"Wow... she's...", Bucky shook his head. "Practically out of my league there.", he chuckled before he took a deep breath. "Alright then... I guess... I guess there isn't anything more I need to ask then. So... do I just reach out to touch you?".
The Quantonium gleamed brightly, and under a second, the green energy came out of the stone, leaving it empty and black, and flew straight as an arrow, diving into Bucky's body, starting the process.
Bucky gritted his teeth as there's a little pain as he's awake than the others who were not with the extra Quantonium back on the beach. He clenched into the wood, feeling his bones lengthen, his muscles growing in girth, and his entire body becoming not quite like Steve in his Adonis body, but like a mixed version of David the Statue of Michaelangelo, and the Thinker statue here in Paris.
Bucky could feel his uniform starting to constrain on him as he silently cursed, "Shoot, should've at least taken some things off before...". He was hurrying to at least get the uniform off; if the clothes underneath could hold, it would be fine.
Steve, thanks to his super hearing, heard the distant sounds of wood cracking, and Erskine asked, "Steven?". Steve replied, "I think he took it, but not sure. Wood's cracking like it's breaking.", leaving him, concerned for his best friend and brother, and came into the kitchen to see Bucky almost breaking the wood of the table under his grip, his back facing him, with his boxer shorts and tank top on, with his uniform on the floor.
"Ah... should've warned you about maybe losing a layer or so with some growing.", Steve said as Bucky glanced back at him. "You think?", Bucky sounded a bit upset there for a moment at Steve for not really thinking about that little issue.
Steve looked sheepish, "Sorry, Buck. But hey, you're almost there.", with a reassuring smile. Indeed, Bucky earlier was 5'7'', and if Steve has to guess, Bucky would be almost 11 ft, perhaps 10'6", for Amazonian size.
"You wouldn't happen to have some spare clothes... just in case?", He chuckled as Steve backed up with a nod, "Yeah, I'll be right back with those for you.".
Bucky sighed as he gritted his teeth, shooting up another foot, feeling the pain, and from glancing at Steve, he figures that he has still a couple of feet to go, if he's to be on par.
He glanced at the empty, black stone, and remembered the visage of the beauty..."Gee, I wonder what's her name? No way she would be saddled with an old-fashioned name if she's out of my league...yet she's supposed to be my gal...".
Bucky grunted again as he felt another spurt; what clothes he had on were really starting to strain. "Steve... you better leave that stuff on the table for me before I'm naked here...".
Steve was quick, and so, he heard him as he came back with a bundle of clothes his size, and put them on the table, "There you go, Bucky. They should fit you when you finish growing up.", before heading back out to the living room where Erskine was waiting patiently.
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Did that years ago...", he chuckled at Steve's 'growing up' line before he decides to quickly get out of his clothes so he could quickly slip on the bigger ones.
Bucky then exhaled in relief as he made it in time as he went through the final spurt, and his new clothes fit him good enough. He winced at the damage he caused to the table, and chuckled, "Well, got the super stuff there, for sure...", before starting to walk, and figured fast how to manage his new height as he exited the kitchen, making it to the living room.
Erskine smiled gently at him when he saw him coming in, "How are you feeling, Bucky?", and Bucky exhaled, "Different, but like a good different... Totally weird to see you as really short, doc, but not small...".
"You'll get used to the new perspective, Bucky.", Steve replied with a chuckle, "Took tons of time to get used to both perspectives of the spectrum for me and Peggy, through Susan had it easier as she didn't care much to notice.".
Erskine nodded, "Indeed. Steve heard you cracking down the wood of the table, so that's all the super stuff down, and of course, your Amazonian size. How about powers?", and Bucky frowned, "No...Any tips, Steve?".
Steve smiled, "Dig deep, look inside yourself. That's what I did at first for size changing.", and Bucky blinked at him before nodding, "If you say so.", before closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, looking inside himself, awed to hear his heartbeat, his bloodstream rushing through him, to hear his lungs breathing, and then felt something tugging at him.
He dug deeper, and then the tugging became a dam breaking open as before Steve and Erskine's eyes, Bucky became a huge fox-wolf in Amazonian size, having the dark red and dark brown fur of the fox and the body of a wolf, and as Bucky opened his eyes, his eyes are golden amber with brown speckles.
He looked down at his paws in surprise, and yelped in surprise, staring at Erskine and Steve who held a hand in reassurance, "It's okay, Bucky. Wow, that's real handy.. Don't you think, doc?".
"Certainly good for scouting, I would think.", Erskine admitted. "Of course, it probably would be late at night when best to do that. In the middle of the day at that size, I think the Germans might be braver to take shots at what they think is a wild animal.".
"I'm sure there's other ways to use it, Bucky, but that's impressive.", Steve chuckled as he shook his head.
