Note: in this, Jane's still working in London, which is why they're still there. Thor keeps in regular contact with the rest of the Avengers, so they all know each other through Skype, even though most of them have never met, and haven't talked about their work all that much. Since they're all such private, secretive individuals. Unlike Darcy.

"Strike"

Ten pin bowling was possibly Darcy's favourite new ice-breaker amongst co-workers, she decided. Weight-lifting without the onus of going to a gym, junk food on standby, casual competitiveness, and no hangovers in the morning. There was also air hockey, so a good time was had by all. Until she realised she had a flare for air hockey; then only the diehards wanted to play against her. On the plus side, the strangers she won money for paid for her next drinks, which was super awesome of them. She toasted them with her Coke from across the room.

They both had the tall, dark, and handsome thing going on, and the looks they were sending her were intense. Her girl parts were very happy about that, even though it was late, and the only guy Darcy knew there was Ian. Erik had conked out after medication, and Jane and Thor were getting their mack on, so Darcy had dragged her intern out for the night.

"Well, if I could tap guys like them I would die happy," she murmured to herself. "If only." The taller one smiled at her, sending a nice tingle all over her body.

By the time Darcy's team had won by ten points – thanks to her two unexpected strikes and a spare, in her opinion – she couldn't see the two mystery guys anymore. She sighed as she returned her bowling shoes. Her taser was loaded and close to hand. Just because she was in London didn't mean there weren't HYDRA agents around. Not that she was a threat, and she liked to think that Thor would totally come rescue her. And besides, Ian knew she was going straight home. They always texted to make sure they'd reached their destinations safely if they weren't going somewhere together.

After HYDRA-gate, these measures became necessary.

Beanie tugged over her forehead and the tips of her ears, Darcy stepped into the cold night air, and took a deep breath. She began to walk, and then noticed a couple of presences nearby. Before she could reach for the taser, she'd been pushed up against a wall, and a pair of lips were pressed hard against hers. She only relaxed when she realised it was the taller guy, and leaned into the kiss. When he pulled back a second later, she made a disappointed sound.

"I was hoping I'd see you again," she said, her hands flexing where he held them above her head. His eyes widened slightly.

"So was I, little girl," he said. His gaze trailed down her body, and she knew he was looking down her blouse. Well, sounded like he was her soulmate, so this was definitely a nice development, and he was welcome to look. She turned her head to the right, and saw that his friend was staring at them, apparently stunned as well.

"You boys gonna take me somewhere?" she asked him. He grinned slowly, and her legs felt like they were going numb.

"All over the place," he said.

"Fucking finally," Darcy said, resting her head against the brick wall behind her. "Thought I'd never find you. Turns out you were in London all this time. But you sound American?"

"We never expected it to be you," the first guy said. He rocked against her gently, and Darcy moaned through her clamped lips. "This complicates things."

"It'd be a lot less complicated if you took me back to your place," she said. "I hear that sex is pretty basic."

"You hear?" Soulmate Two said. She really needed to find out their names.

"I'm Darcy, and yeah, I've only ever kissed guys to pass the time until I found my soulmates," she said. "Besides, been studying, then interning, then saving the… you know, never mind. Just tell me your names."

"Jack."

"And I'm Brock," the first guy said. Sounded kinda familiar, but that was often the case.

"Known each other long?"

"Years," Jack said. "We work together."

"Wow," she said. "I've got a lot of catching up to do."

"Where are your words?" Brock asked curiously. Darcy studied his face, and noticed that he had scars. The vanity of men clearly compelled him to conceal them, but street lights could be harsh. She tugged one of her hands out of his grasp, and stroked some of the raised lines, tears coming to her eyes.

"Who did this to my soulmate?" she said. Brock frowned slightly.

"A building," he said dryly. "It fell on me."

"Look, I don't know what happened, but it's no laughing matter. Tell me who it is and I'll tase them for you."

He and Jack laughed, and Brock kissed her forehead.

