A/N: Everyone has done such a great job with these Soulmate AUs so I thought I would throw my hat in the ring. This was originally posted on my account on Ao3
Platonic
Soul mate AU
xXx
Darcy liked the idea of soul mates. It was nice to think that somewhere out there, there was someone (or in her case two someone's) who were meant to be in her life. She knew soul mates were meant to be romantic partners, but having a first row seat to the horror show that was her parents' marriage and later separation, she was a strong believer that soul mates could be platonic. So the idea that really grabbed her was that her soul mates whether romantic or platonic would always have her back; would always be there for her. She could say with one hundred percent certainty that if she ever met her soul mates and they told her they weren't interested she would be OK with it, because at the end of the day she knew if it were really meant to be as so many claimed, it would happen eventually.
So, as she packed up to leave for college she reminded herself that 'Wow, whatever you're cooking smells amazin', doll' and "Do I smell Apple pie?' We're not her only hope for happiness and if she wanted to live a life she could be proud of, she needed to work hard and create that life for herself.
And that's exactly what she did.
Darcy worked hard earning top marks in her classes and applause (figuratively speaking) from her instructors. Politics had always been a strong love for Darcy and while she sometimes found discouragement, due to her full figure and pretty face, she flourished in her chosen field, blowing away peers and superiors with her insightful opinions and expertly written papers. A few of her professors even encouraged her to publish her papers. Her ability to strategize and outline brilliant political strategy ensured that any paper submitted was published.
Unfortunately, Darcy's political prowess did not translate well into other science-named fields and so she was left hanging with six measly credits needed to graduate with a doctorate in Political Science (which in her opinion was bull shit she could learn more and actually enjoy what she learned sitting at home watching The Science Channel). Point was, Darcy was behind and that left her with little option but to take an internship with one Dr. Jane Foster.
Darcy wasn't surprised to hear that she was the only applicant. She'd read Foster's proposal and was more surprised that the closed minded individuals whom she got her grants from would even award them to her in the first place. Most people thought she was eccentric and while Darcy was a firm believer in the idea that anything was possible, she remained skeptical of Foster's theory.
And then Thor showed up.
The night Thor returned to Asgard to stop Loki, leaving his soul mate behind, found Darcy, Jane and Eric on the roof of the filling station with a bottle of Tequila, a bowl of lime wedges and a salt shaker. They drowned their sorrows in alcohol and in the morning when Agent iPod thief and his band of not so merry men returned Jane's research and equipment, Darcy realized for the first time in what would prove to be a long line of realizations that her life was not going to be normal in any way shape or form.
New York happened, they were moved and when it was over Jane told SHIELD where they could stick it and moved her whole operation to London. Eventually Thor returned, they saved the world as they seemed to be doing on a regular basis these days, and when all was said and done they settled into a life in London.
That is until SHIELD fell to Hydra.
Thor had heard stories of Hydra's evil from Captain America in his short time on the Helicarrier, so he didn't hesitate in convincing Jane and Eric and even Darcy to move to New York with him and accept Tony Stark's offer of a home and employment. Darcy was torn between returning to school and finishing her degree which was just within reach, or hitching her car once again to Jane's crazy train. She chose option number two, because as much as everyone may think she was out of her league, without her Jane would probably lose what little sanity remained while in Science! Mode.
New York was nice. They moved in in late spring and Darcy spent the summer getting acquainted with the city and making herself a nice little niche among the residence that were already there.
Clint was easy to befriend, they bonded over beers and college football. She wasn't sure if his love of the Hawkeyes was because of their name or because he was from Iowa himself. She liked to believe it was a little of both.
Bruce was next and while she was a little nervous that her grating personality would be too much of a trigger for him, she was pleasantly surprised to find out that all she had to do was treat him like she would Jane, but as if he had a little more self-awareness when it came to taking care of himself. She made him tea and light lunches and helped organize his notes for publication when he was too focused to worry about it. He once insisted that she let him put her name as a co-author when he realized what she was doing, but she brushed it off informing him that her own papers got published enough she wasn't about to step into his line light too.
And that's how she got Tony's attention (and Pepper's). The infamous power couple had just stepped into Bruce's lab in perfect time to hear their conversation and before Bruce could inquire over her work, Tony beat him to it.
"What did you have published?" Darcy jumped, not having heard either of them enter.
"Just a few papers I wrote for assignments in school." She looked between them a little star struck. Not because of Tony, although by the look on his face he seemed to think so, but because of Pepper. Pepper had and always would be Darcy's idol. She was the woman Darcy aspired to be.
