#25daysofDL

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Bucky/Darcy fic recs

You guys know the drill.  Go leave the loveys on all these works of art!

[Queen of Wonderland]- Rated E - by @ragwitch  (If you haven’t read this yet, what are you even doing with your life?  Go read this!)  

[the dame in the silk pajamas] - Rated T - by notahotlibrarian (I don’t know your tumblr...)

[Icing on the Cake] - Rated T - by @fudebusho

[(trade your) broken wings] - Rated T - by @bloomsoftly

[Just Keep on Keeping Your Eyes On Me] - Rated M - by @hollyspacey

[The Last Confession of Darcy Lewis] - Rated E - by @leftennant (Priest Kink omggggggg)

[Blueberry Muffins] - Rated E - by @amidtheflowers (Borky Barnes)

[baby, you’re like lightning in a bottle] - Rated E - by @itsjanetsnakehole

[Rule Number One] - Rated E - by @leftennant (No Powers, Surprise Pregnancy) 

[If You Were My Love] - Rated T - by @latessitrice (Soulmark AU)

[Three Weeks, Ten Days, and One Million Reasons to Fall for You] - Rated E - by @leftennant

[Classic Combination:  A Love Story] - Rated E - by @anniemar

[A Mask of My Disguise] - Rated E - by @amidtheflowers

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Darcy/Loki Fic Recs

I have so many favorites... and a lot of them have been deleted... and a lot of them are on ffnet, so like....  

Here’s my four favorites of all time and a brand new wip!  

[Manic Taser Dream Girl] - Rated E - by @anniemar

[All the Time in the World (To Make You Mine)] - Rated E - by @concavepatterns

[Blueberry] - Rated E - by @amidtheflowers

[Captivated] - Rated E - by @leftennant  (I don’t think any tasertricks rec list is complete without this fic, ngl)  

[Tinker, Tailor, Centaur, Faun] - Rated M - by @amidtheflowers (This is a new WIP and it’s amazing and you should DEFINITELY go read it right now if you haven’t)

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Darcy/Steve Fic Recs

Hoo boy, let me just dive right in...

[Ever Since I Set Eyes on You] - Rated T - by @hollyspacey

[Johnson County Blues] - Rated M - by @nemhaine42

[Not Remotely a Coffee Date, Two Years in the Making] - Rated E - by @leftennant

[Figure Drawing] - Rated E - by @melifair

[Dearly Beloved] - Rated E - by @hollyspacey

[your will is not your own] - Rated E - by @typhoidmeri

[Missing in Action] - Rated T - by @wahwahwaffles

Go read these.  (GO!)  And comment on them, because these authors deserve every single bit of praise!  <3  

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Wintershieldshock Fic Recs

I had a hard time picking my faves, but here they are:  (Make sure you go give lovey dovey sugar plums to each of these authors, okay?)  

Darcy, the Old Woman, and the Babe - Rated T - by @ficsandteamakeahappyme (Soulmate Marks, but OMG it’s amazing)

take your time (in a hurry) - Rated T - by @bloomsoftly  (Old West AU)

Baker’s Secret - Rated E - by @georgiagirlagain

Sleeper - Rated E - by @ragwitch

We’ll Never Get Started - Rated E - by @becisvolatile

Codename: Cupcake - Rated E - by @leftennant and @anniemar

[dresupi]

Darcy/Pietro Fic Recs

My OTP, y’all!  These are MUST READS!

[Foreign Policies] - Rated E - by @artificialink  (This is the fic that bit me, you guys.  This is the one that started my obsession with this pairing)

[I will Lay Me Down] - Rated E - by @itsjanetsnakehole (If I ever don’t rec this fic, check on me, I must be dead)

[Never Thought I’d Be the Type to Fall] - Rated E - by @hollyspacey  (see above note, bc BED SHARING)

[I just have to look good, I don’t have to be clear] - Rated T - by @typhoidmeri (based on that rude pic of ATJ in his underwear on the washing machine, like... what other reason do you need for reading it?  Other than actual facts Fic-Princess merideath wrote it, of course!)  

