Troublesome [The Avengers]

11|| Curiosity & The Cat

Arden stood in the elevator, slumped against the cool metal wall. She was exhausted from the hours of testing. Tony and Hank were thorough to say the least. They tested her abilities straight to the point of physical exertion and all she wanted to do now was shower and take a nap.

It was close to four already and though most of the tower was empty Arden still chose to go back to her room. The tower was nice but she didn't like or trust anyone within it's walls. She also wouldn't put it past Clint to draw a mustache on her face if she fell asleep on the couch.

She hated living here, she hated that she wasn't allowed to leave the tower without supervision, and she hated being cooped up her in room for hours. But hey, at least the tower had it's own gym and pool.

The elevator came to a halt and with a ding the metal doors slid open. Like usual the common area of her floor was empty and she was perfectly fine with not having to talk to anyone.

She shoved her hands in the pockets of her hoodie and walked to her room. She wasn't thinking as she pushed the door open. Her room was dark, streams of afternoon light came through the closed curtains.

"Buddy?" Arden cooed and kicked the door closed behind her. She heard the latch click and something in her brain went off. She couldn't remember if she had heard the latch click when she closed her door this morning.

A wave of panic drained the color from her skin. Buddy was a good cat but that didn't mean he wouldn't run off to explore the unknown building.

Arden quickly began to search every inch of her room. Looking under furniture, behind objects, even in the bathtub; but the calico cat was no where to be found.

"Fuck." Arden snapped as she spun around to face her door. She doubted the cat could have gotten far. It's not like he knew how to use an elevator or open doors. He was on this floor, somewhere.

Arden tried not to overthink or panic but she couldn't help but worry. Buddy was everything to her and the thought of losing him terrified her beyond words.

She left the bedroom and began looking around the common room. She held Buddy's favorite bag of treats in one hand, shaking them every few seconds to get his attention. She searched every inch of the living room Buddy wasn't there.

She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Every door on the floor was closed except for one. The door was barely open a crack, almost like someone had tried to close it but it bounced out of the latch.

She really didn't want to talk to whoever was inside that room but she needed to make sure Buddy was in there.

Arden couldn't remember whose room it was but a part of her wanted to say it was Steve's. She hoped it was Steve's, at least she could tolerate him. She knocked on the door, feeling her heart jump with every thud. There was a long silence before she heard someone speak.

"It's open." The voice was gruffer then Steve's and Arden instantly placed the voice to Bucky. Not because she remembered the sound but rather because it wasn't one she had heard before.

Arden gently pushed the door open and peered into the room. The way the bright sunlight twinkled off the silver of Bucky's metal left arm caught Arden's eyes. On the shoulder of his arm was a small Captain America shield with a bright white star in the center of it.

Her eyes followed the curves of his arm and shoulder up to his defined, square jaw, that was covered in day old stubble. His brown hair was cut short and tousled from him running his hands through it.

And there spread across his lap was Buddy. Bucky was mindlessly petting the cat with his right hand, and Buddy seemed to be quite pleased with the attention.

"I see Buddy's taking a liking to you." Arden said and motioned to her cat.

"He was clawing at my door I hope you don't mind." Bucky said. He placed down the book he had been reading and glanced over at Arden.

"To be honest i'm just happy the little shits safe." Arden smirked. Bucky chuckled softly and the slightest smirk tugged at his lips. He gently ruffled the cats short fur, stirring Buddy from his sleep.

"You're Arden right? Tony recruited you?" Bucky asked with a curious look in his eyes. Arden almost broke into laughter then and there. Her, a recruit for the Avengers, in Tony's dreams.

"I'm not one of Tony's recruits." Arden scoffed. "I'm just here as a courtesy to him."

Bucky watched Arden's reaction, seemingly studying her like she was a piece of text in a college book. "I didn't mean to offend." He said before brushing buddy off of his lap. The calico cat stretched out his limps and shook out his fur.

Arden's gaze darted between Buddy and Bucky. She wasn't sure who to look at, the cat or the guy with the good face. The decision of who to look at was made up when Bucky scooped Buddy up into a football grip.

Buddy hung in Bucky's grip like he was dead, earning a slight, almost nonexistent grin from the man. He walked over to Arden and came to a stop in front of her. He towered over her five foot four frame.

Arden flashed Bucky one of her least sarcastic smiles as she took the cat from his arms. Her attention was fully on Buddy now. The cat snuggled into her arms and began to purr. "Thanks."

Bucky nodded, his blue eyes shifting from Buddy to Arden. "It was nice to meet you properly."

"You've gotta be the only person whose's ever said it was nice to meet me." Arden chuckled. "But yeah, it was good to meet you too." She said before flashing one last grin and trotting off to her room.

Something about Bucky was different then the rest, not in a bad way but something about him wasn't right. He didn't hold himself like Steve, where he looked like he was dripping in patriotism. He held himself like a soldier but he was silent and observant like a spy. Arden really didn't know anything about the man but her curiosity had been piqued.