A/N Here's chapter two right on schedule :) Once again, big a big thank you to Enigma-Eggroll for reading through this for me and wrangling all my errant tense changes, passive sentences and my proclivity to use about ten words when three will really suffice. I don't really have anything else to say today, so lets just get right to it!
"Ms. Lewis… Ms. Lewis! Hey fathead, back up give her some air! Ms. Lewis, are you alright?"
Darcy's eyelashes fluttered rapidly, as the world rushed back to her. "What… what happened?" She asked the anxious, sweaty, balding man kneeling beside her. "Is Jane okay?"
"You fainted in the middle of the photo shoot, Ms. Lewis," he explained, using a cloth handkerchief to mop his brow. "Jane? You mean Janet? She's at craft services. Someone get her assistant for her!"
"Photo shoot?" Darcy repeated, the confusion clear in her eyes. She sat up slightly and looked around, past the crowd that was circling her, finding she was in some sort of warehouse studio space filled with lights and cameras. "Where am I?"
"Brooklyn, ma'am," a different man than the one who had been speaking before, supplied.
"New York?" she questioned, as if there was another.
"Are you feeling alright Ms. Lewis?" the first man asked, his anxiety clearly growing by the minute. "Did you hit your head, do you need a doctor? I think she hit her head, someone get the dame a doctor!"
"Wait no! I don't need a doctor," Darcy called before anyone could spring into action. As the fog in her mind cleared she remembered. She had flown in from Los Angeles with her entourage just that morning. She had the New York premiere of her latest picture the following night, but she had volunteered to do a photo shoot for new propaganda posters this afternoon. "I was just a bit disoriented, I'm fine now."
"If you're sure," the man she now recognized as the shoot's director assented hesitantly.
"Yes, I'm quite sure," she nodded. "If I could just get some water?"
The words had barely left her mouth before three different people jumped at the chance to fulfill her request.
"I think I just need some air, it must have been the heat from the lights," Darcy reasoned, shakily climbing to her feet, ignoring the hands that extended to help her up.
"Let's take a twenty on Ms. Lewis and reset!" the director shouted into the room sending everyone into a flurry of activity.
A glass of water was pressed into her hand and she made her way to a side door.
"Ms. Lewis, should you really be going outside by yourself?" A small mousy voice interjected, halting her progress. "It's just that Walter isn't back yet," she added, mentioning Darcy's longtime driver and bodyguard whom had been sent out on a few errands while she was busy with the photo shoot.
"Janet, it's an empty back alley, no one is going to bother me," she sighed, annoyed with the new assistant the studio assigned to her. She was fresh off the bus from Spokane and had gotten a job with the studio hoping to break into the business. And while she did have the face for pictures, her voice was like nails on a chalk board and unfortunately for her the silent movie era was gone for good.
"It's just Mr. Weitzman said that I- "
"It doesn't matter what Marty said," Darcy cut off whatever Janet was going to say about her agent. She wasn't usually so short with people but the young woman's voice making her headache worse. "You're my assistant now and what I really need you to do is make sure no one bothers me until I'm needed for the next set. Do you understand?"
"Yes Ms. Lewis," Janet nodded eager to please.
"Thank you," Darcy replied. "Here take my water," she added, handing the half-empty glass over before heading to the door, grateful when no one else tried to stop her from going outside by herself. Truthfully, she was glad Walter wasn't back yet, because he never would have stood for it, and she really just needed to be alone for a few moments.
Sitting down on one of a couple over turned apple boxes, she set her elbows on her knees and cradled her head between her hands as she tried to recall the crazy dream she had managed to have while she was unconscious. But the harder she tried to recall the details, the more they slipped through her fingers. She had been running, she remembered that much. But what was she running from? Or was she running to something? And there were… aliens? She sighed and rubbed her temples. She didn't think it was possible but it seemed like the more she thought about her dream, the worse her head throbbed.
Aliens, she shook her head at her own overactive imagination, that's what she got for reading War of the Worlds on the transcontinental flight.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
Darcy had been so lost in her own world that she hadn't even noticed the man sitting on the ground against the wall just a bit further down the alley.
