Steve studied Kyle's face as they lay side-by-side in bed. He appeared distant and zoned out as he stared at Steve's bare chest, almost looking beyond it. Steve rubbed a hand up and down Kyle's arm. "Earth to Kyle?"
"What? I'm okay. I'm here," Kyle fired off.
Steve smiled. "You were on another planet."
Kyle shrugged and nuzzled closer to Steve. "Sorry. I was just thinking about something."
"About what?"
Kyle sighed. "It's probably nothing. It's not important."
Steve scowled. "Everything you say is important."
"You're sweet," Kyle said. "It's Dean."
"What's wrong?" Steve asked, now on alert. "Did something happen?"
"Not exactly," Kyle said before sitting up and pulling his knees to his chest. "He's worried about Taylor. He thinks there's something going on with him."
Steve pursed his lips. "Well, he lost everything..."
"Exactly! That's what I said. But Dean seems to think there's something more going on."
Steve considered Kyle's words for a minute, weighing them before his response. "Dean has been shaken up recently with what happened with Set," he calmly stated.
"Exactly! I think Dean may be just a little hyper vigilant after everything. And he sees Taylor and how fragile he is after what he went through so he's on red alert. Maybe seeing things that aren't as bad as he imagines?"
Steve took in Kyle's words and considered them for a while as well. Then he shook his head. "Dean has gone through a lot recently. And maybe it's made him more hypersensitive. But I've known Dean for a long time. His judgement is sound. He wouldn't speak about this if it didn't mean something."
Kyle tilted his head as he listened and took in what Steve said. "I guess we just need to pay closer attention to Taylor," Kyle said. "I was kind of hoping for a calm after the storm."
Steve smiled and pulled Kyle against his chest again. "You know that's not the life we chose."
"A guy can dream, right?" Kyle sighed.
Steve sat in silence, rubbing his hands up and down Kyle's bare skin as he continued to think about Dean's concerns. Knowing Dean the way he did, he knew that the empath wasn't prone to crying wolf. If he had concerns about Taylor, then they should be taken seriously. He looked over at the nightstand and located his phone.
"What is it?" Kyle asked.
"Just going to give Tony a call."
Tong picked up on the first ring. "What's up, Rogers? What can your favorite insomniac do for you at this ungodly hour?"
"The Squadron- what have they been up to?" Steve asked.
"Is my favorite Boy Scout asking me to spy?" Tony asked with mock outrage.
"Not spy. Just check in," Steve clarified.
"Well," Tony said as he began to fiddle with his tablet. "According to F.R.I.D.A.Y. they're all alive and well. Power Princess has been wearing out the training room a lot in her spare time. Something about a weapon always needing to be sharp and ready. Whizzer discovered Tindr and has been speed dating. Nighthawk has become fast friends with Sam and Bucky. They're actually out at the bar as we speak. Spectrum, Bruce, Reed and I have been bonding or science bro stuff. Hyperion and Thor have developed a plutonic bromance. And Nightstar continues to brood alone in the apartment we set him and Hyperion up with. When he's not going to the top secret Super Power Bottom Club meetings."
"So...no security issues?" Steve asked. "Nothing to be concerned about?"
Tony frowned. "Steve, what's this about?"
"Dean told Kyle he's concerned about Taylor. Thinks something is wrong."
Tony sighed. "Dean's..."
"Been through a lot. I know," Steve interrupted. "But you know Dean. You've known him longer than the rest of us, actually."
"Yeah, Goosey and I go way back."
"Just keep an eye on Taylor," Steve suggested. "It could be nothing but I'd rather be safe than sorry."
"You don't think he might try to find Wanda?"
"Honestly? I'm not sure. Her location is carefully guarded though, right?"
Tony assured him that Wanda's whereabouts were known only to a few. "And no one is giving that up," he added. "We all know what's at stake if she were to...awaken. I don't think the world wants to see what else the Scarlet Witch is capable of."
"You can say that again," Steve agreed before hanging up. He then turned to Kyle and smiled. "There- Tony's on the case."
