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A white furball was sitting on the coffee table in front of a big dark figure, early in the spring morning.
„Meow!“ Alpine voiced her opinion.
„What‘s wrong, baby girl?“ Came back from Bucky‘s voice.
„Meow.“ Her left paw went forward and tried to touch him.
„You want to be pet?“ „Meow.“ His hand came closer and she pressed her head against it.
„Rrrmeow.“ His hands both reached to scratch behind her ears.
„Yeah, you like that, needy furball.“ He chuckled.
She advanced towards him, putting her paws on his chest and booping his nose with hers.
„You‘re a sweet girl, aren‘t you?“ She licked the tip of his nose.
His smile was so giant, it was almost scary if you‘ve never seen it before.
„God, you actually look cute when your face shows emotions,“ you commented in the door frame.
He chuckled and stopped shortly after, „Wait, did you just call me cute?“
„Yeah. Happens when you‘re not looking like the death himself.“ You grinned at him.
His face was back at its usual asshole resting face.
You sat down very close to him, seeing Alpine sit down on the other side of him.
„You look good when you smile. I like that look on you.“ You smiled behind your mug.
„Meow.“ „Look she agrees.“
You reached out to squish his cheeks together and make him chuckle, which you succeed in.
„Stop.“ He grumbled and grabbed you. You, dodging it by throwing yourself against him.
„Darling!“ he threw you a stern look and you giggled, coming back up right in front of his face, seeing a smile vanish to a slight blush on his face.
„Sorry if I made you uncomfortable,“ you mumbled.
„No, no. Not at all.“ He looked down at his hands. God, he had such a crush on you, but he couldn‘t and shouldn‘t. It wouldn‘t work, he couldn‘t even hold a conversation. He was glad you even felt comfortable around him.
„Meow!“ Alpine pushed her head into his side very hard to make him move towards you.
„Alpine, no.“ He mumbled and got a protesting meow back. She was determined.
„What is she trying to tell you?“ You dipped your head to the side.
„Uh, just, nothing.“ He was so weird all of a sudden.
The furball licked her paw and then put it up in your direction before dipping her head to the side with a purr.
„Did she just…alright, wow. Can you understand us?“ You got closer to the cat but got an almost arrogant stance back.
„I ask her that all the time.“ He chuckled nervously.
„Did she mean kissing?“ You were thoroughly confused by what she had just done.
„Um.“ He looked away, blushing profusely.
Your eyes got big, „She did.“
„I need to go.“ He mumbled, grabbed the protesting cat and booked it.
-
It was your free day, until it wasn‘t. The team that was out on a mission came back in a hurry. With a baby.
„You two stay here, keep her safe. We need to find the organization trying to hurt her.“ „Where is her mom?“ „Gone. Just keep her safe. We need to go.“
And Steve and the others were already out of the compound again, leaving you with a baby in your arms.
„Friday, put the security level up.“ „Will do.“
When you came back into the living room you saw Bucky watch his favorite show without even noticing you.
Alpine made a leap off the couch to come towards you and loop through your legs.
A coo made the giant man raise a brow and turn around.
„What in the mother of-“
„They dropped her off and currently try to chase down the people wanting her for some reason.“ You shrugged and sat down next to him.
„You‘re good with children, right? I didn‘t have much family and I honestly have no idea what to do other than holding her. Help.“ You looked into his eyes helplessly.
„I haven‘t- Fine.“ He grabbed her out of your grasp.
„Friday? Do we know her name?“ „Her name is Olive.“
„Hey, I‘ll call you Lilly. Alright?“ He cooed down at the little bundle and got a little coo back.
The baby looked extra small in his grasp, but it also looked way more relaxed than with you. Her eyes got heavier and heavier the more he slightly moved her just right.
„Yeah, you probably had an exhausting day, baby girl.“ He smiled down at her.
That smile that was reserved for pets and children. That „I‘m not being judged“ smile.
„I‘d never be that good with children.“ You mumbled and had him look up.
„What? No, you‘re just not used to it. I think you‘d be great with children.“ „Really?“ „Yeah, you‘re good at taking care of people. Why not put that into a smaller version.“
He put down the little girl between the both of you on the couch and watched her sleep.
„Do you want children?“ You asked a little shy. That was a personal question to ask such a traumatized person.
