The party
A few days later her whole body was still aching. She was used to a speedy recovery, but this level of comfort was unfamiliar to her.
“Don’t move. What do you need?” Natasha warned.
“I can’t lay here forever, Nat,” she protested.
“Not forever, just until Bruce says it’s okay.”
“And you’re going to babysit me till then?” She chuckled, knowing that Natasha was also there to deter her from deciding to run off.
She wasn’t used to being so close and taken care of by someone for such a long period. Natasha woke her up every morning bringing breakfast and painkillers. She stayed until noon and then returned with lunch, and they spent the whole day talking. Natasha told Iris about her past, at least a bit of it, the part that had healed. She also shared a bunch of stories about how the Avengers were formed, about Tony, Steve, and the whole story with Bruce. Clearly trained as a spy, she knew exactly which topics to touch on and which to avoid, one of them being Bucky. For days now, the only person she saw was Natasha. Not even Steve, which she had to admit, kind of bothered her. “Is there a reason why I am trapped here with only you?” She slightly turned her head towards Nat, “Tony imposed a few days of vacation on Steve and Bucky.” “What? Why?” “When we came back, Bruce immediately brought you in for surgery. Steve rushed behind him, followed by Bucky and the rest of us. Steve started to blame the whole situation on Bucky. Things escalated quickly, and Tony decided that the best way was for you to recover in peace and for them to be alone.” So they didn’t know. Steve didn’t tell them why the whole mission went south and why she almost died. As she tried to stand up, Nat tried to stop her, but she reassured her again that she was fine, and that she just needed to speak with Tony. She changed into something different than a pair of pajamas, but the only thing she ould find were a pair of grey sweatpants and a black hoodie that was way too oversized. Nat showed her the way to Tony’s office. As she entered the office she noticed Tony’s eyes instantly snapping towards her. A small, playful grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Good morning sunshine, slept well?” he chuckled.
“Oh yes, more than you can imagine”
“I must say, I do have a soft spot for women who don’t feel the need to dress up to impress me,” Tony remarked, gesturing for her to join him on the plush couch near the windows. He positioned himself across from her.
She responded with a cheeky smirk, “Well, next time, I might just show up naked.”
“Definitely wouldn’t mind that,” he retorted with a chuckle, crossing his legs and leaning back into the soft cushions. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m good, Tony,” she reassured him. “I’ve been through worse. When is everyone else expected to return?”
Tony’s expression hardened, and his tone turned serious. “What actually happened out there?” His inquiry hung in the air like a heavy fog.
She could still hear echoes of Naija’s cries as they dashed through a hail of bullets. The image of Bucky in the jet, likely urging Tony to leave them behind, played in her mind.
Tony’s gaze bore into her, scrutinizing her every expression. It was as if he was trying to read her thoughts, to decipher the unsaid words. “He got lost,” was all she offered.
He didn’t react immediately. Instead, he continued to stare at her, his eyes unblinking as if trying to extract more from her brief explanation. He finally broke the silence, with a touch of his usual playfulness creeping back into his voice, “You know, the great Tony Stark is known for many things, but mind-reading isn’t one of them. You’re going to have to give me more than that.”
She let out a small sigh, “I told you what happened, Tony. Bucky got lost. That’s all there is to it.”
He studied her for a moment longer before finally breaking into a grin, “Alright, alright. You’re off the hook…for now.” He stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “You can leave now,” he said, moving back to his desk and resuming whatever he was doing before she had walked in.
Despite the brevity of their conversation, she could tell that this wouldn’t be the last time Tony would ask about the mission. For now, though, she was off the hook.
The next day, she woke up around 5 a.m. as the storm outside made the night nearly impossible to sleep through. Yesterday, Natasha had shown her around the compound, so she was pretty sure she could find the gym by herself. As she opened the door, she realized she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep.
“Is the vacation over so early?” she asked, moving towards the treadmill and starting it. Steve, who had been punching that poor bag, paused and turned his body towards her. In a few seconds, she heard him approaching her.
“I’m glad you’re okay. And I’m sorry for what happened,” he said, leaning his arms on the front of the treadmill and looking up at her. She avoided any eye contact.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Rogers,” she responded, her body was not happy with this morning’s run.
“Does Tony have the budget for a shirt your size, or are you stuck with this one that’s at least three sizes too small?” she asked to break the silence.
“Do you always say what you’re thinking?”
“Pretty much,” she nodded, and he laughed. For the first time, she saw him not as Captain America, but as a man. A beautiful man who seemed to care about every little detail.
“Are you coming tonight?” he asked, his gaze travelling over her face.
“Where?”
“Stark’s hosting a, I quote, ‘small and casual party’,” he responded.
“Why should we have a party?” she asked.
“Didn’t you spy on us for years? You should know Tony throws a party every time he feels like it.” He had a point. She knew about that, but it was just strange now to be here.
“I don’t think I’ll come,” she responded.
“It was kind of a rhetorical question. Be ready at 9, I’ll drive,” he said, leaving her alone in the gym.
She got ready for the party with Natasha and Wanda. For the first time in years, she felt something she couldn’t even describe. It felt like she had friends.
