Unfortunately Fortunate [Stucky x Reader]

Chapter 18

The Avengers are looking at different type of dogs, reading up on the information clipped to each door.
Your super soldiers are melting near a cute chocolate Labrador, Natasha is reading through the clip of a German Shepard with a scar through his eye and a few scars over his body.
The others are just walking around reading up a bit before going to the next one.

You call Hope to walk next to you and leading her to Natasha.
The German Shepard looks up from his pillow and slowly gets up when he sees Hope.
"What is his story?"
Natasha looks surprised at hearing your voice. "Ehm... He was used as bait for dog fights. He has a limp in his front legs. Probably a birth defect. He fought back the best he could. He is blind on one side, the one with the scar. Even when used as bait he tends to be gentle to other dogs if they are not dominant."

You squad down in front of the glass, Hope laying down on the ground in front of the door.
"What's his name?"
"They dubbed him Cas. He didn't have a name."
"Hi Cas, this is Hope. You think you guys would be good?"
The non-verbal language of Cas is alert but not reactive.
You hear footsteps coming closer.

"Cas has had it rough. People don't really want to adopt him due to his scars and his possible reactive behaviour when approached the wrong way. He has a trauma and people don't want to deal with that." Kimberly looks fond to the dog's gentle eyes.

"We do." Natasha's respond is nearly too soft to hear.
"Can we see how he responds to Hope when both off leash in a calmer environment?" You ask.
Natasha looks startled by that. It's as if the dog has shattered her cold composure in mere seconds by his history. As if she already has a soft spot for him.
"Sure. I'll lead you to the yard behind. I'll bring Cas when you are there."
"That would be awesome, thank you Kimberly."

A little later you find yourself with Hope and Natasha at the yard. There is a fence around the area, and the barking from inside is nearly impossible to hear.
"Are you sure?" Natasha asks you.
"Yeah. If Hope responds well to him, the others will have to pick a dog that fits Hope and Cas."

Kimberly walks with a leashed Cas towards us. The German Shepard's body language is still okay. He looks curious because Hope doesn't really respond to him. She looks at you before looking curiously at Cas.
"Can I take his leash off?"
You nod and wait for the first response. Cas looks unsure what to do, while Hope walks a bit closer to him from his side. Her body language screams non-threatening.

Cas comes closer to Hope, carefully. Hope allows him closer and let him set the pace for meeting her.
Natasha keeps a watchful eye out, but there is also hope you see in her eyes.

It takes a good 10minutes but eventually Cas lays himself down next to Hope, with Hope's head on his back. Both look relaxed.

"So whatever other dogs get chosen by the guys inside, they have to work with these 2. Cas will come home with us. No one is going to tell us differently." You tell Kimberly.
She smiles, "well, I shall let them know that certain dogs are not an option anymore."

When Natasha and you are alone, she loses her composer and hugs you tight.
"I'm so sorry. I just... I'm..."
"You are happy because it works with Hope. And that we are getting him a safe home."
Natasha nods, lets you go and takes a deep breath. She has everything back in check.
"You know you can just let go sometimes, right? No one will judge you or see you as weak."
Natasha shrugs before she looks at something behind you with a smile on her face.

"Your super soldiers are coming this way."
You turn around and see them indeed walking closer with big smiles on their faces.
Kimberly walks behind them with a black Newfoundland.

"Tony is going to need a automatic vacuum cleaner... With all the hair!"
"I'm going to let Kit go. She should be able to go with Cas as they were brought in the same day and shared a cage for a day."

The Newfie storms to the resting pair, making them jump up. The crazy happiness in the demeanour of Kit, makes that both Hope and Cas stay calm. The scent each other before Hope starts playing with Kit while Cas lays down again, head on his paws and looking at the pair.

"Inside they are still discussing the 3rd one as they can't come to an agreement." Kimberly says with a smile on her face before she walks back inside.
"Tell them to choose the dog that has been there the longest or is harder to adopt due to circumstances." You yell.
Kimberly gives a thumbs up before disappearing inside.

A pair of arms wrap around you, chin on your shoulder. "So Natasha and Buck and I made the right decision?" Steve asks.
You turn around in his arms and nod. "Yeah. They are a perfect trio. Kit's energetic play helps Hope lose some pent up energy, while Hope makes sure Cas gets his love too. I think Kit and Cas will eventually lay down together too.

Steve hums before giving you a soft kiss. You feel some tension you didn't know you had, fall off your shoulders. You turn back to Buck and Natasha who are softly talking, while staying in Steve's arms.
The peaceful moment gets interrupted by the door opening and everyone coming outside, minus Kimberly.

"So we made a decision. Kimberly says that she is willing to try the combination with Cas but that she has no clue how he'll respond."
"You know that when Cas or Hope or Kit disagrees that the other dog is a no, right?"
"Yeah, we know but we want to give him a chance. We went to a separate hallway to look at him. So that is why none of these dogs know him. He has a bit of a droopy but a bit more dominant energy around him."

"Okay, but we need to give the dogs space. No interfering too early! Growling is a possibility. I think Kimberly will know real quick when to interfere, as do I."
They nod and tell for Kimberly to come out.

When she walks into view, you see a black and grey Great Dane, with only 3 legs.
The dogs already here, jumped up and look curious. Cas looks uncertain, stands more alert. Hope walks a bit closer, curiosity in her eyes. Kit seems like she wants to play but also stay with the group.
"I see they have already made some sort of ranking without fight or anything. That is exceptional. I'm going to unclip Rhys." You nod and keep a watchful eye out for what plays out in front of her.