[another head hangs lowly] - Rated G - by @typhoidmeri (WALKING DEAD AU!!!!  I’m in love with this AU.  I want to take this AU out for dinner and let this AU know that I have no other expectations, I just want to spend time with this AU because I appreciate it)

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Darcy Lewis/Remy Lebeau Fic Recs

For Day 2 of my 25 Days of Darcyland.  

All of these fics are must reads.  Make sure and leave appropriate cuddles and hearts at the end for these amazing authors!  

[Pleasure before Business] - Rated T - @artificialink

[An Honest Man] - Rated G - @artificialink

[Moonlight on the Water] - Rated E - @pinkcoffeefrog

[Help me obi Wan whoever the fuck you are....You’re my only ho] - Not Rated - by @amusewithaview

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Darcy/Johnny Fic Recs

GO READ THESE OMGGGGGGGG

[The Prince’s Bride] - Rated T - by @phoenix-173 (Princess Bride Fusion OMGGGGG)

[Command the Moon, It will Come Down] - Rated E - by @ragwitch

[Approval Ratings] - Rated T - by @ragwitch

[Count Binary In Your Name] - Rated M - by @ragwitch

[i fear no fate] - Rated G - by @bloomsoftly (Collection of tasertorch fics, all of them are gold)

[burning flame, full of desire] - Rated E - by @itsjanetsnakehole

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Cotton-Headed-Ninny-Muggins

Pairing:  Darcy Lewis/Wade Wilson For:  @georgiagirlagain Prompt:  “I’m a cotton-headed-ninny-muggins.” Word Count:  1033 Rating:  T

[Read it on Ao3]

Check out the [25 Days of Darcyland Masterlist] for more holiday themed fics!  I’m posting one a day until December 25!

Darcy wasn't exactly sure what happened and in what sequence.  All she knew was that one minute, she was taking a nice, well-deserved shower and the next, her bathroom contained one more person and they were legit trying to hide under her vanity.  

A flash of red and black clued her in on the who.  Not that it really surprised her.  They had an open door policy, she and Deadpool. Of course, it was a relatively new policy and she'd kind of been hoping that the first door he'd open would be her bedroom door, but that was splitting hairs.

"Wade… for the love of Thor…"  Darcy peeked out of the shower curtain.  "What the actual fuck, dude?  Please don't tell me you're hiding from an assassin in here.  Because that puts me in danger, bro."  

"Don't call me bro…" he whined.  "It makes me feel like an asshole… like I watch Rick & Morty for fun and tell people on Reddit how smart I am."

"Are you hiding from an assassin in my bathroom?"  

"Since you previously told me not to tell you if I was hiding from an assassin in your bathroom... no?"  

"Is someone going to come in here guns-a-blazin'? Because dude, I've had enough blazing guns for one week, I just wanna sit down and relax.  Maybe make some cookies later."  

"Okay.  You don't have to worry about blazing guns.  It's Clint who's after me.  Clint and Natasha. Mostly Clint, Natasha got bored because she kept winning."  

Darcy sighed.  "What's the game?"  

"It doesn't really have a name?  It's just… the loser has to wear this ugly sweater with a quote from a very popular, very cheesy, very Will Ferrell holiday film, and I don't want to be the cotton-headed-ninny-muggins again, Darce…"  The last bit was definitely a whine as he rummaged around under her vanity, pushing her tampons and various hair accessories out of the way to see if he could jam himself under there.  

"Is the hide-and-seek based or tag based?"  

"Both.  But if you get tagged, you lose."  

"Right.  So you're already losing because if he finds you, which he will, that's a terrible place to hide, you won't have anywhere to run.  You need a better hiding place."  

There was a thump outside the bathroom and both of them looked towards the door.  She reached for a towel, one of her fluffy, luxurious bath sheets.  Wrapping it around her body, she motioned for Wade to join her in the shower.  "Just come in here… he wouldn't ever expect that you'd be in here."  

