Chapter Text
That night she came to the football game, wearing a shirt with his name and number on it, cheering him on loudly.
She invited him to go to the movies with her friends to watch the newest Marvel movie on Saturday, and he had a great time getting to know the people she loved and seeing them all together, laughing and arguing and being honest with each other.
The next week, he convinced her to come to his grandparents’ Sunday lunch, and she loved the sweet older couple. She also loved his mischievous sisters.
The week after that, the third week she had shown up to football games with that shirt with his name and number, they went out for milkshakes afterwards with Steve and Sam. It was almost like a double date. She and Sam got on like a house on fire, and Steve invited her to his art show at school later that week.
They kept hanging out with each others friends, at lunch, in the halls, after school, on the weekends.
Occasionally, they’d go out for dinner at Darcy’s favorite Mexican restaurant. Bucky couldn’t help but be charmed by the fact that she always ordered the biggest burrito with great ambitions to finish it. She always had to admit defeat about halfway through and ask the waitress for a takeaway box.
Sometimes, when Darcy wanted to study, but not be alone, he’d come over and just sit with her, talking to Clint or finishing his own homework. They had turned in their project not long ago.
And, it was nearing Homecoming. Bucky was content to go with Darcy and her group of friends as just friends.
————
Darcy sat at the kitchen table, across from Clint, absentmindedly stirring her Honey Nut Cheerios.
Her mom rushed in and kissed both of them on the cheek, tossing a quick “See you later!” over her shoulder.
“Hmm, I wonder who Bucky is taking to homecoming.” Darcy said, staring off into the distance, as she contemplated the weird feeling in her stomach at that thought. Maybe she was lactose intolerant.
Clint looked up from where he had been petting Lucky and sneaking him bits of bacon. Having already finished his second cup of coffee, he was significantly more awake than Darcy appeared to be.
“Umm, isn’t he taking you?” he said, an eyebrow raised.
Darcy’s eyes snapped back into focus, “What? I don’t think so. Why?”
Clint rolled his eyes. Of course Darcy, one of the smartest people he knew, had no idea that Bucky was head over heels for her. Of-freaking-course.
Clint squinted his eyes, realizing that if Natasha was here, she would find a way to turn this into a matchmaking situation.
Clint squinted his eyes more. Did he really want to try to get his sister together with Bucky?
Clint would concede that Bucky had definitely changed in the past six months. He had stopped the serial dating. He had also been a really, really good friend to Darce, without pushing her to be more.
He could only imagine what his red-headed girlfriend would say if he didn’t take this opportunity to put some more happiness and sunshine into his sister’s life.
Anyways, he and Nat had grossed Darcy out enough in the past few years, so he figured it was probably his turn to take a little bit of the pain.
“I thought you two were dating?” He said, literally crossing his figures in hope that this plan worked.
Darcy stared off into space again. “But, what about the girls Bucky has been dating?”
Clint raised his eyebrows, “I think you mean ‘girl’. As in a single girl. As in you.”
“We just-“
“Go on dates and hang out with each others friends and spend lots of time together, getting to know each other and other cute, gross stuff.”
“…Oh. Ooooh. ohmygod.” Darcy shot up out of her chair, pulling Clint out of his chair and towards the front door.
Their dad was walking down the stairs buttoning up his shirt, and Darcy yelled, “What fortuitous timing, DAD, we have to go!”
Phil, totally unruffled, ambled out the door after them, deciding it was best not to point out that Darcy was still in her pajamas and slippers.
————
Darcy marched through the doors of the school, moving in and out of the crowds of students towards Bucky’s locker. But he wasn’t there.
“Holy shit,” she mumbled to herself, as she whirled around, realizing he’d probably be at her locker. Just like he’d been every day for the past month.
She saw him standing there next to her locker, reading a book that she had recommended in passing the other day.
She rushed up to him, sticking her head between the book and his face, and whisper-yelled, “Arewedating???”
Bucky blinked owlishly, his grin suddenly turning into a blinding smile, “Only if you want to be, sweetheart.”
Darcy grabbed the front of his sweatshirt, shaking him a little. “Don’t you think you should tell a girl that you’re dating her? Don’t you think that’s some vital information??”
Bucky wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling at her soft pajamas and slippers.
“We were just getting to know each other. It only needs to mean something when you’re ready for it to mean something. You know, assuming that you want it to mean something.”
Darcy rolled her eyes, smooth her hands down his chest from where she had tried to shake some sense into him. “Bucky, I had no idea… I thought that you… I mean I’m awesome, don’t get me wrong, but… well, you. You know, and I had just never even considered… And, now.”
Bucky pulled her towards an empty classroom, sitting on top of one of the desks, holding her close, “Darce, hey, sweetheart. You’re it for me. I’ll wait as long as you need me to, but I wanna spend the rest of my life getting to know you and being there for you and supporting you. You’re gonna do amazing things and I want to be there to see it all.”
Darcy looked up into his eyes, searching for something, before tucking her head under his chin. “Those are some pretty big promises, Buck.”
Bucky shrugged. “When you know, you know. And, I don’t expect you to tell me you feel the same way or whatever. I just, you know, want a chance. For us to get to know each other.”
He grinned over the top of her head as she tightened her hold on him.
“And, ya know, I wouldn’t mind kissing you too much, either.”
Darcy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face. And, she was about to respond when she glanced down and realized SHE WAS WEARING HER FLUFFY PAJAMAS.
“Ohmygod.” Her head thunked against his chest.
“Is this about the pajamas? Really, you look adorable.” He laughed a little at the grumbling noises she made.
“You’re beautiful no matter what you wear, but I gotta admit that this look makes me want to take you home and watch a Disney movie with you. And eat some of that special popcorn you make.”
Darcy blushed and said, “Okay. After school, you should, ah, come over and we can watch a movie or whatever. And eat M&M popcorn. Which, by the way, is totally a normal thing!” She shrugged, smiling.
Bucky’s heart began to pound at the look on her face. She was happy because of him. He was being totally honest when he said he would wait for her, but he was totally, completely floored right now by how ridiculously sappy and giddy he felt at the idea that today was the start of something more with Darcy.
He cleared his throat and stared into her eyes, dopey grin stuck on his face, “Yeah, that sounds like the perfect first date.”