Chapter 4
Malcom looked up to the two soldiers and then back to his cousin. He grabbed the bottle of water and guzzled about two thirds of it. Tony was letting out soft purrs and drawing little shapes on Pepper’s ankle, his eyes closed.
“So, why is it just us up here? Thought this was supposed to be an after party?” Steve asked setting his empty water bottle down on the coffee table in front of the sofa he and Bucky sat on, he leaned back and brushed an arm along Bucky’s shoulders. Bucky was watching Mal closely as he took slow pulls of water from the bottle.
“Well, um…you see. Captain, Sargent…I,” He was cut off with a look from Steve and a light chuckle from Bucky
“Look, Malcom just call us Steve and Bucky. At least while we aren’t in uniform.” Mal looked down at where he was fiddling with his partially drank water bottle and then back up to Pepper, silently asking for help. He hadn’t the clue of how to do this, he had spent so long and now here he was, being made to tell his deepest secret.
“Yes alpha…” he sighed so light even he barley heard it. But then he caught the scent of pleased alpha with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. He looked at the soldiers as they looked at him confused but also with a small spark of dare, he say it, hope. “I think the reason my meddling cousin and her omega have made sure it’s all just us up here is for the same reason she’s been pushing me to come to New York. To meet my mates.” He looked to Pepper who smiled and nodded to encourage him. “You see, I was born with my mark and my parents had high hopes. Neither had any idea who my mate was, or my designation and my mother would dream up ideas of who they were and how I would be a strong alpha when I grew up. My maternal grandparents came to see me for the first time and when my grandfather saw my mark while helping my grandma change my dirty diaper, well he cried. When I was about 6 I started to ask about my mark, he sat me down and told me a story. The story of the two bravest alphas he ever knew and how they gave their lives to save him and the world.” Mal took a deep breath and looked to his cousin.
“Mal’s grandfather told him to never tell anyone who his mates were. His grandfather worried for how Mal’s mother or step-father would react to the news. Malcom grew and so did his love of his alphas. When he reached high school, shortly after he presented the secret came out.” Mal whimpered at Pepper’s words and curled into his cousin’s knee to hide his face. Slowly the light scent sour milk filled the room. Pepper brushed her fingers through Malcom’s hair as Tony brushed his hand over Malcom’s shoulder trying to calm the young omega.
“Mal was just getting to know me and Pepper over emails and phone calls when I got a call in the middle of a school day for this kid. Mal was calling in tears and rambling about how everyone knew and he wasn’t going to be able to go back to school. At the same time Pepper got a call from Malcom’s biological dad saying he had run away from the school and they couldn’t find him. He was saying that he was doing everything he could to keep Mal’s mom from calling the cops and reporting the kid as a run-away.” Mal was starting to shake and the sour scent grew stronger. “I got Malcom calm enough to understand that his soul mate history class was covering famous soul mates and that his were part of the presentation. A friend he shared the class with blurted out how the soul mark on the screen matched Mal’s and everyone in the class started to laugh and ridicule him so, he ran and hid. He said that he also couldn’t face his mother and was scared of what she would do to him. So, we told his bio-dad where to find him and why he ran.” Pepper lifted her red teary eyes and looked at Steve and Bucky.
“Things went south from there. Mal’s mom lost it to the point she ended up having the cops called on her and being arrested for endangering a minor omega, among other charges. His step father turned adoptive father refused to take custody of him, so we paid and got it so my uncle could have custody of his biological son.” Bucky was so close to tears and was fighting everything in him telling him to go to Malcom and wrap him in his arms and never let him go. Steve was having the same issue and had his fists clinched so hard his knuckles where white and his nails were biting into his palms.