„Yeah. One day.“ He smiled down at Olive and took her little hand.
„I think you‘d be a great dad.“ You smiled and saw him look up and blush.
„Um, thanks. Uh, do- Do you want children one day?“ He stammered.
„Maybe. Only if I find the right person.“ You shrugged and looked away.
„You will. I‘m sure of it,“ he answered as Olive already started to fuzz again.
Watching him be so good at this kinda made you think twice if you really wanted this one day. You felt like anyone would be more qualified at it than you.
„You got this, right? I- I think I need to just-“ You gestured towards the door before making your way out, leaving behind a confused Bucky looking at a baby in his arms and a cat that disapprovingly put her head back down.
-
He looked pretty beaten up after this particular intense mission. Two cuts in the face and a bullet wound in is side.
You sat down on his bed in the med bay, „Hey.“
„Hey.“ You got a soft smile from him.
„Do you need help with cleaning up those wounds?“ You asked reluctant.
„I mean, they only did the bullet wound, so I‘d appreciate it.“ He chuckled a bit strained.
You got everything you needed and sat down next to him again, moving his head how you needed it.
He frowned for a second before his expression eased at…whatever it eased at. You didn‘t notice the stare at your lips that kept him thoroughly distracted. It would be so easy for him to just go for it right now, but he shouldn‘t. He knew he shouldn‘t.
„Aaand you‘re all cleaned up again.“ You smiled at him and got a tiny „Thank you“ back.
„Anything else?“ You dipped your head to the side.
„What else would there be?“ He smiled.
„I could get you clothes to change into, make your hair less messy, get you some food,“ you suggested.
„Make my hair less messy. Please.“ He played the idiot in need, but he really just wanted to feel your hands in his hair.
You sat down behind him, started detangling it and sending chills down his spine. Then you started braiding little braids into it and he was sure that this was his undoing. And as you saw his shoulders relax you gave him a little scalp massage, letting him lose all the tension he was holding.
„God, I could kiss you right now. This is amazing.“ He grumbled relaxed.
„Wouldn‘t hold it against you.“ You chuckled as you sat next to him again.
„Is that so?“ He smirked.
„Yeah, well, I‘m pretty good, aren‘t I?“ „Yeah.“
There was this softness, this fuzz in the air.
-
Alpine came walking towards you in the very early morning as you wanted to get yourself some warm milk with honey to fall back asleep. Nothing she usually did. Normally she was always a step behind or ahead of Bucky. You frowned and crouched down.
„Is there something wrong, sweetie?“ „Meow.“ „I take that as a yes.“ „Meow.“
You made your way to his quarters in the compound and knocked at his door.
When there was no answer you pushed the slightly ajar door open.
„Where is he, Alpine?“ You looked down and saw her rush towards the bathroom door.
She scratched the surface lightly with soft meows. She was not a trained therapy cat but she sure as hell was one hell of a buddy. The bond they both had showed especially now.
„Bucky?“ You asked soft but nervous. Nothing.
„Alpine got me here. What is wrong? Please open the door.“ You explained and asked.
„Meow.“ Harder Scratching, paws reaching under the door.
„Friday? Can you please unlock this door?“ „Protocol: MHE. Door unlocked.“
You pushed down the handle slowly, letting Alpine rush in first before you could even see anything.
You only heard her purring before you saw her forcefully cuddle into a hunched figure.
„Bucky…“ You came towards him, sat down in front of him. Nothing. You reached out for his flesh arm to feel him. He was a little cold for his usual supersoldier warmth.
„Wait, I‘ll get you a blanket,“ you mumbled, coming back with a giant black soft throw blanket.
„Bucky, please talk to me.“ He didn‘t move the head leaning on top of one of his arms. Alpine in the small room between his thighs and his chest pushed against him.
She was purring and making biscuits on him as best as she could. Truly a good girl.
„James, at least pet Alpine. You don‘t have to talk to me, but she‘s doing a great job.“
A shaky breath left him before his free hand reached for Alpine and carefully went through her fur.
„Meow.“ She looked up at him. You just knew. She was verbally mothering him, kicking his ass.
„Thank you, Al.“ A deep, nasally and rough voice came from him before his face came up a bit so she could climb higher on his chest to be scratched.
„What happened?“ You asked softly again.
