his life if you are even still alive."
Virginia narrowed her eyes at the man. "You are making me feel guilty. Is this your plan to change my mind? You think I would care about a person I have never met, a person who will take away my freedom if we should meet?"
Tony shook his head. "I'm simply stating the costs. Not only for you, but for the other person involved because like it or not, your soulmate is bound to you."
"Give me one good reason why I should meet my soulmate."
"Completion," said Tony as if it was the most obvious answer.
His hostess scoffed. "If you are pertaining to carnal pleasure, I can attain it elsewhere."
Tony laughed. "I agree with you. But, I'm not referring only to the pleasure. Completion is named thus because soulmates become one in body and mind. Thoughts and memories are shared, opening doors to a world beyond the one we have right this moment."
He sat straighter, his eyes taking on an animated shine as he talked about the union between soulmates.
"Soulmates I've spoken to said that Completion is not a feeling, it goes beyond pleasure. Rather it is a state of being. Recall that we were created from the soul stone that was split into two. Completion puts those two gemstones back together, transforming us into something more than ourselves, returning us to our original state. That unity gives us the power to see into the soul of our mates, to read their thoughts, see their memories, and experience their world.
"There is so much that we unmarked persons are not privy to and that's the new world, Miss Potts. I can't say for yourself, but the thought of going on an adventure in a new world with my soulmate no less was enough to have me galloping across lands before the sun had even risen."
Virginia pressed her lips together. "I admit… What you say… does sound… inviting."
Tony's eyes widened. "Inviting? It's more than inviting! It's alluring, it's bewitching!"
"Yes, yes, it's tempting and enthralling and being a scholar," Virginia motioned to him, "I can only imagine how it must seem to you. But Tony, I'm very content where I am, watching the sunrise, trading wares, and running numbers. I'm not looking for anything more."
Tony opened his mouth to speak but Virginia held up a hand to silence him. "And as your friend—I hope after all this time we've spent in here, you consider me your friend—I need to tell you something that nobody has probably ever told you before."
Tony folded his arms and nodded.
Virginia took a breath and said, "You're incredibly selfish."
Tony looked expressionless at her. "I've heard that before." Rhodes has called him selfish dozens of times.
"Good. Because from what you have just told me… I gather that you do not want your soulmate at all.
Tony's brows knit together as he frowned. "Have you not been listening to a word I've been saying? I raced across the land in the darkness of night to see Pepper. How does that tell you that I don't desire her?"
"Because what you are saying is you want to meet your soulmate because she will open the door to another world for you."
"Yes! Precisely!"
"Well, that's very selfish of you. You don't want Pepper; you want what she can give you."
Tony opened his mouth to retort but what came out was a strangled "I…" He blinked a few times and then looked deeply in thought.
"I speak the truth, yes?"
Tony turned to Virginia, a shattered look in his eyes. "My God, you're right." He ran a hand over his face. "How can I… She's my soulmate! How can I not want her? This is unheard of, this is an anomaly. Virginia, what if—"
Virginia quickly took Tony's hand, forgetting for a moment that her own hand was ungloved or that he used her first name. "Calm yourself!"
Tony took a deep breath.
Virginia continued, "It is not unheard of for feelings of attraction to be absent prior to a meeting. You haven't met her yet. But when you do, you will have plenty of time to get to know her and decide if you want her more than Completion itself."
Tony nodded and then grasped the woman's hand which was on top of his. "You need to help me."
"With what?"
"Falling in love. Unfortunately, my experience with women has not included topics on that area."
Virginia pulled her hand away. "I don't think that's something one can teach!"
"Miss Potts, you're a woman. Pepper is also a woman. Ergo, you would know, more or less, how she would like to be courted." His eyes pleaded at her.
Virginia sighed, rising to her feet and pacing around the room.
She paused after the second round. "I simply do not have time for another lesson. The Soulsery is already taking up enough of my business hours as it is."
"Then I shall help you with your work. A sort of trade off."
Virginia sighed once more. "I don't know… I'll have to think about it."
Tony nodded, his expression dropping. "I understand."
Virginia looked at his crestfallen face. "I'm not saying no, Tony. I'm just… I need some time."
Tony leaned back. "I have all the time in this bed, Miss Potts. You know where to find me."
Week 3
"Aaaaah," moaned Tony as Doctor Banner pushed his leg inward and then extended it out.
By the time their session was over, Tony was panting heavily as if he had participated in a long, grueling hunt.
Doctor Banner patted him on the back and then handed him a glass of water. "You did very well, Lord Stark."
"I think after all you have put me through, you may call me Tony, Banner," chuckled Tony. "Will I be able to walk next week?"
Doctor Banner cocked his head. "Not quite yet. It's best not to push yourself, sir. I mean, Tony. I know you believe that the faster something works, the better it is. But, not with this leg, I'm afraid." He looked around.
"Miss Potts isn't here," he noted.
Tony knew that. Ever since he had asked her to teach him the intricacies of falling in love as a woman, she hadn't been to see him. Not even to pester him to take his medicine.
And Tony's days had gotten more lonely and maddening since then.
Happy was simply not as entertaining.
"That woman is busier than you, sir," said Tony to Doctor Banner. "She has her father's business to run."
Later in the day, when Doctor Banner had already gone and Tony was once more left to his own devices in his bedroom, Virginia made an appearance.
"Hello," she said, pausing by the doorway.
Tony's eyes immediately inspected her, darting all over her person. Her red hair was a much needed respite from the grays of the wall. There were more freckles on her face and she looked slightly tanner from the time he saw her last.
"Hello," echoed Tony.
She walked in the room. "I'm sorry I haven't been around. I was working." She held up a wad of cards and handed it to him.
Tony glanced at her before turning to the cards. One was a beautiful painting of a bustling street, depicting merchants and their fruit-filled carts trying to get villagers to purchase a bag or two.
The next one was of the captivating drawing of the Soulmark Directory. Tony could identify it based on the gods' insignia on top of the door.
The last one was the sunset, a splash of bright searing colors that contrasted Tony's drab bedroom. Tony hadn't been out his room for so long, it hurt to look at the colors for longer than a few moments.
"At first I was thinking of how trapped you feel in this house. So, I decided that if you couldn't leave to see the town, I'd bring it to you." Virginia fiddled with her fingers. "That's why I haven't been to see you. I… I was out. Painting."
Actually, she was trying to create designs for the wares but had gotten stuck with no ideas whatsoever and decided to go to town to get a stroke of inspiration. What resulted was a lot of thoughts of Tony and wishing to make him feel better. But she wasn't going to tell him that.
"Miss Potts, these are beautiful. Thank you."
Virginia smiled, trying not to blush at his gaze.
"I also thought that you could write letters at the back." She took her customary seat beside him. "To Pepper. Telling her your thoughts as you're recovering here, of how you can hardly wait to know her. I think she would like that. I would."
Tony looked at the back of the cards and found enough space for a letter.
He looked up at his hostess.
"Does this mean you're teaching me?" he asked, smiling.
"No. I'm not teaching you."
His smile dropped. "Oh."
"But I am going to help you. Because if I don't get a happy ending with my soulmate, I can at the very least help you get yours."
Tony grinned widely at her. "Don't give up on him too quickly."
"We'll see," she said.
Tony sniffed, dropping the cards and waving at the books on his writing desk. "Miss Potts, kindly read to me the marked pages of Workings of the Soul. We have a lot of things to cover in your absence."
Virginia laughed softly. "Yes, Lord Stark."
A/N: Tell me what you think!