HUD: Some advancement, both with and because of Winter. ;)
Bucky clipped Winter's harness on and picked her up; he grabbed his wallet, phone, and keys before turning to leave the apartment. He waited until he was downstairs before he set her down, brushing off her white fur from his shirt. She immediately slinked around his legs, rubbing against his jeans and purring. Bucky smiled; she did that every time they left the apartment, just happy to be out.
Bucky stepped onto the curb and she followed. They were going to the store, Bucky feeling a need to spoil himself and his little kitty. He led her at a leisurely pace, stopping occasionally when someone wanted to pet her or the crowds became too thick for her to safely walk. Bucky didn't mind people patting Winter; she'd never had any professional training for her certification, just a prescription, basically, written out by Mrs. Keith. All in all, she was a leash trained cat that helped Bucky feel more like a human than other humans did.
Bucky paused, waiting for the light of the crosswalk to go green for them, and cradled Winter to his chest. She immediately scrambled to his shoulder, her lean body pressed against his neck and face. Bucky let her enjoy her perch as he crossed the street; they'd done this enough that he wasn't concerned with her losing her balance as long as he kept a mild pace.
They made it to the grocer with minimal fuss. Bucky grabbed a basket and coaxed her to sit in the seat; once Winter was all settled, Bucky started for the meat section. He began to hum lightly under his breath as he looked around, trying to decide between fish or chicken or steak, when the woman a few feet ahead of him caught his attention.
She's pretty and slim, dressed a little too well for food shopping, but that's not what has his attention. It's who she's talking to, a toddler in the same seat as Winter, and smiling and giggling at her voice. Bucky didn't mean to listen, but he overhears: "Do you want chicken tonight, Billy? Chicken sure is tasty!" Her voice is pitched higher, and the sound has her son cooing and giggling again. "Chicken it is!" She announced, pulling a pack of chicken breasts out and adding it to her cart. Bucky watched her walk away before looking at his basket.
Winter is sitting up, like a child would, with her back against the bars and facing him. Bucky looked at her, then at where the woman and child had gone, and felt a stupid grin break out over his face.
"Ya want chicken tonight, Winter?" he asked her, his grin spreading at his own joke. "How 'bout steak? Or salmon?" At the mention of salmon, his beautiful cat presses one of her paws on his metal hand holding the cart. His grin is face breaking, now.
"You want salmon, doll? It sure is tasty!" When Winter actually answers him with a meow, Bucky had to bite his lip to stop from laughing.
"Salmon it is, then!" He said triumphantly, turning and backtracking a few feet to the fish counter and smiling brightly at the attendant, whom Bucky would bet money had been watching him subtly lose his mind.
Bucky can't find it in himself to care.
He ordered two six ounce pieces to be cut and leaned his weight on his cart. Winter watched the glass with obvious interest, her ears and little stump tail flicking. Bucky's smile softened, looking at his companion. Winter, being more in tune with Bucky's emotions than he was sometimes, looked up at him with her blue eyes and mewed.
Yeah, she was about as close to a kid as he'd ever get.
Bucky cooked his salmon with teriyaki and rice, Winter's with just a little bit of salt. He set to work pulling the fish apart for her with two forks, occasionally blowing steam away. Winter sat patiently on the counter behind him, watching his every move. It make Bucky chuckle.
While they were eating, Bucky's cell rang. He read Mrs. Keith's office number and immediately picked up.
"Mrs. Keith?" Bucky asked, worry in his tone. She never called him.
"Hey there, Bucky. How are you? I hope I'm not interrupting." Her voice was still so soothing, even over the phone.
Bucky shook his head, even though she couldn't see it. "Not at all, just dinner with Winter. Took her to the store and she wanted salmon; you know how she gets, sometimes."
Mrs. Keith laughed, the sound tinkling over his poor reception. "She can be a handful."
"Always," Bucky answered, smiling at his kitty. "What can I do for you, Mrs. Keith?"
"I unfortunately have to cancel tomorrow," Mrs. Keith sighed. "I have a bit of an emergency that I have to handle in California. I shouldn't be gone for more than a month, at best."
"Alright," Bucky answered.
"Will you be okay?"
Bucky looked at Winter again. "Yeah, I'll be just fine." He realized he wasn't lying, either. He really would be, with Winter around.
