I don't own anything related to Marvel and though Darcy Lewis is not mine, I did take some liberties with her character. Anything you recognise is not mine and this is meant for entertainment purposes only. I haven't written fanfiction in almost two years so my apologies if I'm a bit rusty.
Chapter One
the loneliness settles within me
Darcy flashed her visitor's pass to the security guard who briefly checked her credentials before nodding her through. She nervously checked her appearance once more in a small compact before closing it with a resounding click that reverberated through her nervous and sweating body and shoved it in her small shoulder bag.
What was she doing? Dear Thor, she was in Stark Tower or was that Avengers Tower now? Whatever it was called, she was in it! The elevator dinged and the crowd surged forward. There was enough room if she kept her arms to her front and back straight and rigid. Sometimes, having curves was a curse...okay, more like all the time.
She smiled at the petite blond beside her; the smile turning frosty when the blonde's eyes fell to her chest and moved away with a discrete eye roll. The caustic remarks froze on her tongue when she remembered that this was her first job interview, seriousjob interview since...hell, even before her and Jane hightailed it to London.
When the elevator opened on the tenth floor, Darcy was so tempted to hit the back of the blonde's heel with her toe and send her stumbling in those Louboutin knockoffs, and yes she knew the difference thank you very much Jane. But she just barely restrained herself because today was the first day of Darcy Lewis, adult extraordinaire.
Except for her sleeping in this morning so she had to run through her morning routine, and eating two packets of her favourite pop-tarts...but aside from that, she was an adult!
She glanced at the numbers lighting up as they ascended the tower and began sweating. Who knew she'd be so nervous for a petty job interview? Even if the position was... what was it again? Oh right, Assistant to the manager in the Legal department, which was totally a real job Jane.
Even if she had to get coffee for the first few weeks, she was down with that; she had done a brief interning stint at a legal office before the senior partner got a little too handsy and entitled, wanting to play 'hide the weenie': his words and so not hers.
But that was the past, the child Darcy. She just hoped her new manager was not a creep because at this point, she needed any job she could get. New York was hell expensive and being a Political Science graduate at Culver University meant she needed to start paying back her student loans or they were going to come after her. And she wouldn't put it past Culver not to get a little to eager like The Man or in her case, Agent iPod-thief.
The elevator dinged and she glanced up with a start realising it was her floor. She stepped out, her worn black heels biting into the dark slate carpet. The floor was busier than she thought but this was Tony Stark's tower so at this point, should she really be surprised? Spotting the reception desk, she straightened her shoulders and confidently stalked to it, a polite smile on her cherry red lips.
"Good morning." Ann, the receptionist, if she was to believe the nameplate, smiled politely.
"Hi, I have an appointment with Mr Ramirez." She smiled, crossing her arms over her waist in habit.
The receptionist's eyes flickered to her white blouse covered chest before a brow rose and she typed a few things into the computer, "Ah, yes. The nine o'clock job interview. He's on his way, if you'll just have a seat there." She motioned to a few plush black chairs against the windowed wall.
A sardonic brow rose and though she had tried to be polite, she felt her smile grow cold, "Thanks." She bit out before leaving. She heard a huff behind her but refused to deign herself any lower and sat on the edge.
Regardless of her old job corralling scientists before Thor figuratively landed in Jane's lap and having a degree, she was still always going to be the curvy, well-endowed brunette with full lips. Always. Even if she sprouted science at people, she was simply Darcy the ditz. Even Jane called her that sometimes.
It stung but she pretended Jane meant well. Feeling the familiar edge of loneliness bite into her gut, Darcy forced it away. She could wallow in self-pity in her shitty apartment after she gave a kick ass interview later but now was not the time.
"Miss Lewis?" A voice asked and she turned her head seeing a middle-aged, slightly plump man walk towards her, his belly straining against his dress shirt.
She stood up and shook his hand with a polite smile on her lips, "It's very nice to meet you."
With heels, she was a few inches taller than him which gave him great vantage point, damn it. "If you please come with me, dear." He smiled thinly, his dark eyes scrutinising her.
With a silent sigh, Darcy followed behind ignoring the speculative looks that were sent their way. Oh, she knew what they were thinking but if she didn't play horizontal poker with her old boss, she sure as hell would not with this one either. If she even got the job, that is.
