Peanut butter? Check. Mass mounts of sugar? Check. Chocolate chips? Check. Lean Cuisine pizzas for herself? Not check.
Darcy looked around as she tried to remember what part of the store she was currently in. Pasta aisle. Weird. She didn't even need anything here. Sighing, she swung the cart around, trying to carefully get by the couple next to her comparing medium shells to small shells and which will be better for that thing you're going to make, but oh, you get more with the small shells.
Please. You still get a ton in the box. Just pick. She tried to edge around their cart but cringed when she nudged it slightly, earning a glare from the wife. Geez, chill. Sorry. Clearly someone didn't get their coffee this morning.
And why are there so many people out this morning? It was so early. Like, ten thirty. She was hoping to get all this done before everyone and their annoying seven year old son went shopping. Fail.
Getting to the end of the aisle, she cautiously peered around the corner, trying to avoid any oncoming traffic. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief at having succeeded, but it was quickly knocked from her lungs when a group of what she can only assume were roided up frat boys bodily put an end to her forward motion. The cart may have stopped abruptly, but she was still moving and the handle landed itself just under her rib cage.
Ow.
"Watch it," one of the meat heads growled, shoving the shopping carriage back at her, handle digging in just a little deeper.
What the actual fuck. But all that came out of her mouth was a quiet, "Sorry."
The dude the glared at her and it was honestly making her a little nervous. She might work with some of the most dangerous people on the planet, but for the most part she knew how they ticked. Regular people, people she didn't get paid to babysit? Yeah, they were unknown entities. And she hated it. And she hated people. Sometimes. Okay, almost all the time.
Finally he made a show of letting go of the edge of the cart and stepping aside. She readily took the out and slowly walked by, eyes down, desperately trying to not bring more attention to herself. She could feel other shoppers looking at her and she felt her face go red.
Darcy finally turned into the frozen food section and set about looking for the low calorie portion when her phone rang.
It was Tony. Ugh.
"Hi, Tony," she said as she exhaled. Really, she didn't dislike the man. She actually kind of enjoyed his presence. But dealing with him on a daily basis required a lot of patience, and she really wasn't feeling it right now.
"Can you get the thing? That I like." Well, he was quick to get to the point. Even if he wasn't specific.
Like, at all. "The thing that you like?"
"Yes! Pay attention. Remember those things. They were crunchy. You got them last time?"
Surprisingly she knew what he was talking about. You know you've been around Tony Stark too long when… "Sure, not a problem, I haven't check out yet."
He hung up. Okay then. He was probably in the middle of science.
Shrugging, she went put her phone back in her pocket when it started going off.
Tony. Again. C'mon!
"Yes, Tony?"
"See, everyone should say that to me. All the time. I'll make it a rule," he sounded like he was proud of himself.
Oy. "Good luck with that. Did you forget something?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Can you get a few pounds of apples? And some kiwis. Oh! Oh! And strawberries."
He wants healthy snacks? That didn't seem right.
"You want fruit? Voluntarily?"
"What?" he paused. "No, they're not for me. Pepper was looking for fruit and we're out."
But…"Doesn't Jarvis usually just place an order for your groceries?"
"Yeah, but you're already at the store," and he said it like it was the most obvious thing ever. I mean, she was at the store, but still.
"Fine. Fruit. No big. Is that it?" Really, she was almost afraid to ask.
"Yep." He hung up and she prayed he wouldn't call back immediately.
He didn't. Thank you. Now, pizzas. Finally locating what she was looking for, she was putting a few in her cart when her phone went off again.
Swear to god.
Bruce.
At least it wasn't Tony.
"Hi, Bruce! What's shakin'?" She'd so much rather talk to him than Tony.
"Hey, Darcy. Are you still at the store? Tony mentioned you were going this morning and I wasn't sure…" he trailed off and she could practically see him pacing.
