We'll figure it out
“What’s going on?” Tony asked meeting them at the etrance, his eyes darting between Steve and Iris.
“We might have a lead,” Iris said, holding up the USB.
“What’s that?” Tony asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Back when I was with HYDRA,” Iris began, her voice steady, “I was assigned as Bucky’s supervisor for a mission in Bucharest. I managed to copy the key to enter the server of HYDRA’s Winter Soldier project onto this USB.”
Tony’s eyes widened “And you think they’re still using the same server?” he asked, skepticism evident in his tone.
“It’s a long shot,” Iris admitted, “But it’s the best chance we have.”
Tony took the USB from her “Alright,” he said, “I’ll see what I can do.”
He turned around to face her, a smile appearing on his face “It’s good to have you back, Iris”
She gave him a little smile as he walked away to work on deciphering the data on the USB.
“Come on, let’s go see the others.” Steve said as he placed his hand on her lower back, guiding her inside.
As Iris followed Steve through the quiet hallways of the compound, she could hear faint laughter and chatter growing louder as they neared the common area. As they entered, the sound abruptly ceased. All eyes turned towards them, the surprise evident on their faces.
Iris locked eyes with Natasha, who was the first to react. A slow, warm smile spread across Natasha’s features, she rose from her seat gracefully, her eyes never leaving Iris. “Well, look who’s back,” she greeted, her voice holding a softness that Iris rarely heard, brimming with unspoken emotions.
Iris returned the smile, feeling a familiar warmth spreading through her as she responded, “It’s good to see you, Nat.”
Sam, his eyes wide with surprise and relief, offered her a bright smile. He enveloped her in a warm hug as Wanda rushed forward as she threw her arms around Iris. The embrace was tight, filled with a desperate kind of relief that left Iris feeling a pang of guilt.
The room gradually filled with laughter and warm conversation. They caught up with each other, and shared stories, and for a moment, it felt like Iris had never left.
As the night wore on, the group gradually dispersed, drifting off to their own corners of the compound. The laughter faded, the lights dimmed, and Iris found herself alone with Steve. She was sitting on the carpet and he was sitting on the sofa in front of her, in his hand a few last drops of whiskey. Their conversations in Bucharest hung heavy in the air between them, an unspoken tension that neither of them seemed ready to address.
“I missed this,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes reflected a mix of emotions: longing, regret, a hint of sadness.
Steve turned to look at her, his gaze steady as his eyes mirrored her emotions” We missed you, too,” he paused “I missed you”.
The silence that lingered between them was a familiar one. Iris couldn’t help but let her eyes wander over Steve’s face, tracing the lines that losing his best friend again and the desperate search for him had etched on his features. She saw the unwavering determination that had always drawn her to him, but she also saw the layers of pain and regret hidden beneath.
Steve broke the silence first, his voice soft yet firm, “Iris, we need to talk.” There was a seriousness in his tone, an underlying tension that made her heart skip a beat.
She nodded, meeting his gaze with a resigned expression, “I know, Steve.”
It was clear to Iris that the Steve standing in front of her was not the same Steve she had left behind.
They both knew that things couldn’t go back to the way they were, but they also knew that they had a chance to start new.
Iris looked at Steve, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. “Steve,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “I never wanted to leave. But at the time, it felt like the only option I had.”
Steve nodded, “I know, Iris,” he added, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
His touch sent a jolt through her, a familiar warmth that made her heart flutter. She looked at him, her gaze softening, “Thank you, Steve.”
As they stood there, in the quiet hallway, Iris couldn’t help but think about how much had changed and yet how some things remained the same.
“I just hope this time you decide to stay,” he said, gulping down the remaining whiskey and lowering his head. He swirled the glass in his hand, avoiding her gaze. “Moving on from whatever happened between us, you can’t spend your life alone. The Avengers could still be your family.”
“The Avengers? You mean a bunch of kids with a clear problem following rules and PTSD?” she chuckled, standing up.
“And then there’s you,” she added, turning around to face him. She slowly approached the couch, her movements deliberate and graceful.
Steve watched her every move, his gaze never leaving her figure. He could see the soft glow of the overhead lights reflecting off her skin. His heart skipped a beat as she gracefully lowered herself onto the couch next to him, turning to face him.
She was so close he could feel the warmth radiating off her, he could see the warmth of her eyes now more gentle than when he first met her, but the scar near her left eye as a reminder of the power she held. There was a familiar comfort in her presence, a sense of home that he had missed.
