Marked

Marked

Chapter 4—In between

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

Coulson suffered through breakfast, the one saving grace was the fact Steve Rogers was there with him. No coffee, and the nurse wouldn't bring him the donut he requested, when the doctor said he could have one. They'd talked at length that morning before Rogers showed up. Coulson felt better now that he had a firm grip on what he had to do to get better, which, at the moment, consisted of finding a way to get coffee. Of course, Rogers, being the kind, considerate individual he was, allowed the agent to use his cell phone to call Darcy to requisition the necessary supplies to make his hospital stay not so bad. Rogers was discussing how that morning's briefing went when Darcy let herself into the room.

"Phil, you owe me," Darcy said, handing him a cup of coffee. "I told Nurse Ratchet this was mine."

"Thank you," Coulson said, inhaling the beverage's aroma. "I don't supposed you brought donuts, too?"

"As if I'd forget," Darcy said, producing a package of Hostess powdered donuts from her jacket pocket. "I brought some of your stuff from your apartment, too, as requested. How the hell do you find anything? It looks like no one lives there."

"It's called 'organization,'" Coulson said. "You're going to become organized or else."

"I can be organized. I just didn't organize much with Jane because the clutter drove her nuts," Darcy said, sitting down on the edge of her brother's bed, opening her messenger bag, handing him several books.

Coulson frowned when he saw the first book in the stack. "Darcy, no, I'm not reading this," he said, handing her back the book, titled "50 Shades of Gray." "Please tell me you didn't read this."

"I read it on the flight from Norway," she said. "I had to sit through it, so you do, too. Bet you $20 you can't finish it."

"Darce, that would fall under cruel and unusual punishment, and I'm supposed to be getting better, not worse," Coulson said.

"What's wrong with the book?" Rogers asked, picking it up, but Darcy snatched it from his hands.

"Maybe I'll keep it with me," Darcy said. "We don't need you scarred for life."

"I accept the bet," Coulson said. "Separating you from your money is easy."

"Yeah, and cruel," Darcy said. "Just graduated, have student loans, living in crappy apartment and did I mention it's not a nice place?"

"You're working for SHIELD now, and you can stay at my place," Coulson said. "Since I'm obviously not there. I told you I'd help you find a place, but no. . ."

"Fury's talking about moving me into Stark Tower," Darcy said. "Since I'll be the team's assistant and all."

"Not a bad idea," Coulson said. "But I don't want you that close to Stark."

"He's not so bad," Darcy said.

Coulson snorted.

"He's planning something special for Fury," Rogers said. "He has my blessing."

"Can I help?" Darcy asked.

"You'll have to talk to Tony," Rogers said.

"What else did you bring?" Coulson asked, getting impatient. Couldn't anybody stay on task?

Darcy handed him a couple of pairs of flannel pants, his favorite Army t-shirt and another t-shirt that was not familiar. Coulson unfolded it, and Darcy grinned. It was a blue t-shirt with Captain America's shield emblazoned on the chest.

"Hope you like it," Darcy said. "I saw it on the way over, and decided you had to have it."

"Thanks for embarrassing me," Coulson muttered.

"You're welcome. You're my brother, and someone has to do it," she said. "Which reminds me, Capt. Rogers, why do you have Phil's cards?"

"You'll have to ask Fury about that," Rogers said. "And call me Steve."

"Steve, please enlighten me about Fury's latest atrocity," Darcy said.

"Later," he said.

"I'm going to hold you to that," she said. "I better go get my stuff moved into his place so I can get settled in. I'll be back later."

"Need help?" Rogers asked. "Pepper's supposed to be here any time to relieve me."

"Sure," Darcy said. She gave her brother a kiss on the cheek, hugged him. "You stay out of trouble."

"I'll try," Coulson said. "No promises."

"See you later," Rogers said.

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Darcy didn't have much to move—three boxes of books and other belongings, two suitcases, a duffel, her precious Ipod and laptop. Rogers got a SHIELD driver to pick them up and take them to Coulson's building, and he carried the boxes while she got the bags. Once inside the apartment, Darcy threw herself down on the couch and sighed.

"What's the matter?" Rogers asked, sitting down beside her.

"They must have Phil on the good drugs because he agreed to let me stay here by myself," she said.

"He's just being a good brother," Rogers said.

"Phil's always been a good brother," Darcy said. "He's a good man. A little overbearing sometimes, but I think it's the age difference. He was 15 when I was born. It was interesting growing up."

"I know it's probably impolite to ask, but how old are you?" Rogers asked.

"I turned 23 a couple of months ago," Darcy said. "Not quite your age. Your real age, you know what I mean, right?"

"Yes," he said. "Although I think 25 in my time is different from 25 in your time."

"You're right. You were fighting a war, I'm trying to settle into a job I don't know if I'm ready for," Darcy said.

"You'll do fine," Rogers said.

"I hope so," Darcy said. "C'mon. I'll buy you lunch, and you can take me on a tour of the city, and I'll tell you all of Phil's dark secrets."

"You're kidding, right?" Rogers asked.

"Maybe," Darcy said, smiling.