Bucky blinked before seeming to take a deep breath, and soon, he stood up, getting less furry, but still canine as he then tried to speak, "I think the super senses in any shape here are even more advantageous. I can easily dodge the shots with my speed and hearing...".
Steve grinned, "Whoa, dang, you look like a werewolf from the stories, but friendly!", and Bucky seemed to grin toothily, "Yet scary to the Germans.".
Erskine chuckled, "True. And with all that fur, you can stay warmer, even with the clothes on. Winter will be approaching, so that will be helpful.", and Bucky nodded as he became less furry, becoming more human, leaving his canine claws on his hands and tail on his behind.
Bucky blinked, "I can definitely do some damage with those claws, and the tail will do brilliant for balance if I climb into trees or something.", and Steve nodded, "That works for the daytime as well.".
As Bucky fully became human, blinking his golden eyes away to his natural brown, he chuckled, "And sight is even more keen too. Would do great in infiltration cases.". Erskine smiled softly, and glanced at Steve, "You have told me so, Steven. Bucky, would you love to join Steve and Peggy and work together on the frontlines and such?".
"Hey, someone's got to keep Steve out of trouble.", Bucky joked as Steve rolled his eyes. "I think that's the reverse now since I can be 50 feet tall.", Steve laughed.
Bucky laughed, slugged Steve on the arm, and grinned that it didn't even hurt him at all, "We're definitely on par, Stevie-o. Boy, wait until Peggy and Susan sees this...I hope Susan doesn't freak out.".
Steve smirked, "Freak out? Bucky, she'll go gaga over you.", with a chuckle, and Erskine laughed warmly, "Don't be surprised if she wants to cuddle in your fur, Bucky.", before smiling, "Well, looks like my work here is done. I'll be back tomorrow morning for some time with my goddaughter. I'll inform Phillips about the new change of plans and have you officially part of Steve and Peggy's team.".
Bucky nodded, "Thanks, doc, and oh, what about the empty stone?", and Erskine smiled, "Bury it deep in the backyard, probably behind the shed. Nobody cares about the shed in the backyard much those days.".
Steve nodded, "Will do, doc. See ya in the morning.", and Erskine waved goodbye, heading out of the house to head back to his lab within the fort that the US is borrowing to use. Oh, Erskine was beyond right.
When Peggy and Susan returned home by mid-afternoon, with careful supervision, Bucky showed the girls his powers, and Susan literally ran for him, tackling and hugging him, giggling as she burrowed herself in his fur, and Peggy couldn't resist no more as she then laughed, "I was gonna tell you that you are a teddy bear because Susan couldn't let go of you this morning, and now you're a fluffy puppy to her! Oh, my goodness, this is too good! I wish I had a camera right now!".
"Careful, Peggy, he'll probably maul it.", Steve snickered as Bucky looked at them.
"If you two keep it up with the dog insults, I'll apply for a transfer right now and get back to the Austrian front.", Bucky pouted. "It's alright, Bucky, we're just teasing.", Peggy laughed.
Bucky snorted, "You're lucky that I can't get up with Susan literally on me.", before glancing down to see Susan enjoying the fur on her skin, giggling and babbling as she looked up at him with a gummily smile.
Bucky blinked in surprise as he peered closer, and spoke, "Hey, guys, I think she's cutting a tooth!", and the couple went closer, with Steve asking softly, "Sue-P, can you open your mouth?".
Susan blinked before opening her mouth, and Peggy checked her gums, gasping in joy as there's one tooth nearly in sight, "She got a tooth! Oh, sweetheart, you're got your first tooth!", kissing her nose and forehead happily.
Steve chuckled, "Sounds like we gotta slowly work on solid foods then, and definitely teething toys or something.", as Susan giggled and clapped her hands. Bucky chuckled, "Oh, yeah, but wow, she's growing. Not literally, but you know.".
Peggy chuckled as she held Susan warmly, "I know what you mean...Our baby girl's getting older.", and Steve smiled, "Let's have some dinner, and enjoy some time.". The others nod as Bucky shifted back to human which caused Susan to pout and glare at Bucky who ruffled her hair, "You'll get your chance again after dinner, okay?".
Susan's pout turned into a cheer, and Peggy snorted, "We are really spoiling her.", with a teasing smile, and the men laughed warmly, agreeing, and so they went on to have dinner, to have some dancing fun, and to read a story with Susan on Bucky's side in his canine form.
Peggy secretly took a picture when Bucky was distracted by Steve and went to put the picture in the family album that they've been building the last few months, and naturally, Susan fell asleep, almost didn't let go of Bucky when Steve picked her up, bringing her to her nursery-slowly turning bedroom.
With bids of good night, Bucky went to the guest bedroom as he had been for the past several days, and there, tonight, he was soon surprised with someone unexpected when he went deep into sleep.
