My feet quietly fall against the floor as I follow in the wake of a distraught Captain America. It doesn't take me long to find him deep in a destructive sadness in the stairwell.

Or what normal people call crying.

His face is lowered into the palm of his hand. Just by looking at him I can feel the waves of sadness rolling off him. "Hey..." I whisper once I reach the landing to the stairs Steve is standing on. I watch as he sharply turns to face me. At first, his face is that of a startled deer before it melts into an obviously forced smile. The sadness I see shining in his eyes makes me frown as I slowly descend the stairs to where he is. "What's wrong? What happened?" I motion easily to his phone, which is tightly grasped in his hand without looking away from his face. Steve is the first to break eye contact as he looks down at his phone and gives a small shrug.

"I got some disappointing news." He states vaguely, looking back to me like a kicked puppy.

"Steve I've been giving you disappointing news for nearly a year. This is something deeper." I lean against the handrail to the stairs. "Someone died, didn't they?" I whisper lowly, my face turning into one of pity. It's the only other thing I can possibly fathom would rattle Steve like this. Before he can reply, I hold up a finger. "I know the look, so don't try to tell me otherwise." I state gently, but with a definitive tone. His mouth opens and closes a few times as he fights for words before his jaw sets once he closes his mouth. Steve's obviously trying to come up with the right words. Seeing how hard it is for him, I tilt my head with a smile before I reach forward with one arm and draw him into a comforting hug. It's almost funny, despite the situation. I see Steve as a father figure even though he's old enough to be my grand or great-grandfather.

"Thank you, Iris." I hear Steve mumble into my hair as he returns the embrace. We stand there hugging it out for a good two minutes before I feel the tension leave his body as he lets out a deep sigh. Then he slowly, almost hesitantly, pulls away. Cap looks the slightest bit relieved as he looks at me. Whatever tears that had been threatening to spill had dispersed.

"Who was it?" I hate to ask the question, but I'm just too curious for my own good.

And mouthy apparently.

"I don't think you'd know her." He smiles at me, memories of the past sparking through his eyes.

"Was it Miss Carter?" My voice drops in volume as I give him a sad look. The expression I receive makes me blink a couple of times to make sure my eyes aren't playing tricks on me. Steve Rogers, Captain America, the fearless WWII vet, looks like a gaping fish.

Where's a camera when you need one?

"How...how did you know?" The super-soldier asks me, leaning against the handrail behind him as he crosses his arms over his chest. His eyebrows pull together as he looks at me with a mix of shock and wonderment.

"Oh, come now Steve. I've been to the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian in D.C. It's the obvious answer. And, not to be rude, but you don't know a good many people in this century. Plus who else's passing could make Captain America look like a kicked puppy?" I lift a brow at him, my lips twitching at the edges into a smile. "Anyway, I do my reading. I know all about Miss Carter." I state enthusiastically. "Well, not all about her. I'm sure you know her better than anybody."

"At one time, maybe." Steve shoots me a small smile.

"Oooohhh...." I reach up and tap my chin, nodding a bit. "I forgot she got married. Had kids." A silence follows. It's not awkward or uncomfortable. It's more like a mutual silence as we both take a moment to process our thoughts. "I assume there'll be a funeral?" I ask suddenly, my tone kind.

"Traditionally, that's what you do when someone dies." Steve replies.

"Would you look at that. Here I thought I was supposed to be the sarcastic one." I joke lightly. Both of us chuckle. It's a good feeling, cheering someone up. But as all things do, it ends. The chuckles slowly fade into another silence. We stare at each other, smiling.

"Iris?" A familiar Sokovian accent follows the sound of a door opening. Both Steve and I break eye contact to look upwards. We then look back to each other and Steve shakes his head.

"One second!" I shout back while rolling my eyes.

"He has impeccable timing, doesn't he?" Steve comments.

"It's like a bad fanfic." I grumble, trying to hide my amusement. "Are you gonna be ok?" I softly ask, hesitant to leave.

"I'll be fine, go." He waves his hand at me. Before I leave, I ask one last question.

