Riding Out the Day's Events
Chapter 37- Captain America is giving the Hulk advice on women! I've seen everything.
OOOOO
Betty arrives at Avengers Tower, and looks for answers to some of her questions about Bruce. The Avengers' battle with Hydra in Virginia ends with a significant capture and a new cage for Abomination. On the way home, some of the Avengers discuss love, happiness, and home.
OOOOO
The elevator door opened, and Colonel Rhodes walked into the lounge, followed by a melancholy-looking, dark-haired woman. Jane was asleep in her wheelchair, head back at an awkward angle she would regret later. Darcy had passed out on the couch, her hair hanging over her face. Pepper was nursing a glass of tequila and tapping one foot nervously, while watching a Season 1 episode of 'Once Upon a Time' in which Belle meets her Beast.
Pepper stood and welcomed them. "Rhodey! It's good to see you." She walked forward, hugged Rhodes, and kissed his cheek, and offered a crisp handshake to the young woman. "You must be Dr. Ross. I'm Pepper Potts. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm so glad that you're safely out of there." The handshake was accepted tentatively.
Dr. Ross looked sadly puzzled. "I don't mean to sound rude… or ungrateful… in any way, but what do mean, 'finally meet'?" She looked around the room, did a double-take when she recognized Jane, and then let her eyes sweep over the impressive view of the New York skyline.
Pepper urged Dr. Ross to sit. "I'm the CEO of Stark Industries. We've followed your work over the years, and, of course, Bruce is a good friend. I know how much he's missed you!"
The woman shook her head, took a step past Pepper, looked out the window, and stiffly bit out, "I do NOT know that he's missed me, though he's always been on my mind… even more… recently, of course. I haven't had word from him in years, regardless of what he seems to have said to each of his new friends." There was a rapid beeping noise from her watch, increasing in pace with each word she uttered. Dr. Ross closed her eyes and breathed in and out, deeply and deliberately.
Pepper swallowed hard, and stepped closer… gesturing for Rhodey to back up. "Is there anything I can do for you, Dr. Ross?" Pepper's tone was gentle, but firm.
Rhodey looked from the beeping watch to Pepper, expression cautiously puzzled. Despite Pepper's façade, he knew her well enough to recognize when she was shaken. Rhodey's gaze darted back to Betty's watch. He noticed that the band was made of loose elastic that looked as though it had been stretched... a lot. Finally, he looked at Dr. Ross again, his expression shifting to one of comprehension. He moved closer to Pepper, and glanced outside towards his Iron Patriot suit. Pepper put a soothing hand on his arm, and did her best to exude an air of calm. He felt a slight tremor from her, and held his breath.
Betty turned and looked at Pepper, still focused on her breathing. She shook her head slightly, and faintly offered, "it'll be okay…" She glanced at Rhodey apologetically, and offered quiet thanks, "I appreciate you bringing me out of captivity, Colonel. Thank you. I'm sorry to alarm you." The beeping decreased in speed and intensity.
Rhodey nodded, and smiled gently. "Glad to help you out! Any friend of Tony's friend, etc., etc…" Betty looked rueful and altered her breathing rhythm deliberately, intently concentrating her efforts. Rhodey continued to nod at her encouragingly.
Pepper focused on the slowing of the beeping noise, incredibly impressed and relieved. She smiled encouragement as Betty worked to hold her temper. Pepper was privately glad that no one had an audible pulse meter on her.
Darcy sat up slowly, hair mussed and dress twisted, groaning, "What's happening? What's beeping? How's the mission going? Is everybody okay?" She saw Dr. Ross glance at her and frown, the beeping sound speeding up. Dr. Ross turned her back on Darcy, swallowed hard, and again focused on her breathing to gradually slow the beeping again. Pepper frowned, wondering if Betty suffered anxiety about meeting new people.
Rhodey grinned at Darcy's disheveled condition. "They were doing fine when I left with Dr. Ross and the General. I need to head back and see what else I can do there... if you're okay here, Pepper."
Pepper nodded firmly, and discreetly drew his attention to four drones at the back of the room and three more circling outside the windows. Despite her effort, she saw Betty's eyes dart quickly from drone to drone. It didn't surprise Pepper that Betty was observant. Dr. Betty Ross had a reputation as one of the world's most brilliant researchers, at the top of the field of cellular biology. Stark Industries had tried to court her numerous times over the years, efforts repeatedly thwarted by the General, especially since Tony had befriended Bruce Banner.
Rhodey nodded respectfully to Pepper. "Please excuse me then, ladies. Take care, Pepper." He kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulder, and then nodded to the others, smiling politely.
Darcy winced, and put a hand to her head. "Is it just humans, or is there other stuff?"
Rhodey's smile faded. "Hydra brought in Abomination. Dr. Ross can fill you in on him. Other than that, there are some more of those freaky Vorm aliens, and lots of your run-of-the-mill soldiers. I hope I'm wasting a trip back, and they're already cleaning up! But, just in case…" He turned and walked briskly to the elevator, taking it to the roof, where he'd left his Iron Patriot suit.
Darcy watched Rhodey don his suit and fly away, and huffed tensely. "What time is it? How long 'til dark?"
Pepper sighed heavily, "about an hour, Darcy."
Darcy clicked her bangles together. "I wish I could help them! I mean, my suit was good to me when Bruce hulked out! But, I wish I could do more with it." Dr. Ross turned quickly and stared at Darcy again, then turned away and walked over to look out the windows. She continued to breathe in and out, long slow breaths.
