During the flight home, Sikia Storm was filled with more curiosity than when she first stepped outside in Wakanda. So much of this colorful world was right beneath her body all at once. Along the way, her mother spoke of many things like how much different Cybertron is compared to the big blue marble. Hearing how every inch of Maxa's home-world was covered in metal didn't sound as exciting to Sikia as what she was seeing below. Trees were so green, flowers so beautiful and the sun so warm and bright. Even when she saw barren lands of dirt she found it interesting. Then what her mother said next stuck to her spark like glue.
"Remember this, Sikia Storm. No matter where we are or where we go, we all are still a family."
When they landed inside the N.E.S.T base, there awaited many to greet them. Bucky became human again once his feet touched the ground.
"Steve?" Bucky showed a confused smile, "what are you guys doing here?"
"T'Challa called us saying you were heading home with something very special. He said we should see right away." Steve smiled. Tony couldn't help but notice Bucky's new amputation,
"That's pretty nice lookin' there, sergeant." He admired with a point of his finger.
"Was that a compliment I just heard?" Steve raised an eyebrow, figuring Bucky to be about the last person Tony Stark would ever complement.
"Don't get used to it, Cap." Steve then just barely caught a glimpse of a brown bushy tail tip before it slipped out of sight behind Maxanarda. He knelt down with a gentle expression on his face,
"We won't hurt you." Sikia barely peaked out to get a look at him.
"Awe, it's shy." Wanda commented as she smiled a little, along with Vision.
"Let's get this show on the road, I want to know what was so important for us to see." Tony folded his arms. Natasha rolled her eyes while Clint shook his head. Bucky scoffed with a smile,
"You're in for quite the surprise." He turned and walked over to Sikia Storm,
"They want to meet you." Bucky softly rested a reassuring hand on the side of her muzzle. She looked him straight in the eyes before glancing towards the group. She began taking one small step at a time towards them, following Bucky to reveal her slender body and bright amber eyes.
"Wow, it sure looks a lot like-" Sam paused, "you didn't..."
"No way..." Scott whispered.
"How on earth-"
"Amaravalani deemed Bucky Barnes worthy of my spark, and thus worthy of raising a youngling of our own." Tony raised his hands,
"You know what, that's a good enough explanation for me. I'd rather not ask the details." Bucky simply rolled his eyes.
"So, it's a?"
"Girl, Sam. Her name is Sikia Storm." Bucky smiled as he cradled his daughter's muzzle in his arms. Steve smiled at the sight, only having seen his best friend this happy when he and Maxa became soulmates.
"She's beautiful." Wanda approached calmly and placed a hand on Sikia's neck. Soon Wanda started stroking the young beast repeatedly across her smooth skin. Bucky nodded, remembering he'd said the exact same thing.
"Yes, truly a wonder to behold." Vision added. Clint smiled as he walked up to meet Sikia, thinking back to when his own children were born. While everyone continued to visit the new youngling, Optimus Prime entered the scene with fellow Autobots close behind. The moment Optimus stepped into view Sikia's eyes became fixed on him. She saw so much of her mother in him.
"That would be your uncle and my brother, lass. Optimus Prime."
"Uncle?" Questioned Ironhide.
"Yo what's happenin'?" Voiced Bumblebee.
"Sikia Storm is our daughter, lads. Created from my and Bucky's very souls." The Naita Koa responded. Sikia cautiously made her way closer to Maxa's brother, tilting her head while looking in his eyes at his feet. The last Prime knelt down to her calmly,
"Welcome home, young Sikia Storm." He softly laid a hand on her back, causing her to rumble quietly. Sikia then spotted the three predacons who'd followed Optimus, and the dinobots standing behind them. Scarlett Barracuda lowered her head to Sikia with a soft rumble, and they soon met heads to nuzzle. The young wyvern exchanged such affections with each fellow beast that approached. She was starting to feel more and more comfortable around everyone the more kindness she received.
"Sikia Storm really does resemble you two." Nat folded her arms with a smile. Bucky nodded and said,
"She's one of the best things to ever happen to me." He glanced up at the female Autobot who'd transformed and knelt down beside him as he spoke.
"You know, we've all heard Sikia being called beautiful," Bucky held up his metal hand with the palm facing Maxanarda, "But I have yet to hear someone say where she got her beauty from. And for me to say that you Maxa, are beautiful. Human or robot, big or small, it doesn't matter to me. All those years when I was young chasing after girls, it all means nothing to me now. I'm glad I was kept around for you to find me. You are what I was truly waiting for. I know that now." Steve smiled the most out of all the others as Maxa neatly pressed her palm to Bucky's. Both their blue eyes were locked on each other's.
"Love truly does heal a wounded soul, and you have definitely done that for me. And it's about time I told you something. I love you, Maxanarda Evanna Barnes." That was the first time Bucky had ever said those words out loud. He'd thought about it and played it in his head over and over for days on end. Now he hoped that who Maxa is, her stern and usually neutral demeanor, wouldn't get in the way of possibly hearing the same thing in return. The room fell silent, everyone else on edge and eager to hear it as well. Scott Lang seemed the most anxious, waving his arms up to his chest and down in front of him repeatedly while mouthing say it in the background. Maxa became lost in Bucky's eyes, seeming to see all the battle and scars he'd been through turn into pure joy. She shows the slightest hint of a smile, and gently grabbed his other hand in hers.
"In my soul and spark, this I know lad. I love you too, James Buchanan Barnes." Wanda clapped a little bit to herself with a big giddy smile.
"Dang man, things have gotten serious, exchanging the L word." Sam noted with impression in his tone.
"And you even gave her your last name." Steve knowingly smiled. Maxa and Bucky separate their hands but not their eyes,
"And it is near and dear to my spark to bare such a name, for it means we are one." Ironhide huffed,
"She's really starting to open up. Hope she doesn't get too soft." He grumbled at the end.
"So that's what a human mixed with Cybertronian looks like, huh?" Lennox saluted the parents as he walked up to the group to get to Sikia. He had easily picked up on the fact she was Bucky and Maxa's because of the features she shared with them. Epps did the same,
"This is crazy." Sikia Storm curiously sniffed Lennox's hand before doing the same to his friend. Her eyes glanced at them, then the rest in the group.
"My family." Sikia's words brighted up the atmosphere even more. With a smile, Bucky leaned his forehead on hers for a moment while holding her muzzle again. After long enough they pulled back to allow Bucky's smile to shine in her eyes. The two then noticed something from the corner of their eyes. Maxanarda placed her hands on the ground with palms up near Sikia. The youngling looked at her mother before calmly walking up onto Maxa's hands. Sikia Storm watched as she was raised up to Maxanarda's forehead. Soon her head met with her mother's gently, both their eyes closed to soak in the loving moment. Steve wrapped his arm around Bucky's shoulder to playfully shake him around a bit in a brotherly side-hug. Bucky chuckled as he returned the gesture.
"They're amazing, Buck. I'm very happy for you." Steve commented and gave his best friend a pat on the back.
"If it wasn't for you encouraging me to do this, I may not have ever met Maxa. Thank you." Responded Bucky. Steve gave a smile of appreciation.
"You better treat them right. Sure can be hard to find someone as genuine as her." Sam added a bit teasingly.
"Believe me Sam," Bucky glanced up at his partner and daughter, "I'm not going to let anything happen to them."
YOU ARE READING
Sweet Surrender
FanfictionAfter the events of the Civil War between the Avengers, a member of the Autobots team is intrigued by what she has heard about the infamous Winter Soldier. She learns about his traumatizing past, and vows to heal and mend him for the better. Along t...
