[Next Morning]
The smell of fresh bread and coffee filled the villa's kitchen. Shield agents had delivered food early that morning, and for once the fridge wasn't empty. A basket of fruit sat on the counter, next to cartons of eggs, bacon, and smoked salmon.
Tony leaned against the island counter, sipping his coffee. "See? Told you I could stock a kitchen. Only needed a small army of agents to do it."
Yelena stood at the stove, prodding a pan of sizzling eggs. "You didn't cook a thing."
"Excuse me," Tony said. "I supervised. That's management."
Sue spread jam on a slice of bread and smiled faintly. "If management means leaning against the counter, you've mastered it."
Natasha poured tea into her mug, raising a brow. "The fact that Yelena is cooking at all is impressive. Usually she just threatens to eat whatever you left unguarded."
Yelena glanced over her shoulder, mock offended. "I can cook." She pointed her spatula at Natasha. "Just because I prefer stealing food doesn't mean I don't know how to make it."
"You burn toast," Natasha said flatly.
"On purpose," Yelena shot back. "Charcoal is flavor."
Tony held up his mug. "Alright, let's agree on this: if we don't starve, breakfast is a success. Now eat fast, we've got a full itinerary. Volcanoes, hot springs, icebergs. I booked nature's finest like a billionaire tour guide."
After a quick breakfast, they put on their thermal underlayers like normal humans.
...
[Lava Fields]
The terrain shifted from grassy plains to jagged, black stone. Miles of frozen lava twisted into waves, cracks steaming faintly where heat still lingered beneath the earth. The air smelled faintly of sulfur, carried on a sharp wind.
The four of them stepped out of the SUV and activated their suits. Translucent energy fields shimmered around them, diffusing the heat so they could walk closer to vents and fissures.
Sue crouched by a crack in the rock, where glowing red light pulsed deep within. "It's alive," she murmured. "Like the earth is breathing."
"Breathing fire," Yelena corrected. She crouched beside her, poking a finger toward the vent until the field of her suit shimmered in response. "You know, if this breaks I'll be barbecue."
Tony grinned. "Relax. The suits could walk through a blast furnace. I made sure. Besides, barbecued Widow isn't on today's menu."
Natasha walked across the jagged rock with the steady ease of someone who trusted her balance more than the ground. She paused near a cluster of steaming fissures and let the heat fog her visor. "Reminds me of certain missions," she said softly. "Except no bullets."
"See, that's the point," Tony said. "Vacation. No bullets, no bad guys, no running into alien overlords. Just rocks trying to kill you. Nature's way of saying hi."
Yelena hopped from one ridge to another, her boots scraping sparks. "Nature's rude."
The group wandered deeper into the fields, pausing near a fissure where molten rock bubbled faintly. Sue extended a hand toward the glow, her suit humming to keep the heat at bay. "It's beautiful," she said. "Dangerous, but beautiful."
Tony tapped his chest. "Kind of like me."
"Except the beautiful part is debatable," Natasha replied, moving past him.
Yelena laughed, bounding up onto a higher ridge. "You two sound like an old married couple. It's disturbing."
Tony tilted his head. "You're just jealous."
"Of what?" Yelena asked.
"Of this level of banter chemistry. Takes years to perfect."
They stayed nearly an hour, exploring the formations, climbing ridges, and even standing near a lava vent where the glow lit their faces. Tony snapped pictures while exploring.
...
[Noon]
By midday, they headed for a geothermal pool not far from their location. Steam rose in white veils from the turquoise water, curling into the cold air. Locals lounged in the shallows, their voices carrying softly in the mist.
They entered together, the hot water wrapping around them instantly. Yelena gave a sigh so loud that half the pool turned to look.
"This," she said, leaning back against the stone edge, "is heaven. I'm never leaving."
Sue closed her eyes, her hair dampening with steam. "I could stay here all day."
Natasha leaned against the opposite edge, calm as ever. "You'd both get bored."
"Not possible," Yelena replied. "Look at this. Warm water, relaxed muscles, and peace. And food waiting after. This is the life."
Tony stretched his arms across the edge, tilting his head back. "Finally, someone understands my philosophy. Relaxation is underrated. The world spins fine without us micromanaging it for a day."
Sue opened one eye. "You're still micromanaging. You told the Shield agents to patrol within a ten-mile radius of this pool."
