Ramblings from Apalapachia...

Texts From Superheroes

Facebook | Threads | Patreon | Instagram

It’s A Soulmark? is a Crackship Short featuring Skye and JARVIS/Vision.

Lots of requests fulfilled in this one… ace!character, binary soulmarks… hope you enjoy!

Reblogging for the evening crowd. And thank you to all the commentors (especially those who identify as on the ace spectrum!) for leaving me such lovely reviews!

I got asked if/how they could bond with no sexual activity. So here’s one possible little bonding scene as a bonus for my Tumblr followers ;)

“What about music?” Skye asked. “JARVIS liked swing, jazz, classical - wasn’t much interested in modern pop or anything like that. He gave me some great playlists.”

“I have the data,” Vision cocked his head thoughtfully. Skye found the very human gesture endearing. She snuggled a little closer against his broad chest. They were curled up on the big couch in Vision’s rooms at the Avengers Facility. He hadn’t originally had a bedroom - he didn’t need sleep - but had one put in once Skye joined him. And he didn’t mind lying down with her while she slept, too.

“The variations in music intrigue me,” Vision admitted finally. “The meter and rhyme. It is mathematical in its purity, and yet - there is emotion too, especially in some of the great classical works. Consider too how many of the more modern songs considered to be ‘great’ are written with variations of a mere three chords.”

Skye nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! So true.” She paused a moment. “JARVIS was educating me about swing music. I - rather liked it, and I saw some YouTube videos of the dancing style. I was wondering if I could maybe ask Captain Rogers to teach me? It looks like fun.”

Vision’s arms tightened around her. “I shall teach you.”

“You can dance?” she said, astonished.

He blinked a few times. “I can now. Come.” He stood, taking her with him easily, set her on her feet on the floor. Music swelled suddenly from speakers, a slower song to begin with, and Vision slipped one arm around Skye’s waist, the other holding her hand.

She was terrible. Skye burst out laughing as she tripped over her own feet for about the tenth time. “Oh my God. I’m glad I didn’t ask the Captain, I’d have made a fool of myself!” She knew Vision didn’t mind, though. Endlessly patient, he only smiled down at her.

“Your rhythm is off. Here. Stand on my feet.”

That made her smile. They were both barefoot for comfort - even Vision found wearing boots a little restrictive at times, and his skin did feel nice to Skye, so she looked down and moved to step carefully onto his feet.

The words on the sole of her left foot tingled oddly. Vision’s words were on the top of his right foot, so they were actually in contact. Not that bonding was ever going to happen anyway, since Vision wasn’t even functional sexually, much to Skye’s relief.

“Like this,” Vision said softly, taking the first step, and as he moved, Skye relaxed against him, leaning her head against his broad chest. She felt him press a kiss to the top of her head and sighed in utter contentment as they moved together in perfect harmony.

Even Vision gasped with surprise as the bond formed, an unbreakable link forging the two of them into a whole so much greater than the sum of their parts. Skye clung to him, stunned, as she saw for the first time the enormity of his power. 

Love the bonding scene. In my soulmark stories, I actually have Tam explain to Bucky that even platonic can form a strong bond, that it doesn’t depend on sex. Instead, I have it depend on the strength of their trust of each other because in my version, being soulmates doesn’t guarantee instant trust, it just means that you fill an empty spot in each other’s lives that you don’t even know exists. Someone may be very introverted and not realize they want to be more open until they meet their extroverted soulmate who starts taking them places and introducing them to people. I planned it that way because I know ace people and it felt “wrong” to me to have the idea that they had to have sex to have a strong bond. 

THIS. As soon as someone sent me a comment asking if it was still possible for them to bond without sex, I knew I had to write the little follow-up drabble. It’s 100% possible for people to love deeply and completely without needing sex, whether they’re ace or physically incapable of the intimacy. (I have a wheelchair-bound friend who isn’t physically capable, and he and his wife are one of the most in-love couples I know).

So long, darling.

(and Tommy who dressed as Uncle Piet)