„Bad dream. Somehow you were a person brought in to make me comply and…you were killed by a drone strike somehow. God, I have a lot of gore in my mind, but that was horrible.“ You saw tears form in his eyes again and pulled him close.
„I‘m here. See? I‘m hugging you and I‘m here. You won‘t let anything bad happen to me, ever. I know that.“ You tried to soothe him.
He grabbed you, squeezed your arms, your waist, your hips, touched your hair.
„It looked so fucking bad. It was awful. I can‘t get the picture out of my head.“ He dug his face into the crook of your neck.
„Think about your favorite moment with me then. Or that mission where I accidentally shot Steve in his arm. Or when Alpine tried to tell you to kiss me.“ You chuckled.
His hands wandered up and down your body, relaxing both of you.
„You know, I really kinda want it. To kiss you, I mean.“ He stumbled over his words.
„What‘s holding you back?“ You whispered.
„My brain.“ His head came up and looked at you. You could see the troubled mind in his eyes.
„Then what‘s your heart saying?“ You asked pointing at it.
His face turned soft, „That you‘re cute.“
You went through his hair carefully, still a little concerned about him.
„I know, I should cut it off,“ he mumbled.
„Huh? No, you don‘t need to. I like you with any type of hairstyle.“ You offered him a soft smile.
„I want it short again. I don‘t wanna look like him anymore. Not after that dream.“ He shuddered at the mention.
„Now?“ You asked still going through it and saw him nod.
„Do you trust me?“ „I do.“
You got up, grabbed scissors and an electric razor from all over his bathroom, before taking his blanket away from him under protest of both him and his cat. The cat proceeded to lay down in the warm blanket pile shortly after.
You put his hair in three tails, cut them off while being watched carefully. His shoulders relaxed when that step was finished.
You proceeded to get all of his top hair up into a tail, helping with various products in spray bottles, cause you were definitely not used to doing this anymore.
Alpine jumped a little when the razor turned on, but when she saw Bucky visibly relax even more she rolled back into a furball on the blanket pile.
You shaved down his sides and back a decent amount. Not too much. You didn‘t want to make this look military style.
Then you continued with the top of his head. You didn‘t know which length would be ideal. Maybe not too short, but too long also looked off with his fluffy hair. You still wanted to indulge in playing with it though. Maybe about 3-4 cm / 1-2 inches long.
It took a while for you to figure out the way you needed to go about cutting it but you were finished with it in no time.
With soft brushes over his hair you got rid of any hair that didn‘t belong there anymore before making him stand up.
„WOAH.“ His eyes got wide as he went through his hair, looking at your quality work.
„You like it?“ „I love it.“ He looked at you in the mirror, seeing a loving shimmer in your eyes. Maybe he DID deserve you.
„We should go to bed. I only slept like 3 hours because of that,“ he mumbled and you nodded as you put out the bathroom light and closed the door behind Alpine. You padded after him, making him do a full stop and turn around a little confused.
„What?“ You asked rubbing your eyes and he really couldn‘t say no. So he did the next best thing coming to his mind, grabbed around your waist and let himself fall into his bed.
„Idiot.“ You giggled into his chest and climbed up a bit a few seconds later.
„Hey.“ He smiled up at you as you grabbed into his hair.
„Hey handsome.“ You smirked all tired before cuddling yourself against him and planting your face in his neckline.
Yeah, maybe he did deserve you.
-
In your routine of being half awake and grumpy you turned around to hit something unusual with your arm.
„Ouch.“ You heard next to you pretty monotone, then holding back laughter.
„Sorry, B.“ You pushed yourself into his grasp to fall back asleep.
„Darling, it‘s noon.“ You pried one of your eyes open to look at him judgingly.
„C‘mere,“ he cooed as he pulled you extra close.
„Didn‘t know you could show that emotion.“ You giggled as you gave him a little kiss on his cheek.
„Oh, believe me. There are a lot of emotions that are a you-only thing.“ He grinned at you and felt your hand pat up the side of his face to find the proper position.
„Show me another.“ You smiled up at him all sleepy. This was a now or in three uncomfortable weeks kinda situation. You were just enough in sleep mode for him to feel less awkward about making a move on you. So he reached for your face and finally went for that damn kiss that‘s been the topic of his life for weeks.
Your hand went through his new short hair with a hum, pushing him down for more. Yes, definitely the right decision.