“Over the years he’s still had issues with self esteem and depression. PTSD from the off and on child abuse from his mother and step-father. Once he felt safe enough to tell us who his alphas were we understood. To the world, Malcom was an omega with dead soul mates. As time went on and things came to light and one of his mates as it turned out was alive, I began to push for him to come meet his alpha. He pushed back and said he wanted to finish his college degree in teaching. So, I allowed it. Then a handful of years later his other alpha pops up and starts the process of healing and becoming the man he once was. I push more but this one, he kept listening to the negative words that his mother, the bullies, and society put in his head and refused.” Mal looked over at the couch the other two alphas were on and was surprised to see them on the floor close to him with tears streaming from their eyes. Their scents had soured in pain and Malcom released a whimper at the scent. This was one of the things he worried about with meeting them. The pain they would feel over the things he went through in their absence. He angled his body and looked at them. He took deep reassuring breathes and unzipped his hoodie.
“I have fought with my mind, my cousin, and friends over doing this. I don’t think I am worthy of such amazing alphas but maybe in time, maybe I could be. I’m sorry it’s happening like this and that I am probably further then what you expected but,” There was a scoff as the alphas moved closer.
“Your wrong. If anyone isn’t worthy of anyone here, we aren’t worthy of you omega.” Steve nodded at Bucky’s words and was wiping tears that escaped his eyes. Bucky reached out his right hand in offering to Malcom. Looking from the offered hand and back to Pepper and Tony, who were nodding and smiling through their own tears, he took it and was pulled into the warm embrace of his alphas sandwiching him between them as they rumbled with reassuring alpha purrs and scenting him. He finally got the full force of their happy scents, Steve who smelled like a warm vanilla late and Bucky who smelled like hot chocolate sprinkled with hints of cinnamon, they shared the undertones of leather and fire. The alphas were taking in his scent that reminded the two of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and warm glass of milk.
“I’m sorry it took me this long. I’m sorry I am so fucked up in the head.” The happy rumbles turned to mild anger as they looked down at Mal.
“You weren’t ready, and that is completely fine. We all have our issues but as long as we work on them to make ourselves better, that’s all that matters, at least to us anyway.” Steve rumbled running a calloused hand up and down Malcom’s back. “How did your grandfather know about the mark being ours? I thought that it wasn’t shared till 20 years after the war?” Mal chuckled.
“My grandfather served with Bucky in the 107th. You and the rest of the boys called him Salt cause of his last name.” Bucky thought long and hard but still couldn’t place the name. It was Steve who spoke up.
“Dale was your grandfather?” Then the light went off in Bucky’s head and his eyes got big. Now that he had a name the face popped into his mind and he noticed how much Mal looked like him.
“Dale Lee Morton, wasn’t he the private that told you where to find me in the factory in Austria?” Steve nodded and smiled at the fact Bucky remembered. The brunette alpha shook his head and smiled, happy to remember another detail from his past.
“Grandpa said the least he could do was make sure you were found. After all, you offered up yourself to keep him safe.”
“That’s right, I did that cause he was saying something about how his soul mate was back home expecting their first pup and how he couldn’t wait to be a father.” Malcom got a sad look on his face hearing that. He wanted to lie and say his grandfather got to meet his son and lived happily ever after that, but that wasn’t how life went.
“Sadly, that didn’t happen till later in his life.” Bucky looked at Mal silently asking for answers. “I’ll tell you another time. I think it’s getting late and that maybe those two should be in a bed and not on the couch where they will wake up sore.”
“But I’m comfy. Alpha makes a great pillow.” Tony had moved up from kneeling to laying with his head on Pepper’s lap and Pepper was leaning her head back against the back of the couch.
“That may be so but you also know somewhere in that sleep addled brain that I am right Tony.” Malcom got up from the cuddle pile on the floor and gently ran his fingers through Pepper’s hair. “Come on Pep, time for you and Tones to go to bed.”
“Sorry I’m such an old person, I’ve been up since 5 this morning. You have a room two floors below us. FRIDAY can guide you. Come on omega, we can move this to the bedroom and let these three get to sleep as well.”
“I don’t wanna move.”
“Tony, remember the last time you refused to listen to me, want to have a repeat of that omega?” Pepper slipped into a sleepy alpha tone and Tony instantly got up and sluggishly gave Malcom a hug before offering a hand to help his alpha up from the couch.
