Chapter Text
Darcy could hear thumping music before the elevator doors even opened to the penthouse.
She raised an eyebrow at Jane, behind Thor’s hulking figure.
“Is that techno? God, I feel like i’m back at college.”
Jane shrugged. “I didn’t go to many college parties, but from what i’ve seen in movies, this feels like that.”
Darcy shook her head. “Somehow, i’m not surprised. While I was out getting shitface drunk, you were making scientific breakthroughs.”
Jane grinned at Darcy and the elevator doors opened.
Darcy was instantly hit with a wave of pounding music, the stench of alcohol, and bright flashing lights.
“I feel like i’m in a nightclub!” she shouted at Jane, trying to be heard over the music. “I know Stark said it was a party, but gods-”
“Fantastic, isn’t it?” Thor beamed, leading the girls out of the elevator.
Unfortunately, Tony had put the dance floor and the bar right beside the elevator. There were bodies everywhere, Darcy had no idea who any of them were. It was hard to make out individual faces under the strobe lights.
She gripped onto Thor’s arm a little tighter and let him drag her through the dancefloor and away from the crowds.
Darcy cringed the whole way, narrowly avoiding the sweaty bodies and waving arms.
“Who even are these people?!” Darcy shouted.
“They work in the Tower!” Thor replied.
“All of them?!” Darcy asked, looking around the room incredulously.
“Well- most of them. Some are friends of Starks.”
“Stark has friends?” Jane muttered. Darcy burst out laughing, which made Jane turn red in embarrassment.
“Where is everyone? Like Steve and Natasha?” Jane asked instead, changing the topic. Thor nodded towards the opposite end of the room, which felt like miles away. By gods this place is huge, Darcy thought.
“I suspect they are at the other bar. It is much quieter there.”
“There's another bar?” Jane asked, the same time Darcy said-
“Thank god. I am so not drunk enough for a mosh pit right now.”
Thor gave Darcy a strange look, obviously not understanding what a mosh pit was. She just shook her head.
“Yes, there is another bar. Stark keeps it reserved for the Avengers team, and any close friends,” Thor said, answering Jane’s question.
He finally managed to worm them out of the crowd and into the open. Darcy sighed in relief, taking a deep breath of sweat and alcohol free air.
The music was still loud, but the further away they got, the quieter it became. By the time Thor led them around a hidden corner to an area Darcy had never seen, the thumping bass was no more than a hum in the background.
She surveyed the hidden bar.
It felt very luxurious. The floors were dark marble and the walls had red velvet accents. All the furniture was made to suit the atmosphere of the room, which was somehow both modern and vintage.
Through the dim lights, Darcy spotted several pool tables lined up against the far wall. Natasha and Clint were hunched over the closest one, obviously engaged in a heated game.
Towards the center of the room were a collection of lush looking chairs and couches, each made of dark fabric and leather to match the surrounding walls. There was a group of people spread along the couches that Darcy had never seen before.
She turned her attention to the bar Thor had mentioned. It was huge, standing on the far left wall of the room, a row of at least 10 bar stools in front of it. There were hidden LED lights within the bar, casting all of the drinks, and its patrons, in hues of blue and purple.
There was a bartender serving drinks to the small group of people standing at the bar. Darcy spotted Steve’s broad shoulders first. He was standing talking to Sam Wilson, and in between the both of them sat a dark, menacing looking figure.
As Thor led the girls deeper into the lounge, the figure's head snapped up.
Darcy felt her breath hitch as she locked eyes with Bucky.
His long dark hair was loose, tucked behind his ear on one side. He was wearing a dark jacket over even darker jeans, with black leather shoes to match.
The sleeve of his jacket covered most of his cybernetic arm, but she could see metal fingers clutched around the neck of his beer bottle.
Bucky watched her. Dark eyes dragging agonisingly slow down her body.
Thor moved towards the bar. Darcy had no choice but to follow.
