Author's Note: And here we go! Like I said – these are off the cuff and not heavily planned out, so where I'm going with them…I have no idea. (This one got away from me, so it definitely went over the target of 1000 words.) Again, no beta, so all errors are mine.
Bond #1 – The Professor
People at Culver considered Darcy a little odd, maybe even a bit weird with her long sleeves and multiplicity of hats. She kept to herself and seemed cautious about meeting new people or making friends. Most folks tended to wrap themselves up in their own lives, too busy to worry about an introvert on campus, but the people in her dorm gossiped amongst themselves when nothing else drew their attention. They came up with various speculations, including a bad relationship or some worse kind of tragic past.
The inordinate amount of talk just made Darcy roll her eyes.
She focused on her studies, trying to decide what she wanted to do with her life. Technology intrigued her and she loved spending time on the internet. Social media proved to be a major outlet for her and she made the most of it. Still…she could not quite see herself delving into computer science or engineering as a career. Instead she decided to keep that for her minor, something to beef up her marketable skills and to polish off her resume. As she became more immersed in various internet connections, she realized the potential for online work – especially in regards to politics and grassroots networking.
Then something unexpected happened.
Darcy rushed around the corner of the café, wondering if she should try the sprint for class or just give it up as lost. The question became moot as she all but barreled into a woman coming the other direction. "I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, checking to make sure she had not spilled her drink on her poor victim. "Oh my God, I am so, so sorry!"
The woman rocked back on her heels, but managed a small chuckle. "I've had worse outcomes from a collision."
A tingling sensation shot up Darcy's arm and her eyes grew wide as she felt a gentle tug on her mind. "Oh!"
"Much worse actually," her new soulmate smiled. Dark brown hair framed brilliant blue eyes. "I've been wondering when I would meet you." She held out a hand. "Betty Ross."
"I'm Darcy…Darcy Lewis." She paused, still tense at the sudden change in her life. "And you're a professor."
"Professors have soulmarks too," Betty teased. "You're right though. I teach cellular biology."
"Sorry," she grimaced. "I know that. It's just… It surprised me – that I would have one for a soulmate. Or you know, that I found you at all like this. I mean, I never actually…well…" Her voice trailed off and she gave an embarrassed half shrug.
"I'm the first of your soulmates?" The gentle smile which accompanied the question held no judgement, just a soft understanding. "I found my first one in college as well. I only have three, and you're the last one…barring any being born in the future." Betty reached out and put a hand on Darcy's shoulder. "It doesn't have to be weird or anything. We can just be acquaintances and wait on the friendship until after you graduate if you want."
Darcy sensed the acceptance along the new bond in her mind. It felt strange to have that kind of connection, but at the same time it felt right. Then she realized she could also feel a deep sorrow and a hint of loneliness along the bond as well. She shook her head. "No, that's not… I don't mind being friends. I just… I was just surprised." Relief hummed along the bond and she smiled. "And hey, I should probably inform you that I ducked biology anytime I could. The whole dissection thing…ick."
"That's alright," Betty laughed. "It's not for everyone." Bells rang from the clock tower and she lifted a brow. "I'm pretty sure you missed class, so how about you come in and have breakfast with me? We can talk."
"Sounds good," Darcy nodded. "It's just a review today anyway."
"We'll need to register the bond with the university," Betty informed her as they made their way back towards the café. "It gets sealed and remains private, but it will protect us against any potential issues with me being a professor and you a student." A contemplative look crossed her face. "It will also make me your closest emergency contact."
"Really?" Darcy's shoulders relaxed at that. "That would be great. Not that Mom and Dad aren't fantastic," she hurried to assure a suddenly frowning Betty, "but they worry about me enough and I think having someone who can be a little more…umm…discerning about when they really need to be called would be wonderful." Then she put down her cup and looked around to make sure nobody was watching. "You should know what you're getting into," she sighed, pushing up her sleeves to show the multiple soulmarks on her arms, including the one linking her to Betty, now iridescent in the light. "I'm a bit of a…well, freak-."
"I hate that word," Betty informed her as she pulled the younger girl into her arms for a quick hug. "I don't want to ever hear you use it again. Ever." She put her hands on Darcy's shoulder and met her gaze. "So we're going to be partners in changing the world, or at least some part of it." Her shoulders rose and fell in a careless shrug. "So what? I always wanted to make a difference."
