Chapter 3
Malcom stopped at the bar to order a local cider before heading over to the VIP area. The beta behind the bar looked Malcom up and down and gave a flirty wink giving him the glass of cider and a shot of Fireball on a napkin that had what was probably his name and number. Smiling after taking the shot he tucked the napkin into one of his dresses pockets and left. He had no intention of calling the beta but wasn’t going to be outright rude by not taking the number.
As he neared the VIP area he heard the tell tale sound of his future cousin in laws laugh over the music of the current performer. Standing at the end of one of the benches holding his drink he took in the group and sipped the cider, noting the strong taste of the alcohol.
“So y’all wanted to see me?” The group took in his presence and Tony instantly came up and wrapped the bigger omega into a hug and trying to scent him.
“Mal these guys are being bullies!” Tony pouted up at him and gestured to the rest of the group.
“What did they do now? Do I need to grab my bow and shoot them?” The group perked up and Pepper sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Tony, sit down. Let’s get a seat for Malcom and introduce him before you start putting him against everyone. Please.” Sam came over with a chair from an empty nearby table and held it in place while Malcom sat down with a soft thanks.
“Now, everyone this is my baby cousin Malcom Hoffman. Mal, these are our some of the Avengers pack: First is Natasha, Loki, and Clint. Second: Sam and Maria. Lastly: Steve and James.” Mal tried to not focus so closely on the last group but he found it very difficult. These were his soul mates, the ones he was told about since childhood. The ones he dreamed about meeting since his grandfather first told him about them.
“Pleasure to meet all of you. Pepper and Tony have told me a lot about all of you.” Malcom took a drink of his cider.
“Pleasure to meet you as well, though we haven’t heard anything about you till tonight.” Mal looked over to Pepper and smiled but noticed as Clint started to sign to Natasha.
‘Wonder why Pepper didn’t tell us about him.’ Mal sat his glass down and got Clint’s attention and started to sign back.
‘Because I told her not to, kinda hard to fill the shoes of being the cousin to CEO Pepper Potts and future cousin in law to Tony Stark.’ Clint’s jaw slightly dropped.
“Little rude to have conversations when you think the person you are talking about doesn’t understand a word you are saying.” Mal picked up his drink and took a heavy sip. “I can answer any other questions you might have.”
“Sorry, did you really threaten to shoot us with a bow and arrow?”
“Yes, I shoot in my spare time and shot all through high school.” Clint nodded and started to try talking him into a shoot off at the compound.
“What brings you to New York? Surely not just a drag show?” Natasha was sipping her vodka cranberry and looking the performer up and down. She had caught a glimpse of the mark he had under his fishnets earlier and had a hunch as to who the last song was dedicated to but was biding her time.
“Well, I haven’t been to New York for years and wanted to see Pepper and Tony.” Tony smiled as he snuggled closer to Pepper on the bench.
“Surely your mates are missing you? You must have someone special missing you back home.” Nat looked over to Pepper and noticed the quick sour look cross her fellow alpha’s features.
“Just my cats and friends. Maybe even my nieces and nephews.”
“You like cats?” Bucky perked up and was leaning a bit forward out of his seat with Steve’s hand resting on his lower back.
“Yes, I have two at home. Probbie, a 11-year-old Maine coon mix and Binx, a 7-year-old short hair black cat. Want to see photos?” The entire group wanted to and so Mal passed his phone around with a photo of both of them pulled up.
“So, you don’t have mates? Surely you have someone whose caught your eye?” Sam asked handing back Mal his phone.
“No, I haven’t met my soul mates yet. Been meaning to but life tends to get in the way.” Pepper scoffed and rose from her seat grabbing her empty glass.
“I need another drink. Mal, a word please?” Mal gulped and took the last drink of his cider as he rose and followed his cousin to a less crowded part of the bar. “I hope you plan to tell Steve and Bucky who you are to them.”
