Marci's head rested on the back of the bathtub. Her eyes were closed as she soaked her aching body in the hot water, allowing herself time to relax and clean the dried blood off of herself. Marci had been in the water for quite a while, using her powers to warm it up as the air around her cooled it. The water had a faint red tint, something that made Marci shudder slightly.
The events that followed Siberia were somewhat of a blur. Right now, Bucky and Marci had been hiding out in Wakanda waiting for Steve to return from freeing their friends. Bucky had been planning to go back under cryo-freeze until the best Wakandan doctors and scientists could figure out how to free his mind from Hydras infiltration.
That happened tomorrow but Marci tried not to think about it.
After a while she had finally decided she had spent enough time deep within her own mind and figured it was time to move on. After she pulled herself from the tub, she began to get dressed. As she stood in front of the floor to ceiling mirror, she couldn't help but stare at her nude body and the bruises that lingered from the fight. She brushed away her thoughts as she turned around, grabbing the clothes that had been laid out for her. It was odd to be treated so nicely in a country that she had barely known existed. Although she had heard of Wakanda, she didn't realize the extent of its technological advancements, but that was just her American ignorance and the fact that they intentionally kept it that way.
After getting dressed, she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the room she had been assigned too. It was quite large and had a magnificent view of the city, something she would have enjoyed more if it wasn't for the circumstances they were currently in. A sigh escaped Marci's lips as her eyes glanced across the room and over to the door. As soon as the thought entered her mind, her feet started taking her in his direction.
She couldn't help but long for his touch, something she wouldn't get again for who knows how long. Shutting her bedroom door behind herself, she glanced down the corridor before walking to the room Bucky was in, or she at least hoped he was in. When they arrived Bucky had been whisked away so his detached arm could be fixed for now until they found a more suitable alternative, so she wasn't sure if he come back yet. As Marci reached the door to Bucky's room she couldn't help but pause, a small pit beginning to form in her stomach. She just couldn't help but wondering if this would be the last time she'd see him.
Marci quickly shook her head, hoping that the intrusive thoughts that had entered her mind fade away. As Marci brought her hand up to place gentle knocks on the door, it moved away from her causing her to jump slightly.
"Hey," Bucky said from the other side of the doorway, "Just the girl who I was coming to see," he flashed her a smile.
Marci looked to him glossy eyed, "Hey," she said with a small smile. Bucky quickly noticed that his happiness wasn't reciprocated causing his smile to fade.
"What's wrong?" Bucky eyes were trained on hers as he awaited her response but her gaze drifted from his. Marci couldn't take her eyes off of Bucky's amputated arm. She took a small step towards him as her arm reached forward, her fingers lightly gazing the spot where his shoulder was capped. Marci allowed her hand to travel across his chest stopping as her palm hovered over his heart. She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with him once again and within the second tears began pooling in her eyes.
"I-," A sob escaped her lips, preventing any words from being formed. She stumbled forward, throwing her arms around Bucky's neck as she cried into his chest. Bucky immediately allowed his arm to snake around her waist, holding her close. He dipped his head down, placing gentle kisses on the top of her head.
"It's okay," he soothed her, "I'm okay," he whispered, "We're okay." Bucky took a step backwards, pulling Marci back with him, and shut the door to the room he had been staying in.
Marci pulled her head back slightly, Bucky's heart clenched as his eyes locked on her now red and puffy ones. "I just," she inhaled sharply, "I thought today was going to be the day I lost you," she shrugged slightly. Bucky watched as a tear went running down her cheek, he wiped it away with his thumb.
"I'm right here, you don't have to worry about that," Bucky said softly, his words completely oblivious to the events that were going to take place tomorrow.
"For now," Marci said quickly, "Until tomorrow," she trailed off, unhooking her arms from Bucky she took a few steps away from him.
