Who: Darcy & Steve What: comfort Where: the brothel When: shortly after this Warnings: references to violence but mostly adorableness Status: complete gdoc
He’d been a ways out of town when someone had come racing his way, shouting something about needing him at the brothel and all Steve had heard was Darcy’s name before his heart had sunk and he’d taken off, leaping onto his horse and racing down that way. It was what he’d feared more than anything, that she’d be attacked, killed, and in the long minutes it took for him to ride back he prepared himself for the worst. He was prepared to burst in and see all the poor girls paralyzed with fear and Darcy’s body moved up to her room. He’d told her time and time again to be careful, not to put herself in the position to be in harm’s way. She was supposed to stay safe.
His heart was already breaking when he burst in and was immediately swept up by female hands, ushered into a back room, felt like he couldn’t breathe when he saw her sitting there. Alive.
For a moment he could only stop and look at her, taking in the bruises around her neck, the fear in her eyes, and in the next he just let out a breath and moved to drop to his knees in front of her, immediately reaching to pull her into a tight hug.
***
The girls had been taking good care of her since Diana rescued her from her attacker, but she was still a shaky mess. A cup of tea only did so much to calm her nerves. It wasn’t until she saw Steve that she actually felt safe again and she quickly set her cup down to wrap her arms around him, tears falling for the first time since the attack.
It took a few minutes for Darcy to get herself under control enough to speak, though her voice was still a little raspy from being strangled.
“Oh, Steve, it was so awful,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
***
Drawing back, his hand coming to the side of her head, Steve looked at her. “I thought I told you to stay safe,” he chastised, but there was no heat in it. The only thing he felt was relief that she was alright. “What were you doing?”
He didn’t really even care what she was doing. He didn’t care that she’d probably seen the man’s face, probably knew who it was. She’d survived.
Gently his fingers trailed down to brush against her throat, gentle and concerned. “Are you alright?”
***
“I just went out back for a few minutes,” Darcy said. It was something she’d done a hundred times without issue before and never thought it would be dangerous. She likely wouldn’t be doing it again though. In fact, she wasn’t sure if she could even stay here.
She bit her lip when he touched her bruises. They were tender, but she didn’t mind him taking a look. She’d rather him do it than have to go see the doc. “I think I can give you a good description.”
***
“That’s not what I asked you,” he reminded. “You’re more important.” Hand drifting back to the side of her head, he rose up a little, pulled her down so that he could kiss her forehead, lingering for a few moments, holding her close and reassuring himself she really was okay. And for the first time all week, Bucky didn’t even come to his mind. All that mattered was she was alive.
“Don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” he whispered against her. Darcy had been a staple of his life for as long as he could remember. One of the first women who had ever been bought for him and the first who had told him it was okay just to sit. The first he’d paid for himself. One of his closest friends for a long time before he’d said the word marriage to her, The reason he’d made the leap to become sheriff and the reason he’d brought so many women into the station with him.
She was one of the most important people in his life, regardless of what the ladies in town thought of it. He loved her, plain and simple, just waited for the day she’d say she wanted everything he was offering.
***
Darcy closed her eyes and leaned against him, needing his solid strength to keep her steady. Her life had never been an easy one which was how she ended up in this profession, but she’d never been so terrified. This was the first time that she regretted some of the choices she made that led her to this point.
It was also the first time that she regretted not accepting his offer of marriage.
“Yes,” she said, her voice barely audible. Hopefully he would understand what she was saying because she wasn’t sure if she could vocalize what she wanted.
***
It was too much to hope for that he’d catch on. From Steve’s view, her response came out of nowhere, there was no context. He pulled back a little to look at her, clear confusion in his features.
“Yes what? You’re alright?” That was what he’d asked her, after all. His multiple offers of marriage, always played off as a joke because he’d known she wasn’t ever going to agree to it, were the last thing on his mind. Steve’s concern now was most certainly not for his own desires where Darcy was involved. Only her safety, her wellbeing.
***
Of course it was too much to hope. It was actually kind of cute. “Yes, I’m alright,” Darcy said. “But also yes, I’ll marry you.”
She couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t imagine staying in this building for one more night and knew that she’d never feel safe here again. She was beyond lucky that Diana had come looking for her when she did. Coming that close to dying was a wake up call and she realized that she didn’t care what the rest of the town thought. She loved Steve and wanted to have a life with him.