“Pep, I am not ready for this. I am so not even close to worthy of those two. Please don’t make me do this.” Mal placed the glass on the bar and looked at his alpha cousin with the most pleading look he could muster.
“Adam called. Said you got put on medication to help with alpha withdrawal. You don’t have more time Mal. This is serious!” Malcom sighed and shrunk in on himself. He thought he had more time. Yes, when an omega goes too long without prolonged exposure to an alpha their body would begin to go through withdrawal and eventually the omega could go feral or die. “What happened to that alpha roommate that you had?”
“He found his beta and moved in with her. She didn’t want me around, accused me of trying to steal him from her. So, I just been living on my own. It’s easier anyway, don’t have to worry about being to loud or late nights of sudden inspiration for a story or something.” He tried to hold in the tears, he was trying to stay strong and show he didn’t need to burden anyone.
“How long till you get this through your scull huh? You are not a burden and those two over there would move the moon and stars for you. All you have to do is go over there and tell them who you are to them. Please? I can’t lose another family member that actually loves me. Please Mal.” Pepper grabbed her drink and handed Malcom a sex on the beach. He looked from the drink to her and downed it, placing the glass on the bar.
“I need to change. The number that just came on is the last and I don’t want to go back to the hotel in this. Come with me? Need help getting the zipper down.”
“Sure, sweet tooth.” Mal laughed at the old nickname and led her back stage.
He changed from his 40s housewife look to his normal look. Black jeans, his crop top from his first number and a black zip up hoodie left open. He also switched into his doc martin boots. His face makeup free and his hair in a loose braid thanks to his cousin.
“Their going to see my mark, need to zip up my hoodie.” Pepper gave him a look and he sighed as he zipped up his hoodie. “Take me back with you to the compound and I can tell them there. They don’t need to find out here.”
“Okay. We can take your stuff if that will help.” Pepper motioned to his duffle bag and makeup case.
“I brought my car this time. The drive up from Nebraska wasn’t so bad.” Pepper’s eyes lit up hearing that he drove his own car. The car he was gifted from his dad before he died, a black ’67 Chevy Impala that was the car of Malcom’s dreams.
“I may ride back with you then, make things easier for you to get past security.” Mal smiled as they walked back to the group.
“Sure, that’s the only reason.” The rest of the groups were gathered around the bar cashing out tabs. Nat came up to the cousins and looked at Malcom with a gaze that made the imaginary tail tuck between his legs.
“He going to own up and tell them?” Nat turned her look to Pepper.
“Yes, back at the compound. I’m going to ride with him and make sure he doesn’t bolt.”
“Pepper!” Mal looked so hurt but also knew what she said was true. If she wasn’t riding with him, he would most likely head back to Nebraska to hide in his apartment with his cats.
“Sounds good, do you want it to just be you all and the two ice cubes?” Pepper thought about it and nodded her head in agreement.
“Might be best. Don’t want to overwhelm them with other people asking questions. Can you get Loki to relay that to the others?” Nat nodded and walked off wrapping herself around her omega. They all walked out to the sidewalk noticing the line of cars they had parked in the VIP parking outside the club.
“After party at the compound! Let’s roll out! Mally you riding with the trio over there?” Tony pointed to Nat and her group. He rolled his eyes and pointed to his baby.
“Drove myself Tony and Pepper is riding with me back.” He stuck his tongue out walking up to the Impala and placing his bags in the trunk. Tony scoffed as Steve, Bucky, Sam, Maria, Clint, Nat, and Loki walked over to swoon over the car.
“Is that the car I think it is?” Clint was practically drooling as he walked around the car. Nat and Loki smirking at their beta mate.
“It sure is. Was even used on the show.” He showed the sigils in the trunk before shutting it and walking over to the driver’s side door and opened it showing the placard of authenticity proving that his car had been on his favorite show and even had autographs from Jensen and Jared on the visors above the drivers seat and passenger seat.