"I'm glad," her voice said she meant that, too. "Well, take care, Bucky. Please call my cell if you need me." He wrote the number down she gave him and wished her a safe trip dealing with whatever was dragging her across the country.
Bucky turned back to his dinner, mixing the rest of his fish and rice and tapping the plate with his fork. He now had a free afternoon with no responsibilities or obligations. Technically two, but his other canceled appointment wasn't for another two weeks from tomorrow, so he had some time to think about that one.
Bucky thought about the last day he'd had a 'free' afternoon and felt a flush creep up his neck. He'd not been back to the park since the day he'd met Steve, the literal most handsome man in existence, and tackled him to the grass. Bucky cleared his throat, which drew Winter's attention. She licked her jowls as she stared at him.
"Wanna go to the park tomorrow?" He asked. She mewed and licked her jowls again.
"Cool," he replied before taking another bite of his salmon. He had absolutely no ulterior motives, but he wondered if Steve would be there.
Bucky didn't have a good night, waking drenched in sweat and panting. He blinked away the blackness from his vision and gulped deep breaths. Bucky swung his eyes around his room, focusing on each piece of furniture until the tinge of an orange desert disappeared completely and he only saw his room bathed in shadows and moonlight.
Winter was there, mewling and butting his hand until he uncurled his fist and scratched behind her ears. He tried to regulate his breathing to something normal as he stroked along her soft ears and under her collar, the tag clinking against his fingers.
Finally Bucky drifted back to sleep when Winter crawled onto his chest, some hours later, warm and grounding.
Bucky didn't feel like going to the park after the restless sleep he'd gotten. He went through the motions of his shower and dressing, only bothering to towel dry his hair before he pulled it into a bun. He ate cereal but didn't taste it, brushed Winter's short coat a few times before she squirmed away and fetched her own harness, knowing that they were late for their date with the park. Bucky cracked a smile and clipped her harness on, grabbing a new book and setting off.
They walked slowly to the park, Winter often tugging Bucky to keep him moving. Of course the one time he assures Mrs. Keith he'd be fine without her help, he has one of the worse nights he's had since Winter came to the picture. His gorgeous kitty was doing her best to distract him, but when they reached their previous bench at the park, he unclipped her leash and sat down with a deep sigh.
It was a beautiful day, the sun high and bright, a slow breeze to keep its heat at bay, and Bucky's bench was still hidden well beneath shade. Still, his book sat unopened to his right and his hands sat folded in his lap. Winter stared up at him from the grass she sat on and blinked.
"Wanna play, doll?" He offered, pulling out a toy he'd stuffed into his coat on the way out. Her eyes sharpened and tracked the movement of the feather ball Bucky held in his left hand. He smiled and tossed it into the grass; Winter immediately pounced, batting the jingle ball between her paws.
Bucky watched her for a few minutes with a smile before fatigue set back in. He was exhausted, the nightmare took too much of him to deal with. Bucky stretched out across the bench he sat on, pulling his book over as a feeble distraction. He read the same page four times when he couldn't recall what was going on before he gave up and let the book fall open over his chest. Bucky pillowed his hands behind his head as he stared up at the trees above him, swaying lightly in the breeze. He let out a sigh and listened to the leaves rustle, the soft tinkle of Winter's jingle ball, the joggers on the path to his left; Bucky felt his heavy eyes begin to close.
It was a large testament to his exhaustion that Bucky drifted off at all, but even more so that he didn't register the shift in temperature when a new shadow lingered over him. He knew Winter was on his chest, around where the book had been, but Bucky wouldn't put it pass his cat to push it away so she could be in her spot. Her weight was warm and comforting, giving his tired self a sense of safety, until a deep voice drew him out.
"Hey, Bucky?"
Bucky's eyes flew open, his metal hand scrambling to keep Winter close and protected as his right landed on the back of the bench and pushed himself to an immediate sitting position.
"Woah, hey!" Bucky blinked and looked over and up at Steve, who jerked back like he'd been burned. The way he was standing, with both hands at chest level, made Bucky think he'd been leaning over him. His tone was amused when he smiled crookedly at Bucky. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Bucky took a shallow breath and ran a hand down his face. He felt relaxed, more than he should be, with Steve having been the one to wake him up. At least it wasn't a total stranger. "'S fine," Bucky answered, his voice rough from sleep. He licked his teeth, feeling his nerves prickle. "Everything okay?"
