Caged Fury
Chapter 4: A Birthday and An Ex
xXx
"Are you ready?" Jack questioned as Darcy opened the door to him. She smiled.
"Just one more minute." she replied. "Come on in."
As Jack stepped through the door it struck him almost immediately how strange Darcy's apartment was. Darcy Lewis was a vibrant, energetic woman, with a warm and quirky personality and yet her apartment, the place that is suppose to be a haven; a reflection of the inhabitant, was plain and quite frankly boring.
"Okay." Darcy's voice pulled him out of thoughts as she reentered the living room from the back of the apartment. "Now I'm ready." she told him. He smiled in reply and let her lead him out into the hallway and eventually out into the street where his car was waiting for them. He opened the door for her and when they were both in he drove off toward the warehouse district.
xXx
Two Months Later
"So, I was wondering…" Darcy began slowly. Jack looked up from his plate. "Are you doing anything on Saturday?"
Jack shook his head. "It's my day off. Why, did you have something in mind?"
"Well, it's Thor's birthday and we've been invited to his birthday party on Saturday."
"Oh yeah? I take it you want to go?"
Darcy nodded. "Yeah, it could be fun and you know it could be the perfect opportunity for you to finally meet my best friend."
"Okay."
"Really?"
Jack nodded. "Sounds like it could be fun. And you've already met my best friend so it's only fair that I meet yours."
She laughed. "Very true."
xXx
Jane informed Darcy that Thor's mother had planned a sort of garden party for Thor's birthday. So, they dressed accordingly. An off white sundress with a floral pattern went perfectly with a matching pair of off white flats, while Jack wore a white button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and grey slacks.
Now Darcy and Jack hadn't quite taken the next step in their relationship beyond, in Darcy's opinion, amazing make out sessions and a little petting through clothing, but looking Jack over, casual yet classy, she was seriously considering forgetting the party and their friends and dragging him off to her bedroom for the rest of the night. judging by the look on Jack's face as he gave her a once over when she opened the front door to him, he was thinking something along the same lines.
Lucky for them they both had better self-control than most people gave them credit for.
Thor's parents' estate was on the outskirts of New York City, a beautiful sprawling stone mansion with lush green lawns and gorgeous rose gardens bracketing the building. Jack pulled up to the front door where an actual valet was waiting to take the car for them.
"Wow, and I thought Tony was extravagant." Darcy muttered, earning herself a chuckle from Jack as she took his proffered arm. He led the way up the front steps and into the house where guests flitted around, talking in groups and moving in and out of the house through the back door.
"Darcy." she heard and looked over in time to see Jane leading Thor toward them. Darcy smiled arms open wide for her best friend. They laughed, as they separated. "Glad you guys could make it."
"Indeed." Thor confirmed shaking Jack's hand.
"Jane, this is Jack, Jack this is Jane." Darcy introduced them.
"It's nice to finally meet you." Jane told him as they shook hands.
"Like wise. Darcy talks about you all the time." He replied.
"You as well." Jane added. Darcy blushed when Jack turned a questioned gaze on her.
"Oh yeah, all good I hope."
Darcy rolled her eyes. "We'll see."
Jane watched the two lovers with a smile on her face. She looked back at Thor who was smiling too before returning her attention to the pair. She couldn't get over how sweet they looked together and how much lighter Darcy looked. In fact, if Jane were honest she'd noticed the change in Darcy the first time Jane had seen her after her first date with Jack. In simplest terms, Darcy was happy.
After a bit of time, Jane and Thor left to greet some other guests and Darcy and jack found a few mutual friends from the fight ring to catch up with. The hours passed in good company and the party started to wind down and Jack and Darcy decided to head home. Before they left though, Darcy ducked into the powder room leaving Jack to wait for her.
"Jack?" He heard Jane call out. He turned to find said woman headed his way. "Oh good, I was worried you'd left already."
"We're on our way out, just waiting for Darcy." he explained.
