The crash startled Darcy out of sleep. Instinct had her rolling out of bed. On the furthest side of the bed from the door she lay on her stomach, listening intently while her pulse pounded in fear. What if it was another attack? What if Tony had finally pissed off the wrong people? What if...
"Lady Darcy! Are you within?"
The voice was unmistakable. "Oh my fucking ...THOR!" Darcy was not amused. The thunderhead had scared the crap out of her. Witnessing three alien invasions (two first-hand) and living in a building owned by the most publicly prominent (and easily located) Avenger made Darcy's instinctual dive for cover completely legit. Still she was happy that no one had seen it. Untangling her feet from the sheets, she rose to go find the golden haired god. There may have been threats of selling nude pics of him to the tabloids muttered under her breath as she threw open the bedroom door, but as soon as she saw his stupid grin she knew she could never follow through. (Besides she was sure that if she did Jane would kill her in some way undetectable by science, and she would end up on one of those late night mysterious murder shows.)
"Have I woken you," thunderhead asked, probably taking in her bed head and disgruntled look.
Darcy rolled her eyes and choose not to answer. Her synapses weren't firing enough to temper her mouth, and if she snapped at Thor too harshly she would feel like she kicked a puppy.
Coffee was needed before anything else. Trudging to the kitchenette she realized that in her haste to get to the essentials last night she had never actually unpacked her most sacred coffee maker. Her head hit the counter with a soft thud while she moaned like a dying thing.
Thor was instantly concerned. "Lady Darcy? Are you well? Shall I call for Jane?"
"Coffee," she wailed in the most pathetic way she could muster.
"Do you have some ailment that this drink will cure," he asked, distressed on her behalf.
"Yes!"
"I shall procure some immediately." Darcy straightened in time to see him hurry out the door. She sighed, knowing that he was likely to get into trouble before he actually located a cup of coffee.
It appeared she wasn't the only one thinking that when Jarvis spoke up. "Ms. Lewis, may I suggest advising Mr. Odinson how to retrieve your coffee before he injures himself?"
With another sigh she agreed. "Yeah, I'm on it Jarvis." She adjusted her pajama top as she headed for the the door.
"May I also suggest, Ms. Lewis, that you use the coffee bar on the main floor until you are able to locate your own machine? It is mostly automated and I can have a cup prepared for you before you arrive."
She froze in the doorway, throwing a pathetically grateful look to where she knew a camera was located. "Oh my god, Jarvis, you are my new best friend. Call me Darcy, 'kay?
Though she knew that Jarvis was purely computer code she thought he sounded pleased by her request. "As you wish, Darcy."
It wasn't hard to find Thor. All she had to do was following the booming sound of his voice. "Lady Darcy is my lightning sister. We must cure her immediately!"
Darcy couldn't hear Jane's reply but she knew it probably wasn't flattering. Stepping into Jane and Thor's suite she braced herself for a long day.
Two hours and three cups of coffee later (don't judge, she needed it), Darcy was in Jane's lab setting up her workstation. She wouldn't be doing most of the experimentation or hands-on bits, but she would be compiling data and reports so she needed a space of her own. Thor was in the small lounge area, engrossed in something on the tablet Stark had given him. Every so often he would look up and stare at Jane with such affection that Darcy found herself forgiving him for his early morning intrusion. He was like a giant golden puppy and who could stay mad at a puppy?
"Hey, Thor can I get a hand," she called to him. Immediately he set down the tablet and came to her side, eager to assist. (She could almost imagine a tail wagging behind him.) She roped him into moving some of the equipment and furniture around until Darcy felt satisfied with the placement. To thank him, she promised him she would make lunch.
Stepping off the elevator and onto the main floor, she was focused on the phone in her hand. It had been dinging with updates for the last hour and she was trying to catch up on the latest news. She was so invested in her feed she wasn't watching where she was going. Which was how she literally smacked into Captain Rogers. She bounced off him with such force that she fell flat on her ass.
It would have been comical had it not been so embarrassing.
Looking up into his gorgeously concerned face, she found herself laughing despite the embarrassment. "I knew your pecs were killer Rogers, didn't think I'd get first hand experience though."
He offered her his hand and an apologetic smile. (There also may have been a hint of blush on his cheeks, but Darcy was smart enough not to comment.) "I'm sorry Ms. Lewis. I wasn't paying attention."
