When Laura was finally escorted out of the interrogation room, she was surprised to see that she was still in the tower. The structure of the room had suggested that it was located on a ground or basement level. Did Stark have secret basement interrogation rooms in his tower? That seemed distinctly unsafe.

With her escort leading the way, Laura entered an elevator and rode up the 90 or so floors to the main gathering space. She found all the Avengers were assembled there, including 'reserve' members Falcon and War Machine, and a few other associated people (Jane, Pepper Potts, and… Maria Hill?).

"I assume you have heard my story." Laura spoke with a detached tone that had once been her regular speaking pattern.

Falcon scoffed. "Yeah, they gave us the crash course. You're a member of a human subspecies from another universe, you have claws and can heal insanely fast, and you've been marked by some sort of magic space power." He paused and turned towards the rest of the Avengers. "And you guys believe this shit?"

Laura raised an eyebrow. "But you do not question that I'm covered in my own blood? Or that Darcy and I are separate identities?"

The room was silent until Stark started laughing. "Yeah, well you are sounding a bit like sci-fi novel narration. On the other hand, we have proof of some of your claims. You change physically when you switch between Darcy and Laura through your posture and the way you talk. A quick look at your blood shows your evolutionary position. Thor gives credit to that universe power. And clearly," He gestured at her clothes, "we saw your healing ability. Also, what the fuck was that display? Slitting your own throat?"

Laura smirked, "Darcy likes to be dramatic. She also wanted to show to you that almost nothing you can do to me would have any lasting mark."

"Yeah, well fuck you. Fuck Darcy. Whatever. That was horrifying." Stark was now sitting with his feet up on the coffee table. "Now, the real question is how can you prove that you're not Hydra? How can you even prove that you're from another dimension?"

"I can't." As Laura spoke, she turned her gaze to Bucky, the one she knew she hurt the most. "I can't prove that anything I've said is true, but it is. I am Laura Kinney, born X-23. I was used in countless ways against my will. All I wish is to have my own choices and to be allowed to know my soulmate."

"Why should we give you this chance? You already helped a thief break into my tower, steal an extremely valuable item, and you climbed up the exterior of my building using only your claws."

"You should give her the chance because you gave me one." All eyes in the room turned to Bucky. "You let me be a part of the team even though you know I haven't fully broken Hydra's control. This is Darcy and Laura, two people in a very similar situation to mine."

Barton snorted. "Not gonna lie, you're here because of what you mean to Cap over there."

"Then let them in because of what they mean to me. We're soul mates. I need to at least get a chance to know them."

"And I want to know him. I am trying to find myself. I will not snap and I will not fight as long as I am not threatened and am not needed. I shall leave you all to discuss, as it is clear that I can not say more to prove my point. I wish to get some food, and will be doing so."

Laura strode back the way she came, back into the elevator. She stood quietly as she stood alone within, until she reached the floor she had been living on.

Laura went straight to her room and tried to ignore the mess that had been made by whoever went through her stuff. She grabbed clothing from the back of the closet (that Darcy never dared to wear, but bought for Laura to wear someday) then headed into the bathroom.

As she stripped out of the bloody catsuit and stepped into the shower, Laura lost herself in her thoughts. While she had revealed herself, she still held onto her secrets - Remy and the other inhumans were safe, and the Avengers had no idea she was a clone or that she had claws in her feet. However, they knew about her duality, and could help her find a telepath. Maybe Doctor Strange could help. Was he ever Sorcerer Supreme yet? He could probably eliminate a personality from her mind. But was eliminating a personality even the right choice? Could she and Darcy merge? Could they be separated? Would it even make sense to do so?

Laura scrubbed the now dried blood from her neck. Was Bucky even her soulmate? It was Darcy who had spoken the words on his arm, not Laura. Did he have a secret second mark? Did she even count as a a separate person?

Laura continued to worry as she finished washing. When she stepped out of the shower, she heard a knock on the door.

"Who is there?"

"It's James. Uh, Bucky. I'll wait until you're out."

Laura felt something flutter in her chest. Nervousness? Worry? Excitement? Emotions were never something she was good at. "I will only be a moment."

She toweled herself dry and slipped into the her clothes. Laura wore a corseted top very similar to what she used to wear and a pair of sleek black leggings.

When Laura stepped out of the bathroom, who noticed that Bucky was sitting in the chair by the tv. He had turned towards her when the door opened and he seemed… surprised?

He then got a smile on his face. "I like your outfit. It's different from what you usually wear, though."

Laura shrugged, "I prefer to dress in this way. It is my own way of taking control of my choices. Darcy prefers clothing that hides her shape, so she chooses bulkier items."

She moved to sit in the chair opposite him.

"Have they decided my fate?"

Bucky nodded. "They're going to let you stay here, but you need to be supervised when you leave the tower. I'm currently under the same restrictions." He paused and took a deep breath. "Stark also said that he might have a way to burn your skin off like you asked."

Laura could tell that idea unsettled him. "I know it seems… unusual to request, but it's something I need to do. The form of my body is not my natural one, and it is negatively affecting the mental states of Darcy and myself. I suspect it is part of why we have split to separate identities."

She stood up and moved towards the door.

"Shall we go see see them?"

Bucky gave a small smile.