"Are you gonna need someone to go to the funeral with you?" I question. I'm not sure if he'd prefer to have someone there for emotional support or if he feels he needs to do this alone.

"I was planning on asking Sam." He comments, another sad smile encroaching on his lips.

"That's good. At least someone will be there with you." My lips pull upwards into a smile. It doesn't bother me he didn't ask if I'd like to join him. In fact, I'm glad he didn't. Death and funerals...not my thing. The farther away I can stay from them, the better. "Hey, while you're gone, I'll keep you updated on our missing person." I shoot him a quick wink and then jog up the stairs, managing to take them in twos until I reach the next level where I pass through the door to find an awaiting Maximoff twin.

"Took you long enough."

"You better shut your mouth before I superglue it shut, Maximoff." I threaten jokingly.

  ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

"So...basically they just race really fast cars?" Pietro asks, peering over at me from where he sits on the floor at the foot of the bed. 

"Yeah...basically." I laugh. So far, we've watched the first three Fast & Furious movies. I figured it was about time for Pietro to see them so he wouldn't be confused if I decide to refer to him by the title. Somehow both Pietro and Wanda have become very interested in it. "But it's not just about cars. It's also about family. And humor." I smile and look sideways at Wanda, who sits at beside me on the bed with cross-legged like me. She smiles back at me before turning her attention back to the screen on the wall where the movie plays.

"They don't go very fast." I hear Pietro mumble before turning his attention back to the screen. This causes both me and his sister to roll our eyes as we share a look.

"How many are there?" Wanda asks, not taking her eyes off the screen as another car chase begins.

"Movies? Eight, last I checked." I hum. Briefly, I turn my attention away from the screen to look at my phone, which is sitting in my lap. I've been keeping an eye on my running facial recognition on all of the world's security cameras. When a rather large explosion happens in the movie, my attention is drawn back to the movie. I take a moment to realize I need to take a moment and live in the now and worry about algorithms and programs later. I've got two of my closest friends hanging out with me right now in the middle of this crap-show with Ross. This isn't the time to be focused on finding someone who doesn't want to be found. That and with Steve attending an important funeral I'd hate to pull him away from that closure. The corner of my lip curls upwards and I reach over and place my phone face-down on my nightstand before reclining and enjoying the movie with the twins.

It's nice, not chasing down villains 24/7. It's starting to feel like the world is beginning to calm down for once.

  ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

Bing!

I find my eyes shooting open. My hand darts up to rub my tired eyes as I look around.

Guess I fell asleep.

Grumbling, I sit up to find that the TV has been shut off, Wanda is gone, and a certain white-haired Maximoff has picked my phone up and is intently studying it.

Oh, crap.

"What are you doing?" My voice is dull with the heaviness of sleep as I continue to rub my eye.

"What are you doing?" Pietro fires back, lifting a suspicious brow at me. He looks away from my phone to where I've begun to sit up on the edge of my bed. Yeah...I guess it's suspicious when you tell everybody that you've given up hacking only to be caught with a facial recognition program utilizing the government's cameras on your phone.

"Waking up because my phone got an alert. Come on Pietro, I thought you were the quick one." I reply easily. A mild amount of sarcasm drips from my voice as I get to my feet and walk over to where Pietro is standing by the door with my phone. Before I can reach him, he uses his speed to zip to the other side of the room. "Oh, come on, Pietro."

"No, Iris. What are you doing?" He asks again, a little more forcefully as he stares me down. I watch as he tucks my phone away in his pocket. The speedster then crosses his arms. This causes me to sigh loudly, almost dramatically, as I sluggishly walk to him. I'm not in a mood for prying questions and decide to attempt at taking my phone back. Which is not gonna be easy when dealing with a Speedy Maximoff who insists on answers.

Bing!

As my phone goes off a second time, a mild panic begins to well up in my chest. Preferably, I'd like to get my phone back before Pietro decides to look at it again. The last thing I need is for him to find out I'm trying to hunt down the 'HYDRA Helicarrier Manic of D.C.' as he so endearingly calls Barnes.

"I'm not doing anything." I look him in the eyes.

