Author's Note: Okay, this is it for now! I might do a sequel in the future - we'll see, but this story was always meant to be pre-ship and/or how things lined up to make a ship possible. I hope you enjoy!

Three Might Yet Be Company

Darcy stood just inside her tower apartment and leaned back against the closed door. Her breath slipped out of her in a sigh of relief – this never-ending day was finally over.

The evening seemed to go by smoothly enough, everyone relaxing with ice cream or sundaes and enjoying the various Disney films while debating on who among them made the best living example of a Disney character. They all agreed, after a long discussion proving Darcy knew way too much about Disney, that Tony was some weird amalgamation of Tigger, Kuzco, and Thomas O'Malley. Well, all of them except Tony himself who argued vociferously about being unjustly labeled. It prompted Darcy to suggest he might have a sliver of Mushu as well. Even he had laughed at that one.

Time flew by as the talk and laughter spilled out and filled the room with the sound of friends, of family. She soaked it in, reveling in the feel of love and protection surrounding her. It would have been hard to feel anything else. She had been installed on the large couch with Jane on one side of her and Bucky on the other. Thor sat at Jane's feet…actually, given his shoulders, he technically sat at their feet. Clint perched on the bar behind them while Natasha sat on one of the bar stools next to him. Bruce and Betty claimed the loveseat while Tony and Pepper curled up together in one of the recliners. Steve sat in the other recliner, just beyond Bucky.

Darcy felt surrounded, safe and shielded from anyone and anything.

Now, facing her empty apartment, she couldn't bring herself to move away from the door quite yet. It was safe – she knew that. Those half-baked idiots who grabbed her on the street didn't have a chance in hell of getting past regular security, let alone JARVIS. No one was getting to her. If, by some impossible whim of fate, JARVIS wasn't enough, Thor and Jane were right across the hall while Bucky had the third apartment on this floor. Bucky… Her attention pulled away from considering the empty room and focused on her newfound understanding of Bucky…of Bucky and Soldier. Two personalities, one body…and both seemed to have reached an understanding.

She'd known Bucky struggled with his shadows, with the memories of things done as Soldier, but she'd thought it was like Natasha and her struggles. It wasn't. Natasha simply slid into the persona of Black Widow - or vice versa depending on your point of view, but there was not a huge gulf of difference between them. With Bucky and Soldier it seemed more like Bruce and Hulk, just without the major physical changes. What understanding had they reached to settle Bucky so much?

Giving herself a shake, she pulled away from the door, her gaze focused on the bedroom. The shower earlier as well as the movie night might have made her feel better, but she needed sleep. Even now she could feel her exhaustion sapping her strength. Jane had offered to stay with her, but Darcy sent her off with Thor. This was the Avengers tower - she was safe here! It had still taken her a good hour to convince Jane to go. Darcy had promised that she was headed straight for bed, no more movies or internet or anything - just sleep. It sounded better every second. Her mouth opened in a yawn and her eyes grew heavy. She took two steps into the apartment, hands coming up to rub her eyes.

"You little bitch!"

Darcy gasped, eyes flying wide open as her head came up with a snap. Her gaze scanned the room, seeking, searching, finding nothing. A tremor ran down her back as she forced herself to take one more step. Her fingers trembled. Her throat tightened and she felt her breath grow short. One more step… Now keening gasps escaped her as one hand came up to her neck. She stumbled backwards. Her back flattened against the door. Although her breathing became easier, her heart raced as it seemed to be trying to escape her chest. The pounding of it echoed in her ears. Tears welled up and one slipped down her cheek.

"Miss Lewis?" JARVIS' voice sounded worried. "Shall I summon someone for you?"

"No," she managed to reply. "No, don't."

"Yes, Miss Lewis." The AI somehow managed to infuse reluctance into his tone.

Seconds later she found herself in the hallway staring at Jane and Thor's door. She didn't even remember opening her own, let alone walking into the hallway. Her hand came up, ready to knock. Then she stopped. For several long moments she stared at the door. She knew – all she had to do was knock and the two inside would welcome her, wrapping her in a blanket and making her comfortable. She would end up sharing a bed with Jane while Thor planted himself between the women and the rest of the world in a silent promise to defend them to the death. All she had to do was knock.

So why didn't she?

Why did her hand simply remain there, raised but not connecting?

Safety. Even as the word crossed her mind, Darcy's gaze shifted away from the door in front of her to seek out the lone door down the hall. The picture of Soldier placing himself between her and everyone else swam up out of her memory. Safety. Bucky had let her curl into his side through three Disney movies without stirring despite being surrounded by so many people. Her hand came down and she walked down the hall, steps moving slow and steady until she stood before Bucky's door. Safety. She took a breath and then another. The breaths came easier. She could even feel her heartbeat slowing. Her hand came up once more, balling into a loose fist. Her gaze flicked down the hall and back. She knocked and held her breath.

A few moments passed and her heart began to pound once more. Her lips trembled. Just as she started to turn, tears pooling in her eyes, she heard the lock disengage. The door opened.

"Darcy?" Bucky's voice, thick with sleep, sounded confused. His gaze swept the hallway before coming to rest on her face.

She opened her mouth and then closed it, unsure of what to say. After a moment, she tried and failed again. Now another tear spilled over and trailed down her cheek.

"Hey." He opened his door wider as he moved into the doorway. His voice softened as he reached out strong hands to clasp her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"I…I…I heard…him," she managed to whisper. A shiver shook her frame.

"Him?"

