Another Time
Iris’s POV
Iris froze. She knew how to get out of a situation like this, Bucky had taught her, but not one muscle in her body seemed to want to move.
“Let’s go.” Martinez dug the gun deeper into the back of her head. “And don’t even think about trying anything funny.”
Iris couldn’t do anything as the man guided her though the edges of the room. The gun shots were significantly less at the moment but the fighting didn’t seem to subside.
Iris felt her breathing accelerate as they got closer and closer to the broken set of doors. Her mind was completely blank as Martinez lead her away from the group.
Suddenly a voice broke the panicked silence in her mind.
“Iris!” Bucky shouted. That was all it took for Iris to break out of her daze. Iris jolted her elbow into Martinez’s stomach casing him to release her as he clutched his stomach in pain.
However, as he let go of Iris’s body his finger was still on the trigger. As his hand swung away from her head the gun went off, shooting a bullet straight into her leg.
Iris screamed as she went down to the floor. Fiery hot pain rocketed up her leg as she attempted to drag herself away from the man’s recovering form.
“You bitch.” Martinez growled as he raised his pistol towards Iris’s head. All Iris could do was close her eyes and attempt to cover her face as she curled into a fetal position.
A gun shot rang out but no pain followed. Iris kept her eyes screwed shut.
“Iris. IRIS!” She felt a familiar hand on her back. The voices were muffled and Iris no longer could open her eyes even if she had wanted to. “Shit. He got an artery.”
“Bucky…” Iris mumbled. “Stay with me.”
“I will, I promise. Just stay awake for me.”
“But ‘m so tired.” Iris felt her words slur together into one.
“Don’t you dare Iris. Iris don’t…”
Those were the last words Iris heard before she faded away completely.
---
Iris woke up in the all too familiar hospital ward of the Stark Tower. She groaned as she attempted to sit up. Pain shot through her left leg, radiating from just below the knee.
“Shhh. Iris, take it easy.” Iris turned her head to Bucky by her side. He was still in full combat uniform as he brushed a few stray hairs from her face.
“What happened?” Iris mumbled.
“Martinez, he got you but you did just as I taught you and escaped.” Bucky looked like a proud father but his face quickly drooped. “His gun went off in the process though. The bullet nicked an artery on its way out.”
“Is he dead?” Iris swallowed.
“Yes.” Bucky said quite matter of factly.
“Good.” Iris felt tears rising in her eyes again but pushed them down.
“Let it out.”
Bucky comforted her as Iris cried for what felt like the millionth time in front of Bucky.
You just can’t stop being a whiney little bitch, can you. Iris heard her father’s drunk words echo in her head.
“He deserved it. Everything he did to…to me.” Iris sniffled. “I just wish I could’ve been the one to pull the trigger.”
Suddenly the door swung open and a very bruised Tony Stark burst in with all of his usual swagger.
“How’s my favorite little party animal doing!” He announced. Iris couldn’t help but smirk as Bucky stepped into Tony’s path. “Come on frosty, I’m not here to steal your girl. I’m just here to wish her a quick recovery.”
Tony pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small envelope with Iris’s name scrolled over the front. Tony side stepped around Bucky and handed the letter to Iris before Bucky pushed him back again.
“And invite her to my fourth of July party. Sorry Barnes, it’s invitation only.”
“Sorry Tony, but I think I’ve had enough of your parties. At least for a little while that is.” Iris politely responded.
“Well I’ll be damned. Frosty really changed you hasn’t he.” Tony put his hand on his chest, feigning hurt. Iris just chuckled and rolled her eyes. Bucky on the other hand, didn’t seem so amused. “If you change your mind the invitation still stands.”
“Whatever you say Stark.”
“Now leave.” Bucky basically shoved Tony out of the door. Tony peaked his head into the small window on the door and gave a short wave. Bucky quickly pulled down the blinds to cover the small window, blocking Tony from view.
“Whadya say we have our own fourth of July party.” Iris giggled as Bucky returned to her bedside.
“Sounds like a plan.” Bucky returned her grin.
“Rooftop? Nine PM?” Iris suggested.
‘I’ll bring food.”
“And I’ll bring drinks.” Iris smiled. “I heard Thor has something that can even get super soldiers drunk.”
“No alcohol.” Bucky insisted. Iris huffed so Bucky quickly added: “We will be on a roof; I don’t think you want to be wasted up there.”
“That’s actually a fair point. Another time then.”
“Another time.” Bucky chuckled.