"Oh sure," Steve answered, his attitude sunny and bright, like the fall afternoon. "I've just been runnin' by, and I noticed you'd dropped this." Bucky pulled his gaze from Steve's so blue eyes to his hand, Bucky's abandoned book being offered back to him. Bucky, still with one hand on Winter, took the book gingerly.
"Thanks," Bucky said and offered a small quirk of a smile. He was surprised to see a soft pink flush start at Steve's neck and creep up to his face as he smiled.
"No problem," Steve said. He was still smiling and blushing, obviously pleased, and Bucky was glad Steve had woken him up over just returning his fallen book and not something more disturbing. The expression looked good on Steve, too. It made Bucky feel warm, similar to the warmth that Winter brought him, but this one was deeper.
The moment stretched on, probably beyond what any sane person would call 'normal' before Bucky cleared his throat and tilted his head towards the seat beside him, now open without his legs occupying the entire bench. "Wanna have a seat?"
"Yeah," Steve said with a nod. He sat with a small sigh, his muscled legs stretched out before him. Bucky swept a casual gaze along Steve's sneakers to his knees. Winter, who had been passive during their exchange, squirmed against Bucky's chest until he let her go and could crawl over to Steve.
Steve looked down from where his head had been resting against the back of the bench and grinned at her. She mewed and pawed at his thigh until he scratched at her ears.
"I hadn't seen you in a while," Steve said, drawing Bucky's attention from his cat. "Thought you'd stop coming by, after I nearly trampled her."
Bucky snorted and shook his head. "Honestly wouldn't be here if she hadn't begged me."
"Yeah?" Steve turned his grin from Winter to Bucky, his blue eyes twinkling. "Why's that?"
Bucky hesitated for a moment. There was just something about Steve, something so honest and earnest that he felt like Steve would never judge him or look at him any different. He sincerely hoped he was right.
"Bad night," Bucky said carefully, wondering if that would be enough to satisfy Steve. When he didn't press, his blue eyes open and accepting, Bucky shared a little more. "I, ah, spent some time overseas. A lot came back with me."
Steve nodded, his too big hand still turning Bucky's cat into a purring mess. "I did, too."
Bucky felt his brows draw up in surprise. "Where? When?"
"Kuwait for clean-up, then Iraq after 9/11," Steve offered. He carefully drew Winter into his lap. "I retired soon after that last tour. I always thought I'd be career military, but I knew there wasn't much more I could do over there. I was part of a classified mission, and after, I got out."
Bucky nodded, understanding himself what he was and wasn't allowed to talk about, even now. "What'dya do now?"
"Work for the FDNY," Steve said with a hint of pride. "It was hard to get back into things after being away for as long as I was, but the guys took me under their wing pretty quickly. Made a few good friends, and I'm happy with my choice."
Bucky felt himself smiling, glad to know that someone as bright as Steve wasn't as much as a fuck up as he was. He could hardly keep a civil conversation with people, let alone make new friends.
Wasn't that what he was doing now, right then? Steve was still talking to him even after he'd tackled him a few weeks before, and Steve had been the one to come see him. Maybe tackling Steve had been more of a stroke of genius than Bucky had been anticipating.
"So now I know who to call if Winter gets stuck in a tree," Bucky teased, enjoying the large smile it brought to Steve's lips.
"Steve Rogers, FDNY Brooklyn Department, saver of kittens from tress," Steve said, directing a thumb at his large chest. "At your service."
Bucky chuckled, the sound bubbling from his gut. It made Steve's grin widen. "Good to know." Winter turned to look at Bucky for the first time since Steve sat down. "You've got a city hero as a pillow, Winter. I hope you're appreciating all this."
Winter just shoved her head harder against Steve'e open palm, making them both laugh.
They talked for a while, from the book Bucky was reading to how shitty the Mets were always doing. They discussed politics lightly, Bucky not really paying anything much attention except if it pertained to any VA benefits, and just listened to Steve lament about the department losing a bit of its funding at the start of the year. He mentioned starting a fundraiser to earn the guys a little extra to spring for a fresh set of helmets.
"Not that there's anything wrong with ours now, but they're old and my team deserves the best," Steve had said, and Bucky couldn't help but feel a little bit of pride himself in the men and women that were on Steve's team. They sounded like a family, the way Steve gushed about them. Bucky found he didn't care what Steve talked about, just so he could listen to his voice sound like that.
