#fake beta

Alone again, Prism sat on the couch and grabbed a throw pillow, settling it into her lap as she turned on the TV.

The scent of the pillow warmed her heart and she found herself curling around it and nestling her nose into the top. Someone smelled really good- like apple pie- and the pheromones were...perfect.

In an effort to keep her distance and secret, and out of respect for all her mated friends she hadn't scented anyone properly, she had no idea what alpha she was indirectly scenting now.

She felt a renewed vigor begin to build in her as she breathed the scent - not caring that she probably looked like a weirdo. She'd never felt so...at peace. Like her body was melting into a liquid, her soul purred with happiness for the first time ever.

Who used this pillow last?

Her eyes remained on the TV until Jarvis reminded her that the meeting was in fifteen minutes.

As soon as she stood up, she groaned as pain of her bruises returned full force. Secondhand mystery alpha hormones weren't enough to cure touch starvation, or relieve her pain but she felt better inside for the time being.

With a metaphorical pep in her step-outwardly flinching at each sway of her hips as she walked- she made it to the meeting perfectly on time and yet last.

Sure enough, there was a space on the couch beside Bucky, and beside Thor. In an attempt to show that there were no hard feelings and as a beta power move, she sat by Bucky.

Everyone was surprised, the alphas were impressed. Tony gave an approving eyebrow raise before beginning his opening notes on the meeting.

Natasha hovered behind Clint, rubbing his shoulders while he focused on what Tony was saying.

Steve's eyes flickered over Prism's back and he felt the tiniest prick of guilt, looking down at his mate who was also looking at her but with much more guilt in his eyes as he saw it up close, along with the bruised outline of his metal hand on her neck; a very sensitive area regardless of mate status.

He thought about how no one would approach her with a neck bruise like that. It made her look like a whore, or weak.

But he knew she was neither of those things.

Bucky had returned to the common area to get his forgotten phone when he saw the OJ drops on the counter and heard her pitifully tell Bruce how lonely she was.

She sounded so...broken.

Her accidental omega begging tone made him uneasy about what he'd done, but he didn't recognize it so he didn't put two and two together.

As he looked at the bruises more, he flashed back to the moment he gave them to her. Steve's anger burned him up inside, on top of his own anger at Steve.

He'd been trying to avoid her for her own good but she insisted on repeatedly chasing him down and he snapped.

After he finished trying to rationalize his reaction, and seeing the results up close...he truly forgot she didn't heal like the rest of them.

He was sure he'd broken several of her bones and she had to lay there for a while. Her body took injuries seriously but bruises were considered low priority, he guessed. Most betas-even unmated ones- could probably have had their bruises healing by now but hers looked...bad.

The look of relief on her face at the table that morning nearly broke his heart-he tried to hide it with his winter soldier face.

It reminded him of being tortured back at Hydra, and the solace he'd felt when they stopped.

Steve had even softened as he felt the mood of his mate shift while she was pouring her juice. The alpha made a show of standing by Bucky and not showing remorse to help him appear strong even though Steve knew better than anyone how the beta was truly feeling in that moment.

He knew the best way to comfort him in that moment was a small touch, to back him up and draw the attention away from his beta.

Part of him wondered if anyone ever did that for her. Based on her reaction at such a minor comfort...that answer was no.

Even for a beta, being solitary was very unpleasant for long periods of time. It wouldn't result in actual sickness and eventual death like an omega but it took a toll and made them weaker.

Most unmated betas made sure to have unmated friends to help when then this happened.

He had noticed Prism struggling more on missions lately- and he'd made sure to tell her so at the time but now he regretted his words.

He assumed she'd gotten her fill of innocent alpha touch from Tony or even Thor, and had been for years.

Clearly not.

She crumbled to pieces at the breakfast table, immediately surrendering to them at a simple touch of their hand, not even an affectionate one or - Bucky's preferred innocent-well, usually innocent- touch; cuddling.

It was all they could do for her, and it really wasn't much but she basked in it weather she meant to or not. Steve had also noticed how Clint and Natasha both seemed to care for her, though with them already being A/B they couldn't take her into their group; betas always wound up fighting over the alpha's affection eventually.

Clint was a passive yet possessive beta, but Steve always got needy vibes from Priz and that was part of why he always stuck his nose up at her. A weak beta, desperate for attention no matter how much she denied it.