"You're too sweet," he said. "You didn't answer my question. Where are your words?"

"Well." She drew it out, looking both of them up and down and smiling cheekily. "I'd show you, but then I'd get arrested for indecent exposure. I'm really lookin' forward to our soulmarks meeting up."

"Think before you bond with us," Jack said.

"Yeah, okay. Can I do my thinking in bed?"

"We've just met," Brock said, lowering her other hand. But he kept touching her, and Jack pressed into her other side. Darcy blushed.

"But you're my soulmates," she said. "Can I see your marks?"

"Definitely not in public," Jack muttered. "Sure know I'd like to get you in bed, but if you've never…"

"Because I wanted to wait. I'd prefer marriage first, but you two are hot, and the way you're looking at me is making me all… Look, can we just go somewhere private? I'd prefer to get indoors." She shivered, hugging herself. Brock slipped an arm around her waist, and nodded at Jack.

"Our car's nearby," he said.

They took her to a nice motel, and Brock promised pampering.

"I'd better tell the staff about her," Jack said.

"Ask for extra towels and a robe," Darcy said. "Explain that we've just found out we're soulmates. They might send up some champagne."

"Last chance, Darcy," Brock murmured while Jack spoke to the staff, smiling when they called out their congratulations. Darcy ducked her head, blushing, and rested her head against Brock's hard chest. Mmm.

"For what?" she said.

"To say no. As soon as you set foot in our bedroom, you're not leaving until we've taken you in every position we can twist you into. You'll never be the same again, and you'll never want to go to bed without us by your side. You'll only dream of us, and we'll never let you go. Ever. I can't guarantee that a bond won't accidentally happen."

"Silly," Darcy said as Brock and Jack led her to the elevator. "Bonds are never accidental. You have to want them with everything inside you. So…" She entwined her fingers with theirs. "If you guys want a bond with me, it's gonna happen. Having someone who can find me anywhere when I'm in trouble? Could really come in handy."

"I know I want it," Jack said, glancing across at Brock. Darcy smiled up at them.

"Are we there yet?" she asked.

"This is our floor," Brock said as the doors opened. They walked down the hallway to room five. He scanned the door open with a card, and they waved Darcy in first. She threw her handbag onto the sofa and began to strip off her outer layer of jacket and woollens. She shuffled out of her boots, bent over and pulled off her socks. The carpet was divinely plush, and she revelled in the softness between her toes.

"Ni-ice," she said. "You guys have good taste in rooms."

"I'm prayin' you have good taste in underwear," Jack said, tugging her towards what she hoped was the bedroom. Sure enough, there was a huge bed. She considered running over and jumping into the middle of it, but that would be childish. Instead, she started to peel off her clothes, meeting their gazes each time she let a piece of clothing drop.

"I don't know," she said. "It depends on how much you like golden lace."

Jack's eyes darkened as Darcy revealed the matching set. It could be hard to find bras in her size, let alone matching sets, and it was pure coincidence she wore her fanciest ones tonight. Best. Decision. Ever.

"Want me to leave `em on?" she inquired innocently. Brock grabbed her from behind and pulled her back against his body. Shit, he felt strong. He was shirtless, and it felt like he was only wearing jeans… and that he'd gone commando. A glance down made her suspect the same of Jack. He smirked, like he'd guessed where he mind had gone. She whined.

"Why are you both still dressed?" she asked.

"I'm thinking you'd like a show," Brock said.

There was a jingle from somewhere. Darcy's head was still spinning by the time she realised that her hands were cuffed to the bed. Wow, they looked like real handcuffs as well. How kinky. And… holy-moly, Jack and Brock were tearing off each other's clothes between kisses. She remembered how easily they'd moved her, picking her up like she weighed nothing – which was flattering, to be honest – and the more muscles were revealed, the more she drooled. How did she end up so lucky?

"When you're ready, I'm thinking it's time you make the wait worth it," she said.