“How the hell did you get this?” Thought the cast got all the running ones?” Sam would never admit but he was screaming on the inside being close to this car and his mate looked on smirking and knowing he was a big nerd about Supernatural.
“My dad and I restored it, when we posted photos online the show reached out and asked about using it on the show. My dad said it was my car, so my decision. So, I drove it to the set in Canada and got to spend a month on set with them and watched the show be filmed. They had that placard placed and the boys autographed the visors.”
“He also got to be in a couple episodes as an extra.” Pepper piped in as she got in the passenger seat.
“Have we seen this show, Steve? I only came over to see a beautiful car.” Bucky was walking around it and admiring the work that had been put into it. Steve stopped and thought about it but shook his head.
“Well since we are moving this and you are taking Pepper with you, I declare a race back to the compound. First car back picks snacks and loser buys.” Pepper gave Tony a look and in the moment he knew that no matter who lost he would be buying the food.
“You got yourself a race Stark.” Mal got in his seat and started the car. The engine loud and purring up a storm on the street.
The race was not really a race. Loki had done as his alpha requested and relayed to Clint, Sam, Maria, and Tony that the only ones staying up late in the common room would be Tony, Pepper, Malcom, Bucky, and Steve. Loki was unaware of why just that group but his alpha promised him to tell him later. He had a sinking suspicion about the tall omega, and his connection it seemed he had to the two alphas out of time.
Pepper directed Malcom to the compound outside the city and got them past security into the garage. They were the first ones there. The next car was the Phantom with Nat, Loki and Clint. Followed by Tony, then Maria and Sam. They all bid each other good night and left for the elevator right as Bucky and Steve arrived. Bucky was huffy about the fact Steve refused to take part in the race and said he would buy the snacks and it would be cheaper then a speeding ticket.
“Well, I am feeling pizza so FRIDAY place the soldier’s normal order, mine and Pep’s usual order, and add a two large cheese pizza with extra cheese. Have it brought to mine and Pep’s pent house?” Steve and Bucky looked from each other to Tony.
“Yes sir, I will also add an order for each of chocolate lava cakes per Mr. Hoffman’s request.” Tony turned and looked at the other omega.
“What? I want chocolate.” He pouted looking at the older omega who just sighed and walked them over to the elevator. All five got in and rode up. The silence was almost deafening.
They got off and entered the pent house with it’s slick modern look of mostly crème and black with red accents here and there. Mal put his bags along the wall by the elevator door and moved to the fridge and grabbed water bottles for all five bringing them over to the group in the sunken in living room. He noticed Tony was kneeling for Pepper on a red pillow, his head on his alpha’s knee. Malcom offered Pepper the waters and took two over to Steve and Bucky.
“Where is the restroom Pepper?” Mal set his water bottle on the coffee table by the mated pair as he met her eyes.
“There is one through that door by the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” He rushed in to relieve himself and splashed some cold water on his face, in doing so he noticed the scent blocker was wearing off and he stopped. He had some in his bag from the show but wasn’t sure how it would be received if he went out there and grabbed it while smelling like his designation. His phone went off with a text from Pepper saying it was fine to just come out. Malcom took a deep breath and looked at his reflection. His mother’s words running through his mind. ‘You are broken. Male omegas are abominations and don’t deserve an alpha. You’re lucky your mates are dead and won’t have to live with the disappointment of having a male omega.’ He was broken out of these thoughts by a soft nock at the door. When he opened it, he saw Tony who held out his hand. He offered the younger omega a small smile and nod as he led him back to the living room. Mal took notice of another pillow. The other side of Pepper.
“Come on Mal get comfy food should be here soon. We have a bit to discuss.” Pepper held out her hand for him and he sunk onto the pillow next to his cousin as Tony took his place on the other pillow, laying his head on her lap. He noticed he was a little warm and sat toying with the zipper of the hoodie until he felt a hand on his head. “Feel free to take that off if you are too warm.” He knew Pepper wanted this to happen, and deep down so did he. The main thing was, would he take that first step?