Note: As the previous chapter, references to the latest episode ('Afterlife'), and 'spoilers' based on the trailers for Age of Ultron.

"Fast Ones"

'I am the one they call Quicksilver.'

Leo Fitz had had those words most of his life, standing out stark against his chest, running from one nipple to the other. It was spiky, exotic handwriting, which he had tried to analyse with no luck. There was no record of someone named Quicksilver, although it contributed to his fascination in physics. It occurred to him to look for references to the element mercury, and even the Roman god Mercury and his Greek equivalent Hermes. Nothing concrete.

And then he was hiding out, waiting for word from Coulson – hell, from anyone – when Ultron began to take over the city. Leo stayed in his room, trying to work out something to help the Avengers in taking out the despotic robot. It was hard without the others to support him, to use as sounding boards. Even his hallucination of Jemma would make him feel less lonely, more useful.

But the Avengers succeeded, and he sat back with a sigh of relief. He had some medical knowledge, but would it be too dangerous for him to go out in public with HYDRA always on the lookout?

No. If people needed him, he'd go.

"…two new Avengers, the public are calling them Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver…"

Leo tripped, and nearly face-planted against the door. He whirled around and ran back to the television, watching the reports with hungry eyes.

Quicksilver. The one with white hair. Quicksilver. My soulmate. Quicksilver.

"An Avenger," he whispered. "That's impossible."

There was a call for volunteers to assist with cleanup. Well, Leo had his own tech. He could help scan the areas. But then this wasn't Greenwich; no bits of alien matter posing dangers to the public. He grabbed the case on the way out, nonetheless, and his medical kit. The council had already organised buses to take volunteers to the worst-affected, so he hopped onto the nearest one, showing his first aid kit as added incentive.

Please let this be the right bus… please take me to him…

The DWARFs – thank you, Jemma – examined the site under his watchful eyes, between patching up injuries. He was peripherally aware of the television cameras, but the harsh light of the sun was enough to warrant sunglasses and a hat, provided by nearby supermarkets. Feeling relatively safe, he continued to monitor the DWARFs and tend the wounded, getting a bit of a flush every time someone thanked him profusely.

"Are those your flying robots?" a woman asked, pointing at Sleepy.

"Oh," he said. He hadn't considered how people might feel about seeing more robots after what'd just happened. "Uh, yes. Assessing the area for any more danger. Don't want a repeat after the Chitauri and three years ago, not to mention London last year."

"Did you make them?"

"Yes, I did." He smiled, putting the last bandage around her knee. "There you are."

"Do you need more supplies?" she said.

Leo looked over the crowd. "Probably, yeah."

"I'll see if I can organise some." She stood up, and he steadied her.

"That'd be great, thanks," he said.

"No, thank you, sweetie. What's your name?"

"Oh… I'm nobody."

She looked amused. "Not supposed to be away from work?"

"Something like that." He turned back to the readings, and was pleased to see that there was no alien matter. "Come on back, then. Time to pack up and move on. We might be needed elsewhere. No, Grumpy, get back in here."

He was so busy arranging the DWARFs in the case that he didn't notice he had company until there was a shadow looming over him. He tensed every time someone approached him, and looked up.

"Are you injured?" he asked the man.

"We've got plenty of first aid workers here, but the young lady over there told us what you were doing. Iron Man is still repairing his armour, but it seems like you have just the right tools with you."

"Uh, who are you?"

"Mr. Roberts." They shook hands. "I'm from Stark Industries' insurance division."

"Stark Industries is in insurance now?"

"We assess the damage done by superheroes."

Leo snorted softly. "Must be busy."

"Would you like to come with us? Other areas could use this technology."

"Um… I'll catch a bus there."

"I understand. You don't want someone else to get their hands on your invention."

"…Exactly that. Yes."

"Go wherever you need to, Mr…?"

"I'm sorry, I'm needed elsewhere, goodbye," he said, snapping the case shut. Then he grabbed the first aid kit and ran towards one of the buses about to depart.

Wanda looked tired. Pietro sat beside her as they snacked on burgers, sitting with the other Avengers where they couldn't be seen by the public.

"SHIELD used to organise the cleanup so that we could stay out of sight," Natasha said, helping herself to fries from one of the large boxes someone had bought for them.

"No more SHIELD," Clint said, grabbing a handful of fries himself.

"Huh." Tony was playing on his phone between bites of burger. "Some whiz kid is scanning the wreckage using robotic tech."

"What?" Bruce said, tensing up.

"He's been going from place to place. Just got a message from our insurance division that he's nearly finished. Pretty close to here, actually. He's also administering first aid, but he won't tell anyone his name." He put his phone down. "I'll have JARVIS do a city-wide scan as well, as soon as the suit's in flying condition."

"You did good today."

