The soft hum of the elevator came to a stop as you and Clint stepped onto the first level of Avengers Tower. The air was tense, practically vibrating with unease, and the moment you turned the corner, your breath caught in your throat.

Tony Stark stood in the middle of the room, struggling against the grip of a man who radiated pure, commanding energy. The stranger was tall, lean, and dressed in a sleek black suit that seemed out of place amid the chaos of the tower. His long, snow-white hair cascaded down his back, stark against the dark fabric. One gloved hand gripped Tony's neck, lifting him just slightly off the ground. The arc reactor in Tony's chest pulsed erratically, a testament to his rising panic.

"If you don't tell me where my sister is—" the man growled, his voice sharp and commanding.

You froze for a second, disbelief washing over you. That voice... that face...

"Sotaru!" you cried, your voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

The man's grip on Tony loosened immediately, and Stark fell to the floor with a gasping cough, clutching his neck. Without hesitation, you rushed toward the white-haired man, your heart pounding in your chest.

Sotaru's expression shifted from menacing to joyous in an instant. His green-and-blue eyes lit up as he opened his arms wide to catch you. "(Nickname), my dearest sister!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth and affection.

He pulled you into a tight embrace, lifting you off your feet with ease. You laughed as he spun you around, the tension melting from your body as you snuggled into his shoulder.

"I missed you," you murmured, your voice muffled against his suit.

"And I missed you," Sotaru replied, his tone softening as he pressed his forehead against yours. "You've been gone far too long."

The reunion might have been heartwarming if not for the Avengers standing around in stunned silence, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes.

Tony, still wheezing on the floor, raised a hand in frustration. "I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking."

Bruce , who had been standing off to the side and doing his best to keep the Hulk in check, finally spoke up. "Uh... what's happening?"

Peter , who had arrived with the others, blinked in disbelief. "I—I think that's her older brother," he stammered, pointing at Sotaru.

Thor stepped forward, his gaze narrowing as he studied the two of you. "They do look alike," he rumbled thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "White hair. Similar energy. There is no mistaking it—they share the same blood."

Clint, standing beside you, folded his arms and glanced at Tony, who was still trying to regain his composure. "Care to explain why he was strangling Stark?"

Sotaru chuckled softly, gently placing you back on the ground before turning to face the Avengers. His demeanor remained regal, but his smile now carried a dangerous edge. "I apologize for my... entrance," he said smoothly. "I wasn't aware I'd be greeted so hospitably."

"Hospitable?" Tony snapped, getting to his feet with a groan. "You grabbed me by the throat!"

"I had questions." Sotaru shrugged. "And you had answers I needed."

Natasha, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward, her gaze sharp as a blade. "And what question was worth nearly breaking Stark's neck?"

Sotaru glanced at you, his smile softening once more. "I was looking for my sister."

Natasha crossed her arms. "And why exactly were you so desperate to find her?"

Before Sotaru could answer, you placed a hand on his arm, silently urging him to hold his tongue. "It's fine," you said, addressing the Avengers. "He didn't mean any harm. He was just... worried."

Tony snorted. "Worried? That's what we're calling it now?"

Sotaru's eyes flicked to Tony, and for a moment, the air grew heavier with unspoken tension. "Do you know what it's like to lose someone precious to you, Stark?" he asked quietly. "To feel them slip away into another world, knowing they're somewhere you cannot reach?"

Tony opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, his expression softening just a fraction.

"I have traveled through countless realms," Sotaru continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I've crossed time and space, followed traces of her energy, only to arrive here—to a world she doesn't belong to. Forgive me if I was less than gentle."

Thor hummed again, stepping closer with a thoughtful look. "You say you've traveled through realms. Are you a sorcerer?"

Sotaru tilted his head. "No. I am something far older."

Peter blinked. "Older than Thor?"

Thor frowned. "Hey."

Ignoring the banter, Sotaru turned back to you. "You've been hiding from me, little one."

"I wasn't hiding," you said softly. "I just... needed time."

Sotaru's gaze lingered on your blindfold. "And yet, you still wear that."

You touched the fabric covering your eyes. "It's necessary."

"Is it?" he asked, his voice gentle but probing. "Or is it just easier?"

The Avengers watched the exchange in silence, tension still lingering in the air. Finally, Clint broke it with a sigh. "Well, this is getting awkward."

Bruce nodded. "Agreed."

Tony pointed a finger at Sotaru. "For the record, if you ever put your hands on me again, I'm blasting you into the next dimension."

Sotaru smirked. "Noted."

Natasha raised an eyebrow at you. "So... care to explain who your brother really is?"

You glanced at Sotaru, who simply smiled at you. "Go ahead," he said softly. "Tell them who we are."

