Who: Darcy Lewis & T'Challa What: Lunch Where: a deli near SHIELD HQ When: during the cleanup efforts Warnings: I mean... Darcy is a warning but other than that, no Status: complete
With all the recent chaos happening, Darcy felt like she barely had time for anything.She was worried about Jane the most, afraid that the fallout of Loki’s arrest and Thor’s reaction was going to cause long lasting repercussions for her friend’s life. What if Jane was never allowed to return to the US? She’d been busy helping coordinate SHIELD’s response to the storm damage and hoping that there wasn’t going to be anything else crazy for a while. They really needed some time to recoup. Today, she managed to duck out and head to one of the delis near work, knowing that she didn’t have much time to dawdle. Her plan had been to get her food to go, but when she spotted T’Challa sitting at a table alone, she decided that she could at least stay here long enough to have a chat with him. She didn’t know him well and wanted to change that, especially since he was dating Natasha. “Mind if I join you?” she asked, approaching his table with a bright smile.
During this time of rebuilding and reconstruction, it was important to support local businesses, T’Challa thought. The deli he’d chosen for lunch today was family-owned and operated. Their recipes were handed down from generation to generation, so he supposed that meant the business stood the test of time. They had rather unique sandwiches, artisan pastas, and difficult-to-find wine, but he just wanted something simple - a pastrami sandwich, something that was famous in the city. With him he also had a soda, and his bodyguards were nearby just in case as well - but they blended in effortlessly, adept at being chameleons at this point. He hardly went anywhere without some of the Dora Milaje with him, after all.
When Darcy approached, he glanced up from the book he was reading while he enjoyed his lunch, and smiled in return - a bright grin that showed his teeth. “Of course not, please, have a seat,” the King motioned to the chair across from him. “How are you doing, Miss Lewis?”
He knew she had a lot on her plate, as the saying went - they all did, after Thor’s tantrum, but recently learning your father was not who you thought he was, well, that was quite a shock.
“Oh, you know,” she said, waving her free hand as she settled next to him. “It is what it is. I’m hanging in there. How about you?”
Darcy knew that the team was doing a lot more towards the rebuilding efforts than she was. Her job was sitting behind a computer, ordering supplies and coordinating logistics. Occasionally making some phone calls. They were out there, doing the heavy lifting and facing the ire of the people who were less than pleased with the Avengers after Thor’s stunt. Things were rough out there and she was worried that Tony was going to try doing too much too soon after his cardiac event. She’d only known he was her father for a few months and she wasn’t ready to lose him. “I know things are tough right now.”
“Yes, they are, but that is par the course it seems,” the King sighed, marking his place in his reading material - with an actual marker; he didn’t have it in him to do something like doggie ear the pages, or tilt the book upside down and leave it on the table that way. That was just chaotic and wrong. “We go with the ebb and flow of things.”
He had been assisting Asgard, monetarily, as best he could - keeping it under the radar, not making a big show of it, since Wakanda was in a good position to help. He’d rather not have the one Outreach Center in the States affected because of all of this nonsense, but he was prepared to negotiate and see just how important vibranium was to the country, if it came down to that. What he knew was that the States coveted vibranium. Badly.
“We will all do our part, anyway,” he added with a smile.
Darcy nodded. The superheroes needed people like her to do the behind the scenes organization so they could continue their good work and she knew that.
“Have you had time to take your lady on a date lately?” she asked. The fact that T’Challa and Natasha were a thing was super hot and she hoped that they didn’t let their Avenger duties get in the way of their relationship. “I can make some suggestions, if you’re looking for any.”
Just because she wasn’t interested in a traditional sort of relationship didn’t mean she couldn’t give great advice. And if that advice involved offering herself as a potential third if they were interested, well, how could anyone blame her?
His lady? Well, well. What an intriguing question. T’Challa chuckled a little, the sound warm and rolling around in his throat. If nothing else, the inquiry (and the idea of Darcy providing date suggestions) brought a bit of levity to the day - that was sorely needed.
“It has been some time,” he admitted. Natasha came to the penthouse after they both assisted with some emergency rescue and damage control efforts, during the storm, and they’d dried off there - had a glass of wine and just took some time to wind down in prep for the next day, but he didn’t think that counted as a date.
Fingers tapped on the cover of his book. “I would appreciate any suggestions you have, Miss Lewis.” Truly, he would - he wanted to keep things fresh and interesting, after all.
“Well, there’s the obvious,” Darcy said. “Dinner at a fancy restaurant and tickets to a Broadway show. Or going to the top of the Empire State Building. But considering it’s you and Natasha, I feel like traditional isn’t necessarily the way to go.”
Though on the other hand, they might appreciate something that let them act like normal people.
She shrugged. “If you like whiskey, there’s a distillery in Brooklyn that you can tour and do tastings. “Or you could do something like take a UV body painting class for couples. I’d be happy to photograph your results if you do that.”
T’Challa almost snorted a laugh, but he managed to keep his face serious for the time being - still, the twinkle in dark eyes was probably evident despite his best efforts. What in the name of Bast was a UV body painting class? That he did not know (perhaps he’d ask Sam, just to sate his curiosity), but he was sure Natasha wouldn’t go for it - or photographs, but that was sweet (?) of Darcy to offer.
“We both like whiskey,” he shared, brightening a little at that. “Something a little non-traditional might be nice, yes. I will look into this distillery. Have you ever been?”
Darcy was nothing if not sweet.
“No, not yet,” she said. “I’m more of a brewery kind of gal.” She could appreciate a good whiskey, but it wasn’t typically her drink of choice. “But let me know how it is if you end up going.”
“I certainly will, thank you,” T’Challa nodded. He didn’t drink all that often - and the enhancements gifted to him by ingesting the heart-shaped herb meant that it was very difficult for him to feel the effects of alcohol anyway - but he enjoyed a good beer here and there, or a nice wine for a special occasion. Whiskey was something he’d nurse for special occasions too - it sounded interesting, to be able to get a tour of a place where it was specially made.
A brewery also sounded intriguing, but one date at a time. “Is there someone you wish to bring? Perhaps you can join us,” he suggested. “I think the term is ‘double date.’”
He was familiar with it now, thanks to Sam and Carol and that whole thing.
“Hmm, maybe,” Darcy said. If nothing else, she could probably drag Peter since his scary green girlfriend wasn’t currently around. Or maybe she could convince Bucky to go with her. It might be fun. “Let me know when you’re thinking about going.”
She knew that would all depend on the rest of the clean up and aftermath mitigation efforts that they were all dealing with at the moment.
Speaking of which, she should probably get back to the office. She quickly finished her lunch and stood. “I better get back before the boss gets mad,” she said. “Hope you have a good rest of the day.”
T’Challa made a mental note to talk to Natasha - he was pleased to have something to suggest now, seeing if she’d be interested in touring this distillery, and even more so that they could potentially make it an outing with friends. Those were always fun - and then of course he’d have alone time with his lady too. The best of both worlds.
“Yes, I will let you know,” he promised. “Thank you again, Darcy.” He could be a little less formal now that they were making plans, he thought. “And - I will see you soon.”
He ought to get back to the penthouse too. There were calls to make and more work to be done, to help Asgard. It was a monumental undertaking but well worth the effort - besides, like he said earlier, they all had a part to play. Time to put it all into action, and keep going until the job was done.