Pepper looked from Betty to Darcy and back, raising a brow and shaking her head, muttering to herself impatiently about Tony's nonsense coming back to haunt them.
JARVIS' voice had an implacable tone. "I have been programmed, strictly, against helping you put your protective suit into dangerous offensive situations without explicit clearance from Captain Rogers, Darcy. The Captain, much to Sir's amusement, insisted on that condition rather vehemently. I'm sorry." Darcy rolled her eyes and pulled up details about her suit on her StarkPhone, wondering what else she didn't know.
Dr. Ross startled and looked all around as JARVIS talked. She shook her head, and focused her gaze out the windows again. Pepper murmured reassuringly to her. "That's just JARVIS, Mr. Stark's AI assistant." Betty glanced at Pepper and nodded, her brow furrowed.
Darcy grumbled. "I wonder… Who wins the bet over how long it would take me to ask?" She looked at the others wryly. "You know there's a bet. There's always a bet!" Pepper smiled impishly.
JARVIS chimed in. "Bucky's guess was closest."
Darcy glared at the ceiling. "That was rhetorical!" She ran a quick tally in her mind, guessing who would bet she would ask faster, and who would bet it would take her longer… from fastest to slowest ask time, she guessed- Jane, Bucky, Thor, Hawkeye, Steve, Tony, Natasha, Sam, and then Pepper. She murmured her list just loudly enough for JARVIS to hear.
JARVIS teasingly reproached her. "Your only wrong guess is the Captain. His guess was just after Dr. Foster's… slightly sooner than Bucky's. I suspect he may not have expected you to drink so much tequila the first time the Avengers faced the Vorm again." His tone shifted, sounding impressed. "Agent Romanoff wins her bet that you would guess at people's bets on you, and that it would be in that order."
Darcy giggled, and rubbed her eyes again. She sat up gingerly and shook her head to clear it, then looked at Dr. Ross with concern. "Are you okay, Betty? I'm sorry. I mean, Dr. Ross…"
Dr. Ross shook her head slowly. "No. My captors did not injure me, to my knowledge, but, I'm not okay." She looked out the window, and then glanced back at Darcy with a less-than-friendly expression.
Darcy tried to reassure Betty."His head about flew off his shoulders… He turned so fast when he heard your ring tone! We were doing yoga when the call came."
Dr. Ross shrugged slightly. "Okay… How would you feel if the man you loved didn't call for about seven years? If he moved on… to a new life, and never made time to even talk to you?" Darcy gulped, struck silent.
Jane had woken, and was blearily eyeing the new arrival. "I gave up after two." She blinked and sat up straighter as Betty turned towards her. "Oh! Betty! It's you. Hi! It's good to see you!"
Darcy chided Jane. "You didn't really give up. You just tried to. There's a difference." Jane smiled wanly, and covered her eyes against the light. She muttered to Darcy. "Next time… remind me that tequila hurts as much as it helps, would you?"
Betty smiled slightly. "Hi, Jane! It's nice to see you, again." Then, she turned back to Darcy and spoke frostily. "I gave up, more or less. I imagined I saw him everywhere. After five years, he was finally really there, and I took him to my house… leaving a date with another man. Leonard ended up calling my father to bring the Army after Bruce." She wiped away an angry tear. "I tried to help Bruce. I went on the run with him. I wanted… He couldn't let his pulse get too high… That meter he always wears kept getting too close." She wrapped her arms around herself and stared at her watch. "There was a time when he wanted to cure it! But, it seems like all he tries to do now… is to control it enough so he can help… others. Despite the control he has, I haven't seen him in years… except on TV." She shot a dark look Darcy's way.
Jane looked weepy. She cried, "Oh, Betty! Excuse me. Too much tequila and tragedy..."
Betty sat on a stool and stared out the windows. "That's a really amazing view. I've never been in a place like this."
Darcy swallowed hard. "How did Hydra capture you?"
Betty looked icy. "My father captured me, and they used me as bait. What a family reunion! Is Hydra the name of the General's new group of friends? I've heard it on the news over the past few months, since that business in DC, of course. The General never ceases to surprise me…" She shook her head dismissively, and took a capped syringe out of her pocket and offered it to Darcy. "They used this to keep me under control, sedated, which is… perhaps remarkable… I'd like to find out what's in it, and what it would do to Bruce, their intended target. Please give it to Bruce. Maybe he can analyze it later. I'm curious…" Pepper stared at the syringe with wide eyes, a look of horror on her face.
Darcy accepted the syringe. "How did you get away?"
Betty shrugged. "Captain America and another man… a very handsome man, with a metal arm and fantastic aim… They freed me, brought me out past the guards, and then captured the General. Then, the Colonel took us to a plane to come here."
Darcy smiled slightly, "and the Captain and the soldier with the metal arm… Were they both okay when you left?" Betty nodded. Darcy sighed, her expression full of dread. "What is Abomination?"
Betty replied shortly, "bigger, angrier, less-sane Hulk… different color..." She seemed near tears. "Please give the syringe to Bruce when you see him next. I wish I could leave. I hate for him to be forced to see me, but, I'll try to stay out of his way as much as I can, even if I'm required to remain here."
Pepper sighed, "I'm sorry. But, please don't misunderstand your situation! You are not a prisoner, at least not once the lock-down ends. Only Avengers can enter or exit the Tower when the team is away, or other danger threatens. After they return, the force field will lift… until then… even I can't leave the building."
