Deciding on that as a reasonable course of action, he lingered out of the way, watching Leopold and his Dr. Simmons in particular, seeing the way that they managed to work together without speaking. Either that was a good sign – they were so in tune that they didn't need discussion – or a bad one – they were so out of touch that it was easier not to discuss anything. Regardless, he wanted to talk to Dr. Simmons and tell her what he knew Leopold hadn't told her himself… not, at least, since the day that the duo had nearly drowned.

Watching them work as he had been, Loki saw the moment when she noticed that there was an unexpected personage in the room. She dropped the roll of gauze that she'd been just about to put back in its place, going just a little bug-eyed as she stared at Peggy Carter talking to Captain Rogers.

"Is that…? How…? What?!"

Loki smiled in amusement. Apparently Captain America wasn't the only one with fans in this base. Seeing who she was looking at with such amazement, Leopold grinned too and pointed in Loki's direction. This was yet another thing that the two men had discussed via text. Did it say something about Leopold and Dr. Simmons that the engineer obviously hadn't shared their correspondence with his soulmate? He decided that he was reading into things too much and stayed behind when Dr. Simmons and Leopold put their lab to rights while everyone else migrated into the lounge.

Seeing the nervous gaze that Coulson shot to Thor, Loki's brother declared, "I'd prefer to stay by Loki" and did accordingly.

"Disappointed not to go with your friends?" Loki asked under his breath when Thor came to stand at his side.

"No. The Falcon and his soulmates went in an entirely different direction than the rest, so they aren't all together anyway," Thor answered. "Moreover, you deserve a chance to see your own friends as well without censor." With that, Thor nodded pointedly towards Leopold.

"Without censor" might have been a little presumptuous, Loki realized, taking in the nervous tautness of Dr. Simmons stance, but there was a chance that he could work with that. Smiling gratefully at Thor, Loki stepped up to where both doctors were putting away the last of their things while they made harmless banter about just how obvious it was that Skye had a type.

"Hello again, by the by, my old friend," he greeted Leopold. "My… tackle at the entrance didn't harm you, did it?"

Dr. Simmons looked between the duo in alarm, but remained silent as Leopold rotated his neck experimentally. "No," the man answered, but Loki had seen him wince.

"I could use a touch of my healing powers to take away the soreness, if you'd like," he offered with a smile that might've been more of a grimace. "Please, allow me; I feel rather responsible for this mess to begin with."

Leopold nodded then, turning his back to Loki as the Jotun informed him, "Agent Carter has compared this particular spell to a… what did she call it... 'an instant ice-pack'."

Leopold smiled over his shoulder as Loki brushed his fingertips over the back of the other man's neck – then hissed as an unexpected pain blossomed where they touched. Loki's eyes blew wide as he felt the same stabbing pain in his fingertips, his heart suddenly hammering in his chest. No, that didn't just happen!

But it had, Loki realized, staring down at his redacted hand in shock. A silver rune – silver soulmark – now adorned the tip of every one of the fingers on his right hand where he had touched the engineer.

Then he noticed that Dr. Simmons was staring at him, and Leopold too over his shoulder. It hit him then that they didn't realize what had just happened – Leopold couldn't even see the five green marks now on his own body. Just as soon as that thought came to mind, he decided that he wasn't going to tell them either, not yet. These two deserved to learn to love one another as they ought before he tried to throw himself into the mix.

But what to do right this instant?

"I'm sorry," he told Leopold a little hastily. "I wasn't thinking; the spell had strength enough for an Asgardian, not a Midgardian. May I try again?"

Dr. Simmons looked leery, but Leopold obviously trusted him, simply nodding and turning back around. This time when Loki touched him nothing happened – the soulmark had already just been formed, so nothing else should've occurred – and the spell was able to take effect.

"That… does… feel… better," Leopold grinned, turning back around to face Loki. "Thanks."

Loki smiled as well as he could, an entirely new sort of lonely ache taking up residence in his chest as he replied, "You're welcome."

Leopold turned to Dr. Simmons and requested of Loki, "Do her… shoulders? She's… tense."

"I sincerely doubt that my touch would soothe your soulmate, Leopold," he replied, a dry, sad sort of smirk coming onto his lips before slipping off in its entirety as he realized. If Leopold was Loki's soulmate, and Dr. Simmons was Leopold's soulmate, then there was a fair chance that this tense, pixie-like woman was also Loki's soulmate.

He didn't know whether he ought to cry or wretch, so he settled for smoothing a smile back onto his face and asking, "Should we join the others in the lounge now?"

"Yes," Dr. Simmons said quickly, gesturing for Leopold to follow her.

Loki made to trail the duo, seeing for the first time how Thor had taken a few steps towards them from where he'd stationed himself and was now watching Loki intently. His brother had obviously seen everything and realized what Leopold had not. Thor grabbed Loki's arm as he moved to pass him and waited until Leopold and Dr. Simmons were out of hearing range before he spoke.

"Why do I get the feeling that you wouldn't take kindly to congratulations right now?" Thor asked, searching Loki's face and trying to understand.