Alpine (Sambucky)

Cat And Carter

"Why all the food? No need for an apology feast again, you've done nothing wrong and I really can't eat that mu-"

"Sharon's coming to visit."

"Oh. Damn. Why?" Sam sighed, continuing to set the table even as he attempted to appease his roommate.

"Bucky, I know you're an introvert but... Switch, just for today?"

"But we don't even need her help or anything!"

"She was in town and wanted to say hi, you idiot!"

"Don't call me names... Alpine doesn't like that."

Sam rose his head over the pile of groceries to shoot Bucky a withering look. It stopped short when he saw the man cuddled up with his cat on the couch, watching a cartoon together without a care in the world. He seemed slightly embarrassed to have been caught but then mumbled something about "darn modern tvs" and haphazardly switched the channels. Sam kept his laughter inward and shrugged with a smile, hoping to ease his tension. It was halfway through putting down the cutlery that he suddenly realised he didn't have to do any of this alone.

"Bucky, stop cuddling your pet and help me!"

"...nah I'm good right here."

"Buck!" Alpine seemed startled at the noise, raising her head to Sam and offering him a weird look he didn't appreciate.

"Did that thing just roll its eyes at me?"

"Alpine is a he or she."

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't give a cat's ass about the furball."

"Respect pronouns, Wilson. Aren't you meant to be progressive? Hmm?"

"I hate you."

"Ditto. You'll get along with Alp eventually, I just know it. He'll warm up to ya like you did to me, just stop looking so freaking high and mighty. "

"He's a cat, not a fucking god! I'm not gonna give him power like that, he'll think I'm his bitch like you are!"

"We don't mention d-o-g related words in this house. You might offend her."

"Whatever. Weirdo."

"She's your roommate, you'll learn to tolerate him like you do me some day!"

"I hardly remember ever tolerating you, Barnes!"

"C'mon Alps, it's too... Loud in here. We'll hang somewhere else."

Bucky didn't know how time flew by so fast. He'd lain down in his room - on the floor - and stared at the ceiling. Thought about the past. Worried about the future. Resisted the urge to slam his fist through a wall and through his own face over and over again. By the time Sam came to knock on the now-fixed door, everything had been drained out of him, leaving only frigid exhaustion.

He felt a notch of irritation when Sam bumped into his arm, even though it was the metal one, while opening the door. He almost wanted to blame the guy for disrupting his peace - after all, he'd been enthralled in a kid show, head empty, before Sam noticed.

"Hey- Buck...? Why?"

"Hi. It's nice down here." Sam blinked twice. In response, Bucky groaned in embarrassment and laid flat on his face, deciding he might as well go all in. The African-American couldn't help a quick little glance at his ass, clearing his throat once said glance lasted a few more seconds than necessary. Luckily Alpine's hiss sent him out of his trance before Bucky rose his head to glare at him and who could blame the feline? He'd feel possessive over a global treasure like that, too.