Darcy teased, "and she owns twelve percent of it!" Betty looked at Darcy with a puzzled outrage Darcy thought people usually reserved for Tony. Darcy murmured, "Sorry!" She massaged her temples as the tequila caused her head to ache.
Pepper interrupted smoothly. "Betty, you are, of course, welcome to stay here and visit with us if you like. We're eager to make friends. But, if you prefer to rest in guest quarters, or anywhere else in the Tower, I can take you there now. I want to provide you with whatever you need, and JARVIS is always accessible."
Betty looked around. "Thank you. You're very kind, Miss Potts. I'm sorry I'm not good company. It's difficult knowing that Bruce was so near… not being able to see him. I've missed him, even if he hasn't missed me." She sounded bitter, and glanced at Darcy again, sadly.
Darcy exclaimed, "But, he has! He's talked about you. I've seen how he gets when he thinks of you while he's working in the lab, too. He admitted he misses you, and even that 'the other guy' misses you. He worries a lot about how safe people can be around those who have had serums, especially with the accidental effects of his." Darcy noticed that Betty took a step back from her, and wondered why Betty reacted so negatively to her. She continued trying to comfort. "He's so scared that something bad could happen to you! He mentioned something about you being better off without him, and the craziness that comes from being, well, here. He said he thought you were better off without that in your life."
Betty looked near tears as she stared at Darcy again, her lips trembling with unspoken questions and obvious hurt. She murmured, "'The other guy…'"The beeping sound of her watch increased in pace again. She turned to Pepper, "This is... I should go elsewhere." Betty followed Pepper into the elevator, and looked around for controls with curious intent. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she spoke clearly. "JARVIS, please direct me to guest quarters." She nodded to the others as the elevator doors closed.
Darcy turned to Jane and exclaimed. "Wow! That was depressing as hell!" She frowned. "What did I do?"
Jane shrugged. "I'm not sure. I can't decide if I need more tequila, or need to get it out of my system."
Darcy grumbled. "What 'meter he always wears' was she talking about? And, what was beeping whenever she looked at me?" Jane shrugged. Darcy got them both large glasses of ice water, and walked one over to Jane. Darcy began to pace while she drank hers. She muttered, "It had to be Vorm, damn it..."
Pepper returned a few minutes later. Darcy fixed her a glass of ice water. Pepper thanked her, and put a comforting hand on Darcy's arm.
Darcy drank some water, and turned to Pepper suddenly. "Oh, crap! Did she say she saw Bruce on TV?" Pepper nodded, grimacing slightly. Darcy sighed. "So, she saw that same press statement of Tony's… where Bruce and I were talking in the background…the one that made Steve so crazy jealous. Oh, man! I'm lucky she didn't start a cat fight with me or something…"
Pepper replied dryly. "Yes… lucky..."
OOOOO
Having Betty Ross away from the line of fire allowed Hulk freedom to move. The fact that she'd been there in the first place had left him full of absolutely murderous rage, and seeming stronger than ever. Any Hydra soldiers that crossed his path were abruptly smashed. Now, he became even more aggressive against Blonsky, and was able to split his attention briefly to take out a Vorm scout who came too close. Steve and Bucky joined the Hulk against Abomination. Bucky went for extremities with heavy guns. Steve tried to find soft spots to exploit with the shield, catching Abomination in the throat, just above the ear, at the base of the cerebellum, where kidneys presumably would reside, at the clavicle, and the floating ribs. The beast hardly seemed affected. Hulk jumped onto the Abomination, and Steve shifted himself and Bucky to the remaining Vorm. He ordered Thor to assist Hulk as he could.
The last five Vorm ships landed as the sun got low. Natasha destroyed one of the empty craft, wounding its occupant as it moved away from the ship. Steve looked at the sun as it neared setting, wishing he could slow its progress. He asked JARVIS to have all of the drones left shine lights on the Vorm while they fired at them. Thor called lightning again and again, against the Vorm, and against Abomination. Tony slammed one Vorm with a repulsor, and moved in for the kill. Steve saw the tail catch the Iron Man suit at the shoulder joint, causing that arm of the suit to fly free. Steve immediately jumped forward, crossing twenty feet in an instant, and grabbed the tail to stop it from crushing Tony's exposed arm. Tony called a replacement arm to him from one of the drone suits while flying back from the Vorm. Steve kept his hold on the tail and punched the Vorm he was fighting in the head with his shield. Bucky moved in with a large knife and sliced at the tail. Steve and Bucky's combined strength was too much for the beast, and they were able to bring it down. Thor dispatched the one that Natasha had wounded, and then moved back to help Hulk against Abomination.
Steve jumped, and rolled close to one of the remaining Vorm. Tony shot it with a small missile. Steve ducked behind the shield as the missile made contact. The Vorm shrugged off the blow, though it lost one hand to the explosion. Again, Tony moved in close, this time on the side where he had blown off the hand. Again, the creature's tail was too fast for him, but this time the tail was aimed squarely at the neck joint of Tony's armor, angled down. Steve jumped between the tail and Iron Man just in time, taking the blow against his shoulder. He grunted with pain as he was gashed through his uniform. He jammed the edge of the shield up into the creature's throat, and then down at the angle it had attempted against Tony, as hard as he could. A section of the Vorm's chest broke away from the impact. The creature fell to the ground, shrieking, and then died.
Iron Man hovered in mid-air. "Jesus, Cap! He had me! Thanks! What made you try that?"
