Relapse ★ Bucky Barnes

Come Back To Me

ONE WEEK LATER

★ ★ ★

Marlena, Pietro, and Wanda stood at Greyson's front door just waiting on someone to answer. The three scanned the area as a precaution, considering the fact they thought they were supposed to be in a prison rather than a suburban Washington D.C. neighborhood. After being released by the Wakandan doctors, Steve and Marlena took a trip to The Raft to free the remaining Avengers. It had been a difficult endeavor given Marlena's injuries and her lack of powers, but it was well worth it now that she had Wanda and Pietro back. The only one missing from the picture was Bucky.

Greyson's front door flew open, revealing the older man who had become a father figure to Marlena in the two years that she'd known him. His eyes widened in slight surprise as he took in the sight of the three young people adorned in baseball caps and shaggy clothing. He had been anticipating a box full of new bath bombs and loofas, but never this.

"What the shit?" he exclaimed as he glanced between Wanda and Marlena (sometimes Pietro). "You're not my Guardian of the Forest or my Sex Bomb."

Wanda raised a brow as she took in his words. "I would certainly hope not."

"They're bath bombs, you sassy little shit," he retorted with a roll of his eyes, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms over his chest. "What the hell are you guys doing here, though? Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything, but still. And who's this guy?" Greyson asked, gesturing over to Pietro.

Marlena let out a sigh and pushed him into the house, leaving Pietro and Wanda to follow after shutting the door behind them. Marlena pulled Greyson over to the couch and sat down, removing her hood and her hat from her head before placing them down onto the coffee table in front of her, while Pietro and Wanda sat down together on the love seat.

"Can you listen to me, Greyson?" Marlena spoke, her voice hoarse and dry.

"Can you tell me what the hell is going on?" Greyson inquired. "The last time I saw you your face was on my television screen, Marlena. Now you're here inside my house, and you look like you just died and resurrected all in the same day, and then you bring back a guy who isn't Bucky. I'm just—you're killin' me, Smalls."

Marlena ran a hand through her hair, trying her best not to breakdown at the sound of Bucky's name. "The guy is Pietro—Wanda's dead brother we always used to talk about. And about everything that's happened during the past month or so. . .to make a long story short, I got arrested, I escaped, and then I got into a fight with the Avengers and Tony. Now I'm here because I have nowhere else to go."

"I knew you were a savage, kid, but I didn't know you were this savage," he turned to look at Pietro, "By the way, it's nice to meet you Pietro. I'm Greyson; I'm Marlena's stepdad."

Marlena gave a small smile at the sound of his words. He and her mom had never married, but it still made her feel good to know that he claimed her as his stepdaughter.

"It's good to meet you, Greyson."

"Of course it is," Greyson snorted, turning his attention back to Marlena. "Can I ask you a very critically important question?"

"Sure you can."

Greyson let out a sigh and ran a hand over his face. "Where the hell is Bucky?"

Marlena's face fell, and she took a deep breath, averting her attention to the floor.

"He's. . .um. . .he won't be c-coming home."

"What? Why? Is he dead or something? Please don't tell me he got himself killed," Greyson said with wide—but sad—eyes.