Going Solo
“Looks like you all had a fun night.” Fury entered the dining room completely unannounced, his signature black trench coat flowing behind him. Under his arm was a small stack of manila folders.
“Too loud, too bright.” Was all Tony groaned in response, his head resting on the table between his crossed arms. Iris and Bucky had just joined the few Avengers who had decided to stay awake downstairs. Steve seemed better off than most, pouring himself a cup of coffee in the small kitchenette and offering another to a miserable looking Thor. Clint was leaning back in a chair, eating plain toast with thick sunglasses covering his eyes and Natasha sitting silently by his side. The twins, Bruce, Vision, and Sam were no where to be seen.
“Well, you better sober up since I have some missions for most of you.” Fury pulled the folders from out underneath his arm and passing them out. He gave two to Steve. “Hand the other one to Sam when you see him.”
The next folder he passed out was to Iris. Iris looked up to Bucky, slightly confused why he didn’t get one as well. He shrugged.
She opened up the folder, flipping through it’s contents and skimming over the brief overview on the first page. It was a solo mission.
“Wait, Fury…” Iris began as the man stepped back towards the elevator.
“Yes Iris, that is a solo mission and you will be doing it. Everyone’s got to start somewhere.”
Bucky instantly tensed up.
“No she’s not.” He stepped towards Fury who continued walking towards the elevator. “Fury, I’m coming with her.”
Fury turned around.
“You are not going with her Barnes.” Fury grumbled. “At some point, whether it’d be now or in a few weeks, months or years, she’d have to start to work on her own. I believe she has proved more than once now that she’s ready.”
Bucky looked like he was just about to strangle Fury. Iris held his arm loosely, hoping the gesture would be enough. The other people in the room were watching intently, ready to get up and help at any point.
“She’s only been with us for a few months! You can’t just throw her straight in like that!” Bucky was gritting his teeth, feeling Iris’s grip becoming stronger on his arm.
“Stop worrying about your girlfriend so much. It’s a simple mission anyway, I don’t even know why I have to justify my reasons to you Barnes.”
Fury turned away. Bucky opened his mouth once more to shout something or the other at Fury who was leaving as quickly as he came. Iris pulled him back forcing him to look into her eyes, telling him to stop without words. He exhaled but Iris could still feel his muscle rippling in between her thin fingers.
“Let it go.” Iris whispered to him as Fury disappeared behind the elevator doors.
“Iris, you can’t be seriously considering going alone?” Bucky looked down at her, now more concerned than angry.
“I… I don’t know.” Iris was torn. “Let’s go upstairs.”
---
“It’s not safe.” Bucky was pacing the room, constantly glancing down at the papers covered in Iris’ mission which were now layered on top of the table. Ruby sat on the edge of her bed, looking down at her feet.
“I need to help, Bucky. That’s the whole point of being an Avenger.” Iris looked up at Bucky.
“You already come with me on missions! Isn’t that dangerous enough?” Bucky’s voice was now raised. Iris couldn’t help but flinch when he stopped directly in front of her. Bucky noticed and quickly calmed down. He sat by her on the side of the bed, unsure of what to say. “I just want to protect you.”
“I understand, but I need to work too. I signed up for this, I knew the risks and this…, this is just a simple mission. All I need to do is go here and scout the area out. Simple, no danger.”
Bucky sat there for a while, both of them in silence.
“Okay.” Bucky stood up after his single word. “You can go under one condition…”
Iris quickly cut him off. “Hey, you’re not telling me what I can or can’t do. I already made up my mind.”
“Okay, okay.” Bucky held his hands up in mock defeat. “Okay… I’d prefer it if you’d keep me connected to your headset the entire time.”
“Of course frosty.” Iris smiled at him. She didn’t want to admit that she was actually incredibly nervous about the mission, she had no idea what to expect and she mostly didn’t want to let the team down.