Jack smiled evilly at her. His eyelids fluttered as Brock sucked a bruise into his neck.

"With our stamina, you're gonna be begging for mercy by midnight."

"It's nearly ten now. You sure about that?"

"If you weren't untouched," Brock said, moving to the other side of Jack's neck, "we wouldn't go so easy on you."

It took forty-five minutes before Darcy was wrung out and begging, but not to stop.

"Keep going," she whispered weakly, her body arching.

Time blurred. Darcy had sent Ian a message from the car, and at some point she sent a message to Jane as well, telling her that she'd met her soulmates. Then she turned off her phone, and allowed Brock and Jack to drag her back into bed. Then the shower. Then bed again. They finished off the champagne the staff had brought the previous night, ate a few times, and before Darcy knew it she'd been with her soulmates for nearly two whole days. She was exhausted and aching and warm. Once it became clear that they were compatible, Darcy requested a bond.

"We want to know more about you," Jack said, holding her hand across the table. Brock was massaging one of her calves, though it'd quickly become caressing.

"Well, I'm a poli-sci major. I went to Culver. I work as an intern for an astrophysicist whose boyfriend's a god. Kind of. I'd say you should see his arms, but you two are seriously smokin', with bodies that defy description. Seriously. Words could not do you justice."

"Even the scars?" Brock asked. They both had them, though Brock's were worse. Darcy wasn't ashamed to admit that she'd shed some tears over seeing that they'd been hurt like that before, and had vowed revenge against whoever had hurt them.

"Out line of work," Jack had said, which didn't make it any better. Now, she bit her lips.

"I know you're both strong, capable guys," she said. "But I just wanna protect you from harm. I wish you'd let me be your avenger. I have people I can ask for tips."

They laughed again, and instead told her about their childhoods. Both orphans, but they didn't meet again until they started working in security. Darcy figured that it was a good enough explanation for the scars – probably the same kinda thing spies got – but she still wanted to make everything better, and said as much.

Brock yanked her into his lap, and fifteen minutes later the three of them bonded completely, no more barriers and no holding back.

Darcy was kinda proud. And sore and tired, but mostly proud. She'd been the last to wake the last couple of mornings, but it seemed that bonding had really taken it out of her soulmates. Maybe higher muscle mass caused it to hit them stronger? Glowing with satisfaction, she took a picture of them on her phone and sent it to Jane, gloating that she'd bonded with her soulmates and that it was the best thing ever. They hadn't woken up yet, so their thoughts were quiet.

Gently, she kissed each of them on the top of the head, and carefully climbed out of bed. No longer self-conscious of her nudity, she went to the bathroom and gave herself a quick wash. They liked their scent on her, and it was no fun showering without them. She dressed in her clothes from the other night, picked up her phone, and went out to the main area to order room service. Brock especially ate a lot, which reminded Darcy of Thor and Steve.

A message came through on her phone, and she checked it while she was waiting.

Her blood froze.

'Steve's visiting. I showed him the picture. Brock Rumlow and Jack Rollins work for HYDRA. Thor's on his way.'

Thank Odin she'd told Jane the name of the motel in case they needed her. Turned out she needed them instead.

Burning tears pricked her eyes, and she pulled on her shoes. She shoved her socks and gloves into her handbag, grabbed her beanie, scarf, and jacket, and left quietly. The elevator was already there, and she took it straight to the roof, knowing that was were Thor would land.

The rain matched her mood. She pulled the woollen hat down, donned the jacket, and wound the scarf around her neck. She should've left a note, but what could she say? 'Sorry, but I've just found out that you're the bad guys, so I don't think this'll work out'?

She was such an idiot. Blindly trusting the two guys who were supposed to be hers forever, who she was supposed to be matched with for some reason. But… but she was one of the good guys! She'd helped Thor save the world. She was friends with the Avengers. Sure, that made her a target for HYDRA…

That's when Darcy realised. They were watching her, alright. Brock kissed her before they even knew they were soulmates. What were they going to do to her? Seduce her then kidnap her? Kidnap her then rape her? They must've been real happy to find out that they could manipulate her like this. All that protesting about the bond was just to make her want it more, wasn't it?