What followed was Darcy's best hour; give her a topic and she could talk anyone's ears off, with confidence. There may be days when she felt off or days when the thought of leaving her bed sounded like torture but she was her best when it came to talking about everything and saying nothing at all. It was probably the reason why she landed the old internship to begin with.
When she was surrounded by people or at least talking, the loneliness that threatened to crash receded; maybe that's why she liked working with Jane and Erik. They never noticed the sadness and she never had to tell them because they were always too busy doing science to care.
Mr. Ramirez smiled and though at first she had pegged him to be a creep, he wasn't, at least not that much. He was considerate, thought-provoking and he didn't demean her. Sure, his eyes kept straying but beggars can't be choosers, right? "So why political science?" He asked leaning back in his chair.
She smiled brightly having spent the better part of the past five years cultivating the perfect answer, "Life is politics; it's everywhere and everything. It's not just about politicians but the way the world works. There's intrinsic value in learning about politics even though there's so many preconceived notions surrounding it." She replied realising she just used 'intrinsic' and 'value' in the same sentence. Dear Thor, had she really paid that much attention in her philosophy of political theory class?
He grinned, "Do we have a Plato and Aristotle fan here?"
She shook her head, "Aristotle, sure but Plato was," swallowing the need to say 'whack', she settled for, "a bit off his rocker, I think."
Mr. Ramirez laughed and flipped through her resume once more, "I always thought Plato was a little too extreme myself." He nodded to himself and stood up, reaching over his desk with an extended hand, "Thank you again, Ms. Lewis, we'll let you know in a few days."
Darcy smiled and shook his hand, "Thank you, Mr. Ramirez."
It wasn't until she was in the elevator that reality crashed into her and she realised she'd have to forgo food for a few days to make rent if she didn't land the job and soon.
She stepped into the lobby and moved to the side to let others stream past her. Shrugging out of her blazer, she slung it over her arm and began to walk towards the exit. She wanted to go home, take a cold shower because it really was too hot for her liking and eat ice cream until she felt better.
"Lady Darcy!" A voice boomed from behind her.
Recognising the voice, Darcy whirled around and saw a streak of blond before she was enveloped in two steel arms. Laughing, Darcy grabbed onto Thor's shoulders for support as he crushed her, "Hi Thor."
A discrete cough sounded from behind them and they both turned their heads to find a few people studying them curiously. She saw a man talking on his cellphone scowling at them but before she could return the scowl, because she was an adult and that's what petty adults did, Thor lowered her back to the ground. "How fares you, Lady Darcy?" He thundered.
Grinning, Darcy patted his arms, "Oh, someone's been working out?"
He smiled with a nod, "I have been and I thank you for noticing."
"Want to get coffee?" She offered then realised she was poor and would need to pay for Thor and the multiple coffees he would no doubt drink. "Want to come over instead? I have pop-tarts."
"It would be my pleasure, Lady Darcy! But first, I must let the Voice know first." He explained and pulled out a Starkphone.
It was a sad state when Thor had a Starkphone and she still had an old phone from six years ago. But she remembered from one of Jane's insomniac late night rants over the phone that he was an Avenger now, which would not only explain why he was here but also the phone. She felt oddly proud of Thor for being an Avenger; proud but worried.
He pressed a number and waited, smiling goofily down at her that she happily returned. "I will not make this morning's gathering." He explained.
She strained her ears to hear what was being said but only heard buzzing, "Tell the Man of Iron I have accepted a friend's invitation. That is all, Voice."
"Wow." She blinked, her grin broadening, "You're kind of a big deal now, Thor."
He laughed, his voice reverberated through her and she finally got tired of the looks they were garnering and grabbed his hand, pulling him from the Avengers Tower. "Man of Iron, the Voice…kind of cool, buddy."
Thor grinned sheepishly, "Midgard is my home and Man of Iron has been gracious to give me boarding."
She nodded, "Well, I'm happy for you." There was a long pause before she broke it impatiently when it seemed Thor was too happy grinning to say anything. "How's Jane?" She asked as they walked farther from the tower.
Thor glanced curiously down at her, "I would return the question, Lady Darcy. She has heard nothing but silence from you." He frowned, his voice both worried and irate.
She patted his arm before wrapped her arms around it, "Sorry! I've been busy trying to get settled. I phoned her three weeks ago, though."
They descended the stairs of the subway and she turned to him, "Remember what I said about inside voices?"
He nodded, "It helps us blend in." He repeated loudly, though knowing this was Thor, that was a big concession and she'd gladly take it.
