Happy Birthday Maximoffs
“You’ll be fine.” Iris muttered to herself as she paced back and forth through the front of her room. Every few seconds she would check the peephole to see if Bucky had left his room yet, eliminating the chance they’d be stuck in an awkward elevator ride together. It wasn’t that she was scared it was the fact that she had no idea what to say.
Little did Iris know that Bucky was doing the exact same thing in his own room across the hall. He knew Iris wouldn’t be necessary keen on standing in an enclosed space with him this soon after his failure to contain the soldier.
“Here goes nothing.” Bucky mumbled, pushing open the door into the hallway. It just so happened that Iris had thought the exact same and was now standing in her open doorway directly in front of him.
Well that’s just perfect. Iris thought to herself.
“Hey.” Iris gave a curt wave with one hand as the other was precariously balancing two large, wrapped-up boxes. “Uh, I guess we go downstairs now.”
“Sounds good.” Bucky felt as though maybe Iris wasn’t as freaked out about the whole thing after all, unless she was hiding it really well. Even if she felt better about it, Bucky sure as hell didn’t. He hoped they could have whatever they had before at some point but with his inability to even keep Iris safe from himself Bucky doubted it.
As they walked to the elevator in a slightly uncomfortable silence Bucky noticed Iris was struggling with the boxes.
“Want me to help you with those?” Bucky asked.
“Yes please.” Iris sighed happily and Bucky took one of the boxes wrapped in deep red colored paper from her arms. “I need to find smaller boxes next time.” At that they both laughed, lightening the mood.
By the time they got to the small party they already had become considerably more comfortable with each others presence, though not even close to what they were before. Nervousness resonated from the both of them appearing in awkward laughs and silences.
As Iris entered the room Sam gave her a little wave and a smile which she reciprocated. It seemed like everyone had already arrived, beers in hand and scattered around the overly large living room.
Without warning a silver blur appeared by Iris’s side, wrapping its arms around Iris’s center. Iris yelped but her surprise quickly dissipated into laughter as Pietro gave her a tight hug before letting her go. She noticed Bucky’s agitated expression from a few paces away.
“Is this for me, printessa?” Pietro asked as he gestured to the large box wrapped in slippery, silver paper.
“It’s all yours if you get me a beer.” Iris laughed and before she could blink she found a red plastic cup in her hand filled with the bubbly yellow liquid. “Happy birthday by the way.”
“Thanks printessa.” Pietro grinned as he took the box. Within a second he had pulled of the paper revealing a canvas with a navy blue tinted silhouette of a mountain range with small, layered houses and a bridge below. Throughout the painting were small details illuminated in silver paint along with layers of deep shades of blue and grey.
“It’s Sokovia.” Iris confirmed, worry apparent in her voice. Now I’m realizing how dumb of a gift this was. Iris grumbled in her mind.
“Did you make this?” Pietro asked without looking up from the painting.
“Yeah. That explains why it’s shit. Sorry, I should’ve gotten you a real present.”
“No, no, no. Printessa, it’s beautiful.” Iris blushed as Pietro gave a quick peck on her cheek.
“Hey! Birthday boy!” A voice shouted from the other end of the room. Upon turning around Iris saw it was Tony and Clint by what looked like a beer pong set up. Who knew these guys were into drinking games. Iris couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
“Let’s play a round.” Clint gestured for Pietro to join.
“Got to go Printessa.” Pietro disappeared out the door for a second and when he came back the painting was gone. Iris assumed he had placed it upstairs. “And thank you for the painting, it truly is beautiful.”
After Pietro zoomed off to join Clint and Tony for their game Bucky returned to Iris’s side.
“That was a very nice painting.” Bucky passed the gift wrapped in maroon paper to Iris.
“Thanks. I made the same one for Wanda but it’s red and gold.” Iris grinned. “Let’s go give it to her.” Iris interlocked her free fingers into Bucky’s. He looked down and up again before breaking out into a relieved smile.
The two of them walked over to where Wanda and Vision were sitting side by side on one of the many couches scattered around the living room. Iris stopped a few feet in front of the couch and gestured for Bucky to be quiet. She snuck up behind Wanda and wrapped her arms around the top half of her body in a tight hug.
“Happy birthday!” Iris laughed as Wanda yelped. Vision turned around in surprise as well. After letting Wanda go and moving to the front of the couch Iris and Wanda properly hugged.
