Bucharest
"Where's our first stop?" Steve inquired, the room filled with the rustling of clothes and gear as they packed their bags. The city outside was still asleep, the only noise breaking the early morning silence was the distant hum of the street cleaner cars.
"Bucharest," Iris responded. Her voice was quiet and firm, matching her actions as she closed her black leather jacket and zipped up her black pants, securing her knives.
Steve raised an eyebrow, "Care to explain why we're headed there?"
"Not now," she turned to face him, her eyes meeting his.
"Do you trust me or not?"
"On finding Buck? Yes." His response was immediate, the two of them lingering in the room for a minute. She had messed things up with Steve, but this wasn't about them, it was bigger than that.
"Then let's go,"
"Do we need backup?" Steve asked, his brow furrowed with concern. Iris shook her head, her gaze didn't waver.
"He won't be there."
At 10 a.m., their plane touched down in Bucharest. Steve followed closely behind Iris, who navigated the city streets with an uncanny familiarity. They weaved through the city, eventually ending up in a quiet suburban area, stopping before an old building. As they entered and began their way up the stairs, Steve could sense a change in Iris. Her body stiffened with each floor they passed, the rhythm of her heartbeat quickening. She halted at the last floor, standing in front of a worn-out door, her left hand resting on the handle of the knife secured to her leg. She paused, her body froze, and she seemed unable to move. So it was Steve who leaned in, his fingers brushing against hers as he gently pushed the door open. They both stood at the entrance, the room before them dimly lit and silent. Steve waited for Iris to make the next move, his attention entirely focused on her. After what felt like an eternity, she finally took a step inside. The room was just as she remembered.
The place was small, not really suitable for two people. The old two-stove kitchen with its minimal cabinets was still the same. The black plastic table sat in the center of the room, still covered with a faded green tablecloth, stained with remnants of coffee and meals shared long ago. As they turned left, their attention was drawn to two mattresses. They were still there, one close to the window and the other a few inches to its left, separate yet not so distant. The small green leaf plant in a now cracked white vase was dried up, its leaves scattered on the floor, a testament to the passage of time. A small radio and a few files lay scattered on the floor.
Iris stood in the middle of the apartment, her eyes taking in every detail. Meanwhile, Steve checked the small bathroom, making sure they were alone. It looked like time had stopped moving in here as if everything was frozen in the moment she had left. Steve browsed the room, studying every detail of the small apartment, searching for any signs of his friend.
He looked up at her, a question in his eyes. "You lived here?"
All she could do was nod, her gaze meeting his.
"You and Bucky?" he asked. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. She nodded again, the action barely perceptible.
"How long?" he asked. His tone was neutral, but she could see the curiosity in his eyes. He eased himself onto one of the black plastic chairs as he started to process the information.
"Steve," she whispered. Her voice was a mere breath against the stifling silence of the room. It felt like the weight of the memory hurt more than revealing the truth to Steve.
"Please," he pleaded, his voice soft yet desperate.
"A year," she finally managed to utter, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"So you two weren't just trading a few training punches," he said, lowering his head and passing his hand through his hair.
"It started like that," she responded, pacing around the room as if searching for something. "But we were strong together. Hydra knew that, so they sent us on two missions together." She stopped in front of the files and began browsing through them. "One was in Paris, a three-day mission. It was probably just a test to see if we could both come back alive." She sighed, "And then here."
"You were the mind and he was the muscle" Steve replied, trying to understand everything she was saying.
Iris persistently opened the few cabinets and rearranged the limited furniture.
"What are you searching for, Iris? If HYDRA is responsible for his disappearance, he certainly wouldn't have come here," Steve responded, his words laced with a tone that was almost harsh. He was still reeling from the confusion and the sting of what felt like betrayal.
"HYDRA was mistaken," Iris declared.
"Mistaken about what?" Steve inquired
"James was not merely a weapon, a mass of muscle to be used at their whim," she explained, her hands frenetically searching through the disarrayed kitchen drawers, yet coming up empty-handed.
"Iris," Steve interjected, his voice firm and commanding, "I deserve a full explanation. I'm tired of the endless cycle of secrets and half-truths. You coming into our life has disrupted the equilibrium Buck and I were building and I'm tired of you only telling only parts of the stories"
She heaved a sigh, her gaze locked onto his deep blue eyes. "I know," she sighed. "During our time here, James was sent back to HYDRA for reprogramming just once. I was the one sharing information between him and HYDRA. His interactions with them were minimal for several months, and during this period, his mind began to slowly break free."