She grinned, "You look good in plain clothes." She complimented and it was true; he looked amazing wearing black jeans, weathered boots and an emerald t-shirt covered by a tanned leather jacket. And if he wasn't already taken by Jane, she'd have made her move long ago…especially when he was wearing his armour. But alas, he was taken and she'd have to settle for boring human men instead.
Standing on the subway platform, he glanced around worriedly, "Lady Darcy—"
She quirked a brow and waited, "Darcy," he tried again and smiled at her nod of encouragement, "I and my Jane are worried for you. She has not heard your voice in more than a fortnight and now my worries grow. You take this steel devil surrounded by menacing—"
Darcy caught his lifted hand in hers, not even bothered anymore by how much bigger his hands were than hers, "Thor. Inside voice." She reminded and when the train pulled up, she tugged him along, "We'll talk when we get to my apartment, okay?"
He sighed but remained quiet, casting furtive worried glances her way. She felt like she had just kicked a puppy but after fifteen minutes of sitting side by side in the train, her stop came and they both left. She winced when she caught the scowl on his face as he looked around them, his shoulders straightening.
She recognised his battle ready stance but kept tugging him after her. Yeah, she lived in a very bad neighbourhood, so bad that she'd bought a second taser and two bottles of pepper spray. But if she had to cut her internet, television and revert her cellphone to archaic minimums, she would survive almost anything.
"Lady Darcy!" He boomed the second they were in her apartment on the third-floor. "What is this nonsense?" He demanded studying her one bedroom, closet small place.
"It's not that bad." She shrugged trying not to wince when he scowled at the ivory peeling paint, scuffed floor and metal barred window.
"This squalor…" He began.
"Hey, dude! This is my place!" She feigned outrage, leaving him in the living room so she could go rummage around her kitchen.
"I will insist Jane return immediately and—"
"No!" She shouted before smiling apologetically at his frown, "It's just that…I can't live with her again."
"What is this nonsense, Lady Darcy? I thought you and my beloved were sisters in arms." He thundered.
She nodded and waved him into the kitchen, letting him sit at the only chair in her apartment. Yes, she couldn't even afford a couch. Milk crates were great for many things, she discovered since moving to New York.
"I can't live with her because you both are going to keep me up or she's going to keep up for science…" She shuddered. Some nights she could still hear their loud…passion and she swore she'd never live that nightmare ever again. She loved them both but no. Just no.
He sighed and watched as she moved around the kitchen, "It saddens me that you live here."
Darcy closed her eyes but pretended to keep searching the cupboard until she had properly composed herself. She pulled out a box of pop-tarts, plated them and set them on the small table before Thor and added a glass of milk for good measure.
She crossed her arms under her chest and smiled when Thor was too preoccupied with the pop-tarts to notice or care about her chest. Yet another reason she loved that blond goofus. "How about if I'm ever in need, I'll call you for help?" She offered knowing she had no intentions of ever doing that. But she wouldn't kick a sad puppy and Thor looked like a very sad golden retriever puppy.
He nodded, appeased, "Come and feast with me Lady Darcy!"
Three exhausted hours later, she watched the taxi pull away from the sidewalk before she moved away from her barred window with a sigh. Thor had been adamant that she should stay inside without an escort and she had been just as stubborn about him not taking the subway alone. She still remembered the London Train disaster and she'd be damned if she'd make the same mistake again in New York. She loved that giant but damn, he tired her out like a toddler and after babysitting for a few years back in high school, she certainly knew what she was talking about.
She pulled out her phone and quickly added Thor's information knowing with distance sadness that she wouldn't phone him again. At least not until she got her shit together and let's face it, that'll take awhile before that happens.
Her shoulders slumped and she allowed the quiet misery to settle into her bones. The loneliness was lead in her gut, weighing her down until she stumbled to her bedroom and pulled off her clothes. It wasn't even three in the afternoon but she was too depressed to care about job searching when she could sleep away the afternoon.
Jane was in Norway with Erik, on what they called their 'science vacation' and Thor was where he belonged: with the Avengers. And Darcy? Well she was in her shitty apartment, utterly alone and belonging to no one other than the rats scurrying in the walls. If she died in the middle of the night like her neighbour had, it'd take weeks before she would be found and it'd probably be because of the smell. It was a sad thought that only made the loneliness engulf her further until sleep blissfully came.
