An Ode to Heated Blankets

It’s been almost a year since Bucky Barnes escaped from Hydra’s clutches. With nowhere else to go, he finds himself finally turning to the only thing he knows for sure: Steve Rogers. Steve and his roommate, Sam Wilson, take Bucky in, determined to help him find a life again and prioritize the things that have been stripped from him for so long.But there’s something Steve and Sam don’t know. Hydra’s impact on Bucky isn’t just emotional. Early on in their work with the Winter Soldier, they sought to improve his agility and senses beyond what the serum could do. The solution? Feline DNA. It worked, but changed Bucky’s body in ways he’d never imagined possible, giving him claws, cat ears, and a tail.Now that he’s free, he must cope with his new body and try to adjust to normal life. Hiding out to avoid being spotted by any of Hydra’s remaining goons? That’s the easy part. Hiding his abnormalities and lying to the only person who knows him better than he knows himself? That’s a different story…Or: Bucky learns to love cozy things with some help from Sam and Steve in a story about supportive friends, self-love, and making the best of a shitty situation.

TW: this prologue has a very brief instance of implied suicidal ideation. That will not be a theme that recurs throughout this story, but should it come up again, I’ll include another warning.