#do i hate this? yes ofc. but its been sitting in my drafts forever so FINE be free mid binghe

[vebokki]

back from the abyss

[brightlycoloredteacups]

Poisoned Secrets

Chapter Four: Illness 

Parings: Steve x OFC, Bucky x OFC

Summary:  When Tony throws a lavish dinner party, everyone involved has their life changed forever.

Warnings: Illness

A/n: I am forever in the debt of one @sammi-faye who is ever patient with me and willingly subjects herself to the torture that is the first draft of these chapters. Thank you so much for being my beta reader. 

Tagging: None

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Tony was entertaining a professor at the college when the collective gasps of the people threatened to take all the oxygen out of the room. He turns to see the body of his daughter in the arms of young Steve Rogers. He rushes to the young man, “What happened?” He demanded. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Steve snaps. “She just fainted.” 

“I find it hard to believe my daughter just fainted for no reason.”

“She claimed she couldn’t breath and just passed out.” At this point, Obidiah steps up and begins damage control. “Her corset might’ve been too tight,” He tells them, “Take her up to whatever room you decided as hers and I’ll stay down here and assure the crowd there’s nothing to worry about.” Tony takes Venus from Steve, much to the blond’s dismay, and begins to walk her up to her room. If she was sick, Tony would be damned if he left her. 

The next few days are hell on his soul. He seems to come down with the same mysterious illness as Venus. It was hard to breathe, he sweat with internal heat. Sometimes, sitting by her side on the couch next to her bed was all he could do, but he did it. He wasn’t going to leave her for a second. 

*

Venus wakes three days later in the most comfortable bed she’d ever been in. She immediately jots up, recognizing she isn’t in her own room. However, she groans and immediately lays back down, her entire body aching. “You should take it easy.” She cracks open an eye, looking for the source of the voice. “Mr. Stark, what-?”

“Father works just fine,” Tony says, smiling gently at her. “I am, indeed, your pater.” She resists the urge to roll her eyes. “Where am I?”

“Stark Manor.” He informs her, “In your new room. Undecorated as of yet, but we’ll have time for all that later, how are you feeling?”

“Like someone beat me all over. Why am I in Stark Manor? Why aren’t I at Rogers Plantation?” Tony looks at her frowning. “Don’t you remember anything from three days ago?”

“The last thing I remember is putting on that awful red dress. I suppose I fainted in it. It was a rather tight fit.” Tony shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “My dear, you had your debut,”

At this news, Venus sits up, albeit slowly, to look him in his eye. She didn’t find any hint of mirth or mischievousness. She thinks about it for a moment, trying to remember. Nothing came to her. “Oh,” Is all she manages. 

Before they could talk about anything else, a sound knock on the door interrupted them. “Come!” Tony calls. The door opens, revealing a servant and Bucky Barnes. Venus winces, of all the things she had to remember, she remembered that they’d broken things off. “Hello,” Bucky says, awkwardly, not minding Tony in the room at all. “Hello,” She says, just as awkwardly. “I see you feeling better.”

“Yes, I suppose I am.” They look at one another, assessing each other. It was clear Bucky had been sick as well. There were dark circles under his red eyes, and his pale complexion was worse than usual. “How can we help you?” Tony finally asked, not one to be ignored. “It’s Steve,” Bucky says, finally walking into the room. “Venus, I-” He stops whatever he’s going to say, looking at Tony, “Please come and see him. He’s delirious with fever, and he’s done nothing but call your name.” 

Venus doesn’t hesitate to nod. She wouldn’t hesitate to walk into hell for Bucky, but it was something else. The desperation in his voice. Almost as though Steve was dying. “Let me get myself together. I’ll be quick about it.” She promises, “But I’m in no state to rush over to Rogers Plantation.” Bucky merely nods and sees himself out of the room. 

Tony watches her for a moment. “I’ll leave you to get ready,” He says, standing on shaky legs. He sees himself out as well, leaving Venus all alone in her barren room. Debut? She thinks, he finally gave me my debut? It was a day she never thought would happen. 

As she gets ready in yet another proper dress, she thinks harder about it. She remembers breaking things off with Bucky, she remembers the dancing. She groans, slipping on some shoes. She remembers Steve proposing to her. She was going to tell him no, but she hadn’t had the voice. The big idiot probably thought she was just speechless for the first time in her life. 

She manages, despite not knowing the layout of the house, to make her way downstairs and to the foyer, where Bucky was waiting anxiously. He gives her a small smile as she descends the stairs, though no words are spoken between them. She follows silently to the carriage that awaits them.