"What was you're major?" Bruce spoke up behind her.
"Political Science. I was two semesters from finishing a doctorate."
"Why didn't you finish?" Pepper seemed thoroughly intrigued. "If you're the Darcy Lewis I think you are, you have a very bright future in politics."
"Wow that means so much coming from you. Wait, does that mean you read my papers?" She paused blushing slightly at her slip as Tony beamed at her and Pepper's polite business smile took on a flattered tone. "I needed six science credits to graduate and I didn't want to take a class so I ended up with Jane and then Thor happened and it never seemed the right time to just up and leave her all alone."
Pepper hummed in thought. "You know that kind of loyalty is hard to find these days." She smiled. "Why haven't you gone back to school now that Jane is all set up here?"
"Honestly, I'm still paying off my loans from the first five and half years, I can't really afford to open new ones to go back."
Pepper straightened and smiled brightly. "Well we'll just have to do something about that. Meet me in the penthouse at ten AM sharp tomorrow morning." And with that Pepper turned on her gorgeously expensive heels and walked out. Darcy looked to Tony dumbfounded.
"What just happened?"
"My soul mate is being awesome." He replied proudly.
"She's awesome all the time I mean what was that just now, specifically." Tony laughed as he dragged Bruce out of the lab for lunch.
That little encounter took care of Tony and the next morning when she met Pepper for a brunch meeting in the penthouse and discovered that Stark Industries had a special program for employees that ensured her old loans would be paid off and SI would cover the cost of finishing her degree in return for Darcy signing a contract that would guarantee her a job with SI when she finished, she checked Pepper off her list too.
By the end of summer everyone seemed to return in succession. First Natasha, whom Darcy won over with her expert baking skills and love of old black and white movies. Then Sam Wilson, who came with a letter from Captain America that he, was a friend and could they please give him a place to stay while he figured out his next move. Sam quickly joined their football Saturdays with Thor as well. The minute he witnessed her scream at the TV for the first time she was his new best friend.
Captain America and his best friend/rumored soul mate, James Barnes showed up near the end of August and Darcy would never forget the first time they met.
Darcy was in the communal kitchen making a feast for the team as a way of getting them all together now that they would be living and working together, when she heard the door swing open behind her.
"Do I smell apple pie?" Darcy froze, turning slowly, from where she had just set said pie. She starred across the room in shock, Captain America starring back. In hindsight, the sarcasm that came out of her mouth was so like her it wasn't even funny. But now here in the moment;
"No, it's totally cherry." Seemed like a horrible first impression on one of her soul mates.
Steve Rogers, because that's what he preferred so that's what she would call him, looked like a deer in oncoming traffic. He seemed torn; at a loss and a part of her hoped what she knew was coming wouldn't happen.
"I like cherry." He finally said.
"Me too, but it's totally apple though, I don't know why I said that."
Before he could say anything else, James Barnes walked in slapping Steve on the back and taking a deep breath through his nose.
"Wow, whatever you're cooking smells amazin', doll."
"Thanks." Her voice was soft, strained. "It's an old family recipe."
James, because he wasn't ready to be called Bucky yet, stared at her, eyes wide and traveling her person down and back up. A smirk started to grow on his face and as he stepped forward Darcy let a little hope back into her heart. That is until Steve snapped out of his stupor.
"We can't." His voice stopped James in his tracks, his smirk gone. He turned to Steve.
"What?" Their hushed whispers were lost on her so she put on her brave face and bit back the disappointment, because for a small moment she actually believed things would turn out better than her parents, and smiled sweetly.
"It's okay." Her voice pulled them out of their conversation. She tried not to let Steve's relief bother her, or James' defeat. "But hey, since your here, you should make yourselves useful. She tossed a pair of oven mitts across the center island separating them. "One of you pulls the pot roast out of the oven and the other sets the table."
She didn't wait to see if they did what she asked before turning to the bread maker and pulling the bread pot out. The scent of freshly made bread mingled with slow roasted and roasted potatoes. After slicing and plating the bread she turned back around to find James carving the chicken and Steve plating the potatoes.
She smiled as if they had been friends for years when they looked up at her, before pulling a bottle of wine from the fridge and taking both the wine and bread to the table. Both men followed shortly after, and the three of them moved back and forth with little word bringing food to the table. When they were finished Darcy stepped back and smiled at a job well done.
"Perfect, thanks for the help." She told them, removing her apron. "Jarvis, can you please let everyone know they have ten minutes to get down to the dining room."