"Darcy," she said taking his hand.
"What?" He really was adorable when he was flustered.
"Call me Darcy. I figure it's lady's choice after you knock her down."
That got a huff of laughter out of him. "Darcy it is then. I truly am sorry Darcy."
"No worries," she replied as she brushed herself off. "On your way out?" There was a pause while Rogers thought about his response and she realized that he might not be able to talk about where he was going or what he was doing, cause you know that whole super secret organization thing (duh). "Nevermind. If you tell me you might have to kill me and I really don't want to get blood on these shoes."
Rogers eyes tracked down to the footwear she indicated and then slowly back up. When his gaze clashed with hers again she felt like someone had set her insides to broil.
"I was going to head down to one of the volunteer sites," he explained. "But I might grab something to eat first. Were you taking a lunch break?"
Darcy tried very very hard not to read into that question. This was Captain America after all. He totally didn't mean for that to sound like an invitation. "I, uh, I'm on my way to the kitchen to make lunch for the science crusaders. And Thor. I could make an extra helping if you like? Its nothing fancy just macaroni and cheese."
His slow warm smile was the most damn patriotic thing she had seen all day. Definitely made her want to salute the flag and sing the national anthem. "I would love to try some."
He proved to be helpful in the kitchen. Fetching ingredients, mixing while she measured, using those glorious muscles to grate chunks of cheese. She kept the conversation going though he was no slouch either. He had her doubled over with side-splitting laughter after telling her a ridiculous story about his days with the Howling Commandos. The mac and cheese was in the oven (all six casserole dishes), and they were cleaning up the kitchen. When her laughter finally petered out, she found him staring at her. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Not at all. Usually I...I don't talk about the Commandos. But you...you remind me of them a little, I guess. With you its easy to talk about it."
Never in her life had Darcy been more pleased by a compliment. Of course in true Lewis fashion she couldn't say thank you and move on. "Thanks, Rogers. Though I'm not sure how a lab monkey rates with the Howling Commandos."
There was that frown again. Like deja vu she was reminded of yesterday. And like yesterday, they were interrupted before Rogers could say whatever was on his mind.
"Lady Darcy?" The booming voice rolled through the room and Darcy was grateful for it.
"In here, Thor," she called.
He appeared in the doorway, his golden locks flowing behind him like a shampoo commercial. "I have come to assist." He spotted Rogers right off. "Ah! Captain! Have you come to feast with us as well?"
Rogers frown lifted a bit but he still threw Darcy a look that she saw out of the corner of her eye but choose to ignore. "Yes. Though there isn't much left to do except wait. Everything's in the oven already." He indicated the appliance with a wave of his hand and Thor crouched to take a look at the bubbling cheese.
"It has a most pleasant aroma," he announced as he straightened. "Tis well done, Lady Darcy."
Darcy smiled up at him. He really was adorable. "Aww, thanks big guy." She laid a hand on his arm of out habit. Darcy had always been a tactile person. Usually she held that particular need in check, but Thor never minded (and who wouldn't want to touch a god?). She caught the frown on Roger's face before he could conceal it. (Now wasn't that strange.)
Removing her hand, she turned to the door. "Well boys, I need the little girl's room, so I'll be back. When the buzzer goes off, pull them all out. Two for the scientists, the other four are yours to fight over."
Walking out, she kept her held high and her usual careless attitude in her step. Facing the mirror in the bathroom, she pulled off her glasses and rubbed her hands over her face. Steve Rogers was just a man. Yeah right, her inner critic snorted. And Thor is just a model for Lo'real.
She chuckled a little at her own sarcasm as she dropped her hands to the counter. Rogers was an icon. A national treasure. He should be stuffy and rigid. Instead, he was fun and casual. He was someone she could be friends with easily. Someone who could be more. But...(and this was a big but. Like a "Baby Got Back" back up dancer booty.) Darcy Lewis knew she would screw it up. There was no way she would be able to keep Mr. America even if she got the chance to take him. Which meant she had to get herself under control now. She had to stop thinking of him in as anything more than a potential friend. She had to stop finding those little smirks endearing.
Get it together, Lewis, she coached herself. She straightened up and tried on her nothing-bothering-me smile. It fit like a glove. With smile firmly in place, she could push down all the other thoughts. Captain America would be her friend. She would not lust after anything else from him.