Wade paused for a moment, but nodded, stepping into the shower and staying a respectable distance from her as a hand knocked on the door from the outside.  

"Darce?"  Clint called.  "Can I come in?"  

"Clint… hasn't anyone ever told you that it's rude to disturb people in the shower?"  she asked.  

"Yeahhhh, and how many times have you barged in on me to find out where I keep my Pop tarts?"  

"Listen.  I barge because I care.  And you know pop tart shortages are a thing when Thor's in town."  

"Okay, well.  I'm looking for someone.  Mind if I come in there and give a quick look around? I'll stay away from the shower."  

"Fine dude, but I warn you. It's just me. AND there are tampons."  

He scoffed.  "I'm Hawkeye, world-class-archer.  Member of the Avengers.  I ain't afraida no tampons."  

His search was pretty thorough, considering there were maybe two places Wade could be hiding.  Well, three, if you counted in the shower.  

Wade was squatting down on the floor of the shower, arms crossed as he was pelted with backspray from her shower head.  

"Cool, thanks Darce!"  Clint said, rapping twice on the wall.  

He started to leave and Darcy sighed in relief.  

"Oh...uh… Darce?"  

"Yeah?"  

"I put a dry towel on the rack for you, since you've got the other one in there with you."  

Her heart leapt into her throat.  "No, I don't."  

"Yes you do.  I know you wouldn't let Wade in the shower with you if you were completely naked."  

"How did you--"  she started, her eyes closing as she leaned her head against the tile.  "Sorry,  Wade."

The merc with a mouth sighed in exasperation.  "It's fine, Darcy.  You tried. Kind of.  I mean, you did give it up under little to no interrogation.  But I mean… it's cool, babe."  

"Wade.  I have a sweater with your name on it.  You cotton-headed-ninny-muggins," Clint called over the still running water.  

Realizing how ridiculous this was, Darcy turned off the water and shooed Clint out of the bathroom. She opened the curtain, clutching her soaking wet towel around her as Wade stepped out onto the bath mat.  

"You can come over tonight for cookies?" she offered.  "Cotton-headed-ninny-mugginses only."  

"Are you including yourself in that group?" Wade asked, his suit squeaking as he made his way to the door.  

"Definitely.  It's obviously the best group to be in."  

"You're pretty swell, Darcy.  You know that?"  

She shrugged. "I do now."

"Whatever, you knew," he scoffed, pulling his mask all the way off and scratching his head.  "I'm gonna go change, unless soaking wet leather suits are a kink of yours…?"  

She shrugged.  "I could get on board with that."  

"But can you get on board with hideously ugly sweaters featuring catchphrases from movies that are over ten years old?"  

She waggled her eyebrows.  "Depends on what else you're wearing."  

"It'll be that sweater and only that sweater, I will be bedecked and bedazzled for your holiday entertainment/pleasure/frivolity."  

"Sounds perfect.  Consider my door and my legs unlocked for your use."  

He smirked.  "I feel like I should warn you.  It lights up."  

"The sweater, or your dick?"  

"If I said both, what would you do?"  

Darcy purred, winking seductively.  

"I will be here with bells on, Lewis.  Oh, and the sweater has bells.  And I'm wearing it the whole time we're fooling around, it's gonna sound like an elf is getting plowed all across your bedroom."  

"Jingle all the way," she countered.  

"Oh my lanta…" He clutched his chest.  "Bad sex puns.  Be still my heart…"  

[dresupi]

At Least There’s Mistletoe

Pairing:  Darcy Lewis/Remy LeBeau For:  @probablyunnecessary​ Prompt:  Mistletoe kisses Rating:  G Word Count:  1036

[Read it on Ao3]

Summary:  Coulson hadn’t been kidding. It certainly didn’t get very cold down south. And that wasn’t exactly adding to Darcy's holiday spirit in the slightest. 

