“I gotta admit, you held up your end of the bargain to the letter,” Tony told Darcy, as he twirled her around the dance floor. He could tell she was dying to make a sarcastic remark about the utter cheesiness of the song, but she’d held her tongue and danced along happily, chattering about how beautiful everything had turned out and how grateful she was to have such an awesome family.
“Told ya I would. I always keep my promises,” she told him.
“A good thing for Steve, huh?” Tony teased, eying the groom with mirth.
Darcy wrinkled her nose at him.
“And you, pops. I could’ve married Johnny Storm instead. Then you’d have to deal with Reed much more than you do.”
Tony shuddered visibly.
“Perish the thought,” he muttered. “Richards is the very embodiment of his last name and I would probably end up having to kill Johnny.”
Darcy laughed loudly at this and Steve, who was watching from the edge of the floor, smiled happily.
“Doesn’t she have the most beautiful laugh?” He sighed dreamily.
Sam chuckled.
“It’s certainly melodic, you poor lovestruck sap.” He said playfully, shaking his head at the starry-eyed Steve.
“The heart eyes are strong with this one, aren’t they Shar?” Sam asked his wife, who was looking devastatingly beautiful in a soft peach gown and heels that could probably actually be used to kill someone with.
“I can almost see the harps and violins,” Sharon agreed. “You show every little emotion in your face, Rogers. It’s really darn cute right now. Not so much when you were trying to be a spy.”
Steve reddened as he recalled his weak attempts at being undercover. No, that was not his area, at all.
“Luckily, that’s what we have you and Nat and Bucky for,” he replied good-naturedly, strolling over to collect his wife as she and Tony finished their dance. (He’d seen Nat dragging Bucky into an anteroom somewhere and he hoped they didn’t break anything.)
“Miss me already, soldier?” Darcy inquired as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Yup.” Steve sighed. “I’ve become the clingy newlywed everyone jokes about.”
She laughed and rested her head on his chest like she had during their first dance just minutes ago.
“Ugh. Steve, I love you so much.” She whispered. “Like Bucky said in his speech, here’s to the next fifty plus years together.”
“Amen to that, sweetheart,” Steve said fervently and leaned down to kiss her, finally going for the full dip that his friends had been clamoring for. Darcy giggled with delight when he finally set her back on her feet.
“I knew what I was doing proposing to YOU, hot stuff,” she declared. “Yay for somewhat impulsive decisions.”
Bucky emerged from his rendezvous with Natasha just in time to witness their moment and he slow-clapped in appreciation of his friend’s much-improved skills.
“Where have you been, Barnes?” Tony asked him. “You better not be defiling a historical library. I will not stand for it. Though I inwardly applaud you.”
Bucky just whistled cheerfully. He and Tony had formed a strange sort of brothers-in-sarcasm relationship, bonding over their love of annoying Steve (and a hella lot of PTSD, but no one knew about those conversations).
“If I told you, Natasha would have to kill you,” he answered with a wink as Natasha sidled over to them, looking completely undisturbed, though just a trifle flushed, Tony noted with glee.
“Ugh. Hormonal Young people. Can’t keep it in their pants,” he said in feigned exasperation.
“I’m flattered that you think I’m young,” Bucky snarked, one eyebrow raised in amusement.
“It’s the serum,” Natasha whispered, “so much stamina.”
She gave Bucky a positively wicked smirk and Tony groaned.
“TMI, Ms. Romanoff. TMI.”
He wandered away to find Pepper for a dance, leaving Bucky to shake his head at his girlfriend.
“Damn, I love you, Natalia,” he told her. “Even though you’re positively evil.”
“And I love you, James. Even though you are equally evil.” She replied easily, reaching up to straighten his noticeably crooked tie.
At the end of the night, Steve and Darcy changed into the clothes they’d worn for their first wedding and dramatically recounted the tale for the remaining guests.
Bucky was full on belly laughing when Darcy described how she’d had to sweet talk the guards into letting Steve change out of his prison garb BEFORE they got married.
“She had me at the promise of food and snuggles,” Steve joked fondly, looking down at his wife lovingly. “I fell hard and I fell fast.”
“And so are you, Mrs. Rogers,” Steve said. Even though she wasn’t officially changing her name, she loved how it sounded when he said it in that low tone and certainly wasn’t going to object to its use in certain situations.