"Well, that is a huge relief," Kyle said with a laugh before reaching under the sheet for Steve's cock. "Now- why don't you show me how fireworks can happen even if it isn't Independence Day."
Steve raised a brow. "How long have you been waiting to use that one?"
Kyle grinned and moved to straddle Steve. "I'll never tell."
Taylor sat up alone in his and Mark's apartment as the night drifted deeper into stillness and darkness. Staring into the shadows, his thoughts were a mess of conflict. The Avengers- Dean and Kyle in particular- had proven to be so welcoming and kind. It didn't replace what he'd lost, but it was heartwarming to know that they were willing to welcome him and his teammates with open arms even after the initial conflict. He looked over at Mark as he slept soundly and smiled. The fact that Dean and Kyle had offered to help plan their wedding was especially kind.
Maybe this happened for a reason, he told himself as he pulled a blanket tighter around his shoulders. Maybe there's a reason why I never quite felt like I fit in before.
All Taylor's life, there had been this unmistakable sense that he was out of place. For the majority of his life he believed it was due to his lack of a mother and, later, his frightful powers. It was hard for him to form connections to most people and he often preferred the solitude of his own company. Maybe this was his chance to finally find a sense of belonging.
No, a dark voice inside his head growled. This isn't the way it's supposed to be.
His eyes began to glow with dark purple energy and an aura of power slowly glimmered around his body as some mysterious compulsion began to grow, blotting out his rationalizations like an eclipse.
Find the reality warper, it demanded.
Taylor turned to the corner of the room, where the shadows were thickest, and a smile crept across his tired face. Slowly, the shadows began to build up on themselves until they formed a humanoid shape. As this happened, Taylor reached into the Netherworld, tearing loose a damned soul and slipping it into the shadow form. The creature couldn't exist outside of the Netherworld for long before it was forced to return. But while it was in this plane of existence...
You will do my bidding, Taylor mentally commanded.
The shadow bowed in submission, it's dark form poised and ready to serve.
Go to Avalon, Taylor ordered.
The shadow slid across the floor without a sound and bled through the window. As it floated away from the apartment, Taylor shut his eyes and melded his own mind with the dark servant. Steering the creature as if he were driving a car, he sent it up into the sky and towards the Avengers' floating headquarters. As the shadow infiltrated Avalon, Taylor maintained tight control, even across the distance of several miles. He forced the servant to stay to the shadows, easily bypassing security as it searched for what he wanted.
"Wanda's location is closely-guarded, Steve," Tony said as he sat in his office and talked in the phone.
Taylor grinned from afar. His luck was bulletproof. How fortuitous that he should happen upon such a discussion so serendipitously.
"And no one is giving that up," Tony carried on. "We all know what's at stake if she were to...awaken. I don't think the world wants to see what else the Scarlet Witch is capable of."
Taylor's servant waited until Tony said goodbye and hung up. Then it pounced upon the Avenger, immersing Tony before seeping into him and taking hold.
Where is she? Taylor mentally demanded.
Tony stood up from his desk, his eyes flashing with dark purple energy. "Estonia," he spoke in a bizarre, multilayered voice. "Wanda Maximoff is in Estonia."
Taylor commanded Tony to sit back down and promptly cut the strings of his puppet. Tony gasped and shook his head. "Must have dozed off for a second," he said as he stared at his watch.
The shadow disintegrated and Taylor opened his eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Taylor?" Mark muttered sleepily as he sat up in the bed. "What's wrong?"
Taylor turned around and smiled at his fiancé. "Just couldn't sleep."
Mark drew the sheet off, stood up and walked across the room to hold Taylor against him. "Babe, maybe we should get something to help you sleep."
"I'm fine," Taylor promised. "Really. I'm okay."
Mark stared down at him with a skeptical expression. "Babe, you haven't slept soundly since we arrived. I'm worried about you."
Taylor stood on his tiptoes and kissed him. "It's okay. I'm going to be okay. I think things are going to start getting better."
Mark studied him, seeking out any signs that something was amiss.
"I promise," Taylor assured him.