Sweet Surrender

Chapter 6

Bucky tossed and turned the moment he climbed into bed. That feeling, it just wouldn't let go. His heart pounded, his mind raced. It was no wonder he was able to withhold his screams. It was like his days with Hydra all over again. Their voices, their machines, everything. It all felt like it was right there in his bedroom. This went on throughout the night, never giving the Winter Soldier a chance at sleep. Eventually Bucky hit the breaking point, and bursted out in the worst screams he'd ever done. Many were startled awake, Colonel Lennox among them. He rushed to the Soldier's room, but his attempts to get inside were stopped. The door was locked, and there was no way in other than busting it down.
"Bucky? Bucky answer me!" Nothing. All the colonel was hearing was the constant sheer terror. When a few fellow soldiers ran to Lennox's side, he immediately ordered,
"Get this open, now!" They grabbed a tool necessary to bring it down, banging it into the bedroom door a few times until it finally worked. They all saw Bucky curled up in his bed, grabbing at his head and severely cringing his face.
"He needs a doctor. Get him downstairs!"
"That is not necessary, Colonel Lennox." Maxanarda voiced as she walked to the second floor in humanoid form, tall enough to see everything taking place from ground level.
"What are you talking about? Look at him!" Lennox gestured to the screaming soldier with alarm and confusion in his tone.
"Bring him to me, Colonel." Was all she said. Though he trusted the Autobot completely, he couldn't help but just feel plain lost. But like Bucky was learning, he too had learned not to really question whatever Maxa did. He had his men help lift Barnes up out of bed, but that wasn't exactly easy. Bucky was acting extremely hostile, lashing out at anyone trying to lay a hand on him. He quickly jumped up, a wide eyed expression across his face. In his eyes, everything was out to get him. In his mind, everything was a blur.
"James Barnes." A gentle voice found its way into the storm of memories. Her bright blue eyes looked directly at him across her outstretched arm. Maxanarda had her hand out to him, standing there patiently. Bucky's heavy breathing eased a little while he looked around at all the soldiers staring at him. He then looked at her hand. The colonel and other soldiers stepped back calmly as Bucky walked over, instantly collapsing upon the Autobot's servo. The heavier breathing started to pick up again, and Maxa saw fit to take him where they could spend time alone. She brought him outside where the sun slowly rose to bring dawn, where the morning dew dotted the grass. A light rain had started during the end of dusk. She laid him down on the ground as the screaming returned to accompany his heavy breathing.
"Release it all, set yourself free and stop the fighting."
"All of it...hurts..." he shouted, hunched over on his hands and knees.
"Please, trust in me." She watched him continue to struggle, noticeably ignoring her at first. There was that word again. Trust. He played back her words throughout his emotional turmoil, until his screams began to lessen. The cringing, the clutching at his head, it all was gradually fading as something else began to happen. And that's when Bucky went unconscious. His mind went black as his body was undergoing something life changing. Though Maxa knew Bucky had something trapped within, she hadn't expected this. He now had two large wings acting as his arms, one of them even made of metal. Brown fur went from the back of his head all the way down to the tip of his long tail. Smooth and semi-long black scales lengthwise covered the top of his face accompanied by three grey horns. And underneath his throat, two grey spikes. Maxa was pleased to see his breathing had become much more relaxed, but wondered as to how long the peaceful sleeping would last. Regardless, once again, she stayed by his side. She transformed into a Naita Koa and saw fit to lay down beside the Soldier. For the first time, Bucky looked at peace. But that all went away the second he'd opened his eyes. Startled, he got to his feet as quick as he could. Everything was so unusual now, he could hardly keep his balance using his paws and wings. He was just in plain shock. Bucky stumbled all over creation trying to not only stand but figure out what was going on.
"Easy, lad!" Maxanarda flared her wings out high and wide to gain his attention. Just as he looked her way, he'd tripped over his own two feet and was caught by her. The new beast growled with a snarl, complaining that this was all her fault.
"Be wise as to who you blame." He released a big grumbly sigh, deciding to just lay there with his head resting on Evanna's back. At this point, he just wanted to rest. It had felt like an eternity since the Soldier had such a thing. As much as he was still bewildered, his mind and body were just too tired after such a drastic change to be bothered right now.

P.S. The drawing above was made by me.