Bucky was only a bit off from being an Alpha himself, loving to argue and push his mates buttons- usually resulting in rough sex or a little...good punishment.

Bucky was perfect for Steve.

The blonde wondered why Thor was such a gentleman with her but never spoke to her about being his Beta and completing their ideal triad. As much of an annoying bitch as Priz could be -not that she ever challenged Thor- at the very least she was an absolute bombshell- and would certainly look good on his arm in Asguard.

Maybe he had and she'd turned him down, he mused, quickly glancing between the two and noting again her power move of sitting beside Bucky instead.

Despite her choice to avoid an alpha that could help her, he doubted she'd turn Thor away. As much as she tried to hide it, she oozed desperation and sadness at least to Steve. But his alpha instincts knew it wasn't the sex she craved, in fact he didn't think he'd ever smelled arousal on her.

Odd for an unmated Beta. They usually couldn't help it, hormones raging until finally were marked by an alpha. If it wasn't for Bucky, he might have tried to tease her and see if he could get a rise out of her.

She'd be very angry if he succeeded and argue the fact, giving him a feeling of confidence and control.

Bucky glanced up at his mate in surprise, sensing his arousal as he felt his pants tighten at the thought, for some unknown reason.

Steve pushed the thoughts away quickly, feeling guilty for getting turned on by the thought of a Beta that wasn't his mate. He softly caressed Bucky's jaw then tapped it twice to get him to refocus on a slightly irritated looking Tony who- once again- pulled up the hologram from before.

Prism's back and throat were in agony. She sat up straight not touching the back of the couch. It hurt to slouch, it hurt to sit up. It just...hurt.

She couldn't let Tony touch her back or cuddle her on the couch because she'd heal too quickly for a beta but her mind wandered to the throw pillow she'd melted around before the meeting.

Tony almost never lounged on the couch, usually busy in his office. It wasn't him she was indirectly scenting, the fact made her sad and a little nervous.

That left Natasha, Thor -also fairly unlikely, and Steve. Maybe even Bucky with his level of dominant pheromones.

She really hoped it wasn't either of the latter.

Maybe someone stopped by for a visit and she didn't know? Vision was a very kind, level headed alpha who was completely unmated by his own choice. He wouldn't take her but she was sure if she asked he'd help her if he could.

Actually, he'd probably see through her immediately if they spent an extended period of time together and either rat her out as an omega or somehow convince her to do it herself.

Tony still occasionally had his friend Rhodey over...maybe him?

Doubtful. Even more than Thor.

But she'd smelled Natasha indirectly on Clint and it definitely wasn't that.

Oh no.

She frowned mid meeting as the thought occurred to her. She quickly decided she was probably wrong and wished she'd asked Jarvis to show her the tapes of the previous night and who'd used the pillow last.

Part of her didn't want to know, for fear of the answer.

Priz sighed, face scrunching as her back and throat protested the large expansion. Thor patted the seat beside him, meeting her eyes somewhat sternly.

She immediately shook her head but offered a small, slightly pained smile to thank him for the offer.

Steve's eyebrows rose as she did deny Thor's offered affection.

Why would she do that? He was the only one -other than Tony- open for a beta and she was turning him down.

She didn't exactly have many options to find a mate unless she somehow met someone on a mission or got chatted up by a SHEILD agent on the rare occasion she visited the offices.

Even without pheromones she certainly got a lot of stares.

Though she seemed unaware, she possessed an ethereal, angelic beauty no one had ever seen. A total doll, as he'd have said in his youth.

Another reason he turned his nose at her; she was gorgeous and he didn't want Bucky to feel threatened or lesser.

Steve loved Bucky.

So he had to hate Prism.

He felt like a bad alpha for being drawn to her at all, and he worked hard to hide that feeling from his mate. It felt like cheating.

Prism flinched slightly as Bucky rested his cold, vibranium arm on her back - lightly dragging his fingertips up and down.

This made everyone's eyes snap to them as Bucky tried to comfort her for the first time ever.

She had to admit, even artificial touch felt great. Plus the cooling on her bruises was nice. He flared his dominance for her and she couldn't help but lean toward him slightly, for once.

Tony considered stepping in but when he saw her face relax he cleared his throat to regain the attention of the team - noticing how Bucky continued his ministrations.

It was perfectly acceptable for betas to comfort each other when injured, just odd that Bucky would do it.

