𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 || ꜱᴛᴇᴠᴇ ʀᴏɢᴇʀꜱ

15 | HARD TO LEAVE

In the gym, Steve had finally caught up to Iris and watched as she prepared herself. She started stretching and wrapping up her hands with tape.
Steve started stretching too, all while watching her.

Once they had both finished, they walked over to each other.
"You're sure you want to go full force?" Steve asks, wanting to make sure of her decision.

"Yes." Iris nods "We have no idea who I may fight." she stares up at Steve. They made eye contact and held it for a few seconds before Steve stepped back.

Steve walked to the corner of the gym and picked up his shield. Iris laughs.
"So that's where we're going."

"You get to use your powers." Steve shrugged and strapped it to his arm.

"Fair."
Iris stretched out her arms and let the power grow in the palms of her hands. She glanced across the room to see Steve holding his shield out in front of him. Taking a deep breath, Iris began running towards him, throwing a burst of power at the shield. Steve blocks them and lowers the shield to see her lifting her leg.
Iris quickly kicks the shield out of the way and uses her other leg to kick Steve in the chest.
He stumbles back but still manages to block another burst of her power.

When Iris goes in for a punch, Steve grabs her wrist and flips her body over his head. Before hitting the ground, Iris used her powers to lifts herself and she goes in for another punch, this time hitting the shield.

Throwing a few more punches and kicks, she finally knocks it out of his hand and off his arm. She makes sure to kick it out of his reach before going into a closer physical fight.

They both throw punches, dodge, and block each other. At one point, Iris got up onto Steve's shoulders, wrapping her legs around his neck trying to knock him over. When they finally fell, Iris was above Steve, pinning his arms back with her powers. She slowly stood up and stared down at him, keeping him pinned to the floor.

She stood above him, panting and catching her breath for a moment, until Steve started trying to get out of her bonds.

Iris smiles at him and crouches down over him.
"Can't get out?" She teases, watching him get frustrated.

"The round is clearly over, you can let me go." Steve groans trying to pull his arms away.

"Is it?" She runs her hand along his arms and chest, and leans down kissing him. She could see his arms struggling to get out of the bonds.
"I have the control now."

Steve's face started to heat up and Iris could see it turning red.
"Are we still training?" Steve chuckles.

"Are we?" Iris shrugs and let's him out of the bonds. He immediately brings his hands to her waist and flips her over, so he was now hovering above her.

"Don't let your guard down." Steve said raising a brow.

"I didn't." Iris tilts her head and watches as Steve's expression changed. She lifts her hands slightly and smiles.
"You should really pay attention to my hands."
She sends a burst of power into his chest and he goes flying back.

Iris stands up and walks over to him, coughing on the ground. She laughs and helps him up.
"I need a break."

"Sorry." Iris smiles and kisses his cheek.
"Did you see that?" Steve asked as they gathered their things.
"What?" Iris turns to him.

"When you used your powers, your veins..they started glowing." Steve pointed at her wrists.

Iris furrows her brows and looks down at her hands. She holds one out, letting her power build in her palm and watched at the veins in her wrist slowly lit up.
"What does this mean?"

"I have no idea." Steve shook his head. "Just..keep an eye on it I guess." They make eye contact and Iris nods.

"I will." Iris sighs "I'm going to miss you."
"Hey— I'm not leaving yet, you know that."

"In two days." Iris shrugs.
She hadn't thought about it all too much until this moment. She had now finally realized that she was going to be left soon.
Steve pulls her into a tight hug and she closes her eyes, resting her head on his chest.

"You're gonna be fine. I'm sure I'll see you not long after."

"How do we even know that they'll take the bait? What if I set off a huge explosion, they don't even come, and I get in trouble-"

"Iris calm down." Steve takes her face in his hands. "You were so sure of this before, what happened?"

"Im overthinking, I know." she sighs "It's just, the last time I had done something like that with my powers...It wasn't good." she shakes her head. "So many people- so so many people got hurt. I didn't know what I was doing. And I didn't know it was wrong."

"It's okay. That's why we're all leaving right? And you'll be able to figure out why so many people have been after you."

"Yeah yeah. You're right. I can finally get them off my ass."

————

The next couple days went by quicker than both Iris and Steve had wanted. They had done at least two training exercises each day and spent a little time around the city. When the plan wasn't on their minds, it was nice. But every now and then the thought would creep back into their minds. The days seemed to go by as quick as a snap of their fingers.

Iris has helped Steve pack his things and make sure he was 'disguise ready' in her words. His beard had grown out and it matched his now darker and longer hair.

Even when they had meals together their mood wasn't positive. Iris had to constantly remind Steve that she didn't need him to come with her.
When it was finally the last day that Steve was staying. They took a long drive to the airport.
Iris walked Steve as far as she could to his plane, while also being cautious to make sure she didn't know where he was going.

"You have everything?" Iris asks fixing his shirt slightly.
"Yes, we checked three times." Steve chuckles.

"And this is the right gate. You know where you're going?" Iris looks up at Steve who's just smiling slightly at her. "What?"

"I've got it under control, okay?" He cups her face with his hand and pulls her in for a kiss. Their lips meet, and they stay like that for a few seconds before letting go.
Just as Iris took a step back and announcement went over the small speakers by the gate saying that the plane would be leaving soon.
"Sounds like I better go."

"Yeah, sounds like it." Iris nods. She hugs him one last time and looks up to him. "I'll see you soon hm?"

"I'll see you soon." Steve nods. He gives Iris one last quick kiss before turning around and heading into the gate.

Iris stands, crossing her arms, watching him walk away until she couldn't see him anymore. Now it was official. She was alone. Again. She let out a big sigh and started making her way to the exit.

As she drove herself home, she sat in silence. There were so many thoughts running through her mind.

————

Back at the facility, Iris walked through the completely empty building, staring down each hall. Seeing everything cleared out have her an eerie feeling.

She dropped her purse on her dresser and looked forward, staring at herself in the mirror.
"You got this." She told herself, furrowing her brows.

She held her hand out in front of her and watched it glow, lighting up her veins. Whoever wanted this power obviously didn't want to use it for good. Which only gave her another reason to fight hard.

A/N:
sorry this one's short it's sorta a filler in a way. next chapter will be better!