She swallowed, trying not to let her nerves show. It was hard to try and look unaffected when Bucky's heated gaze made her feel so bare.
Steve was the next to notice them. He smiled brightly as they approached, nudging Sam and whispering to Bucky under his breath. Sam turned in their direction and waved. Bucky couldn’t take his eyes off of Darcy.
Darcy squeezed Thors arm, using him for strength. He gave her a curious look.
Steve spoke first once they arrived.
“Wow, you ladies look lovely,” he said, smiling at Jane and Darcy. Darcy took a shuddering breath and smiled at the good Captain.
“Thanks, Cap.”
“Steve,” he corrected, giving her a small smile. “Can I get any of you a drink?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having, but double,” Thor grinned. Steve chuckled.
“White wine?” Jane requested. “Anything will do.”
“And for yourself?” Steve asked, casting those blue eyes to Darcy.
Darcy locked eyes on Bucky, still sitting on his stool behind Steve.
“Vodka,” she answered. Bucky shot her a crooked grin.
Steve stepped away for a moment, getting their drinks. Darcy was suddenly face to face with Bucky.
She wasn't sure who should speak first. As Darcy opened her mouth to say something, a low whistle interrupted her. She looked over Bucky's shoulder to see Sam giving her a thorough once over.
“Damn, Lewis. You clean up good.”
Bucky rolled his eyes at his companion. Darcy laughed, surprised by the sudden compliment.
“You don’t look too bad yourself there, Pigeon,” she quipped.
Sam had to cover his mouth so he didn’t spit out his drink- he was completely caught off guard.
“Pigeon?! Pigeon? Oh really, that’s how it is?”
“That’s how it is,” Darcy shrugged, biting her lip to hide her grin. She felt Bucky’s amusement fizz down the bond.
Sam wiped his hand down his nice velvety blazer.
“Ouch, Lewis. I take back everything I said earlier- you are so not cool.”
Thor and Jane laughed with Sam, swapping jokes back and forth. Darcy turned all her attention to the supersoldier in front of her.
“This seat taken?” she finally said, gesturing to the open stool next to him. Bucky’s eyes scanned her dangerously from head to toe.
“It’s reserved for you, actually.”
Darcy lifted a brow in surprise. “Wow, what a gentleman.”
“I have my moments,” Bucky shrugged.
Steve returned with their drinks a moment later, handing Darcy her vodka. He watched her and Bucky with knowing eyes before herding Thor, Jane and Sam towards the pool tables, leaving the two of them alone.
Darcy’s stomach flipped with nerves, though she tried not to let it show.
“So, you finally decided to show up,” Bucky teased. Darcy rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m not that late. I just couldn’t decide what to wear, plus I had to do Jane’s makeup as well as my own.” She took a sip of her vodka, trying to steady her nerves. “It’s not easy looking this good, you know.”
Bucky lifted a brow. “I think you look just as good without the makeup and the flashy dress-” his eyes drifted down, taking in her full figure, lingering briefly at her chest. “-but I have to admit, you look damn beautiful tonight.”
The heat in his gaze was enough to make her squirm, but Darcy tried not to let it show.
“Thank you,” she smiled, “You look pretty good yourself, Sarge. The whole dark and mysterious thing is really working for you.”
It was also really working for Darcy, if she was being honest. Bucky looked like some kind of Calvin Klein model, she was having trouble keeping her thoughts out of the gutter.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know about that.”
“Believe it, Soldier. I’m glad there aren’t so many people over here, or i’d be fighting off girls left, right and center just to get your attention.”
“You don't have to fight anyone,” he huffed, twisting around so he was fully facing her, so close she could feel the heat of his body. His dark eyes locked with hers so intensely, the rest of the room could’ve caught on fire and she wouldn't even notice. “You’ve already got all my attention,” Bucky husked.
Darcy practically shivered. Her face, the traitor, burned bright red under her makeup. She felt her heart beat so loud in her chest he could probably hear it.
Bucky smirked, he must have been reading her emotions. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing to her.