Bucky tracked Winter, moving across Steve like she belonged there. She was such a small thing, even now over a year old. Bucky had done some research on what breed he thought she was, and the closest he could find was a Japanese Bobtail. They never got very big, usually bred small for the cramped living of Japan, and as she slinked and climbed Steve he really could tell her size, and his.
Bucky already knew Steve was a big guy, knowing firsthand how well-built he was. Seeing his little kitty, hardly over a year old and totally done growing, pawing at his large muscles and climbing over his broad shoulders and blond head, it made Bucky smile. He could get used to seeing that, to Winter being comfortable around another person as easily as she was him, and if Winter liked Steve, Bucky hoped the man would stick around. Steve obviously passed her test.
"When I adopted Winter," Bucky heard himself saying; "The clerk told me she didn't much like being handled. That cat does absolutely nothin' but beg me for hugs and coddlin' and I always think those people don't have a lick of sense."
Steve laughed, Winter crawling under his chin to get from one shoulder to his other. "Can't say I blame her - you look like you'd give good hugs."
Bucky felt his neck flush and dipped his head to hide his grin. Winter mewled in his ear; she used Steve as a bridge to climb back over to him and was nuzzling his ear. "I suppose if you could talk, you'd tell one helluva story, doll." He scratched her chin until she slid down his chest to settled against his arm.
Bucky looked out, noticing the sun was much lower in the sky than when he'd gotten there. He felt slightly disappointed, knowing he'd have to leave Steve's side soon. Bucky turned to mention the time just when a loud grumble came from Steve.
Bucky lifted an eyebrow as Steve scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, wanna grab some food? There's a hotdog cart a block over."
Bucky couldn't fight his grin at Steve's embarrassment. "Sure thing, pal. You're a growing boy."
Bucky delighted in Steve's blush deepening but didn't say anything. Instead he focused on fishing Winter's lead from his pocket and clipping it in place. He tucked his book into his inner jacket pocket and stood up, Steve standing beside him. "Lead the way."
Bucky imagined they looked like quite the pair, two fully grown men (one looking more like a linebacker but whatever) with a dainty little cat trotting between them. Bucky ignored the looks other park-goers were tossing them, long used to stares from his arm and then when he happily carted Winter around, to care what they thought. Steve didn't seem to mind either, keeping the conversation easy between them. Bucky wondered if some of his light would rub off on him and remind him of what it was like to be a real, regular person again.
They stopped at the hotdog cart and Steve ordered two footlongs; while he dressed his food, Bucky ordered a footlong and a plain dog without a bun and diced up. He figured Winter deserved a treat after putting up with his shit from the night before.
Steve nodded towards a new bench and sat down while Bucky added ketchup and relish to his meal. Bucky took the seat open beside him and braced his knees around Winter while she munched away by his boots. His knee brushed Steve's, but neither man mentioned it. Steve ate with a fervor Bucky should have expected of a man his size, almost like it was going to be taken away if he didn't wolf it all down. They were only there because of Steve's hunger anyway, but Bucky enjoyed his hotdog, and so did Winter.
"So what have you got going on today?" Steve asked after he finished his second footlong in record time. Bucky had studiously kept his gaze forward while they ate. "I hope I haven't monopolized your whole afternoon."
Bucky shook his head, dropping his hands to his thighs. "Nah. I never have anything goin' on. I might have to go to the store later, but nothin' big."
Steve nodded. "I usually don't do much on my days off, 'cept maybe run a little longer than usual." He turned to look at Bucky. "Usually I'm here longer on Tuesday and Thursday, but I jog here every morning."
Bucky wondered if that was an open invitation or if it was just his own wishful thinking. "That's cool."
"You're welcome to join me," Steve continued, as if Bucky hadn't spoken. "It's usually early because my shifts are ten to twelve, but I could swing by if you live close or we could meet here."
Mrs. Keith would sing to the sky if Bucky agreed, and he knew that. Steve's expression was hopeful, his eyes still so bright and blue that Bucky thought he'd never get used to it, but Bucky hesitated. If he went jogging, Winter couldn't come with him. Realistically, her little legs wouldn't be able to keep up with a heavy jogging routine, and anything that Winter couldn't be a part of made Bucky weary. He wanted to say yes, to at least have more time with Steve, but without Winter...
