The Siren (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Part 20 - A Song of Home

The Avengers compound was a welcomed sight to see. To have somewhere fairly familiar with friendly faces was going to be a good change of pace for Maya, and Bucky. Clutching Bucky's hand, Maya aimed for the front doors, but her shot went wide. Walking around the side of the building, the memory of how she'd left came to mind.

"What's wrong?" Bucky gripped her hand a little tighter in reassurance.

"I'd forgotten how I'd left. Ran away really." The worry in Maya's voice made her Australian accent thicker. "Fingers crossed they aren't too mad at me."

"May," Bucky turned her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "They'll be relived to see you smiling and happy. I know I am."

"So am I. It's nice to see you smile, truly smile" She kissed him briefly before taking a breath to steady herself as she walked through the sliding entrance doors.

Laugher filtered down from the kitchen, along with the clink of cutlery on plates. Perfect, just in time for lunch. Maya mentally kicked herself for the timing of their arrival. She turned on her heal hastily, making for the doors again.

"Oh, no you don't." Bucky blocked her way out. Groaning in frustration, Maya reluctantly faced the inside of the Avengers compound. "You've got this." He gave her shoulders a light squeeze.

"Do my ears deceive me, or do I hear metal man speaking," Thor's voice boomed from the level above, almost echoing.

"Hey Thor," Bucky called out to him, confirming the gods suspicions.

"Bucky," Banner's spoke, still unable to be seen. "Is Maya okay? We saw on the news what happened."

"I'm okay, Bruce," Maya said, barely loud enough from them to hear. The cutlery stilled upstairs, the compound going eerily quiet for split second until the scraping of chairs replaced it. Pairs of footsteps rushed downstairs to greet Maya and Bucky. Mainly Maya.

"You're alive!" Banner exclaimed as he took in the sight of her standing reassuringly close to Bucky. He chuckled lightly as her shoulder pressed into his for support.

Speaking so only she could hear, he smirked, "I don't think I've ever seen you so petrified. It's Banner for heavens sakes, relax." Bucky nudged her forward, causing Maya to stumble into Banner's wide spread arms. He engulfed her in a hug. His green form making her feel all too tiny.

Bruce's chest rumbled slightly as he let out a shaky laugh. "We all watched you the news, but it got cut off when things started to go...well south. I'm glad you're okay."

"I think we all are," Clink agreed from behind Banner. Easing herself out of the  Bruce's hug, Maya turned to Clint.

An apology already hung upon her lips. "I'm sorry-"

Clint cut her off, not allowing it to drop from her mouth. "Don't. We all would have done something similar if we were in your position."

Maya smiled gratefully at him. "Doesn't mean I still don't feel bad for what I'm sure would have been a rather turbulent couple of days after I ran away."

"We live and we learn, or something like that," Thor said. "I read it the other day," he added sheepishly after an awkward pause.

"Thanks for my warm greeting too, everyone," Bucky interrupted the conversation.

"Do you want a hug?" Banner glanced at him sceptically.

"No, I'm quite alright."

Others had started to make their way down the stairs now too. Captain Marvel was amongst them. "See you didn't manage to screw things up too badly in my absence," she said to Bucky.  "Still have a hit of work to do though."