"And how did they find out?" Steve asked, his brow furrowed.
"It was hard, Steve. At times, when he was less in control of his mind, he became more terrifying than when he was under the influence of The Winter Soldier part. We had to return here by 3 am each night, regardless of the mission. Don't ask me for the reasoning behind it, but this sort of routine provided some semblance of stability and sanity for him. But one night, our plan went down. I messed up. I couldn't give him the order to eliminate a target. The intel had indicated only two men in the truck, but one of them had brought along his daughter, a child who couldn't have been older than seven. My stalling almost got us caught by SHIELD."
"So, you didn't make it back by three," Steve said, observing the visible signs of tension beginning to surface in her body.
"We didn't. He turned on me. I was left with no choice but to call in HYDRA. He was going to kill me," she confessed, tears streaming down her now flushed cheeks.
"It wasn't your fault," Steve softly reassured her.
"I don't need your pity, Steve," she retorted, hastily wiping her tears away. "After he returned, we were extra cautious. What I'm searching for now is a ring that he used as a reminder of who he was. It was to help him remember that he was both James Buchanan Barnes and The Winter Soldier. A reminder that He embodied both entities and it was futile to resist their coexistence."
"A ring?" Steve queried.
"Yes," she affirmed, her hands now lifting the mattresses.
"A ring that is half white and half black? With a small red gemstone in it?"
Her actions ceased, and she slowly turned to face him. "Yes,"
"He used to wear it. With his army dog tag."
His gaze locked onto hers, an intricate blend of both pain and joy resonated in his voice. It was a feeling he had grown accustomed to, a feeling that was probably a regular occurrence for him by now. His heart always seemed to be a tad bit lighter each time she revealed more about him, each time Bucky almost gave his tacit approval of his feelings for her. However, he was now aware that there was so much more depth to their relationship than he had initially realized. The experiences they shared together were far more intimate than any he had ever shared with her, perhaps even more intimate than the ones he shared with Bucky. But the only thing that mattered at that moment was bringing his brother back.
The ensuing silence was deafening, their unspoken words resonating loudly in the room. Iris hastily retrieved a file from the floor. "That's a relief. He must have preserved it as a precaution for a situation like this," she remarked, her voice barely above a whisper as she extracted a small USB from the radio.
"Yeah, I'm sure that why" he sighed, his mind now racing back and forth, putting together every story, every interaction, every word, from Bucky and Iris.
"We need to return to the Compound. This will help us." She showed the USB to Steve as she made her way towards the door.
They left the apartment, Iris led the way, her movements quick and Steve followed.
Once they reached the airport, Steve sent a message to the team back at the compound, letting them know of their discovery and their imminent return. As they waited for their flight, they sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts, mentally preparing for what lay ahead.
"How are the others?" Iris broke the silence mid-flight
"They're coping the best they can," Steve began, his gaze not leaving the clouds outside the window. "Wanda's been working tirelessly with Vision on her abilities. Trying to understand them better, and control them. It's a slow process, but Vision has been patient and supportive."
"Sam's been a rock," he added, his voice laced with gratitude. "He's been helping me search for Bucky. He's been there, day in and day out, providing support, insight, even humour when needed. He's just been...there. It wasn't easy for me at first."
He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before he continued, "And Tony... Well, Tony's being Tony. He's been burying himself in his work, as usual. Inventing new tech, upgrading our gear, and always trying to make us more efficient, and more prepared. It's his way of contributing, of helping." he sighed deeply "As for Natasha, she's been indispensable. She's been helping me coordinate everything, going through information, strategizing, making connections. Without her, I don't know where we'd be." he chuckled. His gaze landed on Iris next to him.
The hum of the plane's engine filled the silence that followed. Iris nodded, her gaze drifting back to the window.
"We will find him, Steve. We have to," she said, her voice breaking on the last word.
Steve nodded, meeting her gaze. "We will, Iris. I won't stop until we do."
"I won't stop either" she whispered as she placed her hand on his leg.
Iris sat back, her gaze meeting Steve's. Her hand was still on his leg, a comforting presence.
"I know you won't," Steve finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart was pounding in his chest, the familiar feelings of longing and affection rushing back to him. He missed her, more than he realized.
Iris gave him a small smile, "I'll find him, Steve," she said, her voice filled with determination. "And I'll bring him home to you."
Steve nodded, resting his hand on top of hers "Someone might call me stupid, but we could be your home too Iris. That offer never expires"
And with that, they settled back into their seats, each lost in their thoughts as the plane continued its course.