Running
Iris’s POV
Most of the streets were empty either due to the rain or how late it was. Iris wasn’t sure the exact time but she was pretty sure it was about midnight.
She was dragging Bucky by his metal hand through the semi-abandoned streets in the less populated area of New York.
“Take that thing off!” Iris yanked the cap from Bucky’s head as they stopped in the middle of an empty street. “And these.” Iris began tugging at his gloves. Bucky stopped her.
“Someone will see!” Bucky suddenly looked very nervous as his medium length hair began to get soaked. The rain didn’t look like it was going to let up anytime soon It was so heavy they could barely see the glowing lamps on either side of the road.
“Who will see? There’s no one here!” Iris shouted into the howling wind and rain, feeling the joy spreading through her face. The warm rain had already soaked through Bucky’s jacket and her dress but it she didn’t mind. She spun around, seeing Bucky’s grin growing. He finally rolled his eyes and pulled off the gloves, tucking them in his pocket.
“See? Much better.” Iris leaned towards Bucky’s ear and pushed away his damp strands of hair, talking louder than a whisper to be heard over the rain. “And much hotter.”
Iris retreated quickly, still smiling widely. Bucky was now smirking, watching Iris jump around in the open street.
“Aren’t you going to join me? Or are you too manly?” Iris began slinking back towards Bucky who was still standing where he had begun.
Iris was just about to grab his now bare metal digits but quickly felt her foot sink into a water filled pothole. She stumbled forward, straight into Bucky’s arms.
Iris turned her damp head up to Bucky’s. Their eyes locked, his icy blues staring straight into her emerald greens. Before she knew what was happening Bucky leaned forward, his lips nearing hers.
No, no, no, not now. Iris felt panic rising in her chest. His arms were wrapped too tight; her heart was beating too fast. Before Bucky could come any closer, she pushed him away, breathing hard
“I…I can’t. I’m sorry.” Iris turned around and began sprinting the other direction. She wasn’t sure why she ran but there was no where else to go. Her feet splashed in the deep puddles.
She could hear heavy splashes behind her but the lights were mostly blocked out by the heavy rain so she couldn’t see anything. She heard her name being called but most of the cries were swept away by the summer wind.
I can’t outrun him. Iris felt the panic rise back to her chest as she turned into a random alley. Wait, I recognize this.
Iris saw one of her past graffiti works plastered on the wall, the edges fading. It was a wolf, it’s jaws wide and filled with blood. Her trademark wings surrounded the beast. Iris knew she was nearing the edge of New York, back into her old home.
I might not be able to outrun a super soldier but I can definitely outsmart one… Can I? Iris continued down the alley, dodging in and out of side streets.
Eventually she heard the heavy footfalls behind her fading. Iris prayed she was alone. Her lungs were burning and her clothes were soaked through. Bucky’s jacket still smelled like him, which added to the pain. Iris pulled it off, nearly tripping, before throwing it into the nearest alley. She went the opposite direction, hoping it would throw him off.
After what felt like an eternity Iris stopped. Not more than a second later she vomited up her previous meal. The sour smell mixed with the fresh rain made a deadly combo.
She dragged herself a little further down the dark alley. At this point she was between two seedy apartment buildings which were no more than three floors tall. Iris tried to keep moving but couldn’t. She was pretty sure she was running a fever and the pain medication had worn off long ago.
It wasn’t cold but she was shivering, her teeth clashing into one an other. Her empty stomach was churning as she gasped for air. Iris leaned into the grimy wall. She had no idea where she was and hoped Bucky didn’t either.
Iris began to feel tears running down her cheeks as relentless as the rain. There was no protection in the alley so it continued to beat down on her. Without warning pain began shooting through her leg, spreading up her body. She bit her cheek as not to scream.
I need a fix. Iris’ mind instantly became flooded with the desperate addiction. Where am I? Where? Where? Iris was screaming in her mind, the pain becoming more intense. Iris didn’t eve notice the rain or her tears anymore.
“Iris?” She heard the all to familiar voice ring through her pounding head.
“Alex, help.”