The Spark That Never Dies Part: One

Chapter Five

"This is what you do to distract yourself?" You laughed lightly, nudging his shoulder with yours, "I like it."

The two of you found yourselves at a twenty-four-hour pet store.

Only in New York.

You were both holding kittens that were up for adoption, the rest of the litter running around the two of you as you both sat on the floor. The employees knew Bucky all too well, this definitely wasn't his first visit, and they always brought out at least a couple of cats for him. They didn't know the details of what he did, just that he was a war veteran who worked for the Avengers. It was enough for him to get this special privilege whenever he came by and they just left him alone to enjoy the small meows and purring.

"Yeah." He smiled shyly and you knew Natasha picked a good one.

"Bucky?" You asked him after a moment and he looked up from the white cat he was currently holding, waiting for you to continue, "Do you have a-" You cut yourself off before you blurted something you'd completely regret, "Do you think Stark would be cool with one of these little guys running around the tower?"

"I think he'd kill us both," He laughed, "And he already got pretty close to killing me once, wouldn't want to push my luck."

"That's right," You nodded, unsure if this was still a sore subject, "May I ask what made everything...I don't know...normal again?"

"He saw me rehabilitating in Wakanda," He started thinking back, "He realized it was purely mind control and that if I didn't do it they would've sent someone else to," He frowned, paying close attention to the white cat crawling over him, "It's not easy to see the face of the man who killed your parents every day, but after he saw me in battle, helping to protect those closest to him, I think he realized I'm not the same person."

"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't upset you."

"You could never upset me, doll," He chuckled, coming back from the darker place, "But I gotta ask you something too," He smiled softly, looking over at you while you were already looking at him, "Why're you always so nice to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"We have breakfast every morning together, you help me with my nightmares, and we hang out all the time watching movies, playing video games, and even going to pet stores in the middle of the night." He laughed, picking up the kitten and letting him rest on his shoulder.

"We're friends...right?" You asked back, suddenly feeling like maybe you were stupid for assuming.

"Of course, we are sweetheart," He assured, and you smiled, "But I think we both know there's something else you'd rather be doing, at least some of the time," He laughed, "Or someone else you'd rather be with."

"They told me you were the silent, brooding type," You laughed, ignoring his implications, "But you seem awfully chatty right now."

"It's the felines." He smiled over at you and you laughed again.

"But you're right," You smirked, and he raised his eyebrows, "I have been harboring a major crush on someone."

"Who?" He perked up, "You can tell me anything."

"Clint."

"Fine," He laughed, shaking his head, "Don't tell me."

"You don't think I could like Clint?"

"Uh, no." He smirked, "He doesn't seem like your type, plus, he spends way too much of his time in the vents."

"It is a bit creepy."

"A bit?"

You both started laughing uncontrollably and you noticed some of the employees walking by with soft smiles, not used to Bucky coming here and being happy. He only came when he was having his hardest times and they knew you must be a good influence on him to cheer him up more than the cats ever did. Even though they assumed the two of you were dating, not having overheard the entire conversation, you knew that what he needed was another friend, one that wouldn't look at him knowing his past or judging him for it. A friend to make him laugh and maybe not always be coaxing his feelings out of him every time he got down.