Chapter Text
Chapter 25: All We Needed Was A Purpose
"Darcy no."
"Darcy yes."
"Darcy I am not letting you quit just because the Star-Spangled asshole and Heavy Metal can't get their love life in check."
Tony was angry, that much Darcy could feel it through the bond.
"Tony honestly I think it's for the best. I mean think about it, the tension is thick as hell whenever I come downstairs for a sandwich. They can't fix their shit because I'm a constant reminder."
"No they can fix their shit because they are still holding onto religious notations about sin and period homophobia from the 40s. That one kiss in a night club is not the source of their issues. Those started before mom even came to this planet. "
She knew Tony had a point, but she also knew her being around was not helping.
"I promise you I get that Tony, but right now I think it's for the best, plus Nat needs to chill out, I have been having my head spun around too many times to count and quite frankly I am of no help right now to any mission 'cause my brain is going in a million different directions. I need to find me again and I promise you I will never find it in the safety of this house."
Tony knew she was right but he still didn't want to go. She had only just gotten home. He was starting to feel like a nervous parent.
They looked at each other for a moment.
"Jarvis please change the name in my leave document to reflect Darcy's and send it to Fury, and all active members of the Avengers initiative on her word."
He pulled her into a hug, and then asked.
"When do you leave Kiddo?"
*Asgard*
Sigyn was ecstatic! Her plan had worked and now her marriage was sealed and she was expecting. Frigga was already wanting to sit down and discuss the nursery plans with her! How exciting! She was only one step into the room when a voice called out.
"So I am to be a father..."
"Yes, well I guess the fates have decided our family must expand. Aren't you excited!"
Loki waved his hand, green spheres flew overhead and flew into the lights giving it a erie glow.
"I am intrigued by the prospect of becoming a father, but I must inquire. How did you know to go to the healers so fast? This creation was only conceived last night."
He walked over to her, his stride confident, his hands behind his back. Nervously Sigyn said,
"I just felt it in my heart. Last night was special! We consummated our marriage and created a child all in one night. I think it proves you were meant for me."
"Hmmm. You think so??"
He smirked lightly before touching her stomach.
"When is the last time you've used your magic Sigyn, Love?"
Sigyn shifted on her feet.
"What do you mean? You know as well as I that magic is beyond my scope."
"Really, because I feel it."
"It's probably that of your child. I hope for it's sake, she is a girl."
"Meaning?"
"If this child has magic, then she will be a girl child. Our son will be a warrior, worthy of claiming a throne."
Loki stepped back, his famous temper flaring, yet he had bigger plans for Sigyn. He let out a breath.
"While that may be a discussion for a different time, our child's magic is not what I was referring to. Since you do not realize with whom you are speaking too, I shall ask you again, YOUR magic Sigyn."
Sigyn quickly caught an attitude, she was thinking she would have to talk her way out of this line of questioning.
"And again I will tell you. I have no magic."
"Sigyn dearie, who am I?"
"You are my husband, whom I am starting to think has lost his mind."
"Ahhh, think again."
"You are Prince Loki of Asgard."
"So close Sigyn. How about I give you a hint?"
He stepped back and flourished his arms."
"Say my full title."
"You are Prince Loki Odinson of Asgard, God of mischief."
"As I am sure you know, I am also the god of Lies, which means I can detect what?"
He said appearing next to her ear, his voice now a menacing hiss.
"Lies."
Sigyn shook her head, now suddenly nervous for her future.
"Now when was the last time you used YOUR magic?"
"Yesterday."
"Your magic is weak."
"You've misunderstood dear husband I only checked myself for pregnancy."
"Lies you tell dear wife. You know I am not sure if anyone mentioned to you that I dabble a bit in healing magicks and only with the use of a fertility potion would you be able to tell your pregnancy that instantly. Which begs me to ask this next question, but I think you will want to take a seat."
"I'll stand."
"No I'll think you'll sit."
A chair flew behind her, knocking her knees out from under her. She was in the chair and found she couldn't move.
"Since you seem a bit skittish I want to finish the conversation."
"Loki! This is barbaric!! Let me go this instant!"
He laughed...
"No...I think we should finish up dear..."
*Earth*
A few hours later...
Darcy packed one bag and shrunk it to fit in her purse. Darcy popped into the lab where Bruce and Tony were working on what they were dubbing the 'future of security'.
"Hey Darcy, long time no see."
"Hey Bruce, Tony."
"I take it, you've decided to bite the bullet and come out of your room."
"I have. In fact I've decided on things much bigger than that."