“Thanks Iris.” Wanda chuckled before gesturing for Iris to sit down next to her. Bucky watched awkwardly from the side before Iris motioned for him to join her. Bucky was still cautious, not knowing what Iris was feeling but her constant approval of him definitely gave him confidence in their relationship.
Bucky sat by Iris as she passed the present to Wanda who unwrapped it much slower than her brother had. As Wanda peeled off the last layer of paper Iris lay her head on Bucky’s shoulder, looking up into his eyes with a serenity that Bucky had missed more than anything. He lifted his arm around Iris’s shoulder, holding her close to his body, not ever wanting to let her go.
“Oh my!” Wanda gasped. Iris was worried once more; did she like it? “It’s beautiful Iris, thank you so much!” Bucky watched Iris blush, a smile creeping up onto his lips.
“Thank God you like it, I was worried you wouldn’t.” Iris admitted.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Wanda placed the painting on the glass coffee table in front of them before leaning over and giving Iris a hug. Bucky reluctantly released Iris allowing her to embrace her friend before she leaned against him again.
“It is lovely Iris.” Vision added. “You are quite the artist.”
“Well I try.” They all chuckled.
“God damn it!” Pietro’s voice suddenly swore through the soft background music causing them all to turn to the beer pong table. Pietro had zoomed off, obviously having lost.
“My brother isn’t the best at losing. What do you say in English, hurt loser?” Wanda shook her head.
“Sore loser, and I can see that.” Iris laughed. “Hey, how about we try a round?”
“Sounds good to me.” Wanda stood up, gesturing for Vision to join her.
“Hey, that’d be cheating.” Iris pouted as Bucky got up before helping her to her feet.
“She is right, I’d be able to calculate the trajectory and force needed for every shot. It wouldn’t be a fair match.”
“Well if you get a super soldier I get one too.” Wanda joked.
“Sure.” Iris smiled. “Hey Steve!” Steve turned around from his conversation with Thor. Iris gestured for him to come join them at the beer pong table.
They all walked to opposite sides of the table before setting up new cups and filling them with beer. Thor was repeatedly asking questions about the games rules, fascinated by the idea. Bucky and Steve also needed a little clarification on the rules.
“So let’s get this show on the road.” Iris clapped her hands together before holding up one hand up for Bucky to high five. It took him a second to realize what to do before he finally clapped his hand against hers. “You’re going down.”
“Oh we’ll see about that.” Wanda returned, Steve chuckling by her side. Iris then pulled a coin out of her pocket.
“Heads or tails?” She asked.
“Tails.” Steve and Wanda agreed. Iris shrugged before flipping the coin and placing it on the back of her head. She lifted her palm to reveal the tail end of the coin. Steve and Wanda high fived, taking the ping pong ball.
“One more thing.” Thor began. “If the whole point is to get the other team drunk then how are Steve Rogers and James Barnes getting wasted as Iris says.”
“Oh you’re right Thor!” Iris clapped Bucky’s shoulder causing him to roll his eyes. “I think you should get your god wine out.”
“That is a great idea lady Iris.” Thor grinned as he pulled a mid sized flask from his pocket, placing it on the side of the table.
“So whenever one of you two drink, you gotta add whatever the fuck this is.”
“Asgardian liquor.”
“That just sounds cool.” Iris laughed and rubbed her hands together. “Now let’s let out our inner college student.”
Steve went first, completely overshooting. Iris picked up the small ball handing it over to Bucky, raising her eyebrow. Bucky rolled his eyes before taking the ping pong ball.
“Here goes nothing.” Bucky bounced the ball off the table before it landed in the second row of cups. Iris whooped, pumping her fist in the air.
“That’s my boyfriend!” Iris laughed, poking Bucky jokingly. Steve chucked before picking up the cup. “Hold up, I think you forgot something.”
Iris threw Thor’s flask to Steve who groaned, pouring a bit into the cup.
“Oh God that smells like hell.” Wanda snickered.
“Bottoms up Stevie.” Bucky joked, speaking for the first time during the party. Iris smiled, she could tell Bucky was loosening up.
Steve groaned once more before downing the concoction of beer and Asgardian liquor. Much to everyone’s amusement, Steve shuddered and coughed a little at the strong alcohol.
Wanda was next up, bouncing the ball off the table and into the front cup. She and Steve gave each other high fives, cheering loudly.
