Scott walked into the Avenger Tower. It still felt weird to be here, like he didn't belong. He might do the superhero thing, but he got pulled into all this because of a very specific mission–stopping Darren Cross. And that was a while ago now. Sure, okay, maybe he ended up helping Cap with that whole thing with Bucky and that was like six months after Hank, Hope and he had beaten Cross.

But that was just a matter of helping your personal heroes out, ya know? Never in a million years did he expect he would walk in this tower as part of the official team. After ending up in the Raft only to be broken out by none other than Cap himself, and then the house arrest because of the whole breaking of the Accords bullshit, and then the parole….Scott shook his head. Again, it was just not something he expected to happen.

He wished he could blame the Avengers for the dissolution of things between him and Hope and even Hank; but he really couldn't. Hope had found her soulmate. He couldn't fault her for that. And Hank might have been upset that Scott had shown the suit to the team, but he understood that once he gave that suit to Scott, he had relinquished control because he didn't actually want it anymore.

Even if he still got a little star-struck by them from time to time, the fact was that the team had become a kind of family. Something he didn't even realize he was missing after losing Cassie. After losing Maggie. And after losing Hope and Hank.

In the elevator, Scott shook his head, looking up when a musical Irish voice asked, "Where to, Mr. Lang?"

"The common floor is just fine, thanks F.R.I.D.A.Y."

As the elevator hummed softly and climbed, Scott focused his thoughts back on Lexi. Had she basically friend zoned him? On Friday night, after they had returned from the bar, he had been certain she wanted him to make a move. He nearly did, but chickened out at the last second, kissing her on the cheek instead.

Maybe that's why she didn't want to go on a date. Maybe he already messed this up. Shit, why was this so hard? His other relationships weren't like this. He was supposed to be a charmer. A smooth operator.

The elevator door opened, and he put the thoughts aside for the time being. Way out of his mind. Right now, he didn't want to get interrogated by a bunch of super geniuses and super spies. Then he remembered Wanda. The young woman could read minds. Shit. Maybe she wasn't in the common area right now.

He was still standing in the middle of the elevator, staring out into the room, stuck in thought. Clint stopped as he was walking by. "Scott? You okay?"

Scott smiled briefly and stepped out of the elevator. "Yeah, of course. Hey, do you know who is around?

The archer motioned vaguely with the coffee cup he was holding. "The kids are around here somewhere, and I think the science bros are currently camping out in the lab again."

The kids were Pietro and Wanda, Sokovian twins who experimented on and trained by Hydra and eventually defected to the Avengers and Parker, a genius teenager who was Stark's protégé. The science bros were Banner and Stark.

Scott nodded as he wandered into the kitchen and grabbed his own cup of coffee. Clint followed him in, boosting himself up on the counter and staring. Scott scowled, "What?"

Clint just smiled into the cup. "So, are you planning on telling anyone why you wanted to know when Stark was out of the tower like a month ago?"

Scott leaned back, considering things. "Eventually."

There was a breeze and Clint's cup was gone. The archer stared at his empty hand and then looked up at the silver-haired man smirking at him and drinking his coffee. "What? You didn't see that coming?"

A glowing red light suddenly surrounded the cup and removed itself from his hands and floated back over to Clint. Wanda came into the room, scolding her twin. "Don't be rude, Pietro."

Pietro shrugged and in a second and another whirled-breeze and he was drinking from his own cup, "You know, I'm the oldest so I don't have to listen to you."

Wanda ignored her brother and instead focused on Scott. Her eyes glowed slightly at the edges, and she tilted her head curiously. Scott was pretty sure she just read his mind, and he shook his head just the slightest bit when she opened her mouth. She closed it before saying anything, but there was a glint in her eyes that told Scott she would not let it go completely.

Clint was back to staring at Scott, and he shifted uncomfortably with the scrutiny. Damn spies. Scott pushed off the counter and left them in the kitchen, trying to decide if it would be worth the hassle of dealing with Stark so that he could talk to Bruce and maybe get some answers.

Scott shoved his hands in his pockets as he stood indecisively at the elevator, weighing the decision. Stark could be a real pain in the ass. He was snarky and egotistical. And he kept pushing Scott to move into the tower with the rest of them.

Deciding, Scott pushed the button for the elevator. When the doors opened, the car already had two someones inside it. Scott hesitated for a moment before he entered the car and stood next to the two gods.

"Scott! This news is amazing." Thor's voice boomed throughout the small space and Scott winced a little as the massive man thumped his shoulder, wondering what was 'this news' he was referring to. The doors shut, but the car didn't move.

Loki sighed and rolled his eyes. "Brother, leave the mortal alone before you accidentally break him or something."

"Can you not sense it, brother?" Thor boomed, clapping his hand on Scott's shoulder again, causing him to stumble forward a little.

Scott straightened himself and turned towards the giant next to him. "What news are you talking about, Thor?"

Loki leaned against the side of the car, looking bored. "Yes, brother, please share what news you are talking about."

