Steve's POV

I woke up wrapped in blankets and in the tissue box Bucky had turned into a bed. It was around four A.M. the time when borrowers are most active. I rubbed my eyes and grabbed my sack, time to go to work. Bucky had moved to an apartment and taken me with him, hidden safe in his pocket. I scampered through the walls to the next-door neighbor's apartment, looking for a few paper clips to make a new hook with.

I found them after a few minutes under a dresser. I went to another person's apartment for some string, they liked to knit a lot, so finding some was easy enough. I had just gotten some when I heard a "mew" from behind me. I whipped around to see a grey tabby cat, looking hungrily at me. I froze in fear as it crouched down to pounce. It pinned me under its paw before I noticed it was declawed, nearly harmless if not for the teeth. "Shove off, Kitty." I whisper-yelled at him as I tried to push his paw off me.

"Mew?" he said as he eased off in confusion. It sniffed my hair a moment before I pulled out my needle and stabbed its paw. It yowled in pain and scampered off. "I'm not becoming cat's meat tonight," I muttered to myself as I disappeared into the tunnel. "Bucky needs me." I added as I remembered my friend. I crawled through the hole that lead to his room just as he woke up.

Bucky's POV

I opened my eyes to see Steve climb through the hole in the wall. "Hey Steve," I said as I got up. "Whatcha got there?" "Hey Bucky," He said happily, as he emptied his bag. "Just some paper clips and string." I shook my head in amazement. "Where do you even get this stuff?" I asked, Steve shrugged. "I just find things and bring what I need with me." He explained. "I'm a borrower, we borrow to stay alive. We take little things that no one will miss."

"What?" I asked in confusion. "You steal from them?" "No!" Steve said insistent. "It's borrowing. And it's not stealing if no one wants it." "If no one wants it why are you stealing it?" I demanded. "Borrowing!" Steve corrected. "And it's so we can survive, Ma taught me, it's always been like this." I gently lifted him off the nightstand. "Would you do that to me Steve?" I asked calmly, trying to get a honest answer from him.

"No," he told me. "You wouldn't like it." I nodded calmly. "That's because humans call it stealing, just ask me for what you need and I'll get it, alright?" I asked, he nodded and his tummy grumbled. "Food is something you can 'borrow' from me though." I added as a joke and carried him to the kitchen. I made scrambled eggs and bacon for both of us and left to get the mail while Steve ate.

There was an official looking envelope in there. 'This... can't be what I think it is! What about Steve?' I thought in worry as I walked into the apartment. "Hey Bucky," He said. "What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost!" I scooped him into my hands after setting down the mail. "Steve," I asked him nervously. "You know about the war right?"

He nodded in confusion. "Well," I said sadly. "They kinda... need me... and I don't know what to do." Steve's eyes widened in worry. "What are we gonna do Bucky?" He asked me in desperation. "I have an idea..." I told him slowly, he looked up in excitement. "I could take you and claim I need you because of anxiety problems..." I explained as he listened happily. "But," I added , worried I might offend him. "You might... have to be called a pet... and the other option is... for me to leave you here."

Steve looked down in thought. "Would I... be treated like your pet?" He asked nervously, looking up at me. "No!" I said in shock. "I would never do that to you Steve! I promise." He thought some more before saying. "Alright... let's do it! I'm staying with you!" I grinned happily, Steve was coming with me.

four days later*

"Name?" Asked the officer in charge. "James Buchanan Barnes." I told him confidently, Steve was wrapped up in several handkerchiefs and safe in my pocket. "I-" I started to add, he looked up at me quickly. "I brought a friend... he helps with my anxiety issues." I gently pulled Steve out of my pocket, a woman with brown hair and eyes looked at him in amazement. "His name is Steve... and he wants to join the army." Steve smiles and nodded his head in excitement.

"I'm sorry Sargeant Barnes, but we don't-" "Let him stay." The woman ordered sternly. "But Sargeant Carter-" the officer tried to object but was cut off. "This man is risking his life for his country, private," Sargeant Carter said as she glared at him. "And if his friend wishes to join, then we should let him." She turned to Steve and told him. "Welcome to the army, Steve was it?"

He nodded. "Yes ma'am," he told her proudly. "Steve Grant Rogers." She nodded to him with a smile. "Dr. Abraham Erskine," she called to a man to the side. "These two are ready for their checkup." He came over, somewhat confused. "Ms.Carter, pardon me, but I only see one soldier." "Look closer." Peggy told him. "We have a rather unusual soldier on our hands."

The doctor's face transformed into wonder as he saw Steve as Sargeant Carter turned back to us. "This is Dr.Erskine, he's the 107th Doctor. You two are added to our attempts to make a super soldier serum." "Only if they pass the test Sargeant Carter." The doctor told her calmly as he examined Steve gravely. I had a feeling that one of us wouldn't pass.