Walking back into the kitchen, she found a god and an icon shuffling mac and cheese into their faces like it was the last meal they were going to get. Rolling her eyes, she picked up two of the casserole dishes and headed down to the lab for feeding time. It was going to be a long day.
That evening Darcy's prediction proved correct. Jane was dug into the lab like a tick. It was already past seven and the scientist showed no signs of winding down. Tony was also far from finished. He was blaring AC/DC louder than humans should be able to withstand. It didn't bother Darcy. She liked his taste (in music at least). Plus Tony was one floor up and on the opposite side of the building (Pepper had insisted on having nothing but storage above or below his lab due to the frequency of explosions), behind soundproof walls. However, Darcy was done for the day. She had put in enough hours and she was getting hungry. Hunger made her cranky.
She was about to give up on Jane and go back to her apartment for a bit (she would check on Jane later of course), when Jarvis lowered her music. "Darcy, Captain Rogers wishes to know if you would like to join him and Dr. Banner for dinner."
"Yes," she said jumping up. "That would be fabulous."
"Dinner will be held on the common floor. I believe Dr. Banner is planning to show Captain Rogers how to use Netflix as well."
She grinned while she gathered her things. She would drop these off in her room, and while she was there she could freshen up. Maybe change her shirt. She was sure she didn't smell but it was after hours now, she could change without anyone questioning it. As she laid a hand on her cell, she paused. What was she doing? She was way too enthusiastic over dinner with potential friends. Palm met forehead with a smack. Damnit Lewis! You are supposed to be thinking of him a friend! Friends do not go put on lipstick and change outfits just to hang out together. Groaning, she pulled her hand from her forehead and headed out the door.
"Jarvis?"
"Yes Darcy."
"Could you please let me know if Jane leaves the lab? Tony too. If not, can you remind me when its ten so I can come pry them out."
"Of course, Darcy."
"And Jarvis?"
"Yes?"
"You're the best."
"Of course, Darcy."
It turned out that Darcy needn't have worried so much. Rogers was a perfect gentlemen going forward. There were no unreadable looks. No conversations where she couldn't figure out if he was flirting or not. (She might have been fighting a natural attraction to him still, but he wasn't making it worse.) He was, at the very least, an entertaining conversationalist and interesting acquaintance. At best he was a casual friend.
There was another change as well. Rogers was no longer the last one to leave the work site. Though she didn't really know that it was a change until Tony said something with his usual social grace. "So you all finished with the clean-up Cap? Or have you decided to act your age and start going to bed before eight?"
Steve hadn't bothered to prod Tony back. Darcy knew that he could give as good as he got, but with Tony he mostly backed down first. She wondered why but then assumed it was because Tony was about six years old maturity wise and when arguing with a child you were never a winner. However, Darcy didn't let that stop her. "Does that mean you're going to show him all the best places for an early bird special," she questioned the genius.
Tony smirked at her as he poured himself another drink from the bar. "You're funny, Lewis. Isn't it about time for your mom to pick you up though? Visitation hours for the home are about over," he snarked, waving his glass at Steve.
"I think you're confused, grandpa," she said falsely sweet. "You got kicked out of the nursing homes, remember?" She shot a look at Bruce and Steve. "Mom and Dad had to bring you home to live with us."
Bruce gave Rogers a sidelong glance before he pronounced calmly with a long suffering sigh, "She gets it from your side of the family."
There was a second of silence before everyone broke into laughter. Even Tony.
Not to be outdone, Rogers finally piped up. "Wait. Are you the mom or the dad in this scenario? Because I would like to point out that you would definitely look better in an apron."
This, of course, sparked a heated debate between Darcy and Tony about which of the Avengers would look better in women's clothing. Excluding Natasha of course. Though that was mainly because Tony claimed she was a "spy not a woman". Didn't really make all that much sense to Darcy, but Bruce and Rogers both went with it so what the hell.
By the end of the week, Darcy started to become curious about what Steve was doing when he volunteered. When she posed the question, he was more than willing to give her an answer. "Its nothing glamorous, mostly grunt work, but it's things that need doing. The world needed us to help in a big way before. Now the city needs us just as badly if in a smaller way."
He was amazing. He was a man who would physically be unable to leave if he saw someone in trouble. Her thoughts must have shown on her face for he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Really it's no big deal. You're welcome to come down and see if you like," he offered.
