"Steve, can we have a minute?" Darcy flicks her gaze over to Bucky, briefly, before giving Steve a small smile.
Steve breaks from his trance and nods, "Yeah, sure Darcy. I'll see you guys later."
When the door clicks behind him, Darcy turns her attention back to Bucky.
"We need to talk."
Bucky nods, dreading what's coming next.
"Obviously everyone thinks you should have me as your emergency contact, but I'm not actually sure where we stand right now. Do you want to tell me where you think we're at?"
"We're at the part where I apologize for not telling you exactly how I felt," Bucky says, meeting her hardened stare.
"And you feel…?"
"I feel like, since you stopped coming over, like a part of me is missing. I haven't felt that way in a long time, since before I saw Steve again after 70 years. It's not a good feeling, Darc."
Darcy smirks, "See, and I thought you wanted me to quit coming over. Seeings as you apparently were waiting for me to leave the last time."
That's when it dawns on him, that morning in the bathroom when Darcy had come back for her phone, he'd thought she'd left for the day, and he certainly hadn't reacted like he was happy to see her when he was wrong. He'd acted annoyed, like she wasn't supposed to still be there.
"Darc, you have to know, that morning? I didn't mean it like that. Whatever you think I meant, it wasn't that. Yeah I had thought you left already, and when you came barging back in I'd just fucked up royally for like the fith time that morning. I took it out on you, I shouldn't have. I figured you'd come back later, and I'd make up for it then, but you made some excuse about going to see Nat, who was in Russia for Pete's sake."
"You didn't call me out on it, when I said I was going to dinner with Nat."
"I didn't think about it until later, Darc."
"I thought you didn't want me coming over any more. I thought I'd misread the situation, that I was overstepping boundaries." Her expression goes soft and she looks away from him, folding her hands in her lap.
"I'm sorry, Darcy. I'm not good at this, I'm not good at talking. I'm not good at being open, or vulnerable, or any of that stuff. I'm used to being alone. Doesn't mean I want to be. But that's just… that's how it's been, for a long long time."
"What were you going to say to me if I came back that night?" She doesn't look at him, she's nervously picking at her fingernails. Bucky walks over to her and lifts her chin with a finger until she's looking into his eyes again.
"I was going to tell you, that even though it scares the crap out of me, I want you to move in. Like, move in all the way. And that…" he takes a breath, feeling the weight of what he's going to say as it hangs on his tongue, "And I would have told you that I love you, Darcy."
"You do not," she says.
"No, I most certainly do. Despite how absolutely annoying your taste in music is, and the fact that you think Shazam is the best superhero, I love you. I've tried remembering if there was ever anyone else, and I can't. There was never anyone who felt so right, until you."
"We haven't even kissed, James."
"I'm like 100 years old darlin'. Back in my day, first base was seeing your girlfriend's ankles. I had to Google all of this, and then ask Steve, and it was incredibly awkward."
This makes a smile crack on Darcy's face, finally. "What exactly did you Google, I'm afraid to ask."
"Something along the lines of 'dating in the 21st century rules'. And yes, I did get some stuff that was mildly scarring. The internet is… it's weird."
"You're weird," Darcy teases, punching his arm gently.
"I know," he says with a chuckle. And then, softly, taking both her hands in his, "I want to work on being better, for you."
"I'll try to cut you some slack, for the age gap mishaps."
He rolls his eyes, and then cups her face in his hands, and kisses her. He's thought about this moment hundreds of times, but it is so much better than he could have imagined. Her lipgloss is flavored like vanilla frosting, and when her tongue starts exploring his mouth he can taste her favorite cinnamon gum.
"You taste good," Bucky says, biting her lower lip, "Shoulda done that sooner."
"No shit," Darcy says, pulling him in for another deep kiss, " You think this is good, just wait until you find out what a homerun feels like." She winks at him and hops off her chair, "I have to get back to work, dinner later?"
"Only if I get to have you for dessert?" The look on her face is priceless, and he lets out a choked laugh, "I'm sorry, that was probably not th-"
"Shut up," Darcy says, covering his mouth with her hand, "Don't ruin it. I want to remember this moment forever. I'll be over at 6, and if you finish your dinner, maybe I'll let you have something sweet."
With a wink, Darcy is out the door and down the hall, leaving Bucky standing in the doctor's office, grinning like a damn fool.
Current Threat Level: N/A