Steve responded tersely. "The Vorm thought that move would kill you… So…"
Tony nodded gratefully. "I owe you one. A big one!"
Steve started to shake his head and brush it off with a 'nah' like usual, but stopped himself mid-gesture, and grinned. "Okay. You can owe me."
Iron Man cocked his head caught by surprise. "What?"
Steve smirked, "Later... Just remember… You owe me!" Bucky side-eyed Steve curiously and continued to fight.
Thor used lightning to allow him to get close enough to the Vorm he fought, and took off its head with a twisted, downward blow of the hammer. He laughed with relief as the creature died.
Natasha was taking a wild ride, hanging on to the tail of the last Vorm to slow it. Hawkeye shot an arrow down into the vulnerable chest plate joint. Sam pulled a knife and jammed it to follow the arrow, making it harder to remove the arrow. At Hawkeye's command, Natasha jumped clear and he exploded the arrow. He grinned like a kid at Christmas when the Vorm fell. Then, he joined Natasha, Sam, and Bucky against Hydra soldiers.
Steve, Thor, Iron Man, and the remaining drones moved in behind Hulk. Tony looked up at Blonsky as he and Hulk grappled. "What the hell are we going to do with this guy? Put him back in his cage? How does that even work?"
Steve grinned dangerously. "I have a better idea." He called out to Hulk, "Bruce! Hang on!" He turned to Thor. "How quickly can you get to the Tower and back? Twenty minutes or so?" Thor nodded. a nervous look flitted across Steve's face. "Tony? Please tell me you can operate the portal generator!" Tony chuckled, and nodded. Steve sighed with relief. "Good! Jane and Erik aren't fit to come, and I don't want Darcy here." He turned to Thor. "Go! I'll have Darcy bring what you need to the roof." Thor swung his hammer, and flew away at top speed. Tony dodged to the left, and blasted Abomination as it hurtled a flaming jeep at the Hulk.
Steve backed away from the others, watching everyone carefully. "JARVIS? Can you please call Darcy for me?"
Darcy's voice answered quickly, "Steve? Are you okay? Please be okay!"
He sighed. "I'm fine, Sweetheart. We took down the Vorm, and are good against the soldiers. Give us another couple of hours. It's Blonsky that's trouble. We need your help."
She grumbled. "How could I help? JARVIS already told me my suit is defensive only. Some overbearing super-soldier Captain says so! And, before you ask, Bucky won the bet. And, Natasha won her secondary bet, too."
He groaned. "Damn! I hardly ever win bets on your actions!" She grumbled at him again, and he chuckled. He explained his idea."I just want you to get the things we'll need to send Blonsky to Svartalfheim." He grinned as she squealed. He ordered. "Now, please take them to the roof, so Thor can fly them back. Tony says he can operate it, thank God." He turned to see what he needed to do next, and reassured her. "We'll be home as soon as we can. I love you!"
The Avengers assisted the Hulk in keeping Abomination occupied until Thor returned. Tony directed Falcon and Bucky on placement of the spikes, and removed his suit gloves so he could run the controller. Bucky and Falcon then chased a group of Hydra fighters in close, so they would be in the portal field area, too. When Tony was ready, Steve urged the Avengers back. It took concentrated cooperative fire power from the others to enable Hulk to move away from Abomination, without allowing the larger monster and the Hydra operatives to leave the portal field. Finally, Tony hit the buttons, and those in the field disappeared. Thor's laugh boomed across the empty area. "Enjoy the Dark world, you oafish miscreants!" The others laughed, and began to wind things down. Stark Security trucks were brought in to transport remaining prisoners for interrogation and containment, as they'd discussed with Director Coulson.
After midnight, Tony sent the functional drones on their way, and boarded the smaller jet with Bruce, Steve, and Natasha for the ride home. He suggested, "I say we tell the rest of Hydra, and the baddies of the universe, to fuck off for the next week or three."
Steve yawned. "I think we'd better hope they don't realize how worn thin we are. I'm about to fall over." He yawned again.
Tony removed his suit, and sat down to drink some water, tossing a bottle to Bruce, then the exhausted super soldier, and another to Black Widow. "You're killing me with the suspense, Rogers. What favor could you possibly want from me?"
Steve swallowed a whole bottle of water down, and had Tony throw him another. He took a few swigs and admitted, "Well… It's out of order since I haven't asked yet…. But… I do NOT want a bachelor party, when the time comes." Bruce, newly back to himself and dressed, let out an exhausted and bemused chuckle. Then, his smile faded, and he put his head in his hands, falling into his own thoughts and concerns.
Tony grumbled disgustedly. "Really?! You place me NOT throwing you a bachelor party on par with you keeping my head attached to my shoulders?" Steve nodded emphatically, grinning, and rubbing his eyes. Tony huffed. "Aw, man! I could've had strippers dressed up as the whole Star-Spangled Man chorus girl kick-line! You can't be serious about taking that joy away!"
Steve laughed. "Do what you want on your own time, but leave me out of it. I'm not Pepper, and not gonna tell her… unless you welsh on owing me for saving your life." He suppressed a grin as he looked at Tony unblinkingly, obviously enjoying Tony's chagrin.
Tony guessed. "So, your answer to Bucky when he asked if you had a ring wasn't just 'shut up?'" Steve nodded. Tony continued, "Well, damn it! Okay. No bachelor party. Just… don't save my life again. It's pissing me off." Steve rubbed his numbed shoulder a bit dramatically. Tony winced guiltily as he watched, and then cursed a bit more to himself. Abruptly, Tony's expression shifted to a maniacal grin that put Steve on edge.
