Long hours went by as Dr. Helen Cho and her dedicated team worked to save Nat and Clint. Bruce, they were told, would be out for a while yet but he would eventually sleep off whatever they'd used to subdue him. Most of the team lingered around medical, including Clint's wife and kids. It was the kids who wavered between sleepy and cranky that prompted Marley to head down to the compound's food court to get something for them to eat. It was some way she could help besides worrying.
Most kids like pizza, so Marley went to that counter, lucky that it was almost an hour before they closed and thought about what to order. A young woman about her size smiled at her from behind the counter, the dark curls of her hair framing a pretty face. She brushed a curl away from her eye, scrubbing enough makeup off that Marley could see the bruise that darkened her brow.
Marley's heart quickened in her chest, remembering the days of creative makeup to cover the marks Grant had left on her. Pretending she couldn't make up her mind, she snuck more glances at the woman before her. Yes, there were more bruises on her arms, at the back of her neck. She probably didn't even know about that one.
When her phone buzzed, she scrambled to answer. It was Tony. "Hey, since you're there, just get like a dozen pizzas, all kinds and put it on my tab. Okay?"
Then he was gone. Well, then.
Marley smiled at her. "I'm so sorry. Looks like I'm to get a dozen pizzas of all kinds, charged to Mr. Stark."
The woman's grin widened. "You've got it. Give me about twenty minutes?"
"No rush," Marley told her.
Dashing back to the kitchen to get their order, the woman who waited on her scrambled to get what she thought was the business phone. When the woman's expression crumbled, Marley strained to listen.
Apologies. That sounded familiar. More apologies. Then her eyes were shiny with tears. Oh, God. Had it been that obvious to everyone around her during that time when she was with Grant? The young woman's hand shook as she kept the phone pressed to her ear, trying to smile at a technician Marley recognized who came in to pick up an order.
Marley could almost hear him yelling at her from there. Then she said the words that made all the difference.
"You left me," the woman said tearfully. "We're not together. I don't…"
They weren't together, and he was still waging war on her. Just because he could. Marley shook her head, just staying calm and trying to listen.
"Please don't," she begged him. "They are about to throw me out of my apartment now. You know that. I don't have anywhere else to go."
Which was his plan exactly in Marley's mind.
"Please don't," she begged him. When a man she'd guessed was the manager came up to the front to scowl at her, she tried to end the call. "I can't lose my job either. I'm working. I can't talk anymore."
The yelling on the other end escalated but Marley pushed the button on the phone to end the call. The woman looked up to her in tearful surprise.
"Are you okay?" Marley asked her.
Automatically, she tried to straighten herself out, blink back her tears. "I- I'm fine," she stammered. "I'm just… I'm fine."
Marley fought to keep the anger at the shithead boyfriend out of her expression and voice. "I'm Marley."
The woman took the hand she offered, even though hers shook. "Emily."
"Emily, if you ever need someone to talk to, I live here. I'll be here for you," Marley assured her with a steady voice.
"I'm okay. I will be." Tears escaped her pretty green eyes anyway. "But thank you."
Marley recognized that false bravado, that denial. She nodded and went back to sit down at an empty booth, grateful no one else really seemed to be milling around. Fifteen minutes had passed before Emily, who'd been casting her curious glances, finally came over to her.
"Everything will be ready in a minute," Emily told her.
Marley nodded, smiled. "Thank you."
"You… You're the one with the… fire. Right?"
Marley nodded. "That's me."
Emily's expression was one of admiration. "Is it wonderful being one of them? Being so… strong?"
Marley motioned for her to sit across the booth from her and Emily did.
"I only figured out I could do that… recently," Marley explained. "Up until then, well, I wasn't very strong at all. Meaning no offense, but I was a lot like you."
Emily's head dropped, and Marley regretted those words, not surprised when the other woman's gaze turned a little angry. "You don't know what my life is like."
"I'm sorry," Marley said. "I didn't mean that to insult you in any way. I might have some idea of what your life is like."
Marley pulled up the sleeve of the sweater she wore, revealing the crazy scars over her shoulder.
Emily's face crumpled. "It happened to… you too."
Marley nodded, tears stinging her own eyes. "It did. I didn't think I'd ever be able to get away from him. And it was dumb luck that I did, Emily. That's why I offered my help if you ever need it. I understand."
Emily swallowed hard. "I'm about to lose my apartment because of him. He's probably waiting for me there now. I only have a younger brother, he's in college. He can't… I wouldn't…"
Marley reached across the table to put her hand on the other woman's. "I know. You don't have to explain anything to me. Just let me know if I can help."
Emily nodded, smiling sadly through her tears. "Thank you… but I couldn't…"
"You can," Marley insisted. "Please do."
Fear darkened Emily's face as her gaze took in someone behind her, rising from the booth seat and trying to make herself smaller. Glancing over her shoulder, Marley watched a man slowly stalking his way into the food court in Emily's direction.
It was him. He was tall, though not as tall as Bucky, with dark shaggy hair and mean brown eyes. He had wide shoulders and big hands that curled into fists at his sides.
"I can't," she pleaded with him. "I'm at work. Please."
"You're done here," he growled at her. "Talk to me like that? Stupid bitch. We're leaving."
Marley rose from her seat, placed herself between Emily and the asshole she needed to get away from.