“Hey you used your magic red mist!” Iris grumbled.
“I agree, you definitely moved that.” Bucky grinned.
“I guess I’m just too good.” Wanda curtsied mockingly. Iris rolled her eyes before taking the ping pong ball out the cup and downing the very full beer cup. She was slightly regretting filling them up so much now.
“My turn.” Iris lightly tossed the ball, landing it in another cup. “Another for… what’s our team name?”
“I don’t know, you can choose.” Bucky shrugged.
“Sounds good to me.” Iris joked. “Another one for ‘I don’t know, you can choose.’”
“How are we supposed to beat a name like that.” Steve rolled his eyes. It was obvious that the god’s alcohol was taking affect in his mind as his speech was slightly jumbled. Iris was amused that America’s most righteous man was in front of her, tipsy and playing beer pong.
“How bout’ losers?” Iris pointed finger guns at them both.
“That’s just bad, so I’m going to go for ‘prove you wrong.’” Steve responded.
“Cool with me, it’s just highly inaccurate. Anyway, let’s keep this going.”
After another twenty-five minutes Bucky sunk the last ball into the last cup on Steve and Wanda’s side. Everyone was at least tipsy at this point and the end of the game had gone a lot slower than the beginning.
“We won!” Iris hiccupped while giggling, draping her arms over Bucky’s shoulders before messily planting her lips against his. Bucky wrapped his arms around Iris’s smaller body as the kissed for the next few moments.
As they released each other with drunk grins on their faces there were wolf whistles and laughter all around. Steve sloppily gave his friend two big thumbs up, Wanda clapping by his side before she tripped over her own feet. Vision caught her just a second before she fell into the table in front of her. Wanda laughed it off, standing back up on her shaky feet and all though an android, Vision’s concern was apparent.
Iris turned to look around the room, feeling at home both in Bucky’s arms and in here with all her friends. It was perfect, everything was perfect.
“Let’s get this party started!” Tony with all his usual flair announced from by the speakers. He turned up the music, letting it flow through the room. Iris laughed, grabbing an empty cup and filling it with beer along with whatever bottle she had randomly pulled off Tony’s liquor cabinet. Bucky smiled, doing the same but with with Asgardian liquor.
Iris grabbed Bucky’s free hand, pulling him into the middle of the room where Tony was now drunkenly dancing on his own. Wanda, Steve, Pietro, Sam, Thor, Clint and Natasha had joined them, all drunk. Everyone was moving to the music, whether it was a simple sway to the beat or like Wanda and Steve who seemed to currently be in a dance battle. The sight was quite amusing to Bruce and Vision who were the only two sober people at the party.
Iris swayed to the music, trying not to spill her drink in the process. Bucky suddenly had an idea, downing his own drink and throwing the cup to the side. Before he had time to doubt himself he pulled the cup from Iris’s hand and much to her dismay her threw it in the corner.
“Hey, I was still…!” Iris began but before she could continue Bucky grabbed her hands and swung her around, dipping her body down just as he had done a thousand times in the 40s. Iris gasped, surprised but happy.
Iris followed his classic movements to the modern music, spinning, turning and laughing. Eventually they both tired out, their minds now the only thing spinning. Tony was now passed out on the far couch although Thor still seemed to be trying to make conversation with him. Natasha and Clint seemed to be getting along very well with their drunken movements. Steve and Wanda were still battling it out with some some strange swaying movements until eventually Steve tripped, taking Wanda, Clint and Natasha with him to the floor as he desperately tried to grab onto something. They lay in an awkward pile, laughing their asses off. Pietro on the other hand was zigzagging around the room knocking into almost every piece of furniture, swearing after each one.
“I think I need to lay down too.” Iris moaned as she stumbled forward, her mind spinning. Vision was helping Wanda back up and was directing her to her room while the rest of the group on the floor struggled.
“I agree.” Bucky wasn’t much better off. Iris tried to lean on Bucky’s shoulder but after a few steps the collapsed, thankfully on an unoccupied couch. Bucky shifted the majority of his weight off of Iris, leaning into the back of the large couch with his metal arm lazily wrapped around Iris’s waist. Iris rounded her back to fit directly under Bucky’s chest.
“Hey Bucky.” Iris mumbled as they both began to drift off, the music still playing softly in the background. “I love you.”
“I love you too angel.” And in their embrace they both fell into a drunken sleep.