“Get some sleep Pepper and we can catch up tomorrow over lunch.” Mal leaned over and gave his cousin a kiss on her cheek before grabbing the empty water bottles and putting them in the recycling bin under the sink in the kitchen.
“You all know where the door is, see you some time tomorrow sweet tooth!” Tony was pulled down a hallway by Pepper as the other three loaded up in the elevator along with Malcom’s bags.
“Well omega, as much as I don’t want this night to end, I think we all need to get some sleep.” Steve looked down into the deep blue eyes of his omega.
“I think Tony put you on the same floor as Bruce and Thor so we can help you get to your room then head to our own floor.” Bucky suggested leaning back against the elevator as it descended to the floor Pepper mentioned.
“That would be nice, FRIDAY is my room on the same floor as Doctor Banner and Thor Odinson?”
“No, it appears the room designated for you is on the same floor as Wanda and Vision.” The AI stated as the doors opened revealing a floor that was tastefully decorated with warm wood floors and crème walls.
“Cool, I haven’t met them yet. Could you relay to them when they are awake that I am here. Don’t want to spook them in the morning.”
“Of course. The door that is open with the lights on is yours. Have a pleasant night and if you need anything let me know.” Bucky and Steve followed Mal over to his door way.
“This is where we leave you, don’t want to push this too fast.” Steve leant down and placed a kiss on the Malcom’s cheek and Bucky did that on the other side.
“If you need us just let FRIDAY know and we will be here.”
“Okay, um…good night.” Malcom reached up and kissed each of them on the cheek.
“Could we maybe see you for dinner tomorrow night? Or a movie after?” Bucky had a hopeful look on his face.
“I’ll talk to Pepper tomorrow and see if there are any plans for dinner. I will keep you posted, if you want to give me your phone numbers?” Mal pulled out his Stark phone with his Howling Commandos case and blushed.
“Sure, nice case sugar.” Bucky winked as he started putting in the numbers for him and Steve.
“Thanks, Tony gave it to me with the phone. Since I wouldn’t pick a favorite Avenger case.” Mal blushed and took the phone back once he was handed it.
“Aren’t we your favorite?” Bucky had a mischievous smirk on his lips. He didn’t want to go but he knew that they would so their omega could sleep. He noticed it was nearing 2 in the morning when he put in the numbers.
“I mean, yes but also you do know Tony is going to be family when him and Pepper finally get married right?”
“And we won’t? I am hurt!” Bucky clutched his left hand over his heart and pretended to faint into Steve’s chest. “You hear that Stevie we don’t count.”
“Knock it off jerk, it’s just a phone case and it’s close enough to us. Anyway doll, have a good night and we will wait to hear about plans for tomorrow evening.” Steve grabbed Bucky by the shoulders and shoved him towards the elevator.
“Until we meet again omega.” Bucky softly called back as the elevator door closed. Mal giggled and walked into the room shutting the door. He could say he was impressed with the plush grey carpet and the midnight blue color scheme. Tony had good taste. Setting the bags down by the foot of the bed Mal started stripping down to his boxer briefs, putting on some sleep shorts and a tank top. He made a mental note to thank Pepper and Tony for keeping some clothes here for him in his size. He started night time routine. Brushing his teeth, his hair, and taking out his contacts to put on his glasses, he went back out the room lounging on the king bed, checking his phone. He looked up the new contacts and smiled at the names that Bucky had put himself and Steve under.
Mal opened a group chat and sent off a message with a selfie of him in bed and the covers covering his sleep shorts.
(***) ***-****: good night alphas
Jerk: Get some sleep omega, we can talk more tomorrow.
Best Alpha: Good night handsome 😊 Dream of us!
Mal smiled and updated the names and sent off another text and attaching a gif of Snape.
(***) ***-****: Always
Mal put his phone on the charger station on the night stand and the lights dimmed. Mal for once went to sleep with hope of what tomorrow would bring him.