The winter holidays were exactly that. Wintery. With snow and fireplaces and coats and mittens.

Not sweaty nights debating on whether or not to turn on her window air conditioning unit.

And it certainly doesn't help matters that she barely knows the man into whom's protective care she's been thrust.

Check out the [25 Days of Darcyland Masterlist] for more holiday themed fics!  I’m posting one a day until December 25!

"Where are you going?" Darcy asked, stepping out onto the porch of the safe house.  

Remy turned, his eyes flashing red as he gave her a look.  A look that implied that she should know exactly where he was going, but Darcy had given up long ago on trying to understand the nuances of his personality.  

She crossed her arms.  "Don't look at me like that. I never know anything."  

Rolling his eyes, he bent slightly, retrieving the axe from where it was leaning against the chopping block.  "I'm goin' to get ya a tree. And ya do too know things, ya just bein' stubborn."

"A tree?" she asked, deftly ignoring the rest of his statement.  

"For Christmas?  You've been mopin' around and hintin' about it enough, I figured ya knew where I was goin'."

"Why would I know that, Remy?  How would I know that?"    

"Figured ya knew…"  He turned, slinging the axe over his shoulder and walking towards the forest.  

"I'm coming with you," she called after him.    

"Suit yourself.  Wear comfortable shoes."

She glanced down at her feet, still in her slipper socks from that morning.  She jammed her feet into the hiking boots she'd never really worn that were sitting by the front door, bending forward to lace them up.  

Maybe she had been moping around a lot lately. Staying in bed.  Reading books and keeping to herself.  But she was stuck in a safe house with someone she didn't know from Adam.  Of course, she hadn't really been trying to know him either.  

Better late than never.  

She tied both boots, straightening up and realizing that Remy had not waited for her. He had a mega headstart. She could still see him across the field that stretched out in front of the safe house.  He was tiny; in the distance, but she could see him..  Sighing heavily, she weighed her options in her head, thinking that maybe it'd be easier if she just stayed behind.  

He stopped walking, turning to look back at her on the porch.  Cupping his hand over his mouth, he called, "YOU COMIN', CHERE?" And pretty much made the decision for her.  

"YEAH!" she replied, debating on whether or not to take her coat from the hook by the door and deciding not to.  It wasn't nearly cold enough to warrant something as heavy as her coat. She was wearing a hoodie, that would likely be enough.  She did pull the door closed behind her, though.  

He waited for her to jog up beside him.  Which took longer than she'd care to admit.  She hadn't exactly been working on her cardio lately.  

Remy took off walking as she approached, his boots crunching in the dead grass  

Coulson hadn't been kidding.  It certainly didn't get very cold down south.  And that wasn't exactly adding to her holiday spirit in the slightest.  The winter holidays were exactly that.  Wintery. With snow and fireplaces and coats and mittens.  

Not sweaty nights debating on whether or not to turn on her window air conditioning unit.  

"So… what crawled up your butt, Darcy Lewis?" he drawled, a smirk breaking the normally clear cut lines of his face.  "I heard from Logan that you was a spitfire.  Lemme tell ya, it ain't been my experience, mabelle."  

She shrugged.  "I dunno, something about getting pawned off on someone I don't know, in the middle of nowhere, right before the holidays and not being able to work any of my cases to boot…"  Her shoulders slumped a little.  She thrived under deadlines and to-do lists. She was an agent, she should be out… agenting.  Not here in protective custody, just trying to stay alive and not die of boredom.   "I'd settle for a smouldering spark… even if I'm no longer a spitfire." 

"Ya know me," he said, frowning slightly.  "You know me."  

Of course that would be the thing he'd latch onto.

"I met you the day I got dropped off.  I don't know anything else about you," she argued.  

"Whose fault is that?"  he countered, raising his eyebrows and switching the axe to the other shoulder.

"I guess mine," she said with a sigh, jamming her hands into her jeans pockets.  "Tell me about yourself, Remy."  

