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“Welcome to ABC Café,” Bucky says with a smile on his face. He has to work hard to keep it there because the latest patron to come through the door is covered head to toe and shrinks back from every animal that crosses his path. For someone who’s just walked into a cat café, it’s puzzling behavior.
“Thanks,” is the answer that comes with a sneeze the size of New Jersey. “I’m here, uh…I’m Steve.”
“Welcome, Steve. Glad you’re here. Are you interested in one of our cats?”
Blinking at him with watery blue eyes, Steve gulps and nods. Before Bucky can ask him anything else, Steve blurts out an observation and word vomits all over the place.
“Never been interested in cats before, but I just had to come down. It all looked so cute, and the artwork—I’m an artist—is curated so well. I didn’t realize at first it was a cat café when I heard about it. I saw the name—ABC Café—and thought it was a writer’s hangout, an artist sanctuary or something, so I decided I had to visit. When I got here the first time, I realized, but that’s okay. You seemed so nice, and the cats are so pretty—even if I’m sure every single one of them will scratch my eyes out and use them for a toy. Still, that one in the front window—the white one with the blue eyes—I just love her. Him. It. Whatever. If I could hold her—him—it—whatever! If I could hold that one, I’d really love it. All my friends say that one’s the best one. That the white fluffy one is the one everyone wants but no one can have. I thought maybe I’d try my luck. Can’t hurt, you know? I’m just…” Taking a quick breath, Steve cocks his head as he grinds to a halt. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Startling, Bucky blinks furiously. He froze as Steve babbled, unsure what to do, but now that Steve’s looking at him with an owlish expression, Bucky forces his brain back online.
“ABC Café was Alpine’s idea. That’s her name. She’s the white, fluffy one in the window. She’s my cat. Alpine. I’m Bucky. It’s a cat café. A, B, C Café. It’s us,” he explains.
Face falling, Steve perches on a chair and flails his hands. “So, I can’t adopt her? Can I even hold her?”
Flummoxed, Bucky clears his throat, but he’s not sure what to say. There’s something endearing about a grown man, one who looks like a brick house but wears multiple layers of clothing like armor and is obviously allergic if the red, watery eyes and frequent sneezing are any indication. Bucky’s only surprised he doesn’t have on a mask and goggles to protect himself further as he moves among the animals.
“Of course, you can,” Bucky assures him and crosses to the window.
Scratching under Alpine’s chin, Bucky coos at her and gathers her in his arms. She mewls softly and cuddles into his hold. When he walks over to Steve and places her in his arms, Bucky’s dumbstruck that she merely yawns and curls against Steve’s sculpted chest.
“Little traitor,” he hisses as he watches his cat cuddle with the hottest man Bucky’s seen in months.
Apparently delighted, Steve pets Alpine for several minutes before he can’t repress a string of sneezes that Bucky blesses every time. Making a face, Steve holds Alpine up for Bucky to take and pushes to his feet.
“I guess I should…achoo! Oh, God. I’m so sorry,” Steve moans with a sniffle. “I’m scaring all the cats.”
It’s true, actually. Steve’s scaring all the animals in the café—all of them except for Alpine who gazes at him curiously from the safety of Bucky’s arms. As Steve turns to the door, Alpine scrambles against him and jumps to the ground. Winding between Steve’s legs, Alpine meows loudly until Steve stoops to scratch her behind the ears.
“I’ll be back,” he assures her softly, but Alpine won’t stop talking to him. When Bucky approaches, she darts over to him, chatters for several seconds, and then dashes back to Steve to rub against his shins.
“Sorry about that,” Bucky apologizes as he stoops to pick her up but jerks his hand back when she swipes at him. “Alpine! No!”
Hiding behind Steve’s legs, Alpine paces back and forth, talking loudly as Bucky and Steve exchange glances and shrug. When Steve turns to the door again, Alpine darts in between him and the glass and yowls.
“What’s gotten into you?” Bucky demands as irritation sparks in his chest. “You’re never like this. Steve’s not going to hurt you.”
Tail twitching back and forth, Alpine sits and mewls softly before flopping onto her side baring her belly for scratches. When Steve drops to his haunches and digs his fingers into her soft fur, Bucky’s heart swells. There’s something about this guy that makes him want to flop onto his back like Alpine and let Steve pet him as much as he wants.
“I…I really should go,” Steve muses softly, but he doesn’t move from his position. “She’s adorable, you know. So is the café. So…so are you.”
Jolting at Steve’s admission, Bucky sinks into a crouch next to him. He’s not sure what to say, but he can’t stay silent for too long. Steve’s just complimented him, and it feels wonderful.
“Th-thank you?”
“I should go,” Steve repeats, but Alpine hops to her feet and stalks back and forth in front of the door several times when he does. “I don’t think she wants me to leave.”
It’s the perfect opportunity, and Bucky hasn’t had too many of those. After a long dry spell of relationship stagnation, he’s having trouble figuring out why he shouldn’t flirt with Steve. When Steve sneezes again, Bucky makes a decision that he’s almost positive he’s not going to regret.
“I don’t want you to leave either.”
Wiping his eyes, Steve squeaks, “Really?”
“Really. Are you allergic to cats?”
Nodding sheepishly, Steve shrugs. “Yeah. Way allergic, but I’ve walked by here every day for the past two months and seen you through the window. I decided maybe it was worth it to get a chance to talk to you. Besides, your cat is a matchmaker. Won’t let me leave until I finally worked up the nerve to admit I’m attracted to you.”
“Dinner. Tomorrow night. There’s a diner around the corner.”
“I know it,” Steve blurts eagerly. “Maybe 7:00?”
Beaming, Bucky stands and reaches down to help Steve to his feet. “It’s a date.”
Smiling ear to ear, Steve slips past Alpine and onto the sidewalk. Raising his hand, he waves through the window and mouths, “See you tomorrow.”
Bucky watches Steve until he disappears around the corner. Once he’s out of sight, Bucky scoops Alpine up in his arms and cradles her against his chest.
“Good girl,” he croons. “You deserve all the treats for getting me that date.”
Twitching her nose, Alpine meows again, and Bucky swears she’s smirking in triumph. Maybe she is, and that’s okay. She got Bucky a date with the hottest man he’s seen in ages. For that, he’ll give her anything she wants.