I'm Iron Man, And I'm Agent Coulson

Chapter 111 Christmas Shopping

Two Busy Weeks Later

"Hey after training, I need to talk to you about something," I gasped, out of breath, and sore from Steve and Nat's training regimen.
It had been a few weeks and I was still pouring over documents, in fact, I had a short, useless meeting at NYU's history department hoping they could point to more information, but they had nothing I didn't already know or have. I sent out another email to Arizona State, hoping to get in contact with their Mesoamerica professor, but hadn't heard anything yet. I continued meeting with the foundation, offering my support, and more intel on the areas we needed to go, but it was still on hold. We were getting closer though, since small bands of rebels began marching back towards the middle east.
I trained with the team, but Steve made sure to keep the simulations limited to the suspected engagements we may face in Africa, if we ever were allowed to take the foundation's supplies. I was grateful, but it made me wonder if he was unnerved by what happened before, and I couldn't blame him, because I was too, and it only got worse as my quest for answers had turned up nothing.
Through all that, somehow, I still found the time to get some soon to be Christmas shopping done.
Christmas was approaching fast, and I was at a loss on what to get Tony. I had already shopped for most of the team: sketch books and new pencils for Steve, along with tickets to a baseball game, Nat was getting three hundred dollars worth of gift cards for her favorite stores, and the salon. I bought a deep red leather jacket for Wanda, along with some boots, and a gift card to her favorite coffe shop. For Rhodes, I found a watch, and tickets to a basketball game.
All that was left was Vision, Sam, Clint, and Tony, but my teammates weren't what was worrying me, the man who had everything was. After two weeks I still had no idea what to get Tony for Christmas. I looked at watches, cufflinks, expensive pens, even clothes, but he had dozens of those things, and I wanted our first Christmas to be special, and wanted to get him something one of a kind, but there was two weeks till Christmas and I was freaking out.

"Okay, but why're you out of breath already?" Natasha asked, and put her batons down.
"Probably cause I haven't worked out in a few days, and sex doesn't count," I muttered, and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Then you're not having the right sex," Nat scoffed, while Steve rolled his eyes.
"Do you two have nothing better to talk about?" He asked, and put his hands on his hips. His classic bitch face marred his features, and I couldn't help but snicker.
"Hey, that's not fair, Tony and I have amazing sex," I giggled, while Steve threw up his hands, and walked away,
"Oh will you relax Steve, I promise not to say the word sex anymore.."
"You're both lying, and Sam needed to speak to me, so I'll just see you guys later," he remarked and walked out of the training room.
"Such a prude," Nat snickered, and plopped down on the mats, "I tried to get him out of the facility the other day, he let me take him to dinner, but after that, he just wanted to come home, even though I found an old theatre that plays movies from the forties and fifties. So I give up, it's your turn."
I frowned, and sat down across from her, "wait, that sounds like a date, you took Steve out on a date?" I uttered, shocked.
Ever since the mall, during the fall of SHIELD, I noticed their chemistry, and his fierce belief in her. Of course Nat got involved with Bruce after that, but I was still secretly rooting for both of them. They had much more in common than her and Bruce did, and regardless if they didn't notice, they seemed to gravitate towards each other when it came to missions and training. I was a firm believer that male and female's could be friends, great friends without experiencing romantic feelings, but I also believed there was some sexual tension, and chemistry, brewing between her and Steve.
"Pff, of course not," she sighed, and layed back, "I'm just worried when the time comes for us to fight whatever it is you, Thor and Tony are worried about, he may forget what it is we're fighting for," she declared, "there has to be more in life besides working out, and preparing for a fight which may never come, and he's not doing that. He's still stuck back there, stuck being a soldier. I know Peggy's getting worse, and when she passes I'm worried about his reaction, and his outlook on the future."
I crawled over next to her, and layed down. I had the same worry she did, and tried to do the same before, when it came to getting Steve out there, "I know Red, I worry for him too, but we can't force him to go out on dates, or see the world. Believe me, I've tried too, but you're right, I guess all we can do is keep trying," I agreed, and glanced at her.
"I guess so," she yawned, and looked at me, "now what did you need to talk to me about?"
"Oh, uh, well, I.." I stammered, realizing how stupid my problem was versus what was going on with Steve.
"Are you pregnant?" She giggled.
A swift rush of breath left my mouth, and I pushed at her arm, "are you crazy!? Why would you even ask that, oh my God, but thanks for reminding me that my shot's due soon. In fact, I should probably go down to medical and get it taken care of later," I rushed out and grabbed my phone, "FRIDAY can you schedule me an appointment with medical so I can get my depo shot, before I leave today?"
"Of course, I'll send you a text with the time," FRIDAY answered immediately.
"Thank you, jesus christ Red," I hissed.
"What? You're reaction was priceless, now what did you want to talk about," she snickered.
"I hate you, but I have no idea what to get Tony for Christmas," I declared.
"Really? That's your big problem?" She laughed, and pushed some of her hair off her face.
"Well yah, what the hell do I get for a man who has everything?" I asked, and grimaced, "I thought about getting him a watch with something personal engraved, but he has dozens, I've looked at those expensive pens, cufflinks, cologne.... but like I said, he has all those things.."
"I like the watch idea, but have you thought about getting him a present just for him, and by that I mean, one he can only see?" She asked while a devious smile stretched across her face.
"I know that look, and I don't like it. The last time you got that look, I ended up with a box full of sextoys," I growled, and turned a light shade of scarlet.
"Yah, like you guys haven't enjoyed those toys," she mused and waved her hand, "but I was thinking of something like sexy pictures, boudoir pictures."
"What?" I stuttered, and felt the color drain from my face, "are you insane?! You don't give someone you've just started dating that shit...no!"
"Oh c'mon, I think it would be the perfect gift, along with the personalized watch. He needs something to open when we exchange gifts and have dinner," she continued, "besides you've been in love with the man for years, so who says you can't do something like this whenever you want? I know he's your happily ever after.. so what's the big deal?"