Chapter Text
Upstate New York
Natasha:
Thanks to the constant advancements of Stark technology, Natasha and Thor were early for their meeting.
Like an hour early.
This was because after recent world events –specifically meeting Stephen Strange– Tony had his eye set on teleportation technology. And while SI was not opening interdimensional portals across the globe or phasing matter to space stations just yet, as a warm up Stark solved the Avengers personal New York gridlock issues with hover and thruster tech on a few of his favorite sports car models.
“If the Amazing Kreskin running around with a sentient Dracula cape can teleport, it’s only a matter of time before I work it out. You want the Bugatti or the Jag?”
“Why not just loan me a suit?”
“And have you miss out on road trip bonding time with Point Break? No way.”
Stark had a point. Driving with Thor would give her time to feel him out and make sure he was ready for this meeting…
“Fine. Whatever has the most leg room.”
Which was how she ended up, one Asgardian prince riding shotgun, gently landing what only looked like a ‘49 Mercury coupe beside the ivy covered carriage house behind Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
She glanced across the car at Thor. He’d been pensive and quiet most of the trip, but one of his knees had vibrated up and down the whole way. Nat felt lucky it hadn’t made the car shake. “You ready?”
He nodded, tight lipped.
As they got out, an elfin teacher’s assistant jogged across the flagstones to meet them. She clutched a thin tablet computer and was smiling, completely unfazed by the time or the throwback to Howard Stark’s original World’s Fair design now parked among the staff’s vehicles.
“I know we said 3. But, he’s eager to see him, you know?”
“Of course. Of course.” The young woman nodded, “totally understandable.” She pointed her smile at Thor. “How was the drive?”
“Is he here?” Thor blurted.
“Ah. Not just yet. Let me show you to the orientation hall though.”
And she walked them behind the carriage house, across the helipad and finally into one of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters newer large academic buildings, then through a pair of reinforced double doors and into what was... ostensibly a waiting room? If waiting rooms were typically the size of a school gymnasium.
“This is kind of a rec room for new students and guardians during evaluation and registration. It goes right into the private meeting rooms you’ll be using.” She pointed across to some halls on the far wall. “You can relax here – there’s cold drinks, or I can make something hot if you prefer?”
“Thank you. No. This is great.”
Surveying the area as she and Thor settled on a large sofa, Nat saw two levels to the room. The first surface level was warm and non threatening: Couches and soft armchairs of varying sizes. Fun kid’s furniture like bean bags and whistle seats. There were plush toys, some puzzles and Lego sets, all sorts of games stacked easily available on side tables and even a large erector set with some complex partially finished scaffolding and a ping pong table. But the second level belied the room’s safety concerns. The doorway they’d entered through was as deep as an office building’s foyer, indicating thick reinforcements to the walls. Many of the tables were not actually tables, but solid concrete molded directly with the floor allowing them to also act as heavy cover should things go flying.
Well... Had Natasha known the length and breadth of what being a student of the Red Room would entail, she might have tossed some furniture around during her intake too, she supposed. Not that she’d had any choice or opportunity. Still, Avenger’s Tower was too much in the public eye to pull off the meeting they were having today, and while Banner’s Hulk-proof floor might have been the safest place, the relative anonymity of Professor X’s school’s facilities, made to withstand an array of mutant powers, were a good second choice. And considering those involved, this definitely qualified as more neutral ground.
Beside her, Thor was also looking around the room curiously, though not with suspicion or with interest in the toys or games. Nat mentally tried to tally up how long it had been since he’d seen or spoken with his brother as she watched him absently rub the Soul Mark that had manifested on his neck and eagerly glance at the meeting room doors. It reminded her of Lucky when Clint had been out for too long. Poor guy. Also, how long had it been since that Mark appeared? With everything that had happened she wondered if he’d really had a chance to process that little dropped bomb. And of course it had to show up in a visible place, making the press bubble over with chatter about who gave the Asgardian prince the ultimate super hickey.
“How are you doing?”