Steve eyed Tony with suspicion. "What?"
Tony started laughing. "Just because I can't throw one for you, that doesn't get you out of it! I have a feeling Barnes might be even better at that sort of thing than I am." Steve winced, and cursed under his breath while Tony laughed at him. Tony asked, "When are you gonna ask her?"
Steve shrugged. "I'm not sure. Stuff keeps happening. Waiting for the right time..."
Natasha interjected critically. "Steve? I hope you realize that the right time isn't anytime soon! Darcy's in her mid-twenties, and is in her first serious relationship. You've only even KNOWN each other a few months. I know you're having a great time together, but, you've just started dating! That's not how things go these days… People usually date around more, and don't deprive each other of different experiences. Don't be unfair to her. Don't take other opportunities from her. At the very worst, just move in together to test the waters first…"
Steve frowned, taken aback.
Tony chuckled. "I think they're already testing the waters, Romanoff!" He teased Steve darkly. "Are you sure you want to limit yourself to just one girl… rather than a whole chorus line's worth?"
Steve rolled his eyes angrily, and shook his head. "Fuck off, Stark." He shifted his gaze to Natasha. "You don't usually fuss over my 'old-fashioned' sensibilities…"
She shrugged. "This is the first possibly-serious misstep you've mentioned… It's too soon for marriage!"
Steve sighed heavily, and frowned anxiously. "I don't want to make Darcy uncomfortable…" He fidgeted uneasily. "Fine! I'll give it a little more time. I just…" He shook his head, his face falling.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Geez, Romanoff! Party pooper!"
She chuckled. "Are you fussing at me for advising him to take his time, instead of rushing into marriage? You? THAT's rich, Stark."
Tony smirked at Natasha, the slightest bit of smugness seeping into his voice. "It's not me. It's him. He's almost 97, and he looks like you just took his favorite toy away or something... like, you hated on rainbows, Santa, and fairies…"
Steve made a noise of disgust. He growled in a surly tone. "Let's just change the subject!"
Tony twiddled his thumbs exaggeratedly. "How about we have a party to celebrate some Hydra victories, the population surge on Svartalfheim, and Blonsky's new cage? Even Bruce will have a date now!" He smiled broadly at Bruce, delighted that Betty Ross was finally at Avengers Tower.
Natasha gave Steve a mollifying look, and interjected, "Dance time!" Steve nodded and sighed, then turned his gaze to Bruce.
Bruce shook his head doubtfully. Steve admitted, "I'm not so sure. Dr. Ross doesn't think Bruce still cares about her." Bruce winced. Steve's expression shifted as he thought about what he'd seen in Betty's eyes. He was sure that Bruce knew nothing about that… and he wondered what he should say, and what he should leave for Betty to say. He glanced at Tony, knowing that Tony was going to be angry with him for sending a relatively unknown danger to Pepper, even if having Betty out of range of the battle did help them defeat Hydra, the Vorm, and Abomination.
Tony whirled to Bruce. "What the hell is up with that, Banner? You're insane over her!"
Bruce looked up, and both men saw anguish in his expression. He shook his head. "I can't find a cure! I can control it better, but obviously not entirely. Better is nowhere near good enough! I'm so sorry for the way that I lost control near Darcy, Steve! I… he… She could have been hurt, or even killed! I'll tell her that I need her to stay out of my lab from now on. I was foolish to take such a chance with her safety!"
Steve and Tony both looked gob-smacked. Steve recovered first."Wait! You mean you won't let yourself be around the woman you love… at all… because there's a CHANCE that something bad could happen? You think that's the only…" Steve shook his head and growled, "Get your head out of your ass Banner! That's the nature of life. She could be in a car wreck tomorrow… or, something else could happen to her when you're not together. Bad stuff happens. You deal with it the best you can, and don't ever turn your back on love!" He grimaced as he thought about Natasha's advice to wait, and how it conflicted with his own desires.
Tony grinned. "This is the man out of time talking to you, Bruce! He's making more of life today than you are, even when his friends ridicule his old-fashioned notions. What the hell?" Steve took a shaky breath, concerned for Bruce, and feeling worriedly protective of Betty. He had no idea how Bruce would react to whatever had been done to her, but swore to himself that regardless of what Bruce said or thought, the Avengers team would do all they could to help her.
Bruce rumbled, his voice getting louder with each word. "You don't know! You didn't see what happened to Betty the first time I changed, how badly I hurt her!" He pointed behind them. "And stuff like today happens to people we love, because of us! Pepper nearly died because you pissed off a nut-job, Tony!" Tony's expression darkened. Bruce continued yelling. "Darcy was targeted because she's friends with Jane and Thor, and could've been killed today because I can't control 'the other guy!'" He stood and paced. "And, Betty's father apparently handed her over to Hydra... to get at ME!" He screamed with rage, breathing hard. Steve shook his head slightly, biting his tongue. Bruce's eyes narrowed slightly, but he was too busy struggling for control to speak.
Seeing Bruce's hands curl into fists and shake with rage, Steve grabbed hold of the shield he'd set down in front of him. Natasha grabbed a parachute from next to her seat. Bruce looked from one to another wildly, fists clenched and chest heaving. Tony dryly pointed out, "Um, Bruce, my science bro, my dear, dear genius friend? You're a freakin' idiot! Your heart rate is well above 200 right now, and you're not changing. You have a recovery period, and you DO control transformation now, most of the time… unless you're physically endangered, or, apparently, unless Betty is in danger." He smiled tightly at Bruce, "Why don't you just spend a few hours in a green haze every day, focus on thinking positively, and do the deed with Betty after?"