The next day, she had taken him up on his offer (as Thor had dragged Jane out of the lab for some "quality time" before he headed back to space for a bit). Jarvis had directed her via instructions he'd sent to her phone so she wouldn't get lost in the manic pace of New York. As she approached the site, she could tell which of the distant figures was Rogers simply by the way he moved. She had never been one for manual labor personally, but watching Rogers work was a thing of beauty. His movements smooth and purposeful.
"Lookin' fer somethin', lady?" The voice was friendly if a little rough around the edges.
"Yeah. You, big guy," she said with a sassy wink to the older man in an orange hard hat and matching vest.
The man gave a bark of a laugh and sauntered over a hand on his heart. "Don't be teasin' sweetheart. My old ticker can't take it."
She grinned at him unrepentantly. "You know who's the boss man around here?"
The man tipped back his hat with a finger to look at her more closely. "You some sort a reporter or somethin'?"
"No, sir. Think of me as Little Red Riding Hood. I'm just delivering treats to the hungry wolves." She gestured to the giant bag she had hanging at her side.
"Got plenty wolves here, sweetheart. Let me call 'em in." He gave a sharp whistle which indeed brought the pack running.
Darcy quickly unloaded the bag from her shoulder. She had raided Tony's cupboards and come up with a multitude of sweets and treats to help the volunteers power through their day. However, it appeared that some of the wolves didn't have a hunger for food, but a taste for something else. Two of them crowded close to Darcy as she emptied the bag into waiting hands.
"Say, sugar," said one of those who was intruding on Darcy's personal bubble. "Your man know that you're down here with us?"
Now that irked her. "I don't need to report to any man."
"Ain't got a man, darlin'? That's a damn shame," the other one replied.
"You could call me and tell me where you're gonna be," the first one offered.
Darcy wrapped her hand around the handle of the taser in her pocket. "No thanks."
The second made as if to put a hand on her and she tightened her grip on the taser but the touch never came. Instead Rogers was there with hand on the man's shoulder. "The lady said no." If the scowl on his face didn't say back off in big enough letters, the increasing tightness of the grip on the man's shoulder did. Tweedledee winced and threw up his hands in surrender. Rogers released him, and kept glaring until Tweedledee and Tweedledum moved far enough away.
The boss man, who had witnessed the entire exchange, came over. "Sorry about those two, sweetheart. I'll take care of 'em."
"It's cool. No worries, big guy," she assured him. He gave her a smile then turned his attention to the dynamic dipshits.
Rogers was not pleased. He wasn't scowling, but he had on that "America is disappointed in you" face that could crush a person's spirit. He didn't say anything, just continued to gaze at her intently with arms crossed over his chest. He was waiting her out.
Darcy did not do well with silence.
"What," she finally demanded, crossing her arms over her chest, mirroring his posture.
"What are you doing down here?"
Her brows furrowed. He had invited her hadn't he. Maybe she had misunderstood. Maybe he had only said that in the moment. No way to tell unless she asked him. "I was invited." She tried to make it sound like a statement, but as the words left her mouth she knew she had failed.
That disappointed look didn't disappear. "I mean what are you doing down here by yourself? Its dangerous. I didn't mean for you to trek all over New York alone. I would have brought you with me."
Oh. "Well you should have said that to begin with," she huffed. "Besides, I am perfectly capable of defending myself. I took out Thor once." She didn't mention that he had been hit with a car first.
He didn't seem overly impressed, but at least his lips twitched with what might have been a smile.
He let the subject drop while he showed her around and introduced her to a few people. He wasn't going by his own name here, instead he called himself JB, and Darcy could understand the wisdom of that. As the crew started to finish their breaks and head back to work, he walked over the boss man. She couldn't hear what was said but in less than a minute he was striding back to her while the boss man gave her a wave over his shoulder.
"I'm taking you home," Rogers announced as he gently took her elbow. He led her around the corner to his bike. She really wanted to refuse. Pressing up against his back while the wind whipped around them was not a great way to keep him in the friend category in her mind. But she didn't want to risk another "America is disappointed in you" face. Two in the same day would be crushing.
She had to wear the helmet (not sexy), but the feel of having her arms around him definitely made up for it. While they sped through the streets, Darcy savored the moment. Might never have another one quite like this, she thought.