When Steve carried her over the threshold of their hotel suite, Darcy breathed a tired sigh as he sat down on the bed, still holding her.
“Well, was that the happiest day of your life?” He asked, planting a kiss in her hair.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was,” she confirmed with a sleepy sigh. “But which day are we going to count as our anniversary?”
“I’m going to count both,” Steve said thoughtfully. “Gives us twice the days to celebrate.”
“Mmmmmm, flawless logic, Steven. I like it. Two anniversaries it is.”
With a blissed out grin, Darcy fell asleep in her husband’s arms.
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The next couple of weeks were very busy for Steve and Darcy as she dove back into her next project and he lobbied for the freedom of Wanda. Going over Ross’s head proved to be the key and Pepper’s reasoning proved very persuasive to the powers that be and the wheels were set in motion for her imminent release.
This made Secretary Ross very unhappy and he paid Tony an angry visit, which Steve heard plenty about the next time he was at Stark Tower.
“He did plenty of blustering and threatening, which never works on me, but then he had the audacity to threaten Darcy! Darcy! How would he even know our connection?”
Tony was pacing back and forth in great agitation and Steve felt his blood run cold at his words.
“Probably from the prison records,” he sighed. “I’m guessing he was not thrilled to find out I’m free.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Tony huffed. “But the point is, how are we going to keep her safe? She’s not going to go along with my first instinct which is to lock her away in the tower under heavy security.”
“Very true,” Steve sighed with a smile. “We’ll just have to be cautious and frequently check in and make sure she has an escort to and from the labs.”
Darcy was annoyed by this new routine, but Steve was so nice about it she couldn’t find herself able to complain too much. She was still able to go to work, so that would at least keep her sane until the threats blew over. Keeping her promise to Tony, she kept her trusty taser on her at all times and wore her super secret spy earrings that he’d given her for Christmas last year.
She was listening to her sci-fi playlist and making some notes when the power suddenly went out just before Steve was due to arrive to pick her up.
“Jimmy? Tina?” She called out. There was no answer from either of her colleagues. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled with the sensation that something was wildly amiss and she carefully locked down the machines and checked her taser, listening for sounds of intruders.
When Steve reached the lab and saw the lights off, and an eerily empty room, he instantly called Darcy, only to hear her phone lying on the floor by her desk.
“Shit.” He whispered, scanning the area. “Darcy? Where are you, sweetheart?” he called.
A whimpering noise that did not sound like his wife was the only response to this but he followed the sound to a small control room where two people were bound and gagged.
“Are you okay?” He asked Tina as he freed her from her restraints. The young scientist looked terrified and very rumpled, but didn’t seem to be hurt.
“Yes,” she gasped. “They’re going after Darcy, Captain!”
“Who’s going after Darcy?” Steve pressed, helping her to her feet and turning to Jimmy. Luckily, he too seemed to be fairly unscathed.
“Hydra,” Jimmy responded. “I heard them talking while I faked being unconscious. There’s someone big backing them up. They’re gonna use her as bait for you and Stark.”
“Did either of you hear them leave? Did they have Darcy?” Steve questioned urgently.
“I’m afraid they did,” Tina fretted. “I think they had to knock her out, because she kept tasing them and kicking them.”
“That’s my wife, alright,” Steve sighed. “Will never go down without a fight. I’m going to call someone to come pick you two up and get you home. Sit tight, okay?”
Tina and Jimmy nodded and Steve called Tony to tell him the bad news while attempting to trace the path the kidnappers had taken. He found three unconscious bodies and Darcy’s spent taser in the hallway, which confirmed what Jimmy had heard.
“They got to her, Stark,” he said grimly.
“Darcy?”
“Yeah.” Steve confirmed. “I found her taser and three unconscious hydra thugs. Looks like they took her out the back.”
“Do you know if she was wearing any jewelry?” Tony asked.
“Pearl earrings,” Steve sighed. “Let me guess: Tracking device?”
“You can thank me later. I’ll be there in five.”
After securing the thugs, Steve called Natasha.
“Perfect timing, Steve. I was just about to call you,” she answered.
“Darcy’s been kidnapped,” he informed her. “How soon can you two get here?”
“Ahh, ten minutes, give or take. We’ve found out some very interesting intel on a certain person that should be enough to put him away for a long time.”
