Girl's Night Out
Bucky’s POV
As the week passed by Bucky noticed extremely quick progress in Iris. She already knew quite a lot about fighting but most of her knowledge only applied on the streets, not against highly trained assassins.
“Stop going easy on me!” Iris basically shouted as Bucky watched her in a boxing ring with Steve. Steve had barely thrown a punch and seemed hesitant even when Iris jabbed and kicked him.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Steve mumbled.
“Good thing I don’t have the same restrictions.” Iris ducked under Steve’s weak swing, pushing her leg outwards to knock Steve off balance, something Bucky had taught her.
Much to his surprise Steve fell straight onto the floor, catching himself just before his back collided with the ground. Bucky couldn’t help but smirk at Iris’ quick advancement. At the beginning of the week she could barely throw a decent punch.
Even so, Bucky couldn’t help but notice that she was pushing herself harder than she should. Her face was a pale pallor and she would often fade in and out of conversations. He had seen her take multiple doses of pain killers through out the day.
Breaking out of his thoughts Bucky saw that Iris had Steve pinned against the ground, her knee across his sternum.
“Don’t want to hurt me, huh. You couldn’t even if you tried.”
“Don’t get to confident.” Steve easily flipped Iris to the ground. She landed on her backside but quickly jump kicked to her feet. Steve easily dodged her further attempts at landing her fists on him.
He ducked under her arms and ended up behind Iris. Before Iris could turn around Steve wrapped his arms around Iris’ middle, lifting her up as she tried to escape his grip.
They were both laughing as Steve put her down but Bucky felt a pang of jealousy. He knew Steve wouldn’t dare do anything but Bucky couldn’t help but feel defensive. Bucky felt jealous he couldn’t wrap two real arms around his own girl’s waist without the chance he’d accidently crush her. He couldn’t ever sleep in the same bed with her as he had woken up more than once with a knife driven through his neighboring pillow placed there by his nightmare driven self. He could never be normal.
“So how did I do?” Iris stepped out of the ring, ducking under the ropes. “Other than the ending that is.”
“Fine.” Bucky said a little to harshly. Iris looked surprised.
“Okay then…”
Iris’ POV
Iris walked over to the rack of towels and pulled a small one off the top, wiping her forehead off. Just at that moment the elevator dinged and Natasha walked into the room.
“He guys.” Natasha added as Iris turned around to face her. “By the way, Iris, did you get a dress yet for tomorrow?”
“Oh shit. I need to wear a dress?” Iris didn’t even think about what she was going to wear to the party as the parties she was used to going to didn’t really have a dress code.
“Well, yeah. It is a party.” Natasha continued. “But no worries, I haven’t gotten one yet either. I was planning on going shopping tonight, you should come.”
“Uh…I guess, sure.”
“Great. See you in the garage at four.” Natasha walked off to the treadmills. “Oh, by the way Wanda is also coming.”
“Cool.” Iris didn’t really know who Wanda was except for the fact that she could move things with her mind.
I definitely don’t belong here. The more Iris thought about it, the more she felt out of place. She was neither strong nor super powered, unlike all these people she was surrounded by.
For probably the twentieth time that day a wave of nausea rolled through Iris. She couldn’t tell if the withdrawal was getting better as it sure as hell wasn’t feeling like it.
Iris also wasn’t quite sure why she hadn’t taken anything yet. Multiple times she had opened her bag, examining the deadly contents but something kept her from drawing a line or popping those pills.
I hope I can keep this up
---
As it turned out dress shopping was much harder than Iris expected. Also, it was much more expensive.
Every store they went into Iris felt hugely out of place. Natasha and Wanda seemed much more comfortable in these shops than Iris was. Of course Natasha looked amazing, wearing a casual dress that Iris would’ve thought was enough for any party but of course it wasn’t enough for a Tony Stark party as everyone seemed to say. Iris wasn’t really sure what to expect but she was hoping there would be alcohol involved.
After around fifteen boutiques and many more dresses (all of which Natasha disapproved of) Iris was the only one who didn’t have a dress.
Wanda had chosen a floor length dress made of a material softer than anything Iris had ever felt. It fell perfectly around the pair of strappy red heels. The upper half of the dress curved perfectly with lacey designs.