Bucky knew she was right. Although he was here now, he wouldn't be for nearly enough time. They only had a few hours until the procedure, then she'd be all alone, again. "I know you have to do this," she said to him, walking over the bed and sitting down. "I know how important it is for you to get your mind back," she sighed deeply as what she said actually registered in her mind, "And here I am, being selfish because I don't want to be alone," threw her hands out in frustration as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
Bucky didn't say anything at first but he sat himself down right next to Marci, "You're not selfish," he grabbed her hand with his, giving it a small squeeze.
Marci turned to look at him, tears still glistening in her eyes, "You didn't know me before," she shrugged, "Before I embraced my powers," she wasn't sure if that was the right word or not. "I was so broken then," she looked away from him, "I would have a nightmares every night, sometimes I would almost burn my house down in my sleep because I was so terrified of living again," she turned back to him. "And now, here we are," she smiled slightly, "I found you and I never want to go back to that again, but I'm afraid it will once you go."
"Marci," Bucky sighed, unable to comprehend the way she viewed herself, "You didn't need me to make you strong again, you did that on your own," he smiled slightly, something Marci couldn't help but reciprocate. "Just remember this is only temporary, they've got the smartest people I've ever met in my life here. They will figure this out in no time."
"You're right," she nodded, wiping her cheeks of any remaining tears.
"Of course, I'm right," Bucky chuckled playfully, causing Marci to laugh a little too. "Hey, that's my girl," he smiled.
"Bucky, this has been the happiest year of my life," she leaned her head onto his shoulder and stroked his interlaced hand with her thumb.
"Mine too," Bucky glanced down to her, "And once this all gets figured out," he paused slightly, "We'll only have happy years ahead."
Marci picked her head up, locking eyes with him, and as she leaned forward slightly she pulled her hand from his grasp and placed it on the side of his cheek, smiling as the stubble tickled her palm, she placed a delicate kiss on his lips. Bucky kissed her back, with a passion she hadn't ever experienced with him.
As their lips danced with one another's, Bucky's arm slipped around her waist and slid her body back on his bed. As he moved her she couldn't help but release a giggle. Pulling their lips apart, she reached from the hem of Bucky's white tank top, pulling it up and over his head. Marci couldn't help but let her eyes wander his body and her fingers danced along the lines of his abs. A smirk came over Bucky's lips as he watched her captivated expression. Marci trailed her hands up on his chest, giving a slight push to his shoulder, she manage to switch positions with him so she was now straddling his waist.
Marci held his face her hands, analyzing the way he looked in the dim light. The way his blue eyes shined like diamonds in contrast to his dark hair. The way the corners of his lips turned upwards when he spoke to her. The shared way they both craved each other's touch in a time when they needed it most. Marci had been alone and isolated for so long, but with Bucky she finally felt alive again. She finally felt worthy of love again.
She placed her lips back on his, his teeth pulling ever so slightly at her bottom lip causing a soft moan so erupt from her body. As their lips continued to crash on one another's like waves to the shore, she felt a soft tug at the bottom of her tee shirt. They broke apart for only a moment to discard her clothing, before interlocking their bodies once again. Bucky hand slid across her back, stopping as he reached her bra strap, he went to unhook the clasp but stopped.
Marci noticed and pulled away for a moment, "What?" She asked, a slight pant to her breathing.
"I," he stuttered slightly, "I just want to make sure you're okay... with doing this," she smiled at him.
She leaned herself forward, planting kisses along his jawline until her lips just grazed his ear, "Bucky, please," she whispered, sending a shiver down his spine. Those two words were all he needed to disregard any reservations he had about this moment. Soon, they became one. A mess of entangled sheets and bodies, as their love for one another became fully realized.
—-
After awaking the next morning, Bucky was whisked away by the Wakandan medical team that was responsible for preparing him for his transition back into cryo freeze.
Marci stood in the doorway of the lab, watching as Bucky as poked and prodded with needles. She couldn't help but stare, take in some of her last longing looks of the man. Her gaze was broken as she heard footsteps approaching her. She pushed off of the wall and turned around seeing Steve standing at her side with a small smile.
