#starkheiress

00.00.00.

Toni didn’t need to watch the numbers. When she was a teenager she had done the math. Figured out how old she should be when it hit zero. She then spent her adult life having fun, knowing that none of the people she slept with her her soulmate. 

She remembers meeting Pepper, and later looking down at her wrist wondering why it couldn’t have been at zero. That’s when she started doubting the whole soulmate thing. She knew that statistically most soulmates met and quickly fell in love, but there are always exceptions. Sometimes things between soulmates just didn’t work out, and sometimes they would just stay friends. Toni found herself late at night watching the numbers with a frown. What poor soul had the universe picked out for Toni Stark?

The year she turned 40 she tried desperately not to think about the numbers. Any day now they would run out. The day Toni met Stella Rogers the numbers were the last thing on her mind. So it was surprising when they caught her eye. Maybe it was the uniformity of the zeros, but she ended up looking down and stopping mid sentence.

"Huh." She looked up at the blonde with a quirk of her eyebrow. "I guess the universe does have it out for me."

Stella blinked, confused at the abrupt subject change, before she followed the inventor's gaze. Then, she lanced at her own wrist, and promptly felt her heart jump into her throat. "Excuse me?" She said, and it came out harsh and bitter. She thinks she's allowed.

Stella had always been flabbergasted as a child, seeing the crazy sum on her wrist. She had always assumed that it would be a platonic soulmate, some stranger she would meet when she was old and grey, and they would hit off as if they had known each other for years.

She dealt with knowing it wouldn't be Bucky, nor Deandra Miller from her high school softball team. She dealt with the fact that it wasn't Peggy or Howard or any of the commandos, any soldiers she met at the front.

Why Toni had agreed to go with Stephanie  on her morning run was beyond her. Not only was it way to early for any sane person  to be awake, but running was evil. It had to be,  she decided. The only acceptable time to run is when your running away from something.

"I think I’m dying."

Stephanie let out a loud laugh. She was glad to have company on her morning  runs, but she couldn't help but be absolutely amused by Toni's words. She had no idea  the woman wasn't fond of running. 

Send me a ♬ and I’ll create a five song playlist from my muse to yours.

Leave Out All the Rest- Linkin Park

    I’m strong on the surfaceNot all the way through           I’ve never been perfect  But neither have you

Check Yes Juliet- We the Kings

    Run baby run            Don’t ever look back                     They’ll tear us apart if-                                       you give them the chance

Bones- Young Guns

        Down under the night sky I lay in wait        Praying to whoever will listen to me.                                     I’d fashioned my own cross,                                     Been crushed by its weight.      There’s no stronger message      Than dirt in your face.

Fire- Ingrid Michaelson

                                         Heart attack up your sleeve                              You can make me believe                                       That I will grow from the ground                                After you burn me down

You Know Where to Find Me- Imogen Heap

She wasn’t quite sure if Stephanie was joking or not, but she wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass. Toni leaned up and pulled the taller woman close. The kiss was hard and passionate.

"We should be alone more often."

Stephanie was joking. Or at least she thought she was joking. Usually displays of affection such as this one made her uncomfortable. But as the  brunette kissed her, she quickly relaxed into it.

Her once wide eyes slowly closed and when she finally pulled back, her eyes opened and she blushed the  tiniest bit looking as if she could't  believe that actually happened. 

        “You’re broken.”