Disclaimer: Dont own Marvel IP.
Avengers Tower, New York
"Will you break up with him?"
"I think there isn't much sense in dating longer when at some point he will leave with Loki's Scepter and wont be back for some time. He cant stay here this long and his father wont allow me to stay in Asgard. It's a moot point. Do I wait until he leaves or end it on my own terms?" asked Jane, feeling down after another argument with Thor. At the end of this one he pouted and left for the Avengers mission to take out another HYDRA base.
"It is up to you Jane. You knew from the start that it would be a long-distance relationship for you, and a short tragic one for him because of your shorter life span." Dara had to state that obvious point, knowing that sugar coating is what Darcy has been doing for two years.
Now Dara sighed, she could hear Jane crying over the phone. "Oh honey, I'm going to remind you something you told me. That love is worth the pain that comes after you have lost it. Because that experience is lasting, you cant deny that being with Thor has made you so happy."
"No, he has, very happy. I love him so much Dara, but its not fair that I have to live with this constant uncertainty of him being around the next week or next month or next year." Jane cried out, hugging her pillow. It was night time in Singapore. She was there for a science conference, to give a presentation of her findings of the Einstein Rosin Bridge.
And they continued talking a bit more as Jane stayed on the fence. The decision had to be hers. Dara already knows Thor will be heartbroken. She will help him after the breakup. Dara looked up when Jarvis told her that the others were back from the mission.
"Tell, Thor I went to sleep. He can come see me tomorrow night." Jane requested, she wasn't in the mood to see her boyfriend.
"I will, Jane. Good night."
"Night."
Standing up, Dara went for the lift, but Steve was already coming out to take her into his arms. Feet off the floor, she wrapped her legs around his waist, enjoying the kiss before pulling away grimacing. "Go have a shower, I can smell blood on you, and I don't wanna know."
Setting her down, he apologized and rushed off while she took his shield, putting it on the wall. She would rather not trip over it again and break her pinky toe.
"Dara get in here." She laughed, of course he would notice the state of the bathroom.
"Por Favor Steve, Have to go to work."
"DARA!" she heard him shout as the lift doors closed. She was laughing loudly.
"That might have been considered mean, Dara." said Jarvis with a noticeable mirth in his tone.
"I didn't want to clean up right now. He knows this, it shouldn't be a surprise after almost a year of living together." she explained. "To make up for it I left him a feast." That is true.
"Without cleaning up after yourself. Again." Jarvis again noted.
"Aren't I just wonderful, Jarvis."
"An absolute delight, Dara." he replied happily. The doors opened for her office floor. She will deal with Steve later.
Once she was done with updating on the emails, she called up Thor. She knows he would eat before leaving for Jane.
"Yes, Lady Dara." Thor answered the phone. The one he has is very durable like space durable, and it's a simple system of calls and apps.
"Bon jour Thor, I was on the phone with Jane an hour ago, she will be asleep right now. It would be best if you didn't go until tomorrow." she advised him, trying to sound like she has no idea what happened between Jane and Thor.
"Oh, yes, that would make sense, I wouldn't want her tired for her meeting tomorrow."
"Take her out tomorrow night, some place nice and secluded. You both can use some alone time." It would be a good time for Jane to enjoy being a couple with Thor. Soak it up until the end of the relationship. Her friend didn't have to explicitly say it, but the breakup is coming soon.
"Brilliant idea, Lady Dara. Where would you suggest?"
"I would ask Tony this because he might actually have a home there which you can borrow for the evening."
"Excellent, I will talk to Stark now."
"No, no, no Thor, hello. Shit. Sorry Tony. Jarvis could you please warn Thor in the lift not to disturb Tony and Pepper."
"A good suggestion, Dara. Sir would be very upset if he didn't get to reload as he calls it."
"Urg, I don't want to know." shaking herself from imagining what that would mean.
Steve sighed when he saw the state of the kitchen, and continued to clean up. Seeing the feast waiting for him on the dining table he smiled softly. His lady is the absolute best.
Best way to have down time after a mission. Good thing he asked for debriefing during the long flight back from another successful mission. He could feel it, they were close to finding the scepter and demolishing HYDRA that it would never be able to rise to such a strength again.
Suddenly his phone started ringing. He realized while picking up the call that he was already halfway done with breakfast. Wow, so Dara is right, he eats too fast for her to catch up. Smiling he recognized Gabe's voice.
"Gabe, hello. Are you well?" Steve asked.
"Yes, Steve, would you stop asking that."
"My apologies."
"Its alright man. So guess who came over to stay." Gabe asked excitedly with that croaky quality in his throat. Steve knew what this meant. Dara had told him what she had told Bucky. But he has to be careful on the phone.
"Is it your grandson? You don't get excited unless its him." Steve said the truth, Gabe loves his grandson.
"Yes it is! Haha That kid is great. He brought his chess set, and I tell you his mind is sharp and clear, great at playing. Has a poker face that I still cant used to seeing past." Gabe said in double meaning phrases.
"That's great, Gabe. I haven't met him yet, but he's a cute kid."
"He's on the cusp of a teenager, going to stop being cute soon, just like Tom."
"Hey!"
Steve laughed, happy to hear that Bucky was doing better. He could remember more things, and hasn't regressed. He just wishes that Bucky comes back, or lets him in too.
"Why don't you come over this weekend, I can win some grandpa points by bringing Captain America for a class show and tell. He's already brought me before, I'm old news now." While he talked, Steve couldn't tell if Gabe actually is talking about his grandson Gordon or Bucky.
"Sounds swell. I bet Dara would like to come see you too."