He grinned at her sheepishly and huffed a little as he nodded. “I am well.”
“Might as well get comfortable.” She smirked and wafted a hand at the coffee table before them like a game show host. “Care for some reading material?”
The table was fanned with splashy colorful magazines from Ranger Rick, Highlights for Children and Parenting Today as well as several current teen rags.
Natasha’s eyes lit up. “Oooh. How about this one? Very topical.” She grabbed up the latest issue of FROSH and showed it to Thor tapping the main cover line in a looping electric green font, ‘SOUL MARKS and YOU!’
Thor rolled his eyes and craned to look at the clock then the far doors again, but Nat was not discouraged. She sidled next to him, flipping it open. “C’mon, maybe we’ll learn something…”
It Is What It Is...
“It seems like we’ve all been there: someone you know in class suddenly announces and all you can think is, “Will it ever happen for me?” Or maybe you wake up one morning and realize YOU’RE an early bird. Your Soul Mark has appeared! Now what? Never fear! Frosh is here to give you the ins, the outs, the ups, the downs and answer every question you might have on the mystery that is the SOUL MARK!”
So just what is a Soul Mark? According to Health Journal Today, “Popular medical theory is that the Soul Mark a psychosomatic physical manifestation from the subconscious that is not fully understood yet.” Right. So can we break that down a little? A Soul Mark is an image that appears on your skin after you come in contact with your Soul Mate, sort of like an organic tattoo.
But why do they appear?
Science doesn’t know exactly!
Simply put, a ‘Psychosomatic manifestation’ is your brain making something physically happen because it thinks it should, kind of like the placebo effect or people with positive attitudes often having better healing outcomes following injury or disease.
Rumors! Don’t believe ‘em!
But something as mysterious as Soul Marks creates a lot of questions! Here are some facts to keep in mind:
- How likely are you to develop a Soul Mark as a teen? Not to burst anyone’s romantic bubble, but statistically only 9.5% of documented Soul Marks are reported in the under 18 age group. So don’t rush it and also, maybe that person bragging in English class just spends a lot of time with their Sharpie. Hint hint...
- Soul Marks only develop following skin to skin contact with their Soul Mate. You can’t manifest one from an online relationship, a phone call, text message, or by passing someone on the street.
- Not everyone develops a Soul Mark! Many people develop deep loving relationships regardless of whether the members of the union develop Soul Marks. It is up to them and their personal beliefs to define their relationship nor is it in any way less than or superior to a relationship developing around the appearance of a Mark.
- Not everyone announces! This one may sound crazy if you’ve spent any time online or in front of a TV, but Frosh promises you it’s true! Maybe you’re not ready. Maybe you’re LGBTIA+ and not in a welcoming environment. Or maybe you’re just a private person! Despite all the excitement often hyped up about a new Mark, the decision to announce is as personal and individual as the Mark itself. Remember, there should be no pressure to announce, for you or for those around you! Respect others' privacy decisions too!
- Soul Mark forms are varied and not well understood. Many believe they manifest from cultural symbols in the collective unconscious while others believe they can be random or individually personal. Following the fad for astrology in the 1960’s, a large number of Soul Marks were documented to contain Sun Sign symbols such as those for Cancer and Taurus or planetary pictograms for Jupiter or Neptune! If you enjoy a good mystery, trying to figure out the symbolism or meaning of a Mark can be part of the fun and joy of receiving it.
- Soul Marks can appear anywhere! No, not on the globe! On your body, silly! In fact, people who believe they hold symbolic meaning also believe the location of the Mark is part of that symbolism -- a little like palm reading! But some locations are more common than others. Statistically, the upper trunk and over the heart are the most common, followed by the head and neck, then arms and wrists and lastly, well, (AHEM!) the swimsuit area! Add that to the reasons why disclosure is a private decision that should be respected!
Nat had gotten this far into the article when she felt Thor’s breath on her neck. He was actually crowding over her shoulder, eyes avidly scanning the text.
“Midgardian health and healing documents are very different from Asgard's…” He murmured.