"Oh! I didn't realize anyone else was out here," she said placing a hand over her now racing heart.
"Ms. Lewis!" the young man exclaimed, recognizing her immediately. "Did you want me to leave?"
"What?" Darcy was taken aback at the very idea that this was what he was expecting her to say. "No, of course not. That would hardly be fair considering you were here first. I just needed some air." The truth of the matter was that she had come out here to be alone, but now she really wanted to just take her mind off what happened inside.
"Are you alright?" he asked again.
Darcy searched his face for a moment, looking for some ulterior motive for his interest. Previous experiences taught her to be guarded, but she found nothing but sincere concern and kindness. She prided herself on being able to read people, it was a part of what made her such a good actress after all, but sadly, it took her a moment to register what she found as it wasn't something she was used to seeing anymore. Ever since she had become the studio's number one draw at the box office she had become accustomed to having an entourage of people willing to cater to her every mood and whim. But she was aware that it was because to the people above her on the food chain, she was a money making commodity, and to those below her, it was their job. However, there was something about him, something in his eyes that told her he was trustworthy.
"I'm alright, thank you. Just a bit tired I suppose." She paused for a moment before speaking again. "I'm sorry, but do I know you? You seem very familiar."
"Know me?" his eyebrows practically disappeared into his hairline in surprise. "Oh no Ma'am."
"Are you sure?" she asked again. It wasn't that she thought he was lying, it was just that she couldn't shake the feeling that she him from somewhere.
"I'm very sure," he answered quickly. "I would certainly remember meeting you Ms. Lewis. I've seen all your movies and I even went to your show when you were on tour selling War Bonds last year."
"Well, it's always nice to meet a fan," Darcy smiled, making him blush when he realized he'd been gushing. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, you know my name, but I don't know yours."
The color in his cheeks deepened when she called him out on his lapse in manners. "Steve Rogers, ma'am," he said pushing up off the wall to introduce himself properly, taking her soft warm hand in his rather shaky and clammy one.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Rogers," Darcy smiled, giving his hand a firm shake, taking no notice of the dampness of his palm.
"The pleasure is all mine, really," he said breathlessly, finding the manners his mother instilled in him years ago. "And please call me Steve."
"Only if you call me Darcy," she returned, her grin widening.
"Yes ma'am," he answered glancing repeatedly at his shoes, not able to look at the brightness of her smile for more than a moment at a time.
"And not ma'am either," she added, the amusement clear in her voice
"Yes ma…. Ms… Darcy," he fumbled, the pink creeping back into his cheeks.
Darcy bit down on her bottom lip to hold in her giggle, not wanting him to think she was laughing at him, but finding his bashfulness utterly charming.
"Are you alright, Steve? You were sitting out here all by yourself too," she pointed out.
"I'm just fine, thank you ma'am. I mean Darcy," Steve corrected himself.
Darcy reached out with one foot to tip over the other apple box and then gave it a quick pat, inviting him to join her. "Now why do I think you're lying to me?"
His eyes widened even as he followed her instructions to sit. "I- I would never- "
She gave him a disbelieving look. "I'm an actress Steve, I watch people lie for a living. Most of them are better at it than you."
"Only most? Maybe my dreams of becoming an actor aren't completely lost," he joked wryly. Darcy laughed and it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He just couldn't believe he was the cause.
"I have some people I could introduce you too," she replied still giggling.
"That's kind, but I think it's best if I just leave the acting to the professionals," Steve said with a grin of his own, her amusement infectious. "Honestly just the idea of being in front of all those people with everyone watching me makes me want to throw up a little."
"You stop thinking about it after awhile," she said with a shrug. "You're sure you're alright though?" she couldn't help but ask again.
"Well, let's just say that meeting you has definitely been the high point in my day," he admitted after a moment of hesitation, his shoulders caving in on themselves. "I mean, meeting you would be the high point of any day. Not just if I was having a bad day like today. Even if I was having a good day, meeting you would make it the best day. Are you here shooting a new war film?" he asked, gesturing at the uniform she wore in a not so subtle attempt at changing the subject.