“Good.” Steve said shortly. “Tony’s on his way as well. We’ll see you soon.”
Steve paced back and forth, trying not to imagine the worst. He was straight up terrified for her right now. Darcy was strong, but if this was really hydra, they would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
He heard Tony enter the building, suit making a clumping noise as he walked.
“Sheesh. Looks like she gave as good as she got,” he commented, eying the goons on the ground and the taser. “Go, Darce.”
“Natasha and Bucky are on their way,” Steve told him. “They’ve been gathering intel against Ross for weeks. Looks like he’s made good on his threats.”
“Did you say they’re on their way?” Tony asked suspiciously, squinting at Steve.
“Natasha and Bucky right now, Sam and Sharon later.” Steve explained. “I’m sorry about this, but Bucky is extremely motivated to kick Hydra’s ass and has more knowledge about them than any of us. We need him.”
“I’d raise a fuss about this, but my daughter’s life is at stake,” Tony sighed, after pacing around in agitation, scrutinizing the scene carefully.
Natasha circled around Darcy, scrutinizing every inch of her bridal array with expertly honed observational skills.
“Perfect,” she finally declared proudly. “Absolutely stunning, Mrs. Rogers.”
Darcy flushed at the smirk Nat shot her, but couldn’t help but preen.
“I do look like a bombshell, don’t I?” She asked Wanda.
“Oh, very much,” Wanda told her. “I can feel your happiness from over here.”
“I’m oozing with it,” Darcy laughed, accepting her bridal bouquet from Natasha. Wanda and Natasha were her bridesmaids and were looking stunning in deep burgundy gowns. Jane would have rocked it, too, she thought wistfully, wishing she hadn’t lost touch with her friend. But all her attempts to contact her had led to dead ends, so she’d sadly concluded that Jane didn’t want to be found. She still worried about her, though, and hoped she was living her best science life.
Contrary to popular opinion, the wedding colors were NOT red, white and blue, and Darcy proclaimed vehemently that the only blue she wanted to see at the ceremony was Steve’s eyes.
“Not that I don’t love your patriotic garb, honey, but it gets to be a bit much sometimes,” she’d told Steve, who’d chuckled good naturedly and wholeheartedly agreed with her.
They’d waited until late fall to have the ceremony and the long planning time was paying off with a carefully planned celebration.
Darcy didn’t like to think about what it was all costing, but Tony was paying for most of it as his gift to her.
“I want you to make it your own special day, kid,” he’d told her. “You can go as small or as big as you’d like.”
They’d chosen the gorgeous New York Public Library for a venue and Steve had put his artist’s eye to good use as they’d looked over the rooms and decided where the best place to have the ceremony would be. He’d shared with Darcy his memories of the place as they’d worked to set up yesterday and she realized she’d only just scratched the surface on the deep well that was Steve Rogers. It had tickled her to find out he’d been an insatiable reader and a total nerd as well.
“I’m still a nerd, Darcy,” he’d laughed when she’d called him out. “I’m just sneakier about it now.”
“Don’t think I didn’t hear you binging Dr. Who the other day,” she shot back. “What’s next, Star Trek?”
“Actually….”
They’d ended up in a spirited discussion over Picard vs. Kirk while laying out place cards and Darcy thought she was even more in love with him.
“Earth to Darcy?” Nat nudged, breaking her out of her reverie. “It’s time to go. You ready?”
“Always,” she replied confidently.
Meanwhile, Steve, Bucky and Sam were lounging around in various stages of restlessness: Steve pacing and checking his tie every five seconds, Sam nearby alternately teasing him and reassuring him that yes, he looked fine. No, there was nothing on his face or his beard and yes, Bucky had the ring. A relaxed looking Bucky sat reading in the corner, a blissed out look on his face, which made Steve smile. He hadn’t seen that look in seventy years and his own happiness was doubled by seeing his friend getting his life back. Bucky and Natasha were still together, despite some rough patches, and Steve had hopes that he’d get to return the best man favor for him someday.
“She’ll show up. Relax, Stevie.” Bucky said, not looking up from his book.
“Easy for you to say, Buck,” Steve returned. “I can’t wait until the shoe is on the other foot.”
