Red Winter: Timeline

Chapter Thirty-One: Charity Ball

Pepper had gone all out, from the decorations to the catering. Tasteful music danced through the air as people dressed in their best walked around, ate, and chatted. A large memorial set in the East wall for Tony Stark was surrounded by many who prayed and bowed their heads. Pepper began this tradition a year after the war, to bring hope and give to those who had lost so much. Being their homes or family, Stark Industries would give back. When the three of them walked in, they looked around the room for familiar faces. Many former S.H.I.E.L.D agents roamed the large room, among them Maria Hill and Nick Fury. Bucky could only keep one thing on this mind, this was the perfect target. It was negative thoughts that clouded his mind, the thoughts of battle and war. Without a distraction that was typically where his mind would wander, but just as it began, a small tug on his arm pulled him back and suddenly his distraction was smiling at him with bright red lips. "Are you ok?"

Bucky looked over at Wanda, the perfect distraction, "I'm great doll."

Sam caught their table, seeing it toward the front where the stage had been set up. Vision, Peter Parker, Scott Lang, Maria hill, and Nick Fury had already taken their seats. The three started over to join them before Pepper took the stand. Bucky pulled out Wanda's chair, she smiled and sat down, "You never do that for me." Sam looked at his chair, then back to Bucky.

"Sorry, princess." Bucky pulled out Sam's chair, but Sam narrowed his eyes at him before sitting down, but they both shared a fun smile before Bucky took his seat between him and Wanda.

Nick leaned over to Sam, "I've got word from Rhodes, he's willing to lend a hand."

"Now boys, no business at the dinner table." Maria raised her eyebrow at them as Pepper took the stage, the room's murmurs silenced.

"Welcome everyone, it is such a joy to see so many of you come out again this year." Pepper began, she took a deep breath, looking down at the main table where Happy sat with Morgan, Morgan gave her mom the thumbs up, Pepper smiled. "We as a world have endured so much. We have lived together, fought together, and lost together." Pepper looked down for a moment, "But most importantly, we have won together. To destroy our enemies is not a task so easily done, we cannot do it as a group, it take all of us. We have fallen soldiers, lost many loved ones along the way..." Pepper looked toward Tony's memorial, "But we are stronger because of it." She smiled softly, "Some of us bounce back quickly while we watch others around us struggle. Many cannot rebuild so successfully, that is why we are here today. We need to support all of our people, especially those who need it the most." Pepper looked over toward The Avenger's table, "Heroes...aren't we all." Pepper and Sam shared a smile. "The other day, I spoke to a friend for the first time in...a long time. This friend relayed a speech that he had always held dear..." Pepper locked eyed with Sam, "Compromise where you can. Where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, 'No, you move'." Sam looked down, remembering Peggy Carter's funeral. After Pepper finished her speech everyone clapped, Sam clapped the loudest.

After dinner was served people began to roam the room, dance, and start writing their checks. Bucky walked up to Wanda who was standing in front of Tony's memorial, he slipped his arm around her waist and looked up at the hologram image of Tony, "I hated him for so long." Wanda licked her lips, "And even when I liked him...I always went back to Sokovia. I still picture that shell...I remember my fear, how I started to welcome death more and more as the minutes passed." Bucky looked over at Wanda, "Tony Stark was a man...just a man."

"Men make mistakes." Bucky squeezed her waist lightly, he watched as a tear trailed down her cheek.

Wanda looked at him, locking eyes, "I never forgave him." She shook her head lightly, "I'm not sure I ever will."

"He did a lot for you." Bucky turned to look back at the hologram, "He did a lot for all of us."

"I grew to understand him." Wanda nodded, looking back at the memorial with Bucky, "I hated Tony Stark for who he use to be, I grew to understand the man he became." Wanda turned her body to face Bucky, he returned the motion and smiled, "I appreciate him." Bucked leaned forward and kissed her forehead. From a distance Vision had looked over and spotted the moment, looking down at the floor to distract his gaze. 

