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Daisy paced the floor, watching her code out of the side of her eye, waiting for Daniel to arrive for movie night. It had only been a few weeks since she moved out of a base with the team and into her own apartment. Daniel lived down the hall.
Daisy liked living away from the business and bustle of SHIELD, but even with the crowds that walked the streets of New York City, she still got lonely. She’d spent all day working on a code program for Mack, and the four cups of coffee she’d downed was catching up to her.
A knock on her door and the jingle of keys caught her attention. She ran to open it, happy to see Daniel there, arms laden with movie snacks. She took the hot chocolate mix and popcorn from him, heading straight to the kitchen.
“Hello to you, too,” He joked. “What are we watching?”
“I haven’t picked yet,” She replied, organising the snacks on her island. She glanced at her computer, still open and running codes. Daniel followed her gaze and frowned.
“C’mon, Daisy, it’s seven o’clock. Shouldn’t you be clocked out by now?” He asked.
She shrugged. “Just trying to figure out what I did wrong with that code. We can start in a few, I’ll be done soon.” Daisy reached for her laptop, but Daniel shut it and whisked it away, holding it behind him.
“No more work!” He grinned at her stunned expression.
“Give it back!” She ordered, hands on her hips.
“Nope,” He said. “Can’t. It’s movie night.”
“What if that code was working to prevent an Avengers-level threat?”
He shuffled his feet, smile faltering. “Was it?”
Daisy smiled sweetly. “I guess we’ll figure out if they really needed my help if the world ends tomorrow.”
“Well, movie night tonight, world ends tomorrow,” He said decisively.
“Daniel! I just have to–” Daisy felt all the tiredness and adrenaline from the aforementioned coffee leave her body. She collapsed into a chair at her kitchen island, resting her head on the cool marble. “UGH!”
She heard her computer clack! as Daniel set it down on the counter. He rested a warm hand on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” He asked. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
“No, it’s not you,” She said, sitting up. “I think I had too much caffeine. I can’t drink like I used to.”
He laughed lightly. “D’you think maybe you’re tired because you’re overworking, not from the caffeine?”
She frowned. “No.”
Daniel tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Daisy ignored the sparks she felt, the way her stress melted when he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered to him in that moment.
“How about we just watch whatever you want, I’ll make some hot chocolate, and we can talk?” He offered. Daisy wrapped her arms around him.
“You are literally the best.”
“You’re welcome,” He said. “And I can braid your hair if you want.”
Daisy smiled, watching Daniel make two big mugs of hot chocolate, stirring in Cool Whip and sprinkling chocolate chips on top. They moved everything to the living room and Daniel put on Penguin Town.
He took two scrunchies from the bowl beside the couch, and put one on his wrist. Daisy got comfortable on the floor, letting him run his hands through her hair, sectioning and twisting the pieces away from her face.
“You wanna talk?”
Daisy shook her head sadly. “Why do you care?”
“Honest?”
“Preferably.”
“I know your type,” He said.
Daisy scoffed. “My what now?”
“I know people like you,” He amended. “Some of my favourite people are people like you. Focused on the greater good, even at your own expense. You want people to think you like being alone, even if you always end up back with your friends. You hate losing.”
“Everyone hates losing,” She said.
“Yeah, but you’ll keep running at a problem full-tilt until you either solve it or slam headlong into a brick wall,” He said with a small chuckle.
“Some of those walls are literal,” She laughed.
“I know.”
Daisy sighed, “But how does that…”
“Because when people like you run into those walls, you should have someone there to pick you back up,” He said sincerely. He tied off the first braid. Daisy tilted her head back and searched his eyes.
“And you…” She started, losing her voice halfway through. “You like to be that person?”
“Not for everyone,” He said. “It helps if they’re fun to be around, say what they mean, and have that superpower where they can rock things around.”
Daisy couldn’t stop the grin spreading across her face. “That’s, um… awfully specific.”
“I guess it is,” He said. Daisy looked forward again, letting him finish the other braid. She got up and sat beside him.
“Your hair looks nice,” He murmured. She leaned forward, close enough to feel warmth radiating off him.
“Does it?”
“Yeah,” He breathed.
“You know,” Daisy said, “I think I have a crush on you.”
He chuckled, resting one hand on her waist. Before he could say anything, Daisy leaned forward, connecting their lips. Daniel ran a hand through her hair, coming to rest it on the back of her neck. She let her hands come up to his shoulders.
He broke away, blushing profusely. Daisy smiled at the lovestruck look on his face.
“I like you too, Daisy.”