Darcy all but collapsed in relief before throwing her arms around the scientist. "God, I'm glad I found you."
"Me, too, kiddo."
Betty became the cool older sister she would have loved to have growing up. She introduced Darcy to some other students who could care less if she spent an entire evening in the corner reading or cruising various sites. They tended to be mad scientists in the making, so they would spend the same evening muttering and working on formulas. The group worked better than Darcy might have hoped. She helped them remember things like eating and sleeping while they gave her somewhere she could relax and be herself.
"So you're doing better?" Betty inquired as they met for coffee one bright Sunday morning.
Darcy nodded. "Yeah, I really think so." She took a sip of her mocha. "They're funny though. Do you know Mike will eat anything – and I mean anything you put into his hand and tell him to eat?" Her eyes danced with amusement as she shook her head. "Oh, and Dasha can work twelve hours straight through if you don't interrupt her?"
"Forget PolySci," the older woman laughed. "You should be majoring in scientist management."
"Is that an option?"
"It should be." Betty rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't believe how many quote-unquote 'mad' scientists come out of this place. I'd think there was an unspoken competition going on between universities." She paused. "You know, if I was the paranoid sort."
"Which neither of us are, of course," Darcy smirked.
"Of course not!"
Their shared laughter spilled out into the sunlight.
A couple of years passed, but Betty finally told her about her former flame, Doctor Bruce Banner, and the experiment gone wacky which created the creature dubbed 'Hulk' by the media. Then she mentioned her father, General Thaddeus Ross.
"What a jackass," Darcy muttered, shaking her head. Then she flinched and offered Betty an apologetic smile.
"Oh he is that," the other woman agreed with a sad little smile. "I told him I would never again consider him my father for what he did." She sighed, staring down at her fingers. "I just wish I knew how Bruce was doing."
"You still miss him, don't you?"
"Always." Betty ran her fingertips across one thin line on her wrist. "I know he's alive, and every so often I get a flash of something from him, but he's too far away for it to be clear. It's just a vague sense of well-being or worry or whatever."
"That sucks." Darcy bit her lip. "You're coming home with me for Christmas," she announced.
Betty blinked at her. "What?"
"I said you're coming home with me for the holidays," she repeated. "You never leave the campus except for conferences and lectures, and if I'm going to keep my scientist-wrangling creds, then I've got to keep up with you." Betty began shaking her head, but Darcy kept talking. "Besides, my mom makes more than enough food to feed an army and we've always got room for company. You can come meet my family and they can finally meet you."
"I don't know, Darcy…" Something like longing flashed in Betty's eyes.
That gave Darcy more than enough impetus to be stubborn. "I do know," she insisted. "My folks will adore you."
And they did.
The entire Lewis family adopted Betty within forty-eight hours of the women arriving at the farm. She had her own room before the holidays ended as well as an invitation to come home anytime, with or without Darcy.
Then came yet another fateful moment.
"So basically you need six science credits, but you don't actually want to mess with two semesters of science," Betty laughed as she typed on her computer.
"That about it," she agreed from her sprawled position on the couch. "Any ideas?"
"An internship."
"That was quick," Darcy noted, sitting up to face the desk.
"I figured this would come up sooner or later," Betty admitted, "so I've been looking for solutions. A short internment assisting one of the field researchers will get you the credits. Most of them would just mean doing paperwork for the scientist in question."
Darcy gazed at her in awe. "You are awesome."
The scientist laughed at her solemn pronouncement. "Don't thank me too soon," she warned. "I can only find one that you should be able to get. Most of them have science majors applying and they'll get priority. The open spot is for a woman who most consider to be a bit…cracked."
"Sounds like my kind of scientist," Darcy replied, cheeky grin in full bloom.
"Hush you," Betty mock scolded. "Anyway, Jane Foster is an astrophysicist currently working in the middle of nowhere New Mexico."
She tilted her head. "Do they get the internet out there?" Betty started laughing and Darcy could only shrug. "Hey, middle of nowhere New Mexico doesn't sound too bad when it comes to getting six easy science credits for doing some paperwork. I rock at paperwork."
Betty gave her a searching look. "Are you sure?"
"Why not?" she grinned. "After all, it's a desert, right? What could happen?"