"Wanna dance?" Bucky smirked, holding out his metal hand to her.

Wanda smiled, "This music is much different from the dance hall." She thought back to when they traveled in time, he took her in to dance.

"I think I can manage." He winked, squeezing her hand lightly as he handed it to him. Making their way for the dance floor Bucky took Wanda's hands and pulled her close, the song slowed and everyone around the dance floor swayed lightly. Peter had somehow convinced Maria to dance with him, he seemed thrilled, Maria smiled politely. Scott and Hope made their way to the dance floor, all while Nick, Sam, and Vision all leaned against a wall with their arms crossed over their chests, watching.

"It is nice." Vision spoke, they both turned and looked at him, "To see her smile again."

They looked over toward Bucky and Wanda, they were dancing close to one another, Wanda was laughing at something Bucky had said. Sam turned to Vision, "How you holding up?"

Vision smiled, tapping into something he had said once before, "A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts." He looked over at Sam, "It is worth the world for her to be happy." Sam smiled, looking back over at the dance floor.

Bucky pulled Wanda close, she closed her eyes and rested her head into his chest, feeling calm and safe. The outside world was not a threat to her, not when she was around him. Something about his aura, how his presence seemed to ease her mind. Wanda fed off that, she had been more relaxed in her meditation since her relationship with Bucky changed. The feeling was very much mutual. Let alone the idea of never have to worry about The Winter Soldier ever again, the feeling of having Wanda to himself was opening. As the song came to an end, Bucky lifted Wanda's chin so her face was level to him, and planted a long, loving kiss on her lips.

Just then the wall were Tony's memorial stood blasted into pieces, a large hole gaping in the building. Those who were near it flew into tables and other people, dust filled the area. Bucky and Wanda broke the kiss and turned to see where the explosion had taken place. Amidst the dust walked out a small group of people.

A tall man with shaggy blonde hair seemed to stand out as the leader of the pack, though as Sam looked on he knew for a fact this was Magneto's doing. The blonde man had elongated canines with long claws at the end of his fingers. Behind him was another blonde man, though shorter, he looked around the room, flicking his fingers as flames erupted from his hand. Beside him was a blue woman, her fur was light blue and her eyes glowed yellow. Last, in the back of the group, stood a man dressed in silver and blue, a large 'A' on his chest.

Sam shook his head and reached under their table, pulling out the shield he was placed there. Locking eyes with Bucky he nodded to the table, Bucky nodded back. Sam had prepped for this, expecting something to take place, but hoping nothing would. Under the table was the shield, a gun for Bucky, and a gun for Vision. Nick Fury reached beneath his suit coat and placed his hand on his gun while Maria Hill pulled back her dress to reveal her thigh holster. Wanda looked up at Bucky, he gently squeezed her side and stepped away from her as the group began to walk into the room. Sam slide Bucky a gun from under the table, Bucky knelt down and quickly grabbed it. Vision caught the gun that Sam threw to him, they had been working with him to learn how to use it. "Bad idea." Nick looked over to Vision as he pulled his gun from his jacket, "Sixty percent of this room is armed."

Wanda quickly looked over to see Happy was holding Morgan, Wanda locked eyed with him and nodded. The man with the long teeth went to grab a woman who had fallen to the floor from the explosion, but Bucky shot at his hand, causing him to look over at the soldier and smile, "Finally!" He growled, running toward Bucky.

The man with the fire started flicking flames around the room, catching curtains and tablecloths on fire. Vision ran toward him and knocked him to the ground, the two started to brawl.

The blue woman looked over at Happy and smirked, making her way over to the table where Morgan was hugging Happy's leg. Wanda shook her head, eyes began to glow red as she worked her hands to make a table fly at he blue woman. The woman fell to the ground under the table, Wanda ran over to Happy and Morgan, "Get her out of here!" Wanda watched as the blue woman threw the table off of her and looked over at Wanda, anger in her eyes.