"Of course she would, she adores me." Steve rolled his eyes. Gabe ever the flirt. At least Bucky wont be flirting with her.
"Don't kid yourself." Steve joked, then they bantered a bit before hanging up.
Happy for this weekends plans, he decided he will go up at lunch to ask Dara what she thinks. Then he is going to have to go tell Tony. He doesn't want Tony to come over for the usual meet ups with Gabe to find Bucky there too.
For now, a power nap.
Landing pad, Avenger tower
Tony rolled his eyes. "Will you stop looking at me like that, I only said yes to get Rogers out of my tower."
She didn't stop smiling cutely at him. Then came the hug which he made a face at getting. Steve was putting away their bags inside for the weekend trip. This includes her Iron suit case, just in case of an emergency.
"Alright, enough Disney moment. Let go, Yates."
"I love you too, brother." she told him and left a kiss on his cheek.
He couldn't help his small smile. They had gotten closer since she moved in, and she sides with him plenty of times during arguments. They are just on a similar wave length. Doesn't mean she would diss him along with Rhodey and Pepper. "Love your crazy naiveite."
She gasped at him, h turned her around pushing her towards the Quinjet. She was anything but naïve, but she does have a forgiving heart, it's a good combo. Calm down Tony, Barnes wont do anything to her, Tony told himself.
Jones Home, San Francisco
"Was this a good idea?" Dara wondered from where she stood near Gabe's back door.
"I don't' know, it could be worse." said Tom. "They could have broken the living room."
On the grassy ground under the tarp of the Jones home, four people were watching the Steve and Bucky fighting. Something must have made Bucky react and when Steve accidental gave a punch, it continued. Finally after trapping Bucky for a few seconds, Bucky snapped out of it. He pushed Steve off him and sat on the ground clutching his head.
"No, none of you come forward." Dara warned them and moved ahead. Crawling the last of the way until she was at arms length from him. Changing to be talking in Russian, she said the first trigger word and he quickly snapped his eyes up. She raised her brows and said the second one and he quickly covered his ears humming a tune loudly.
Smiling at him, she signed that he breathe with her. They went through an exercise until he was not feeling that the environment was threatening.
"She is good at this." Gabe observed.
"Bruce would agree. Hulk likes her better than anyone on the team." said Steve as he watched his girlfriend and best friend proudly.
"Got a great, girl there Rogers." Tom made the observation.
"As you young people say 'I put a ring on it.'" Steve said with a cocky grin. Tom and his wife started laughing from behind him.
"It was Beyonce who sang it." corrected Teresa.
"Who?" Steve asked confused. Tom snorted while Gabe also looked confused, but has a feeling its one of those popstars rappers. Tom and Teresa snickered a little. Steve has no idea, he has not seen that name in his or Dara's playlist. If Dara doesn't have Beyonce then she mustn't be someone you would want on constant loops.
After dinner, they were sitting with drinks and Dara saw the look on Bucky's face. He was watching the easy interaction between the two, despite the years that had gone past. Dara could estimate that he is comparing it to how he and Steve are now. But he doesn't remember all the times before the war, those many years of their boyhood friendship. She doesn't want him to think that it is lost. He shouldn't forget that he can make new friends, rekindle old ones, and not feel like this fight for freedom is lonely for him.
Therefore she went and got her ukulele. Steve sat straighter when he saw it. It always thrills him when she sings. The others noticed as she started to string together a rhythm. Bucky looked curious. Tom and Teresa smiled, remembering this tune from their 20s and when their son wanted to watch it every year.
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
Steve smiled at this song, he knows its for Bucky. Which is where Dara is looking multiple times.
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
'Cause you've got a friend in me
He listened to the words she sang, they were meant for him. She is his friend, she will stick with him. In his memories that started coming, he saw a skinny blonde boy sticking with him during good times and bad, he was there for Steve when his mom passed away, they went to their first movie together and it blew their minds. He looked over to Steve, seeing his twinkling eyes and reminiscent grin watching him. Does he remember those times also.
Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too, maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it's me and you
Boy and as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see, it's our destiny
Dara gave a smile and look to the others and they happily joined in the lyrics, singing to Bucky. He was surprised at their kindness. Such a foreign gesture directed specifically for him. He felt warm.
You've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me
Gabe smiled at his friends, there was a smile on Bucky's face, like a ghost emerging, slow and some, but surely. Steve was glad, but he controlled himself, knowing now would not be a good time to hug Bucky. Tom and Teresa shared a smile, he hugged his teary eyed wife, taking her to Dara to compliment her. Leaving the three old men alone.
"As long as he has a friend like Steve and you, Bucky's going to be fine." Tom told Dara as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"I got worried there for a moment when he didn't call or anything." she shared her thought.
"It takes time, and you have that. Don't rush something that needs a slow accent." said a sage Teresa.
"Thank you for welcoming him here. I think he knows it might be difficult at Tony's tower. That place has a lot of attention around it." she didn't want to state the other reason.
"Our pleasure. I grew up with stories about the man. When dad talked about picking up girls, he first said his part then mom shut him down and mentioned how much game Bucky Barnes had. Charming man, hard to believe now." said Tom between sips of his beer.
The ladies grinned. "Oh I don't know Baby, when he smiled I can see where that charm is." Teresa teased her husband.
"Plus, he has a really strong presence of baby boy you want to change to better." Dara told him. "If I were a teenager, I would leave Steve for him."
"I heard that!" Steve shouted from the other room. Teresa and Dara were guffawing now, while Tom lightly glared at his wife. Sharing a high five they went back inside the room.
That song is soo sweet.
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