By the time Thor and Natasha had learned that Soul Marks are created by melanin (or the strategic lack thereof) and only come in human skin tones (and gosh wasn’t that a bit Earth-centric, Nat thought. Didn’t some races have chlorophyll?) and had only just begun to “Answer our deceptively simple quiz and let Frosh predict WHERE your Soul Mark will appear!” the chipper volunteer from Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters reappeared to let them know the other members of their meeting had arrived.
Taking a seat at a conference table, Nat nodded to Carol Danvers when the Captain entered, and glanced out the window at a hulking Kree prison shuttle now docked in the soccer field behind the building.
Okay. So maybe Xavier’s was outfitted appropriately and relatively low profile – so long as you ignored the large alien spacecraft parked on the lawn like your crazy uncle’s Winnebago.
Whatever worked.
Nat steeled herself for their guest of honor to arrive.
“And why, by the Norns, would I consent to such an agreement?” Loki crossed his arms and straightened his back.
The posturing was regal and disdainful, Nat allowed. But it might have been more intimidating if he wasn’t almost as pale as the tablet screen in front of her and wearing a Kree prison jumpsuit that looked like it had been sweated through and missed its last dozen wash cycles. This guy could use a shower and a sandwich.
Carol, to her credit, managed not to roll her eyes, but she did cut a meaningful look at Thor who frowned and shifted awkwardly.
“Because it's the most humane option on the table.” Danvers told him bluntly. “We have a standing offer from the Collector for your basic four by four cube. And Shuri has offered up a spare cryo tube and a corner in her lab.”
“As long as we’re spreading every option on the table.” Romanov added with neutral professionalism, “The people of Xandaar, as well as the heads of the Nova Corps, also voted for the cryo tube — but they want it delivered to them. And most of the Kree and the rest of the Galactic Counsel seem to think execution is the safest option.”
Thor cleared his throat. “There was the delegation from Sakaar…”
Loki’s brows lifted. “Sakaar?”
Natasha’s face remained blank, but she nodded and flicked to a page on the tablet.
“Yes.” Thor continued, struggling to sound positive. “The Grandmaster would welcome you back to his court…”
Natasha coughed meaningfully.
“Ah, into his harem,” Thor amended, now squinting down to read directly from the tablet. “Provided you are… Friend Danvers, what is this word?”
Now Carol did roll her eyes. Natasha suddenly found she needed a drink of her coffee to hide behind.
“Neutered.” Danvers managed.
“Enough!” Loki shouted, then lowered his voice and hissed again. “Enough...”
To his credit, Nat noted, if Thor was unclear on the word’s meaning, he read the room well enough to not ask. But despite his outburst, Loki’s haughty front seemed to have developed some definite cracks. She could work this.
“Listen, we’ve finally gotten things somewhat back to normal. Well, stable. At a much better level of peace,” Carol spoke plainly. “And by some miracle, this has allowed us to come up with this little interplanetary UN willing to consider what you suffered under Thanos and that you were operating as a double agent. But the fact remains that given your history, no world is ready to welcome you. And most are ready to exterminate you, facts be damned, just to play it safe. I think you misunderstand exactly how generous this Earth offer is.”
Nat didn’t agree. In her assessment of Thor’s brother, she saw his bluster as pure posturing. Something to preserve a flimsy whiff of pride. And OK, let him have that, fine, but for Thor’s sake, she would keep herding Laufeyson towards this agreement.
“Think of this as starting over, like in a witness protection program.” She offered. “Yes, there are some rules, but you’ll be free to be anonymous and try to let go of the past.”
Loki’s eyes cut to his brother’s as though for reassurance and when his slender hands, in thick cuffs, reached for the tablet to turn it to read, Romanov could see they were trembling.
“The Bronx, you say?”
“An ordinary comfortable middle class life.” Danvers nodded. “If you consider New York comfortable.”
“I will be close by.” Thor added eagerly. “We can arrange visits.”
“Discreetly.” Nat pressed.
“Yes, discreetly.” Thor agreed, now beaming.