“Don’t hold your breath. We’re in no hurry to rush to the altar, unlike you two punks.”
Bucky waved his hand at Sam and Steve, neither of whom looked the slightest bit regretful.
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” Sam put in with a grin. He and Sharon were not a couple Steve had ever seen coming, but they worked really well and were quite happy. They’d returned from a mission a few days ago where their teamwork had saved over a hundred lives in almost miraculous fashion and Steve was extremely proud of them.
Tony had popped in a few minutes ago to call them fossilized penguins and warn them that they’d better be on time or else.
There was a buzz and Steve checked his watch to see a text from Darcy.
Here we go! See you soon, hot stuff.
Steve grinned.
‘“Get off your ass, Bucky. It’s time to go,” he declared.
“But I was getting to the good part,” Bucky grumbled half-heartedly as he stood up.
Steve laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
“This IS the good part, jerk.”
Tony gaped like a fish when he met Darcy to walk her down the aisle. She was beyond beautiful in her white dress and veil, practically glowing as she whispered with Pepper, Sharon and the bridesmaids.
“Record this in the archives! She’s rendered Tony Stark speechless!” Sharon observed with great amusement, winking at Tony.
“Laugh it up, Carter,” he sighed, even as he blinked back some tears.
“You look beautiful, Darcy,” he told her through the lump in his throat.
“Aw, thanks, pops,” she sighed, giving him the best hug she could manage under the circumstances. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
She took his arm and watched the bridesmaids begin their processional: first Wanda, then Natasha.
Hearing the opening notes of her processional, her feet moved forward and she finally got a glimpse of Steve in all his black tuxedo-clad glory waiting for her.
“Damn.” She whispered. She’d seen him dressed up before, but not to this kind of level and not for her. It was a far cry from their hasty wedding in the little prison chapel where she’d had to smuggle in clothes for him.
Tony huffed beside her.
“He’s got NO RIGHT to look that good,” He whispered indignantly. “NO right, I say.”
“Exactly what I thought when I first met him,” Darcy replied, before giving Steve a big grin, which he returned in a slightly dazed manner.
Steve could hardly breathe when he saw Darcy looking like an angel in her white gown heading toward him. The last year had been wildly chaotic for him, but he’d found an anchor at last and the future looked better than he’d ever dreamed.
She grinned at him, and he felt his knees get weak. He was so in love with her, it was overwhelming.
Tony shot him a rather intense look when they’d reached him, but Steve didn’t shy away from it.
“Much better venue, huh?” Darcy mouthed, nodding at the graceful columns and greenery surrounding them.
Steve grinned.
“Slight improvement,” he teased back in a whisper as she took hold of his arm.
Natasha was observing the bride and groom with all the fondness of a very invested friend, noting how Steve’s voice sounded very husky as he promised to love and cherish and how very firmly Darcy emphasized “Until Death do us part.”
Up until recently, the Black Widow did not have much interest in marriage, thinking the complications it brought were much more than the benefits. Being around Steve and Darcy, however, was softening her formerly hardline stance. She was beginning to understand the joys of having a love so strong that one would commit a lifetime to it. She met James’s gaze across from hers and smiled at him. He winked back at her, with one of his attractive devilish smirks. He looked way too good in that tux and she didn’t know how she was going to maintain her self-control the whole evening.
Bucky was in a very playful, almost exuberant mood as he watched his best friend marry (again) his one true love. Long ago, before the war and the serum, they’d talked about being at each other’s wedding, come hell or high water.
“I don’t think anyone’s gonna want to marry me, Buck,” Steve had sighed. “But if by some miracle they do, you’re gonna be my best man.”
Bucky had made him the same promise. He glanced at Natasha, who was looking incredibly stunning in her sleek red bridesmaid’s dress, and shared a private look with her. If he would ever take the plunge himself, it was going to be with her.
The second time of going through a marriage ceremony was a very different experience for Steve and Darcy. The first time, they’d been very blushy and bashful given the awkwardness of the circumstances. Now, having had over half a year to fall in love and get to know each other, everything they said had become intensely meaningful to them.
Darcy got lost in the blue of Steve’s eyes as he spoke and only looked down when it was time for the ring exchange. The cheap ones she’d bought on her way to propose to him were very special to them, but wouldn’t be good for their hands in the long term, so she’d carefully laid them away in a secure part of her jewelry box and gone with Steve to pick out a new set.
