Chapter Text
Darcy was splayed out on the couch of the communal area when Steve and Sam walked in. "Hey guys." She called over the back of the couch. She heard a groan - Sam - and looked over from her spot. Oh crap. Darcy knew that Sam and Steve had been traversing the globe on a wild goose chase after the one and only Winter Soldier. The one who was currently glaring daggers at her.
"Hey, don't look at me like that." She only slightly shrunk back behind the couch. However the reactions on the faces of the three men kept her up. Sam's jaw had dropped and was looking between Darcy and the Soldier. Steve's eyebrows took a trip up to his hairline. And the Soldier, well he was still staring at her, only with confusion instead of the desire to kill. Looking at her watch, she sighed. "Oh is that the time." She stood up and picked up her Stark Industries tablet. "I have to go wrangle some scientists into maybe eating something and getting some Z's." She strolled over to the guys who were still somewhat surprised. "See you later." The elevator waited for her patiently, the doors quickly shut behind her as she entered.
She kind of hoped that the deadly assassin wasn't going to kill her in her sleep. Kind of isn't the phrase. She definitely did not want to be killed in her sleep by that deadly assassin. She already had to worry about Tony's explosions taking her life. She should really stop referring to him as a deadly assassin, or at least not say it out loud. She knew who he really was of course. She did actually learn some things from her Political Science degree, plus she liked to read about history. That deadly assassin was really James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. As in Captain America's comrade in the Howling Commandos. Or more specifically Steve's best friend. Very hot, very rugged, best friend. But that was beside the point.
Once she arrived at the laboratory levels, she was greeted with the sight of Tony Stark in his usual spot attempting to fix something (or in Darcy's eyes; blow up the entire building and everyone inside). He had been in that exact same place for around thirty hours. The thirtieth hour was always the worst. It was asshole Tony's time to play. Well Tony was almost always an asshole, but at this time he was tedious. Deciding to leave Tony to last, Darcy decided to go for the easiest scientist first, which for his alter ego was quite ironic. She knew Bruce never liked to be snuck up on so she made it obvious to drag her shoes against the floor and hum a tune to let him know she was on her way.
"Darcy, is it that time already?" Bruce sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes.
"It is. You look tired. You should go to bed." Darcy advised happily.
"Yeah, I'm going." Bruce knew not to argue with Darcy, the Other Guy also felt the same way.
"Night Bruce. Aw jeez Jane you need to sleep." Darcy whined as she moved onto her boss, who was currently napping in what was supposed to be her lunch from earlier that day. She heard a mumble that sounded like an "I am" and Darcy rolled her eyes. "In a bed. More specifically, your bed. Come on." Darcy pulled her friend up of the couch and dragged her to the elevator and up to Jane's - and Thor's when he was on Earth - floor. Thor had been gone for about a month now, and Jane's apartment looked like the mess it was. Papers covered every surface they could, pizza boxes layering them, Spilt coffee stained dog-eared corners. It was horrifying. If Darcy's mother had been here; she probably would have fainted on sight. Not that she remembers what she was like. Darcy waded through the mess to Jane's bedroom and hastily dropped Jane's heavy, sleeping body on the bed. Darcy pulled her boss' boots off and covered her with a blanket before retreating out of the room and back to the labs.
* * *
"No."
"Yes. You are a human being, you need sleep Tony. You physically cannot survive on coffee alone to finish science. " She sternly replied to the stubborn child that was Tony Stark.
"Nope, not going." He refused.
"I'll tell Pepper what you did a couple of weeks ago." She sighed.
"What did I do?"
"You don't remember? It included alcohol, strippers and a certain Cap-"
"Okay fine, please don't tell her what I did, she'll kill me." Stark interrupted and surrendered.
"Good boy. Off you go." She shooed him out of the Laboratory and into the elevator. "Have a good night's rest, and I'll see about making those cupcakes you like so much." His pout turned into a smile as he exited to his bedroom. The doors shut again and Darcy sighed. "JARVIS, you there?"
"Yes, Miss Darcy."
"Could you make sure that Tony doesn't sneak back down to the labs, and if he somehow does could you notify me?"
"Of course, Miss Darcy."
"Thanks J." The elevator stopped at Steve's floor and Darcy moved to make room for the trio that entered the small metal box. Sam nodded a hello, and Steve smiled. James however, merely stared at her. "So off to the gym?"
"Yep. Finished wrangling the scientists?" Sam replied. Sam and Darcy pretty much became friends the first time she met him. It was after S.H.I.E.L.D turned out to be HYDRA and Sam, Steve and Natasha all needed a place to lay low.
"Yes, thankfully it's wasn't too hard today. They somehow worked themselves to sleep. Although, Jane is incredibly heavy, you wouldn't think it with how small she is but I think I may have thrown something in my back after carrying that girl. Jeez." Darcy rubbed her back as the elevator stopped at her floor. "Well have fun. Also please get some rest, I'm already Scientist wrangler I don't need to be Super Soldier wrangler too. Night."
"Night Darce." Sam and Steve replied in unison. James was as silent as ever.