Fallen Star

Fallen Star Chapter 10

"Doubtless Catherine marked the difference between her friends, as one came in and the other went out. The contrast resembled what you see in exchanging a bleak, hilly, coal country for a beautiful fertile valley; and his voice and greeting were as opposite as his aspect."
- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

LLL

"Darcy!" Jane yelped, shoving the glass door aside and pelting out into the sunlit drive.

Darcy had half a second to look up from putting her keys in her purse before Jane threw her arms around her, almost knocking her down. When she finally let her go, Darcy laughed.

"I guess you missed me?" She readjusted her crooked glasses.

"Oh, you have no idea," Jane said in a rush, taking Darcy's duffle bag from her and heading toward her own trailer. "I don't think I've talked to a single woman the whole time you've been gone—I'm constantly surrounded by men."

"Oh, waah waah," Darcy said sarcastically.

"Oh, come on," Jane huffed. "It's just a bunch of geeky SHIELD scientists and Erik. Oh, and—"

"Darcy!" Erik strode smiling out into the sun, holding his arms out wide.

"Hi, Erik," she answered, stepped forward and gave him a hug.

"Good to have you back," he said. "We missed you."

"I gathered that," Darcy shot a crooked smile at Jane. Jane laughed. A shadow moved behind Erik, and Jane's eyes fell on Fenris, who stood behind him, hands in his jean pockets, head slightly lowered. He looked pale out here in the sun, his hair extra black—almost blacker than his leather jacket—and his emerald eyes even brighter. He watched them from a distance.

"Oh, and you remember Fenris," Jane gestured to him. Darcy stared.

"Um...kinda..." she stammered, visibly thrown.

Fenris studied her for a moment, then he stepped forward and held out his white hand. She hesitated, then put her hand in his. He brought it to his lips for a quick kiss, then inclined his head to her.

"Miss Darcy," he half smiled. "It's a relief to finally have you back. Ever since you confirmed you were coming, Jane could think of nothing else to talk about."

Jane chuckled.

"Yeah, I think I was driving these guys crazy," she admitted. Darcy, however, was still staring at Fenris. Fenris saw her face, and cast a quick, amused glance at Jane. Jane saw that Erik was also hiding a smirk.

"Hey, Darcy," Jane cut into the silence. "Why don't we throw your stuff in my trailer and you and me can go downtown and maybe get something to eat? Want to?"

"Um, sure," Darcy said, shaking herself. Fenris was still looking at Jane with a nearly-hidden smile on his soft mouth and a spark in his eye, obviously entertained. Jane felt an odd tension in her chest as she turned away. That whole encounter had been weird...

She put Darcy's duffle in her trailer, and then the two girls headed toward the center of town on foot, leaving Fenris and Erik behind.

As Jane and Darcy strolled down the sidewalk, the warm wind blowing through their long hair, Jane linked her arm through Darcy's.

"I'm proud of myself for talking you into coming."

"Hey, it really wasn't that hard," Darcy answered. "When you told me about the meteor shower, and that Tony Stark is definitely coming, there's no way I'd opt out of that. Besides, why should you be the only one who gets to hang out with all the hot guys from Asgard?"