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“So, uh……candy cane anyone?” Darcy’s attempt to lighten the mood was a dismal failure as all of the assembled avengers (plus Jane) fixed her with exasperated stares. Even Clint, who was usually her ally in such situations, looked pissed. She slowly returned the candy cane to the dish on the table and tried to avoid a certain pair of brown eyes that she knew were glaring at her. “Darcy, you know I love you, but you can’t go waltzing around a suspected nazi lair without telling someone or at least wearing your tracker device,” Jane scolded. “I thought you’d learn after the last kidnapping.” “I didn’t KNOW it was a nazi lair, I was admiring the architecture,” Darcy defended. “I have an appreciation for fine houses. They’d never bothered me before. Must have new owners.” She shrugged, and slumped back in her chair, reapplying the ice pack to her swollen eye. “Okay, it WAS stupid of me to not wear the earrings. I’m sorry. Thank you for saving me. But can I just tell you how hot it is to get to live out the whole “touch her and die” trope. That was a nice touch and completely unexpected coming from you.” “I did not say that,” Sam protested, still looking aggrieved at her. “No, your exact words were, “Lay a finger on her and you won’t live to regret it,” Bucky chimed in with a smirk. “I’ve never been more proud.” He clapped Sam on the shoulder approvingly. Natasha and Clint stifled their chuckles, but looked extremely amused and Darcy wasn’t sure she liked that gleam in Natasha’s eyes…… “Perhaps we should let them debrief privately, shall we?” Nat suggested sweetly. Bucky and Clint grinned and followed her out of the room, Clint shooting Darcy a thumbs up sign. “Subtle, aren’t they?” Sam muttered. “Like a freight train!” Darcy agreed, slightly nervously. “I’ve never seen you quite that fierce before,” she continued. “It made me wonder if the rumors are true.” “What rumors?” Sam asked warily. “That you might have a little thing for me? But it was probably just Bucky stirring up trouble again. I know how he can be.” Darcy tried to sound casual, but her hopes were starting to rise and she really wanted to know the truth. Sam snorted in agreement. “Trouble should have been his middle name,” he declared, then hesitated for a second before looking back at her. “But, saying he’s actually right for one, how would you feel about that?” “I would be pretty damn happy,” Darcy confessed. “I thought maybe I saw signs, but I was afraid I was just imagining it. Then your reaction today….whew….” She mimed fanning herself and Sam laughed and joined her on the couch. “I don’t know what came over me, but I sure as hell was not gonna watch those fools hurt you.” “It infuriated me being tied up. I was so ready to put Nat’s training to good use again,” Darcy pouted, letting him gently examine her bruised eye again. “This is gonna look pretty gnarly for a few days,” he observed. “That’s okay. I’ll come up with some interesting stories about it,” Darcy said, smiling with the half of her face that didn’t hurt. “It’ll only add to my awesome aura. I think we’ll be a power couple, honestly. First things, first though, let’s test your hand holding skills.”