“Careful,” Darcy warned. “You’re playing with fire.”
Bucky’s smirk grew. “Good thing I like the heat, huh doll?”
There it was again- doll. She loved the way the endearment sounded when it fell from his lips.
He leaned back on his stool, breaking their little spell. Darcy didn’t realise just how close they’d gotten to each other.
“So, you’re a vodka girl?” he said, nodding to the glass in her hand.
Darcy shrugged. “Sometimes. Sometimes i’m a whiskey girl, sometimes I just want cheap beer. It all depends on how i’m feeling.”
“And how are you feeling?” Bucky husked.
She knew he could just as easily read her emotions, but it felt nice to hear him ask.
Darcy thought it over, wanting to give him an honest answer.
“Warm,” she finally said. It wasn’t an emotion, but it was the only way she knew to explain how she felt. “Maybe a little nervous. Although, the more I talk to you, the less nervous I feel.”
He smiled at her, taking a swig of his beer.
“How are you feeling?” Darcy asked.
“Warm,” he replied, giving her that same crooked smile. His eyes dropped to her chest- or, not quite her chest. “You’re showing your words.”
It was a statement, but Darcy nodded anyway.
Most people chose to keep their words covered up in some way or another. Even Darcy, before today, would use makeup or clothing to hide her words in some way.
But that was before today. Before she met Bucky.
“I’m proud of them,” she smiled. “Why shouldn’t I show it off?”
His gaze dropped back to the shimmery gold writing under her collarbone, the old timey cursive handwriting was glowing under the LED lights of the bar.
“I wish they were better words,” he said simply, but Darcy could feel his adoration through the bond. Feel how happy it made him that she was showing off his mark- his words on her skin.
“They’re perfect,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Bucky smiled at her. She held his gaze.
The bond between them crackled like a live wire, white hot and electric. It was feeding her emotions, giving her all kinds of confidence. She was finding it easier and easier to fall back into her usual honest, relaxed, flirty self.
Darcy could feel how close Bucky was to her, the denim of his jeans brushed against her thigh. The bond between them kept pulling her closer and closer. She was finding it hard to resist.
She knocked back the last of her vodka, trying to find a way to take her mind off its current train of thoughts. If this went on any longer, she was pretty sure she would end up in Bucky’s lap. He might even let her.
Darcy requested another round from the bartender. Bucky finished his beer, signalling for two more.
The bartender slid Darcy her vodka, but she was too busy watching Bucky to notice.
He tipped his head back, finishing the last of his beer. She saw the muscles in his neck flex as he swallowed. The sharp line of his jaw beneath his stubble.
Oh shit. She was done for.
Bucky handed the bottle over with a sigh, grabbing the two new ones to replace it.
“Wanna take a picture, sweetheart?” Bucky said, not even looking at her.
“Honestly? Kind of, yeah. You’re very pretty.”
“Pretty?” Bucky said doubtfully.
“Yeah. Like, very pretty. Even prettier than Thor, and he’s a god.”
Bucky chuckled, shaking his head. “Pretty ain’t exactly the word i’d use to describe myself, doll.”
“Well you should add it to your vocab, Soldier. Here, i’ll even give you another word- sexy as fuck.”
Bucky looked at her like she was crazy, but she could feel his amusement humming through the bond. “Are you drunk?”
“Nope, just calling it as I see it,” Darcy grinned, feeling confident.
Bucky laughed, she was so close she could feel the vibrations through his chest. “You sure got a mouth on you, gorgeous.”
Darcy winked at him. “I’ve been told I know how to use it, too.”
She grabbed her drink and took a swig, giving him a moment to fully process what she just said.
The bond flared. Darcy sifted through it to find his emotions: shock, curiosity, jealousy, but most of all- desire.
Darcy smirked.
“So, why are you hiding out here and not on that dance floor I saw?” she asked, switching topics.
He shook his head. “I’m not sure I know how to dance to that music. Besides, it’s too loud. Too many people.”
