[-and with this chapter, the first book in the Hellfire series will come to a close. Well, sort of.]

IT HAD been weeks. Steve and she had flown to the underwater prison, effectively rescuing the others who had been locked up. As promised, she had slapped Sam Wilson with her wings (right after Wanda almost took them off, that was something she wouldn't forget) The woman had saw her wings first, not her, and Victoria had promptly decided that her wings needed to steer clear of red energy.

Bucky had, indefinitely, been distancing himself. Or getting closer. Victoria would never take the crown on analyzing the feelings of those close to her. Physically, they had become more comfortable; once in a while, she would transport into his room, Bucky not even flinching when he recognized her coppery, earthy smell. He could remember how she always used to carry coins around, sometimes even when they weren't going to buy anything - "Just in case, you twat."

But otherwise, he hadn't been mentally stable. Not focusing, not staying in one place. He was far off, remembering, perhaps, maybe thinking. The Archangel didn't know, but she wanted to.

There was a lounge room, that the two often found themselves in. The couch was large, and soft, so it automatically became one of her favorite places to be if she wasn't stretching her new found wings, which Bucky seemed fascinated by. Every once in a while, he was mindlessly touch them, sending shivers up and down her spine. The Archangel, being her impossibly stealthy self, never gave away the effect it had. It didn't seem they could get hurt easily, only when they were twisted or pulled. Which was fortunate, because T'Challa seemed to have a need for her to fight every small threat to the country. Not that she minded, anyways.

Bucky held Victoria closely, chin propped on her shoulder. Her wings were pressed to her back, hidden behind a leather jacket she had come to favor. The Soldier, as the Archangel had discovered, radiated heat just like Steve did. Nestling closer to him, she rested a hand on his calf.

"Vic?" he murmured, shifting so that he could sit up. She did, as well, turning so that she could meet him eye-to-eye. "What's up, Jelly?"

Speaking of Jelly, the dog had been taken under the care of T'Challa whilst she was still trying to figure out herself, which wasn't easy. The dog hadn't yet devoured the entire bag of food, which at least meant he hadn't been starving. Victoria could at least say she didn't starve her first friend in decades.

The blue of Bucky's eyes had darkened considerably, as he rested a hand on her thigh. "I... I think I might go back into cryo," he said quickly, the words almost blurring together. Victoria paused, brown eyes wide, as she registered what he had said. After a moment of tense silence, she responded. "Why?"

"I can't trust myself, Vic. I know you n' Steve and T'Challa can handle me, but I can't.. I'm not always around you guys. I can't hurt anyone else, Vic, I can't," he told her, voice thick with emotion. She nodded, understanding. It was only of T'Challa's convincing she hadn't done the same.

"I'll miss you," she said, honestly. James meant the world to her, even if she did tend to insult him on a 5 minute basis... Daily. "I'll miss you, too, doll, but I won't be gone forever. You still like daisies?" he asked, cupping the side of her face with his other hand. Brown eyes shimmering, she nodded. Bucky smiled, eyes crinkling at the ends. "Then I'll get you every one I can find. How 'bout that?"

"Only if you let me grow a garden of those purple flowers," she countered, the small smile growing to a grin. Bucky nodded, swiping the pad of his thumb against her cheek. "Deal."
L
--

"You sure about this?"

Victoria was perched on the table next to Bucky, dutifully accepting the request that he have a "personal gargoyle." Despite his emotional turmoil, he definitely knew how to get under Victoria's skin when need be. The Archangel, however, was losing a part of herself, a comrade of decades and decades for whoever knows how long. But if he was happy, she thought, it was worth it. It'd always be worth it.

"I can't trust my own mind," Bucky responded, solemn. Victoria tapped his back with a wing, to which he gave a small, sad smile. "So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think goin' back under is the best thing. For every body," the man added, earnest. Victoria turned and engulfed him in a hug, only pulling away when the man complained of a feather up his nose. She snorted, hopping off the table and drawing her feathers away.

"Aw, I didn't mean it! Your wings are great! Do they have feelings? Did I hurt their feelings?" Bucky asked, feigning worry, grinning as he got up from the table as well. He made a reach for them, reeling back when Victoria softly hit him in the cheek with one. The Soldier raised his hands in defeat, smiling.

-

The glass tube encased him, Barnes looking more at peace than she had seen him since they were 10. Even then, he'd been a bit stressed about the bills and Steve, who had only been getting more and more sickly.

Steve and Victoria stood side by side, watching as the process began with sad eyes. But, truly, they were happy. James Barnes deserved the world, but if all they could give him was peace, then so be it. The Archangel smiled, a bit, shoving down the quiet sadness that had begun forming in her heart. She had told Bucky she loved him, on multiple occasions, and she distantly remembered her father telling her that love was "wanting what's best for them, even if it doesn't make you happy."

As soon as the tube froze over, Victoria left the room. The Archangel had ever rarely felt lost, but, there was a first for everything. With a sigh, she had planted herself in front of the large, clear windows. The jungle was wild, rurally beautiful, but she knew she wouldn't be able to fly through the clusters of trees unless she became an expert on her new assets.

Victoria turned her head to glance at Steve as he eventually found her, looking calmer (and sadder) than before. The two shared an ambivalent feeling, not sure whether to be happy or sad over Bucky going back under the ice. She would have to choose happy, for now. The two friends didn't share any words, instead settling for a heavy silence as they stared out the windows at the world below.

The Archangel did not move, merely glancing at the King as he placed himself next to the two.

"Thank you, for this."

"Your friend and my father," T'Challa began, "They were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..."

"You know if they find out he's here," Victoria murmured, "They'll come for him." T'Challa met her gaze, features calm, before turning to look out the window. All three gazed out the window, entranced with the giant statue. Elegantly carved, the snarling face of the Black Panther met their sights.

"Let them try."

A/N;
And with this... Hellfire, book 1, comes to a close. I wonder if any of you caught the conflict Victoria will be facing next time? I don't know if I'll point it out yet or not.

But anyways. The Dark Knight WILL feature Victoria. It won't focus on her story, however, only partially. If you guys have any questions, I'll be doing a Q&A, in which you can ask away. I'll also be able to dedicate a chapter to fun facts, explanations, and some background on things I didn't get to go into depth on in the 14 chapters of this story.

I will, eventually, go through and edit. But this eventually is not the eventually I will eventually edit this piece of shít

Until next time, your humble author,
Lee.