At that moment both Tony and Bruce's phones buzzed different tones at the sound of emails being received. Both men pulled out their phones, Tony only barely glanced before going back to work, meanwhile Bruce was in shock.
"Darcy you can't be serious! Tony did you read that?"
"I wrote it, I didn't have to read it."
Bruce took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes in a signal of frustration.
"Bruce, I promise it's not forever, and it's not you. But this is for the best."
Bruce quickly realized he could not make her say, and that knowing she knew herself better than he knew her. She was intelligent enough to know her mind, and quite honestly she needed to go.
"I can't pretend I am happy about this, but I get it. Just come back when your done hiding."
Darcy knew the end was a insult, but she also knew he was speaking to himself. She didn't feel like she was running, she was only doing what was best for her for once.
"Tony will you at least walk me to the door."
Tony stopped writing his code and threw his arm around her shoulders.
"So if I let you go, Pep and I require some type of contact at minimum of once every two weeks. Plus an active emergency status, meaning if I need you, you come back. Stark share holders meetings, and the such included in that as well."
"If it will get you off my ass, then okay."
Bruce put his glasses on and followed them up the stairs to the main part of the house, actually Darcy was surprised to find the rest of the team waiting their for her.
Steve was clear across the room from Bucky, who was sitting next to Clint on the couch and Sam was leaning in a window pane. Natasha was leaning on the couch.
"Are you done being melodramatic?"
Natasha said without any emotion. Darcy hated when she sounded like that.
"I am not being any type of dramatic. This is the right thing to do and your comment just further proves that."
"Darcy you cannot just pull this shit because we are having a disagreement."
"A disagreement implies that I am going back and forth with you about something."
"You can't just leaving because you feel bad about you and Bucky."
Darcy rolled her eyes at Steve. If anyone was being melodramatic it was him.
"There is no Bucky and I. It was a heat of the moment... You know what I am not going to even bother to explain this to any of you. Because you all know better. Bucky, this is bullshit that you of all people refuse to speak to me seeing as you started this shit. I'm temped to lock you and Steve in a force field bubble and make you work you stuff out, but that is something you have to do on your own. All I know is my being here is not helping anyone, including me."
Bucky and Steve looked at their feet, and Natasha who knew deep down Darcy was right, only could shake her head and cross her arm. Natasha was mad mostly because she thought Darcy had set Steve and Bucky back a few months, but she wouldn't admit out loud it was some residual jealously of seeing any other woman kiss Bucky. For so long she was the last one he has kissed with meaning and Nat could tell when they kissed that Bucky had a thing for Darcy, not as strong as his thing for Steve but still pretty strong.
"So you'll just Quit."
Asked Clint.
"I'm not leaving for good. It's just for me to get my head together. I'll be back."
"When?" Asked Bucky.
"When I get better. Before you ask, no I do not have an ETA on that. Just know I am only a phone call away."
"Tony you are just going to let her go?" Steve asked
"Well she has accumulated a lot of PTO (*Paid time off) at Stark industries and I have to let her take it... But seriously. I have tried to talk her out of it, but I can't. The only thing I can do is support her decision. That's what family does..."
Darcy waved one last time to her team who had gathered on the lawn. She smiled and shimmered away not seeing Natasha turn and for the first time anyone had genuinely shed tears as she ran to her room. Steve looked and Bucky and said
"We need to talk..."
"I agree."
Darcy promptly landed in front if a car dealership.
"I'm gonna need some new wheels..."
Darcy found herself rolling in a modest car, but way up to her standard. Next she made the choice to drive until she got tired, then sleep and drive some more. It was an hotel in Richmond, VA that found her searching for stability and looking for a job.
"Administrative Assistant II needed. Job duties will include Answering of multiline phones, handing correspondence to other departments, reporting and etc..."
"Maybe I can handle a job like this. I was Jane's for years this will just be on a bigger scale."
*3 Days after Darcy left the manor*
Darcy had bought a nice pinstriped pantsuit from the local department store, and added her Darcy flair with a flower pinned in the bun she had slid her hair into. Her heels were not death defying but would make an impression. She slapped on a smile despite her chest being in intermittent pain. She had added blonde highlights and changed her nose not permanently, but with a spell so she looked more Kristen Stewart in Zathura less like Darcy Lewis-Stark. She entered the building with a large lobby, wide marble floors and a pretty golden desk in the lobby.
"Hello. I have a interview today with a Miss Van Dyne and I was hoping you could..."
"Sign in here, initial here, and here is a visitors badge. Wear it at all times when you are within the building and and go to floor 37."
