Darcy had dated Bucky for over a year, but one day he came over to her house, gave her a doleful look, clasped her hands in both of his, and broke up with her.
"Darcy," he tried to clarify when she pulled away from him, angrily. "Please. This isn't- Look. I thought I could do it, that it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I can't just pretend we'll be happy together when… our feelings for each other are so different. It's not fair, to anyone involved, to stay in this relationship." That caught her attention, and she stared at him with wet, puffy eyes.
"Is… there someone else?" she asked in a small voice.
Bucky looked at her with a long, heartbroken expression.
"I think we both know the answer to that question, Darce."
Her breath started to hitch, and she turned away as he placed a light kiss on her cheek.
"I really do hope you get your happily ever after, Darcy," he murmured as he walked out the door.
She grabbed her wallet and keys, storming out the door and walking purposefully down the street. She called Pepper, who was out of town but listened as she let her confusion and heartache pour into the phone. Pepper was attentive, then she became eerily silent before answering.
"He does care about you, Darcy. Maybe more than you realise. Perhaps this is for the best."
"He cares about me then cheats on me?" she argued petulantly.
"Darcy… oh, my oblivious friend. Did he say he cheated?" Pepper asked, not elaborating her statement.
"He said there was someone else!" Darcy shrieked, breaking down again.
"Hmm," Pepper replied, silent in thought again. Then, she sighed, sympathy in every word she spoke. "I think… I think someday, Bucky might expl- I do think he loved you, Darcy. In his own way. He's never been one to be cruel."
"Except now," she muttered, beside herself as she stomped petulantly past some tourists.
"Yeah. Except maybe now," Pepper whispered in agreement. Then she cleared her throat. "Look, I can't get back for a few more days, and you shouldn't be alone. Please promise me you'll stay with someone tonight. Please."
Darcy's breath heaved in and out and she nodded, before remembering she was on the phone and murmuring, "I promise."
Pepper stayed on the call a moment longer, just being in solidarity with her friend.
"And… let me know where you end up tonight, Darce. To- Just let me know you're safe."
"I will, Pepper. Love you."
"Love you, too, Darcy. You'll get through this. I promise."
Darcy couldn't think, and her thoughts started to spiral. She hurried on until she finally reached the only place she'd thought of going.
Clint opened the door, took one look at her face, and pulled her into his arms, holding her solidly as she fell apart. He laid kisses on top of her head, whispering reassurances as he rubbed her back.
Without realising it, she found herself bundled in a large blanket on his sofa, cup of hot chocolate in her hands and a box of tissues beside her. Clint was sat next to her pressing play on Notting Hill.
"You hate this movie," she sniffled.
"But it's your favourite," he reminded with a shrug, putting an arm around her as she burrowed into his side.
When the film ended, he looked at her puffy, tear-stained face.
"Wanna talk about it?" he asked.
"No," she squeaked out.
He nodded and clicked on You've Got Mail.
When Tom Hanks is sarcastically spelling out "F-O-X," Darcy stares hard at the screen and says, "Bucky broke up with me."
Clint looks down at her, rubbing a comforting hand up and down her arm as he whispers, "Why would he do an asinine thing like that?"
She clutched the blanket tighter around herself, nuzzling further into his side.
"He- he said there's someone else," she admitted in a small voice.
"Oh, Darcy," Clint breathed, hugging her close to his chest and rocking her gently. "Well, if that's the case, then Bucky doesn't deserve you," he encourages, laying another kiss on her head as they turn back to the television.
"Idiot," Darcy heard him mutter as she wrapped one arm around Clint's middle. He continued to hold her and watch every one of her favourite films all night long.