Fourth Of July
Iris’s POV
The night came quickly as Bucky and Iris retreated to their own rooms to prepare for their own rooftop party.
Iris had baked a pie the day before in the small kitchen in her room and had it ready in the fridge. She also had an array of some small beers which she had placed into an ice cooler and was sure Bucky was going to disapprove of but decided to go with it anyway.
Iris felt butterflies rise in her chest as she stepped out of the scalding shower. Since her last date she was hesitant about being alone with Bucky again. However, she knew that this time was going to be different. She could feel it deep down inside her that she trusted Bucky and wanted to be with him.
Iris slipped on a simple yet sexy pair of panties and a matching bra. They were both solid black with a few small lace fixtures around them.
On top Iris chose a black, mid-thigh dress. The sleeves she had rolled up half way her forearm, adding a few silver bracelets around her wrist. The top half of the dress had thin cords running from side to side over her chest like the back of a corset. Iris opted for one silver choker with small spheres dangling from it at intervals.
She blew dry her chestnut hair, letting it fall past her shoulders as she brushed out the tangles.
Iris barely wore makeup, just a little foundation, mascara and brown eye shadow. She felt like a whole different person than before the Stark party. Without the dark rimmed eyes, the emerald green showed brighter than ever before.
“Good evening Miss.” FRIDAY’s voice broke the silence in the bathroom causing Iris to jump up in shock. “Sorry for startling you but you asked me to tell you when it was almost nine. It is currently eight forty-five.”
“Thanks FRIDAY.”
“My pleasure Miss.”
Iris took a deep breath in and out before flipping the light off in the bathroom, admiring the bright city lights visible past the bathtub.
I can’t believe this is my life right now. Sometimes Iris imagined waking up on some grimy floor again. Homeless, helpless and alone. Iris prayed that would never happen.
After a few moments of silence Iris turned her eyes away from the wide window and made her way towards her bedroom. She pulled on a pair of black ankle boots before walking towards the kitchen.
She pulled the pie out of the fridge along with a two plates and a set of forks and knives which she had taken from the downstairs dining room.
Iris carefully made her way towards the elevator, pie and silverware in one hand, the cooler dragging behind in the other.
“Hey FRIDAY, can you open the elevator for me? I need to go to the roof.”
“Right away miss.”
A few seconds later the elevator doors slid open and Iris stepped inside.
“Here goes nothing.” Iris mumbled as the elevator shot upwards.
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Bucky’s POV
Bucky had gotten to the roof long before he had told Iris to meet him. He wanted everything to be perfect. Although even with all his preparation he still felt nervous.
What if you hurt her Buck? What if she gets scared and runs again? Bucky felt the plates in his metal arm shifting as he tensed up.
“Calm down, Bucky.” He whispered to himself as he spread the blanket out over the roof garden’s small, grass field.
You’re a danger to her.
“Stop it.” Bucky raised his voice slightly at the war being waged in his mind.
You could kill her.
Bucky froze for a second before returning to his work. He needed to ignore the voice, he needed to pretend the soldier didn’t exist or it would never go away. His mind soon became silent.
Bucky worked on for a few more minutes, placing a large candle on the middle of the blanket. He remembered at some point that Iris had said she loved cinnamon so he had bought the most spiced candle he could find.
He also had brought up burgers which he had grilled just a little while earlier. Along with the burgers were an assortment of toppings and buns.
Bucky had tried to make this celebration as traditional as possible. Just as he smoothed out the last wrinkle on the picnic blanket he heard shuffling behind him.
“Oh fuck. Ah shit shit shit.” Bucky suppressed a chuckle at Iris’s string of curses as something clattered to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Bucky asked.
“Oh shit sorry.” Iris appeared from behind a wall carrying a pie and tugging a cooler behind her. “I dropped the silverware so we probably will have to eat this with out hands.” Iris gestured to the pie. “Also, I can’t believe Tony has a roof garden, I didn’t take him to be that kinda guy.”
“Well, It’s Tony.” Bucky helped by taking the cooler out of Iris’s hands allowing her to carry the pie. “And don’t worry about the silverware, I have some.”
Bucky led her to the small patch of grass where he had set up. Iris stopped, staring at the dimly lit picnic before her eyes began watering up.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Was this too much? Or not enough. I don’t know.” Bucky ran his hand through his hair in dismay.
“No no, it’s perfect. It’s just, no one has ever done anything like this for me.” Iris blinked a few times as a massive grin spread across her face.
“Well, you deserve it.”
The two of them sat down on the blanket, Iris placing the pie in a corner.
“You even got a cinnamon candle!” Iris almost seemed giddy. “Thank you for all this.”
“Anything for my angel.”
Bucky opened the cooler which Iris had brought pulling out a beer. He turned to her with a disgruntled yet amused look on his face.
“Hey, I only brought one for me. The rest are for you. I need proof that you can’t actually get drunk.” Iris held her hands up in mock defeat. “And paws off, the apple cider one’s mine.”
Bucky rolled his eyes and popped the cap off the small bottle before handing it to Iris. He took his own knowing full well that it wasn’t going to do anything but decided to go with it anyway.
Iris and Bucky began making their own burgers. Bucky liked his simple, no toppings other than ketchup. Iris on the other hand, had a little bit of everything.
“How is it?” Bucky asked as she bit into the massive burger.
“Amazing.” Iris’s voice came out muffled as she ate. Bucky couldn’t help but smile.
The two of them ate in a comfortable silence until they both were done. Well, until Bucky had eaten all of the rest of the four burgers and Iris finished off her one.
“How are you still even hungry for pie?” Iris joked as he finished the last burger.
“What can I say? I’m a super soldier.” Iris rolled her eyes at his response.
Iris then cut the pie into multiple slices, placing one on each plate she had brought. Bucky took a fork and tried the first bite.
“Now how’s my baking skill?” Iris asked as she ate her own.
“Better than amazing.” It was Bucky’s turn to talk with his mouth full. Iris laughed in return.
Just as they were eating there was a loud explosion in the sky. At first Bucky panicked, tensing instantly. As he watched colors fill the sky he realized there was nothing to worry about.
Iris looked up in awe, a smile brighter than the sun across her face.
She leaned back onto the blanket, looking up to the firework-filled sky. Bucky followed. She inched closer to him, causing his heart to skip in a way he didn’t think possible. Soon her small body was pressed into his side.
Bucky relaxed at her warmth, pulling his left arm up and around her shoulder. She shivered as the metal brushed her bare shoulders. Bucky was about to pull away when Iris wrapped her fingers between his.
Iris turned her head towards Bucky, their noses almost touching before pressing her lips into his.
Bucky could’ve sworn he melted right then and there.