"Certainly Ms. Lewis." She returned to the kitchen and washed her hands, before walking out of the kitchen and heading for the elevator.
"Wait, aren't you gonna eat, doll?" James called after her.
"Of course." She replied. "I'm just going to go change my shirt, the flour bag exploded on me earlier." She gestured to her flour stained shirt and stepped into the lift when it arrived.
James watched as the doors closed before turning a scowl on Steve.
"What the hell, punk? What was that?" Steve sighed.
"Buck, we can't take on another soul mate right now. Not while you're still trying to get you're barring." James shook his head.
"She's not a pet Steve, she's our soul mate! You can't just toss her aside because it's inconvenient."
As he spoke Sam, Natasha, and Clint entered the dining room. Natasha cleared her throat, arching a thin, elegant eyebrow in question. James turned to them, fuming. "Darcy." He replied recognizing Natasha's subtle expression.
"What about her." Clint asked, tensing up. In the few months he had known her, he had come to think of her as the little sister he never had and honestly kind of wanted.
"Bucky." Steve interrupted in warning. That just seemed to egg him on more.
"She's our soul mate and Steve here thinks we should stay away from her."
"I didn't say that!"
"You might as well have!"
"Enough!" Natasha rarely raised her voice, but when she did everyone listened. "Everyone is on their way. Unless Darcy brings it up herself, you will not talk about this in front of them. We will discuss this later as civilized human beings."
With that she took her seat at the table and shot a glare at each of them until they did the same. Darcy and Thor dragged Jane with them a few minutes later.
"Smells great, Darce." Sam told her as she took a seat across from Natasha. She smiled.
"Thank you. Be sure to save room for dessert too. I made chocolate truffles and apple pie."
To everyone Darcy looked like nothing had happened. A part of each of them wondered if she remembered at all. She was bright and cheery as always. Smiling and laughing with her friends.
"You really went all out kid, this is great." Clint spoke up around a mouthful of potatoes.
"I used that spice that you like so much."
"It's official," Tony began. "You're making all meals from now on."
Darcy laughed. "Well, seeing as how I start classes tomorrow I'm not sure I'll have the time. But I can't totally do like Sunday dinners and stuff."
"It's a date then." Pepper answered.
Diner was passed with nice conversation and when they were finished with both dinner and dessert, Darcy moved to clean up.
"Whoa, what do you think you're doing?" Clint chastised. Darcy squinted.
"I know it's kind of a foreign concept to you Hawkass, so I'll explain it as simply as I can. I'm cleaning up." Clint gave her his best Hawkeye stare but she just lifts one sculpted eyebrow in a way indicative of his soul mate. He turned on Natasha.
"Stop teaching her stuff." He took the plates from Darcy and retreated to the kitchen in a huff. Natasha stood from her seat an amused smile on her lips.
"What Clint was trying to say was you've done enough. We'll take care of the dishes."
"Are you sure?" Natasha gave her the slightest of nods. "I guess I'll go double check everything for tomorrow." When she was gone, Sam carried an armful into the kitchen while Natasha gave Steve and James pointed looks before following.
Both Steve and James grab some plates and silverware and headed into the kitchen as well.
"You get the feeling we're missing something?" Jane asked. Tony nodded.
In the kitchen Steve and James stopped in the door way, Natasha, Sam, and Clint all standing around, facing the door when they walked in. Steve sighed moving to start washing the dishes.
"Someone is gonna have to start talking here." Sam interjected.
"There's nothing to talk about. This is really none of your business." Steve told them looking over his shoulder from the sink.
"Actually it is." Clint spoke up. "Cause if you think I'm just going to stand by and watch you hurt her. You've got another thing coming."
Steve stopped what he was doing at the sink and turned around. "And while I appreciate your concern for her, I really don't think you have to worry about her. She barely batted an eye when I said no."
That made them all pause. Sam was the first to speak up. "Wait, she was okay? Like she wasn't pretending?"
"She really didn't seem to care?" Natasha added.
"Yea, she just agreed with Steve, and then asked us to help set up for diner." James replied. They were all silent as they got to work cleaning up. Once again it was Sam who broke the silence.
"But, do you want her to be your soul mate?" Sam questioned.
Bucky looked up at Steve who refused to make eye contact with any of them.
There wasn't anything Bucky wanted more, and he couldn't understand why Steve didn't want the same thing. Darcy was amazing from what he had seen, smart, sweet, funny and she was gorgeous. She was exactly like the women he and Steve used to dream about. She was perfect.