Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 1426

Fic Detail - TonyBucky, Soulmate!au, not canon compliant

What Fate Dictates

Tony learned at a young age that he was going to be fate's playtoy—and not in a good way. The name scrawled across his left was one that had made its mark on the history books before he'd even been born.

James Buchanan Barnes.

Jarvis tried to comfort him, tried to tell him that there would be many people wanting to name their sons after an American hero, but Tony wasn't ever satisfied by that. He knew in his heart and soul, that his one person in the world was already dead.

The hopelessness of it seeped into him, even as he accepted that he'd never have a true other half.

…

When Steve first brought home the Winter Soldier, Tony knew his real identity. He also knew the names of every single one of his kills; including Howard and Maria Stark.

He'd had quite the tantrum when he'd discovered that bit of news, made worse by the fact that Steve didn't tell him. Steve maintained that he hadn't been sure, and that he didn't want to tell Tony something when he didn't have all the details, but it still stung.

They'd slowly been rebuilding their friendship, for the sake of the family they'd both gained with the Avengers as much as their own sakes.

Anyway, when Steve arrived with James Buchanan Barnes in tow, hiding behind Steve like he thought someone was going to throw a knife at him or shoot him, Tony was still surprised to come face to face with his soulmate.

It was almost like his brain had made the connection but his heart had remained oblivious until the moment it happened.

"Tony, this is Bucky. Bucky, Tony."

Tony sneezed.

Clint, sitting beside Tony, snorted. "Nice, Tony."

"Oh, I sneezed. What? I'm not allowed to sneeze?" Tony rolled his eyes and then turned his attention back to the two super soldiers. "Pleasure, Barnes. Steve can show you your room."

Turning back to the TV, he picked up the wii remote and then gaped at the tv as Clint took the opportunity to knock Tony's character off a ledge.

"You're a cheating cheat that cheats," Tony exclaimed. "You just killed Princess Peach, you heathen!"

"I'm a coldblooded assassin, I don't care," Clint replied, speeding over the finishing line. "And I win!"

"You're a coldblooded asshole," Tony sulked. "Rematch. Right now. Cheater."

Tony knew that Barnes was watching him, but he couldn't bring himself to look at him again. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he wondered if their super-hearing could pick it up. It was a question he found he didn't need the answer to.

…

Having Barnes in the tower was… different. In that, Tony spent much more time in the workshop than he normally did, which was probably saying something, given his normal amount of time spent there. Generally outgoing, he found the self imposed isolation difficult, but it was better than the alternative.

The alternative being awkward conversations and even more awkward silence. He didn't want any part of any of that.

And it was fine. Or, it was fine, until Pepper showed up.

"Why do you look mad? I don't like it when you look mad when I don't know what I've done, Pep, that's scary. I've been practically angelic for the last month at least!"

"You have," she agreed. "Which means you're hiding something. Spill."

Tony lifted his coffee cup and tipped it up, watching the single drop of coffee spill onto the table.

Pepper shook her head. "Will you ever grow up?"

"God, I hope not."

Snorting, she sat down in the chair beside his, spinning it around so she was facing him. "Tell me what has you hiding like a scared kitten."

"You have such a bleak view of me," Tony muttered shaking his head. "Nothing's wrong, Pep. I'm just… working?"

"The team haven't seen you in almost a fortnight. Steve is practically ready to use the shield on the doors to bust his way in. They're worried about you. I'm worried about you. Is this about Barnes? Because we can house him elsewhere, Tony. I'm not willing to have someone run you out of your own home!"

"It… okay, it's about him. But, not… it's not what you think, okay?"

She arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

Slowly, he pulled the ever present band from his wrist and showed her the name written there. Her green eyes widened and she looked from his wrist, to his eyes and back again.

"Really?"

Tony shrugged. "I accepted a long time ago that it would never happen, Pep. It's just… a little harder when he's, you know, right there."