Bruce's mouth dropped open. "It's NOT that simple! I don't know how long the recovery time is, how much of a safe window there is… what factors could cause variables…"
Tony shrugged, and turned on a monitor. He suggested blithely, "Testing, testing, testing!"
Bruce screamed. "A test gone bad could mean her DEATHat my hands! 'The other guy' could tear her to pieces! It's NOT something to PLAY around with..."
Tony speculated. "If it meant the difference between being with Pepper, or not? I'd do any test. I'd do anything! Cap has it right. You don't throw away love. There may have to be some sex-capadesque controls, buddy, but you've been without her long enough, don't you think? You're miserable without her!" Bruce grimaced with pain.
Tony argued. "For general safety, I can help. JARVIS, pull up the video from Dr. Banner's lab… from just before Dr. Ross called him." A video feed played, showing Bruce and Darcy stretching and winding down. Steve couldn't help but wince as Bruce began to change. He appreciated how quickly Darcy moved away, and the response time of her suit. He tamped down his feelings at seeing her frightened, and reminded himself that the security plan worked… thankfully. He would never forget how he'd stood still in Interrogation, horrified by the knowledge that he couldn't possibly get there in time and save her. He noted that Bruce had enough presence of mind to toss Darcy his phone.
Tony started to laugh softly when Darcy called for the suit by 'name'.
Steve made a face at Tony, took a breath, and offered. "You thought to toss Darcy the phone, so we could work together with you. That was impressive, Bruce."
Bruce looked at him bleakly. "Don't you see how much danger she was in?!"
Steve took a deep breath, his own emotions roiling. "Darcy's safety means everythingto me. She's… You KNOW that I don't take it lightly! I expressed concerns about her safety around you, right after you two met; and she reminded me that she's a grown woman, and worthy of being treated respectfully. I'll pass that wisdom on, and urge you to treat Dr. Ross with that same respect. Taking her choices from her isn't right, Bruce! It's not fair. Cutting her out of your life without any explanation isn't right, either! You two need to talk. You… really… need to talk." He looked out the front of the plane and shook his head, troubled, "And, you're on your own if you try to cut Darcy out of your life because you hulked out. Good luck."
Tony laughed uproariously."Jesus! Captain America is giving the Hulk advice on women! I've seen everything. That's it! I'm done!" Steve chuckled with him wryly, and Natasha's laugh could be heard from the cockpit. Tony poked Bruce. "Did you see how well that worked, though?! I'll make Betty a custom safety suit, too."
Steve sighed heavily under the burden of what he suspected. Tony looked at him oddly, beginning to realize that something was 'off' in Steve's demeanor. He turned back to Bruce determinedly."You have help that you didn't have before! A suit'll give her protection, whether the threat is internal or external. Problem solved."
Steve sighed. "You don't know what's been happening to her while you've been apart. Just… talk with her..." Tony looked at him sharply. Steve shook his head slightly.
Bruce sighed. "I haven't talked with Betty in a long time. I have no idea…" Steve hid another wince.
Tony quipped. "Next, you need 'making-up after long neglect' advice from Thor. That's sure as hell not Cap's department. He's all over his little lady." He rolled his eyes, and made a face at Steve.
Steve closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, "Damn! I want to be home." All of the stresses of the past few days crashed in on him, increasing his longing to be with Darcy again. He felt so much better when she was close.
Tony smiled. "That's what it is! You find the woman… or man… or whatever… who is your home, and you hang on tight." He looked out the window and then back to Bruce, urgently. "It's what makes our ride on this world worth the price of admission. It's sure as hell what I wake up for!" He pleaded with Bruce. "I don't know your heart, buddy, but I want you to be happy. You're a great man, one of the gentlest humans it's my privilege to know. So, if you love her, tell her; and do everything you can to keep that happiness close." He smiled Steve's way. "I'm ready to be home, too." Tony nodded, and texted Pepper to order take-out to feed their little army, and pick out some comedies for them to watch together later, after they took a day's rest.
Bruce sat back and closed his eyes, thinking about all that his friends urged. His stomach clenched at the thought that Betty was in the Tower. It felt as though his heart and body would be in the same place, for the first time in years. He sighed as he thought about Betty, her inquisitive love of scientific discovery, her sweet and gentle nature, her bravery when facing danger… As they disembarked, Steve clapped Bruce on the shoulder and nodded to him encouragingly, with a cautious edge to his expression that gave Bruce uneasy pause.
Darcy was standing just inside the door to the building. Steve's pace increased when he saw her. He put an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet, and their lips met. Her arms went around his neck tightly. He felt like he could breathe easily again, for the first time in days. When he set her down, she looked him over. Her brow knit with concern as she noted his shoulder wound. He headed to Healing to get it cleaned, and get a shot against the venom. He told her that he would look for her afterwards.
Down in Healing, Steve found Bucky. Bucky's slight grin looked lighter. He held himself differently, obviously proud to have come through a Hydra battle without any relapse, and to be accepted by the other Avengers. Steve swallowed his pride, and admitted. "It was good to have you with us, Buck."
Bucky's lips twisted with emotion. He laughed it off. "You should thank Howard's brat for making the call, Punk! You needed me there, but you wouldn't have taken me, not against Hydra, not yet."
