#catdad!bucky

The way Bucky treated Alpine truly melted your heart. The man was obsessed with his cat, and for good reason.

Alpine was such an interesting little thing. Talkative, but only if you talked first. Cuddly at all times, no matter how you were sitting. A little chunky, but Bucky was working on that. In fact, you distinctly remember that time you overheard Bucky in the kitchen talking to her and saying, 

“You know, Alp, if I ate as much as you did, I dont think they’d ever call me for a mission.” And, of course, he was met back with a small “mrrow”

The way Bucky spoiled her rotten was exactly the way you thought she deserved to be spoiled. But there were times his adoration left you at a loss for words. The effort he put into her meals - not just kibble, but topped with wet food and cooked chicken. The trial and error into finding her favorite toys. He did whatever he needed to to make sure she lived a life of pure comfort.

It was his adoration that also explained why you were standing in the middle of the living room at 2 in the morning squinting at the TV. Light flooding the small area, birds chirping and squirrels chattering as they bounced in and out of the screen.

You blinked a few times, utterly confused. It didnt help that you were groggy and your brain was working at a fraction of the speed it should have been. The birds crowed around a pile of seeds and peanuts, chirping and fluttering their wings before a brown squirrel scurried over for a bite. A low thud started in your head, but it was the small sigh next to you that pulled you from this sleep-induced hypnosis.

Alpine was curled into the corner of the couch, easily mistaken for a small throw pillow at a quick glance. She blinked slowly at you. You blinked back. Both of you silently wondered what was going on. 

“It’s nice he left your show on,” you whispered, voice scratchy as you sat down next to her, “but I don’t think you’re really watching it.”

She trilled back at you, nose twitching as you brought your hand up for her to smell. Her eyes were kept closed in small slits much like yours, the TV washing you both in a pale green light. Alpine was a friendly roommate, and it was a major relief when she warmed up to you.

You had really just stumbled into being Bucky’s roommate. He had been having quite a bit of trouble finding someone willing to share a place with the former Winter Soldier, and living alone had just previously driven him a smidge crazy. In a last ditch effort attempt, through word of mouth, you had met up with him to discuss the possibility of moving in.

From everything you’d seen, there was no doubt he was a changed man. That feeling had only been further solidified once you met with him at a coffee shop and he anxiously bounced his knee while stumbling through his offer. A 70/30 split on rent, a mostly silent apartment, and a cat as the unofficial third roommate. Your jaw dropped at the perfect offoer.

How had no one accepted that? And why was he still talking like it needed to be justified? His apologies for being gone at odd times of the day for work, being himself, and the… cat hair, were immediately waved off by you as you excitedly accepted his proposal.

And here you now were, curled on the couch next to your third roommate, scritching her velvety ears.

You were lost in your own thoughts for who knows how long. The fog of sleep wafted over you, on and off. The sound of the TV mixed with Alps soft breaths as she drifted to sleep kept you in a state of airiness.

The muted click of your front door opening pulled you from your trance. It took a moment for your eyes to focus in on Bucky as he slowly shut the door behind himself.

“How are my two favorites doing?” He asked in a low tone, speaking really only for you. You shrugged instinctively in response as he sheepishly smiled.

As quiet as the super soldier was, he was no match for his clingy cat. Alpine perked up, trilling as her dad scratched her back. His metal arm made no noise with normal use, but the phantom whirring in your ears still happened. He was so gentle with her, when he wasn't racing her through your hallways, that is. A stray thought of how gentle his hands could be on your body made its way into your brain.

“You left the TV on.” You stuttered out, still staring at his black, vibranium fingers combing through her white fur.

Alpine stretched, back arching as her front paws dug into the plushness of the couch. She yawned wide and showed off her rows of sharp teeth that seemingly glowed by the TV light. She leapt onto the back of the couch and bonked her head against yours before forcing her way into Bucky's arms.

“I’m sorry it woke you up.” Bucky softly apologized, easily shifting Alpine in his arms to cradle her. The tip of her tail swished lightly against the couch. Alpine was already a little smaller than average for a cat her age, but in Bucky’s arms she looked like a kitten.

You shook your head and looked back at the TV. The light still made your eyes ache but it was easier to look at than Bucky at the moment, “It’s alright, really, she seemed to need company anyways.”

Your face grew redder as the last words mostly tumbled out without second thought. Though it was a relief that your blushing was now explained away by embarrassment.

But the words had been said. Birds fluttering on screen and squirrels shifting through nuts in silence.

“Yeah, that's why I’m… I’m taking some days off this weekend,” Bucky stood up straighter, his free hand gripping the back of the couch near your head. Without a second of warning, he cupped your face delicately, his thumb against your chin as he turned your face to look at him, “Didn’t think it was all too fair to leave my cat in your care. I know her running around at night is what's causing those bags under your eyes.”

His accusation was kind, but still an accusation. You'd tried before to blame it on early shifts. Bucky hadn't bought it. You then wanted to blame it on a bad mattress, another excuse he saw straight through. It was painfully clear Alpine's late night sprints were the reason you got no sleep.

And now, you wanted to blame your sleepiness for the way you leaned slightly into his hand. Seeking more of that feather-like touch you’d imagined. But his touch only lingered for a moment before he pulled away.

There was a knowing glint in his eyes, a quirk of his lips that disappeared just about as fast as it came. “I hope you’re able to get some sleep. Maybe even sleep in tomorrow, huh?”

All you could do was stare at him owlishly as he retreated to his room. He was cooing at Alp but you weren’t listening to a single word he was saying, focusing more on the soft and smooth drawl of his voice.

Just before he fully disappeared, you managed to blurt out a speedy “Goodnight, Bucky!”

“Goodnight, doll, sleep well.” He murmured, turning his head just barely over his shoulder. All you could see was the silhouette of his body, a dark grey form against a darker grey abyss that was his bedroom.