Darcy once again had to bite down on her lip to keep her amusement in. She knew what he was doing, but didn't mention it. She also resisted the temptation to ask him what had made his day so poor before now, even though she wanted too. She was a complete stranger to him, she wouldn't expect him to spill his secrets. "No, I'm actually doing a photo shoot for some new War Bond posters and the like. The studio wont let me take the time off to do another tour like I did last year, but at least I can do this," she explained. "My tour last year sold more bonds than any other the other stars' have," she added proudly, "hopefully these will help sell more."
"They'd make me want to buy bonds," Steve offered, more than a little awed by her.
"But Steve, you haven't even seen them yet," Darcy teased, unable to hold her giggle back this time.
The blush that had finally faded away returned with a vengeance as he stared at a scuff on his shoe trying to stutter out some sort of response. "It's just… I uh… what I mean to say… um… I really admire everything you've done for the war effort, Ms. Lewis," he finally managed to spit out, running a flustered hand through his hair, only to nervously pat it back down.
"I'm just trying to do my part, I only wish I could do more," she replied, believing a hundred percent in what she was saying. "What I'd really like to do is a USO tour overseas, but it's a matter of the studio giving me the time to do it. I'm hopeful that after the next three pictures I've got on the calendar I'll be able to go."
"That's real," he paused trying to think of the proper word, "swell of you Darcy," he settled on when he couldn't come up with anything else.
"My little brother is overseas right now," she told him, revealing a fact that wasn't common knowledge to the public. "Enlisted on his 18th birthday. Broke my mother's heart and made her proud all at once. He's stationed in Africa right now. I just want to do everything in my power to do to make his, and all of our boys' lives a little bit easier," she gave a little shrug as if to say it was no less than what anyone would do, even though they both knew that wasn't true.
"I would give anything to go overseas and fight," Steve admitted his whole frame slumping in on itself, making himself look even smaller than he was. "My best buddy's getting ready to ship out."
She was about to ask him why he didn't enlist when she noticed the crumpled cardstock in his hand for the first time. The telltale 4-F just distinguishable. She supposed that explained his why he was sitting in an alley by himself.
Darcy was about to reply when the warehouse door cracked open. "They need you in wardrobe so you can change for the next set Ms. Lewis," Janet squeaked.
"Thank you Janet, I'll be right in," Darcy sighed, using her hands on her knees to push herself upright. She looked down at Steve who was looking up at her from underneath lashes so long they should be illegal on a man, with wide guileless eyes. "Do you want to come in for a few minutes?" she offered on a whim, surprising both of them.
"I-in there?" he repeated.
"Well yes, would you like to come inside?" she repeated more surely this time. "I'm sure someone has a publicity still in there somewhere for me to sign. If you'd like one," she added, not wanting to presume. But he did say that he had seen all her films.
"Yes!" Steve exclaimed a little more enthusiastically then he intended, embarrassing himself, but also making Darcy grace him with another one of her blinding smiles so he figured it was worth it. "I mean, that would be very kind of you Ms. Lewis."
"Darcy," she reminded him.
"Darcy," he repeated sheepishly.
She reached for the door handle, but he rushed forward to open if for her, receiving another smile for his troubles. Following Darcy into the warehouse where the studio space was set up, Steve looked around in awe, never having seen anything quite like it.
"Who's the mook?" one of the PA's asked when he noticed Steve's presence.
"Mr. Rogers is my guest and I would expect you to treat him as such," Darcy said sharply.
"I apologize, Ms. Lewis," the crewman apologized quickly.
From the moment they walked indoors Steve could see her transforming before his eyes, shifting from the friendly open young woman she was in the alley to someone harder and worldlier. He was far from an expert on women, that was Bucky's territory, not his, but if he had to venture a guess, he would say that the woman he was speaking to outside was Darcy, the girl. The woman taking command of the room was Ms. Lewis, the world renowned actress.
"Someone find me one of the new publicity stills, please," she called to the room at large knowing that someone, it didn't matter to her who, would jump on the task. "I have to go change, I'll be right back," she said turning to Steve. "There's food over there if you're hungry," she added pointing to the buffet table laden with snacks in the corner.
"Yes ma'am." She gave him a look. "Darcy."