"The guy who…who did…who threatened…" She couldn't bring herself to say the words and instead raised a hand to her throat. Another, stronger tremor ran through her. Bucky's hands tightened and he pulled her towards him, one of his arms circling around her shoulders. She took the invitation and burrowed into his chest without warning. His other arm came around her. Warmth began to fight the cold within her as she felt engulfed by him. Now she gained the strength to speak. "I was headed for bed when I could suddenly hear the guy who…who…the one Soldier killed to get to me."

Bucky stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed as he seemed to realize her voice held no accusation or fright – not of Soldier anyway. She heard his breath slide out of him in a long sigh and felt his arms tighten around her, drawing her into a close hug as he rested his chin on top of her head for a moment. They stood that way for several long minutes until he heard his clock chiming midnight. "Come on," he said, voice low but strong. "Come inside." She followed without comment as he led her to the couch.

"I'm tired," she whispered, "but I don't want to go back." Her eyes refused to meet his, but she didn't hesitate to burrow into his side. Safety…safety…safety – the word reverberated in her mind, her soul as she pressed into him.

"You don't have to," he told her. She felt him stiffen for a moment as if his muscles tightened, and then she felt his lips ghost over her forehead. "Stay," he offered. "We'll…" He cleared his throat. "I'll take care of you."

"I know," she replied, lifting her head to meet his uncertain gaze. "I know."

His lips tightened. "Darce-."

"It's okay," she interrupted. "You always take care of me, and he protected me." Darcy wasn't sure how to explain it any better. The fact that there were two of them in the one body…well, it didn't bother her as much as it might someone else – someone ordinary. She wasn't ordinary. She was Darcy Lewis, babysitter of recalcitrant geniuses, little sister to some of the most dangerous individuals on the planet (and off for that matter), and had Pepper Potts, JARVIS, and SHIELD on speed dial. If feeling safe meant putting her life and wellbeing into the hands of a man with two distinct personalities? So be it.

"Yeah," Bucky acknowledged, "he did." Silence fell in the apartment and she could feel her drowsiness returning. Then he spoke once more. "You're his handler."

"What?" she blinked her eyes, willing herself to alert once more. "His handler?"

"It's all he knows," Bucky explained. "People…they fit into categories for him." A look of frustration slipped onto his face before he continued. "It's…it's the way they trained him. On one side there are bosses, the ones with the power, and assets, the ones who do the work. On the other side are the others – either enemies or…well, the fodder, people who are potential hostages or bait."

She drew in a sharp breath. "God, what a horrible world they gave him."

He made a choking sound, something sorrowful, but his eyes lightened at her words. "Can't argue with that," he managed. "There's one other person in the world to him though, the handler. That's the person who…well, who takes care of him. The handler helps an asset with supplies, medical care – basically everything an asset needs to do his job."

"And somehow," she stated, feeling out the words, "somehow I became his handler?"

"You take care of him…me...us." He gave an irritable growl. "You've been helping me fit in, find my place. You don't shy away from me…you've argued on my behalf." She felt his hand begin to stroke her hair. "Earlier today, after everything you'd been through and seen, you still stepped between Thor and Soldier without thinking twice."

"I'm not a boss, but not a target," she nodded as the idea clicked with her, "and he needed to fit me into his worldview."

"Right."

His hand continued making long, slow sweeps down her hair as she could feel herself growing heavier against his side. "So," she yawned, "Your friend and his handler, huh?" Bucky's hand paused and she turned her eyes back up to catch him looking down at her. Something moved in his eyes, a shadow both dangerous and enticing. Her breath caught as he bent his head.

Bucky touched his lips to her temple. "My friend?" he repeated, his breath teasing her hair. "Yes, definitely that."

"Bucky?"

He shook his head, eyes sliding shut. "Not tonight, doll, okay? Later."

"Later," she agreed reluctantly. Instead she let her eyes fall closed. Only moments later, or so it seemed, she felt him shift and stand up. He picked her up before she could shake herself fully awake.

"Shh," he said. "Just moving you somewhere more comfortable." He carried her into the bedroom and put her on the bed. The covers were still pulled back from when he woke at her knocking. He pulled them up and over her. "Go to sleep."

"What about you?" she asked.

"I'll take the couch."

"No, no," she disagreed. "We can share." Bucky stiffened as she slid across the bed and patted the open side. "I won't bite," she teased through a yawn. He stood there, staring, and she gave him an encouraging smile. He finally climbed into bed, lying on his back. Darcy immediately drew closer and pressed into his left side. She shifted around until she could rest her head on his chest. He held himself still, almost motionless. "Calm down," she told him. "I trust you…both of you."

"I don't…I can't…" His voice trailed off and she could see a battle playing behind his eyes.

Darcy drew in a breath and then settled. "You know what," she declared, "I'm tired and you're having an argument with yourself. We're going to call it a night, get some sleep, and then the three of us are going to deal with this in the morning." Her chin tipped up to give him a commanding look. "All of us."

"That's my doll," he chuckled, humor strained but real. His arm…his metal arm…curled around her. She felt him begin to brush her hair with his hand once more. His voice dropped to a mutter and she was pretty sure he thought she'd already fallen asleep. "Who'd have thought I'd end up having to figure out how to share my girl…with myself."

Her heart leapt at his words, but sleep dragged her down before she could say anything to him. It turned out to be the last thing she heard beyond the strong heartbeat under her ear, and it sent her tumbling into sleep with a smile curving her lips.