Darcy nodded in understanding. He raised a brow at her.
“Can you dance?”
“To your kind of music? Eh, i’m okay. But to this? Oh yeah, I am a great dancer. Could even teach you a thing or two, if you’d like.” Darcy winked.
She thought of all those people she’d passed earlier, dancing and grinding all over each other. Oh yeah, she could definitely teach Bucky a move.
“Yeah?” he asked, giving her a challenging look.
“Absolutely,” Darcy grinned, biting her lower lip. Bucky’s eyes darkened at the gesture.
“Maybe later we can go for a dance, then.”
Did his voice just get lower? It sure sounded like it just got lower. Gods, was it getting hot in here? Someone should open a window or something.
“It’s a date,” Darcy said, practically batting her eyelashes at him.
She couldn’t help it. The guy was doing all kinds of things to her- especially in those tight ass jeans. Seriously? Who let him wear those? It was practically torture.
Darcy knocked back the last of her vodka, relishing the burn as it went down her throat. She signalled the bartender for another.
“You sure you can handle another?” Bucky asked, giving her a sidelong glance. Darcy gave him a look.
“What, worried you can’t keep up?”
He chuckled, “Definitely not. I’m more worried about you getting too tipsy.”
“I know my limits,” she said confidently. She hadn’t spent years at college, throwing up at frat houses for nothing.
Although Bucky was right. Darcy was nowhere near drunk- not by a mile- but she’d be lying if she said the alcohol wasn't adding to her confidence.
Speaking of-
“Can you even get drunk?” Darcy asked.
He raised a brow at her.
“Can you even walk in those shoes?” he countered, looking pointedly at her six inch black stilettos.
Darcy bit back her grin, feeling cocky. She dragged the sole of her shoe slowly up his calf.
Bucky jerked, gripping the bar counter so hard his knuckles turned white.
“Christ, doll-” he stuttered.
Darcy smirked, playing with her glass, the picture of pure innocence. He rolled his eyes.
“To answer your question- no, I can’t get drunk.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Really.”
Darcy frowned. “Damn. That sounds awful.”
“It is, believe me,” he chuckled, but the sound was bitter.
“Well,” Darcy said, taking a deep breath. She wasn’t used to such high quality alcohol. It was having more of an effect on her than she expected. “You know, i’m not usually the type to encourage drinking-”
He gave her a look that suggested he clearly thought otherwise.
“-but,” Darcy continued. “I know a guy from Asgard who has this magic ale. It’s strong enough to get even gods drunk, I’m sure it could work on you too.”
“Oh really?” Bucky asked, indulging her.
“Yup. I tried to sneak some once, but he wouldn’t let me have any. He said one sip would be enough to put me on my ass until christmas. Which, obviously, only makes me want it even more.”
Bucky chuckled at her, “Obviously.”
“Point is- I could get you some, if you wanted?” Darcy offered.
Bucky smiled at her, his eyes going all soft and fond again. The bond between them was bright gold and shining.
“Thank you, doll. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good,” Darcy grinned. “He probably has some on him now, you know, if you wanted to try it.”
Bucky shook his head. “Nah, some other time. Right now i’m more focused on enjoying my company.”
Darcy’s face lit up.
“Awww!” she crooned, swaying into his chest. “Barnes, you are literally the sweetest.”
“I think you’re drunk.”
“I am not drunk,” Darcy said, drinking more of her vodka to prove her point.
He just laughed at her, shaking his head. Darcy couldn’t help but laugh too.
The bond between them shined even brighter, lit up with both of their joy and amusement. Darcy’s chest felt light and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. It was the happiest she’d felt since, well, ever, to be honest.
It was a dangerous game she was playing. Sitting here with Bucky, it was almost too easy to fall head over heels for the guy. And with the bond thrumming between them, Darcy realised she was more than in over her head. She also realised that it didn’t bother her one bit.
“There they are! The Towers latest soulmates! How are our guests of honor this evening?”
