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I love to think that Clint (and Lucky) were with Bucky when he adopted Alpine.
Clint has a local (no-kill) rescue shelter he visits every so often, either to drop off some strays he found or to give the animals some love. He donates regularly and volunteers when he gets the chance because Clint loves animals more than anything.
He sees a younger version of him in the animals, with no family or home waiting, and hoping someone kind will come along and care for them. It reminds him of the weeks after his parents died, when he and Barney were stuck in the orphanage waiting to get adopted, until they began jumping from foster home to foster home wishing someone would stick with and love them like a parent is supposed to.
This is why Lucky means so much to him, why he vows to be the best friend Lucky can have, so he can show Lucky what it means to be loved and give Lucky the love he never received.
And if Clint's heart clenches each time Bucky asks about the labrador when he is with Kate, gets on his knees to greet him at the door, calls Lucky a good boy, and lets him lick all over his face, Clint pretends it's something his heart does all the time. Clint pretends that when Bucky treats Lucky like the human Clint thinks he is, it's because Bucky is polite, but Clint sees right through his own lies. He knows Bucky does it for Clint, he knows Bucky loves the golden creature because of Clint's love for Lucky, and it means everything to the blond.
As does Bucky's small smile, the one that has only ever been aimed at Clint, when he asks the shorter man "Can we keep it?" After finding numerous strays and injured animals on their walks through Brooklyn. Bucky's reply is always the same, "Let's get it to a doctor first, sweetheart," because no matter how hard he tries, Clint knows Bucky will never say no to the taller man.
Bucky knows that Clint's first instinct is to take the animal home, but after a few hours, Clint will realize that two pets may not be as sustainable as he hopes.
So, when Clint drops off their newest stray, he has Bucky tag along, and proceeds to introduce him to all the rescues. They walk past the dogs first, and as Clint lets Lucky off his leash to say hi to the friends he has made on their various trips, he simultaneously begins a cacophonous roll call, his voice drowned out by the excited woofs, but still discernable to Bucky's enhanced ears.
"Here we have Astronaut, an American Pit Bull Terrier, and an absolute sweetheart, aren't you boy?" Clint coos, as Bucky smiles at his side. Astronaut barks in return, too preoccupied with Lucky to look up at either of them. Clint continues to introduce Bucky to his "babies" as he calls them, insisting they will be Bucky's babies too one day, and Bucky can't help but shake his head at his boyfriend's endearing antics.
Bucky signs 'moron' to the taller man, knowing he wouldn't be able to hear it properly if spoken over all the noise. Clint grins in return, knowing there is no malice behind Bucky's insult, and leading him further down the hall.
Bucky meets Angel the snuggly Samoyed, Corduroy the gentle Goldendoodle, Luna the snotty Shiba Inu (Clint's words not his), and Willow, a Mastiff that thinks she is a lap dog, before they have to chase after Lucky who went to greet the cats.
As they walk deeper into the shelter the noise quiets and they find Lucky, greeting his kitten friends and playing with their cat trees and furniture. Clint continues his introductions as Bucky's eyes land on the white tomcat swatting at Lucky's nose from the top of a grey furniture set. Bucky pokes Clint's side and points toward the snow-colored darling, "What's her name?"
Clint grins down at Bucky before he answers, "That is Alpine, she was brought in a few days ago, do you want to meet her?" he asks, stalking over to the graceful kitten before Bucky has the chance to answer.
“Hi pretty lady, do you want to meet my boyfriend? I think he likes you, but don’t worry I’m not jealous.” Alpine tilts her head and stares back at Clint as if to say ‘Really?’ Clint barks out a laugh, and Bucky silently vows to figure out how he can hear that sound for the rest of his life. Bucky has never been a gambler, not completely, but something about Clint’s easy smile, sparkling eyes, and cheerful huff as he chuckles has Bucky wanting to risk everything for the chance at witnessing that masterpiece again.
“Okay, okay, maybe I am a little jealous, but can you blame me? I don’t stand a chance competing with a charming kitty such as yourself.” Clint’s continuation pulls Bucky from his thoughts, just in time to catch Alpine’s answering head lift and unspoken ‘hmph’ of satisfaction under the praise.
Clint and Bucky laugh in unison at her response, until Bucky looks up at Clint with a wink saying, “Don’t worry sweetheart, there’s enough room in my heart for the two of you, but you are a beautiful little girl aren’t you?” He turns to Alpine, watching as she preens under the compliment.
Bucky moves to face Clint once more with a smirk clear on his face before he asks, “Can we keep her, doll? Please?” Clint’s responding laughter warms Bucky’s entire being. “Buck! That’s my line, you can’t steal my line,” Clint grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest before continuing with feigned annoyance, “I thought you'd never ask” he finishes, fighting a smile to keep the facade, even though he knows Bucky can see right through him.
Bucky snorts as he replies, “Didn’t you know? The only reason I keep you around is to steal your jokes.” The blond's answering eye roll does nothing to prepare Bucky for Clint's kiss, wiping the smug smirk right off his face, “Sure Buckster, now let’s go get you a kitten.” Clint's enchanting laugh fills the space once more as he stalks down the hallway with Lucky in tow, and Bucky thanks every god ever for bringing the enigmatic archer into his life.
In the coming months, Clint finds himself babysitting Alpine quite often, as he is one of the few people she tolerates. It helps that she seems to love antagonizing Lucky, frequently swiping at his face before disappearing under the couch, Lucky happily bounding after her excited to have a new playmate.
Clint's clear love for Alpine, a creature who has helped ground and comfort Bucky immensely in his times of need, means the world to the brunette. Bucky feels himself melt with each, "There's my gorgeous girl," and "How's my pretty princess this morning?" Bucky falls deeper and deeper in love with each interaction, each time he sees Clint's love for Alpine shine just as bright as his love for Lucky.
And Bucky grapples with the realization that he would endure it all over and over again—the brainwashing, the torture, the guilt—if it meant he could always end up with Clint and their makeshift family.
If it always ended in this feeling of unconditional love and belonging, side by side with a man who gets him like no other, who loves him with no expectations.