Chapter Text
'I'm sorry.'
Those are the words your soulmate you say to you. Your sister would look at you with such sadness as teenagers and then pity when she found her soulmate and you still hadn't. She was worried that this would mean your soulmate wouldn't want you; but you were optimistic that they would whoever your soulmate is. Years went by and you never lost hope despite what the words on your wrist said.
Years passed and soon you were at Avengers Tower as liaison between them and the X-Men. You could help but be excited to not only be the one sent to the liaison but because this was your first solo 'mission.' That and you are going to be meeting and working along side the Earth's mightiest heroes...and Tony Stark. You spotted the landing bay and noticed that they were all outside waiting for you. You land and tuck your wings back as them stare open mouthed.
Captain America steps forward arm extended and kind smile on his face as he said, "Hi, thanks for coming out."
You nod with a kind grin of your own, "No problem, Mr. Rogers."
"Steve please," he said with a boyish grin and took a step to the side as he turned to introduce the rest of the merry band of misfits.
You nod to each of the team members with a smile and soon is meeting their families and friends.
You were at the bar getting a virgin drink and found yourself standing next to Clint Barton.
"Why does Stark call you Birdman?" You asked him.
His eyes widen and he pales as you utter the words and the following words out of his mouth freeze you in your spot... "I'm sorry."
At that moment twin calls for 'daddy' reach your ears as two children meet his legs. You ever the optimist hope that he's a single father but of course luck was not on your side as a gorgeous woman comes to stand next to him and presses a kiss to his cheek.
You take a deep breath take your drink and make a quiet exit to give the family their moment and you a chance to gather yourself enough to call the professor to send out someone else. You drank your lemon punch regretting not having asked the bartender to add the alcohol and made rounds on the floor putting up a strong front despite the heaviness you feel pulling you down. You saw Clint looking for you so you did your best to keep your head down and avoid him.
"Do you need some air?" Bucky asked a sympathetic grin on his face.
You nod gratefully at him and let him pull you out into the somewhat chilly air of the evening.
"Thanks," you say as you take gulps of air.
He nods and says, "Take the time you need."
He left you alone and you were more than glad to have this moment for yourself. You pulled out your phone and sent a quick message to Ororo about you going home early the next day.
"I...um..." you heard behind you and you turned to see Clint standing behind you, "I don't really–"
"You don't have to explain. And I don't expect you to just up and leave your family because words on our wrists say so...you love them...you love her. Its ok really," you say fighting the urge to scream as the words poured out of your mouth.
"Im sorry," he said again.
You nod wishing he'd stop saying those words the sting of the emotion behind them growing to a burn as the rejection of the bond became more real.
'Please just leave me alone,' You thought.
"If you ever wanna talk don't be afraid to knock on my door," he said scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
You gave a jerky nod and resisted the urge to sigh in relief when you saw Bucky come back out.
"Was gonna ask you if I could see your wing span?" he asked somehow knowing your predicament.
You gave him a smile and nod.
"Do you want to join us?" You asked out of courtesy.
"Na that's alright I need to be getting back to Laura and the kids," he said before saying his goodbyes.
Bucky offered you his arm which you gratefully took and made your way inside where Stark came up to you all smiles and a joke on the tip of his tongue before seeing how you looked.
"Someone I know where we can have some privacy," he said as he went to your free side wrapping your free arm around his elbow.
Soon you had both men with you in a fairly large bathroom where you were Bucky was holding your hair back as you threw up what little food you had eaten as Stark sifted through the cabinet for mouth wash and maybe some liquor.
"So Birdman's your soulmate?" Stark asked gently.
You nod as you lean into Bucky's embrace and break down to the fact that he's not your and wasn't yours to begin with.