They didn't really talk about her breakdown, and that was fine with her. But she could tell there was a change.

Bucky was no longer making her stacks of pancakes or getting her pizza (even if it was from her favorite place), instead he was focusing on healthier, more filling meals. Oatmeal with berries or sandwiches with lean meats. Darcy very much appreciated the effort he was making and she told him so.

He might have puffed a little bit, but that's okay, she found it adorable. Not that she'd tell him because the one time she called him cute he went into a tirade about how the Winter Soldier is not cute.

Okay, Bucky, whatever you say.

Steve wisely stayed out of that one, though Darcy could hear him chuckling from across the room.

And Darcy was doing her best, too. She really was.

Whenever they would compliment her (which was more often than she would have thought, now that she was paying attention) she wouldn't argue. She didn't really have much of a reaction to it, but not arguing was definitely a step in the right direction.

And Steve? Yeah, he was still Steve. Still fluffing the pillows, carrying her room to room (even though she was more than capable of using the crutches), and cuddling up with her on the couch (when she wasn't snuggled against the not cute Winter Soldier).

She had it pretty good, but sweet Jesus she needed to get out of there for an afternoon. She'd even take an hour on the community level. She needed a change of scenery before she pulled her hair out. If there was a way for her to sneak out, passed the two super soldiers, she'd have already done it. Scratch that because stupid Jarvis would probably rat her out the second she got within ten feet of the door. So, she took to dropping hints. First, she tried Steve.

"Steve, aren't you bored?" she asked because, seriously, he had to be bored, too. They never opted out on missions for this length of time before. Well, that she knew of.

"Nope, I'm actually enjoying the time off. Wanna watch a movie?"

"Can we go out and see a movie?" Please please please.

"Of course! We'll have to see what's playing in a few weeks when you're a little better."

Seriously? She might have huffed and glared. Not that he saw it, he was too busy sketching Bucky who was very into the book he was reading.

Then she tried Bucky. Because when one parent says no, you obviously try the other one.

"Hey, Barnes, you want to go check out that arcade on 3rd?"

"That's open already?" he looked up, still reading the same book from the other day.

Darcy had been surprised, a few months after first meeting him, when they came back to the tower and presented her with a giant pink teddy bear on a random Saturday afternoon. That was how she learned that they both liked arcades. Plus, Bucky was really good at the shooting games (they nearly got kicked out once when the manager had to replace the tickets in the machine five times).

She grinned. He was excited about the idea and she was finally going to get some fresh air, "Yep!"

He gave her a smile. "Awesome, we'll go when you're healed up."

God damn it.

She may have been a little extra grouchy for the rest of the day after that.

Darcy mentally reevaluated her plans. If asking around the issue didn't work, she'd have to come right out and say it. As sweetly as possible, of course. She would have offered to bake something but that would have meant being on her feet (with crutches, of course) in the kitchen for more than two minutes. The two mother hens tended to get a little nervous, like she would fall at any second.

Again.

Okay, but it's not like she meant to fall that time. It was a mistake and she swore she'd be more careful.

They didn't listen.

She was honestly debating bribing them with sex.

Three weeks into her confinement (yes, that's what she was calling it), she was woken up in the middle of the night by Steve.

And the thing about Darcy? When she's woken up from a dead sleep, she does it kind of violently. Bodily startles, arms flailing, that kind of violent.

In other words? She punched Steve in the face.

But it was a total accident.

He had tried to wake her up gently. A hand on her shoulder, a whispered voice close to her ear. Was he was surprised when she jerked awake and her arm came out like a shot and hit him square in the face? Yes, yes he was. Bucky found it fucking hysterical. And Darcy? She was not quite awake enough to take in what was going on. All she saw was Steve, wide eyed, with his hand on his cheek.

"Wha?" She was very coherent.

"We have to go. Got called in. Barton will be here in the morning. Jarvis knows to let him in." He still couldn't believe she hit him in the face.

Her eyes were closing as he was speaking. "Hmm?"

Bucky kept laughing. Steve shot him a look and muttered, "Asshole." He looked back down at Darcy, who was nearly back to sleep. "We should be back in a day or two. Sharon is undercover so she can't help you out."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Don' need babys'ter."

He, gently and carefully, placed a hand on her cheek (he did not want to startle her again). "Darcy, we need to make sure you'll be okay. Barton is sitting this one out and he's more than happy to keep you company."

She nodded. Vaguely. Steve took it as a nod and stood up. Clearly she wasn't going to be too involved in this conversation.

He met Bucky at the door and socked him in his flesh and blood arm. "Next time, you're waking her up."

Bucky didn't stop laughing until they were in the elevator. When they met up with the team again, Natasha asked why Steve had a red spot on his cheek. Bucky started cackling. Steve just glared, crossed his arms and mumbled.

Natasha leaned her head forward, a smile playing on her lips. "Want to run that by us again?"

Bucky mimed wiping a tear, "Darcy punched him in the face."

Steve glared harder and this time his entire face turned red.