Taking a deep breath, you looked back at the gathered Avengers. "He's not from this universe. Neither am I."

SCENEBREAK

The tension in the tower lingered, even after Sotaru had let Tony go and the initial chaos settled. The Avengers remained wary, their eyes flicking toward the white-haired man with equal parts caution and curiosity. After all, a stranger appearing out of nowhere, nearly choking Tony Stark to death, wasn't exactly the best introduction.

But as time passed, Sotaru's presence began to feel... familiar. It wasn't just the way he carried himself, confident and enigmatic, but the way he joked and teased—just like you. He had your smile, your sharp wit, but where you were focused and precise, Sotaru was all chaos, with a mischievous glint in his mismatched eyes and a devil-may-care attitude that was hard to ignore.

Clint was the first to break the ice. "You know," he mused, "he's like you... but if you had a serious coffee addiction and zero impulse control."

Natasha smirked. "Sounds about right."

Sotaru, lounging on the couch as if he owned the place, stretched lazily before standing up straight. "Well," he declared, brushing imaginary dust from his suit, "We better be getting back home then, sweet sister. And, oh, I'll take down Thanos for you while I'm at it. No big deal."

You shook your head, a soft smile on your lips. "No, brother. I want to stay here—with them."

That wiped the smirk off Sotaru's face. He frowned, his expression suddenly serious. "You've got a demigod with you, don't you?" His gaze flicked to Thor, then narrowed. "Your brother, Loki."

Thor straightened, clearly taken aback by the sudden attention. "What about him?"

Sotaru cocked his head, that mischievous smirk returning. "I can smell his magic. It's clinging to you all." He snapped his fingers, and a ripple of energy spread through the room. The subtle enchantment that Loki had cast over the Avengers—a lingering haze of confusion and tension—slid off like water. The Avengers blinked in unison, shaking their heads as if waking from a dream.

Steve rubbed his temple. "What... happened?"

"Hmm." Sotaru tapped his chin, glancing at you. "It seems our dear Loki left a little parting gift. Subtle, but effective. No wonder everyone's been on edge."

You gave him a look. "Could you have done that earlier?"

He grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

Steve narrowed his eyes. "You're not exactly inspiring a lot of trust right now."

"Ah, Captain America." Sotaru turned to him with a dramatic bow. "Trust is such a fragile thing, isn't it? But I assure you, I'm on your side. For now."

Dr. Strange, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, finally stood up, brushing rubble off his cloak. "If you're truly leaving, I suggest you do it sooner rather than later. The universe has already been stretched thin."

Sotaru turned to him with an amused chuckle. "Wow, I forget how fun wizards are."

Strange's expression didn't change. "I'm serious. Any more interdimensional travel, and the entire fabric of reality could start to unravel. We're already holding things together by a thread."

Sotaru's grin softened as he looked back at you. "You're sure you want to stay?"

You nodded. "Yes. I've made my choice."

He sighed, shaking his head with mock exasperation. "Fine. But you know Itadori won't be happy."

You smiled, hugging him around the waist. "He can always come to visit."

"No, he can't," Strange interjected. "The multiverse is on the brink of collapse. Any more travel between realms, and we'll all be in trouble."

Sotaru threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the room. "Wow. You're all so serious. Wizards, Avengers... you could all use a little fun."

Tony crossed his arms, still rubbing his sore neck. "We had fun until you showed up."

Sotaru ignored him, turning to you once more. "Alright, love." His voice was softer now, more serious. He reached out and gently ruffled your hair, the way he used to when you were kids. "Be safe, my love. And remember who you are."

You leaned into his touch for a moment, feeling the warmth of his presence. "I will."

A golden portal swirled to life behind him, its edges crackling with energy. Sotaru turned, stepping toward it, but before he disappeared, he glanced back over his shoulder and threw you a playful wink.

"Don't let them bore you too much, okay?"

Then he stepped through, and the portal closed with a soft hum, leaving only silence in its wake.

The Avengers stared at the spot where he'd vanished, processing what had just happened. Finally, Peter broke the silence.

"Okay... that was really cool."

Thor nodded in agreement. "Indeed. He has the spirit of a warrior."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, a warrior who nearly broke my neck."

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "You'll get used to him."

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Used to what, exactly?"

You smiled, a little wistful but steady. "To being part of my family."

Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. More interdimensional chaos."

Natasha smirked. "I think we've had worse."

Steve glanced at you, his expression calm but thoughtful. "So... what now?"

You shrugged, a playful gleam in your eye. "Now? We move forward. Thanos is still out there."

Tony groaned. "Fantastic. More bad news."

You grinned. "And besides... who says I'm done surprising you?"