Natasha handed her Steve’s ring and she slipped it on his hand happily. Steve had very nice hands and Darcy fully appreciated them, as she’d told him frequently.
She waggled her eyebrows at him and he flushed a bit, whispering “Behave” as he turned to take her ring from Bucky, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat watching their exchange.
“Who me?” she mouthed innocently and he just shook his head at her as he slid her ring on.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Steve obeyed this directive with great enthusiasm, eliciting whoops, cheers and hearty applause from the guests and wedding party.
“Atta boy!” Sam yelled.
“Go, Darcy!” Clint was heard to proclaim.
“Dip her, Steve!” Bucky urged.
“Kiss him senseless!” Natasha put in.
“We have annoying friends,” Steve commented when they broke apart, both laughing as they leaned against each other.
“We do,” Darcy agreed, taking her bouquet back from Natasha and trying to make an annoyed face at the very unrepentant Bucky.
“I’ll get you back,” she threatened them playfully.
Steve was debriefing with his team when he saw his favorite brunette making a beeline for Bucky.
“You’ve got a Darcy incoming,” he warned his friend with a small smile. “She’s gonna hug you, like it or not.”
Bucky chuckled and accepted Darcy’s enthusiastic embrace with a good will he only showed to Natasha and Steve’s hugs.
“Thank you so much, Bucky Bear!” She exclaimed. “You’re a hero!”
Bucky, who had learned by now not to try to deny her claims, just shrugged.
“When I heard those Words, I thought it was about time the tables got turned a little. Kinda stole the punk’s thunder, I guess.”
He looked apologetically at Steve, who shook his head.
“We all made it out alive. That’s all I care about,” Steve said, sharing a look with Darcy. “I think your actions caught them so far off guard, it took the wind out of their sails. Ross’s face was priceless right before you punched him. He should thank his stars you didn’t use the metal fist.”
“Wanted him to be alive to stand trial for treason,” Bucky admitted, then looked back down at Darcy.
“I wasn’t the only one who damaged his face, though, right, doll?” He asked her affectionately.
Darcy beamed proudly.
“I got in a good elbow jab as they were dragging me out here. Hence the three guards. You proud of me?” She asked.
“We are very proud of you, Darcy,” Natasha said from Bucky’s other side. “In fact, you may have earned your own set of Widow’s Bites.”
“OMG!” Darcy squealed, glomping Nat the way she had with Bucky. “Thank You! I’ve always loved zapping things.”
“Oh, boy.” Bucky muttered, shaking his head at his girlfriend. “You sure the world can handle that?”
“As much as it can handle you two super soldiers when you decide to spar hopped up on energy drinks,” Natasha responded, bringing up a memory that made both Steve and Bucky look very sheepish.
They had been roundly scolded for wanton destruction of property and banned from consuming any caffeinated beverages for a week after that incident.(It was all Barton’s fault, Bucky maintained.)
Darcy laughed and kissed Steve on the cheek.
“You’re lucky you’re so cute,” she told him. “Take me home, soldier?”
“I want to, but they’ll probably need me to stick around for awhile,” Steve said regretfully. He was emotionally wrung out and wanted nothing more than to go home with his wife.
“Go on, Steve. We’ve got this.” Natasha urged him. “It’s mostly in the CIA’s hands now.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Very sure,” she said firmly. “Now get out of here.”
After a couple short detours for Darcy to reunite with Wanda and Steve to tell Tony of his plans, they were being driven home in one of the FBI vehicles. They were both quiet on their way home, but Steve’s hand was holding Darcy’s like a lifeline and he only reluctantly released it to get out of the car when they were dropped off at the apartment.
“Oh,” she groaned, dropping into the sofa. “I am in dire need of a hot bath to wash the filthy scum of those nazi rats off of me. They wouldn’t know good hygiene if it smacked them in the face.”
Steve chuckled and pulled her into his lap, nuzzling his face against her neck.
“I’ll help you,” he murmured.
She’d already reassured him that none of the captors had messed with her after she’d broken the hand of one of them, but Steve was still shaken over the whole thing.
“I’ll gladly accept that help, handsome,” she murmured, leaning up to kiss him slowly and tenderly.