She jumped when Thor landed behind her. He opened his arms, and she ran into them, burying her face in his chest. He held her close, and they flew through the air back to the apartment they all shared. Jane was waiting on the balcony with an umbrella, and hugged Darcy close.

"I'm so sorry, Darce," she whispered. Darcy let go, her chest heaving with sobs. She felt terrified and violated.

"We bonded," she cried. "We b-bonded. I wanted it. I asked them for it. What kind of… of slut does that make me, that I just mindlessly went along with it because we're soulmates, without even thinking they were the enemy? I was so stupid, Jane."

"Hey, you were not stupid," Jane said, holding her face and forcing Darcy to look her in the eyes. "There's gotta be a reason Fate put you together."

"What, because I can track their movements through the bond so Cap can kill them?"

"Not necessarily." Jane herded her into the apartment. Steve was there, watching them with furrowed brows.

"How do you feel, Darcy?" he said.

"Betrayed. Like I'm an idiot. I… I've been with them for days, mostly in bed or the shower, and I loved it at the time. Now all I feel about it is… is sick. I let them touch me—"

"You thought you could trust them," Steve said. "You had no reason to think they were HYDRA."

"If I'd sent a picture sooner—"

"I'm surprised you caught them off-guard at all."

"They slept for hours after we bonded." Someone joined them. "Oh. Hey, Sam. What's up?"

"Steve wanted to visit Peggy's grave," Sam said. "We're both okay, but we're more worried about you. I've been thinking, ever since Steve told me who your soulmates are. You're obviously never gonna become HYDRA. But what if you're supposed to redeem them?"

"Brock and Jack?"

"I used to think they were okay guys," Steve said, shrugging. "Rumlow was in charge, and we got along well. I never knew he and Rollins were soulmates, though. They sure kept that quiet"

"They were hot together," Darcy said, her eyes glazing over as she remembered the shows they put on for her. But she shook herself out of it. "I don't know whether the bond is strong enough between us to be able to use it. They've probably woken up by now. Once they realise why I'm gone, they'll move on before we can go find them."

"Look, I visited you because we're all needed back in New York," Steve said. "Ian can come with us, if he wants to. Tony's sending a jet to Gatwick. As soon as we're ready, we can go."

"HYDRA knows we're in London," Darcy said. "At least we're aware of that now. The only good thing to come from this."

"They won't hurt you, Darcy," Sam said. "Especially now you're bonded. Physically, they can't.

"Physically," she whispered. "Not what I'm worried about."

But she should've been.

Eight months later

The Avengers eliminated most of the HYDRA agents in the Paris sweep. Natasha and Clint were reassuring civilians in perfect French, Tony was bitching to Pepper over the phone about his favourite crepe place having closed since he was last there, and Steve and Thor were holding Rollins and Rumlow in custody. They were the only agents still alive, and for good reason.

"First you're gonna tell us everything you know about HYDRA's remaining operations," Steve said.

"Of course," Brock replied.

"And then you'll be… What?"

"We'll tell you everything," Rollins confirmed.

"…Why?"

"Because God knows we've been waiting long enough for you guys to catch up," Brock said. "Where the hell have you been? It's not like we didn't leave enough clues."

"Maybe we were too obvious," Rollins said.

"Maybe."

"You wished us to find you?" Thor said as they led the agents to the car.

"If we tried to find Darcy you'd just hide her better," Brock said. "This way at least we had a chance to… I don't know, make up for all the shit we did. Especially to Darcy. We should've told her from the start, but… everything changed when she said our words."

Steve remained silent as they nudged Rollins and Rumlow into the back of the car.

