Chapter 22
In a relationship.
Another punch.
With somebody else.
A harder swing.
Giving someone else those eyes, that saucy grin
Steve was startled from his thoughts when the bag suddenly flew across the gym. Seems like he was still getting used to his own strength, he thought wryly. Steve let out a long sigh. How could she be so close but so far away? This is what they wanted, what they needed, yet it seemed impossible again. For the past couple of months Steve had been struggling with the thoughts of seeing Darcy. He would either bring up the terrible memories of his death all over again, or he would stay away from her. Either way, this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
Just by Director Fury being there, Steve knew something was very, very wrong.
Fucking Tromso, Darcy thought to herself. Why the hell Tromso? Darcy was at least ninety percent sure there were other observatories in more normal places. Darcy heaved out a sigh, her head pinging yet again. It seemed like lately all she could feel was like a pair of eyes on her. It was like Steve all over again, yet she knew it wasn’t. Steve was dead and she was alone again.
“Darcy!” Jane screamed.
Darcy tensed before running to the other room. For the first time since they had arrived here, Jane had a TV on in their little living room. Darcy was about to ask what was going on when the words froze in her throat at the images on the screen. There was a flashing warning on the bottom of the screen, something about invasion (and not the sexy funtimes invasion).
“What the hell is this?” Darcy rasped.
“It’s aliens,” Jane’s tone held complete awe. “And Thor is here.”
“No way!” Darcy jumped onto the stiff couch. Jane’s statement proved to be true as Darcy saw Mew-Mew fly across the screen. “Holy shit! So, um, aliens are a thing?”
“Technically Thor is an alien,” Jane said nonchalantly. Darcy felt as if this was a statement that needed to be qualified, but apparently it was something that had no effect on Jane.
“Darcy, what is going on there?”
Darcy reached for Jane’s hand and gave a reassuring squeeze as they watched the terrifying battle on screen. The whole scene was terrifying and Darcy couldn’t help but to feel pain for the people that were stuck in New York. Here they were in the safety of Tromso while aliens invaded New York. Darcy’s body began to tense as the situation worsened.
“Look, they have a guy dressed as Captain America.”
“What?” Darcy’s tone was hollow. But Jane was right again, the camera managed to zoom in a little more as a shield with a large star on it sliced through an alien.
Darcy’s mind began to run as she stared at the blurry image of the oh so familiar costume and shield. That wasn’t her Steve, her Steve was gone for a long time ago. No, some man was pretending to be her Steve, a guy who had no right to be him. He hadn’t worked like her Steve had, sacrificed himself for everyone else like Steve had. He wasn’t him.
“It’s a copycat, though. Guy’s been dead forever.” Jane muttered. “I wonder how, or why, they got a copycat of Captain America.”
Darcy was only half-listening to Jane. The room was too busy spinning as she felt bile run up her throat.
Darcy missed much more of the Battle of Manhattan after that. She finally regained consciousness with Jane pressing a wet rag on her forehead. Jane’s eyes traced her face with concern as she searched for any signs of distress.
“I felt like fainting myself while watching that, but I didn’t think you would.” Jane muttered.
Darcy blinked owlishly. “What happened? In New York?”
Jane smiled. “They did it. I still haven’t heard from Thor, yet.”
“You will, the guy loves you.” Darcy slowly began to sit up.
“Darcy,” Jane started quietly. “Are you…okay? I’ve never seen you faint before. You’ve been acting weird lately. Oliver says so too.”
Darcy stopped moving as she stared at the TV. It was showing recaps of the battle, one specifically of the make believe Captain America.
“I’m fine, just overwhelmed.”
Truthfully, seeing the costume did nothing but bring up all of the memories, pain, and love of Steve back to Darcy. She had been by his side when he became Captain America, now another person was trying to be him.
Steve stared blankly at the table of the Shwarma place, the rest of the team either chomping happily or trying not to fall asleep. All Steve could think about was how much he wanted to hear Darcy’s voice. During all of this, he just wanted to hear Darcy’s voice and comforting words. Steve had finally made a decision. He no longer cared about the ‘what-ifs,’ he was ready to see Darcy in person this time.