Sweet Surrender

Chapter 8

The next morning,
"How are you feeling, lad?" He took a deep breath to sigh,
"Ready as I'll ever be. They deserve answers too. Especially Steve." The beast rumbled softly before stretching his wings to help him wake up.
"From what you've told, Steve Rogers has been by your side through all manor of highs and lows. You needn't worry about this one." He simply nodded in response. He knew she was right, but yet no one he knows can say they've had their best friend turned into a such a monster.

"What is it? What's the news?" Steve eagerly voiced when off the plane later that day.
"Bucky has come a long way, Captain Rodgers. Your friend has accomplished releasing something that has dwelled inside him in secret for far too long. He wished for you all to know as soon as possible." Maxanarda explained, waiting for all to exit the plane. This time, T'Challa and his sister Shuri came along to see Bucky's progress in person. After all, T'Challa had allowed the Winter Soldier a safe haven for quite some time.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's make the magic happen, sweetheart!" Tony spoke up in a pushy manner. Natasha saw fit to slap his shoulder,
"Watch it." The Naita Koa stepped aside, revealing a different and unfamiliar beast. But its left wing, it was silver. And its shoulder, it had the red star. The initial shock made not one of the Avengers say a word for what seemed a century.
"Why does everyone else keep getting bigger..." Scott finally broke the silence.
"Soldier? What in the world did they put in your drink? I swear if they fed you some kind of magic voodoo potion, I want no part of it." Said Tony with eyebrows raised.
"We both believe Hydra is to blame for this." Evanna commented. Steve nodded with a thinking expression,
"This doesn't surprise me. Schmidt was obsessed with what was perceived as mythology, but to him it was all real. He must've found a way to prove such things can exist."
"Are you really in there, Barnes?" Natasha stepped forward. The slender wyvern lowered his head and lightly touched the top of hers with his snout. She smiled with a soft scoff.
"Does this all mean you can come home now?" Sam seemingly asked for Steve, who'd opened his mouth to say just that. The Winter Soldier glanced around at each of the team members, ending on Steve before turning to face Maxanarda. A hint of sorrow filled his eyes as he walked over to her, a low rumble emitting from his throat. Bucky made eye contact, and allowed for their foreheads to meet. The two then exchanged gentle nuzzles for a good moment or so. They both stretched out their heads to reach the back of each other's necks to nuzzle there. What had happened was plainly obvious to anyone watching.
"You know, I thought she seemed rather attached to the human." Ironhide huffed as Bumblebee nodded in agreement. Optimus Prime just simply watched, rather proud to see his older sister showing her emotions. Like him, it was extremely rare for Maxanarda to be very affectionate or emotional. Other than her short temper, that is.
"You sly dog." Scott grinned, "Did yu find that certain someone?" He teased, managing to pull Bucky's attention onto him with a little growl.
"Hey Scotland-"
"It's just Scott, Mr. Stark."
"Right, sorry. Got that on the brain cuz of the uh, Naita Koa over there. Anyway, do you remember how insanely skilled ol' Buck here is as a human? Just a question."
"Um, yeah?"
"Ok, so put all of that into a beast that can fly and undoubtedly breathe fire. You really want to mess with that?"
"Oh um, no not really."
"Exactly! Good job, bug boy."
"I don't believe this. The guy gets his head all straightened out and what's the first thing he does?"
"Goes and falls in love with his therapist?" Steve finished for T'Challa.
"Therapist isn't exactly the term I would use." Said Tony.
"Giant beastly alien robot that could easily squish us?"
"Yes! Thank you...what's your name again?"
"Scott, Mr. Stark. My name is Scott," he then mumbled under his breath, "Not that hard to remember."
"You know what, guys? We've seen a lot throughout our lives, so frankly we should just add it to the list and move on. Bucky's obviously found a connection with Maxanarda and I for one don't want to be the one to tell him he can't be with her." Sam stated with a fold of his arms.
"He's right. If Bucky's happy, then so am I. We all got what we wanted, now let's let him have what he wants." Steve concluded, smiling up at his best friend. The beast lowered his head, lightly pressing it against Steve's back in a hug. Cap raised his arms and hugged Bucky's neck best he could. During the moment, Bucky's body was gradually changing again. Rather than wings and talons, he had toes and arms. It didn't take long for Steve's eyes to open and realize he was looking right at a human Bucky again.
"I know it's crazy, but she's the one, Steve. Maybe I've really been brainwashed one too many times," he chuckled softly, "I'm not entirely sure what's come over me, but I can't imagine leaving her. I...I'm sorry." He glanced down before Rogers put his hands on Bucky's shoulders.
"Don't be. You're finally happy again, free of your inner monster. The last thing I want to do now is tear you away from the one who made that all possible when she clearly means so much to you." He smiled somewhat. Bucky's eyes drifted back onto his best friend. He too ended up showing a half smile as his gaze shifted to Maxa who stood behind him,
"She and I are more alike than you think."
"So The Winter Soldier is in love, hmm?" Shuri thought aloud to herself in the background, a grin growing on her face.
"No, no no I know that look. Whatever you are thinking, shut it down."
"Oh come now, brother. My genius mind can never be stopped!" She declared quietly. T'Challa mumbled under his breath,
"That is what I'm afraid of."
"Hold on now. Before we high tail it out of here, I want to make my time really worthwhile. Why don't you do a flight run for us, ol' Bucky ol' pal?" Tony insisted ever so pleasantly.
"You have had a test flight, right?" Sam voiced, and Barnes couldn't resist a smirk.