"Then we have a few minutes." She told him, taking his hand and leading him into the sitting room just off the foyer. It was empty and Jane led him over to the sofa.
"Is everything alright?" Jack asked her.
"Yes, everything great, it's just… I want you to know that I approve of you guys, not that either of you need my permission or anything, but it's just obvious that you make her very happy and after everything she's been through that's exactly what she needs."
"Everything she's been through?"
Jane looked confused. "She didn't tell you? About her last relationship, if you can call it that."
"She mentioned Darrell, but I get the feeling she doesn't like to talk about it."
"It's not really my place to tell you but I think that you should know. Darrell was, to put it mildly, a real piece of work."
"Yeah, I got that much."
Jane hesitated trying to figure out how to continue.
"Have you noticed anything strange about Darcy, anything that wasn't what you expected?"
"Her apartment." Jack answered immediately. "Places like that match the person who lives there, but her apartment is too plain for her personality. I noticed it the first time I went up there a few months ago."
Jane nodded. "Darcy's apartment used to be so homey. Color everywhere, well-loved books on available surface, second hand furniture and warm quilts on every chair. And then she met Darrell. She used to live in a little studio that she absolutely loved the character of. With Darrell it started small; she's too old to like Disney, so those movies went. She's a professional how can think those hand me downs are good enough. Those books are too old what's the point in keeping books with notes written in the margins and tears in the spine. And then one day he convinced her that her little brick studio with all that character wasn't good enough anymore she need a new place, a "grown up" place. So she moved and left everything that made it feel like home behind."
"I see. So what you're saying is, he pretty much crushed her spirit."
Jane hummed. "Well, yeah, he knew if he hit her she would leave him without a second thought and then what chance did he have."
"Chance?"
"I'm sure by now Darcy told you that she interned for Pepper Potts when she was in High School and that because of that she and Pepper and Tony have been close and she was pretty much guaranteed a job from then on."
Jack nodded.
"Darrell knew that, and while we didn't see it right away near the end it became pretty obvious he only wanted Darcy for her connections."
"You're right," Jack replied. "A piece of work is putting it mildly."
"Jack?" Darcy's voice interrupted from the foyer. They both turned in time to see Darcy step into the doorway. "Ready to go?" she asked looking between them suspiciously.
Jack nodded, standing from the couch. He turned back to Jane as she stood as well. "It was nice to finally meet you Jane; we'll have to go out just the four of us some time."
"That would be great." Jane replied and Jack turned then and let Darcy lead him out of the house.
"So what were you and Jane talking about earlier?" Darcy asked later that night as Jack walked her to her door.
"Oh you know, you." He told her honestly. "She approves of us by the way."
"Oh yeah," Darcy smiled. "Is that what she told you?"
"Among other things." He replied with a smile of his own. As they made it to her door, Darcy turned to him, rising up on her toes and pecking him on the lips.
"Well I approve too."
"That's very good to know." he paused. "That's not all we talked about though."
"Did she give you the shovel talk?" she laughed.
"No, actually, she was more concerned with me knowing the details of your last relationship."
The smile disappeared and she looked up at him concern shining in her eyes. "What did she say exactly?"
"Enough that if I ever meet this bastard he'll be lucky to walk away with all his limbs still attached."
Darcy closed her eyes and thunked her forehead against his chest. "I don't know what to say to that." She finally replied her voice muffled by his shirt.
"You don't have to say anything." His voice was soft as he ran a hand through her hair "You only have to remember one thing."
Darcy looked up at him, tears rimming her eyes. "And what's that?"
"You're never too old to enjoy a good Disney movie."
The laughter that suddenly bubbled out took her by surprise, but she reveled in the light hearted feeling that had taken root in her chest. She stepped away from him and turned to unlock the door before taking his hand and pulling him into the apartment.
xXx
Four Months Later
"Mmmm, five more minutes." Darcy moaned, trying to ignore the fluttering kisses against her neck and shoulder. The only reply she got was Jack's deep rumbling chuckle behind her as he continued laying kisses across her skin.