They all jumped at the deep voice coming from the shadows, and then a black man with sunglasses emerged. Pietro glanced at the Avengers, who relaxed when they saw him.

"Nice time to show up, Fury," Steve said.

"Had some problems since we last met. Been sorting them out. And what use would I be against that?" He jerked his head towards all the rubble, and the bits of Ultron's duplicates scattered and inert. "These your new team-mates?"

"Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, twins," Clint said, gesturing to them. "They did pretty good, too."

"Hello, new message from Roberts," Tony said, fiddling with his phone again. "Looks like Whiz Kid is heading our way. Should see his mini-bots in action."

"Who?" Fury asked.

"Someone apparently checking out the destruction using his own tech." He did something complicated to the screen, and a holographic projection appeared of a young man with a hat, dark glasses, and a metal case appeared. Fury moved closer, squinting, and then his expression cleared and he laughed.

"I think I'm gonna stay here for this," he said, and he sat beside Thor, who glared at him. Fury ignored it, and stole some nuggets.

"You know who he is?" Steve said.

"Yes. That's why I'm gonna wait."

"Screw this," Tony said, standing up. "I'm gonna go see him myself."

"No time." He pointed at a contraption which flew close by, a circle with four legs, running little lights over the ground. They all stayed quiet and heard someone muttering on the other side of the wall.

"Sneezy, what're you doing? Eh, Dopey, you've done your job, get out of there, daft bugger." Fury snorted, and the talking stopped. Seconds later, the same 'Whiz Kid' popped his head around the wall, and jumped back when he saw them.

"Hey, you, get over here!" Tony called, waving.

"Who, me?"

"Yes, you, before my suit thinks that your toy's a threat and takes it out."

"No!" The young man ran into the area, six other robots flying after him. "Leave Happy alone, he's just curious."

"Did you name those after the seven dwarfs?" Steve said. The man nodded slowly, until Fury cleared his throat.

"Sir!"

"At ease, Fitz. I'm just here for the greasy food." He looked at them. "Agent Fitz is one of our top engineers. Genius IQ. Keep away from him, Stark. He's not yours."

"Now, now." Tony grinned. "You know that's just gonna make me wanna play with him even more."

"You're not playing with me!" the man – Fitz, was it? – said.

"Where are you working now that SHIELD's gone?" Tony said.

"Erm… nowhere, really. Could I have a word with you, Mr. Fury? It's quite urgent."

"If it's about Gonzales, I already know," Fury said.

"You… you do?"

"The director has spoken to me."

"Our director?"

"As long as you're loyal to him."

"Of course. So… he's alive?"

Fury nodded, stealing more fries. "Yep."

"Oh, thank God. I need to get this back to him." He dug around in what looked like a first aid kit, and pulled out a small box. "Gonzales wanted it, but Jemma – you remember Simmons?"

"I remember pulling the two of you outta the ocean."

Fitz grimaced. "Yeah. Well, she made a fake. This is the real one."

"I'll put your director in touch with you."

He sighed. "Thank you, sir."

"Wait, is there… is there a new SHIELD?" Steve said, his eyes growing wide. "What the hell?"

"At least two of them, apparently," Fitz muttered. "Sir, can I get on with my job now? They're nearly done." He tapped the metal case, and Fury nodded.

"Anything of concern, Fitz?"

"Nothing of concern so far, and no alien matter this time, which makes a change."

"A positive one?"

"With Simmons still being held prisoner by Gonzales and his so-called 'real SHIELD'? Yeah, I'm not a bio-scientist. Oh, there we are." He had a tablet out and the case open, and smiled widely. "Done now? Come back to Daddy. That includes you. Don't go straying off… honestly."

It was adorable, the way he coaxed the robots back into their places, touching each of them on the head as though he was saying goodnight. Pietro couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene, not even as Wanda pressed a drink into his hands.

"Perhaps you should take a photograph of the scene?" she said, elbowing him gently.

"Shut up, Wanda."

"We should introduce ourselves to him."

"Great idea," Steve said. Pietro saw his pinch-lipped grin. Damnit, of course he could hear them. Hell, he probably saw Pietro staring at Fitz. "Agent Fitz!"

"Yes, Captain America, sir?" Fitz said, fiddling with the handle of his bag. "I was, uh, just about to go…"

"No, come over here. I'm sure Tony wants to talk to a technical genius like yourself."

"And look at your flying scanners," Tony said.

"Uh… okay." He walked across to them, skirting around debris. "Hello."

"What's your name?" Rhodey said. Pietro liked Rhodey. He was by far the most sensible of the group.

"Leo Fitz. I work for SHIELD. Or worked for. I had to leave, to get the toolbox away, and, uh… I graduated from the SHIELD academy about ten years ago…"

"Fury told us you were a genius," Bruce said. "What's your speciality?"

"Technical engineering. My best friend Jemma Simmons and I built the DWARFs. That, uh, stands for Drones Wirelessly Automated to Retrieve Forensics."