Steve's mouth twisted. "Yeah. I'm stupid sometimes... selfish. Natasha pointed that out when I found out you'd gone and I was raising hell."
Bucky laughed. "Natasha's a pretty smart dame, most of the time, Punk."
Steve's expression twisted slightly. "Yeah… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have held you back, acted like I doubted you just because I get scared." Bucky looked at Steve and shrugged, still somewhat doubtful himself…. There was an announcement that the lock-down had been lifted. A nurse had Steve take off the top part of his suit, gave Steve a shot of anti-venom, and cleaned his shoulder wounds. Another nurse dug a bullet out of Bucky's back. He groaned slightly. Steve asked, "Alright there, Bucky?" Bucky nodded. Steve mentioned. "Food and films up in the media room next dinner time, if you'd like to join in. Bring Sharon if ya want..."
Bucky chuckled. "it's not like that with her. It's…"
Steve grimaced, and glared at Bucky. "I know more about what it's like than I ever…"
Bucky snickered, "Hey! You need reminding you're not the only stud around… now that you've FINALLY got a girl… And, I figure you can probably use the pointers. It's not like you've had all that much practice, Punk..."
Steve rolled his eyes and growled, "Practice?" He shook his head impatiently. "Should we look for you at dinner?
Bucky looked bemused. "Sure. Team dinner. Why not?"
OOOOO
As Steve left the Healing Ward, he asked JARVIS where Darcy was. He was disappointed that she was at her place rather than his, but headed to his to shower and change. He hadn't had a shower in four days. He took a longer shower than usual, as he considered the way Natasha had cautioned him not to rush Darcy, not to put her in an awkward position or 'take' experiences from her. On the one hand, he remembered Darcy's words from just before he left for Virginia, in which she sounded like she wanted to be with him forever. On the other hand, he recalled her apparent embarrassment over that. It didn't seem like she meant to say what she did. He wasn't sure what to make of it all.
He also knew that he was basically a wreck. He hadn't slept in days. One four-hour rest during the DC mission was barely keeping him going, at this point. He'd been in battle, and under tremendous emotional pressures. Images from the videos, Darcy being water-boarded and Bucky being conditioned, kept running through his mind. He kept hearing their distress and feeling responsive rage and anguish course through him. The sound of Darcy's screams after Bruce's hulk-out haunted him, too, especially given the fact that she could easily have died then. He didn't feel at all in control of himself.
Then, there were the implications of the red he'd seen in Betty Ross' eyes… He could hardly bear to think what that was going to do to Bruce. He asked JARVIS for a status update on her, and was told that she was well, had been reading, and was waiting for Bruce in the Hulk-proofed sparring gym. Steve asked JARVIS to have drones shift to that area, some in the hallway outside the gym, and two outside the windows, just in case. He tasked JARVIS with evaluating the safety of both doctors, Ross and Banner, as they interacted.
Steve decided to call and deal with Tony immediately. He asked JARVIS if Tony was available. JARVIS rather primly replied. "Sir is with Miss Potts, and would prefer not to be disturbed unless there is a dire emergency."
Steve sighed, jealously wishing he was with Darcy, but a bit relieved not to have to handle Tony's anger while he was so tired. He also took it as a good sign that Pepper was with Tony, rather than still with Betty Ross. He requested, "JARVIS, please, later, when you deem it a good time… let Mr. Stark know that I tried to contact him to discuss Dr. Ross' condition."
JARVIS queried, "Do you wish for me to follow your exact wording, Captain? Do you wish for me to tell Sir that you referred to him as 'Mr. Stark'?"
Steve chuckled wearily. "Yeah, fine. I know he's gonna be pissed at me, okay? Tell him I'm sorry for that, and we can talk or spar, or whatever the hell he needs… later. Tell him I trust Bruce's judgment about people, and that I was impressed by what I saw from Dr. Ross. She seems to have a lot of control." He sighed and admitted, "And, yes, we needed her away from the battle, not in the middle of it."
JARVIS replied, "Very good, Captain. I will do as you request. Will that be all?"
Steve sighed, "JARVIS? Is Darcy awake? Or, has she gone to bed already for the night?"
JARVIS hesitated. "Darcy is awake now, Captain."
Steve pulled out his phone and texted to Darcy, 'You okay?' He frowned as he waited for her reply. A moment later, she texted, 'You're still up? I thought you'd be asleep by now.' He answered, 'I miss you,' and hoped she would ask him to come to her or, even better, ask if she could come to him. She didn't. Her reply simply read, 'I miss you, too'.
He called her. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Darcy sounded like she'd been crying, "I'm okay. You're the one that has had no sleep in forever, and stuff."
Sighing heavily, Steve shoved fear aside. "I want to be with you. Is that okay?" She hesitated. He frowned. "Am I asking too much?"
Darcy sounded shocked. "No! Where'd that come from?"
He replied plaintively. "I don't know about modern relationships. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong... crowding you, or demanding too much." Over the phone, he heard a door slam.
She huffed. "You're perfect. I'm on my way, so we can at least talk face to face. I don't get…"
He felt some of his tension melt at the thought that she was coming to him. "Natasha told me not to crowd you too much… not to rush you."
Darcy sounded confused. "You take relationship advice from someone who thinks that 'love is for children?' She's kind of famous for her detachment, you know. I think she's awesome, but I don't want to be like her emotionally. I could never be that aloof."
He replied wearily. "You're a bit more vocal."
She chuckled, "Hush!"