The short security guard was abrasive in nature and Darcy only just held back a frown as she went over to elevators to follow the man directions.
The elevators were not as swift as those at Stark Industries but still pretty fast. The doors opened to a sleek looking floor. Darcy took a look around but found no one to give her direction. So she used her intuition and turned to her right. It was the end of the hall she found a reception area. A aging woman in her 60s sat behind the desk.
"Hello, my name is Isabella Lewis and I am here for a interview with Ms. Van Dyne."
The woman smiled and spoke, her Scottish accent evident.
"Ok Dear. Take a seat and I will let her know you've arrived."
Darcy walked over a set of modern chairs and sat down in one. She was flicking back and forth in her mind about random equations she picked up from her time with Jane. She wondered briefly what Erik was up to now that he had been given something to get his head back right after the whole Loki mind control situation. Her chest seized up again with fleeting thought of Loki. She hissed under her breath.
"Are you okay Ms. Lewis?"
Darcy looked up and saw a lean woman with a dark bob and a somewhat stern expression on her face.
"I am fine. Nothing I can't handle. It a pleasure to meet you Ms. Van Dyne. My name is Isabella Lewis."
"Yes, well I'm sure it is a pleasure. Now will you please follow me."
Darcy could tell this woman pulled no punches. She liked her..."
*3 months Later*
Darcy would not call this corporate espionage at any point, but she was considering sending Tony a visual of the meeting she was about to attend. She had landed the job a one Ms. Hope Van Dyne, CFO of Pym Technology. Tony was a bit peeved stating she could give up company secrets, but once she told him she would have to actually KNOW what Stark Industries was working on he calmed down. She was down in R&D following her boss around and taking notes as needed. Darcy liked the work so far, you know she missed her team but she liked the routine of her work. The meeting was two minutes from gearing up when the room fell silent. Darcy watched Darren Cross, make his way over to a older man, his face weathered with age, but Darcy could look at him and tell he was still sharp as a tack. Ms. Van Dyne gave a noticeable look of confusion then Darcy noticed a bit of resentment.
"Stay here Miss Lewis."
The tone was short and clipped, and Darcy hadn't heard much of it since Darcy had memorized her coffee order and made sure it was ready and her desk every morning usually with spunky note or fact Darcy had picked up from her time alive.
Darcy knew they made her happy, even if she never admitted it.
Darcy watched as she shared brief words with the weathered man, who looked sad to watch her walk away. Darcy tried not to use her powers often but she was intrigued. She scanned his mind.
"She gets more and more like her mother everyday."
Darcy didn't have time for more as her concentration was broken by Darren Cross stepping to the middle of the room...
*Asgard*
"So my dear wife, would you like to tell me the truth or should I pull the truth from the pound of flesh I take from your body."
Sigyn was sweating, her body nervous that this was the end.
"I don't know what you are asking of me."
"What did you do?"
"Meaning?"
"Do not play coy with me. It does not suit you. You know I could go into your mind and pull the memory from your mind. Taking my time to extract every detail, slowly and painfully."
Loki was seconds away from doing just that, when he felt pain seize up in his chest and the door to his chambers flew open. Guards grasping him by the arms while he was distracted by his pain. Odin stood at the doorway.
"I herby decree you to be imprisoned from crimes against your wife. We do not tolerate abuse to one's spouse on Asgard. Is this how you treat the mother of your child. Until you see the error of your ways you shall remain in the dungeons."
Angry, Loki felt Odin's magic as his was bound and he found himself in his old cell, the smell of Darcy still in his sheets...
*Days later*
Darcy paced back and forth at her apartment, a two bedroom modestly furnished. She actually like living somewhere smaller than the tower or the manor. She was pacing due to the fact that she could feel the change at Pym tech. Things didn't feel the same and she was sure Cross's discovery of the Pym Particles was a part of the reason it changed. She knew her boss was hiding something major from her and while it was the pot calling the kettle black she felt she deserved to know if she was being put in a dangerous situation. She hadn't even told Tony about what was going on, but she was going to get to the bottom of it herself...
Darcy drove to Miss Van Dyne's house, but she was not there. She tried calling with no answer. Darcy was over the secrets and quiet conversations she was expected to ignore seeing so she actively used her powers. She teleported right outside of a house. She looked through the window, surprised to see the man she had long since identified as Hank Pym in a conversation with Darren Cross in the living room.
It was after Darren left that she tried to leave but found herself face to face with three men. All of them pointing a weapon at her, though none of them looked too bright.
"Wanna tell us what you doing out here?"
