Iron Bloodlines

Shadows of the past

Elise's POV:

I stood on the edge of the rooftop, the city of New York sprawled out beneath me like a glittering sea of light. The night was cool, a gentle breeze playing with my dark hair as I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. It had been a long day at Stark Industries, and despite my exhaustion, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change.

"Hey, Ellie," came a voice from behind me. I turned to see Pepper Potts, my father's trusted partner, wife, and a second mother to me, walking towards me with a concerned look on her face. "You okay?"

I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Just needed some fresh air. It's been one of those days."

Pepper nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Your father is worried about you, you know."

My smile faded. "Dad's always worried about me. I wish he wouldn't be."

"That's what fathers do," Pepper said gently. "Especially when their daughters are as brilliant and stubborn as you."

I laughed softly. "I suppose so."

We stood in companionable silence for a moment, the sounds of the city below filling the air. I appreciated Pepper's presence; she always knew how to make me feel grounded.

My thumb absentmindedly brushed against the trinket adorning my finger. I felt a twinge of pain in my heart as I lifted my hand and glanced at the last gift he gave me, a delicate silver ring with a blue sapphire. Just weeks before he broke my heart into a thousand pieces.

I'm still not entirely sure why I still wear it, but I know I haven't been able to bring myself to take off the ring. Every time I think about removing it, a wave of conflicting emotions crashes over me—anger, sadness, and a lingering hope I can't quite shake.

Bucky. The name echoed in my mind, bringing with it memories that were both sweet and painful. I thought we were unbreakable, but he left, shrouding his departure in vague explanations about darkness and protection.

I sighed, tracing the ring's intricate pattern with my fingertip. The silver felt cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of Bucky's touch that I could still recall so vividly. The day he gave it to me played out in my mind like a scene from a movie.

We were on a rooftop, not unlike the one where I now stood, the city lights twinkling below us. He had taken my hand, his eyes searching mine as he slipped the ring onto my finger. "For luck," he had said, his voice soft but filled with a weight I didn't fully understand then. "To remind you that you're never alone. I'll always be here."

The irony of those words now felt like a cruel joke. Alone was exactly how I felt in the wake of his departure. I had thrown myself into my work, trying to fill the void he left behind, but nothing could erase the pain of his absence.

Pepper's voice breaks me from my thoughts. "He misses you," she says, a gentle arm wrapping around my shoulders.

I glance back down at the ring. "Today was...would have been... our anniversary," I whisper.

"I know, honey. I'm so sorry," Pepper replies, giving my shoulders a squeeze.

I let out a sigh and glance down at my watch. "Shit. It's 7:00. I'm late. I gotta get going."

"Where are you off to?" Pepper asks with a smile.

"I have a date," I reply, turning to leave.

"Oh, El, wait," Pepper calls after me.

"Yeah?" I say, turning back to face her.

"We still do family dinners on Saturdays. It's been six months since you came to one. And I understand why. It just would be nice to see your face there tomorrow. The family misses you," she smiles.