He shared, "JARVIS hesitated when I asked if you'd gone to bed for the night. It made me wonder if you were okay."
She sighed as she rode up in the elevator. "I fell asleep waiting on my couch. I wasn't sure what you would do after Healing Ward, or how long that would take. But, I fell asleep on my couch… and woke because of a nightmare."
He lay back slightly and frowned. "About London?"
She was walking again. "I'm almost at your door. Let's hang up and talk in person, silly man."
Steve grinned ruefully, "Silly for you, Sweetheart…"
He heard his door open. Darcy walked into the room, and spoke into her phone, grinning, "love you!"
Steve replied, "I love you, too," and turned off the phone. "Why are you hesitant about being together tonight? Is something wrong?"
Darcy shrugged awkwardly. "I'm having my period. I didn't know if you'd want me around… when we can't…"
He let out a sigh of relief. "Oh! I didn't think of that. I worried about anything and everything else, but that. I guess we should cheer for your scientists." He shrugged, the image of a little girl with Darcy's beautiful eyes darting through his thoughts..
Darcy gestured with her arms and cheered tiredly, "Yay!"
Steve shifted back against the arm of the couch, and motioned for her to sit between his legs, in front of him. "Let me rub your back some."
She grinned. "I'm through the worst of the back pain, but, yay! My period started late morning on the day you left for DC, but I'll take you up on a massage anytime." She sat in front of him, and groaned with pleasure as he began to soothe her tense muscles. She remembered the first time he rubbed her shoulders, the night he helped her wash her hair for the first time after her interrogation in London. She admitted softly, "I didn't want to seem like a tease… since I can't…" His fingers found a knot near the center of her back. He worked around it gently and insistently, rubbing his way in towards the source of the tension.
Steve sighed heavily, and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Of course I desire you, Sweetheart. But, I don't want you to stay away just because we can't make love. I love spending time with you, no matter what. This… is a lot more than just sex, to me. I love you. I missed you so much!" She murmured replies and leaned back against his hands, savoring the way he supported her weight so easily. She groaned again with pleasure as he switched to rubbing firm strokes all up and down her back. He admitted quietly. "It's good to hear you make happy noises, Sweetheart. You always try to make people feel better. I'll take a page from your book, and look after you tonight, if you'll let me." He let one finger trail along her neck, and grinned slightly as she trembled against the touch.
Darcy sighed. "Keep that up, and you'll have a fight on your hands." He chuckled and yawned, then chastely kissed her neck, and resumed massaging her. She added, "It's not perfectly easy for me, either, the lack of sexy time! I've kind of stayed at a simmer of 'want' ever since I started getting to know you. I'm always game for you looking after me, though." Steve pulled her back against him, and held her tightly. She felt him shudder, and looked back. "You okay?"
He shook his head. "Not really… but, I'm not ready to talk about it." He lay his head down against hers and concentrated on keeping his breathing even. He asked plaintively, "What was your nightmare about?"
She whispered with apparent fear, "Falling…" His hands tightened on her shoulders, and she felt a shudder pass through him again.
Steve's forehead was against the back of her head. It took a few seconds for her to realize how on edge he was. He rasped, "I've got you now." Reluctantly, he admitted, "I have nightmares about people falling…" She knew he was referring to Bucky, and worried that Steve might be so tired that his mood would spiral down.
Darcy twisted around and kissed his lips, and let him pull her tightly to him, while she wrapped her arms firmly around his neck. "I've got you, too, hon."
He continued kissing her, his emotions running high as he drank in her sweetness and her responses. He held her firmly over him so that they could enjoy long, slow, deep kisses. He couldn't help the sounds of pleasure that escaped him as he savored the chance to kiss her. He let the fingers of one hand drift down to her breast, then around to rub her back. She was shuddering and shaking against him, and it was heavenly.
She murmured against his lips. "Let's get to bed. I haven't slept well in days, and you probably haven't slept at all."
He kissed her again and protested. "I had four hours…"
She choked a laugh back as they kissed again more slowly. "Even you need more than that in as many days!"
His hands were wandering again. "I do need…"
Darcy whimpered, "Oh!"
He moved his hands to her back, and began to massage her again. "Sorry. I've missed being with you… a lot. When you're ready, please let me know." She moaned as he rubbed a tight spot at the base of her neck. He concentrated his efforts there. After she started to relax, he shifted her so that he could sit up and lift her into his arms. He continued kissing her as he carried her to the bedroom and set her on the bed. He dug one of his t shirts out of a dresser drawer for her, and undressed and got under the covers. He watched her undress, hunger in his weary expression. She looked shy as she felt his gaze caressing her. She lifted the sheet, and slipped in next to him. He pulled her back against his front, so that he spooned protectively around her. Again, he groaned. "I missed you so much. Things only make sense when you're right here, next to me…"
Darcy listened as his breathing changed, deepened. She savored his warmth and the little noises he made in sleep. She smiled as she closed her eyes and snuggled even closer to him. She understood what he meant when he talked about 'home.' She murmured, "I love you, Steve. You're my home, too." He murmured unintelligibly, and hugged her closer.
OOOOO
Even asleep, Steve held Darcy tightly against him, wrapped in his arms as though he was determined to never let her out of his embrace again. Darcy smiled contentedly, deeply asleep, finally. She twisted against him in the sheets of his bed, never moving to shift away.
JARVIS politely sounded a soft bell, and spoke quietly."Captain? Dr. Banner has unexpectedly transformed. He is in the Avengers' sparring gymnasium."
to be continued...