brand | darcy/johnny, soulmates
Johnny watched her through the glass, squinting a little. He knew that face, that smile – he knew her from somewhere, he just couldn’t place when, or how
“You should leave her alone.” Startled, he turned to face the tiny brunette woman that glared up at him, before smirking.
“Why don’t we let her decide for herself, Doc?” he drawled, licking his lips a little. “What’s her name, again?”
If anything, Jane’s scowl turned even fouler. “If you can’t even remember you don’t deserve to know,” she snapped, and he was taken aback at the ferocity of her tone.
“Wait, what?” He blinked in confusion. “What did I do?” he called after her, but Jane had already turned on her heels and stalked away, sending him a dirty glare from over her shoulder.
He looked back through the lab glass, and was surprised when he was met with the girl’s blue, blue eyes, a blank look on her face. There was something wrong about it – like the lines of her mouth should’ve been curled up in laughter, her eyes bright and warm instead of this cold, void stare – and he grinned at her in an effort to make her smile.
He was a little stunned then, when she pursed her lips into a tight, thin line, turning her back on him with a frown.
“He’s gone,” Jane announced, the hiss of the lab doors heralding her arrival, and Darcy sighed in relief.
“He keeps just showing up,” she muttered, running a nervous hand through her hair, and Jane huffed.
“I’ll get FRIDAY to block his access to the labs,” Jane said, but Darcy shook her head.
“I tried, he just bugs Tony until he gets his way.” Darcy snorted. “Besides; as much as I hate to say it, he’s probably more qualified to be here than I am.”
Jane frowned, but couldn’t say anything in response to that. “Tell me if he comes back then,” she said after a moment. “I’ll kick him out as many times as it takes.”
“Thanks, boss.” Darcy smiled, the curl of her lips warm and genuine. “You’re the best.”
Jane just waved her off, a small, pleased grin betraying her dismissive behavior. “Yeah, yeah, just get back to that data,” she shooed, eyes already fixed back on the whiteboard, pulling a dry erase marker from her hair.
Darcy turned to her laptop, sending one last glance to the lab window – and even though she knew he was gone, a tiny, irrational part of her heart hoped he would still be there. Her mind though, pushed that hope aside, bringing her into the memory that had seared itself into her brain.
“Hey, Johnny, right? I’m Darcy – I heard that you might be my soulmate?” she had said to him, sixteen years old and full of hope. It took a second to sink in, but Johnny Storm had looked up at her with unfocused eyes, the stench of alcohol strong on his breath as he held a blonde cheerleader under each arm.
“You – my soulmate?” He took one look at her, swimming in her brother’s soccer jersey and ripped up jeans, and laughed, turning his back on her. “In your dreams, Lewis!”
She brushed a hand across the front pocket of her jeans, fingers tracing out the marks hidden beneath the fabric with practiced motions. Seven words were written there, dark and sharp against her hipbone, warm to the touch and seared into her skin like a burning brand. She paused, and then let her hand fall away.
In your dreams, Lewis.