Chapter Text
Tony grew up imagining how he would he meet each of his soulmates. He would often catch himself staring down at his wrist where there were three names, one far more blurry than the other two. Virginia Potts, written in black, was his romantic soulmate, and James Rhodes, in blue, was his platonic soulmate. There was also a third, indecipherable, name in red for his paternal soulmate.
///
"Mother, when will I know their name?"
Maria gently grabbed his wrist
"When they're born, that's when."
She tugged on his wrist and sat him next to her on the couch.
"Not all fathers get their child's name as their soulmate, Anthony."
"I know."
"Not everyone gets lucky enough to have three soulmates."
"I know."
"And not everyone gets to meet their soulmates."
Tony knew. His eyes fell to his mother's wrist where you could see the scarring over his stillborn sister’s name. Right then and there he made a promise to himself that he would protect his soulmates with his life.
///
He was 15 years old when he first met his platonic soulmate, and he couldn't have been happier. James was always there for Tony. He made sure that he got to his classes on time and that he got enough sleep, stood up for him when the older students made fun of him for being so young, took him home enough times during holiday breaks and to church with his family that he knew James’s mother Roberta would adopt him in a heartbeat if she could. He even made it a point to call her ‘Momma,’ and he remembers very well the first time he was introduced as her son.
"Roberta, honey! It's been a while!"
"Oh! Mary, is that you? I didn't know you were back in town!"
Mary looked like a bitch, of course. Tony tugged on Rhodey’s and his sister Ana's sleeves so that they would notice the interaction. The three of them were standing by the door waiting for their mom.
"I heard your James made it to MIT? Well my Jeremiah made it to Harvard, can you believe that?"
Of course, Roberta couldn't care less, but when Mary used that tone to put down her boy's accomplishments, she had to snark back. "Oh, well, my James is the valedictorian for his class. And he's going to MIT on a full-ride scholarship. He never brings home a grade lower than an A, and he's already getting job offers from both the government and from companies overseas ."
Mary was stunned. "Well, too bad he's not the number one student."
"Oh, well, yes, that's my other son. He's always making me proud. He won first place in a competition the other day, and the prize was a grant that he gave it away to another student who needed it more. My baby has a big heart!"
"Roberta, I thought you only had James and Ana?"
"Hold on sweetie." She turned around to call for her children. "Children, come here please and say hello to your Auntie Mary."
Mary was, for lack of a better word, flabbergasted. Because there, in between James and Ana, was a little white boy.
All three of them chorused, "Hi, Auntie Mary."
That day always reminded him of how loved he was. And when his parents passed away, Roberta, Ana and Rhodey were there like a rock, like a lighthouse, steadying him and guiding him.
///
The day he met Pepper was the day after he had fired his fifth assistant. She came into his office not fully knowing who she was to him. When their eyes met for the first time, he felt as if that was the first day of his life when he could finally breathe.
"Ms. Potts?"
"Mr. Stark."
//
Tony knew from his own research that when the moment came, his wrist would start to itch and burn and that he would feel like his own feet were trying to take him to his child, but he didn't expect it to happen when he was trying to enjoy dinner with Pepper and Rhodey. His wrist started to burn so much that he had to go into the kitchen and run it under cold water, fighting the urge to leave and go to his child.
"I… no… how is this happening? Pep, I’m sorry. I would never..." he hissed. The name on his wrist was becoming clearer. He had to clear things up first with Pepper, to make sure she knew he was faithful to her.
"Tony, just go to him. We've only known each other for a couple of weeks, it's okay. Go."
He couldn't have asked for a better soulmate.
He made it to the hospital, letting his feet guide him down the halls towards the room while he was preparing himself to meet his kid. The nurse had other plans.
"Sir, only family members are allowed."
"I’m the father."
He showed her his mark, still somewhat blurry, but they were able to make out the outline of a P and a min and part of a last name. When he entered the room, a small family was already there. The mother on the hospital bed was holding a bundle.
"We were wondering when you would show up. He was born with four of them." She picked up his small wrist, showing Tony the names: Edward Leeds in blue, Michelle Jones in black, and Anthony Stark and May Parker in red. Tony let himself step closer to the woman and looked down at the baby. His eyes were wide open, same shade of brown that reminded him of his mother and with the same shade of brown as his own hair.