He scoffed.  "It ain't that easy."  

"Okay…" she trailed off.  "Where'd you grow up?"  

"That's better," he said with a grin.  

They walked about a mile into the woods, with Darcy asking him questions and Remy answering them the whole way.  He even got a few in on her without her realizing it.  She was about halfway through the story of how her dad bought her a trike for her fourth Christmas when she realized how much she'd told this man about her life.  

"You're a sneaky son of a gun, aren't you, Remy Lebeau?"  

He winked.  "That's a nice way of puttin' it."  

"Have you found a tree yet, Mr. Sneaky Pants?"  

He pointed straight ahead.  "That one."

It was a little smaller than she was imagining, but it was nice and full.  She nodded her assent.  "Okay, let's chop it."  

He reached out and grabbed her arm, "Look up there real quick."  

She did, noticing an odd-looking plant growing in a dead tree.  "What the…"  

"Mistletoe," he explained.  "It's a parasite. "  

"That's how mistletoe grows?  I never knew. Huh…" She folded her arms and gazed up at it.  "You aren't gonna try to kiss me are you?"  

"Only if you ask me."  

She faltered.  Because honestly, she'd been hoping he'd try.  He'd been so charming and so adorable for the entire day, and maybe it was the fact that she was lonely and maybe even a little bit touch-starved, but she really really wanted his lips on hers.  

Gulping, she nodded. "Okay."  

"Okay what?"  

"Okay.  Kiss me."  

He searched her eyes for a moment, and then he did.  He reached behind her to prop the axe on the tree trunk and he kissed her.  His lips were warm and dry and his hand was behind her head, cupping it to protect it from the tree trunk when he pushed her up against it.  

"I can't believe you kissed me…" she murmured.  

"Can't believe you asked me to…"

[dresupi]

Clint/Darcy Fic Recs

One of my first Darcyland ships right here.  (Right after Tasertricks, actually). It will always hold a special place in my heart.  <3  

[Up All Night to Get Lucky] - Rated E - by @artificialink

[We Fall in Love Til It Hurts]  - Rated E - by @hollyspacey

[Ridiculous Adjectives] - Rated E - by @citywallandtramampoline (Dirty Scrabble.  It’s the BEST OMG)

[treasures untold] - Rated T - by @bloomsoftly (Mermaid Darcy)

[Braids] - Rated G - by @hkthauer

Go leave love in all their comment boxes, you guys!

[dresupi]

Holiday Gift Fic Masterlist

Day 1:  Liquid Courage - Darcy/Natasha - Rated T

Day 2:  At Least There’s Mistletoe - Darcy/Gambit - Rated G

Day 3:  Pass Me That Thirty-Nine-and-a-Half-Foot-Pole... - Darcy/Logan - Rated E

Day 4:  Santa Baby - Darcy/Coulson - Rated T

Day 5:  Just Tell Me Mogwai - Darcy/Spencer - Rated T

Day 6:  Cotton-Headed-Ninny-Muggins - Darcy/Wade - Rated T

Day 7:  Pinned-Up from the Toes Up - Bucky/Darcy/Steve - Rated M

Day 8:  We’re Here Tonight; And That’s Enough - Darcy/Peter Maximoff - Rated T

Day 9:  Worthy - Darcy/Thor - Rated T

Day 10: Where the Love Light Gleams - Bucky/Darcy - Rated E

Day 11:  Candy Kisses - Darcy/Johnny - Rated M

Day 12:  The World is Your Snowball - Darcy/David Haller - Rated G

Day 13:  Two Turtle Doves - Darcy/Sam - Rated T

Day 14:  Where’s the Tylenol? - Clint/Darcy - Rated G

Day 15:  With Sprinkles on Top - Darcy/Pietro - Rated E

Day 16:  You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out - Darcy/Tony - Rated T

