After a long day of treating patients, Soren walked quietly beside the little girl as they approached a modest home tucked between rows of aging apartment blocks.
The city lights buzzed gently above, casting warm glows across the concrete.
The moment the front door opened, Scott Lang, clad in casual clothes but visibly battered, greeted his daughter with a tender smile despite the bruises on his face and arms.
"Hey, sweetheart! You went to the clinic again?" He said gently, scooping her into a hug.
Soren stood by the doorway, arms crossed, gaze serious. He didn't miss the wince Scott tried to hide or the subtle limp in his walk.
"I need a word, Scott Lang." Soren said. "Your little girl spent most of her day waiting outside my clinic."
At that, Scott's face shifted, first with guilt, then concern. He glanced at his daughter with soft eyes and nodded. "My dear, can you head to bed for a bit?"
"Dad and Uncle Soren need to talk."
The little girl pouted, clinging to his side. "But I want to stay with you…"
Scott crouched down, whispering something gently. After a few more moments of coaxing and a pinky promise, she reluctantly shuffled off to her room.
Once the bedroom door closed, Scott exhaled. "Thank you for looking after her, Soren."
"These bruises, they're nothing. I just… ran into some trouble, that's all. It'll heal."
He forced a smile as he set a kettle on and poured two cups of coffee, but the strain in his voice betrayed him.
His injuries weren't life-threatening, but they told a different story, one of repeated conflict.
Soren watched him quietly, then broke the silence.
"Should I call you Scott Lang… or Ant-Man?"
The color drained from Scott's face. He froze, mid-pour, the coffee sloshing into the cup.
"You… know?"
Soren offered a knowing smile, casual but never unkind.
"I know a lot of things. But I also make it a rule to keep my nose out of things that don't concern me… unless people I care about get involved."
He set a small pouch on the table. From it, he pulled a few vials, glowing faintly.
"This is a healing potion. Natural, potent, fast-acting. Drink one, and the bruises will be gone before you finish your coffee."
Scott hesitated for only a moment before popping the cap and taking a cautious sip. He half-expected bitterness, but instead tasted something lightly floral, almost like honeydew.
Within seconds, warmth radiated through his chest, spreading gentle waves over his injuries.
As he flexed his shoulder, surprised to feel no pain, he blinked in awe. "What… the hell is this stuff?"
"This could change the whole medical world."
Soren chuckled. "It will. Eventually. I gave the formula to Osborne Industries already. But right now, it's mostly being ignored."
"People don't believe in miracles until they see them firsthand."
Scott carefully tucked the remaining vials away. "This kind of thing, it's gotta be worth a fortune."
"Why give it away?"
Soren looked at him for a long moment before answering.
"Scott, have you ever heard the phrase: 'With great power comes great responsibility'?"
Scott was taken aback by Soren's words.
He didn't fully grasp what Soren meant with the "greater responsibility" talk, but he nodded anyway.
"Soren… please keep my secret. About what I do, who I am. My daughter doesn't know everything yet."
Soren didn't reply directly.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly. "Pym Technologies exploded two days ago. That was you, right?"
Scott flinched.
"If you hit a wall." Soren continued. "Come find me. My door's open, especially for her."
Scott nodded, both relieved and grateful. Soren's vague phrasing was his way of promising not to meddle, but also not to look away if real help was needed.
Scott appreciated that more than he could express.
Soren smiled as he stood, stretching his arms. "The little one's a gem. Smart, kind… and clearly tougher than you think."
"You should spend more time with her."
Then he left.
Scott sat quietly for a while, the stillness of the apartment wrapping around him. Soren's words echoed in his head. A pang of guilt hit him as he looked toward his daughter's room.
She's suffered too, because of me.
Later that night, back at Everlife Medical Center, Soren returned and noticed two familiar figures waiting just outside the gate. Thor stood tall beside Jane, who looked exhausted, her hand still clasped in his.
"Thor? What brings the God of Thunder to my doorstep again?"
He hadn't sensed the dimensional portal open this time, which puzzled him. Usually, any inter-realm crossing left a residual trace.
And yet, here they were.
Seeing Soren, Thor's face lit up with relief. "Finally. We found you. I think I really need your help this time. First how is… my mother."
Soren's expression softened. "She hasn't woken yet, but soon. Come in. I'll take you to see her."
He led them through the softly glowing corridors of the medical center.
Jean greeted them just inside. Her beauty was striking, radiant even in the sterile light of the ward.
"She's Jean." Soren said casually, "My girlfriend."
Jean offered a polite nod. "Thor. Jane. I've heard a bit about you both."
Her gaze lingered a second longer on Jane.
They moved to the treatment chamber. Inside, Frigga lay resting in a bed of warm energy, her body bathed in the rejuvenating glow of Everlife's healing field.
Color had returned to her cheeks, her breathing was steady, she was alive, and recovering.
Thor placed his hand gently on the glass and closed his eyes. "Thank you, Soren."
Soren simply nodded and stepped back to give him space.
Then, his gaze flicked sharply to Jane.
"Now then."
"What did you mean earlier about needing my help?"
Before Jane could answer, Soren's eyes narrowed.
"Wait… the Aether. It's gone from her body."
Thor turned around, his expression grave. "Yes. It nearly killed her. It started to leech her life force, Soren. We couldn't. Asgard tried… but the convergence~"
He paused. A shadow passed through his face.
"Malekith has it now."
"He has the Aether."
One of the Infinity Gems… went unsaid.
Thor gave a solemn nod. "The Nine Realms are about to converge. Malekith plans to unleash the Aether during the alignment, plunging the universe back into primordial darkness."
"Jane… Loki… we barely escaped. Loki, he gave his life for us."
Jane looked down, her voice hushed. "We're talking about the very fabric of reality being rewritten."
For a moment, silence fell between them.
Then, Soren exhaled and looked up toward the stars beyond the clinic's skylight.
"So… it's happening."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream