The heart was made to be broken

by SarahJStar

Darcy was miserable; like it was hard to breath with the tightness in her chest and the lump in her throat, miserable. Not that she let it show, of course, she kept bigger things to herself than how an archer with a propensity for purple and practical jokes had thoroughly decimated her heart.

10. Chapter 10

Darcy and Tash were instantly hit with the noise of music, laughter and chatter from all the different groups in conversation around the room.

And Tasha had immediately began mapping out the party with smiles to its inhabitants as to hide her search for Clint and Darcy noticed how she narrowed her eyes when she found him in the furthest corner from the entrance. Darcy looked in the direction that Tash was levelling a carefully disguised death glare and saw that Phil had effectively penned Barton into the corner under the guise of a group discussion with him, Sif and Maria acting as a scarily badass wall of defence; albeit an unknowing one.

There were no theatrical hugs of welcome when the two of them entered; just a chorus of very happy hello's and exclamations of their names, much like what happened when a character walked into 'Cheers' and raised glasses in acknowledgment of their arrival before going back to the conversations they'd been having. They'd all done this way too many times before for such dramatic reunions, it was tiring when it happened every other week and there was all night for all that love-y dove-y stuff to play itself out when the mingling commenced.

Although, in that very moment, Darcy sort of wished she was having some big, showy greeting with her friends as she found herself living what she thought was going to play out that night. Her eyes had locked with Clint's as soon as she had seen him and she didn't quite know whether or not she was pleased that things had played out the way they had back out the elevator; her heart still hurt and the lump was still in her throat so the reaction seemed to have remained the same. Well, other than the fact that she wasn't frozen to the spot so she supposed that could be classified as a bonus.

Darcy was making a conscious effort to keep her smile in place, but she could feel her expression becoming more and more strained the longer she and Clint were looking at one another; but much like when she couldn't walk away from his hold on her she couldn't drag her gaze from his. Luckily Tasha seemed to notice the situation she had gotten herself in and put a small pressure on her hand to get her attention. Darcy tore her eyes from Clint's before she could get further sucked in and looked at her friend with a grateful look that Nat just smiled and minutely nodded her head in acknowledgement of her subtle save. At that moment, Darcy knew that Tash was going to be pretty much indispensible to her for the remainder of the party.

Tony calling for her and Tasha drew their attention and they both looked over to where his voice was emanating from, which was of course by the bar. Even though she could still feel the familiar prickle of awareness that she got whenever she felt Clint's eyes on her, Darcy's smile became a lot more genuine when she saw Starks smirking face and sparkling eyes aimed at her from across the room.

"Ah, the assistant and the assassin;" Tony crowed as he and Pepper came to greet the pair like the practiced hosts they were. Pepper was trailing slightly behind Tony as she was making apologies to both Bruce and Steve after Tony had left, mid-sentence, the conversation he was having them. Both of them just smiled and waved off the apology and carried on talking; everyone was used to Tony's mercurial attention span by now and chose to ignore it half the time. It made life easier and helped to avoid the ulcer that would inevitably arise if you got pissed at every shitty thing Tony did and curbed the very strong sensation that would sometimes befall you to throttle the man. "Nearly an hour late to your own party; I could not be more proud." Tony said with what looked to be actual admiration on his face. He handed the pair glasses of champagne that he held in one hand, as the other was full with his own tumbler. He then leaned in to give Nat kisses on both of her cheeks that were happily returned, "Ravishing as always, Agent Romanov." Tony said as they pulled apart and Darcy smiled happily at the exchange. Nat and Tony may not always see eye to eye, well they never really agreed on much of anything and were prone to antagonising one another just because they could, but they always greeted each other warmly when leaving for and returning from missions; 'just in case' had been both of their responses when Darcy had asked about the uncharacteristic affection between the pair and Darcy left it at that. She understood that as much as they pissed each other of (and Jesus Christ did they piss each other off) they were a team and that mattered more than the odd clash of personalities. "Not that I am complaining, you understand; you are more than worth the wait, Lewis, you look beautiful." Tony said with a soft look that made Darcy blush a little with his out of the blue sincerity.

"Thank you, Tony. You look very handsome." Darcy said as she accepted the kiss to her temple he gave her as Pepper was giving Nat a hug. "And I really think my necklace brings the outfit together, wouldn't you agree?" Darcy said as she nudged the pendant.

Tony's eyes flicked down to the jewellery in question as he leaned back and smirked. "Well it certainly draws the eye." He leered in good nature at where the pendant rested atop her breasts and Darcy snorted; there was the Tony she knew, loved and tolerated. Sincerity only ever lasted so long when it came to him before he started to suffer from hives.

"Tony." Pepper lightly admonished with a smack just as light to his shoulder. "Ignore him, Darcy, you look wonderful." She said as she gave her a quick hug and peck on the cheek. "I'm just sorry that I had to deal with this one and not help you." Pepper said with a nod of her head towards Tony who was rubbing at his shoulder with a scowl-y pout which made him look like an overgrown toddler with stupid facial hair.

"In my defence," Tony started and Nat rolled her eyes as Pepper and Darcy shared smiles; Starks actions were usually indefensible so this was going to a waste of everyone's time. A funny waste, but waste all the same. "It is nearly impossible to not notice Lewis's exceptional assets." Tony said with a wave at Darcy's chest and all three women just shrugged, because it was the damn truth. "And I'm just pleased that my mastery of safety and elegance has highlighted some of Darcy's own innate elegance." He once again motioned to her chest but this time with honking motions, that would have had Bruce looking for something to throw at Tony's crotch if he had been in ear shot; but instead had Darcy rolling her eyes, Pepper sighing something about making a wire transfer in the morning and Tasha just openly glaring. Nat could be especially protective of Darcy when she was being objectified for her looks as she knew that Darcy was far more than her aesthetics. There was an ex 'Garrity's' patron who suffered a broken nose and a couple of black eyes after Tash had heard some not very gentlemanly comments about Darcy refusing him and slammed his head against the bar. Darcy really did love that woman so damn much. "But in regards to my encounter with the Cap;" Tony ploughed through everyone's disdainful reactions, "if I had not had JARVIS call you down, Rogers would have followed through on his threats. I saw it in his eyes, Pep; they were the eyes of a man who would have taken great glee in dangling me by my ankles out of my own building. He's a monster." Tony finished in a whisper as he looked over his shoulder at Steve with squinted, accusatory eyes. As he was a badass super soldier Steve knew when he was being looked at and his gaze flicked to Stark and he frowned before mouthing 'what?' as he shook his head in question of the glare he was on the receiving end of. Tony ignored it all as he turned quickly, swivelling his head back to the three women in his company. "Monster;" He repeated in a harsh breathe as Steve turned to Bruce with a confused look at what the fuck had just happened that had Bruce shrugging and saying 'Tony' as if it explained everything; which to be fair it very much did.

"Yes, Tony, what a monster is the man who was only trying to do me a favour." Pepper said as she took a sip of her champagne. "How dare he try and make you act with a modicum of maturity in the act of dressing yourself." And Tony gasped in mock offence, with a hand to his chest.

"I am fully capable of doing that for myself and doing the exact opposite as you well know." Tony said with a wink and a click of his tongue that made Darcy sigh a little 'ew' into her glass and Nat grimace; knowing that Tony had sex was gross enough but having it paraded in front of her face was a bit much. Pepper just ignored him and took another sip of her drink. "I just wanted to look my very best for tonight and that man is no help. He's all Henley's and jeans after his grandpa phase;" He turned to Darcy and pointed an accusing finger in her direction with the hand that held his drink. "And don't think that I don't know that you have hoarded all of those cardigans made of sadness and melancholy; I'm telling you Lewis if he reverts I shall rain hell fire down on you. Those woeful woollen monstrosities have no place in my Tower." Tony warned and Darcy smiled. She had totally taken Steve's sweater collection when he offered it; the uglier the knit the better in her opinion. Tony turned back to Pepper and continued like he hadn't just gone off on a tangent. "He has no sense of what makes a good suit."

"I don't know;" Pepper pondered as she looked over the rim of her glass at Steve an appreciative smile on her face (She was only a person and could not be blamed for the effect that the Cap had in Calvin Klein; when Darcy had helped Steve to pick it out a few weeks back her brain may have short circuited and left her opening and closing her mouth goldfish style as she made him catwalk it). "He looks pretty damn good in the suit he's wearing right now." Again Steve felt the staring but upon realising it was Pepper and not Tony trying to maim him with the power of his eyes, he automatically smiled back and raised his glass in hello. Pepper blushed and Tony scowled; Nat and Darcy folded their lips to stifle laughs as they both took long drinks of their champagnes as Tony tried to manoeuvre himself into the line of sight Pepper had to Steve but literally came up short. Pepper could still clearly see Steve as she was in her ubiquitous high heels and Stark was really not a tall man; especially in comparison to both Pepper and Steve's freakish heights (as a fellow short person she could feel Tony's pain so she tried to hide her laughter in a show of solidarity to the vertically challenged). Just as it looked like Stark was building up to the mother of all temper tantrums and pouting up a storm, Pepper looked back to her fiancé, rolled her eyes, and placed a kiss to his cheek. "But I am quite partial to you in and out of yours; your Iron one isn't so bad either." She said in a soft voice that seems to a long way in placating him. Steve and Tony may be friends now but that little bit of tension left over from the number Howard Stark had done in his years of favouring the search for Steve than to being a good father to Tony was still there and Pepper knew exactly how far to push in her teasing before it started to rub against some of Tony's more raw insecurities and actually cause some hurt feelings that weren't easy to soothe once the damage was done.
"Too right too;" Was all Tony said but he did place the arm not holding his drink around Pepper's waist and bring her more into his side, before kissing the underside of her jaw in a show of appreciation that made Miss Potts all but melt against him. The sight made Darcy smile in its tenderness but also made her chest constrict a little. It was a reminder of having had been in almost the exact same position with Clint by the elevators but in a far more juxtaposed way. What stood before her was full of happiness, love and comfort; what she had had with Clint wasn't.

Her treacherous eyes searched out Clint again (because apparently her brain couldn't allow her to be happy for longer than five minutes before giving her a reminder of why she should be sad and heartbroken). He was still standing with Phil and Sif but Maria had gone to talk to Thor and Jane by the balcony. He was nodding to something that Sif was saying before replying and taking a sip of his drink as the Asgardian warrior laughed, long and hard at whatever he had said; even Phil cracked a grin. Darcy quickly looked away when she thought it looked like Clint was going to glance in her direction and settled a smile on Pepper. She may not be able to stop herself from searching him out but she would damn well not be caught out doing it if she could help it and that was going to be hard as it was because he was just as aware of his surroundings as Steve.

"Anyway," Pepper said as she took control back of the conversation that had been thoroughly Stark-jacked and looked to Tash. "We're very happy to have you and Clint home." Darcy didn't miss the slight twitch in Tasha's hand she still held at the mention of her partner. "I just hope this party isn't too much." Pepper said and Tasha frowned in question because they always had welcome back gatherings after missions. "Clint seems to be a little on edge; which is completely understandable after a mission." She clarified with a quick glance to the far corner where Clint was and Darcy tensed. Seriously, Clint Barton was supposed to be one of the best SHIELD had to offer, helped to train the new agents, and he couldn't even keep it together long enough to last through a goddamn party. She survived two weeks before people started to mention her behaviour, a few hours should be a fucking cake walk for him. Pepper looked back towards them after a moment, a little grimace on her usually serene face. "If this is too much-" Pepper started but was swiftly cut off by Tony.

"Oh please, of course it's not too much." Tony overrode as Pepper shook her head at his interruption. "This is exactly what's needed. Thrown into the deep-end is how our assassins thrive, Pep." Tony declared as he took a long drink of his scotch. "Especially Tweety Pie, over there; he just needs to let loose all of that sniper mentality and he'll be fine." But Darcy didn't miss the tightness around Tony's eyes as he spoke that said that he was a lot more worried than his words would lead you to believe. Tony and Clint got along famously. They were both snarky and sarcastic bastards who used those skills to hide the damage that being a super hero could do; Kindred spirits in emotional repression. Plus, Clint was more than willing to try out whatever new arrow Tony had designed no matter how stupidly dangerous they were. (Darcy would never be convinced that an arrow that could return after being fired in battle so that he never ran out was a good idea; too great a possibility that he would get jabbed by one if he was focused on something else when it made the return trip. Booma-arrows were a dumb idea and always would be.)

"Do not feel obligated to stay." Pepper finished when Tony finally shut up; it was a carefully choreographed routine years in the making that Darcy always marvelled at. She hadn't managed to be that patient with Tony and always resorted to the hand over the mouth to silence him. "I've said the same to Clint; we have all weekend to catch up it doesn't have to be done in a night if you don't feel up to it." Tasha smiled and nodded as Darcy secretly hoped that Clint would take up Pepper's offer and beg off for the night before he made anyone even more worried and suspicious.

"What did Clint say?" Tasha asked casually, but Darcy knew what she was doing. Nat was intel gathering so she could plan accordingly if she felt Barton was going to be even more of a problem.

"Oh, he just said that he had a slight headache and was tired from the travel home." Pepper said with a shake of her head. "He said he would be fine for the night."

Tasha nodded and smiled, filing away what she'd found out. "He's right, just a little banged up and tired but other than that we're fine;" Nat lied and Pepper nodded. "Thank you for the offer anyway." Tasha carried on as she gestured to Tony and Pepper with her glass holding hand. "Both of you, the thought and the party are both appreciated but everything is fine, just a long mission; Takes time to adjust sometimes." Tasha tried to reassure and as neither Tony nor Pepper knew what it was like to do what Barton and Romanov did they looked inclined to believe her. "But I won't be leaving until Darcy does, anyway."

"Ah, so not even you could manage to talk her out of this ridiculous notion of leaving," Tony said as he motioned in Darcy's direction with his near empty glass of scotch, the ice clinking; Darcy just smiled at him as she doubted this would be the last time he would bring this up tonight, "Did you try and employ some of your Widow-esque powers of persuasion to make her see sense; maybe put those 'thighs of truth' to good use?"

"I'm afraid not Stark." Nat said with an eye roll at his playfully sexual remarks that would have usually earned him a slap to the back of the head but both of Tasha's hands were full with her drink and Darcy's hand. That did mean that Darcy could feel the slight twitch of her fingers that said that she had half a mind to do it, though "And it isn't ridiculous." Tasha admonished in a very Pepper like way that Tony's eye twitched. "I'm actually leaving with Darcy tonight and staying with her at the new place for a little while." Tasha informed and everyone got very quiet.

A long, drawn out silence fell over the group as Tony stopped his movement of bringing his drink to his lips and Pepper pursed her lips in an 'O' shape as she knew how well that was being taken. Tony scowled over the top of his tumbler as he processed what was just said and narrowed his eyes as they alternated between Darcy and Tasha; his lips a thin, unimpressed line of non-acceptance. "No." Was all he said and then he turned on his heel, ignoring Pepper's grab for his hand as he stalked over to where Steve was still talking and laughing with Bruce. Tony grabbed Steve by the arm, ignoring Pepper's exasperated 'Tony!', and tried to forcibly drag him away to where Darcy and Tasha were looking at the scene unfold with an odd sort of fascination; heads tilting in unison. Steve tried to bat him away like one would an annoying gnat but that only inevitably led to quite an energetic slapping fight that drew glances but was then dismissed because this was an embarrassingly recurrent affair in the Tower; super heroes were over grown toddlers- it was just a fact. "Which one's Moe, Larry or Curly, do you think?" Darcy asked and both Pepper and Tasha snorted as they watched Steve and Tony fight with Bruce looking on with a bored expression on his face. After a longer than should have been allowed time (where no one had even tried to intervene) Steve finally sighed and gave in when Tony started to get whiney and allowed himself to be tugged along. Steve said a sorry to Bruce over his shoulder; he just shrugged and went to talk to Thor, Jane and Maria. "Tell her she can't leave Cap. Tell her." Tony demanded as he halted to a stop in front of the women and vigorously shook on Steve's arm. Steve, who was looking confused and still less than impressed at being manhandled, tugged his arm away and glared down at Tony.

"I have already talked to Darcy about her decision to leave and all of her reasoning is sound and thought out." Steve said with a smile at Darcy that she returned, because he was being a supportive sweetheart, before he looked back down at Tony and glared again. "Stop being difficult and let her enjoy her leaving party, which she didn't even want in the first place, and allow her to make decisions concerning her own life like the adult she is." Steve said in an irritated rush that made it seem like it wasn't the first time he'd had that conversation with Tony and had Darcy feeling all warm and loved. Steve was totally going to be cuddle accosted throughout the party for being his awesome self.

"No." Tony said exasperatedly as he thumped Steve's chest a few times and then winced, shaking his hand out, remembering belatedly that hitting Steve was like hitting a fucking brick wall; a sexy, blond, and oh so sweet brick wall but his attractiveness did not stop it from hurting like a bitch. "I mean yes, you should totally talk Lewis into staying because she shouldn't ever leave here, but no, I'm talking about Romanov, right now." He said with a jab of his thumb towards the assassin who was just looking mildly amused by the outburst and maybe a little touched if the softness in her eyes was anything to go by; being part of a team was one thing but being told in a roundabout way that you'd be missed by someone as emotionally lacking as Tony Stark was still something new to Tash but obviously not unwelcome.

"What are you talking about, Tony?" Steve asked his glare turning into that of what a puppy does when hearing a new sound and tilting his head to the side as if that can help him sort out the Starkness that was just unleashed on him and Tony rolled his eyes.

"I am talking about the fact that our own resident Russian-"

"Ex- Russian." Both Darcy and Tasha interrupted at the same time; receiving a smirk from Steve and Pepper but a decidedly unimpressed glower from Tony.

"Has decided;" Tony enunciated over the interruption and turned back to Steve. "That she is going to follow Lewis on her folly of not-so-independent-living it turns out, because she's going to move in with her bestie." Tony finished with a spread of his arms before he knocked back the last of his drink and looked forlornly at the ice cubes sitting at the bottom of his now alcohol free glass.

"Natasha?" Steve said as he turned his attention to his teammate with a frown that was starting to lean a little further towards the Captain for Darcy's liking. She understood that it was necessary to bring the Cap out in social gatherings if something was affecting his team, but it was always such a downer.

"Steve." Nat returned and then sighed; rolling her eyes at the eyebrow raise he gave her. Everyone succumbed to the eyebrows. "It won't be forever, just a little while to decompress from the mission and to ease my mind that she will be safe at home."

Darcy felt herself tense a little bit when she looked between Tony, Steve and Pepper and tried to discern whether or not they believed Tasha's reasons for leaving to stay with Darcy for a while. Not that there was really any reason they shouldn't. Tasha hadn't actually lied; she just didn't elaborate and Darcy was quickly learning that that was the key to good lies, keep it simple and as close to the truth as possible without revealing anything more than you have to.

Steve looked between Tasha and Darcy for a moment, his eyes slightly narrowed and then nodded before looking back down to Tony. "And?" he asked with a slight shake of his head and Darcy found herself relax. "Darcy can welcome whomever she wants into her new home and Natasha is allowed to spend time away from the Tower if she wishes. I'm sure she's thought about contingencies for if we have to assemble." Steve cut a glance to Nat who nodded and then he looked back to Tony. "See? No harm doing if she wants to take a few days." And Tony scoffed.

"There's a reason we live together, Captain Oblivious; strength in numbers and all that. I thought you would appreciate that more than most soldier boy." He said with an unimpressed look now that he wasn't getting the backup he wanted. "What good even are you?" Tony asked and Pepper sighed.

"What good am I?" Steve asked with a dark look as he gestured around the room. "Pick a window Tony and I'll show you how good I am when I hang you out of it by your stupidly expensive shoes." He threatened and Tony whipped his head around to look at Pepper, outrage on his face.

"See, Pepper, see how he threatens me? I told you he was a monster." Tony said and Pepper rolled her eyes as Darcy dropped Tasha's hand to grab Steve's before he could advance on Tony. She wasn't really worried he'd hurt him (much) but she didn't want this to escalate any further than it already had and make the night even more awkward.

"Oh, yeah Stark, how monstrous for me to want my friends to enjoy each other's company when one has just come back from a prolonged mission and I'll know she'll be taken care of by someone I trust and the other is leaving the safety of our company with someone who I know will protect her so I won't have to worry when she's not a few floors away if something bad happens." Steve said as he squeezed Darcy's hand maybe a little too tightly but she wasn't going to complain. He seemed to need the reassurance so she just squeezed back and rubbed her thumb over his knuckles.

Tony narrowed his eyes and was about to retort when Pepper interjected. "Enough." She said with a tone of finality that had both men listening. You didn't ignore when Pepper Potts had her CEO voice on; she'd rip you to shreds with her words, Darcy had seen it done before and it was fucking awesome. "Darcy and Nat have made a decision and it will be respected." Pep said with a pointed look at Tony who was doing an admirable impression of grumpy cat before she looked to Steve. "And you know better than to rise to his bait, Steve, ignore him. I do, trust me it makes for a much smoother existence." Tony's squawk of indignation was ignored as Pepper turned to Darcy. "So does this mean that I should bring enough wine for three at tomorrow's dinner?" Pepper asked and Darcy was glad that she wasn't going into detail of how the invitation was presented to pick her brains about something secret, Pepper could play coy very well. This time though, no one could ignore Tony's squawk as he did it with a mouthful of the drink and just narrowly avoided covering Steve that he'd stolen from Darcy's hand. No one dared steal alcohol from Nat; she was born Russian and took her drink very seriously.

"What?" Tony choked out as he spluttered and Pepper dabbed at the wet spots on his shirt with his tie. "What dinner?" he demanded as he turned accusing eyes on Darcy (accusing eyes that were watering slightly from his near drowning-although Stark would probably think drowning in expensive champagne was the way to fucking go. He had problems.)

"Pepper's coming over for dinner at my new place tomorrow night." Darcy said with a slight shrug and Tony's mouth dropped open as he looked from her to Pepper who nodded, Nat who blank stared him and finally to Steve who also just shrugged.

"So, you're telling me that not only are you scampering off, but you're taking my assassin and my fiancée with you?" Tony shook his head vigorously, failing to notice the ticked eyebrow that Natasha gave him over his 'My assassin' comment. "No unacceptable behaviour, Lewis, unacceptable." He said with a jabbed finger at her and she raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him. Pepper seemed to agree that that was rude when she put her hand over the offending limb and lowered it to his side.

"Tony," Pepper chided. "It is just dinner, not a slumber party; although if you keep this up I'm sure Darcy and Tasha wouldn't mind the added company." Pepper warned Tony who looked put in his place by the threats but also intrigued by the notion of a slumber party; the man was a pig. And then vaguely horrified when he realised that three of his assistants would be alone in the same room together and that could make his life difficult. "Besides, I put in a call to Rhodey; he and Happy will be down from DC tomorrow to keep you company." The 'so he can babysit you and make sure you don't do something stupid' went unsaid but very much heard. "I'm sure you boys can come up with something to do while I'm out for the night." She looked to Steve who nodded and she smiled. "See? You'll have fun." Pepper said when she turned to Tony who frowned.

"Oh yeah, so much fun with Captain Stick in the Mud and Colonel I Love Steve Rogers For Life." He scoffed. "Even Happy gets all moony eyed; it's sickening." Tony groused and Steve smirked looking down at Darcy when she squeezed his hand so Tony wouldn't see; he would ham up the Cap persona whenever it pissed off Tony, especially around his friends. "But you know whatever, leave me for your woman's time Pep; it's not like you have a lot of Saturdays off for us to spend together. But fine, maybe we should start our time apart now." He said swivelling his head in search with someone, stopping his whip lash inducing movements when he settled on Bruce. "Bruce!" he yelled as he departed the group and stalked to where Darcy could see Bruce sigh and his shoulders slump. "Help me ignore Pepper." He continued to shout and Pepper sighed.

"I should really go and sort this out." Pepper said with a sorry frown. "We don't want him showing up tomorrow night because he's feeling left out. You really do look wonderful Darcy and it is so good to have you back Tash." Pepper turned to leave and said. "Enjoy the party you three." Over her shoulder as she whisper shouted 'Tony' to get his attention which of course was ignored with a theatrical 'was someone saying my name?' from Tony as he meerkat looked around the room.

"I really don't know why she puts up with him sometimes." Steve said as he looked back to Tash and Darcy with a confused frown.

"Yes you do." Tasha said as she took a sip of her drink and Steve raised a brow at her that made her roll her eyes at his denseness. "She loves him, idiot." Tasha said and Darcy laughed.

"There has to be a limit though. He is such a jack ass." Steve said with wide eyes and a shake of his head like being in love with Tony Stark was not a possibility and if it was it was a curse not a blessing.

"He's not so bad all the time." Steve gave Darcy a blank look and she laughed. "He isn't and you know it. Tony is just used to getting what he wants and now he has to deal with a Tower full of people that he wants to be happy but doesn't like it if it impedes on his happiness. He's finding his way though, slowly but surely." She smiled over to where she could see Stark still trying to ignore Pepper but her not giving up. "And besides, you'd be surprised what you'd be willing to overlook when you love someone as much as Pepper loves Tony and Tony Loves Pepper." Darcy said as she resolutely refused to risk a glance at Clint across the room because that would be a way to be obvious, Lewis. She did however carry on looking at Tony and Pepper where Stark seemed to be relenting to whatever Pepper was saying, because of course he was.

"I suppose." Steve acquiesced slightly but still looked dubious and Darcy nudged his shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Ok, fine, he's better than he was when I first met him."

"Well I think that falling from the sky in a non functioning suit and then battling PTSD would make a lot of people better. He got all of you guys together to live here and it bought him and Pepper closer together in the end; they are engaged and none of you have killed the other yet. He has to be doing something right." Darcy defended. Yes, she did rag on Tony a lot but it was done out of love whereas Steve just lost his patience with him and got a little mean.

"Either that or Stockholm syndrome;" Tasha offered as to what Darcy expected was to lessen some of the tension that cropped up from time to time when Darcy and Steve disagreed. She thought he was too uptight at times and he thought she was too quick to make allowances for bad behaviour. Tasha didn't care and just wanted them to get over it. It worked when both Darcy and Steve laughed. Darcy didn't like disagreeing with Steve and she had too much to deal with tonight to deal with an argument about Stark that they'd had before and would have again, so she let it go.

"That sounds more like it." Steve said as he drank some of his beverage and then turned towards Tasha and Darcy as he swallowed quickly. "And here is where I remember my manners and forget about how much I want to hurt Stark." Steve said as he set his drink down on a side table by the couch they were standing by and Darcy rolled her eyes at his final jab at Tony. He then lifted the hand of Darcy's that he was still holding and kissed the back of it. "You look stunning, Darcy." He complimented and Darcy blushed like a goddamn school girl as she mumbled a 'thank you'. "And I know you didn't want this party but I hope you have a good time and allow us a little bit of lugubriousness at you leaving without wanting to punch us too much."

"I'll make allowances for high levels of melancholia, just tonight though and just because you like mighty fine in that suit." Darcy said as she smoothed down the lapel of his jacket with her free hand. "Any other time and bodily harm will be dished out without remorse." Darcy said with a playful smile as Steve pulled her in for a hug.

"That's all I ask." Steve chuckled into her hair before he released her and turned to Tasha. "I'm glad you're back." He said as they hugged quickly. "Everything good?" he asked seriously and Tasha nodded.

"Mission success;" Tasha confirmed and Steve nodded. Steve didn't have much to do for SHIELD these days other than to train new baby agents and help Clint or Tash on missions when required. He was much more invested in the Avengers and making them as much of a cohesive team as possible.

"That's good." Steve said as he picked his drink up and rested an arm around Darcy's shoulders. Darcy smiled up at him as she gripped his wrist in her hands and started to fiddle with the cufflinks on his suit. Cufflinks that 'Jane' had gotten him for his birthday (Darcy had chosen them; gone to the store to buy them and Jane still hadn't paid her back).

"What's good?" A new voice asked and Darcy looked up to see Maria walking over with two glasses of champagne in her hands and she suppressed a frown as she felt Steve tense behind her.

"That Barton and Romanov didn't die when on mission." Darcy said with a sweet smile that had Steve choking on a laugh and Tasha openly grinning. The super heroes and super agents in her life appreciated her gallows humour.

"Well, yes, I believe that would be classified as a good thing." Maria said with a smirk as she handed Darcy one of the drinks and she nodded back to where Tony was.
"I saw him steal yours and I thought that this was good excuse to get away from the man's whining about you 'pied piper-ing' people away from the Tower, to say hello." Maria said and then she turned to Tash. "I read your report and it was a job very well done and it's good to see you and Barton back."

"Thank you, Maria." Tash said as they clinked glasses together in recognition.

"Beautiful as always, Darce, Sif did us proud." Maria said and Darcy smiled as she playfully sighed.

"I mean we did what we could after we were so abruptly abandoned by our friends." Darcy said as she leant back into Steve's chest and let him hold up all of her weight, he was a super solider he could handle it. "Speaking of for why we were left on our lonesome's; how was Jane's baby unveiling? Did she make any of your agents cry again?" and Maria smirked.

"Just the one this time, Campbell thought it was a good idea to rest his coffee on a transponder for one of Jane's new satellites." Maria shook her head. "She was not happy, it was wonderful."

"Well, it's better than the three from last time." Darcy nodded but then a devilish smile spread across her face. "She is a sight to behold when she is all steamed up
with SHIELD, though." Darcy let out a dreamy breath. "I'm having a New Mexico nostalgia attack." Darcy laced her fingers through the ones on Steve's hand that was by her shoulder as she tipped her head back to see him. "Does it make me weird that I miss my old RV?" she asked and Steve snorted.

"The weirdest;" Steve replied as he kissed the top of her head. "But don't worry, I like it."

"Oh, well if Steve Rogers likes it then I guess I should keep it up. What else is super weird about me?" Darcy asked rhetorically with a voice dripping in sarcasm as she bought his arm to her head and turned her face into the sleeve of his jacket.

"You say hello to every animal that you see." Maria supplied and Darcy blinked; yes she did do that, it was a reflex to what she thought was too cute not to acknowledge.

"You sing Spice Girls and only Spice Girls when you cook." Steve offered; again she did do that because it amused her to sing 'Spice up your life' when she seasoned and the Spice Girls were always going to be awesome.

"You have an irrational love for fights at supposedly non-violent sporting events." Tasha piped up and in her defence seeing football, hockey or rugby players get all up in each other's faces and throwing punches was more of a cathartic release than anything else; at least that's what she told herself when she watched the YouTube playlists she'd created full of such content. In all honesty she just found it funny. Darcy was a little twisted bunny sometimes.

"You colour code the mug you use for coffee dependant on the day. Today would be pink." Maria presented and Darcy had no excuse for that one, it was just weird but she accepted that.

"You slip in and out of Farsi when you're cursing out somebody that has pissed you off." Steve chipped in and Darcy felt that was only a fair thing to do when she wanted to be super rude about something or someone and have people not understand her; she was only being considerate.

"You put sticky note faces on the stationary in your office so when you talk to yourself you don't feel quite as crazy. Just so you know that probably makes you crazier." Tasha dropped and Darcy pouted, her sticky army was amazing. She would use it when she didn't want to pester JARVIS and she'd already gone through all interesting talking points with Heimdall; she very much doubted he wanted to hear about data input or acquisition paperwork for more pencils when he had all of creation and more to look over.

"You-" Maria started but Darcy cut her off as she moved her face from Steve's sleeve and pouted.

"Ok, I think I get it, thank you. You have sufficiently answered my rhetorical question and I now realise I'm super weird and probably need to be on some sort of medication. Why are you people even friends with me? Maybe you guys need to be on some of the good stuff too. If I'm strange you're just as strange for liking me." Darcy countered and pouted more when they laughed. Her friends sucked.

Steve drew her a little closer when he noticed her sad pouty face but she could feel as well as hear his chuckle through her back so it didn't really make her feel all that better. "Like I said earlier, Darce, I like that stuff about you; Never a dull moment." He said as he squeezed her hand. "But, yes, we should stop. I don't need any more reminders as to why I'm going to miss you Darcy. I may have to do a Nat and move in." And Darcy softened instantly. Damn Steve Rogers and his earnestness.

"And I will welcome you with open arms and my Netflix cue." Darcy said as she nuzzled his arm again. "Just make sure you bring ice cream to casa de Lewis. It's the price of admission."

"I'll be there with armfuls of cherry and cherry brandy ice cream; I know how you like your treats to get you buzzed." Steve laughed and Tasha rolled her eyes at the saccharinely sweet scene playing out in front of her as Darcy grinned up at him.

"Ok, enough of that you two. It may not be too much sentimentality for Darce but it is for me." She said as she turned to Maria, desperate to get to less sappy topics.

"How did you manage to avoid being cornered by Stark? Coulson said he wasn't so lucky when I talked to him earlier." Nat asked and Maria smiled while Darcy frowned up at Steve when he tensed again.

"Scotch;" Maria replied. "Very expensive and very old scotch." She carried on describing one of the ways to gain Tony's forgiveness. Darcy had done the same thing after Tony gotten mad that she'd painted Dum-E's claw with obnoxiously sparkly Iron Man red nail polish; she wasn't even that sorry, that robot looked fucking awesome. "I told Phil to do the same but he said that he'd 'rather take the talking to than give that man anymore alcohol.' My logic was that even if the bribe didn't work I could drink it and be far too drunk to mind whatever he was saying." Maria took a sip of her champagne and said. "I've found inebriated is the best state to deal with Stark in."

"You don't think that Tony has a right to be upset about what you all did behind our backs, Assistant Director?" Steve asked and Darcy didn't bother trying to suppress her sigh she made into her champagne glass, so much for him being his awesome self. She had sort of hoped they could have avoided this until the lunch she was planning on Sunday or preferably Monday at HQ so that him being all Captain America was not so jarring. Plus this was her goddamn party and she wanted to at least try and enjoy it like everyone told her, like he had told her; even if it had started in the shittiest manner, she really hoped it didn't continue in the same way.

"Steve;" Darcy said quietly. He looked down at her and she shook her head with a frown furrowing her brow. "Now is so not the time for this." She cautioned as she looked around the room and was more than glad that Tony had set upon her and Tasha by the door as soon as they had entered and far away from the rest of the party for them to not hear anything over the din of chatter and music being played.

"No, Darcy. Now is exactly the time." He said as he looked down at her and squeezed her hand as if trying to reassure her; it didn't fucking work. "When we see her at HQ on Monday she will have home field advantage. Here though, she's off her guard and at a distinct disadvantage."

Darcy's frown up at him deepened and she nudged her shoulder into his chest. "'She' has a name, Steve." Darcy said. "And Maria is not the opposition, here; this is a party." She all but hissed at him. "What you're doing is not some master strategic move, it's a dick one. Drop it." She demanded.

"Darcy's right, guys." Natasha said as she peered around the room to make sure they hadn't gained any unwanted attention, focusing for a long moment on Clint, making sure he stayed put because there was a chance that he would revert back to what he used to do when Darcy was distressed and swoop in to help. "Now isn't appropriate." She said as her eyes settled back on the group when she was sure they wouldn't have a Hawkeye intervention.

As Steve was about to respond (and hopefully stop being such an ass) Maria spoke up (because of fucking course she couldn't just let a challenge pass). "It's fine Darcy, Natasha." She reassured. "Let the Captain have his say." Maria said with a nod at Steve, although Darcy noted how uncomfortable she looked at the prospect and it threw her for a second. Maria was a badass and rarely let things get to her, so the fact she felt uncomfortable enough to have it show, did not spell good things to Darcy.

"How considerate of you Assistant Director;" Steve said, somewhat sarcastically-somewhat (a lot) condescendingly, as he delicately detangled his and Darcy's hand and took his arm from around her shoulders and she desperately wanted to pull him back and away from this shit spiral. "It's just a shame that you weren't as considerate all those months ago when you purposefully shut us out of what you were planning. Why did you do that?" Steve asked and Darcy sighed again, she was seriously starting to fear for the integrity of both her larynx and eye muscles at how much strain they were under with continued unimpressed use.

"I told you why yesterday at dinner, Steve." Darcy said as she stepped to stand next to Tasha who was frowning between Maria and Steve, looking very much like she wished that she had left Darcy and Steve to be all mushy and what not, rather than having this happen; it wasn't really in vein with her promise to make Darcy's night easier. "They thought you wouldn't be unified enough to have things go smoothly; it was a shitty thing to do, but you know, SHIELD." Darcy said but then Steve looked to her, a grimace on his face.

"That's what they told you Darcy." He said as he shook his head. "Tell you enough truth to be believable, or at least some of it and you wouldn't look deeper because you trust your friends, Maria and Phil. But you weren't dealing with them then. You were dealing with the Assistant Director of SHIELD and their best agent, even if it wasn't presented that way. They know that SHIELD is still something you have issues with so they packaged themselves differently to get you on their side; they told you enough of a truth to satisfy that distrust." Darcy looked to Maria who was all Agent blank face so she turned to Nat for what she hoped was denial but when she nodded minutely, Darcy's shoulders slumped; this was going to be bad and she didn't know how much more bad she could handle tonight, especially if Phil had been involved in the not telling of the truth. Steve gave Darcy the empathetic look of a person who had had his own fair share of SHIELD not quite the truths then turned back to Maria. "So I ask again; why did you purposefully leave us out?" His voice was low so to not be heard by anyone out of their group, but still very commanding (and a lot hot, Darcy was woman enough to admit).

Darcy looked at Maria and noticed how her eyes pinched a little when she looked at Darcy, like she wanted to grimace but was too well trained to let that happen; but Maria was not someone who backed down when things got tough, it's one of the things that Darcy loved most about her. "Let me preface this by saying that I'm sorry, Darcy." Her eyes were full of remorse and Darcy tilted her head to the side; Maria wasn't one for apologising, even when in the wrong so that told Darcy that this was going to hit her hard. When her eyes turned to Steve, though, they were blank, cold; the eyes of a seasoned agent who knew when and how to put her emotions on the backburner to get through a shit situation.

"There were a lot of factors that went into that decision, Captain." Maria started all Assistant Director like, in the face of Captain America coming at her as he was.

"Some more complex than others," Maria said cryptically and Darcy bit the inside of her cheek, suspecting that this was going to get a lot more complicated before it was sorted out and she really wanted to pinch Steve in the side for not letting it lie until a more appropriate time. "But while you were right that you said that we didn't lie to Darcy, we didn't but we also didn't tell her the whole truth either." Maria's eyes flicked towards Darcy, her apology still evident, but Darcy just looked back with a confused and slightly hurt frown; part of her had still sort of been hoping that she would shoot Steve down and that he'd had it all wrong. That obviously not being the case she refused to react until she had all of the information and because a scene was the last thing she wanted to cause. But she was beginning to feel a very not welcome sensation creeping up that she had been manipulated somehow and that was not a nice thought to have about a friend. "There are those at SHIELD who believe that as a team you are too often pulled in opposite directions. Barton and Romanov have their assignments when Hawkeye's not off doing his freelancing, Thor has his responsibilities in Asgard, Banner and Stark both have speaking commitments around the world and you yourself, Captain, are called upon to help train people that take you away from your team." Maria listed. "That isn't even to mention any personal trips or vacations." And Darcy frowned.

"That has always been the case Maria; in fact Fury had had it that way at the beginning so I don't quite know why it's an issue all of a sudden or what it has to do with you not telling me the whole truth." Darcy said and Maria nodded, but she didn't miss the way Steve and Tash seemed to be having a silent conversation that looked to be just as fun to have as the frowns on their faces.

"It became a matter of unease for some people when there was a notable increase of super villains and alien incursions." Maria said. "There was the concern that there could come a time that a threat occurred and there wouldn't be enough of a team to fight, or any team at all and it would leave us at a disadvantage, leave us vulnerable to our enemies. So the decision was made to facilitate the setting up of another team, just in case the Avengers were ever unable or unwilling to assemble." Maria finished and Darcy's face went blank as she processed, connecting the dots and finding the picture to be less than pleasant; seemingly catching up with what Nat and Steve had been discussing with facial expressions alone.

"'Another team' 'just in case the Avengers were ever unwilling or unable to assemble'" Darcy repeated slowly, letting the worlds roll around her head and off of her tongue, trying to deconstruct Maria's explanation so she could get the whole truth that she obviously hadn't before. "Are you telling me, right now, that it was never SHIELD's intention to have the Avengers as a part of this treaty business that you dragged me into?" Darcy asked tonelessly. She wasn't quite sure what to make of this situation so she thought a lack of intonation was the right course. She felt blindsided and getting further towards pissed off, both at being made to have this conversation and of being told the whole story in the first place but still refused to allow it to surface. She looked at Steve who, even though he had started the conversation, seemed more than happy to see how Darcy played it all out; but that didn't stop the way his jaw ticked as if he really wanted to jump in.

"When SHIELD first approached the Fantastic Four and the X-Men it was not with the intention of having the Avengers involved in any capacity." Maria stiffly confirmed and Darcy had to tamp down on the urge to let loose some choice curses as she felt Tash tense and saw Steve do the same. Darcy took a deep breath through her nose and released it slowly through pursed lips.

"Goddamnit Maria," Darcy breathed before clearing her throat, her eyes darting around the room to make sure she wasn't heard. "So much for not fucking lying;" Darcy said lowly as she took a step closer to her; eyes taking in the room again to make sure they were still being ignored. Luckily they were. "I asked you all in the meeting why there were no Avengers present and you said nothing about this; you made it seem like their fault for not being included instead of it always being your plan. I then asked if there was more after the meeting, something I wouldn't like and you had the perfect opportunity but still said nothing, other than Fury being a cryptic bastard with his 'there's always more but this enough for now' bullshit. I then told you at HQ that we would be more pissed if you were keeping more than you already had. This is something more; in fact I think this is all of it. Explain. Now." Darcy demanded and Maria nodded, obviously noticing how Darcy was trying to keep herself contained. Steve placed a hand at the base of her back and ran his thumb in small circles over the material of her dress, she didn't know if it was to show support or as some sort of comfort but she appreciated it all the same.

"After the initial face to face meeting, both sides of supers had agreed that the notion was a good one, but were unwilling to proceed if the Avengers were not given the right of refusal to join or not." Maria started as she looked between her audience of three very interested, but very put out people. "We agreed, but only under the stipulation that they had already settled on joining together even if it was without you had you declined the offer or the negotiations fell through." Maria nodded towards Steve and Tash as her other hand encompassed the room with a sweep of the others. "They said yes and their negotiations were underway; we then bought you in to help bring the Avengers into the fold, if possible, to keep our end of the deal."

Darcy was silent as she quietly processed what was just said, her insecurities picking up on something because she couldn't stop it now that she knew that she had been mislead from the get go and what that meant for the subsequent conversations she'd had with Phil when she was at her lowest; if he was being her friend or 'SHIELDs best agent'. "So that's the real reason as to why you agreed to let them use me as the representative for the Avengers," Darcy said "I mean, I thought it was strange and completely out of my abilities when you offered it to me but you were all so convincing and then there's that I didn't think you would all use me like that." Darcy said with a humourless laugh as she shook her head, thinking back to being in this position with her parents as a child; being put in a situation where she was the one that ever really lost anything in a pissing match that she should never have been involved in the first place. Darcy looked Maria in the eye and she blinked at her in response. Steve's hand skimmed up and down her back and this time she knew that it was meant for comfort, it was the same thing he'd do when she was having a particularly stressful day with her nerds. "It had absolutely nothing to do with me being trusted or knowing all my guys best, but just so that you could have a person to point to as the one who messed up, who wasn't a part of your organisation, when the Avengers opted out; So that none of it reflected badly on you and you would still get what you wanted." Steve and Nat turned sharply to Maria whose eyes had widened at the accusation. "That's why you're sorry; not because you lied but because you're using me as a fall guy." Darcy felt Steve's hand tense for a moment before it slid around her waist and settled for a moment.

"No, Darce, that is not true," Maria said as she shook her head and took a half a step forward. "I promise you that you were chosen because if anyone can make this work, it's going to be you. You are no one's fall guy and the reason that I'm sorry is that I had to lie to a friend." Maria implored but Darcy shook her head before she had even finished speaking.

"Is that the actual truth Maria, or what SHIELD wants you to feed me? Because they seem to be two very different things," Darcy asked and she may have felt a little bad if she wasn't feeling all kinds of hurt and mislead by the people who were her friends. She'd earlier used Phil's 'you can deal with it' speech to help her deal with everything that was currently wrong in her life and now she found out it all could have been a real bunch of SHIELD serving crap, so that she had some semblance of emotional stability to help them achieve their goals, not to actually help her and she really didn't know what to do with that. People wondered why she didn't open up to others about her problems. This, this was exactly why. People may want to help, but people also had agenda's in doing so, especially those involved in spy organisations. It wouldn't have been in Coulson's best interest or that of SHIELDs to have her falling apart, so for all she knew in that moment at HQ when he was making her feel better that may have been for his betterment than hers and that thought made her feel hollow inside at the prospect that she didn't know who she could actually trust. Self doubt along with the feeling of being thrown under the bus and feeling more alone made Darcy a bit of a bitch, but it was all in the effort to protect herself from further manipulation and hurt.

"That is the whole truth as to why I chose you to be involved, Darcy. Like we said at the meeting we had a lot of options and everyone was in agreement that you were perfect, that you are perfect, for this. And even if we did want to choose someone to sabotage the process, the Fantastic Four and the X-men do not and would not allow us to either. If you can't trust me right now, trust that." Maria said fervently but it did little to make her feel better. She had quite the bitter thoughts that the reason Maria was so sorry wasn't to patch things up but rather to make sure she didn't back out last minute and put everything in jeopardy for her new initiative.

"Why?" Darcy asked hotly. "I trusted you yesterday and you lied to my face, I trusted you today and you may not have lied outright but you purposefully omitted. You used my protective instincts towards the team and my relationship with you to manipulate me into helping clean up a mess that I thought was caused by short-sightedness, but was rather the plan all along. And the funny thing is if you had just told me the truth from the beginning I would have helped you anyway, because I think your idea has a lot going for it. So forgive me if I'm not particularly inclined to buy what you're selling this time, Maria." Darcy frowned for a moment as she remembered bumping into Maria at HQ and the look she had when she noticed that Logan was with her. "Is that why you were worried about what Logan might have told me at lunch? That he was going to let loose some more of the secrets from your meetings?" Darcy asked, careful to avoid any specifics. She was also going to be having words with Wolverine about his stance on lying; Seems that man had a few of his own secrets that involved her, especially as she also asked him if the nanny thing was the 'more' from the meeting and he had said it was. Goddamn, fucking secrets were ruining her shitting life; and not just the ones that she was keeping. She also felt it was quite contradictory of her to be going after Maria and being piss-y at Logan and Phil for lying when that was all she had been doing for, like, ever. Darcy felt her stomach drop at that and she looked over Maria's shoulder to where she could see Bruce smiling at something Pepper had said; she really hoped that Bruce wouldn't feel the same way about her as she did then about Maria, when she told him everything on Monday like he wanted her to. She couldn't lose him.

"No, Darcy, I just didn't want to have this come out from anyone else or before we were ready." Maria said regaining her attention as Steve made a disgruntled noise, his hand tightening against Darcy's ribs.

"You mean that you didn't want her to find out about your deceit before she had a chance to start the negotiation process and be too deep in to back out without looking flighty and unreliable." Steve countered and Darcy couldn't stop the hurt she felt flash across her face as she looked back to Maria.

"No, Captain, we were planning on telling you all on Monday; Coulson said, and we agreed, that if this was going to work we couldn't have anything crop up that could jeopardize it, that could hurt someone. Just like now." Maria looked back to Darcy. "I understand that you feel betrayed and manipulated, but you must know that was never what I wanted. What any of us wanted, we truly only approached you so that this could be as successful as possible. I would never put you into an unwinnable position like that."

Darcy could see the sincerity in Maria's face and the honesty in her words but she was just frowning in response, silently simmering with hurt and self doubt making it hard to look past it and see it from Maria's point of view like she knew that she should. A lifetime of bullshit sometimes made it hard to keep a rational head; even in the face of being told what she suspected was the truth. She also felt exceedingly self centred, because she was making all of this about her when there was a much larger and much more important problem at play than her bruised feelings, but she couldn't get to that before she had sorted out what her role in it all was, she wouldn't be of help to anyone until that was cleared up for her. Because what good could she really do if she didn't know what strength her position in the proceedings actually held. In that moment Darcy wanted nothing more than to go to Clint and get him to talk her down like he always did when she found things to get a bit much in what was a farcical excuse for her life. He was good at it; he always knew what it was at the heart of her insecurity and had the right words or cuddle to put her back on track. But then her heart clenched painfully at remembering that even though he was physically closer he may as well be in fucking China emotionally, so he wouldn't be able to do anything but make things worse for her already upturned emotions.

Just as she was going further down that rabbit hole she felt a soft tug on her hand that pulled her back and out of her despairing thoughts. Darcy looked around and blinked slowly, seeing Nat trying to get her attention. Almost as if sensing where Darcy had gone Tash gave her a small smile and Darcy thought again how she had been right in her earlier assessment that Tasha would be indispensible to her, just like she always was. "Darcy, even if it was their plan to have these negotiations fall through because they thought you would somehow mishandle the situation, although I don't believe that, it doesn't matter." Tasha said and Darcy raised an incredulous brow.

"Ummm, I think it does matter, Tash." Darcy started. "Maria just admitted that SHIELD didn't want you guys involved at all and SHIELD were the ones to choose all the applicants; the deck was stacked in their favour from the beginning so that this would fail, so that I would fail." But Tash just shook her head.

"Darcy, I have worked with Maria long enough to know when she is lying; and she's not about the reasons that they want you. She wasn't lying when she said that she wouldn't put you in an unwinnable position. But like I said, it doesn't matter and I think you know that, deep down you believe her." Tash reiterated knowing that Darcy needed it spelled out for her to get over what had left her reeling but not wanting to baby her.

"I don't understand." Darcy said in grumbled admittance and Steve's hand moved from the dip of waist and caught hold of her elbow.

"What Nat means is that it doesn't matter what SHIELD, the Fantastic Four or the X – Men think;" He said as Darcy allowed him to turn her and she looked up at him. "It matters what the Avengers think and even though you were chosen for us, if we weren't comfortable with you doing this, if we didn't believe that you could do this, we would say so and choose someone else." Steve said as he slid his hand up her arm and up onto her bare shoulder and stroked his thumb in circles at her collar bone. "But that's not what we think. We all believe you can do this and more than that you wouldn't have agreed to help us if you didn't think that as well, you wouldn't want to put us in a disadvantaged position with something this important. That is all that is important." Darcy internally conceded that point but narrowed her eyes at his assertion that that was all that was important and Steve nodded his head in understanding. "I'm not saying that the lying isn't important, it is, of course it is and there will be things done about it, but that fact does not affect your ability to do what has been asked of you. Don't use this as a reason to further doubt yourself, Darcy. Because we don't doubt that you can handle this, not for a moment." He finished with a squeeze of his hand where her shoulder met her neck and a piercing look.

Darcy looked up into Steve's eyes and saw nothing but truth and belief there, and as Steve was the absolute worse at masking the emotions he showed in his eyes, she kind of had to believe him even if she still felt a little on the unsure side. She did know that she wouldn't have accepted the position if she thought would adversely affect her friends but the idea she was chosen because she was expected to mess up had done a number on her confidence. But Darcy took a deep breath and nodded on the exhale, anyway. Steve was all about the honesty and Goddamn he was good at the motivational speeches so she just went on his word; it was enough for the moment especially as she was starting to have doubts how good of a plan it was for her to be chosen to fail when if the Avengers would listen to anyone, it would be her. Darcy could admit that she may have let her emotions get away from her a little, but it had been a stressful day so fuck it.

Steve nodded back as they turned to face Maria, who looked like she knew what this had done to Darcy and had turned up her sorry face up to eleven. Darcy chose to ignore it for that moment though, in favour of getting to the bottom of this so it could end already and she could get her drink on as to try and forget for a little while. Screw her own moratorium on alcohol for the night; shit had just gotten worse and a lot more complicated and she needed things to be a little fuzzy around the edges.

"Ok, fine, you know what? Whatever." Darcy said as Steve's hand went back to her back and she took a long drink of her champagne, might as well start now. It wasn't Jaeger but it was something to settle her nerves. "Let's say that I believe you chose me because you really think I can help with this, that I'm not a fall guy." Darcy said with a wave of the hand holding her glass. "And, that I believe that you would have told us sooner rather than later? Why not just straight away? Dragging it out seems reckless, lying to me and having me unintentionally lie to them, seems really reckless." Darcy asked and Maria looked like she wanted to sigh.

"It was felt that you wouldn't cooperate with us if you knew that we wanted to actively exclude your friends from the beginning." Maria said. "You said so yourself that you are protective of the team and that might have stopped you from agreeing to assist us and we knew that for this to work that we would need you to help us."

Darcy closed her eyes and sighed long and hard at that admission. Feeling almost all of her insecurity and self doubt leave her at that statement as she focused on of what she heard of Maria's own insecurity. It was easy to forget that Maria was not used to have people doing things for her without any expectations of reciprocation, but rather because they were friends and the want was there to make her life easier. That she was worth the effort of a little more hard work than was already being asked even if it could put Darcy in an awkward position with other people she cared for. Darcy realised that she had been lied to because Maria didn't think that the truth in conjunction with their friendship would be enough to convince her and that made her really sad. "Well that was just dumb." She said as she opened her eyes again. "I would have helped regardless because you asked, because you needed me. I would have just appreciated you being up front about it. You didn't have to go all SHIELD on me and lie to get what you wanted. You're my friend as well, Maria, and that means something to me, ok?" Darcy asked.

"I'll try not to make the same mistake again." Maria said and Darcy knew that that was as good as she was going to get at the moment. She just nodded her head and bit the inside of her cheek; she was going to need to have a little sit down with her buddy about what friends outside of the intelligence community did for each other; preferably over pastries that were way too sugary and buttery from the French cafe a few blocks away from SHIELD HQ.

"Ok, we'll go back to that conversation at a better time, like we should have done with this one, but whatever, we're in it now." Darcy said with a scowl a Steve, the perpetrator he was. He had the good grace to seem a little cowed but not enough to really satisfy Darcy. She would just have to pull on the fact he had been sweet when sticking up for her with Stark and his rousing buck up Lewis speech from earlier, it went a ways with the ire she felt towards him, as did his constant hand on her back, that feeling of loneliness that she had earlier hadn't had time to fully take hold because of his persistent closeness; Steve Rogers was a seriously good guy. Darcy sighed again and she shook her head, clearing her thoughts and focusing on the now. "Ok, so we're past my minor meltdown of insecurity and neuroses of not being good enough and your unwillingness to accept unconditional friendship, we can now focus on everything else that was wrong with what you just said." Darcy said with a small smile that had Maria huffing a laugh; both glad to be past the animosity that had reared its head even if they knew not everything was completely squared away just yet.

"And what would that be?" Maria asked and Darcy shrugged one shoulder.

"Just about all of it," Darcy said honestly. "You explained why you thought you had to lie to get me on side, and about the Avengers being 'unable' to assemble, everyone is all over the place and there would be no consolidated power against threats; which is admittedly a good reason-hence my 'just about all' consideration, but what I don't understand is how you talked about them all being 'unwilling' to assemble." Darcy questioned with a shake of her head. "What the hell does that even mean, Maria?" Darcy asked somewhat defensively. Maria opened her mouth to reply, but Steve cut in as he put a small pressure on her back again.

"That means a lot of things, Darce, but specifically what she means now is just in case the Avengers are on the outs with SHIELD again and don't feel like cleaning up another of their messes." Steve said as Darcy looked to him with a raised eyebrow in askance for a more thorough explanation. "Darcy, you told us yesterday that these meetings could have been happening from anywhere between six months to a year. What happened back then?" Steve encouraged and Darcy's eyes widened as she looked back to Maria.

"The Avengers officially became legally and fully autonomous from SHIELD and the government." Darcy said and she could see Steve nod in her periphery. That was the reason that she was the one to go down to SHIELD and talk to Fury and Phil about the science goings on. Another layer between the Avengers and SHIELD was always welcomed. They still worked together and used each other's resources but it was in very clearly defined terms. SHIELD dealt with governments and all that that entailed until absolutely necessary to involve the Avengers, and then Stark's lawyers had a go. Then the Avengers and friends fought and assisted in the odd mission either with boots on the ground or tech and vice versa. It was why Darcy thought that the treaty had been done the way it had, but obviously not. "So, what, you were worried that now they are no longer under your purview that they wouldn't help in case of an emergency?" Darcy asked and Maria pursed her lips.

"Not just that, but it is a concern." She relented.

"Not really." Steve said as he took a step closer to Darcy's side. "We have never and would never not fight a threat to the people of this world, no matter the relationship we have with SHIELD; it was a discussion we already had as a team." Steve said. "You should have just asked us, Assistant Director. All of this needn't of happened if you had." and Maria narrowed her eyes at Steve.

"Like I said, that is not the only concern." Maria's voice was a little louder than before at Steve's assertion that she had fallen over on the job; Darcy risked a quick glance around the room to see if anyone had overheard their conversation. It seemed that everyone was still oblivious, until she spied Clint looking at her through the mirror behind the bar, he took a drink of his beer (imported Belgian- Stark was a snob like that) and his eyes were narrowed as he took in the group she was standing in. Darcy ignored it and turned back to Maria; she trusted that Phil wouldn't lose him again so she refused to worry about it. Funnily enough, he wasn't her most pressing issue of the moment and that thought made her want to laugh-cry at how fucked everything still was.

"What other concerns are there then?" Darcy asked because she was determined to get this sorted the fuck out now that it was started so she get on to all the other things that were wrong in her life. Maria, again, looked uncomfortable and Darcy rolled her eyes at her persistent caginess, looking to Steve and Tash. "Do you have any ideas?" Darcy asked. "You seemed to be right on the money about SHIELD being insecure about the status of your relationship." Because, really if they were Facebook friends it would read 'it's complicated'. And that would be a motherfucking understatement.

"Like I said Darce, it could mean a lot of things." Steve shrugged. "That we would implode without SHIELD's input and guidance and there would no longer be an Avenger initiative to speak of because we couldn't keep it together as a team."

"That we would go 'rogue' and actively go against SHIELD and its objectives so they would need a defence against us." Tasha offered.

"That the government would start coming to us instead of them, as our popularity increases and they could be marginalised." Steve added.

"Or more of us are dead and aren't strong enough as team to carry on." Tasha finished and Darcy looked back and forth between the pair, silence reigning for a long moment or two, her brow scrunched as she looked to Maria.

"Wow, those were some morbid, DEFCON 1 scenarios you just had off the top of your head, there." Darcy said with a frown. "Were those some of the concerns SHIELD had?" She asked and Maria nodded. Darcy then felt a feeling she knew well settle over her but needed a little more information before she put it into words.
"So you have all thought about these concerns before?" Darcy asked as she turned to Steve and Nat, who both nodded.

"Of course; they're valid concerns to have and we discussed them all, and more, as a team before we decided to officially go independent from SHIELD. The only issue that all of those concerns have is that they wilfully ignore what we do and what we stand for." Steve said and Darcy tilted her head. "We only use the force for good, Darce." Steve joked and Darcy laughed. Steve may quote the film but he didn't particularly like it; the Luke and Leia relationship creeped him out too much, because, you know, gross. Accidental or not that shit was still incestuous. "We have each other to keep us in check and we don't do things unless we are in full agreement. It's easy to corrupt one, but a whole group of independent thinkers, working for the greater good, are a lot harder to steer wrong." He explained and Darcy nodded as she angled her body to take the three other people in so she could address them at once, Steve's hand slipping from her back for the first time since this started.

"So if the Avengers have thought about and discussed this, and SHIELD have thought about and discussed this, why have you not all discussed it together?" Darcy asked like it was the most obvious thing in the goddamn world, which it kind of fucking was. She was willing to name the feeling that had appeared; it was her 'my friends are dumbasses and I don't know how they don't get themselves killed crossing the road without assistance with how dumb they are, let alone face down alien armadas' feeling and it often came about when her normally smart friends acted so, so stupid.

"I told you that we were going to do so on Monday, Darcy." Maria said, but Darcy shook her head.

"I meant before the Avengers went independent and before SHIELD took the offensive in preparation for a defensive move that seems altogether unlikely to actually happen." Darcy explained. "You people should have talked to each other. It's like when you leave a job or go through a break up. You have an exit interview or a final discussion of issues so that things are smoothed over for all possible future interactions. All of this could have been avoided if both sides had been honest and up front with each other, instead of being sneaky and insulated." Darcy shook her head at the air of stupidity she felt surrounding her. "Just because you are no longer in each other's pockets does not mean that you are not allies; that you can't be trusted or that you shouldn't communicate. That's how things like this-" Darcy cut a hand through the air between the four of them, "- happen. SHIELD and the Avengers need each other even if you both don't like it." Darcy drained the last of her drink (because she freaking deserved it after what she was just put through) and set it down on the table and she straightened to her full height. "Maybe then there wouldn't have been all of that doubt swirling around and this new initiative business could have happened in a much nicer way." Darcy said waving her now empty hand. "Which sort of, perfectly, brings me to my next point now the 'unwillingness' has all been dealt with; why did you think leaving the Avengers out of the initiative was a good idea in the first place? Like I said earlier, Fury was all for the Avengers only ever getting together when absolutely necessary and trusting them to do so when it was. You were also very careful to say 'there are those at SHIELD' who felt the formation of a new team, bar the Avengers, was necessary; you made no mention of Fury, Phil's or your own personal involvement in that. Who came up with it, Maria?" Darcy asked and she pointedly ignored the impressed look on Steve's face if she was going to believe that he thought she was as capable as he had claimed earlier. But she did take a small amount of glee in the shark-like smirk Tash was rocking; she loved it when Darcy went all detective-like. It took them back to the Great Missing Lewis-made-chocolate-fudge-cake debacle of Thanksgiving, when she got her Poirot on and tracked down the guilty party in an impressively short time (Thor, in the library, with a dessert spoon, empty plate licked clean and evidence all over his beautifully shame filled face).

"It wasn't just one person, Darcy." Maria sighed. "There were murmurs from high and low about it, both those who work with us and those we 'answer' to about how much good the Avengers could do when not a part of SHIELD or even together in the same place all the time. And dissension at any level is not good for leadership." Maria bunny eared 'answer' because SHIELD rarely answered for anything and if they did it was what they wanted to answer for and usually just as a distraction technique for what they should be really explaining. "Fury is well versed enough in how to play the game and pick his battles accordingly. This was one where he could almost guarantee a positive outcome without fighting it and stopping those murmurs dead; leaving him in a more solidified position of power. A new super team is good for morale and image even if he didn't like or agree with the reasoning or way of its inception." Maria said and Darcy straightened a little as a thought occurred to her about Fury's involvement in what had happened; she'd been so focused on Maria and Phil lying to her that she had nearly forgotten about the trench coat wearing boss man, which Darcy imagined is what he wanted. Like a magician he would have you focus on one hand whilst the other was performing the actual trick. It was known fact that Fury lied; it's what he did for a living and he was very good at it, but he also played a long game, always had and always would, Darcy just had to figure out what that was. Considering how much Fury had put his neck out for the Avengers and those who stood by them, he wouldn't just throw them under the bus for extra points especially for something that he didn't actually believe in. He would have a contingency in place as to not jeopardize Avenger/SHIELD relations and she knew it would be as convoluted and murky as the man himself could be. Darcy just had to start thinking six moves ahead like Nick Fury would and she found that things were becoming a lot clearer and maybe a little scary at the extent of his plan and how well it had played out the way he wanted. The lies had become a lot easier to digest now that she thought she knew of their motivation.

"Son of a bitch;" Darcy whispered when she felt confident enough in her deduction to say it aloud. "Son of a bitch;" Darcy said a little louder this time as the epiphany cleared her mind and a shining clarity reigned over Fury's scheme now that she had gotten over herself and into his way of thinking. "This was his plan all along, wasn't it?" Darcy whipped her head around to look between the three she was having the conversation with as she saw the same comprehension falling over them, well not Maria because Darcy expected she already knew, but definitely Tash and Steve. "Fury knew that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men would insist on having Avenger involvement." Darcy pondered out loud. "He knew that there was already a good relationship between the three separate teams there and it wouldn't be risked to satisfy people in SHIELD, but he needed to make it seem that he was going to make it as hard as possible to have the Avengers involved in any which way, so he dragged out introducing them to the negotiation process for as long as he could to make it look to the Chatty Cathy's at SHIELD and wherever else that he hoped the exclusion and lies would put too much of a strain on what they saw as an already weak team and that they would refuse any involvement on bruised ego alone. But Fury knew better, he knew the Avengers better, and he carried on with the expectation that it would come together in the end, just like it has." Darcy frowned then, thinking that it all seemed a little to linear, a little too pedestrian for a Fury scheme, because Occam's razor was not something you could ever apply to Nick Fury. That was until she factored herself into the equation and she laughed suddenly gaining her strange looks from everyone in her close proximity. "Oh, that man," Darcy giggled a little in amusement and a little in horror that she had ever been a part of his scheming and that her behaviour had gone all according to his plans. "You were wrong about one thing though, Maria." Darcy said and at her raised eyebrow she continued. "I may not be your fall guy, but I am Fury's." She explained and she heard Steve make another unhappy noise and see Tasha's eyes narrow, but Darcy shook her head. "No, it's not a bad thing, not really." Darcy tried to reassure. "You may all believe in me that I can do this and I believe that he does too, but that is all because we know each other; I've seen you and Coulson both sloppy drunk and Fury sees me once a month to get the lowdown about the science developments that might help the SHIELD/Avenger agreement, so he knows that I don't intimidate or back down easily, but those he's 'placating' don't." She explained, enjoying seeing the dawning comprehension. "They'll see me as being a purposefully bad choice on Fury's part, a 22 year old civilian with no training in negotiations, or experience with actual active politics beyond my major and whose TIVO and internet history is that of a 14 year old girl, who is only involved in this life because she didn't have the sense to run at the sight of tall, blond and Godly being a dick and his lady friend is her boss. Not as someone who has a good relationship with everyone involved and knows how to talk people around when they get difficult. They also won't realise that as much as I want this to work for you guys, you'll want to make me look good as well so you won't purposefully make my life difficult in doing this; Fury does though and that is what he was relying on when he agreed in choosing me. If you actually think about it, it's all kinds of perfect in a really manipulative and caring sort of way. But that is how that one eyed bastard rolls, I suppose." Darcy mused; she also didn't think that it was a coincidence that Fury had allowed a job offer to get its way to her from the X-Men. Darcy thought that it may be his unique of shielding her if something was to go wrong and she needed to get away from whatever fallout if the treaty fell through or even if it didn't and she still needed to get away. She was having some serious warm fuzzies towards that man, even if they were tempered slightly with the knowledge that she was a pawn in one of his games, but at least she was a protected pawn. Steve looked to Maria as her thoughts tumbled around a little more but she didn't miss his tense shoulders.

"Is Darcy right?" He asked. "Was this Fury's plan all along?"

Maria regarded Steve for a moment before nodding a little. "I think so, Fury never said so explicitly but he's not one to be backed into a corner without some sort of escape plan. He knows how important the Avengers are and how important Darcy is to all of you, to all of us. It wouldn't surprise me if this is all going how he thinks it would. I would be more surprised if it wasn't."

Steve sighed as he shook his head and dragged a hand down his face. "That man is terrifying." Steve said as Maria smirked and Tash laughed the laugh of a woman who had been involved in more than her fair share of Fury's follies.

"Maybe," Darcy said with a smile of her own. "But he's being terrifying on your behalf, so that's a win in my opinion." She nudged his shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the frown he had going.

"Not yours though." Steve said unhappily. "I don't like you being used like this, it was one thing to involve you when it was just to clean up a mess and really help SHIELD, but a completely other thing to involve you in a double bluff with the government who very much want you to fail. Maria said that this isn't 'unwinnable' but it sure seems like that to me." Steve finished grimly.

"What do you mean?" Darcy asked, she thought she understood but she needed clarification.

"When you manage to have us get through these negotiations and sign with the others, there will be people who won't be happy, dangerous people at that. And if something goes drastically wrong and we don't sign for whatever reason, those same people are going to point fingers and they will be all aimed at you, like you said earlier." He shook his head again and shrugged. "They'll see you as a liability and want something done, it puts your position with us in jeopardy and I don't like it. We're protected, insulated, but you aren't- you're out in the open and vulnerable. You shouldn't have to do this, we shouldn't having you doing this for us; it's too dangerous." Steve said as his hand went back to her waist and tightened against her ribs again, but she thought that was more for his benefit than hers, and Darcy had to think before she responded. That was what she thought he meant and now she had to figure out a way to explain the situation to him without giving too much away. She knew that she was protected, that Fury had an avenue open for her outside of the Avengers in the event that something still went wrong, she just had to decide whether or not to share that with Steve just then and if she didn't how she could make him feel any better.

"Steve," Darcy said as she turned into him a little and placed a hand on his arm and squeezed. "I need you to not worry about that right now," He opened his mouth to say something that Darcy suspected was going to be about him always worrying like she knew he did, so she shook her head and squeezed again. "I know what I thought earlier, what I accused, but I was obviously wrong, like you said I allowed my insecurities to take over but I can assure you that Fury hasn't hung me out to dry. I can't tell you right now how I know that because it wouldn't be fair to everyone else to be kept out of the loop and I need to do some serious mind mapping on it, but I promise that I'm as protected as I can be from whatever the fallout from this may be." Darcy said with all the seriousness she could muster. "And as for you having me do this for you, Steve, I still choose to do this. If I felt unsafe about it, even with everything we just learnt, I would tell you, I promise." Darcy said and Steve looked down at her his eyes taking her face in and trying to gauge the honesty of her words, trying to see if she was putting a brave face on before he nodded his belief.

"Ok, I'll let it go for now, Darce, but you will tell me and soon what Fury has planned in case of emergency. Otherwise I'll say to the others that I don't think it's safe for you to proceed with these negotiations and you'll be out." Steve said as he loomed over her slightly, she didn't think it was meant to intimidate and it didn't, it was just meant to show intent, which it did, and from anyone else it would be a threat, an ultimatum, but she knew that it came from a place of concern and not control so she let it go.

