It wasn't often that Darcy got truly angry.

There was that one time where her roommate came back drunk on Saint Patrick's Day and puked all over her political science notes. She'll admit that wasn't one of her calmer moments. She also got pretty mad when her landlord tried to gip her out of her down deposit. However, she hadn't yelled that much, and the problem was resolved after a few careful and well-timed phone calls to the local chamber of commerce.

Right then, though, Darcy wasn't just mad. She was downright furious.

It didn't really help matters that her pain medication had almost worn off completely, and her ribs felt like they were on fire. She just used that pain to further fuel her anger, building up in her chest as Tony explained what exactly had occurred to land Bruce unconscious in the hospital.

She had stayed silent through most of the explanation. Only Clint seemed to be able to sense her quiet rage, because as Tony continued, his face slowly quirked upward into an expectant smirk. Tony, as was often the case, remained completely oblivious until it was too late.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Darcy screamed, finally having had enough after Tony said, "We're using this as a learning experience for the future to install stricter security measures."

Stunned by the outburst, the scientist widened his eyes and leaned back in his chair, as if Darcy was seconds away from diving across Bruce's bed and strangling him. Darcy certainly felt like doing that exact thing, if only her body would allow her to do so.

"I... I'm not sure what you mean…" Tony stuttered, glancing back at Clint for support. Unfortunately for Tony, Clint just held his smirk and took a step back, throwing his hands up to signify he was on his own.

Darcy didn't let Tony even finish his statement, though, her fingers itching to wrap themselves around his neck and give him a good shake. "A learning experience?! Really?" she interrupted, hissing. "I told you that there was something off about those guys. I said it from the beginning. Repeatedly. But you wouldn't listen!"

It turned out the two scientists were actually Hydra plants, trained and stationed specifically to learn the Avengers' schedules and habits. Just like Darcy had suspected when she'd overheard their odd conversations.

Tony still looked taken aback by Darcy's anger that had seemed to come out of nowhere. After all, she was wheelchair-bound and had just woken up a few hours ago. She wasn't really a threat, but he seemed to still think he needed to placate her. "Look, Darcy," he began with a voice that was probably meant to be calming but just did more to fuel her rage, "you didn't have any viable proof. We can't just go making assumptions about-"

Darcy cut him off again. "Assumptions? I gave you plenty of good reasons. Plenty of good, 'viable' reasons," she sneered. "And the only person that even somewhat believed me is lying unconscious in a hospital bed!"

Her gaze flickered to Bruce, thinking back to what she had seen just a few minutes ago.

Instead of telling her what had happened, Tony had thought it would be better to show her the actual footage. Darcy actually still had Tony's tablet on her lap. It sat there, heavy like a weight, reminding her of what Bruce had done.

A wave of guilt rushed over her. Darcy knew that it took anger for Bruce to transform into the Hulk. She gave a harsh laugh at the irony of it all, causing both Clint and Tony to frown over at her. Darcy had enough anger in her right then to transform into the big, green guy ten times over.

Bruce though… Stupid and selfless Bruce hadn't gotten angry. He had somehow kept his heart rate down to prevent his transformation into the Hulk. Instead, right after the explosion, which had thrown Darcy backward, Bruce had scrambled across the laboratory floor.

If Darcy hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wasn't sure she would have believed it. Even with the security camera's placement at such a distance, she could see that what Bruce had been feeling wasn't anger. No, it was concern, worry, desperation. For Darcy.

He had been stupid. Sweet, but very, very stupid. It wasn't that she didn't understand the logic behind his actions - obviously she realized that Dr. Bruce Banner was more capable at first aid than the Hulk… it's just that she didn't think he should have risked his life to save hers in the first place. It wasn't worth it.

All the proof she needed of that was lying still on the hospital bed in front of her. Bruce had almost died making sure she was okay, and in the process had been injured himself by flying debris and explosions. According to the time on the recording, less than a minute after crawling over to Darcy, another explosion had gone off, pushing him forward into a table, simultaneously knocking him unconscious and producing the nasty gash above his eye.

Even when unconscious, though, he had protected her, his body falling over Darcy in a way that had shielded her from further injuries. It explained why Bruce was so worse for wear compared to her, and the realization made something clench uncomfortably in her gut.

Darcy would have continued to yell at Tony until kingdom come if it hadn't been for Bruce.

Well, not Bruce exactly, but Bruce's heart rate. Even in a sleep as deep as his, Bruce's brain was registering the increased noise level, and his heart rate started to beat faster, the machine's volume increasing as the number went over the threshold.

It was Clint that had calmed Darcy down, convinced her to stop shouting with steady hands on her shoulders and comforting eyes. "Although you do have every reason to," he had said, shooting Tony a glare. It was only with that acknowledgment that Darcy had stopped her tirade and slumped back into her chair with a heavy, pain-filled breath.

They all watched in silence as Bruce's heart rate returned to the desired level.

"You know," Darcy said to break the silence, readjusting her position in her chair with a grimace, "It may not be such a bad idea to let him Hulk out."

Tony's eyes about popped out of his head at the suggestion, and Darcy cut him off before he could say anything. "Obviously I don't mean in here, dummy." She further pointed out the ridiculousness of his unspoken assumption with a roll of her eyes.

Tony did not react well to the nickname; it was probably the first time he had been on the receiving end of such an insult in his entire life. However, he kept his mouth shut with only the barest flare of his nostrils to show is frustration.

"But in a controlled environment… couldn't the transformation help along the healing process?" Darcy asked, thinking back to what she knew about Bruce from the short time she had spent with the Avengers – how even the nastiest of cuts had seemingly disappeared after one of his romps around as the green guy.

She had seen the objection poised on Tony's lips before she'd continued, ready to be spewed forth and disagree with whatever she chose to say. But then he surprised her by not saying a word and seeming to actually consider her question. He frowned in concentration, turning his gaze to the sleeping doctor and then jumping out of his chair. He paused by the door for only a brief moment to say "I'll be right back" before dashing out.

Clint only gave a low whistle in appreciation and returned to his place in the corner of the room.

Update! Update! My internet basically sucked the entire week I was home for spring break, hence why I didn't really do much on here despite my best intentions. However, I'm here now and I come bearing gifts. Screaming, yelling, shouting Darcy gifts :)

Now go forth and let me know what you think! Please and thank you from the bottom of my neverending shipper heart.