"SHIELD really is built on acronyms," Tony said. "Simmons… wait." He dropped a fry. "You're half of FitzSimmons?"

"Yes."

"Damnit, I read your SHIELD file. I wanted to poach you for SI!"

"The last couple of years I've been on a team we bribed our way onto," Fitz said, shrugging, "so I don't know how successful you might've been. It would take a lot of cupcakes."

"I'd buy you a cupcake franchise if you came to work for me."

"Uh." He coughed. "Thank you, but there are bigger things at stake. Not that I'm not flattered, I really am, but…"

Tony sighed. "The tall building on Park Avenue. Can't miss it. Change your mind, swing by, we'll talk baked goods."

"I'll bear it in mind."

Steve got them all to introduce themselves then. Pietro was at the end of the group, Wanda sitting next to Natasha, and he gave Fitz a small smile.

"…and Pietro, Wanda's twin brother," Steve said.

"I am the one they call Quicksilver," Pietro added.

He wasn't expecting the beaming smile that brought to Fitz's face, making Pietro's heart skip a beat. He almost missed the reply.

"I didn't understand my mark until today," Fitz said.

Wanda gasped, and glanced at Pietro. His half-eaten burger dropped from his hand, and he dashed down to Fitz, stopping only a few scant inches from him. He looked down, wanting to reach out but scared to make that contact. After everything he and Wanda had done, had almost done for Ultron…

"I am so glad I chose the right side," he whispered, looking over his soulmate's face.

"I'm glad I chose to risk being found by HYDRA to see if this," Fitz tapped his chest, "meant you. I was going to help, and then they said your name on the news…"

Pietro knew he must have been smiling foolishly, but he couldn't bring himself to care about that. "Please say you do not wish only a platonic soulbond?"

"God, no. I've waited twenty-seven and a half years for this moment. Call me sentimental, but I really don't want a platonic bond with my soulmate."

"Good." Pietro lowered his head, hoping Fitz would take that last step. He had a moment of worry when the scientist stepped back, but it was only to put his cases down before he moved back to Pietro, cupped the back of his head, and pulled him down for a kiss.

There were obnoxious cheers from the others, but Pietro ignored them. His mind was in a spin, and he wanted to do so much, everything at once. He touched Fitz's sides, lightly, not sure what he should be doing but desperate to feel.

"It's alright," Fitz murmured against his lips. "Don't be shy."

"I've never…"

"It's alright. I'll help you."

"Do… do you have a nickname?"

"Well." Fitz paused. "A friend… he betrayed me, but he used to call me Turbo."

"Fast, like me," Pietro said, smiling.

"Just the way I talk sometimes, but, uh…"

"Let's get back to the tower," Tony said. "Bring your toys with you, Fitz."

"I can see a certain someone being horrified as soon as he finds out," Fury said. "Stay at Stark Tower, Fitz. It'll be easier for us to find you."

"Yes, sir," Fitz said, stroking Pietro's hair and his left arm. "I've just gotta pick up my other bag, then I'm all yours, Pietro."

"All mine." He pressed their foreheads together. "I don't have anything except the clothes on my back."

"I'll change that, I promise."

"Oh?" Pietro raised his eyebrows, and Fitz blushed.

"Not like that," he said. "It's my duty to look after you. And I'll look after your sister as well. Whatever you want, just come to me."

"Fitz…"

"You're my responsibility now." He grinned. "I can't wait to tell Simmons. She'll be pleased as punch that I've found you."

"Pleased as punch?"

"Must be a Briticism, that."

Pietro ducked his head. "I look forward to learning more of your 'Briticisms'."

"Oh my God, you're adorable. I'm keeping you."

Busy in the kitchen, Wanda missed the arrival of Fitz's friend. She carried out the tray of drinks, practising her telekinesis. She saw a woman with shoulder-length light brown hair chattering to Fitz and Pietro in a rapid English accent. She was very pretty, and Wanda averted her gaze when the woman turned, not wanting to be caught staring.

"This is my friend, Jemma Simmons," Fitz said.

"Would you like some help with that, Wanda?" She looked up, and realised that it was Fitz's friend who was speaking. And she promptly dropped the tray. Fortunately, Pietro was there in an instant to catch it. He straightened up and stared at his sister.

"What were the odds?" he said. She laughed hysterically for a few seconds, and then covered her mouth. "Say something."

"You are my soulmate?" she asked Jemma. The woman gaped, and then smiled.

"Well, that's a turn up for the books, isn't it?"

Pietro sniggered. "Another 'Briticism'?"

Yep. Another one.

I decided this would be a cute one, partly because one is Quicksilver, and the other is Turbo. Hence the name of the chapter. TurboSilver? TurboQuick? Fitzro?

Are these two adorable, or too adorable, my dear readers?