"What would you have done to Lady Darcy had she not turned out to be your soulmate?" Thor asked, glaring at them from the passenger seat. The men looked at each other.

"We were going to improvise, but the ultimate plan was to kidnap her," Rollins admitted.

"She'd never waver in her loyalty to you," Rumlow said. "The only way to get her back was to change."

"And if she doesn't want you?" Steve asked, pulling out from the kerb.

"We're bonded. It's gotta be doing something to her. At least Jack and I have each other."

"Well, she's been a bit busy."

"With what?" Rollins said, frowning. "Is she okay? Has she been hurt? We would've felt it, no matter how far away we are from her."

"You will see for yourself soon enough," Thor said.

"On the ride back to America, tell us everything we want to know, and anything else you think we need to know," Steve said. "Then we'll make sure you see her."

"As soon as she is ready," Thor said. "Although I believe this meeting is long overdue."

"The only thing that's overdue," Steve muttered.

Darcy chewed her fingernails. She'd said to bring Brock and Jack – she couldn't think of them as anything else, no matter how much she tried – straight to her as soon as they were in custody. She didn't expect it to be as far away as France, which had just given her more time to worry.

"Sit down and stop fretting," Jane said. "It isn't good for you."

"My stomach's fluttering," Darcy said.

"Not the first time lately."

"It's nervousness, not… the other thing."

"You're making me nervous," Pepper said. "Just sit down, Darcy. I blew off two meetings to be here for this, for you."

"Which is really nice of you, but I'm pretty sure I'll be okay."

"Especially if they really have turned over a new leaf," Jane said. Darcy half-smiled.

"For me," she said.

"Who else? They have no idea about…"

"Bit hard to miss when they see me."

Less than twenty minutes later, everyone was heading up in the elevator. Darcy had sat down at the others' urging, her back to the doors, and winced as they slid open.

"Darcy?" Jack said. She looked over the back of the chair, and exhaled shakily.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," Brock said. "You look good."

Darcy held out her hands, snorting at the cheesiness of the line, and Pepper and Jane helped her stand. She turned to face her soulmates, whose jaws dropped when they saw her.

"Yeah, having two soulmates, one of whom is apparently enhanced, does not take more than one round to knock a girl up," she said, indicating her very pregnant belly. "There are three babies in here, I'll have you know, and it's your damn fault. Are you gonna step up to the plate and become father material or not?"

Brock recovered first.

"Anything," he said, nodding fiercely. "Whatever you want us to do, Darce. Darcy."

"We grew up without parents," Jack said. "Like hell would we leave our kids without fathers."

"They'll have plenty of honorary aunts and uncles," Darcy said. "But since we're soulmates, the rest of the pregnancy will go a lot more smoothly if you're there." She breathed deeply, relaxing. "I feel better already, which sucks, because you two assholes were gonna kidnap me and… I don't like to think about the rest, but you were HYDRA, and I swear if I find out that you're still HYDRA I'll cut off your balls and feed them to you. And that'll be just the start."

"You're definitely the right girl for us," Brock said, smiling a little smugly. "Fate knew what she was doing." His smile dropped. "Why the hell are you standing up? Sit down."

He and Jack rushed forwards, and Darcy was nearly overwhelmed as they made sure she sat back down, supporting her all the way and pelting her with questions. Did she want a drink, food, foot massage, whatever men were supposed to do for their pregnant soulmates? Personally, she thought they'd been watching too many TV shows and movies, but whatever meant that she was gonna be waited on hand and foot by two ex-HYDRA agents, who just happened to be her soulmates and baby daddies.

Okay, so maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Ship requested by ozhawk, without whom this series of soulmate fics would never have existed. Applause and undying gratitude for ozhawk!

Suddenly-pregnant!Darcy seemed like a fun idea. And I've been toying with another chapter idea where I may throw in pregnancy for the lulz, as well as for some fluff. Nothing is more important in this world than love, and fluff comes with that.

Erm, yes. *Smiles winningly*

Please review!