Darcy spun around to see Tony Stark heading towards them, his finger pointed at her. Pepper Potts was on his other arm, grimacing in apology.
Bucky muttered something under his breath, too quiet for Darcy to hear.
“Stark,” he said, by way of greeting.
“Robocop,” Tony replied, in the same gruff tone. Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Hi Miss Lewis, I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Pepper,” she said, extending a hand politely. Darcy shook it.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Pepper. Please, call me Darcy.”
“Darcy, then,” Pepper smiled, tucking her strawberry blonde hair behind her ear.
“You two enjoying the party? I organised the dancefloor just for you,” Tony grinned. Darcy raised a brow.
“You sure that was for us? I don’t even know any of those people.”
“Bucky does,” Tony tried.
“No he doesn’t,” Bucky said.
Tony huffed dramatically. “Well, aren’t you two fun?”
Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Tony’s being a bad host. I’m pretty sure what he’s trying to say is, have you met everyone yet?”
Darcy shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Perfect,” Pepper grinned. “Let me introduce you.”
She turned, dragging Tony along with her, and gestured for Darcy and Bucky to follow.
Darcy turned to Bucky.
‘You okay to do this?’
It was so easy to slip into his mind. He shrugged.
Darcy was about to tell Pepper not to worry about it, that she would make introductions later, but Bucky stood up from his stool, grabbed her around the waist, and carefully helped her down.
She still stumbled into his chest, surprised by the sudden movement.
“I thought you said you could walk in those heels?” he smirked. Darcy rolled her eyes at him.
She grabbed his hand, not giving herself a chance to overthink it, picked up her glass of vodka and followed Pepper.
Bucky followed suit, grabbing his beer.
Pepper glanced at them from over her shoulder, glad to see them still following her.
“Congratulations, by the way. I’m so happy for the both of you. It’s been a while since we’ve had any exciting soulmate stories around the Tower.”
“Thank you,” Darcy smiled.
“How are you finding the Tower so far? Any changes you need to make?” Pepper asked. Tony screwed up his face.
“Actually, sweetheart, last I checked this was my tower. Or at least, 88% of it is. Any changes need to be run by me first.”
Pepper paused, patting him on the cheek.
“It’s sweet that you think that, honey.”
Darcy’s mouth dropped into the perfect ‘o’.
Tony didn’t even have an answer. Pepper just turned, and the two continued walking.
I want to be her when I grow up, Darcy thought.
Beside her, Bucky stifled a laugh, obviously hearing her thoughts. She elbowed him in the stomach.
Her arm may have lingered there when she felt his rock hard abdomen.
“Everyone, i’d like to introduce you to Darcy Lewis, Dr. Foster's assistant,” Pepper introduced. Darcy was suddenly face to face with a bunch of strangers.
“Darcy, this is Dr Banner,” Pepper introduced.
“Call me Bruce,” he smiled, standing to shake her hand.
Pepper moved along. “This is Colonel Rhodes, he’s good friends with Tony-”
“Sometimes,” Rhodes interrupted, making Darcy laugh.
“And finally we have Maria Hill, agent of SHIELD, and Helen Cho, world renowned geneticist.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Darcy said, shaking hands with everyone. Bucky stood protectively at her back.
“You too,” Helen said. “I’m looking forward to having more people around the labs. They can feel a bit isolating at times.”
“You wanna talk about isolating? Try living in a tiny lab in New Mexico with one other person for a year,” Darcy chuckled.
Helen burst out laughing. “Yeah, okay, you win that one.”
“Have you seen your lab, yet?” Bruce asked politely, “I hope you don’t mind, a few of us took the liberty of setting up some of the equipment. We were worried Tony’s moving guys would break something.”
“That was one time, Bruce-”
“It was my most expensive piece of equipment, Tony-”
Darcy raised a brow at Bruce and Tony, before turning back to Bucky. He shrugged.
