A Truly 'Howling' Commando

|5| Similar, Yet Different

——9:00am——
——10th of February, 1939——

Over the next four days Bucky and I got closer and closer. I took to sleeping next to Bucky on his left side, I think we both took comfort out of it.
My throat was too harsh to make very soft or happy noises, but there was a tell in the growls that emitted from my throat. Nobody else could hear it, but in the quiet growls that took the place of barking there was a crooning note. Bucky had easily begun to listen for it when we officially met, and now could pick it out without any thought at all.

I woke up that morning to noises in the kitchen. Lifting my head off the blanket, my jaws opened in a yawn. Looking around the room and seeing Bucky gone, I let out a puzzled huff. 'How that man got up without waking me is a mystery...'

I rose to my paws and jumped stiffly off the bed and pad into the living room. I stretched my limbs, my forepaws out in front as my chest lowered to the ground. A yawn escaped my jaws again before I straightened up and began to pad into the kitchen.

"Morning Mallow" Bucky greeted me with a slightly raspy morning voice as I walked in.

"Mornin'' a soft huff was his answer as I reached my water bowl. I drank my fill before crossing the kitchen to find my empty food bowl. Originally the bowls were right next to each other, but I had moved the water and food bowls to be separate myself. After I continued moving them Bucky gave up on putting them back. He simply let me move them, and that ended with them on opposite sides of the room. Why I moved them was beyond me, but I didn't try to stop myself.

An amused huff occurred as I picked up the empty bowl in my mouth. I dropped it at Bucky's feet as my ears flattened down sideways, eyes slightly widened, and my head tilted. I learned that not even Bucky was immune to 'puppy eyes', so it was something I made a point to pick up quickly. He narrowed his eyes, but I could see how much he was struggling not to give in. "Ohh, alright." He sighed in fake exasperation and filled up my bowl before grabbing his own breakfast and heading to the living room. 'Knew it, nobody can resist the puppy eyes!'

I carefully picked up the bowl and walked out before settling on the floor next to Bucky. Another yawn escaped me as I dug in, eating quickly and neatly. I looked out the window, listening to the sounds outside; car horns, the occasional barking of a dog, a soft murmur of people talking and walking around the streets. Watching the occasional flake of snow fall past the window.

I didn't notice Bucky extending his hand towards my ears until he gently flicked the floppy end up, causing it to bounce a couple of times. My head whipped around as I looked at him, very confused yet amused at the action. Bucky chuckled a bit "At least now I have your attention.".

I gave an amused and annoyed huff "There are better ways..."

"Oh don't be like that. Anyways," he paused to gently stroke the fur on my neck, "we're going to meet a very good friend of mine today. You remember I was telling you about Steve?"

'Oh yeah Steve. I remember... apparently he's a small guy, short and skinny. He also gets into fights a lot... or according to you. If I'm being honest, he sounds like me... just small.' I yawned again before picking up my bowl, heading to the kitchen and putting it on the floor.

"Well, we're going out today to meet him at a diner. Don't worry, they'll allow you inside. I picked it for that reason." I gave a small grunt of acknowledgement as I walked past Bucky, who had moved into the kitchen after me. He gently flicked my ear again and I twitched it, only making the flop bounce a bit more.