During our drive to the Leipzig Airport, laughter and jokes fill the previously quiet cab of the Beetle. Despite this, I mostly sleep. I haven't had much of it since I left our New York Headquarters, and my bones were starting to feel like the marrow was being replaced with lead. I try to stay awake to participate in the good conversations, despite being on the run, but eventually, I'm unable to hold my eyelids open. Instead, I take a much-needed nap. My head rests against the small window to my left while my arms weakly cross over my chest. It's not an odd position to fall asleep in considering I could probably fall asleep in any position if I tried hard enough. The only difference right now is I don't have to try to fall asleep. I just kinda do, and its great.

By the time we reach the airport itself, Bucky bumps my shoulder with his to wake me up. I feel renewed and full of energy for the first time in days when I finally come to. Its a feeling I vow never to take for granted again. A small yawn escapes me as I sit up and roll my head back and forth and side to side to relieve the tension in the muscles of my neck. I'm surprised to find that despite the many hours I spent in what might usually be an uncomfortable position sleeping, I'm quite relaxed and don't have nearly as many taunt muscles as I expected to have. "So, we meeting up with Clint?" I ask as the tendrils of sleep cling to my every word. I give a quick shake of my head in an attempt to wake up faster.

"We are." Steve replies as he drives through the parking garage before finding a ramp that takes us to the second level, then the third, and all the way up to the sixth level. There aren't many cars up here as there are in the lower levels, which makes it easier to spot a white van parked all alone. I figure that's the vehicle Clint's in and where we're headed.

My suspicions are confirmed when Steve navigates the Beetle that way before parking two spaces to the right of the van. He puts the car in park before shutting the engine off. He and Sam exit the car before letting their seats down so that Bucky and I can exit behind them. "Cap." I hear the familiar voice of Clint. A smile erupts on my face. I didn't realize how much I missed him until now. I always felt connected to Clint and his protective nature. He always felt like the father I never had, and always wished I had. I mean, don't get me wrong, Steve feels like a father to me also, but not to the same degree Clint does.

"Hey, ya old fart." I greet once I'm out of the car and on my feet. Clint fires me a bright smile and we quickly embrace. "It's so nice to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too, Iris. I wish it was under better circumstances." I nod as we pull away. My eyes then turn to where Wanda's getting out of the passenger side of the van. My lips pull back in an excited grin as I move past Clint and Steve quickly. Wanda and I meet in the middle in a crushing hug. I bury my face in her loose brown waves and inhale deeply. Wanda's always had this calming presence for me, when she's not on the battlefield anyways. That may be because when she's on the field she could downright take you out. "God, I've missed you." I whisper into her hair and the two of us chuckle. Just this short amount of time away from the compound has made me realize how much Wanda means to me, how much of an anchor she is for me. She's family now, like a sister I've never had. Wanda's always so kind and caring and it really helps bring me back down to earth a lot of times.

"I've missed you too." Her accented voice drifts into the air as her chest rumbles with laughter. We both pull away and smile at each other. I can tell she feels the same way about me. "Although, I hate to admit I think my brother has missed you more." She states with a wiggle of her eyebrows. My face flushes with a blush as we both then turn to Cap and Hawkeye.

"Thanks for having my back." Steve nods towards Wanda, who nods her head while looking at Clint.

"It was time to get off my ass." She replies with a straight face.

"How about our other recruit?" Steve asks, looking to Clint who turns on his heel and walks over towards the van.

"He's rarin' to go." He says as he opens the sliding door to the van. "Had to put a little coffee in him...but he should be good." Clint continues. Once the door is completely open, a man with dark brown hair and a casual appearance jolts awake from a nap he appeared to be taking. I give a quiet laugh. Before I can make a snappy comment, I'm suddenly lifted off my feet and swung over someone's shoulder. My hands grab the back of their shirt as a small noise of surprise escapes me. The figure twirls me around in circles, causing me to grip the back of their shirt tighter. I'm then suddenly set on my feet again. Steady hands find my shoulders to keep me from tipping over as I try to regain my balance. When my eyes turn upwards, they're met with bright, excited blue ones.

Pietro.

The grandest smile I've had all day appears on my face before I throw myself forward, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer as his strong arms wrap around my waist. My hands grab the material of his shirt in a way that makes it seem that if I don't he'll fade away. The male Maximoff's chest rumbles in gleeful laughter as I feel the pounding of his heart against his ribcage. I stand on the very tips of my toes so I can rest my chin on his shoulder while his hands wrap all the way around my back to keep me steady. I feel his head turn before he presses a lingering kiss on the side of my head. Closing my eyes, I enjoy the comforting embrace. "I've missed you." He whispers and I pull back so I can look him in the eyes.

"I've missed you too." I whisper before bringing my hands from behind his neck so I can grab the sides of his face, which are covered in an alluring stubble. I take a moment to get lost in his eyes before the two of us lean in and meet in the middle for a kiss. I don't know why it took me this long to realize that whenever Pietro was around, I felt like my better self. I'm always confident and happy. I felt like the rest of the world would continue to spin without an issue, without disaster lurking in the shadows. I felt like he was my sanctuary, my comfort, my home. I always knew there was something about him that made me feel like I was secure, and now I understand why. This man could very well be my second half. 

When I feel multiple pairs of eyes staring at the two of us, I pull away shyly. I drop my hands to gently rest against his chest. "Keep the stubble, it makes you look ten times more attractive." I murmur. He begins to chuckle before he pulls me into his chest, resting his chin on the top of my head while I clutch the front of his plain gray shirt.

"Oh, so they're like...together then, huh?" The man I've yet to meet asks, looking from Steve to Pietro and I. It appears like he's just shaken Captain America's hand by the starstruck look on his face. I duck my head and smile coyly as I feel Pietro give me a comforting squeeze.

"Oh yeah." Sam confirms with a smirk on his lips, his arms crossed over his chest. He's absolutely enjoying my sudden embarrassment. I can feel it radiating from him.

"We should get moving." Bucky calls to all of us, and I finally pull away from Pietro. He reaches down and links his fingers with mine as I stand at his side. He watches James with an analytical stare. 

"We got a chopper lined up." Clint addresses the group. That's when a buzzing alarm begins, followed by a German voice giving directions. Everybody starts looking around.

"They're evacuating the airport." Bucky informs after listening to German instructions.

"Stark." Sam says, looking at Steve.

"Stark?" The new addition to our team asks.

"Suit up." Steve commands without filling in the new guy. Everybody looks around for a moment and I roll my eyes before waving my hands in a dismissive motion.

"You heard the boss." I say when nobody moves. "Get crackin'."