"You need to leave," Marley said calmly with no fear. "Now."
The man snorted out a laugh. "Move, bitch, or I'll beat the shit out of you too."
A strong hand clamped lightly on Marley's shoulder as he eased her back and put himself in front of the man.
"That's no way to talk to ladies," Steve said in full Captain mode.
Emily scrambled, trying to move forward to diffuse the situation. Marley wrapped her arms around her, trying to calm her so Steve could deal with it. "It will be okay," Marley whispered, rubbing her back.
Bucky took in the scene, staying with Marley and Emily.
"I don't give a fuck," the asshole continued. "You're not in this. You need to move outta my way."
"So you can put more bruises on her?" Steve's voice was tight. "I don't think so."
He easily manhandled the guy into a headlock and easily forced him outsides the compound to deal with him.
Emily dissolved into tears, holding onto Marley. "He's going to… he's going to blame…"
"No, he won't," Marley's voice was calm. "He won't do anything if he's smart."
"I have to go… home," Emily sobbed.
"Not tonight," Marley told her. "You can stay here. I have a place where you can stay."
Bucky's gaze met hers and he smiled, nodding.
"I couldn't… No, I mean…"
"She's not going to take no for an answer," Bucky told her with his best charming smile.
Emily glanced his way, weighing his words.
"You've got to trust me on this. I live with her," he said meaningfully, "I know."
Marley giggled at that.
I told you I was going to try a different way of convincing you to live with me, doll.
Her brows shot up realizing he'd intended to speak to her from his mind. She'd deal with him later, she decided.
"Ma'am," the manager came forward with a tower of pizza boxes, "your pizzas, I mean, Mr. Stark's pizzas are ready."
Bucky moved forward to collect them.
"Thank you," Marley told him. "I hope it's okay if Emily leaves a little early."
The man's expression was hard to read.
"Tony sent us down to check on her," Bucky took it from there. "He got a tip that her ex was coming to make trouble. Sorry Cap and I didn't get down here sooner to deal with it."
At that, the man nodded. "Not a problem, Mr. Barnes. Thank you, and Mr. Stark, for looking taking care of it."
Bucky nodded to him before winking at Marley and grabbing up the pizzas. Steve came through the door as they passed, looking slightly mussed.
Planting himself in front of Emily, they came to a stop. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
Emily was struggling to speak but managed to weakly nod. She shook so hard in Marley's arms.
He put that bruise on her eye?
Marley nodded.
Steve did a good job of getting his anger under control but struggled to talk too. Bucky smirked behind him.
"I'm concerned he might follow her back to her apartment, Steve," Marley explained. "He's just about caused her to be evicted. She's going to stay in my apartment, so she'll be safe if that's okay."
Marley didn't need his permission but putting it that way helped him form a response. "Good plan, Marley."
They were quiet in the elevator and stopped on the medical floor, only Bucky stepped out.
"I'm going to see them up to our floor," Steve explained.
Bucky nodded. "You staying with her, doll?"
"That's where I'll be. Come get me when you come up."
"I love you," he told her before turning one last amused look at Steve, handing him the top pizza box.
When they reached their floor, Steve followed them into Marley's apartment. While Marley hadn't stayed in there regularly, it had anything Emily might need.
Steve kept his hands in his pockets, hovered about them. He was one of the kindest people she'd ever met and she knew he cared very much about others. His interest in Emily was understandable. She was a tiny woman, covered in bruises old and new, and the victim of an abusive relationship.
She was also very pretty with her dark curls, bright green eyes, and fair skin. Marley placed her at the island in the kitchen, getting her pizza and a drink. She got the same for herself and Steve, alarmed at how fast the other woman scarfed it down once she realized they weren't just going to watch her eat.
Steve noticed too. "Where do you live? In the city?"
Emily looked up at him shyly, nodding.
"You can stay here as long as you want to," Marley stressed to her. "I know there's an entrance thing Tony does…"
"I'll talk to him myself." Steve sat next to them, eating quietly.
"Did…" Emily almost looked like she wasn't going to finish her question. "Did… Was he… hurt?"
"Not enough," Steve muttered over his pizza, his expression hard to read.
Emily nodded, and Marley prayed that she didn't get upset that Steve had dealt with the asshole.
"Thank you," she finally said, not looking up at Steve. "I hope… you weren't hurt."
The kindness in his eyes was easy to read. "I'm just fine, ma'am."
She held out one slim trembling hand to him. "I'm Emily."
Steve took that hand in his. "Steve."
If she knew he was Captain America, and she almost had to know he was, she didn't say anything. They ate and talked a little about Nat and Clint, hoping to hear good news soon.
When Steve decided to head back to medical, he turned to Emily. "I'm next door if you need anything. Bucky and Marley are on your left. Sam's on this floor further down but no one else. And not just anyone can come into the living space of the compound. You'll be safe."
"Sam?" Emily asked. "The Falcon?"
Steve smiled, nodded. She did know.
"Thank you," she said. "Both of you. You didn't have to… I mean…"
"I did," Marley told her. "Someone saved me. I want to pass that on."
Steve's smile at Marley just about melted her heart. He was Bucky's best friend and he knew exactly how she meant that remark.
"Marley's right," Steve continued. "You're safe here and you can stay as long as you need to."
Emily smiled at him, looking on the edge of tears as he made his way out.