Chapter Text
She didn’t notice them as they brooded in the dark of the Avengers common area at the Upstate Facilities. It wasn’t like them to make themselves known in the best of times, but that day had been emotionally taxing on all of them, Bucky Barnes, James, and especially The Winter Soldier. They had, yet again, been left behind as the call to assemble was made. They understood why, but The Winter Soldier was still irate. He knew he would be an asset to the team. James and Bucky Barnes agreed with him. Bucky Barnes wasn’t interested in fighting anymore. James wanted to figure out exactly the kind of team member they would be. Would they be able to work with Steve again, to work as a cohesive unit? Would The Falcon have their back? James and Bucky Barnes thought that The Winter Soldier was over reacting.
James called him a drama queen and told him to focus back on the guest.
Their eyes flicked up and watched her through their dark fringe. She was standing in front of the fridge with the door wide open. James reminded Bucky Barnes that this wasn’t the forties anymore and this wouldn’t kill the coils keeping the machine working.
The Winter Soldier stood silently. Bucky Barnes told him this was a bad idea. James was gleeful.
His arms hung at his sides as he moved around the sitting area and moved across the kitchen to stand behind the woman.
“What do you think, Barton’s left over Thai, or Sam’s mother’s chocolate cake?” She asked him before she leaned forward and moved a gallon of orange juice out of the way.
They are all taken aback.
She turned and looked over her shoulder. She smiled at him from behind thick framed glasses. Her hair hung like a curtain, almost touching the floor from her position bending in front of the appliance. James told The Winter Soldier that he needed to say something. Bucky Barnes really wanted the Thai food. “I saw your reflection on the freezer.” She winked at them. “Do you have an opinion, or are we just going to dig into both.”
The Winter Soldier lifted his metal hand and held the door open with her. He leaned over her and looked down into the fridge. The Winter Soldier wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. He had no problem with personal space but Bucky Barnes told him he was close enough that they could definitely make someone uncomfortable if they so chose to. James wanted him to put their other hand on her hip.
The Winter Soldier balled his fist up instead.
He cleared his throat before he croaked, “We’re going to need dessert after our meal, aren’t we?” The Winter Soldier reached past her and grabbed a bottle of generic sports drink.
“Oh, the blue one, good choice, want to split?” The woman smiled at them before she reached into the fridge and grabbed the two containers. “Yeah boy! Sam’s mom makes the best chocolate cake. Even I will admit defeat, she is much more superior in the chocolate cake department than I am.”
She stood and turned. The Winter Soldier was still in her space. James itched to put a hand on her hip. Bucky Barnes wanted to back out of the room and continue brooding with himself.
The woman looked up at him and wiggled her eyebrows. “You ready to do this?” She raised the containers over her head before she ducked under his arm over to the microwave.
The Winter Soldier nodded at her as she opened the container. “Haven’t had much to eat.”
Gracelessly, she poured the contents of Barton’s Thai onto a large plate before shoving it into the microwave. “Yeah, figured as much with the crew gone and stuff.” She turned and stuck her hand out. “Darcy Lewis, science go-for, computer wiz, political science dropout, and amature baker.”
The Winter Soldier closed the door to the refrigerator and moved towards her. His flesh hand grabbed hers and held it firm. He was surprised to find that she also held his firm. This wasn’t like the handshakes women would give them before the war, Bucky Barnes told them. James liked the women of the twenty first century, they were so sure of themselves. The Winter Soldier swallowed hard. How did they introduce themselves?
“James, Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier.” He said just above a whisper.
Darcy Lewis squeezed his hand before she let it go. She licked her lips and bit her cheek before she asked him, “Yeah? Well glad to finally meet you. Thor has had only good things to say about you.”
“He hasn’t met The Winter Soldier yet.” He said before he reached over her and grabbed two pint glasses from the cupboard.
The microwave hummed in the back ground as he poured two glasses of the sports drink. He doubted that Darcy Lewis needed to replenish any electrolytes. James told him that he was being a dick. Bucky Barnes also chimed in and said that you didn’t get curves like that by being a master assassin. James corrected him and said spysassin. The Winter Soldier wished he could grab the two of them and knock them out.