Natasha had gone for a dress that Iris was originally going to try on but after seeing it on the seemingly perfect Black Widow gave up. Unlike Iris, Natasha was full of curves which fit perfectly in the black, flowy gala dress that pooled around her silver pumps. The sweetheart neckline fit Natasha perfectly. She had also chosen an intricate, multicolored necklace, the price tag of which caused Iris’ jaw to drop.
“Don’t worry.” Natasha responded to Iris’ shocked expression. “We have a billionaire at our disposal.”
As the three of them walked through the warmly lit streets in the swankier area of New York Natasha began attempting to start a conversation.
“So you and Bucky, huh?” Natasha asked as they passed a few stores, all of which didn’t meet Natasha’s seal approval.
“I guess.” Iris wasn’t quite sure what they had. Iris knew what she wanted but although Bucky was charming he also seemed hesitant and was often standoffish. She was pretty sure it was due to her little freak out so Iris decided to let him be and hope she didn’t scare him off with her abundant issues.
“He really likes you, ya know.” Wanda hadn’t spoken much during the entire evening so it shocked Iris slightly. “I don’t even need to read his mind to see it.”
“Hold up, you read minds now?” Iris flushed as images subconsciously rose through her mind. Stop thinking. Stop thinking. Annnnnd I’m imagining Bucky shirtless, and more, or less if you could say that…. STOP IT MIND.
“Only when I want to, and I never do it without permission.” Wanda chuckled.
“Wanda is right though.” Natasha added. She turned, directing them towards a ritzy boutique that met her standards. “I have never seen Bucky smile since Steve brought him here. I actually don’t think he’s ever said more than five words at one time to me.”
“Really?” Iris felt a little pang of excitement in her chest as a doorman pulled open the glass doors to the shop.
“Seriously. I don’t know what he see’s in you but…” Natasha must have realized her words came out a little harsh as Iris’ shoulders drooped.
Of course they don’t see anything in me. I’m a fucking druggie for God’s sake.
“Iris, all I’m saying is that he hasn’t connected with anyone since he came back so seeing him so close with you must mean you really are something special.”
“Sure.” Iris still felt a little defeated by Natasha’s words. Your becoming soft.
There were a few seconds of awkward silence as they stood in the middle of the store. The three of them were the only ones inside the shop.
“Let’s get you something that’ll turn everyone’s heads.” Natasha suddenly announced, attempting to break the unease. Iris shrugged. “Especially Bucky.”
Iris chuckled and rolled her eyes. Both Natasha and Wanda seemed relieved that the tension had mostly dissipated.
They walked through the store pulling a few things off racks but eventually putting them all back.
“Fucking hell, I should just wear sweatpants.” Iris muttered to herself in the changing room as she pulled on yet another one of Natasha’s choices. There was no mirror in the changing room so Iris needed to go outside to check.
Iris walked carefully as she pulled the curtain away from the wall. Wanda gasped and Natasha grinning widely.
“What is it? Do I have a bug on my head? Please don’t tell me I have a bug on my head.” Iris panicked, trying to shoo away anything in her hair.
“It’s perfect!” Wanda proclaimed.
“Bucky will love it!” Natasha added.
“Can I at least see it?” Iris asked, hoping she liked it just as much as the two of them did. Natasha led Iris over to a floor length mirror on the far wall. Iris barely recognized herself in the dress.
A black piece of fabric surrounded her neck, extending down and across the upper half of her body. The collar-like fixture was the only thing keeping the dress up which would have made Iris uncomfortable if it hadn’t been for the fact that the dress was amazing. The backless aspect added to the overall appeal of the dress. The skirt was made of a semi-transparent black fabric that flowed perfectly around her ankles.
As Iris marveled at her dress Natasha picked out a pair of shoes. How she knew her shoe size, Iris had no idea but decided not to question it.
They were a pair of plain black heels with a single strip of material running up the middle. Iris put them on, realizing she now towered over the two much shorted women. Iris felt uncomfortable sticking out like this but had to admit it looked amazing, even on her boney figure.
“I think we found the one.” Natasha announced.
“Thank God, I’m starving.” Iris responded.
Iris pulled of the heels which Natasha brought to the counter. After changing into her much more comfortable jean and tank top ensemble Natasha swiped the credit card without even checking the price.
I probably don’t even want to know the price.
“Who wants a burger?” Natasha asked.
“As long as it’s not some fancy, exotic shit that costs who knows what I’m down.”
“Sounds good.”