“I’m okay, Steve. I really am,” Darcy whispered, looking into his pretty blue eyes, which were finally starting to look more peaceful.
“Just please tell me if that changes,” he told her. “You might not feel it until tomorrow.”
“I promise, honey.” She told him. “Now let’s see about that bath, shall we?”
Steve kissed her breathless then scooped her up and started for the bathroom. Oh, yeah, she had the world’s BEST husband.
The fallout of the Ross treachery was large and very public, resulting in indictments galore and more media spotlight on the Darcy-Tony familial relationship. Steve and Darcy ended up moving back into the Tower until the whole mess settled down and in order to take her mind off of the nonstop headlines, Darcy started wedding planning in earnest.
There was still one major obstacle to consider and thanks to recent events, it turned out to be not so major after all.
Darcy approached Tony when he was in a particularly good mood and broached the subject hopefully.
“You know how you said you’d do anything for me?” she asked
“Name it.” He answered immediately.
“Let Bucky be in our wedding,” she answered. “He DID save my life, after all and it would mean the world to him to get to be the best man. Please? I’ll let you pick the music for our father-daughter dance without complaining…..”
Tony’s eyebrow perked up.
“Really? Anything?” He grinned evilly and Darcy shut her eyes.
“Yes,” she sighed. She could get through it for Steve’s sake, she reminded herself. Sometimes, compromises had to happen.
After a surprisingly brief hesitation, Tony stuck out his hand.
“Deal.” He told her. “You better follow through, though.”
“I always do, Pops,” Darcy replied cheekily, smirking at him before running off to find Steve.
“Karma, thy name is Darcy,” Tony sighed, watching her scurry away.
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An armada of federal vehicles surrounded the abandoned warehouse in New Jersey where Ross’s Hydra cell was currently holed up. There were estimated to be at least twenty-five heavily armed soldiers as well as Ross’s personal guards.
Steve and the Avengers gathered with the FBI and CIA counterparts to go over their plans for taking the compound. Natasha and Bucky joined them minutes later, resulting in raised eyebrows, but no one dared question their presence. They were legends, after all.
“Is younger Ross in on this?” Tony asked Sharon as they geared up and checked their weapons.
“We have no evidence that he is.” she replied. “He’s been in Wakanda for a few days and that’s probably for the best right now. “If he is a traitor, they’ll be able to handle him.”
“No doubt about that,” Tony agreed. “You ready, son?” he asked Steve, clapping him on the shoulder, a teasing twinkle in his eyes despite the difficult situation.
Steve’s eyes narrowed.
“Sure thing, Dad.” He replied snarkily, hefting his shield onto his back.
“I’m never gonna get used to that,” Bucky muttered to himself as he moved to take up his position behind Steve.
“Yeah, totally weirds me out,” Sam agreed.
When the bullhorn failed to draw Ross out and they were greeted with a hail of gunfire, things began to move quickly. Tony and Steve stayed near the front, ready to rush in behind the first group of soldiers.
Before they could break the door down, though, it opened from inside and a group of grim looking Hydra soldiers walked out, followed by Ross and Darcy, who was being dragged by three other Hydra goons and had a half a dozen guns aimed at her.
Steve and Tony tensed and stopped.
“Thaddeus Ross, you’re a traitor,” Tony declared coolly. “What do you want with Darcy?”
As Ross gave an evil grin, Steve noted that he had a prominent black eye. Had Darcy given that to him?
“She’s a feisty one like her father,” Ross declared. “She might make a useful asset for us if you won’t give back the one you stole.”
“What do you mean?” Tony asked, glaring at Ross now.
“Give us back The Asset,” Ross repeated. “I know he’s here. He and Rogers are practically peas in a pod.”
Steve felt sick and looked at Tony.
“So you can use him to murder more of my family? No way in hell.” Tony spat.
“Fine. You’ll get to watch him kill Darcy,” Ross said, nodding to the oldest looking soldier beside him, who started yelling out a string of words in Russian.
Steve gripped his shield and prepared to let it fly, but Bucky’s words in his comm stopped him.
“Hey, I’ve got this Steve. Just hold on a few more minutes.”
Steve nodded and indicated to the rest of the group to hold fire. Bucky sauntered up to Ross, looking menacing and wearing the full on Winter Soldier blank stare. Ross looked a trifle scared for a second.”