Darcy Lewis stood with one hip against the counter as she assessed them. The Winter Soldier stood tall and waited. The microwave was counting down from a minute before Darcy Lewis stated, “Yeah, Steve came around and told me all about him. I’m sure he was over exaggerating.” Her blue eyes watched him intently. “I didn’t take The Winter Soldier as the chocolate cake eating type.”
James liked this young woman. Bucky Barnes still wanted to sit and brood, but now with the carton of chocolate cake in his lap. The Winter Soldier said, “Making up for lost time. Seventy years is a long time without chocolate cake.”
“And to think Steve tried to tell me to stay away from you.” Darcy leaned forward with one arm out stretched before she pinched his cheek. His metal hand snapped up and held her wrist in place. She pinched him harder.
James wanted to laugh and turn his face to her hand and ghost his lips over the palm of her hand. The Winter Soldier didn’t want to think about his sentimental thought regarding her. Bucky Barnes wouldn’t deny the instant attraction he and James felt. The Winter Soldier hadn’t made a decision about the situation yet.
“Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.” The Winter Soldier thought back to the books Tony Stark had shoved at him while he was fixing his arm. It seemed fitting in that instant.
The microwave pinged in the background as his steely eyes assessed her. Her fingers released his cheek and he lowered their hands. “Marry me,” she said as her lips formed a smile that showed all of her teeth. “I mean, obviously, let’s eat Barton’s food and the cake. Maybe get to know one another and everything but anyone who can quote Harry Potter to me with a face as straight as yours..Oh man, that is a gift.” Darcy Lewis winked again before she pulled her hand gently from his.
“I wasn’t programmed to say no.” The Winter Soldier replied without missing a beat. James cheered for him. Bucky Barnes sighed internally.
Darcy Lewis turned and opened the microwave. “See, that is what I am talking about.” She laughed, looked over her shoulder and said, “Man, that straight face. Why was Rogers keeping you away from me?”
He grabbed the drinks in his hands and moved them to the ostentatious granite island . “He knows,” The Winter Soldier paused and listened to the others. James would have crowded her space and took the plate of Thai from her. Bucky Barnes would have ran a hand through her hair and asked her to a picture. The Winter Soldier, the one who couldn’t say no, well, The Falcon always told him he had a sharp sense of humor. “The punk knows we have a type.”
He turned his head to watch Darcy Lewis grab two plates, two forks, and the food before moving over to him. “Well, Soldier, I’m glad we were finally able to meet.”
The Winter Soldier moved past her again before he grabbed the box containing the chocolate cake. “Most important part of the meal.” The Winter Soldier kept his straight face before he set the box between them.
“I would never have forgotten the cake. Just.. if it is there, I might eat it first.” Darcy Lewis pulled the box towards her before opening it and shoving one of the forks into the frosting and shoving it into her mouth. Her lips wrapped around the fork and The Winter Soldier’s arm glitched and twitched. The rest of him held steady and stoic. James couldn’t believe this woman. Bucky Barnes knew his mother would have told him to Stay away from girls like Darcy Lewis and he would have steadfastly ignored her. They were all sure that Steve would have shook his head and left their apartment just so he could bring her home. “Too late.” She held his gaze after she pulled the fork from her mouth.
The Winter Soldier reached for the other fork and pierced a large chunk of cake and frosting onto the end before sticking it into his mouth. He chewed and held her gaze as she tucked into another bite.
Darcy Lewis and The Winter Soldier didn’t say a word until the last bite of chocolate cake was finished. “Sam Wilson will not be pleased.” The Winter Soldier said before scraping some of the Thai food onto his plate.
“I’m sure you could take him, Soldier.” Darcy winked again before scraping her own helping onto her plate. She wrapped noodles around her fork before she pointed it at him. “You wouldn’t sell me out.”
The Winter Soldier finally rose a brow and smirked. “You’re right,” he let James talk for a moment, “kitten, I believe we are bound to be wed.” The Winter Soldier tucked into the food.
“This is going to be one amazing relationship, James Bucky Barnes The Winter Soldier.” Darcy took her own bite.
Around his fork, The Winter Soldier said, “I don’t know if we’ll be able to handle you.”