***
Concern for her immediately shifted into hope. Steve had wanted that from her for years, had never thought she’d agree in anything more than a joke to pretend for a while. He’d never dreamed that he’d ever have the chance to have more than an hour or two of her time and her body and never dreamed to actually claim her heart.
“Don’t say that if you’re going to change your mind tomorrow,” he cautioned, wanting nothing more than to believe she was being sincere about it.
The offer to take her away from everything, figure something out for her, had always been there if she wanted it, but it had been so long that Steve had been sure she never would.
***
“I’m not going to change my mind,” Darcy assured him. “As long as you’re sure you’re okay with the judgment you’re going to get from some of the townspeople for marrying a whore.”
That had been the major thing holding her back for a long time and it took nearly dying for her to get over it. She wanted to marry him, wanted to be a good housewife, maybe even have a family. She leaned forward to kiss him, not caring if anyone was milling around and witnessing their conversation.
***
With a smile, Steve just leaned up to meet the kiss, hand still against her and full of affection. That was the answer he’d always hoped for, always wanted, and he was so full of love for her that nothing else mattered.
Drawing back after a moment, he only kept smiling at her. “When have I ever given a damn what people think?” If he had, he’d have stopped seeing her as soon as he’d realized he’d fallen in love with her. He’d never have had the amazing staff that he had. He’d get in a lot less trouble and his life would be a lot less interesting. “Let the local ladies judge all they want.”
What mattered was that they would be happy. And they would finally be able to be together without any guise of it being a business transaction, without the time limits and the restrictions and everything else that had only ever taken away from what they had together.
***
Darcy didn’t even care what Jaime was going to say. There were plenty of other girls who could step up and help her run the brothel. It was rare for one of them to get out of this life and Darcy wasn’t going to miss her chance.
“I don’t want to stay here another night,” she said. “Can I come home with you?”
***
Even as he nodded, Steve knew that she couldn’t, really. He had work to do. “I’ve got to find this man for you,” he told her gently. “And I can’t let you be alone just yet.”
He knew he couldn’t let her stay here, either. She wouldn’t feel comfortable here, so he was quick to offer an alternative.
“One of my sisters lives in town. I’ll take you to hers for now.” She was pregnant and widowed only a few months, would probably like the company for an evening or two, and though he and Darcy had shared a bed plenty of times, probably would do more than a few times before actually getting married, it was more appropriate for her to sleep in Jemma’s bed for now.
***
That was a fair compromise. Darcy didn’t want to be alone and she didn’t want to stay here, so going to his sister’s would be okay. Assuming his sister wasn’t going to be judgy about who her brother was planning to marry.
“Be careful,” she said. “I don’t want him to hurt you.”
***
“I’ll be fine,” Steve promised, gave a reassuring smile and leaned up to kiss her again, brief and chaste, like they’d shared plenty of times locked away in the privacy of her room. Where there was no one to judge what he did with the time he paid for and no one but the woman he loved to see it happen.
“Go on upstairs and get dressed, alright?” He couldn’t take her to his sister’s in less than a proper dress and he knew she had a few. “I’ll send word we’re coming.”
And he needed to talk to Diana as well, had seen her lingering about making sure Darcy was okay, assumed she’d gotten a glimpse of the man too and would get the description out of her. A quick sketch for his deputies would give everyone a better idea of who to arrest.
***
“Okay,” Darcy said, smiling at him before standing up and going up to her room. She did have a few proper dresses, was willing to get more if it meant being with him, and knew that making a good impression on his sister would be important. “I’ll pack my things.”
There wasn’t much that she’d actually want or need to bring. She could leave a lot of her clothes here for the other girls since they wouldn’t be appropriate in her new life. All she needed to bring was a few keepsakes, the few items of clothing she had that were suitable for public, and the money she’d tucked away.
“Don’t leave without me.” Even though she knew he probably should be out on the streets looking for her attacker, she didn’t want to be that far away from him just yet.
***
With a reassuring smile, Steve caught her hand before she went. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He pulled her in close again, less willing to send her on her way than he seemed, just pressed his forehead against hers briefly. “I love you,” he whispered, that something for just the two of them even if no one was listening. “I’ll see you safe.”
If it was the last thing he did, he’d ensure that she was safe and out of this life. There was nothing wrong with being a whore, not in so far as he saw it, but he’d always wanted better for Darcy, always wanted her to be able to lie with a man because she loved him and wanted him, not because she was paid. She deserved a life of love, and he was going to give it to her no matter the cost.