Day 17:  A Holiday on Holiday - Darcy/Foggy - Rated M

Day 18:  Reindeer Games - Darcy/Loki - Rated G

Day 19:  I’ll Give You the Moon - Darcy/Steve - Rated E

Day 20:  Reaping, Sowing, and Planting the Seeds - Bruce/Darcy - Rated G

Day 21:  Cookies - Bucky/Darcy/Pietro - Rated E

Day 22:  Ugly Sweaters All the Way Down - Darcy/Scott Summers - Rated M

Day 23:  Stocking Stuffer - Darcy/Rumlow - Rated E

Day 24:  Latkes - Darcy/Wanda - Rated G

Day 25:  And Since We’ve No Place to Go - Darcy/Matt - Rated T

Fic Rec Masterlist

Day 1:  Darcy/Natasha

Day 2:  Darcy/Gambit

Day 3:  Darcy/Logan

Day 4:  Darcy/Coulson

Day 5:  Darcy/Spencer

Day 6:  Darcy/Wade

Day 7:  Bucky/Darcy/Steve

Day 8:  Darcy/Peter Maximoff

Day 9:  Darcy/Thor

Day 10:  Bucky/Darcy

Day 11:  Darcy/Johnny

Day 12:  Darcy/David Haller

Day 13:  Darcy/Sam

Day 14:  Clint/Darcy

Day 15:  Darcy/Pietro

Day 16:  Darcy/Tony

Day 17:  Darcy/Foggy

Day 18:  Darcy/Loki

Day 19:  Darcy/Steve

Day 20:  Bruce/Darcy

Day 21:  Bucky/Darcy/Pietro

Day 22:  Darcy/Scott Summers

Day 23:  Darcy/Rumlow

Day 24:  Darcy/Wanda

Day 25:  Darcy/Matt

[dresupi]

Pairing:  Bruce Banner/Darcy Lewis For:  @chrissihr Prompt:  Secret Santa Rating:  G Word Count:  1574

Summary:  

When Bruce draws Darcy's name for Secret Santa, he has little to no idea what to get for her. It has to be perfect, though. Because it's Darcy. And Darcy's pretty much perfect.

To add insult to injury, he has to make the gift. He has seven doctorates. One of them should qualify him to make a simple gift.

If only one of them was in knitting or something.

Check out my other holiday fics on my [25 Days of Darcyland Master List].  I’ll be posting one a day until December 25!

Other Darcyland Ship Tag:  

@katiehavok, @georgiagirlagain, @heartsandwinter, @freudensteins-monster, @anastasia-goddess-of-drama, @indiana-my-bones, @phoenix-173, @evolution-of-magic, @dragongoddess13, @arielpink42, @ritamej, @pegasusdragontiger, @shesegwin

Want to be tagged?  Sign up [here]!

[dresupi]

Darcy Lewis/Logan fic recs

Go and leave heaps of love and sugarplums on all of these fics, you guys!  Darcyland is an awesome place and I know you guys love your authors!  <3 

For Day 3, here are my Clawshock fic recs

[Birds and Bees] - Rated T- by @ragwitch (queenspuppet on Ao3)

[Darcy x Logan [from her Prompt Jar_Darcyland fic)] - The fic is Rated E, but this chapter isn’t - by @dragongoddess13

[I Should Ink My Skin with Your Name] - Rated E - by @gryffindancer  (No Darcy/Logan fic rec list would be complete without this one, ngl)

[The Other Superpower] - Rated E - by @pinkcoffeefrog

[Bartender AU] - Rated E - by @dragongoddess13

[dresupi]

Pairing:  Darcy Lewis/Sam Wilson For:  @xidaer Prompt:   “Pretend to be my S.O so my parents will get off my back about my single status” Bonus Bed sharing Word Count:  2453 Rating:  T

Summary:  In which Darcy enlists Sam to be her pretend boyfriend for the holidays with her family.

Thing is, her very real crush leaks into her pretend relationship.

Or:  Darcy/Sam Fake relationship, with bonus bed sharing!  