Before she left the room, she took a look at herself in the mirror. It had been a long time since she last dressed up. The dress hugged her body comfortably. It was mid-length with delicate straps and a straight cut at the cleavage. The black color made the roses on the mesh overlay stand out more. Her hair was flowing down her back and of course, she was wearing black heels.
As she made her way out of the compound, she saw Steve. He was wearing elegant blue pants and a white shirt, the first two buttons and sleeves undone.
His eyes were scanning her, taking in every single detail of her figure. The way the dress clung to her body, the subtle hint of the perfume she was wearing, the way her hair fell perfectly around her face. He was devouring her presence with his gaze, tracing every curve and contour of her body, and leaving no detail unexplored.
“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he murmured opening the car door for her with a gentlemen’s grace. His compliment hung in the air between them, adding an extra layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.
The ride was a quiet, the silence was thick, punctuated only by the soft hum of the car engine. Every few minutes, his gaze would involuntarily drift towards her. Her eyes would also wander over his face, then slip down to his bicep that was straining against the fabric of his shirt. His hands, firm and strong, were gripping the steering wheel with a sense of control that was both alluring and intimidating.
The tension was a living, breathing entity in the car.
She couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken her out. Even though she was well aware that this wasn’t a date, him offering to drive her there, stirred a strange feeling within her. She could have easily gone with Nat and Wanda, but instead, she found herself drawn to this unexpected gesture. It was a subtle shift in their dynamic, one that caused a faint blush to dust her cheeks, a reaction she hadn’t anticipated.
“Oh Rogers, I might call an SOS just to have you leave her to me,” Tony teases as they reach him in the center of the room on the highest floor of the Avengers Tower “you look stunning darling”. “You’ve already taken me away from her enough,” he retorts, bringing a glass of whiskey to his lips. Steve looked at Iris, his eyes sparkling with a playful challenge. “You know, Tony might not be the only one who thinks you’re stunning,” he said, leaning in closer. The proximity made her heart flutter. She placed her hand on his arm, feeling the muscles underneath his shirt.
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls, Rogers,” she replied, her tone equally teasing. But the flush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Steve chuckled, “Only the ones who catch my eye,” he said, his gaze intent on her. “And you, Iris, have certainly done that.”
She felt her cheeks warm even further at his words. “Well, I must say, you’re not too bad yourself, Captain,” she retorted, raising her glass to him in a toast. The evening was just beginning, and she had a feeling it was going to be one to remember.
Steve’s grin widened. “Is that so, Iris? I had no idea I was making such an impression,” he teased, accepting her toast with a clink of their glasses.
“Come now, Rogers, don’t act like you don’t know the effect you have on people,” Iris retorted, her lips curving into a smirk. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes never leaving his.
Steve chuckled, leaning in closer. “Is that a compliment I hear, Iris?” he asked, his tone teasing.
“I don’t give compliments often, so cherish it,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper. The playful banter between them continued throughout the night, a clear sign of the growing bond between them.
The party was becoming increasingly noisy and she felt like she needed some fresh air. She navigated her way to the door leading to the roof. The biting wind instantly soothed her, but she soon realize she wasn’t alone. The Winter Soldier was sitting on the edge of the roof, his gaze fixed on the city lights.
She hesitated at the entrance, the familiar sense of unease creeping up on her. But before she could make the decision to turn back, his voice sliced through the tension.
“Come here,” he paused, a hint of vulnerability seeping through his words, “Please.”
She followed his command reluctantly, her feet heavy. Yet, she stayed a safe distance behind him, not daring to sit down.
“Can you sit?” His question hung in the air, unattended.
“No.” Her response was cold.
“Why didn’t you tell Tony?” He asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
“What happened to ‘I’m sorry I almost got you killed’?” She scoffed, crossing her arms.
“You didn’t apologize when you left me in Siberia though.” His words were a bitter reminder.
“Because I wasn’t sorry,” she retorted. She hoped she had only thought that, not voiced it out loud.
“Ah yes, because I was the big bad monster, and you the angel, right?” He scoffed, the sarcasm dripping from his words, “You think you’re so much better than me, but I remember your mission too. You killed as well, and you weren’t compelled to do it.”
“I was not like you,” she cried out, losing her usual composure and control.
“Yeah, keep saying that to yourself, Iris.”
The way her name rolled off his tongue stirred some deeply buried feelings, emotions that were supposed to stay frozen, and they had to stay that way because those memories felt like weapons.
“I’m not proud or happy about what I did, but at least I had a reason,” she shouted, the intensity of her feelings echoing in the night.
“What reason?” He abruptly looked up at her, his brow furrowed. He was completely in the dark about what she was referring to.
She took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned to return to the party as he stood and reached out, his gloved fingers wrapping around her arm.
“Let me go, James.” Her voice was steady, despite the storm brewing within her.
“You could’ve saved me.” His words were like a punch to her gut.
She had arrived here fully prepared to confront the Winter Soldier. However, the way his tone faltered, it almost felt like someone else. But no, this was the man who had brought her so close to death multiple times. It was still him.
“You can’t save someone who’s already dead.” With that, she pulled away and went back inside to find Steve. She needed to go home. She needed to distance herself from the ghosts of her past.