“Ready to Comply,” Bucky said, imitating his old monotone. Steve shivered.
Ross grinned and handed him a knife.
“Drench them in her blood,” he ordered, pointing at Darcy.
Bucky took the knife and stalked over to Darcy, who pretended to be terrified and widened her blue eyes at him. There was a quick moment of silent communication between them where she could see he was clearly in control of the situation and then in a flash, Darcy’s three guards were bleeding on the ground and she was being shoved toward Steve, who grabbed her and pushed her behind his shield as more gunshots rang out.
Ross’s mouth was hanging open as Bucky turned toward him and leveled him with a vicious right hook.
“Not the Asset anymore, idiot,” he muttered at Ross’s prone form. Agents rushed forward to handcuff the stunned Secretary and the Avengers went into full battle mode against the rest of the cell.
It was over in twenty minutes and Darcy was soon being fussed over by Steve and Tony, Neither of whom could stand to let her out of their sight.
“Bucky, that was amazing!” she called out to her friend. “You saved me.”
Steve squished her close again.
“That he did. I”m so glad you’re safe, sweetheart.” He told her, kissing her hair. He was shaking more than she was, so she let him hold her, knowing how he needed the reassurance and quite enjoying extra Steve snuggles.
Tony tried to wait patiently, but Steve didn’t seem inclined to let him have a turn so he took the opportunity to approach Bucky and Natasha, who were watching Steve and Darcy with a great deal of fondness.
“Nice work, Romanoff. He won’t see the light of day again,” he told Natasha.
“All in a day’s work, Tony,” she answered calmly.
“I kind of dig the new look, Barnes,” he said, nodding at the now uncomfortable looking Bucky. “Natasha make you cut it?”
“No. It was getting in the way.” Bucky answered. There was an awkward pause and then Tony spoke again after struggling to find the right words for what needed to be said.
“Well, thanks for saving Darcy,” he managed. “It would have killed me to lose her.”
Bucky finally looked him in the eye and Tony was struck by the emotion in his stormy eyes. He’d only known the man as the cold-blooded killer on the tape murdering his parents, but this man looking back at him was the Bucky that Steve had defended so staunchly and the man who’d he’d seen in old footage joking around with Howard.
“The least I could do,” Bucky sighed. “Darcy’s a real special lady.”
“That she is.” Tony agreed. “Maybe you’ll let me see your new arm someday?”
Bucky barked out a laugh.
“Maybe. You’ll have to get Shuri’s permission first. She’s already warned me about letting you tinker in it. Beware of Stark, she said.”
“I’m a little offended,” Tony said dramatically. “You don’t trust this genius?”
He pointed to himself and Natasha sighed.
“And there’s the Tony we know,” she remarked. “Darcy’s coming your way, Tony. I think she finally managed to escape Steve’s clutches.”
Sure enough, Darcy was worming her way over to Tony, who hugged her close.
“You okay, Darcy?”
“Yeah. Except for my glasses, RIP,” she said sadly. “Nat brought my backup pair, otherwise, I’d still be stumbling around. Thanks for coming so fast.”
“Bet you're glad for those earrings, now, hey kiddo?” He asked affectionately, turning to glance at her ear, where a little pearl could be seen.
“Yeah.” She admitted with a chuckle. “Thanks, pops.”
Darcy woke to find herself tied up in a dingy windowless room, woozy, half-blind due to her glasses being gone, and very, very annoyed. This was unfortunately not a new experience for her, as she’d gone through multiple kidnappings already in her time working with the Avengers. But this was the first time she’d get to be rescued by her husband (if she had to be rescued, which was looking unfortunately increasingly likely given the circumstances). She imagined Steve and Tony would tear the place apart looking for her. Twisting her neck, she felt the bump of her tiny earring against her shoulder and relaxed, very relieved they hadn’t taken her tracking devices.
Tony had told her in no uncertain terms that she could wear those, or have non-stop protection surrounding her until the threat was past. He’d managed to make them pretty enough that she almost enjoyed wearing them and complimented him on the design.
“Kidnapping civilians now, Ross?” she sighed to herself, trying to scoot into a more comfortable position.
“You’re not just any civilian, Dr. Lewis,” a voice responded from the ceiling. Ugh. He’d probably been watching her the whole time, the creepy jerk.