“The lab is great, thank you. Jane and I checked it out earlier. I don’t know much about the science stuff, but I love my new desk,” she smiled.
“That was me, actually,” Pepper interrupted. “I thought you might like somewhere cozy to sit while you work on Jane’s spreadsheets.”
“Oh,” Darcy said, surprised. “Thank you, I love it. It’s a lot more…” she paused, trying to find the word. “Me, I guess?”
Pepper nodded in understanding. “I’m glad you like it.”
“You got a space in the labs?” Bucky asked quietly.
“Yeah, in Jane’s lab. It gives me somewhere to do my stuff while she’s working on experiments,” she said, smiling softly at him. He was quieter here, in front of all these people.
“You’ll have to show me sometime,” he asked. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. He genuinely wanted to see her work space.
“Really?” Helen asked in surprise. Darcy turned to her and she flushed. “Sorry, that was rude. I just- I’m surprised. Barnes, you never come to the labs. Whenever you need medical, we always come to you.”
He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “The white coats remind me of HYDRA.”
“Exactly,” Helen said, looking confused. “Darcy works in the labs. Why would you go if that makes you uncomfortable?”
His jaw clenched, a nervous tick.
“Darcy’s different,” was all he said.
Darcy’s mouth dropped open in surprise. She didn’t realise Bucky had an aversion to the labs. Although it made sense, given his past. But the fact that he was willing to bear that to see where she worked-
She pushed her gratitude and adoration down the bond, wanting him to know how much it meant that he was willing to do that for her, completely unprompted.
He smiled at her, feeling her emotions. The group around them went quiet.
“Oh wow, you guys really are soulmates, huh? Only one group of people in this world look at eachother like that,” Maria said. Darcy flushed, feeling caught.
She looked around to see Pepper giving her a warm smile. She raised her champagne glass in a toast.
“To Darcy and Bucky, our newly found soulmates.”
“Darcy and Bucky,” everyone echoed.
Darcy’s cheeks burned even darker, but she lifted her glass along with them, finishing the rest of her vodka in one go.
Tony gave her a look afterwards.
“Was that straight vodka?” he asked incredulously.
“Yup.”
“Jesus, Barnes, you’ve ruined her already.”
Darcy looked between Bucky and Tony in confusion.
“Your boyfriend’s a soviet,” Tony explained.
Darcy’s mind caught on the word boyfriend. It was the first time someone had referred to Bucky as that.
And then she processed what Tony said. Darcy’s face screwed up in even more confusion.
“Я не советский человек” Bucky replied in what Darcy assumed was perfect Russian. She didn’t know, she didn’t speak Russian.
“He said he likes vodka,” Tony explained.
Bucky rolled his eyes. “No. I said i’m not a Soviet.”
“You said ‘I am not a Soviet’, while speaking the language of Soviets?” Tony repeated, grinning.
“That’s enough, Tony,” Pepper huffed, rolling her eyes.
Bucky’s metal fist clenched and unclenched. Darcy just shook her head at them all.
“You guys are weird. Not you, Pepper.”
“Thank you, Darcy,” Pepper grinned.
“What are you guys talking about?” Natasha asked, appearing out of nowhere.
Darcy turned around. Steve was with her, his hand hovering at the small of her back. Darcy grinned.
“Darcy’s drinking vodka. I think Barnes has ruined her,” Tony said, pointing his chin in the air like a child.
“She has good taste,” Natasha said, shooting Darcy a crooked smile.
Tony groaned. “Great, the Russian’s are taking over.”
“Однажды мы обратим тебя, Stark,” Natasha said.
Bucky stifled a laugh. Tony narrowed his eyes at the two of them.
“JARVIS, translate what-”
“Actually, Sir, I must inform you that the catering has arrived,” JARVIS interrupted. Tony’s face lit up.
“Oh, good, send them in.”
He plopped down on one of the large couches, pulling Pepper down next to him. The others followed suit, finding an available seat.
Darcy looked around, trying to find Jane.