"Who are you?"
"Work for cross?"
Darcy waved her hands.
"Woah, woah, woah! Hold on there! I don't work for Cross. Okay...technically I do, but I work directly under Miss Van Dyne. I'm her assistant. My name is Isabella, I thought she was here."
"Oh yeah she's inside. Come in let's go find out if your telling the truth."
They followed her inside the house, and although she could have taken the guns away easily she wasn't about to blow her cover yet."
"Aye! Yo' miss boss lady. Found this chicka outside claims she works for you."
Darcy saw her turn around to face her, with a shocked expression on her face.
"Bella, what are you doing here?"
Darcy saw Mr. Pym's face drop in surprise, as a man whom she had never seen before looked on in confusion.
"Maria." Said Hanky
"I'm sorry?"
"You have her eyes. I'm Hank Pym."
Darcy knew her cover was blown, but she wasn't sure she was out of danger yet. She shook his hand."
"Father, who may I ask is Maria? This is my secretary."
"Maria was my mother."
"So I guessed. You look much different from the press conference Miss...Lewis."
"Well things have got to change when you want to blend in. Please call me Darcy. Now will someone will tell me what is going in here? Miss Van Dyne, this is your father?"
Hope turned around, catching Darcy by surprise when she grabbed her by the throat.
"You've been betraying me this entire time?!"
Darcy knew she was using a vast amount of her strength, but Darcy only felt a tickle at her throat. She grasped her wrist, and pulled it off of her neck.
"I have not been betraying you. I just wasn't completely up front about my identity."
"So who are you?"
"She is Miss Darcy Stark."
The room collectively gasped at Hank Pym's words.
"Hello pleasure to meet you. And yes he is right, but around these parts I go by Isabella Lewis."
"Hey did Stark send you because of earlier? I mean I didn't mean to cause a mess, and most of that was the winged dude that was guarding the place..."
Darcy looked at him confusion.
"What? I haven't talked to my brother all day. What did you do? What in the hell is going on?"
Darcy felt Hope's energy shift and she was ducking as Hope swung on her. She tried again, and Darcy stepped backward, to avoid the strike, grabbed her forearm. Darcy used her strength against her swinging her forward and away.
"Hope!" Her father yelled.
Darcy didn't want to hurt her, so she froze her in place.
"Woah."
"Woah"
"Holy Shit!"
Darcy looked at them her eyes Gray.
"What are you?" The man in the leather suit asked.
"If I tell you will Hope stop swinging on me?"
She begrudgingly nodded her agreement at Darcy. Darcy waved her hand, releasing her hold on her.
"Look what is most important is that yes, I am Tony Stark's younger sister, But you should know he didn't send me, and he doesn't know about the Pym particles."
"Why should we believe you?" Hope asked.
"She's telling the truth Hope. You think Stark would have let us get anywhere near his facility if he knew? By the way I'm Scott Lang. Nice to meet you."
Darcy smiled at him.
"Pleasure. Now what are you up to? I can sense the danger, what's going on?"
"Darren Cross wants to release the Ant-Man suit to the world. That type of power is dangerous in the wrong hands. We are training Scott to get into the Building and shut down production...with the original suit."
Darcy looked back at Scott as he transformed down into the size of an ant surrounded by a few actual ants.
"Amazing. Mr. Pym I take it you are the creator of said suit?"
"I am. I trust you realize that I left Shield to protect it."
"I do. I am on a leave of absents myself. Fury has proven that what's good isn't always what's best for everyone. I won't be the one to take your tech, but he will wants some explanation as to why he was broken into."
"We went into retrieve something. I got caught by the sensors, ended up fighting some dude with a flight pack. I pulled off a wing so he's grounded and I got away."
"Damn, Sam is gonna be mad. That's the second pair of wings Tony has had to build."
"Sam?"
"The Falcon. He is man you fought, he's a good guy. Send him some Jack Daniels and he'll forgive you."
"While he got away today, there are no guarantees." Hank said sitting at the island counter-top.
"Well if stealth training is what you need. I've trained with just about the best there is. We can't let Cross sell that formula..."
*Pym Industries*
"I'll keep an eye on Darren.. Scott you get in and you get out."
Scott and Darcy had been training since that night they had caught her sneaking around the property. He was swift now, and his fighting skills had greatly improved from her and Hope's efforts. Hope had forgiven Darcy's deceiving ways, and after Darcy gave her some tips passed in from the Black Widow herself, they were cool. They had finally come to the night where they would save the world from certain destruction and yet Darcy couldn't help but feel like this was about to go wrong...