Darcy stuck out both middle fingers behind her back and heard a bark of amusement from the speaker.
“Now, now, what would your husband, the good captain America, say?” Ross rebuked.
“He’d give me a fake frown and then high-five me,” she responded. “You don’t know him nearly as well as you think you do, Mr. Secretary. Speaking of which, isn’t this unlawful imprisonment? I”m not part of your stupid Accords.”
“You’ve been messing with things too much, Doctor.” He replied smugly. “I had Rogers right where he couldn’t interfere anymore and there you go, marrying the man and letting him walk!! How much did he pay you?”
“Screw you!” Darcy snarled. “You shouldn’t have left that loophole.”
“Believe me, it wasn’t my choice,” Ross declared grimly. “If I had my way, he’d have never been unthawed in the first place. Nothing but a troublemaker, that one.”
“You know, that sounds like something Hydra would say,” Darcy remarked coolly, growing suspicions filling her with dread as she remembered the goons that had fought with her.
“Very astute, my dear.”
“So are you gonna kill me?” She sighed.
“Not yet,” he answered. “I’m going to wait until your husband can have a front row seat for the show.”
“You sick, sick bastard,” she muttered. “Have fun dying right afterwards.”
He only laughed, leaving Darcy to fume and curse his name under her breath.
“At least I can die knowing I’m not a traitor.” She thought, hoping Steve would avenge her gloriously.
Nastasha was shamelessly speeding as she drove the black suv in pursuit of the signal coming from Darcy’s earrings. They knew that Ross was funding Hydra now and Bucky was following every movement like a hawk, while also getting updates from Steve.
“Sam and Sharon got Wanda out of the raft, they’re joining the pursuit as well,” he reported. “Team Iron Man is also assembling. The Avengers are getting the gang back together.”
“It’s about time,” Natasha sighed. “I swear if he hurts one hair of Darcy’s head I will end him myself.”
“Will you let me get a stab or two in?” Bucky asked. “She’s practically my sister now. I was always a very protective brother.”
Natasha smiled at the mental image of a young Bucky threatening Rebecca’s suitors.
“Steve’s crazy in love with her,” Bucky commented as they continued on their journey. “If we can’t get to her in time…..”
“James. We will.” Natasha said gently but firmly. “We are gaining on them.”
A red blur buzzed above them as Iron Man raced past in his suit, clearly in a tearing hurry.
“They’ve pissed off the wrong people,” Bucky said with grim satisfaction, itching to deal Hydra another crushing defeat.
Meanwhile, a very silent Steve was sitting beside Sam in the back of a heavily armored vehicle provided by the CIA. Ross’s treachery had been leaked to certain important agencies as well as the president.
“Last time I was in one of these things I was in cuffs,” Sam remarked. “And met a guy in a literal catsuit. I wonder what T’Challa’s up to anyway?”
“Probably busy running a country,” Steve remarked, managing a smile at his friend’s reminiscing. Sam and T’Challa had an odd dynamic that was very entertaining to watch the few times they’d interacted, consisting of a mutual respect and a very mutual ability to annoy each other.
Sharon was sitting up front, communicating with her bosses and Wanda was sitting between Sam and Steve, looking pale, but determined.
“You alright, Steve?” Sam asked, looking at him with concern.
“Not until I get her back safe and sound,” he sighed, looking down at his left hand, which was currently clenched into a fist. He wanted to be wearing her ring for decades more. No way was Hydra going to wreck his life yet again.
Wanda rested a comforting hand on his arm.
“You are projecting your worry and affection very loudly,” she informed him. “Darcy has many people fighting for her. They have made a grave mistake in taking her.”
Steve groaned and leaned his up to stare at the roof.
“I was afraid something like this would happen. Marrying me put a target on her back. She’d be safer if I’d just stayed in prison.”
“She knew the risks, Steve,” Sharon reminded him. “Put your brain to use planning rather than beating yourself up, Cap. Darcy’s a fighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already halfway escaped by now.”
Sharon’s words, though delivered bluntly, were exactly what Steve needed to hear right then, reminding him of words he’d heard Peggy say long ago when he’d lost Bucky.
Stiffening his resolve, Steve took a deep breath and put his thoughts to the mission.
“Give me a rundown of the layout of their base,” he ordered.
