Marked

Marked

Chapter 3—The messenger

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers. They belong to Marvel/Disney.

Rogers watched Coulson sleep, and the irony was not lost on him. Darcy hadn't returned, and he was wondering if she'd been detained. Except she walked into the room, a few minutes later, carrying two cups of coffee.

"Damage Fury much?" Rogers asked, taking the coffee she offered.

"No," Darcy said. "I like my job, and I want to keep it."

"Coulson didn't mention he had a sister," Rogers said. "Well, I didn't get a chance to find out much about him, considering what happened."

Darcy smiled. "You know he has a collection of vintage Captain America cards he wants you to sign," she said.

"They're at my place," Rogers said. "I'll return them when I have a chance."

"Why do you have his cards?" Darcy asked.

"Can we talk about that not in front of him?" Rogers said.

"OK," she said. "Yeah, I'm his sister. My dad is his step-father. Phil's dad was a Green Beret. He died when Phil was little."

"Where did you guys grow up?" Rogers asked.

"California, Colorado and New Mexico," Darcy said. "Dad was with the U.S. Geological Survey for a while. Now he runs an environmental consulting firm in Albuquerque. Mom helps out with it. And despite my familial background and past career as a research assistant, I have no interest in hard science."

"OK," Rogers said.

"Not scaring you, am I? Phil and I kind of scare people sometimes," Darcy said.

"No," he said.

"Phil's gonna swoon when he finds out you stayed," Darcy said.

"There's that word again—swooned," Rogers said.

"You know about captain fanboy here, right?"

"Yes, but. . ."

"Forget I mentioned it," Darcy said. "I understand you have a watch Phil sleep schedule worked out, and can I be part of it?
"Sure," Rogers said. "But I think we're going to have to work Stark in because he's coming back tonight."

"Would you mind staying for now? I just got back into the city this morning, and I need to get some sleep," Darcy said. "Call me if anything changes?"
"Sure," Rogers said, watching as the girl wrote down her cell phone number on his hand.

"Thanks," she said, leaving.

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Coulson woke, in a different room, with significantly less tubes and wiring connected to his body than before. And there was more than Rogers and Darcy sitting around waiting. Several chairs had been pulled into the room, and he counted the rest of the Avengers that were currently still on Earth, along with Rogers, Darcy and Pepper, who noticed he was awake again.

"Hope you don't mind a few visitors," Pepper said, smiling.

"Not at all," Coulson said.

"We can't stay long," Pepper said. "Your nurse is enforcing that rule even though Fury told her off a while ago."

"Fury's been really accommodating since we all showed up," Stark said. "Good to see you're still with us."

"Thanks," Coulson said.

"Oh, I nearly forgot," Stark said, taking something from his pocket, handing the small bundle to the agent. "These are for you."

Coulson unwrapped it, finding a stack of Captain America cards.

"I'll get captain spangles here to sign each of them if I have to sit on him to get it done," Stark said. "That's a complete set, mint vintage. I'd make sure not to let Fury get his hands on this set."

"What do you mean?" Coulson asked, confused.

"Uh, nothing," Stark said. "Gotta go."

"Captain Rogers, what is he talking about?" Coulson said, knowing he wouldn't lie to him.

"Call me Steve," Rogers said. "I'll tell you later."

Coulson frowned, but he yawned, not wanting to fall asleep again so soon, but he couldn't fight it.