Chapter Text
“You gotta come, Steve. She’s only in town for 2 weeks.”
2 weeks.
After 2 years of radio silence, he has 2 weeks of her being in the same city for once.
They ended it when Steve went on a 4 month mission in Bermuda. She told him she love him, and he said he loved her too and asked her to marry him.
He didn’t have a ring or anything, but he meant it. She said no, that she couldn’t sit and wait for him when 4 months down the line he might; A) Be injured B) Be dead, or C) Not love her anymore.
Steve agreed, saying he didn’t want that for them either.
One could say they parted on good terms, but the fact that Steve has hidden all pictures of her in his bedside drawer because he doesn’t want to get rid of them but simultaneously can’t look at them without breaking down either says something else..
It was said that a person was only afforded one true love in their lifetime. Steve wasn’t sure to what extent he agreed with that. but if he did, Darcy was his.
He just wished she could have stayed his as he remained hers.
When he returned from his mission, Steve was told that she had moved back to her hometown a month after he left.
Now she was coming back for 2 weeks for Jane’s wedding and the organisation leading up to it.
He had 2 weeks to get her back.
*
“You gotta come, Steve. She’s only in town for 2 weeks.” Clint told him, when everybody was gathering down at the main entrance of the tower to greet Darcy while Steve was busy sulking in his apartment “I know you want to see her.”
“I’ll see her at the wedding.” Steve shrugged, trying to seem as though the idea of her being in the same building as him made his fingers tingle.
“Oh, so you’ll avoid her the rest of the time? I don’t think so, Steve.” Clint shook his head “You’re the best man, and she’s the maid of honour. If anybody’s going to be seeing a lot of eachother, it’s you.” he finished with a wink.
“She doesn’t want to see me.” Steve sighed “if she did, she would have called. Or texted. or emailed me for christ sake. We’re finished.”
Clint looked as though he was contemplating something before he spoke up “Look, I wasn’t supposed to tell you but...every time she calls, she asks about you. She’s still in love with you, man. Just go down there and it will all be back to roses.”
Steve swallowed thickly. “She still…” He shook his head “Okay, fine. I’ll come. But don’t get your hopes up.”
*
They’re all standing at the front of the tower when the car pulls up. Thor is beaming and has his arm around Jane -he’s barely been able to keep his hands off her since they got engaged. Steve is standing behind him, as he is the only person that is tall enough for Steve to hide behind. But, when the door opens, Steve can’t but step to the side to get a better look.
Natasha places a hand on his shoulder as a form of comfort.
Darcy steps out, and everybody lets out a collective cheer, accept for Steve. He’s frozen as he looks her over.
2 years is not long enough for somebody to change their appearance naturally, but Steve notices. Darcy’s not glowing like she used to. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes and she looks nervous.
Then another figure steps out of the car that makes Steve’s stomach lurch. Nobody really registers it because they are too buy focussing on how Thor has lifted Darcy into the air in a huge hug.
“Ahem.” The man clears his throat loudly “You going to introduce me, babe?” he gives Darcy a pointed look as Thor sets her down.
“Right.” Darcy nods, smoothing out her shirt “Everybody, this is my boyfriend, Ben.”
Steve looks Ben over and tried not to focus on how his heart has dropped to his stomach. He’s tall. Not as tall as Steve but tall enough to cast a shadow over Darcy. He has dark hair and even darker eyes. His smile is warm and friendly as he extends a hand out to Thor.
“Nice to finally meet you, man.” He greets, shaking Thor’s hand “Congratulations on your wedding. From what I’ve been told, Jane’s a great gal.”
“She is indeed.” Thor nodded proudly, and is polite enough to not say that he has no idea that Darcy had a boyfriend, or was bringing one to the wedding.
The couple went around the group, giving a share of hugs and handshakes and it was only until Darcy was standing in front of Steve that he realised he had been holding his breath.
“Hey.” She sent a small smile up at him.
“Hi.” he breathed out, before opening his arms with a matching smile “Do I get a hug?”
Darcy seemed to relax at the fact that he didn’t completely hate her and wrapped her arms around his waist as he did her shoulders.
“ ‘S real good to see you, Darce.” He whispered into her hair. It wasn’t anything too heavy, like what he was really feeling. But it wasn’t dismissive of their past together either. He wanted to say ‘I still love you so much please come back to me.’, but that would really be inappropriate with her boyfriend standing right there.
Speaking of boyfriend, Ben spoke up. “jeez, get a room.” he chuckled as Darcy back away blushing.
“It’s good to see you too, Steve.” She nodded “This is my boyfriend, Ben.”
Steve held out his hand “Nice to meet you, Ben.”
Ben took his hand and shook it. Steve couldn’t help the slight sense of satisfaction that came with how much bigger his hand was than Ben’s.
“Good to meet you too, Steve.” He smiled “Darcy’s told me a lot about you. Thanks for saving the world, and shitting rainbows according to her.”
His tone was teasing, but Steve caught Darcy swallowing thickly out of the corner of his eye. Or maybe he wanted to see it.
Steve forced a chuckle “Sorry you had to hear about me. I’m not nearly as interesting as Darcy says I am.” He looked at her, right into her eyes “But that’s Darcy for you.”
What Steve was unaware of was that everyone was watching them. Not even discretely; Tony, Natasha, Thor, Jane, Bruce, Sam, Pepper, and Clint were all watching very obviously.
“Yeah. It is.” Ben nodded, releasing Steve’s hand.
Silence hung heavy and thick in the air. Steve wasn’t sure what to do. Was he meant to square up? Why should he? Ben seemed like a perfectly friendly guy?
Only, Steve didn’t really believe that. He didn’t know why, but he did not like Ben.
**
Sam called it ‘over correcting’ in hushed tones while they stood on the balcony of the penthouse, sipping drinks as Jane went over the plans for the next two weeks. Everybody had to get the final fittings of their outfits in 3 days. Then the rehersal dinner was 2 days after than. Then the day after was the bachelorette party. Next night was bachelor party..
Steve zoned out after that, focused on what Sam had said.
“What the hell does over-correcting mean?” He asked his friend, his glass of water clutched tightly in his hand.
Sam rolled his eyes “I mean, I don’t know the guy personally. But look at him.” he subtly gestured to Ben, who had an arm wrapped around Darcy’s waist. “You’re blonde, blue eyes, clean-cut and open. He’s dark, mysterious and you could totally take him in a fight.”
Steve blinked “What? I’m not going to fight anybody, Sam.”
“Sure, you wont.” Sam nodded “try and do it before the wedding. Thor will kill you if you ruin his big day.”
Sam sauntered off to Natasha, whole smiled at him knowingly. And, before he knew it, Clint was at his side.
“I don’t like him.” The archer said “And I know you don’t either.”
Steve sighed “Of course I don’t like him. He’s going out with My…” he trailed off “Darcy.”
My Darcy.
“Listen, Steve.” Clint stood in front of him “I get a call from Darcy once every two weeks and she tells me how she’s doing. I’ve never heard of this guy before. Somethings not right.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she just values privacy.” Steve ran a hand through his hair “I’ll ask Jane tomorrow, okay? She’ll know.”
“You better hope she does.” Clint said firmly “Because you and I both know that if Natasha starts interrogating him, it won’t end well.” He leaned in “Get her back, Steve. Bring her back home, please.”
Steve smiled sadly “I’m not her home anymore.”
“Yes you are.” Clint looked him dead in the eyes “And I know she’s still yours.”
*
Clint’s right.
Steve hasn’t felt home anywhere since she left.
The next two weeks were going to be hell.