New Clothes
Iris’ POV
Iris made extra care to sway her hips a little extra as she moved barefoot to the bathroom. She felt all five pairs of eyes on her but there was only one she cared about. She didn’t know why, but Bucky had caught her attention. Iris wasn’t sure if it was his masculine fearlessness which was still tinted with a gentlemanly manner or if it was the pain she saw behind his icy blue eyes which was the same darkness as she hid behind hers. Maybe it might just have been his handsome looks, but somehow Iris knew it was more than that.
As she closed the door behind her she glanced back at Bucky. She smirked as she saw his fists clenched next to his body.
After the door was closed she let out a huge breath. She didn’t know why, but she felt as though tears were going to spill out of her eyes. A few did. She put up a confident front to everyone, it came tumbling down every time she was alone.
Iris made her way across the cool, marble floors in the overly extravagant bathroom to a mirror which sat across from her. She looked at her gaunt face, more tears dripping from her eyes as she remembered what happened the last time she looked in a mirror. She clenched her bandaged had around the edge of the sink that sat below the mirror.
The tears continued to fall as Iris screwed her eyes shut. After a few deep breaths she felt herself calm down. Iris turned the bronze colored tap of the sink and splashed the frigid water onto her face. Upon closer examination she noticed that the bruises around her neck and wrists were mostly faded but the one Martinez on her cheek was darker than ever. Iris grimaced remembering the previous night’s events.
She forced herself away from the emaciated reflection to look at the clothes Pietro had brought her. Iris smirked at the thought of Bucky being jealous of Pietro and her situation earlier. She quickly shook that thought off. There’s no way a guy, no a soldier, would want a relationship. Much less a mess like me.
Iris picked up a plain black tank top and a pair of black skinny jeans. It was extremely simple but then again, that was her style. There were no shoes but she assumed they still had her well-worn combat boots. They better have my boots.
Along with the top and jeans there was a pair of equally simple black panties and a bra. Iris smiled to herself, imagining Pietro darting through the lingerie department.
After ripping a few tags off the clothes, Iris pulled off her hospital gown. She winced as her body ached in protest. The withdrawal was getting worse.
Everything was somehow a perfect fit. Good going, Pietro. She thought, though she wondered how he had guessed those measurements.
Without warning, she felt herself going numb. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Iris mumbled as she felt her knees go weak. “Not again.”
She attempted to grab whatever was around her which happened to be a very expensive looking glass vase. It crashed just inches from her face as she fell onto the marble floor. The shards of glass flew around the room. Her vision began going blurry as she attempted to push herself from the floor but every part of her felt as though it was weighed down with lead.
“Shit.” Iris whispered, unable to raise her voice.
The last thing she saw before her vision went black was a metal hand punching through the wooden door.
Bucky’s POV
There was some chatter going around the room after Iris had entered the bathroom but the only sound that caught his attention was the shattering of glass from the bathroom. Everyone turned to the closed door but before they could move Bucky was already there.
Without thinking he punched the door with his robotic arm. It broke into a thousand splinters as he used the rest of his body to break down the door.
Iris lay on the ground by the sink, little convulsions spread across her now clothed body. A little blood dripped from her nose. Bucky rushed to her side, not wanting to touch her shivering body.
“What the hell is happening!” Bucky shouted, looking back at the group of four that had just entered. Within a second Pietro was down next to Bucky but he pushed him back.
“By the looks of it, she is going through a particularly rough patch of her withdrawal.” Tony replied, his voice a little worried. Steve and Natasha exchanged nervous looks.
“Withdrawal? Withdrawal from what?” Bucky was shocked. What the hell did she take? Her convulsions seemed to be slowing a bit.
“Cocaine, by the looks of it from her blood test.” Tony continued to look down at Iris’ shivering body.
“What can we do?” Bucky felt an unknown sense of desperation.
“Just wait it out, I guess?” It seemed to be more of question than an answer from Tony.
“I guess? What do you mean I guess!” Bucky was shouting again.
“Well I’m sorry if I don’t have a lot of experience with cocaine withdrawal, Bucky!” Stark was now agitated.
Before Bucky could vault some smart ass response back at the man, Iris’ eyes fluttered open. Her eyes were tinted a light red.
“Iris, are you okay?” Bucky demanded more than asked. He barely noticed Pietro sitting back down next to them again.
“Yeah, I think.” She brought her hand up to her nose to wipe away some of the blood. “Nothing I haven’t done before.” Bucky cringed at the thought of her going through this again but alone. Why do you even care? You’re not supposed to care.
“Well, I guess this is my queue to leave.” Iris interrupted his train of thought. She grabbed the side of the sink and pulled herself to her feet, straightening out her tightfitting black tank top. “Thanks for the clothes, Pietro but I’d like my shoes as well.”
Iris took a few wobbly steps forward but quickly stumbled. This time it was Bucky who stopped her fall. His arms wrapped protectively around her body. Pietro seemed jealous. Good. Bucky smirked but quickly wiped it from his face.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Bucky announced, looking into her eyes as he lifted her up bridal style. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a similar fashion as she did to Pietro, but it seemed more intimate than friendly.
“So what, your going to lock me in a room, handcuff me again?” Iris smirked a little. Her confidence was going to be the death of him.
“Winter’s right, you are in no state to be leaving.” Steve piped up from the corner of the large bathroom. Natasha and Pietro nodded.
“I agree. You can barely walk a few steps, much less make it home.” Tony continued.
“So you are basically keeping me prisoner.” Iris sighed, leaning into Bucky’s chest. He hoped she wasn’t able to here his heart beat.
“You aren’t a prisoner; you just need to be safe.” Bucky answered.
“Like I need saving.”
“You can’t even walk.”
“Fair enough.”
“Enough chit chat, you look like you are going to pass out again. Let’s get you a room, and not one you’re your boyfriend Winter here. FRIDAY, prepare a room for one.” Both of them blushed a little but after Iris laughed it off. Bucky was unable to do the same as now his mind was preoccupied with different thoughts. Who could blame him, it had been 70 years.
---
Tony lead Bucky up to the elevator, Iris still hanging in his arms. She was unnaturally light. The others had wished them all good night and gone their own separate ways. Pietro had raced up to Iris and before Bucky could react, he placed a small kiss on her forehead and winked. She giggled as he rushed away, bellowing good night behind him. His grip on her tightened and Iris had noticed. Her eyes drifted back up to his face and she laughed again, nestling closer to him.
Iris seemed to fall asleep a few times as they made their way to the top floor where a few guest rooms sat. Tony slid an electronic card against a small black strip next to a wooden door. It beeped and clicked open.
The bedroom was simple but elegant. The walls were cream colored with a large window on the far wall. The floor was some sort of chocolate colored wood, a similar shade to the hair of the girl curled in his arms. A few empty bookshelves lined the walls as well as brown door on the far wall which he could only assume was a bathroom. The bed was made of the same wood as the floor and was covered in pale white sheets. A pair of grubby combat boots sat by the side of the bed. Bucky presumed they were hers.
Bucky lay Iris down in the bed. She was asleep. He felt the edges of his mouth curl into a smile as he pulled the sheets around her. She still had an angry frown on her face which he had learned was the one she used to intimidate others. Right now it just looked downright cute below her closed eyes.
Tony nudged him in the ribs. Bucky looked up at Stark with a bit of ferocity in his eyes but still moved towards the door. He exited the room and pulled the door shut as he saw Iris shift in the bed.