Tony shrugged. "Delegation. Like I said."
Natasha smirked faintly. "You'll never stop. Even on vacation."
"True," Tony said. "But right now I'm planning to not move for another two hours."
Yelena splashed water at him. "You sound like the laziest genius alive."
"I'll take the compliment," Tony replied.
They floated, drifted, and let the water's warmth sink into tired muscles. Conversation drifted too, lighter than usual. Sue asked about Yelena's favorite food. Natasha spoke briefly of her childhood fun memories, though they were mostly faded, she still remembers some bits of it. Yelena told an exaggerated story about stealing an entire cake once from Ben's room, earning laughter from Sue.
When hunger finally stirred, they climbed out, wrapped in thick towels, and went into the small restaurant attached to the pool. The lunch was simple but hearty: bowls of lamb soup, fresh bread, smoked salmon, and skyr with berries.
Yelena devoured hers in record time. "Best soup ever," she declared.
"Everything tastes better after a soak," Sue said, dipping her bread.
Tony leaned back, satisfied. "Iceland officially makes the Stark Approved List. That's very exclusive."
Natasha raised her cup of hot chocolate. "To Iceland, then."
They clinked cups lightly and finished their meal.
...
[Afternoon]
By late afternoon, they drove east, winding through valleys until the mountains parted to reveal the Glacier Lagoon. Icebergs floated across the still, blue water, their surfaces gleaming in shades of white and sapphire. Seals bobbed in the distance. The air was sharp and cold.
The four stood on the black sand shore, staring out at the shifting ice.
"Now that," Tony said, "is a desktop background."
Yelena hugged her coat tighter. "It's cold. Why is it so cold?"
"Because it's a glacier," Natasha said.
"My butt is freezing," Yelena muttered.
Sue smiled softly, her gaze fixed on the drifting ice. "It's incredible. The colors… they look beautiful."
They walked along the shore, boots crunching in the icy sand. Seabirds wheeled overhead. One iceberg cracked loudly, a sharp echo that rolled across the lagoon.
Tony stopped, watching the fracture. "That's the sound of the world changing. Slow, but unstoppable."
Natasha gave him a sidelong look. "Everything with you is a metaphor."
"Occupational hazard," Tony said. "If I'm not inventing tech, I'm inventing meaning."
They found a spot near the edge and sat, watching the ice drift. Sue tucked her arm through Tony's, leaning against him. Natasha stood slightly apart, hands in her pockets, her eyes scanning the horizon out of habit. Yelena crouched near the water, tossing tiny ice bits and watching them bounce before sinking.
"Feels like another planet," Sue said quietly.
"Not wrong," Tony replied. "Though when I colonize Mars, I'll make sure the view comes with central heating."
Natasha turned to him. "You'd really do it? Build a city on another planet?"
"Already building the station," Tony said. "Moon, Mars, the works. Earth is home, but space is the future. Imagine looking up and seeing lights on Mars. That's progress."
Sue smiled faintly. "You sound like your dad when you say things like that."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Natasha folded her arms. "Yep."
Yelena skipped another ice chunk across the water, watching it sink. "You think we'll ever live that long? To see cities on Mars?"
Tony leaned back on his hands. "If I have my way, yes. You'll be eating Martian pizza in a couple of years. Besides, you girls took my serum. That practically makes you all immortal, in a way, unless you decide to launch yourselves into space without a suit or jump into a volcano... Your body will retain your peak form, forever."
She laughed softly. "I'll hold you to that."
"Peak form, I like it. Young and hot, forever," Yelena chimed in with a knowing smirk.
The four of them stayed as the light shifted, the ice glowing pink and gold under the setting sun. The lagoon shimmered with reflected color, so quiet it seemed the world itself was holding its breath.
[Evening]
By the time they drove back to the villa, the sky was streaked with northern lights again. The four of them sat in the SUV quietly, each lost in thought, until Yelena finally broke the silence.
"Okay," she said, "I admit it. This was worth it. Volcanoes, pools, icebergs. I like Iceland."
Natasha gave her a rare smile. "You sound surprised."
"I am," Yelena said. "Usually vacations mean running or fighting. This… this was different."
Tony glanced at her. "Get used to it. Sometimes life doesn't have to be chaos. Sometimes it's just soup and glaciers."
Sue rested her head on his shoulder. "And that's enough."
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