"Well… he's not exactly a gargoyle, Tony. And you're so flirty, I'm sure you could see if he was… reciprocal?"

Tony choked on a laugh. "It's not about what he looks like! It's… he has a metal left arm."

"Right?" She asked, looking confused.

He gestured to his left wrist. "Names are always on the left wrist. He doesn't even have my name now. I… how do I know if he even remembers?"

"There's only one way to find out," she murmured, kindly. "And Tones? He'll be lucky to have you. Please try and remember that."

…

"Jesus, Barnes! I have a heart condition," Tony gasped out, his hand on his chest as Bucky stared at him like he was about to explode.

Served him right, Tony thought. Sneaking up like that in the middle of the night. Granted they were in the communal kitchen, but that wasn't the point!

"Sorry," Barnes murmured. "I didn't… I didn't know anyone was up."

Tony waved him off as his heart settled back into its regular rhythm, and turned his attention back to the coffee pot. Really, he should be trying to sleep, but where was the fun in that?

"Are you… do you not want me here?" Barnes asked, clearly hesitant.

Tony blinked, and turned back to him. "What gave you that idea?"

"I just… I guess the others mentioned that you usually spend more time with them, and Stevie… he's been real worried about you."

"I've just been busy, is all," Tony said, as he tipped coffee into his favourite Iron Man mug. "It happens sometimes. Steve is a bloody mother hen."

Barnes snorted.

"You're settling in alright?" Tony asked, leaning against the counter with his mug in his hands.

"Sure. It's, uh, it's good of you to take me in when I… well."

"I'm glad you're doing okay," Tony said honestly. "I want you to be happy here."

He needed to get out of there before he said something stupid and emotional. Stupid Pepper putting stupid idea's in his head.

"You know, when Steve said we were coming to your tower, when he said your full name… it was so weird. I felt like… like I knew you. And I remembered—" Bucky cut himself off, and seemed to take a moment to steel himself. "I remembered them ordering me to kill you. And I refused. It was the first time I ever refused an assignment, and when they tried to force me… I fought them with everything I had until they put me back in the cold."

Tony swallowed hard, his hands tightening on his mug.

"Do you know why I fought them? I… I need to know if you know why."

Slowly, Tony put his mug down and pulled up his sleeve to show Bucky his wrist, and more importantly, the silver writing that declared Bucky as Tony's person.

His soulmate.

Bucky stepped forwards, his eyes wide as he stared at his name. "I'm your… you… you're my…"

"Soulmate," Tony said, helpfully.

"Soulmate," Bucky repeated, sounding awed and wistful in the same breath. "I thought…" his left arm twitched, as though the mechanics were responding to a half formed thought. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Tony shrugged, letting his arm fall to his side. "I thought you didn't know, didn't remember, and I guess… I guess I figured this is your chance at a new start. To love someone because you wanted too, not because fate dictated that you had to."

"But… what if I want… what if what fate dictates is what I want? I fought for you when I didn't even remember my own name, Tony. That… it means something, doesn't it?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I suppose it does."

Bucky smiled, and Tony felt his own walls fall, because that smile… he'd burn the world if it was ever threatened.

Written for:

Assorted Appreciation - Sam - outgoing / hiding / family

Disney - C1. "Will you ever grow up?"

Trope - 14. Chair

Space - 6. Bleak

Book Club - Gossamer - Green / Flirty / Pleasure

Showtime - 16. Silence

Attic - 27. "Nice, [Name]." / "Oh, I sneezed. What? I'm not allowed to sneeze?"

Press Play - 25. "I'm a coldblooded assassin, I don't care."

Liza Loves - 19. Willing

Scamander - 18. Hopelessness

Film Festival - 12. Explode

Galleon Club - 66. Angelic

Romance Awareness - Day 3. Soulmate's name on your body.

Romance Awareness - Extra - 35. Surprised.

365. 189. Gargoyle