Alpine was sitting on a table where he probably wasn’t allowed to sit. The tomcat was wondering if he should focus on the porcelain figurine in front of him or on the two men who were giving him shelter for the summer.
‘I have no idea what Barnes needs a holiday from,’ the shorter one said petulantly. The man seemed to have some sort of light in the centre of his chest that made a very low, interesting sound.
Alpine decided to check it out later that night, when his hosts were sleeping.
‘He’s stressed out,’ replied the other, taller one whose voice and smell Alpine already knew. 'You know how we started to have tea after the obligatory support group meetings. I have you, but he is all alone.'
‘Loki, I still don’t know why SHIELD assigned you to the same support group.’
‘I think they did it to annoy, Tony.’
‘With Nick Fury starring as The Mastermind,’ Tony sighed. ‘And now you’re friends. Fine. And his cat is to summer with us. Even finer.’
‘Please,’ said the Norse trickster god softly and stroked Tony's hand with his fingertips. 'Do you think you can do this for me?'
‘Right. I’ll do it for you. I know it must be hard for you to find friends. Alpine can stay, but I’d rather not have Barnes here in our home.’
‘Bucky knows he’s not welcome. He knows what he’s done to your family.’
‘Bucky!’
‘Barnes, then.’
‘Thank you.’
Then, the men started to discuss other things, mostly domestic stuff, and finally started cuddling on the couch.
Alpine took another look around the unfamiliar room where his dad had dropped him off earlier that day. This place has potential, the white tom mused. Outside, he could smell water, probably a lake. There were deer, rodents, and birds in abundance. Interesting, he thought, and remembered the men on the couch again. They had started to kiss and whispered words that completely failed to grasp Alpine’s interest.
Bored, the cat decided to focus on the figurine instead. He yawned and waved his paw and watched with satisfaction as the thing fell to the floor and smashed.
In the background, the shorter man began complaining again.