Once they’re alone, Bucky feels free to speak candidly. “I know you didn’t have to do this,” He says, “And I thank you. There’s no love for Steve on your part, but…” Bucky shakes his head. “The way he speaks about you, he loves you so much, and he’s been calling for you for days now. At first we didn’t think it was a good idea to come and get you, with you being sick as well, but, maybe seeing you will lift his spirits?” Bucky looks at her hopefully. 

Venus knew the love between Bucky and Steve ran deeper than she could fathom. She supposed that was what happened when you went to war together. She suspected that was also the driving force behind Bucky’s break with her. But none of that mattered at the moment, right now, she had to focus on comforting Bucky. “Perhaps.” She says, “I certainly hope so. For your sake.”

“He told me about the proposal.”

“I plan on rejecting him.” She says. “My life has been miserable enough.” Bucky nods sagely, but doesn’t say anything. She wants to know what he thinks of her now, but doesn’t dare ask. They were now on separate sides of the ocean, and nothing would ever bring them together again.  

Venus knew they were close when the road became inexplicably rough. Then, suddenly, they were there, at Rogers plantation. Bucky hopped out and helped her down, then, they walked arm and arm inside the plantation. It was strange, walking inside and no longer being a servant. She still bowed to Sara Rogers, seeing as the woman was her senior. “I think you know where Steve’s bedroom is,” She sniffed. Her eyes were red with black bags underneath them as well. Sara leaves them to stand awkwardly in the middle of the foyer. “I’ll go see him now,” Venus whispers. Bucky nods, “I’ll be in the library.” He says. 

Venus makes her way to Steve’s room. Standing outside the door, she wonders if she should knock or just go in. She settles for knocking. When she hears nothing, she knocks again. Nothing. “Steve?” She calles, gently opening the door. 

The room smells as though Steve is dying. It takes everything she has not to vomit. She steps into the room, pausing at a pathetic whimper. "Venus? My love? Is that you?" Steve calls. She rolls her eyes, but goes to Steve nonetheless. "I'm here." She tells him. He lets out a strangled laugh and just manages to pull himself up. She recoils at the sight of him. 

Steve Rogers is not the man he used to be. He is sallow, sweat drips from his forehead, vomit has stuck to the corner of his mouth. His eyes are cloudy with delirium. "I knew you'd come," he says, laying back down. "Now surely i shall pull through, with your strength to guide me."

Venus says nothing, merely takes the rag next to his bed and begins to wipe his face off. The vomit comes cleanly, but the sweat remains. He groans, winces, and stares at her. "We will be married," he says, "and have many children." 

"About that, Steve I can't-"

"I know my darling, i can't believe our good fortune either." He grabs at the front of her dress, "You'll be the happiest woman in the world, i will make sure of it." She grabs at him, ripping his hand from her dress she begins to lay into him, "you little cockroach. I'd never marry you, not even if it were to save my life. I hate you, i hate you with every fiber of my being."

Steve whimpers, flinching away from her. "Who are you and what have you done with my Venus? Why do you say such hateful things?"

"Because its the truth!" She hisses, "I've hated you from the moment you put your slimy hands on me. I will never marry you. Not as long as I have breath in my lungs'” Steve's whimpers grow stronger, it takes her a moment to realize he's crying. He sounds so pathetic, she almost regrets being nasty. "Take it back," he mutters, "Please take it back. Tell me you love me, just this once?" 

Venus was ready to rip into him again, but something stays her tongue. She realizes with such shock that these were to be his last moments on earth. Good Lord! What would she do? She takes in a deep breath of the putrid air and lies to him one last time. "Steve Rogers," she hesitates but a moment. "I love you," 

There is no sound in the room, Venus begins to panic, "Steve?" She calls, putting a hand on his chest. It doesn't rise. "Steve?" She tries again shaking him. She begins to cry. "Steve!" She yells, hoping in vain it's an awful joke he's trying to play on her. Nothing greets her but silence. Steve Rogers is dead.

*

It was supposed to rain on days like this. However, in the middle of Louisiana summer, the sun only added to the torture. Everyone was hot, sticky, and sad. Even Venus Stark, who just had all her problems solved for her with Steve's death. 

Bucky suspected there was a limit to the amount of sadness one could endure, hadn't he reached his already? He had been to battle, came home with a piece of him missing, lost the love of his life, and now, he lost his brother, whom he loved dearly. Isn't it time he found some happiness?

He stands by Steve's open grave. Many people have now wandered off, talking in groups amongst themselves. Bucky was an island. "Bucky?" He looks up, sniffs, and turns. Venus stands there, looking every bit as beautiful in the black mourning dress as she did in her red debut dress. 