"Ok," Darcy nodded. "I wanted to have a lunch with all of you here on Sunday anyway, to gauge your wants and limits for the negotiations. We'll tell everyone what we just learnt and the precaution in place for me and see if everyone still wants to proceed." Darcy laid out her plan and Steve nodded his acceptance and backed away a fraction now he was mollified some by her compromise.

"What if not everyone is in agreement to still continue, what then?" Maria asked.

"Then no negotiations take place," Darcy said before Steve could reply. "I said at the meeting that if not all of them wanted in then none of them would be and that I wouldn't use my relationship with them to change their mind, that hasn't changed, all of this just makes things more complicated. I wanted to have the sit down before I found out about this added layer of complicated and I think it needs to happen all the more now. I don't think it would be a good idea to do tell them at HQ on Monday, they'll be even more piss-y and defensive than they would have been before and at least this way we'll all have a little time to calm down before the actual sit down with everyone."

Maria looked to Steve who just nodded with a smile. "What she said." And Darcy laughed. "I'm getting used to Darcy speaking on my behalf." Steve said as his hand settled on her hip.

"So you're still willing to go through with the negotiations?" Maria tried to clarify.

"I'm willing to present the truth to my truth my team, Maria, and let them make their own minds up on how to proceed." Steve said with a slight shake of his head. "I'll give my opinion and listen to theirs in return."

"And what is your opinion, Steve?" Maria asked and Darcy was beyond glad that they were back to a first name basis-that meant that the awkward had passed. But she was also aware that Maria knew how important Steve's point of view was to his teammates and that even if they had their doubts that they would sometimes to defer to him because he was just so damn good and honest.

"It hasn't changed from yesterday, even with what I've learnt. I still want to be part of the negotiations I just wanted the truth before I did. Darcy was right with what she said earlier. There was fault on both sides leading up to this that should have been avoided and we'll now do better in the future. Whether or not that is enough to convince the others I don't know, especially with the possible risk to Darcy." Steve said using some of that patented honesty and Maria nodded before she looked at Tash.

"And you?" She asked with a serious look, knowing that if Tash was also on side that she would have a third of the Avengers willing to go on. Tash stared back for a moment before looking to Darcy.

"Does the fact you were lied to change your mind?" Tash asked and Darcy took a moment to consider her question. The fact that Tash was asking for her opinion told Darcy that she was conflicted and wanted the view of someone who hadn't had the years of accepting being lied to as the norm.

"No, it doesn't change my mind." Darcy said after a couple of seconds. "I don't like that I was lied to, even if the motive wasn't a negative one, and I'm not thrilled at being the focus of a bunch of spooks in suits and I really don't like how or why this initiative was conceived but like I said yesterday to the others, I think that good things can come from this. We shouldn't ignore that because of SHIELD being SHIELD and you guys being all uncommunicative or the unknown factor of people wanting us to fail." Darcy said. "This matters and we all need to get over ourselves and try our best to see it through; but that's just what I think." Darcy added as she knew that Tash needed to make this decision on her own, not just because it had Darcy's seal of approval.

Tasha blinked a few times before nodding her head. "You and Phil both believe in the project, so I see no harm in participating now that we know everything." Tash tilted her head to the side for a second, "Although I do agree with Steve, if this places you into a too vulnerable position then I am out until someone else is found." Tash conditionally agreed, even knowing of Darcy's job offer with the X-Men, as she turned back to Maria. "I'm willing to proceed with that stipulation."

"Ok then." Maria said and the tension seemed to ease from her shoulders and her stance became less military like. She then looked at Darcy and folded her lips.

"What?" Darcy asked apprehensively, hoping that this wasn't another thing she didn't want to have to deal with.

"I just wanted to say again that I am truly sorry that I lied to you, Darcy, it was not something that I wanted to do or even remotely enjoyed; I may do it for a living with the people that I work with and they expect it but you're not them and you didn't deserve it. And if that you are in any kind of danger I will ensure that you are protected to the best of my abilities." Maria said when their eyes met.

Darcy nodded with a small smile. "I know you will and so am I." Darcy said and Maria frowned, unsure of what she meant. "I'm sorry, too;" Darcy clarified. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and accused you of using me like I did. It was unfair of me to take my insecurities out on you. You're my friend and I should know that you wouldn't want to intentionally hurt me."

"I really wouldn't." Maria reiterated and Darcy's smile grew.

"I know and that's why I accept your apology. I'm not going to say that I liked how this came about; but I do get it." Maria ticked a brow and Darcy laughed. "I do, you were doing your job, following orders and trying to protect the interests of what you believe in, just like my guys were, just like I would if I thought I had to. Maybe for the future though? Don't lie to me. Or at least tell me if you're keeping things from me and trusting that I'll get it when you do. That our friendship is strong enough to handle it."

Maria nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." She said and then tilted her head. "Do we still need to talk about it further?" She asked and Darcy shrugged.

"Maybe a little bit, but nothing too dramatic, I promise," Darcy said and she saw how Maria relaxed a fraction more now that she knew that Darcy wasn't at all mad at her anymore. Because she wasn't; she just had to think of it from Maria's point of view and things got a lot clearer and less emotional. Maria didn't always have the luxury of being truthful with those she cared about and Darcy couldn't hold that against her. If she did she'd lose a friend as awesome as Maria and she wasn't willing to do that; after all with all of her lies, it's not like Darcy could really throw stones. "We'll get everything sorted on Sunday and Monday and then how does lunch on Tuesday sound? I'll treat you to a blueberry and lemon millefeuille with a white hot chocolate."

Maria smiled then as she nodded. "I think that sounds like my favourite and unhealthiest way to have this conversation. I'm glad I don't have to wear that cat-suit as often, it leaves room for me to indulge with you."

"Speak for yourself about the cat-suit; I for one miss it." Darcy said and she was surprised when everyone laughed. She thought it would take a little more than a little female appreciation on how good Maria looked in her one piece to cut through that tension, although that may be underestimating how good Maria really did look in it. Darcy looked around at her friends and finally settled on Steve. "Does that mean all is good and forgiven now and we can move the fuck on?" Darcy asked because she really wanted for this to have been sorted out so she could get on with her party and the issue she thought would be the actual problem for her that night: Clint.

"Almost," Steve said and Darcy made the most unladylike noise that had ever come from her mouth. It was a mixture of a groan/growl/curse/hiss that she didn't think she could replicate if she tried. Steve huffed a laugh and kissed her nose that was scrunched up in her displeasure of the situation. "It's nothing bad Darce, just something that needs clarification."

"Then why can't it wait until Monday?" She whined like a goddamn five year old and she could give less of a fuck, she suddenly found herself wishing she still had her drink or was brave enough to take Tasha's. Nobody was that brave.

"It's fine Darcy." Maria said and Darcy narrowed her eyes at her.

"That's what you said last time and then my party turned into a fucking crisis meeting." Darcy grumped. "Sorry, our party," Darcy said as she motioned to Tasha who just shrugged and sipped her drink. Ugh, she wanted alcohol but didn't trust for world war three not to break out as soon as she turned her back.

"I'm sorry, Darce, I know I said that I wanted you to have fun tonight and after this you will, but all cards on the table is the only way to go if we want things to work out on Sunday." Steve said with a shake of his head and Darcy pouted at him.

"Fine, you know what fuck it, in for a penny in for a fucking pound. Go ahead and bring the awkward right on back." Darcy said as she twirled her hand in a circle to get them to carry on.

"It's nothing bad, I promise." Steve said again and Darcy rolled her eyes so freaking hard. "I was just wondering why you were chosen to head this initiative, Maria." Steve asked and Darcy was again glad to note the use of her first name that he used again. It further deescalated the situation to more friendly territory. "I mean it's not a secret that you aren't the biggest supporter of us supers being called upon to help in what you think SHIELD should be able to handle alone like they have done in the past." Steve went on and Darcy found herself interested in the answer to the question she knew was going to come up but didn't want to look like she was after the fuss she threw. It would only undermine her moods being taken seriously in the future.

"That's exactly why I was chosen." Maria said and Darcy frowned looking at Tasha who just shrugged a shoulder and took another sip of her drink, again. "It needed someone who wouldn't go straight to super hero intervention at the drop of an alien hat, but rather have you as an ace in the hole; the last thing that is needed is to put too much pressure and responsibility onto your shoulders. It's not fair nor is it responsible. The point of this initiative is not to have you super groups sort out every little problem, but rather have you on site if something big occurs that people without special skills or abilities can't handle. And when that isn't happening, you would share ideas, technologies and battle strategy to make you a formidable force so that enemies think twice before risking an incursion they may not win. Other than to give you protection from the government and give support, resources and information, SHIELD will barely have anything to do with what it is that you do. We may ask for the odd bit of assistance but nothing more than we already do. I'm more than aware that there are some things that can't be solved by non supers and am willing to admit that we need your help but not until absolutely necessary."

Steve was silent for a few moments and Darcy noticed that she was holding her breath. "Ok." Steve said and Darcy blew her held breath out and wrinkled her brow as she looked up at him.

"Ok?" that's all you have to say?" She asked and he nodded.

"It makes sense. I just wanted to get a feeling as to what was expected of us and the best way to do that is to look at the leadership. It will help to the others to listen to our position if they know we won't be stepping back into SHIELD's shadow again. Maria seems like the right choice because she has strong views and knows when we are absolutely necessary for intervention."

"Thank you, Steve." Maria said for his support of her position and he gave her a closed lip smile in reply.

"Now are we done?" Darcy asked as she looked around once more. When everyone nodded Darcy relaxed. "Oh thank Christ for that." She sighed in relief. "Now we can actually get onto the fun part of the night: idle party chit chat." Darcy announced as Steve moved his hand from her hip and put his arm around her shoulders again as he drew her to rest against his chest once more.

"Ok, idle party chit chat, it is." He agreed with a laugh. "After all of what I just made you go through I think I can do that."

"Damn straight you can." Darcy said. "Who's got some?" She asked as she laced her fingers with Steve's again and looked around her friends.

After all of that, Darcy wanted nothing more than some mind numbing gossip that had nothing to do with her or her problems, directly. Maybe that's when the fun would actually start.

A/N: Another chapter and it's pretty big. Hope you like it.

SJ x