A Time Of Need (Shieldshock)
Meeting one’s soulmate was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of a person’s life, and yet, Darcy had spent her life dreading hers because of the words on her right hand.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
What kind of cruel joke was the universe going to play on her? Was she going to meet her soulmate at a funeral?
“You have a sick sense of humor, Universe!” She’d muttered multiple times, while looking at her words with disgust. She’d complained to Jane plenty of times. Her friend was sympathetic, but did her best to put a less depressing spin on it.
“I know it’s not fun circumstances, but I think it’s more common than we think. It just doesn’t get talked about. Hopefully, your soulmate will support you through your future grief. If they don’t, rest assured I will portal their ass to outer space.”
Darcy had chuckled and then sighed.
“Well I appreciate your attempts to cheer me up about it, i just wanted a cheesy meet cute. Was that too much to ask?” she grumbled. “Heck, I’d take a terrible pick up line at this point.”
Fortunately, for Darcy’s wish, funerals were few and far between for her during the busy years interning with Jane, then briefly wrangling Avengers before the world turned upside down.
She was a little surprised that she didn’t meet her soulmate after the snap, but it seemed it wasn’t yet time, because despite the myriad of memorials, no awkward soulmate meeting occurred.
Two years after Thanos, the unthinkable happened.
Why did it have to be Jane? Why? After all the unthinkably crazy stuff she’d lived through, she was taken out by cancer and Darcy was left reeling.
She sat by Thor at the memorial service, doing her best to be supportive even as she felt numbed by the grief herself. She stared at Jane’s picture while Eric eulogized her in long-winded form.
“I am not dying for six college credits!” Memories flashed through her mind from New Mexico, Norway, and London. From Jack-booted thugs and killer robots to Dark elves and visitors from Asgard, they’d had a good run. It would have made a killer memoir if most of it wasn’t classified.
After the service ended, she quietly chatted with Jane’s family for a little bit and shared some funny anecdotes of science mishaps that brought teary smiles to their faces.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thor talking to a tall blonde dude who looked eerily familiar.
Curious, she approached her friend, who turned to her with one of his excited puppy expressions. Her heart melted. She hadn’t seen that look in months. Clearly, Thor’s friend had brought him some comfort.
“Darcy!” He exclaimed. “My shieldbrother Steven came to pay his respects. Have you met him?”
Darcy mutely shook her head, stunned at seeing Steve Rogers in person. He was wearing a dark suit and looked very different from the Captain America she’d seen on the news. It was a good difference, though. He looked like he’d just walked out of a GQ ad.
Thor took it upon himself to introduce her and soon she was shaking the very large hand of the former Captain America.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Dr. Lewis.”
Darcy gaped. There it was. Her Words. The Dreaded moment. She considered fleeing, but the sincerely empathetic way Steve was looking at her held her still. After a few moments of silent panicking, she found her voice and blurted out “I thought you were on the moon or something.”
Steve looked shocked for a second, then he slowly grinned, which sent Darcy back to speechlessness.
“Darcy? Are you okay? I have never known you to go so long without speech,” Thor questioned worriedly.
In answer, she mutely held up her hand, showing them her words. Thor’s eyes widened and he excused himself after patting them both on the back and congratulating them in hearty Thor fashion. Steve nodded and looked at her with another one of those caring looks. She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
“I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances, but I am very happy to meet you,” he said softly. “My words are right here, in case you’re wondering.” He gestured to his left side.
She knew he was ripped under that nice black suit and let a little smirk appear.
“On top of your six pack, I hope?”
“Not quite,” Steve chuckled. “As to your first statement, I am retired and mostly off the grid right now, but I don’t know how the secret base on the moon rumors got started. I suspect Sam and Bucky.”
“A reasonable assumption,” Darcy agreed. “Your friends are goofy like that. Gosh, I can’t believe this. I bet Jane is laughing so hard at me in Valhalla. She tried to set me up with you once upon a time.”
“Oh?” Steve queried, one eyebrow quirking up in interested amusement.
“Yep,” Darcy admitted. “I’d just been dumped and wasn’t ready to try again. But fate prevailed, I see.”
“Yeah, it did. Natasha would have loved this. She talked about you a lot and said you were totally my type.”
“What? A feisty brunette who punches douchebags and has no filter? You’re in for a treat, then, Steve-o.”
She winked at him saucily.
“I think I am.” he agreed.
As she left the funeral home on Steve’s arm, she smiled affectionately at Jane’s picture.
You were right, Janey. Thank You.
Meanwhile In The Afterlife:
“Finally!” Jane crowed triumphantly, pumping her fist and doing the happy dance she’d used to do when celebrating a scientific breakthrough.
“Yes. If only the stubborn mule had listened to me. I could have helped plan their wedding,” sighed Natasha ruefully. “Maybe I’ll finally get a little namesake. I have never forgotten Nathaniel’s betrayal.”
“Hopefully, we’ll both get namesakes,” Jane agreed. “Those kids will have fantastic genes.”
She mimed fanning herself and made Natasha laugh again.
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