Steve faked confusion but he knew this was Bucky's way of trying to make amends so he didn't do anything to stop it.

Prism looked a little conflicted at allowing this but Bucky's dominant pheromones were just what she needed. She fought the omega urge to curl into his side for more contact, keeping her jaw clenched

Thor was definitely confused. Had Clint and Nat not passed along his interest?

Or was Priz actually not looking?

She certainly acted like she was, even if she denied it. She couldn't stop all of her reactions to physical touch.

Even a Betas touch. But...Bucky?

Thor looked at Steve who shrugged and returned his attention to Tony.

Natasha watched from the corner of her eye as the bruises on her back faded a little at the touch even of his mechanical arm. She had to admit, Bucky was a very strong beta...maybe Clint wasn't quite enough for what the silver haired girl needed.

Feeling the need to help his Beta, Steve put hand on his shoulder and sent some of his own alpha pheromones to make him stronger- noticing Priz slump a little more toward him as it worked. She hadn't noticed, but she was now receiving from both Bucky and- though to a much lesser point- Steve.

Tony kept his eyes trained on the necklace while he watched it all go down, starting to see the puzzle pieces more clearly.

The ideal triad, right in front of him - but no one knew.

Luckily Bruce's gift kept her scentless during this because she'd stopped holding on a while ago. In fact, everything had faded away for her except the cool touch raking her back.

Clint leaned away from all the pheromones on the couch- picking up on the alpha ones Steve was emitting too. Natasha pressed her thumb into the silver bite mark on his neck to reassure him and bring him back to the moment. She kept rubbing his shoulders calmly as they refocused on Tony's presentation.

She didn't know that the hell was going on over there but she knew it was clearly helping Prism.

The secret omega couldn't resist anymore. She fell to the side and into Bucky's chest, letting him curl his arm around her back, now rubbing and down her forearm. Her eyes fluttered closed as Steve curiously pushed more calming alpha pheromones through Bucky to deliver to her.

She actually began to glow slightly as she listened to Bucky's heart.

Tony was worried this would tip somebody off, but he realized the others seemed to be deliberately not paying attention to the exchange.

Honestly they didn't have any idea what was going on, but it seemed to be helping her and it was the most at ease they'd ever seen her. No one wanted to ruin it for her.

Not even Steve who hadn't looked away from the two betas since she started glowing, brows knit in confusion.

Why was he doing this for her? Why was it effecting her this way? Why did he like the way Priz and Bucky looked curled up together? It made him feel...proud to have two beautiful betas.

Wait. What.

Step back, wow. First of all, have two beautiful betas? Two betas never worked out, and Priz was definitely not his.

Why did that feel like a lie?

He felt a rush of affection for her he couldn't explain, was it coming from Bucky? Was Bucky feeling this?

Steve assessed his mate and realized they were both feeling this right now. Both felt like they had a claim on Prism. But they shouldn't be feeling like this toward another beta.

It's not normal.

Time to push back, again. Steve stopped donating his pheromones to the cause and the girl immediately stopped glowing, shyly looking up at Bucky's face as she seemed to be freed from her trance like state.

He looked down at her with soft eyes, letting her press a gentle kiss to his cheek to thank him before scooting back to her own couch cushion.

Thor made a surprised but accepting face as he glanced over when she moved. He noticed the slight hesitation when she kissed Bucky's cheek- she almost kissed the underside of his jaw submissively like someone else he knew would often do.

He glanced the alpha who hadn't stopped speaking throughout all of that for confirmation that he noticed that too, Tony winked and went on with the presentation.

Prism became more aware of her present surroundings as time went on, finding her back and throat no longer hurting as badly- having begun to fade.

After the meeting concluded, Tony was the first to leave, then Natasha with her mate in tow, Prism decided to try and get out of there quickly -embarrassed at how she'd straight up cuddled Bucky. She knew Steve would return when she was healed to give her shit for it.

She could already hear him; what kind of freak beta cuddles a mated beta? Who the fuck do you think you are? Scentless freak trying to get someone else's pheromones to pass as her own. Her mind put the words in his mouth and played them in the harsh tone he often took with her-making her chest hurt.

She dashed for the door only to get bumped in the doorway, gasping in pain as her back smacked the doorframe.

"Watch it, freak." Steve spat, brushing past her and leaving behind the same scent she'd been loving earlier from the throw pillow.

Shiiiiiit.