Thor looked shocked as he looked down at Scott. "The news of you finding your soulmate."

Scott's mouth fell open. "How do you know that?"

Thor shared a look with his adopted brother before turning back to Scott. "You have gained your mark."

Scott looked down at himself. "What are you talking about?"

Loki sighed. "You were going somewhere, yes?"

"Ah, um, yes. F.R.I.D.A.Y. can you take me wherever Bruce is?" Scott said, with a look up to the ceiling. It was a habit that everyone had picked up when they addressed the A.I.

The A.I.'s Irish accent flowed out, "Of course, Mr. Lang. Mr. Banner is in Lab 3C."

Scott nodded as if that made any actual sense to him and he heard the low hum as the car's mechanics moved. Scott turned his attention back to Thor. "What mark are you talking about?"

Thor shared a look with Loki again, and it was Loki who answered, "What my oaf of a brother is referring to is the fact that when a person finds their soulmate or mates, each one receives a mark on their soul. It's not something that mortals can usually see, but as the two of us are not mortals, it is obvious."

Scott blinked, then his brows furrowed. He crossed his arms, feeling oddly exposed. "Wait, are you telling me you guys can see human's souls?"

Loki rolled his eyes again. "It's more like we can see the auras."

"And your aura, size-changer, yours has gained a new look to it. Which means you have found your soulmate. So, who is the lucky person?" Thor boomed.

The car came to a stop, and the doors opened. Before stepping out, Scott shook his head and said, "It's complicated."

Loki suddenly straightened in interest as the doors closed behind him. Loki looked at his brother, but Thor was already thinking of something else. While the both of them could see the aura of others, Loki could understand it more fully. Lang's aura change was obviously because of coming in contact with his soulmate, but there was something different about this soulmate. Loki wanted to find out, it would provide him with something interesting to do for a while at least.

Scott wandered down the hallway in section Lab 3C until he saw the familiar form of Banner bent over a lab table. He groaned a little when he saw Stark was also in the lab, flicking images around on a screen as he worked on whatever it was the pair was working on.

The tousled head of Peter Parker popped up from where he had been crouching and his eyes landed on Scott.

"Mister Ant-ma—-I mean Mister. Lan—I mean Mister Scott." Peter stammered as a way of greeting.

"Jesus Christ kid, breathe. Did you just call him Mister Scott? Lang, just the guy we could use."

Tony went off about what they were working on, but Scott held up his hands. "Woah, wait, I'm actually here to talk to Bruce."

The mild-mannered scientist looked surprised. "Me? Why?"

Scott rubbed the back of his neck ruefully. "Uh, I was hoping we could talk in private?"

Bruce twisted the tool in his hand for a moment before setting it aside and standing, motioning Scott forward to another area of the lab. When he shut the door between the two areas, Tony's eyes narrowed in consideration before he turned away and ordered, "F.R.I.D.A.Y., I want eyes and ears in that lab."

"Certainly, sir." The A.I. responded.

Peter glanced between the screen Tony was now standing behind and the closed door where Scott and Bruce had gone, "Uh, Mister Stark—"

Tony didn't look away from the screen. "Kid, what did I tell you about calling me that?"

Peter flushed, "Um. Sorry. Uh. But I just don't think—"

"Just spit it out, kid."

He waved his hands vaguely, "Don't you think that's, well, that's not your business?"

Tony snorted, "My tower. My business kid."

In the other lab, Bruce leaned against a table as Scott took to pacing around the room, running his hand through his hair as he did. The other man looked on with some concern. "What's the matter Scott?"

"How much do you know about soulmates, Doc?" Scott finally asked.

Whatever Bruce thought this was about, this wasn't even on the list. Bruce pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Ah, well, it's never really been an area of expertise of mine. Why?"

Scott let out a gusty sigh. "Because I've met mine."

Bruce perked up. "Hey, that's great news!" But then he caught the look on Scott's face. "Isn't it?"

Scott shrugged and said for the second time in less than five minutes, "It's complicated."

Bruce nodded slowly, holding his hands out. "Okay, well, maybe I can help?"

Scott laid it out for the scientist, pacing all the while. When it was finally done, Bruce took off his glasses and tucked them into one of his lab coat pockets.

"So, what you are concerned the most about is what? That she has three other soulmates?" Bruce asked.

Scott jerked his head. "No, I don't care about that. I understand that some people have multiple soulmates."

Bruce was confused. "Then what exactly are you worrying about?"

Scott finally sat down, spinning the stool towards the doctor. "Mostly, is it possible that two people who are soulmates don't have the same bond?"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, like one feels the bond only platonically and the other feels it romantically?" Scott asked. There was a frankness in his eyes as he stared at the other man.

Bruce shifted uncomfortably. "As far as I know, that doesn't happen. It would destroy the whole reason behind a person having a soulmate. Not every person needs a soulmate who is platonic or one who is romantic, but every person needs a soulmate and that soulmate will need to have the same need."

Scott sighed sadly. "That's what I was afraid of."

Bruce looked confused again. "Why?"

Scott shook his head again, sighing a little as he considered the conversation. "Because that means she is intentionally holding back from the bond."

Bruce looked at him. "Well, I guess that just means that you are going to have to figure out why."

Scott laughed humorlessly, "Yes, I suppose that is what that means. I just don't know how that's going to happen."

Bruce shook his head, standing straight again and patting the other man on the shoulder as he left the lab and went back to Tony and Peter.


I was in the archives when I felt eyes on me. Looking up from my task, I saw no one. But the feeling persisted. I tried to focus back on the shelves in front of me, but almost immediately, the hairs on the back of my neck rose and my skin broke out with goosebumps. I kept my eyes down, but now I sent out tendrils of thought. We lived in a world of people with extraordinary powers, a world where people weren't just humans.

So, when my thought tendrils brushed against the foreign mind, I knew immediately who was watching me. I yanked my power back in, throwing up the walls as fast as I could. There was a coalescence of green light, and he stepped forward. I turned to face him, tilting my head back so I could look into his face.

The first thought I had was just how tall he seemed and the second was that all the media really didn't do his intense looks justice. His eyebrow quirked, and a smirk ghosted over his lips as he studied me. It was a bit like what I imagine a rabbit would feel like staring into the eyes of a wolf.

I took a shaky breath, then fixed a smile on my face. "Is there something I can help you with, sir?"

Pleased that my voice came out steady, even if my pulse was not. His green eyes fired and a predatory smile broke out on his face. "Well, when I came looking for the size-changer's mate, I wasn't expecting to find anything but a mundane mortal. Instead, he has paired with a mind walker. Does he know yet?"

I felt my pulse kick up more. Clearly, he was referring to Scott, which meant that he didn't know the fact that Scott wasn't my only soulmate. At least I hoped he didn't. I was determined to keep my distance to prevent that from happening.

Loki was looking at me, waiting for a response. All I could say was, "I'm sorry, I don't know what you are talking about."

Loki tsked, stepping forward, eyes flashing when I automatically took a step back. I tried again. "Look, if there isn't anything I can help you with, I need to get back to work. I'm quite busy."

Loki brought one of his hands out from behind his back and flicked his fingers. There was a green glow and a translucent green bubble surrounded us. I stared at it in surprise before I brought my gaze back to his.

He returned his arm back behind his back and tilted his head as he let his eyes roam over me. "Now, answer. Does he know that you have powers?"

I considered continuing to deny everything, but Loki had a reputation and I didn't feel like testing it. He might be on the 'good side' but he tried to take over the world a few times and all that.

"Why do you care?"

"Boredom."

I snorted, "Excuse me? You are telling me you, who are a literal god, got bored and decided you'd hunt down the soulmate of an Avenger? For what shits and giggles?"

His hands fell to his side as he apprised me. "This is a lot more interesting than being dragged into shenanigans with Thor."

I crossed my arms, "Uh-huh. Yet, before you showed up, you just thought I was some mundane mortal, so that doesn't quite track."

Interest flashed over Loki's face as he regarded me for a long moment before he lifted his shoulders in the barest shrug, "Lang was heading to the lab when Thor and I ran into him, and he seemed a little—miffed when Thor brought up the soulmate mark and I was curious to see what would have caused that. Call me nosey."

"More like meddlesome," I muttered under my breath, and then what he said fully hit me. "Wait, did you just say Scott has a soul mark?"

Loki strolled around the edges of the bubble of magic, humming delicately, "All soul bonded people have soul marks. You can't see it with the naked eye. It's tied into your aura. Thor and I, being different species than humans, can perceive the auras of other people."

I ran my tongue around my teeth as I filed that information away. I was turning to keep Loki at my front as he paced. It was time I ended this conversation and left. The longer I spent in Loki's presence, the higher the chance he would discover something that I didn't want him to. "Okay, well, I really don't see how any of this is your business?"

Loki stopped pacing, turning once more to face me squarely. "So, you are a mind walker and you have four soulmates."

I felt my mouth drop open in shock, but before I could say anything Loki continued, "How is it you already know who your soulmates are when they don't know who you are? Well, aside from Lang?"

I sighed. "I have no idea. It just is."

I turned away from him finally, striding over to the far edge of the bubble and poking at the green magic. It pushed out at the pressure; the color swirling some, but didn't break. I turned around to demand that he let the magic down and he was standing so close behind me I collided with his chest.

I swore as he hissed at the contact and jerked back. The magic bubble flickered and disappeared as he stared at me in a whole new way. "You?"

I rolled my eyes at the accusation in his tone and turned on my heel and fled the area. Swearing under my breath the whole while. This was just great. It was bad enough that I had accidentally chosen an apartment literally across the hall from one of my soulmates and I had to deal with him knowing me.

Now the two of them knew me. This was a mess.