Be sure to check out the rest of my [Darcyland Holiday Fics]!  I’ll be posting one a day until December 25!

Darcyland Rarepair Tags:  

@katiehavok, @heartsandwinter, @georgiagirlagain, @freudensteins-monster, @anastasia-goddess-of-drama, @indiana-my-bones, @evolution-of-magic, @phoenix-173, @dragongoddess13, @arielpink42

Want to be tagged?  {sign up here}

[dresupi]

Darcy Lewis/Phil Coulson fic recs

Go leave lovey doveys on all these fics, do you hear me?  

Also reblog and spread the joy!

[Make Sure to Keep My Distance] - Rated M - by @hollyspacey (Professor Coulson)

[Crush Me with the Things that You Do] - Rated E - by @hollyspacey (Teachers AU) 

[We Can Talk It Round Again] - Rated E - by @hollyspacey

[Curse of Lochby Cove] - Rated E - by @catrinasl  (Fake Relationship)

[The Mission] -Rated E - by @pinkcoffeefrog

[Operation Volkov] - Rated G - by @littleplebe

[dresupi]

Liquid Courage

Pairing:  Darcy Lewis/Natasha Romanov For:  @paranoidwino Prompt: “This mulled cider is great…” “Yeah… that’s not cider, it’s wine.” “WHAT?” Word Count: 1144 Rating: T

[Read it on Ao3]

Summary:  Mulled cider and mulled wine look surprisingly similar, but one lends more in the way of liquid courage than the other.  AKA, the one where Darcy asks Natasha out over videochat.

Happy Holidays, Wino!

Check out the [25 Days of Darcyland Masterlist] for more holiday themed fics!  I’m posting one a day until December 25!

Darcy was just pulling the last of the foam rollers out of her hair when her phone buzzed on the bathroom vanity beside her.  

Natasha's picture flashed on the screen; it was the sneak-attack one Darcy had snapped when she had her mouth full of spaghetti. There was even a little sauce on her chin.  

Natasha hated the pic, but Darcy loved it.  

She dropped the last of the rollers into the zipper case beside her and swiped the screen to check her text.  

"I was called away, won't be able to make it tonight.  Sorry, solnyshko…"  

Darcy felt her bottom lip poke out.  She had volumized her hair.  She'd bought a new sweater.  It was pink and showed just enough cleavage to be purposeful.  She'd gone to Ulta and spent a small fortune on new mascara and various other cosmetic unnecessities.

And now Natasha wasn't even coming to the party?  

She was disappointed,  but didn't want to make Nat feel bad.  So she simply texted back:  "Awww, sorry to hear that.  I'll miss you.  Can you text me, or will you be busy?"  

She picked up the hairbrush and began to run it gently through her hair, careful not to tamp down the wildness in the waves.  It usually took Natasha a while to text her back, so she was surprised to hear phone buzz again so soon.  

"I'm on a flight back, so I'm all yours. ;)"  

The winky face was a life ender.  Natasha never used emojis.  Was this her subtle way of flirting?  

Darcy didn't want to assume anything.

"All mine, huh? Guess I don't need anything else for Christmas… ;)"  

Her heart clenched the second she pressed send.  And she wished, not for the first time, that she could reach out into the void and snatch a text back after having sent it.

But she couldn't.  It was out in the universe.  And showing up on Natasha Romanov's phone even as Darcy began sweating bullets.  

Nat sent something back immediately.  

"I still got you a gift. Consider this a bonus. ;)"  

Gulping, Darcy sent a series of hearts and then set her phone down to finish her hair and makeup for the party.  She could maybe at least send Nat a selfie after she was dressed and ready.  No need to let her look go to waste just because the recipient of said look wasn't physically present.  

It didn't take her as long as she'd been expecting, so she had about twenty minutes to kill before leaving her apartment to head down to the party.  Which was plenty of time to take a hundred useless selfies, as she soon found out.  

Why wasn't she naturally photogenic like everyone else in this complex seemed to be?  She looked hella amazing, but her phone camera was just NOT getting the memo.  