"I'll think about it," Bucky said, offering a small smile. "Thanks."
He didn't miss the way disappointment trickled into Steve's expression, but his smile didn't waver. "Yeah, okay."
Bucky bit the inside of his cheek. "I just," he paused. "I just know Winter wouldn't be able to - "
"That's it?" Steve asked, perplexed, and Bucky cursed himself. Of course that would be the straw - it was one thing to walk a cat and have one as a service animal, but it was another thing entirely to want to literally take her everywhere. Bucky wondered what Steve would think of him if he knew Winter went to the grocer with him.
Then, Steve was laughing, and Bucky felt even more confused.
"Of course she can come!" Steve said, clapping a hand on Bucky's shoulder that almost made him flinch. "I don't mind slowing down a little. Having her will remind me to take a break every often, too."
Bucky felt a smile tug at his lips. "You mean that?"
"Absolutely," Steve answered with another of his blinding smiles. Bucky noticed while they spoke that Steve smiled with his entire being. It was something Bucky was rapidly beginning to enjoy about him.
"Then I'm in," Bucky said, and if it were even possible, Steve's smile grew.
Steve fished around in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "Program your number in for me, will ya?"
Bucky tapped away for a few moments and passed it back. "I put my name in there as Hot Crazy Cat Guy."
Steve laughed from his belly as he shot a text to Bucky. Bucky felt his phone vibrate in his pocket but left it alone, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep his own stupid grin from his face for getting Steve's number. "Well, that doesn't really narrow it down."
"You must be savin' cats from trees all the time, then," Bucky quipped, and truly surprised himself at how natural it sounded. He felt a little like himself, from before. His comment got Steve laughing again and then Bucky joined in. Winter pawed at his knee, asking in her own way to be picked up, and when he did, Steve starting giggling all over again.
That was how Steve Rogers became a more permanent part of Bucky's life. They met the next morning at the park, Winter in tow, and jogged for about an hour; they met the same time the next day, then the next, then the next. They met outside the park each day until the following Tuesday, Steve's next day off. Bucky was just getting dressed when his phone buzzed with a text. He'd been sleeping better and smoking less, now using exercise to distract himself and keep him on a regular schedule. Bucky pulled his shirt over his head and walked over.
The text was from Steve. What building did you say you lived in again?
Bucky felt his mouth twist into a frown. He'd never told Steve where he lived, but decided to humour him. Three blocks from the park, corner of 5th and 47th. Why?
That's on my way, so I'll pick you up. Be ready!
Bucky blinked before a flush took over. He finished tying his sneakers and set Winter up quickly, taking the stairs down two at a time. He was just getting his breathing under control when he saw Steve jogging towards him, already sweating from exercise, even in the cool fall air. Bucky couldn't help but grin, feeling his stomach flip at how gorgeous his friend was. Once Winter spotted him she struggled to jump down. Steve waved when he spotted them and slowed down.
"Hey Buck," he said, his breath still even and a smile on his lips. "Ready?"
Bucky smiled back and nodded. "Yeah."
After that run, Bucky offered Steve some water from his apartment and he agreed. It was hardly a day later before Steve asked Bucky if he could drop by with beer and pizza, which Bucky was grateful for before his insomnia could officially kick in. It was almost like Steve could tell, and if he really could, he never said anything about it.
Before Bucky knew it, Steve was at his apartment almost every other day, even after working his thirteen hour shifts he'd still come by with some reason or other. Bucky took to keeping his fridge stocked with plenty of beer, able to offer one to Steve anytime he was there, which was becoming more often than not.
By the end of the month, Steve was always around. They still ran, but Steve spent his free days lounging on Bucky's couch or dragging Bucky down to the station to meet his other friends. Bucky didn't mind as much as he thought he would; he could still take Winter, and he had Steve's comfortable warmth at his side.
For the first time in an intolerably long time, Bucky finally felt normal. All thanks to Steve, whom he had tackled to save his darling of a cat from being hurt.
And Winter, who had taken to Steve immediately, and Bucky should have known he'd fall under the man's spell sooner than later right along with her. Somehow, she'd still managed to make his life that much better, and now he had Steve because of her, too.
A/N: Please let me know what you thought! I'm adoring this story, and I have ideas to continue it beyond the main plot, but I need your help! Let me know what your feelings are! Also, you can hit me up on tumblr zombified419. :)