She leaned back into the couch, her eyes meeting his. The silence between them was comfortable, the quiet intimacy filling the room.
“What happens when he comes home?” he asked, his eyes still on her.
“He will need to recover. It will be like the first time you found him, he will ne…” she couldn’t finish as he interrupted her, shaking his head.
“No, no, I mean, what happens when he comes home?” he repeated himself, staring right into her eyes. She understood his meaning. Now he knew that she and Bucky had shared far more than they let on. It was clear, probably to everyone but them, that they had achieved a level of intimacy hard for anyone else to reach.
“Iris,” he began, his voice holding a hint of hesitance. “You have to make peace with the fact that you don’t really hate Bucky… and Bucky doesn’t truly hate you.”
His words had an immediate effect on her. She drew back slightly, surprise evident in her eyes. It was clear that she wasn’t expecting this, but Steve believed it was something that needed to be said.
“Iris, I want you,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. His gaze was intense, his blue eyes burning into hers. “I want what we had… but only if you and Bucky can find a way to get along.”
Her eyes wide as she processed his words. The room was silent, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioning. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside fading away as they sat there, locked in the moment.
The confession hung in the air between them, a truth laid bare. It was a risk, a gamble, but Steve felt it was one worth taking. He watched Iris, waiting for her response, his heart pounding in his chest.
“It’s not that I hate him, Steve,” she began, “but it was hard to find a balance between us. He has wounds that are a century old, and I was a runner. I spent years being careful not to get attached to anybody. Back at HYDRA, it was the first time I had something to lose. That’s what they had on me. I tried to leave with him, and it was impossible. Every time I tried, it just backfired on both of us. So, I ran, alone. I regretted it, Steve. I regretted it for years.” Tears were now streaming down her cheeks “I hated him because, for the first time after I left my family, I felt pain.” Steve gently wiped her tears away. “But I’ll never be that person again. I left here because it was a lot. I met James Buchanan Barnes here, and the thought of him being with HYDRA again…” She shook her head.
“Iris, we’re going to find him. And when we do, we’re going to help him. We’ll give him the support he needs to recover and regain his memories. We won’t rest until he’s back with us, where he belongs.”
Steve reached out then, his fingers gently brushing her cheek, wiping away another tear that had managed to escape. The touch was tender, comforting “I’m glad you’re here, Iris,” he continued, his voice a soft murmur in the quiet space between them, “You know his version better than anyone else. You know the Winter Soldier.” He paused for a moment, his gaze meeting hers, a depth of sincerity reflected in his eyes. “And that means you can help him in ways none of us can. You can reach him, you can guide him through the darkness and back to the light.”
His hand dropped from her cheek, but he didn’t pull away.
She tentatively reached out, placing her hands gently on either side of his face. In response, he leaned into her touch, his eyes fluttering closed as he savoured the feeling. She leaned in, their lips barely a breath apart. And then they were kissing, their lips gently touching.
His heart pounded in his chest, each thud echoing the rhythm of his longing for her. He kissed her with a hunger he hadn’t known before, a desperate need that left him breathless. His hands moved of their own accord, pulling her closer, needing to feel the warmth of her body against his. He tasted her, savouring the sweet of her lips, a taste that left him yearning for more. He’d missed her, more than he’d realized, but now he was starving for her.
He’d loved before, but it had never felt like this. He’d kissed before, but those kisses had never set had never consumed him like this. The feel of her soft skin against his, the way she fit perfectly in his arms, the way their bodies moved together, it was all too much and yet, not enough.
Their surroundings faded away as they lost themselves in each other, the world outside ceasing to exist. All that mattered was the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her on his lips, the sound of her soft moans that fueled his desire. The kiss deepened, their bodies pressed closer, their hearts beating in sync.
As they pulled away from each other, a soft sigh escaped her lips, a sound that sent a shiver down his spine. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. His touch was tender yet dominant.
“I missed you,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.
“I missed you too,” she replied, her voice matching his in softness. She leaned into him, resting her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was a comforting sound, one that made her feel safe and loved. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, the warmth of his body seeping into hers. They stayed like that for a while, simply enjoying the comfort of each other’s presence. It felt like a dream, a moment of tranquillity amidst the chaos of their lives, a moment they both knew they would cherish forever.
He brushed his lips against her forehead, a soft kiss that made her heart flutter. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. The love she saw reflected in his gaze made her breath hitch in her throat. She reached up, gently touching his face, her fingers tracing the contours of his features. He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
“We’ll figure it out” she whispered.