Here's a short one...just a little pause in the action to get some input from Darcy. Next chapter will be longer, and should clear some things up. :)
Darcy felt utterly like a housecat among lions, but she didn't let it get to her. The incident with the treadmill earlier was just one of a number of similar events which had left her bitterly alone and confused, but the loneliness was quite tolerable, given the circumstances.
I'm not even supposed to be here, yet here I am! Darcy thought giddily, as she reclined on one of Tony Stark's armchairs in the deserted common area. She sat in the media pit alone, sipping a margarita, and couldn't really find anything to complain about.
I've lost my intern...I suppose that's unfortunate. She mused inside her head. Her fabulous British intern/companion had been accidentally hired as a paper runner back in the working part of the Avengers compound this morning, and now she hadn't seen him all day.
I wasn't paying him anything so it was bound to happen eventually. Darcy reminded herself. Still, it was a shame to be the only "normal" human on this side of the compound. Supposedly Jane and Pepper were ordinary as well, but they both lived with Avengers, and therefore had automatic elevated status.
Darcy sucked up the last of her drink and gestured over one of the many waiting robots that Tony had hanging around the kitchen. The arm-bot wheeled up and gently took her glass. Before the robot could leave, Darcy told it to bring her the most expensive edible object in the kitchen, and the bot headed back toward the cabinets purposefully.
Darcy kicked her feet up and shut her eyes, enjoying her unpaid-for life of luxury. Her mind drifted to thoughts of her companions in the compound. She was still on excellent terms with Jane, although Darcy barely saw her friend amidst all the time she spent with Thor. She had toured the lab with Jane this morning, and the two had agreed that there were many experiments to conduct while they had access to such top-of-the-line equipment. Darcy hoped that she would be able to tear Jane away from Thor long enough to actually conduct the tests. Not that she could blame Jane for her attachment, of course.
If I had a chance to spend all my time with a man-god that looked that good I would too. Darcy admitted to herself sheepishly. Thor was another person in the compound who she got along well with. We've always been bros. Darcy thought with a smile.
Her relationship with the rest of the Avengers, however, was another matter. Tony had been friendly enough, but Darcy was always too star-struck in his presence to actually maintain an intelligent conversation. Admittedly, it wasn't every day she spoke to billionaire geniuses, and the prospect often left her tongue-tied. Plus, Tony had been inside his suite working on something for the entire morning, and therefore Darcy hadn't had any chances to redeem her reputation.
Pepper was also causing Darcy unnecessary awkwardness. True, she was very welcoming, but she was also watchful, almost to the point of creepiness. Darcy upheld a theory that Pepper believed she was a spy or something. It was the only explanation for why Tony Stark's girlfriend could possibly want to pay any attention to her. Pepper had gone so far as to knock on Darcy's door at around midnight last evening, in order to check that she and her intern were 'comfortable'. More like checking for spy equipment in our room. Darcy added to herself.
The notion of spies dragged her thoughts to Natasha Romanoff, the master assassin.
Her train of thoughts were halted when the arm-bot returned, bearing a plate of shiny, ball-like orbs which glimmered with golden flecks.
"Are these actually edible?" Darcy asked the robot suspiciously, taking one of the tiny orbs and squishing it between her fingers.
"It is deep-sea caviar, sprinkled with gold-enhanced almond flecks. I'm sure you will find it quite palpable." F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s smooth voice answered from within the arm-bot's voice box.
Darcy shrugged, thinking to herself, why not? And popped the caviar into her mouth. She immediately regretted the decision and spat the repulsive thing out. The gold-specked ball of caviar landed unceremoniously on the couch, exactly where Natasha had been seated the night before.
Darcy grimaced, not just because of the disgusting taste left behind on her tongue by the caviar. The assassin and she were not on the best of terms at the moment. Darcy felt obligated to blame herself for the Black Widow's outburst. Somehow, she needed to find a way to get on Natasha's better side, but she was absolutely stuck about where to begin.
I can't see us bonding over margaritas and disgusting caviar. She admitted solemnly. And it isn't a good plan to have an assassin for an enemy.
Darcy shooed the robot carrying the plate of revolting food away, and sat in her chair, lost for a moment, until the silence was disturbed by a heightening commotion.
Several people seemed to be coming up the spiral staircase at once, and to Darcy's surprise the noise even drew Tony out of his suite. Darcy waved to the billionaire as he emerged, carrying a wrench and looking around for the source of the noise.
A moment later, Steve and Natasha emerged from below, and Steve immediately regarded Darcy and Tony with grim seriousness.
"Something's happened." He said morosely.