“She’s with Thor, over by the pool tables,” Bucky said, not even looking at her.
Darcy blinked in surprise. How did he even know she was looking for Jane?
But sure enough, when Darcy looked towards the pool tables, she spotted Sam and Clint hunched over a table- clearly involved in a high stakes match- while Thor and Jane watched on.
“Do you want to go talk to her?” Bucky asked, his blue eyes meeting hers.
“No, it’s okay. They look like they’re having fun, i’ll talk to her later.”
Bucky nodded, taking her at her word.
Darcy looked down, taking a seat on the closest couch next to Steve and Natasha. Bucky settled in next to her.
The couch was a four seater, but when two of those people were supersoldiers, it made for a tight fit.
In the end, Darcy was tucked right into Bucky’s side, her leg flush against his from thigh to calf. She could feel his body heat pouring through the tight material of his jeans. It was like sitting next to a space heater.
“You’re really hot,” Darcy said, looking at him in mild concern.
From the next couch, Tony burst out laughing. “Very smooth, Lewis.”
“No, no-” Darcy flushed. “Well, I mean, yes, but- I was talking about your body temperature. I feel like i'm sitting next to an open fire.”
Tony wagged his eyebrows at her, unrelenting, before focusing back on his own conversation with Pepper. Darcy felt Bucky chuckle beside her.
“Side effect from the serum,” he explained. “I have a boosted metabolism, so I run pretty hot. Steve’s the same.”
“Like a space heater,” Steve confirmed.
“Huh,” Darcy thought, eloquently. “So you can’t get drunk, your bodies are always burning up, and you have to eat constantly. Is there any actual pros to this supersoldier thing?”
She grinned to let them all know she was clearly teasing. Bucky pretended to think it over.
“I can lift Steve over my head with one arm,” he answered.
Darcy didn’t want to know why she found that oddly attractive.
“Right arm or left arm?” Natasha asked. “It makes a difference,” she explained, when everyone gave her a questioning look.
“Both,” Bucky replied.
Oh yeah, that was definitely a thing for her. Good to know.
Steve spoke up, just as Darcy was over analysing her confusing list of turn ons.
“I can hold my breath for 8 minutes,” he said.
Darcy gave him an incredulous look.
“What- seriously?”
“Seriously,” he replied.
She whipped her head around to Bucky. He was watching her with those attentive blue eyes.
“Can you do that?”
“Probably,” Bucky shrugged.
“Huh,” Darcy thought aloud. Weird.
The corner of Bucky’s mouth lifted in a grin.
Darcy felt herself getting pulled closer and closer to him by the lure of the bond. The longer she was with him, the harder it was to resist. Her body kept telling her to crawl into his lap and never leave, and her mind was starting to get on board.
They were interrupted as a group of people entered the room, wheeling in huge carts of food.
The caterers placed the carts near the couches, so close Darcy could smell the deliciousness. She spotted all kinds of desserts, including chocolate covered strawberries, which were her all time favourite. Darcy’s mouth watered.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure wasn’t this,” Darcy admitted, unable to take her eyes off the amazing food.
“Stark never does anything in halves,” Nat agreed.
The caterers left the room. Tony announced for everyone to dig in.
Clint and Sam immediately abandoned their game of pool in favour of food. Thor was quick to join them, leaving poor old Jane stranded.
“You should go talk to her,” Bucky suggested, looking over at Jane.
“Are you reading my mind?” Darcy joked. Bucky smiled.
“No, you just keep looking at her. Go. I’ll get us some food and meet you again soon.”
“You sure?” Darcy asked, studying his face for any signs of hesitation. She didn’t want to leave him if he was going to be uncomfortable.
“Positive,” Bucky promised.
He stood up, offering her a hand. She took it, and he pulled her gently to her feet.
“See you soon, Soldier,” Darcy said, giving his hand a quick squeeze.
Bucky waited for Steve and the two of them went to grab some food. Darcy headed over to Jane.
~~~~