He watched her disappear behind a curtain in the corner of the room, and he awkwardly wandered over to the food table attempting to look inconspicuous and trying not to touch anything. He was a bit astounded at the amount of food in the spread, most of it barely picked over. He wasn't really sure if he should have anything, even though Ms. Lewis did tell him to help himself, but when he saw bite sized apple tarts he couldn't help himself. Apple pie was his favorite.
He had just picked up a second tart and had shoved about half of it in his mouth when Darcy reemerged from her dressing area in the white uniform of the Navy. He gasped at her beauty, which had the unpleasant side effect of him inhaling pastry, making him choke and cough bringing the room's attention to him. Luckily it passed quickly and everyone returned to their respective jobs as Darcy crossed the room to meet him.
"I knew we could hunt one up for you," she grinned as she handed over an 8x10 glossy photo of herself.
"Thank you," he said smiling shyly back.
"You could stick around for awhile if you'd like," she offered. "I can't promise anything exciting though. To be honest it gets a bit dull after the first few frames."
"Thank you for the offer, but I should really get going," he replied. As much as he wanted to stay in her presence for as long as possible, he felt extraordinarily out of place and didn't want to get in the way of her work. "I'm supposed to meet up with my friend Bucky soon," he said as way of explanation, which was true.
"Alright," she said, accepting his decline of her invitation, extending her hand in farewell. "It was very nice meeting you Steve Rogers."
"It was an honor meeting you Ms. Lewis," he replied, wiping his palm on the front of his pants before he reached out to shake her hand one more time, committing the moment to memory.
Darcy watched Steve slip out the side door, unnoticed by anybody in the room but her. She believed him earlier when he said they had never met, but she still couldn't shake the sense of instant familiarity she felt when they first spoke. There was just something that drew her to him. She wasn't aware of how long she was standing there until Janet tapped her on her shoulder, letting her know that they were ready for her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and got ready to go back to work.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Steve left the warehouse in a daze, not quite able to comprehend the twist his day had taken. After his rejection at the enlistment office that morning he had cut down a random alley needing to sit and be alone for awhile. He had been about to get up and maybe go see a movie or something when his favorite movie star just happened to wander into the same alley. Things like that didn't happen to him. He was so caught up in replaying their interaction that he didn't even notice when he literally walked right past Bucky.
"Heya Steve, what's got you looking so moony?" Bucky asked, making a quick U-turn and throwing his arm over his friend's shoulders.
"You would not believe who I just talked to," Steve said with wide eyes.
"Who? The dame from 3B?" Bucky asked, talking about the girl in their building who made Steve stutter every time she said hello when they passed in the stairwell.
"What? No," Steve replied quickly, not even able to remember what their neighbor looked like after the afternoon he just had. "Darcy Lewis."
"Darcy Lewis?" Bucky repeated unbelievingly. "The Darcy Lewis? You expect me to believe you ran into Darcy Lewis in Brooklyn and you actually spoke to her? I don't believe it for a second."
"I did," Steve insisted. "And I have proof!"
He handed over the picture that he hadn't even taken the time to read. Of course Bucky took care of that for him as he cleared his throat dramatically and read the inscription aloud.
To Steve,
Thanks for brightening my day.
Darcy Lewis
"So not only did you talk to Darcy Lewis, you brightened her day? I am so proud of you," Bucky was practically beaming. "And look, she even drew a little heart after her name."
Steve took the picture back to look for himself. There was his name written in her handwriting, and yes she really did add a little heart after her own signature. He actually felt a little light headed.
"Come on, it's my last night before I ship out, and you actually talked to a woman. The most beautiful woman in America no less, we need to celebrate!" Bucky proclaimed.
"Where are we going?" Steve asked.
Bucky tossed him the newspaper he had tucked under his arm. "The future."
A/N Yay! Steve and Darcy meet! I have to admit I have a big soft spot for Skinny Steve :) Also I should mention that I'm basing Darcy's war efforts quite a bit on Marlene Dietrich who was incredibly involved during WWII.
Well until next week I hope you all enjoyed. Also just a heads up, I post previews on my tumblr (under the same username as my penname) so feel free to check that out as well… Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