"Rise and shine sweetheart."
"What time is it?" she groaned
"A little after midnight." Jack replied.
"You catch the bad guy?" she asked sleepily.
"Yeah, baby, we caught the bad guy."
"No injures?"
"Barton broke his nose when a door rebounded back on him but that's nothing new."
Darcy laughed. "Danger prone Barton strikes again." She rolled over to see him better, a lazy smile ready to greet him.
"How about you, sweetheart; busy day?" she shrugged. "That bad huh?"
"No, just…" she sighed. "I told you about how Darrell applied for a job at SI and they're required to give him an interview because of his qualifications."
"Right, but that doesn't mean he'll get the job."
Darcy nodded. "Well he came in today for his interview and since my assistant is out sick with the flu there was no one to stop him from coming to see me afterward."
She felt Jack tense beside her. "What happened?"
"Nothing really." She sighed. "He was his usual shinning self."
Jack snorted. "I'm sure."
"A few backhanded comments, a little blowing his own horn and a very clumsy attempt to make me feel bad for breaking up with him." She snorted. "I think I'm just mad at myself for not realizing sooner how pathetic he is. Oh and apparently he finally remembered that he left some things behind and asked to pick them up this evening. There in a box by the door but he never showed up when I told him he could come by so I guess it really wasn't important enough."
Jack chuckled. "Well, he's not your problem anymore, so," he began rising up over her and gently pushing her onto her back. "Why don't I help you forget all about him?"
"Mmm." She hummed. "Yes please."
It was nearly three A.M. that same morning when someone started banging on her door. "If you ignore them, they'll go away." Jack mumbled, half his face smushed into his pillow. Darcy hummed her agreement and started dozing off as the sounds faded. Within moments the banging started up again startling her awake. "Son of a bitch."
With a heavy sigh, Darcy climbed out of bed, just barely managing to pull herself from Jack's grip and tossed his shirt on over her underwear. She then padded blearily across the apartment, eyes half closed with sleep and peaked through the peephole. It was Darrell that much she was sure of, the real question was why he was here so late, or early for that matter, and why he felt the need to show up with his friends.
Checking that the chain on the door was secure she opened it as much as the chain would allow and peaked her head out. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I told you I was coming to get my stuff." He replied smugly, his buddies snickering behind him.
"And I told you, you could come between 6:00 and 6:30 to pick them up. It's now," she looked behind her at the clock across the room. "3:15."
Darrell shrugged as if the fact that he'd shown up at go fuck yourself o'clock wasn't about to get him punched. His friends gathered around behind him were watching with no shortness of amusement and she had no doubt they were here under the impression that she would bow to Darrell's will and let them in where they would then spend the rest of the morning trashing her apartment and raiding her liquor cabinet. "Well I couldn't come then. I'm here now though so…" he left it hanging.
"Well that just sucks for you doesn't it?" She replied just barely seeing the smirks drop off their faces as she closed the door on them. Just as she turned from the door to find Jack watching across the room, Darrell started banging on the door again, this time yelling in time with the fist beats.
"You can't hold my stuff hostage. Open the door or I'll call the police you thieving bitch!"
That was it that was the all Jack needed to hear. He disappeared into the bedroom for barely a second before returning, his badge in hand and stalking toward the front door. He ripped the chain of the track and picked up the box on the floor before yanking the door open. He shoved the box at Darrell knocking him back into his friends and held up his badge. "Consider them called." He told the stunned group.
"Who the fuck are you?" Darrell exclaimed quickly recovering.
"Your upgrade." Darcy called out from behind Jack. Jack smirked at the stunned man before slamming the door in his face.
He turned to find Darcy watching him, a big catty grin on her face. "Damn that was hot."
Jack smirked, tossing his badge on the side table as he passed and scooped Darcy up into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carrying back to bed.