Yes

Chapter 3

Steve wasn't sure when he'd even dozed off in the first place, but he woke still on the couch with Bucky's head in his lap, his hand still weaved through the soft brown hair. Bucky was snoring softly, and Steve realized this was the first time he'd slept without nightmares. That is, when he wasn't under the influence of coma-inducing drugs. Steve smiled when he shifted slightly, pushing further into the blond's touch and giving a gentle sigh. He didn't dare move- Bucky was finally resting peacefully and he wasn't about to interrupt it. It almost was like having a cat in his lap.

And then the lightbulb went off in Steve's head. A cat. A cat. That was it! A while back, Sam had told him animals could serve as therapeutic to those who were suffering from PTSD and the like. Bucky would be more likely to develop a fondness for a dog, but a cat...that could show him he wasn't as damaging as he thought. Steve knew what those hands were capable of, knew how strong or gentle they could be. If Steve got something to help him realize he didn't destroy everything he touched, maybe it would help with the nightmares as well.

Steve picked up his phone, carefully crossing his right arm across his body to get it from the couch armrest, and typed a message to Sam explaining his idea. It was late enough that he knew Wilson would probably just be getting back from his morning run. It took a while to type the whole message one-handed, but he had reason to be patient. Not long after it sent, he got a reply.

Today 6:05 AM

Sam: Really, Rogers? No "Hi, Sam, I know we haven't talked in a while, how are you?" I can see your momma taught you well. Sounds like a good idea, but you don't want to move too quickly into this- give him a little time to adjust to the new arm and then we can see about introducing the cat. How's he handling it, by the way?

Sam: See? At least I care about other people's feelings.

Steve rolled his eyes, although he gave a small grin as he typed the next message.

Me: He's not doing too well. Slept for a few hours after he got back from the surgery, woke up in one of his nightmares and I had to calm him down. Took him to bed and he slept until last night, tried to make dinner and ended up destroying the kitchen. First night he hasn't had nightmares though.

Sam: Do anything different?

Me: He fell asleep with his head on my lap. Still there, why I didn't call you.

Sam: Awww, supersoldier cuddling

The last message was accompanied by a smug-looking emoji with flushed cheeks.

Sam: Also, does he know how you feel?

Steve let out a soft sigh at the last text. He'd been talking to Sam one night when they were holed up in some musty hotel room looking for Bucky about how it used to be back before Bucky enlisted. Hell, before he even started basic. Apparently he'd been speaking in such a way that Sam caught on and figured out what Steve felt for Bucky wasn't just friendship. Finally, after a bit of coaxing from Sam, he flat-out confessed it.

"I never realized it at the time." He'd said, sitting on the corner of his bed and staring at the grungy carpet. "When we were kids, I thought maybe there was something else between us. But when he started taking all these girls on dates, I realized he didn't feel the same way for me as I did for him. Bucky was my everything: no girl in her right mind wanted to go out with a skinny kid like me, but he didn't seem to care. Then I met Peggy, and I...I loved her too. I didn't know someone was able to love both back then, and I knew it was illegal to have feelings for him, but I did. Later, when he fell," He lifted his eyes to meet Sam's. "It felt like part of me fell with him."