"I don’t know what it means, but all of us have his name."
Tony looked up.
"What do you mean, all of us?"
Everyone showed him their wrists.
Peter Benjamin-Parker Stark.
"It's a mouthful," said the man who was holding the mother's hand.
"You have three too?"
Tony turned to the person who had asked and faced who he thought must have been the mother's sister. "Yeah, I... have my friend, my soulmate, and my child."
"Oh."
She looked down at her own wrist.
"You?"
"Two soulmates and Peter."
The man, who he later learned was named Ben, squeezed her shoulder lovingly.
///
As the years went by, Peter grew up away from the spotlight. At first, he was in the custody of his mother and step-father, until their passing in that fateful plane crash, custody was shared with his uncle and aunt. He grew up trying to grasp memories of his late mother but knew he had Pepper and May to fill in her shoes.The Parkers fully supported Tony’s work as Iron-Man, but agreed that it was safer for his family, and especially for Peter, to keep Iron Man's identity a secret.
///
"Hey, Dad! Mom!" Peter dropped his backpack on the floor and kicked his shoes off.
"Hey, Pete. Come here."
Both Pepper and Tony were waiting for him to return home from school to talk to him about the news they had received.
"What's wrong?" He started to play with the hem of his shirt.
"Listen, buddy. They called me in for a mission. And it might be a long one."
"I can help, Dad! Spider-Man can help!"
Tony sighed. This is why he hadn’t wanted to bring it up.
"Underoos, you're just getting used to your powers and I don't want to risk it." His tone of voice was firm. Peter knew that it was not worth talking back, but he still opened his mouth.
"Listen to your father, Peter."
Peter looked down. Sighing in defeat, he said, "Yes, ma'am."
///
"That was a successful mission. But we did finish early, and Fury said that the earliest they'll be able to pick us up is tomorrow night." Everyone groaned. Leave it to Captain Spangles to give them the bad news.
The Avengers all camped in one of the basements that they had cleared.
Rogers cleared his throat.
"I guess some team bonding exercises wouldn't hurt."
Hawkeye, or Clint, if Tony remembered correctly, spoke out.
"I'll guess I'll start." He raised his wrist. "I have two soulmates. My platonic one, Natasha, and my romantic one, Laura." He smiled at his wrist. "I have a family, two kids that I love with all my heart."
Tony knew how he felt; he loved his kid with all his heart, would die for him, actually.
Natasha spoke next. "I have one platonic soulmate: Barton."
"I have two. One platonic and one romantic: James Barnes and Peggy Carter." They all knew that Bucky was still in recovery after they found him in cryo.
Everyone looked at Tony. Some of the group were still wary of him after they had found out his true identity just a month back.
He cleared his throat. "I have three. Romantic, platonic and paternal. Pepper Potts, my Platypus, and Peter."
"Your Platypus?" Clint asked with a smile
Tony chuckled to himself
"My best friend since I was 15"
"P must be your lucky letter. I didn’t know you had a kid."
"Yeah well, I keep him hidden from the press. Didn't want him to grow up like I did."
"Isn't it rare to get three?"
"I would guess. I know another person who has three. She actually has two romantic soulmates. One passed away, sadly." When Tony had found out that Happy’s name was written on May's wrist, he decided that Happy was going to become her and Peter's driver and bodyguard immediately. You know, just to help move things along.
"Will we ever meet him?" Clint said, interrupting his train of thought.
"Will we ever meet yours?” Tony wasn't sure if he was ready to introduce his son just yet.
Clint stood up from his seat.
"You know what, this Saturday. Everyone is invited to my house for dinner. To celebrate us, the world's mightiest heroes."
///
From that day on, the team switched between either Tony’s lake cabin or Clint's farm house, but they always had a family dinner. And just like that, his family grew. He had experienced losses throughout his life, with the passing of his parents, Peter's mother, stepfather and his uncle and Tony's friend, Ben. But he had also gained new family members: Rhodey’s family, Pepper, Happy and May, the Avengers, and Peter. Tony wouldn't change it for the world.