"Very funny." I can hear his foot tapping against the floor and it's not hard to tell it's not just normal tapping. It's a jittery tapping that happens when he becomes impatient.

"Pietro, would you please just give me back my phone." Without waiting for his response, I reach forward, fully intent on taking it from his pocket myself. I quickly find his hand wrapped around my wrist, holding it away from his pocket.

"Not doing anything, hm? Why so anxious then?" His eyes are piercing, hard, and unwavering as he glares down at me. My lips pull into a firm line as I yank my hand away from him. "I thought you said you weren't hacking anymore."

"Fine, just look at my phone." I motion to where my phone is in his pocket before crossing my own arms across my chest. I'm just not in the mood to fight, especially with my boyfriend.

"Fine." His voice is gruff as he reaches into his pocket and retrieves my phone. His eyes intently watch the screen, before his lips pull into a frown. "Who are these people?" His voice is softer as he looks up, eyebrows pulled together as he holds the phone out with the screen facing me. On the screen is a couple, arms linked, and smiling happily. The man is so close to looking like Barnes that I can see why facial recognition would flag the two of them. There are distinct differences, however, and I know it's not him. Just another dead end.

Now, I have to come up with an excuse...

I fall silent, my jaw becoming tense as I clench my teeth. I told Steve I'd be discreet. My eyes continuing to shift over the image. I begin to wonder if Pietro would be able to keep this secret, if not for Steve but for me. "Iris?" Pietro asks, much more kindly than just moments prior. "Iris, who are they?" Slowly, he lowers his arm. This causes me to slowly shift my eyes to his, and the worry shining in them makes me feel insanely guilty.

"Nobody." I sigh in defeat. "I've never seen them before." My arms slowly drop to my sides.

"Iris, who were you looking for?" Pietro casually tosses my phone onto my bed before looking back to me, hesitant to approach. When only silence greets his question, he tilts his head as he regards me. Soon, a light of realization ignites in his eyes as they grow wide. "Iris, were you looking for your parents?" This causes me to look up like a startled deer. It's kinda a known fact among the team that I am unaware of heritage, my parent's whereabouts, or of their statuses. With the flagged image of a couple came up on my phone, I can see why Pietro would assume that I'm searching for my parents. 

"No...no." I clasp my hands together quickly before rocking on my heels. "If I tell you...you have to promise me you won't say anything. To anyone." I give Pietro a hard look. He seems hesitant but eventually nods. "I've been helping Steve try to...track down James Barnes..." I wince as I notice Pietro begin to puff up, ready to start an argument. "Shhh!" I clap my hand over his mouth before he can start yelling.

"Iris!" He whisper-yells after I drop my hand.

"What! He gave me the sad doe eyes, Pietro! How was I supposed to say no?" I whisper-yell back.

"How long have you been doing this?" I wince.

"Like, eleven months..." My boyfriend throws his arms out at his sides and gives me an incredulous look. "Steve told me to be discreet!"

"What if Tony finds out? Huh? What if someone from the UN or a government agency finds out?" I hold my finger over my lips in an attempt to get him to be quiet as I hear footsteps outside my door. Once they pass I speak up.

"They won't find out. I'm using SHIELD's access to cameras to look for him. I'm just using my own programs to hopefully ID him."

"You're gonna get in so much trouble, Iris."

"Only if you don't keep this quiet." There's a tense silence that follows. "Pietro, promise me you won't utter a word about this. Promise me."

"Fine. I promise. But I'm not happy about this."

"I know...I know. It's just...Pietro, he was there. Bucky, when he was the Winter Soldier. He was at the facility when I was there. We fought a few times. What if he can remember something about me? Something about who I was or who my parents are? I might be doing this for Steve, but what if I can get information about me also?" I watch as the anger Pietro is holding deflates rapidly. The speedster sighs in exasperation before drawing me against his chest in a hug. He rests his chin on the top of my head as I return the embrace.

"Alright. I just, I want you to be safe, yeah? I understand you wanting to find out anything you can about your past. Just promise me that if it gets too risky you'll pull back, ok?" I allow myself to relax slightly.

"Ok. I promise."

"Just know I don't like this."

"I understand."