"Hey," she she quietly, giving him a small smile in return.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked the woman, Marci was taken back slightly. Of course she wasn't okay, but she knew she would be eventually.
"I'll be fine," she told him with a slight bob of her head, "Is Sam okay?" She asked Steve, who she knew went to go find the remaining rogue Avengers last night, "Nat? Wanda?"
"Yeah," Steve confirmed, "I got them out," he told her, "Clint and Scott stayed, better for them to make a deal so they don't have to leave their families," he explained to her.
"That's good," Marci nodded, she turned away from Steve and looked back to Bucky. His eyes hung low, staring at his feet, "I'm going to head in, you coming?" Steve nodded in response. Marci took a deep breath before walking into the room, Bucky's gaze lifting to meet her own as she approached him.
Marci gave Bucky a small smile as Steve began to speak, "Are you sure about this?"
Bucky allowed his gaze to drift for a moment before sighing, "I can't trust my own mind," he huffed out a breath, a pained smile taking over his features, "So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think going under is the best thing," his locked his eyes with Marci, "For everybody," he nodded slightly. Marci swallowed the lump in her throat that began to form, she wouldn't cry, not anymore. This was good, he needed this.
"Ready?" A voiced called out to him, Bucky looked away from Marci, nodding.
As Bucky stood and walked over the chamber, stopping just before it to grab Marci's hand. She pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his torso for one last embrace. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, but she knew it wouldn't last. She felt his arm begin to loosen and she pulled away, placing a delicate kiss on his cheek, "I'll see you soon," she smiled sweetly. Bucky smiled back, before turning away from her and stepping into the chamber. The doctor placed a belt over Bucky's chest, that rose and fell at a steady pace. It comforted Marci that he looked so at peace.
With the touch of a button, ice crystals began to form over the glass and all that remained was Bucky's foggy silhouette. Marci turned away, not wanting to spend much time looking at him like that. That's not how she wanted to remember him.
She walked out of the lab, not waiting for Steve to follow her. As her feet carried her out of the room, she stopped herself in one of the many halls, looking out of the glass walls, she could see just how beautiful Wakanda truly was. Her eyes began to sting with tears but she quickly clamped them shut, allowing them to disappear. She heard footsteps approach her from behind, she didn't turn to see who it was, she had a pretty good idea.
"I wish he didn't have to do this," she said quietly, opening her eyes to see Steve standing at her side.
"Me too," he sighed as another set of footsteps approached them. Marci turned to see T'Challa standing at Steve's side, "Thank you for this," he told the King.
"Your friend and my father were both victims," he said, his voice soothing Marci's thoughts, "If I can help one of them find peace," he trailed off.
"You know, if they find out he's here, they'll come for him," Marci knew what Steve said was true, but she trusted T'Challa.
The King looked out the window, a small smirk forming over his face as he looked into the depths of his nation, "Let them try," he stated with a small nod, before leaving the pair alone.
"Steve," Marci sighed, he looked to her with sad eyes, "What do we do now?"
Steve straightened up, but his face remained as stoic as ever as he thought about her question. The truth was he didn't know. Hell, she didn't know either. No one knew what was in store for their future, but one thing was certain, their lives had changed forever. "Now," he paused looking away from her, "We run."
————
Guys this is it for Run to You! This is the first book I have finished in soooo long so I'm super proud of that!
There will be a sequel titled Rescue You, I have it published in my works but the first part won't be up until after Christmas so in about a week, but I wanted you guys to be able to add it to your library or reading lists so you don't forget about it!
Let me know what you think of my story, feed back is always appreciated! Let me know things you liked or things I can make better!
Also what do you want to see from Marci from now until Endgame?? Anything you want to happen with her or anything you don't think should happen? I'm really down for suggestions? What will she be doing while Bucky is in cryo???
Anyway, for those of you who have been super patient with me, thank you!! You all have been so awesome, I can't wait for our next adventure together! :)
Update 1-14-21: Sequel has begun, make sure to go check it out!