Bucky soon found himself in a strange place; sort of light and dark mixing in a void but that was all he could see. "Hello?", he called out into the abyss as it started to glow white, like the sun was almost rising.
All of a sudden, a floating, hovering, spirit-like, wispily woman-like person appeared with an echoing voice, "Hello.".
Bucky exhaled softly as he can see the familiar dark brown hair in long ringlets, impossibly enchanting teal eyes, and flawless pale skin yet it's like pulsing through her like a mirror, like she is not wearing it at the same time, and her body is shapeless yet shapely, dressed in iridescent gown robes.
"You...", Bucky whispered as he was looking at the woman that he saw before. "You wouldn't think that I wouldn't be in your dreams, would you?", she chuckled as Bucky rubbed the back of his head. At least he clearly had a body in this place.
She smiled reassuringly, "I'm your soulmate, James...Do you mind being called that?". Bucky blinked as he remembered that his mother was the only one who called him James before she passed away. His sisters did nicknames of his real name which was different...Yet now when his woman of his dreams says it, it's like...it's right...
Bucky smiled softly, "No. I don't mind...What is your name?", and the woman only chuckled, "I do not have a name, for I will be given it when I'll be born into the living world...But I do not mind if you suggest something...".
Bucky looked at her, and remembered Erskine's words of his new body, powers, and height suiting him to a 'T', and then smiled softly, "Would you like to be called T?".
The woman seemed delighted, "I like it, James.", before floating down closer, smiling warmly, "I can't be here for long, perhaps a week of your time in your dreams, but will last the entire night tonight.".
Bucky blinked in surprise before asking, "Why do you call yourself my soulmate?", and T smiled, "Because you are the one who's to be my true love. I know about love, but I've never experienced it, being a new soul...".
He shook his head, "Wait, I'm sorry, I completely blanked on what you said before, you haven't been born yet?".
"That's right... it'll still be some time...", T explained. "But... time, how much longer would that be? I'd probably be almost 50 or older by the time you would even be of age if you're born soon.", Bucky asked anxiously and confused.
T smiled, squeezed his hand with her hand which is solid yet not solid, "The Lord knows about Quantonium, and it gives the people who is bearing it all a basically immortal life for 200 years...You will be ageless for decades, James. You shall remain 24 for a long time. And there's more worlds than you think...Each soul has an instinctual designation. All I know is that I am to be born in a world similar to yours, but different.".
"Wow...", Bucky didn't know how to take all of this. "That's... that's a lot.", giving a whistle in amazement. T giggled and replied, "I know it is, but you'll understand more in due time, I promise you.".
Bucky nodded slowly, and replied warmly, "Then let's not waste any time getting to know each other, T.", holding her hand gently. Somehow, for the first time, Bucky isn't looking for a quickie or a fling with any random gal... He wants to truly know her, this gal of his dreams, this woman of his new life...
"Sounds like a good idea to me.", T smiled as Bucky frowned as a thought crossed his mind. "Wait, how will you be much of the same person after being born and all? With upbringing and all?", he asked as she chuckled, "I fear you're overthinking all this, James.".
Bucky chuckled sheepishly, "I guess so.", before T giggled warmly, "This is your dreams, your mind. Show me your world.".
Bucky blinked softly before looking around, and exhaled, thinking a bit hard, and then suddenly, New York City appeared, with people, pets, and every possible vehicle, and they are standing under one of the entrances to Central Park, with Brooklyn behind them.
Bucky widened his eyes, "Whoa...", and T smiled, "Now you won't be homesick for some time. Shall we?", with a nod.
"I guess I can show you around then.", Bucky chuckled as he took her arm and the two of them started to walk the New York streets.
And so, Bucky and T explored New York City, with Bucky introducing her to anything he could think of, seeing new emotions appear on her every hour of every day as she discovered ice cream, playing with dogs, cuddling with cats, reading storybooks, seeing the animals in the zoo, everything.
And strangely, he didn't even feel tired or sleepy when it became dark, showing her the nightlife, giving her views of the skyline from above in buildings where he somehow could go in without guards or people telling him no, and much to his surprise, he's falling in love with her as he taught her about love.
Bucky honestly was losing track of time. Much time was passing and at some points, he almost forgot what was real and what wasn't. Thankfully, he was still able to tell, but it pained him that he knew the difference. That this woman he was falling for wasn't even born yet or that he was still in the middle of a war.
Eventually, things had to end, and on their last day, Bucky made sure to show all his favorite stuff of the city, sharing them with T who was happy yet sad to leave, and about a half hour before sunset, they are now sitting on a bench, looking at the Brookyln Bridge.
Bucky sighed heavily, "Do you really have to go, T?", and T gave a small smile as she kissed his cheek, "I'm afraid so...And I won't be able to remember you...There will be a moment you shall remember, and you will see to make sure I'll remember you, but it takes love to bring those memories out in the open...".