"Yes, I'm still at the store. Did you need something?" Darcy would buy Bruce the whole store if she could. She loved the guy. He was like her totally nerdy older brother. It was sweet.
He laughed, "Yeah, I'm nearly out of tea and I was wondering if you could grab a box? Until I can get them on the next order?"
"Sure. Not a problem. Just one box?"
"Please. I really appreciate-" she swore she could hear something crash in the background. "I have to go, Tony is touching things that he is not supposed to touch!" The last part was clearly meant for the billionaire and she would have liked to have heard whatever came next but the call was already ended. He probably saw something shiny and decided he needed to touch. He did it every time he saw Bucky. He made grabby hands.
Tony was a child.
She didn't even bother putting her phone away.
Steve and Bucky were in the kitchen on the community floor when the elevator opened. They turned to look at who would be joining them and were confused. There was no one there, only bags.
Full bags.
Huh?
"Um…"
"I believe Miss Lewis could use some assistance, if I may be so bold," Jarvis announced as they made their way over to the open doors.
"What?" That was Steve.
"Miss Lewis has arrived back with more than she is able to carry up, so she sent some up ahead of herself."
Bucky already had them all hanging off his arm and was bringing them to the island in the kitchen, the elevator on its way back down. She had put at least twelve bags in there, how much more could there be?
"Jarvis, does she have a lot left?" Wasn't she only making cookies? I mean, they did eat a lot, but this seemed excessive. Oh, Bucky thought, maybe he'd get an entire batch to himself. She promised. He didn't know what kind she was making, but he didn't care. She was amazing in the kitchen. Well, she was amazing everywhere. Or she would be. Could be, if he had anything to say about it.
"I believe she will on her way up momentarily." That really wasn't an answer.
The elevator opened a few seconds later to reveal a frustrated and flustered looking Darcy with more bags at her feet.
She gave them a tired smile. "Thank you for getting those for me. I was just going to add these to the pile. You guys are the best."
Walking forward, Steve grabbed a few bags and finally noticed what was in them. "Coco Puffs. Pears. Strawberry milk. Is that gefilte fish?"
"Clint is disgusting," was Darcy's answer as she picked up a bag of her own, only have it immediately taken out of her hands by Bucky.
"I thought you were just going for a few things," Steve commented as he started taking things out of the bags, grouping the items on the counter by where they get put away. He was awesome.
Darcy tried not to growl when she said mentioned Tony's name, but she didn't think she was that successful. At the looks on their faces she was quick to assure them that it wasn't really Tony's fault, he just kind of started the floodgate of requests and she really hated to disappoint the people that saved the world on a regular basis. Okay, maybe it was Tony's fault.
"Aw, Doll, you're too nice. Next time have them get it themselves." Bucky made it sound so simple.
Nodding as she put away the strawberry milk, she answered, "Yeah, but I was there. Might as well, you know? It's not a big deal."
There were a few minutes of quiet as the three worked to put everything away when Bucky finally yelled out, startling the rest of them, "You're making the peanut butter ones!"
She jiggled the tip of a finger in her ear, "Yes. And that was my ear."
Steve just shook his head at his friend and went back to what he was doing.
"Sorry, Darce. Want me to kiss it and make it better?" He waggled his eyebrows.
Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush. Too late. Damn. He's like that with everyone, don't be stupid.
With a jar of Jif in his one hands and the insanely large bag of chocolate chips in the other, Steve turned to her, "Do you want any help? I can stir batter with the best of them."
Darcy grinned big, "Sure can, Captain! Grab a bowl." She paused and looked at the other four jars of peanut butter, "a big one."
"So," Bucky started with a smirk, "can I lick the spoon?"
"Hey! I'm the ones that offered to help," Steve protested with a pout. He was adorable.
Bucky smiled big and looked at Darcy when he answered, "It's okay, Stevie, we can share." He winked.
She flushed. These guys? Yeah, they were was most definitely not like brothers to her. Sigh.
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