Throwing decorum to the wind, she throws her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. He reciprocates despite the fact that the hug threatens to break him into pieces. He finds comfort in her arms. "Bucky I'm so sorry." She whispers. He knows she means it, if only on his behalf. 

They pull apart. She places his face in her small, rough hands, "I hope one day happiness finds you again." 

"So do I," he whispers, trying his best not to cry. She gives him a sad smile and walks off. He wants to yell for her, to fall to his knees and beg her to never leave his side again. He wants to wrap himself in her arms and kiss her for all eternity. He does nothing but turn back to Steve's grave. 

Today was a day of sadness, who knew what tomorrow would bring?

*

Venus stands in front of two people, still uncomfortable in her rather elaborate dress. This one was blue, much less garish than the red, and much simpler, yet no less uncomfortable. She’d just come from the funeral, and now, apparently, was the time for introductions. “This is Happy,” Tony says, motioning towards a pudgy man with a kind twinkle in his eye. “He’s my butler, my right hand man, if you need anything, feel free to go to him. And this,” He motions to a redhead, “Is Pepper. She’s head maid, she takes care of the house and everyone in it. If you should need help in anything domestic, she’s your gal.” 

Pepper also gives her a kind smile. Venus at once understood that these people were fond of her father, and had worked for him for a long time. Would they like her as well? Tony goes down the line, introducing her to each of his staff he considered worth mentioning. She tried her best to memorize all their names. Only time would tell how good she was. “And now, to lunch!” Tony announces, motioned for everyone to get to their places. Venus follows her father to the dining room. 

In the daylight Stark Manor seemed much less haunted. It seemed sad more than anything. If walls could weep, would they drown us with their tears? The dining room seems most melancholy to her, but then again, she hasn’t really seen the rest of the house. She supposed it was all because of the set up.

The room was large, with a mahogany finish. The table matched the woodwork, the legs were heavily detailed. At the head of the table, where Tony was just getting ready to sit, was a large window that led to a few of the grounds. She wonders how much she’ll be allowed to explore. 

“Venus, darling, you sit here,” Tony says, motioning to his right. “The lady of the house always sits at the right.” Venus takes her place beside her father. “I hope you don’t mind,” He says, “But I tend to work on business in the afternoons. “I don’t mind,” She assures him. Who was she to tell him not to work? He smiles, “Excellent. I believe there are some letters for you as well.” 

“For me?” 

“Yes, Lady Stark,” Pepper walks over to her with a stack of envelopes. Lady Stark? Venus shutters. She’s going to have to get used to such a term. “These all arrived while you were ill.” 

Venus looks at the stack of papers bearing her name. "What is all this?" She asks looking at Tony. "Invitations i expect," Tony tells her. "Invitations for what?"

"Parties, dances, balls, breakfasts, dinners, luncheons, tea, picnics. Is the middle of the season, and you are a hot topic."

"It's nearly fall," she points out. Tony chuckles, "No, my dear, the season refers to a time when all us socialites visit one another. You will be entertained by women of all sorts, and perhaps even find yourself a husband "

Venus rolled her eyes. "Yes, it all comes down to finding a husband doesn't it?" Tony heaves a sigh, putting his own letters down, "unfortunately for you, it does. I need a proper male heir to pass my fortune to after all." Venus knows Tony well enough to know when he's kidding. 

"So I have to go to all these parties and whatnot just to find myself a husband?"

"Well, you don't have to go, but you risk being a social pariah if you don't." Venus presses her lips together. Wasn't Tony himself a pariah? Or did he have enough money for it not to matter?

Venus takes the letter on top. Opening it carefully, she begins to read the scratchy handwriting inviting her to tea. It takes her a while to get through it, when she does, she moves on. 

It takes her most of the afternoon to read through her letters. At some point, her father leaves her with a well placed kiss to her hair. When she's done she puts them all in a pile and thinks. What is she to do? Every dinner, dance, and party are all on different dates, surely she isn't expected to go to all of them? But does she risk slighting the person by not going?

She chews at her lip. What to do, what to do? Venus looks about the dining room, as confused as ever. How on earth was she to keep track of it all? Did she have to reply to her letters? Or did she show up? She gulped, she hoped personal replies weren’t the norm, her handwriting left much to be desired. 

Perhaps Pepper will help her? No, she may be head of household, but would she know the proper decorum for anyone other than servants? Venus doubted it. But what other lady did she know? Lady Rogers. Venus winces at the thought. The woman just lost her son, she could impose herself on the poor thing. Or could she? She still had things to father from the Rogers Plantation. A little book of poetry she kept hidden in the floorboards of her room. She could use that as an excuse. 

There was nothing for it. She must press on, she must get advice, even if it meant bothering the poor woman. Venus would get it done.