Finally, through sheer frustration/exhaustion with the whole ordeal, she lay back on her bed, her hair flowing out in a halo around her.  She bit her bottom lip and snapped a picture, and thank THOR almighty it did her justice.  

She sent it via text to Natasha and held her breath as she waited for her friend to see it.  

Natasha read the message and typed back one word.  

"Wow!"  

Darcy preened a little, her cheeks flushing even though no one was really here with her.  

She texted back, "Thank you?" so as not to seem too conceited or anything.  

"You are beautiful, solnyshko. I'm sorry I can't be at the party with you."  

Her heart thudded in her chest as she swiped her response:  "Facetime?" It thudded right up into her throat after.  

"For the entire party?"  

Darcy began to backtrack.  "I mean, if you want.  If not, it's no big deal… I mean, Clint's there and he's sure to do something memorable.  I can't be the only person secretly laughing at these dorks…"  

"Darcy, if it's not too much trouble, I would love to facetime with you for the party."  

Grinning, Darcy tapped the Facetime button.  

"Okay, so the party is in full swing…" Darcy said, spinning her phone around upon her entrance.  "As you can see… Clint is already curious about the bottom of the punch bowl…"  

Natasha didn't laugh, but her lip twitched.  That was just as good as a laugh in Darcy's book.  

"This is fun and all, Nat?  But I still wish you were here…" Darcy said wistfully.  

Natsha's red lips twisted into a smirk.  "Go get some of the punch.  Let me live vicariously through you…"  

"They aren't giving you anything to drink on that flight?" Darcy asked incredulously.  

"They did, but it was one of those tiny cans of soda…commercial flights…" Natasha said with a shrug.

"You're on a commercial flight?"  Darcy asked.  "Aren't the other passengers upset about us talking so much?"  

Natasha lifted her phone and slowly circled the cabin.  While there were other seats in first class, not a single one was filled.  

"Ah. I see."  

She shrugged again.  "Drink?"  

"Okay, but it's just mulled cider…"  

Darcy crossed the floor, sidestepping Clint and Thor on her way to the refreshments table.  She filled a cup with the warm mulled cider and took a sip.  "Mmmmm," she hummed. "It's heavenly."  

Natasha's lip twitched again.  "Sounds like it."  

Darcy took another sip, feeling a bit more bold than she had before.  "Heya, Nat… you think that maybe when you get back we could like… I dunno.  Start seeing each other?"  

Natasha's eyebrows went up, an actual-facts-smile spread on her lips.  "Start seeing each other more?  Because while we see each other a lot, I could definitely go for seeing you more."  

Grinning, Darcy shook her head.  "No.  Well. Yes.  But seeing each other in a… romantical capacity?"  

Natasha tilted her head.  "Thought you'd never ask."  

Darcy's heart leapt and bounded in her chest, making the rounds of her entire thoracic cavity.  She beamed, feeling the blush rise in her cheeks and having little else to do but take another sip of her cider.  "This mulled cider is great!"  She exclaimed.  

Nat pressed her full lips together in a line before responding.  "Yeah… Darce…  that's not cider, it's wine."

"WHAT?"  Darcy peered into the cup.  "Not possible, I hate wine. Too bitter."  

"The color's too dark to be cider.  It's wine."  

"Maybe it's cranberry juice," she argued.  

"Nope!"  Clint interjected, sliding up behind Darcy to wave at Natasha on her screen. "It's WINE, Darcy-Girl… Hey Nat!"  

Darcy's mouth fell open. "Oh my Thor, I accidentally gave myself liquid courage…"  

Clint glanced between Natasha on the phone and Darcy herself.  "Are you guys finally--?  Oh good grief, it's about time! Drink some more, Darce.  Maybe go ask Tony for a raise next…"  

"Hey, you're right… I do deserve a raise!"  

Clint took the phone from her and clapped her on the back.  "Atta girl."