Bucky knows Winter likes to play, nut hiding is not something either of them enjoy. Winter has always been protective of Bucky, especially since Brock and his wolf, Bones, started giving red flags. Winter noticed them first, of course she did, wolves know who it's safe to be in a relationship with, normally with your soulmate. Anyway Winter got Bucky away from them right on time, because a month later, they were on tv for working with Hydra.
Bucky owes Winter for the many times she saved him from horrible people, so he kept a look out for her too. Neither of them liked being looked after constantly, but they made it work.
So when Winter disappeared for the nights, Bucky noticed.
The white wolf was usually ectatic to see Bucky come home back to the store and eat or sleep, but the last two months, she wasn't anywhere in the small apartment they shared. Bucky, of course, looked all night the first few times, and eventually leaped inside from a window as the sun came up. Bucky kept a list once of what time she left, and when she came back. She was definitely keeping a secret she trusted no one with, and Bucky felt kind of alone.
Winter had been his only friend once his sister, Becca, got married, now he was afraid that Winter might leave too. Had she found a wolf with no owner? Or maybe she didn't feel like the owner was good for Bucky? Or she's leaving for good?
Either way, Bucky lost in those situations. It's happened before, they've seen it on tv.
Sighing as he saw another eviction threat that his landlord kept giving him nailed onto the door, he grabbed it and shoved it into his pocket"Winter." He called into the apartment around noon. He had spent the day in the library writing. He was almost finished with his newest book, which was good because the deadline was still months away, and usually he wasn't very good with them. "I'm back!"
Winter would normally jump up and lick his face in greeting, but she didn't even bark this time, which concerned him greatly. The brunette lunged into the small living room and set off into the apartment to find his loyal companion.
He looked in every room to find the same result. No Winter. He went to wait by the window Winter usually comes in to find it shattered. SHATTERED! He rescued the rooms to find mostly everything the same as he left it, other than the living room. It was a mess, he didn't know how he missed it the first time! There were blankets and pillows ripped on the floor and now that he thought of it, the door was unlocked when he came in! He never did that! He also never left windows open, hence the shattering, but Winter opened it just enough to let her out in the night and closed it the next day.
Struggling to control his breathing, he called the police. Winter never left before, so why now? Was she kidnapped? Wolfnapped? What if she was hurt? Or DEAD?
What seemed like hours later there was a nock on his door. Bucky leaped up to let the officers in but found no one waiting outside. Sighing to himself he looked down to see if it was Winter or another wolf but found
A letter.
He shook his head trying to clear it then looked down the hall. No one, so he grabbed the probably junk and went back to the table he sat at for the last... Hour?! The cops were supposed to be here hours ago!
Anyway, Bucky opened the letter, then reread it three times to make sure he read it right the first time.
Captain America.
We have your wolf. If you ever want to see her
alive again you will give in to our demands.
they will come later tonight.
Head of Hydra
Bucky held his breath. He wasn’t Captain America, why would these people think he was? What are they doing to Winter? He knew he had to take this to Avengers Tower, to the real cap. He could help get Winter, and he needed to know that Hydra had wanted to take his own wolf. He sighed, carefully planning his walk to Manhattan, and packed up his things quickly, he’d look for Winter on the way hoping the letter was just some stupid joke from one of his nabors.
He grabbed his phone and the letter before leaving a note on his door telling anyone that stopped by he was out of the building.
The air was chilly for fall, but not too cold. He wished he had a jacket, but casually pushed that thought aside, not for the first time. It wasn’t winter yet, so he didn’t need to worry about a coat or jacket. Not to mention he’s been saving up scene spring, when his last one was stolen. It wasn’t the fact that he didn’t want one, but money was never really on his side for long.
The trip from Brooklyn to Manhattan was a long walk, almost three and a half hours. He was hungry but worry and determination, and no money, kept him going. By the time Avengers Tower came into sight he sped up to a jog, and when he was on the same street he ran. Cold air invaded his lungs as he raced for the large tower.
Heart beating faster than he could ever remember, he stepped over a larger puddle and listened to the loud echoes of the city, and a soft whimper of a wolf.
A soft whimper of a wolf?!
Bucky left his path and raced into an alley, where the crys grew louder. “Hey there.” He called softly. “Hey, shh, it’s alright.” He slowly approached the shivering brown wolf and reached out his hand. “Hey, sweet thing. Can I come closer?” He whispered.
He watched happily as the brown canine whimpered and pressed forward, ears pricked cautiously. Slowly, the wolf starts sniffing, then licking his hand. Bucky smiled as he slowly moved his free hand through the wolf's fur. He winced as he looked at the hand that he had just removed from the wolf’s fur.
It was covered in mud and
Blood.
Bucky looked at the trail of smooth blood that moved down his hands and down his wrist. “Oh, you poor thing.” He whispered, looking at the wolf again. Was brown even his fur color?
“Oh, sweet thing. How did this happen to you?” Bucky’s voice was weak as he moved his hand higher.
The wolf let out a bark and a pointed look.
Bucky huffed. “Here’s your collar.” He looked at the tag and gave a hysterical, bitter laugh.
Steven G. Rogers.
“Well then, looks like they didn’t get you.” He sighed and turned the tag. The number was on the back, thank god, so he got out his phone and called, hoping for the best.
“Hello?” Said a deep voice. Bucky shuddered, his instincts suddenly eager to please the avenger.
“Ok, don’t hang up.” Bucky held up a finger, then realised that Rogers couldn’t see it.
“Why?” The man on the other line didn’t sound confused. This must happen a lot.
“I’m Bucky and I think I found your dog, or wolf. I can’t tell.” Bucky looked at the animal again, who looked right back.
“Doger?” Now he sounded concerned. “Where is he? Is he alright?”
“Um, I think he’s hurt, but I don’t know how bad. Also who is this? I just called the number on the collar.”
“Steve, Steve Rogers.” Steve sounded exasperated. “Where are you? I’m on my way.”
“Name matches.” Bucky whispered to himself, checking the name on the collar. “Some ally a few minutes away from Avengers tower.”
“I’m on my way.” He said as the line went dead.
Bucky removed the phone from his hand and sighed. “He’s on his way.” He told the dog/wolf. “You wouldn’t happen to know Winter, would you?” His nerves came back suddenly, as if because he called Doger’s owner- Steve FRICKEN ROGERS- he could worry about Winter again.
Dodger lifted his head, barked happily and wagged his tail.
“You do?!” Bucky’s hopes shot up. “Wait, how? I’m broke and live like- four hours away,” Dodger poked his side with his nose. “YOU live down the street and your owner is CAPTAIN America!”
Dodger barked again.
“Oh my god.” Bucky blinked in shock and ran his fingers through his hair. He tried to imagine Winter traveling Four hours to Manhattan to meet the large wolf or even larger dog. OR Dodger traveling to meet Winter.
“Oh my god.” Echoed back into the ally. “Doger, are you alright?” Was practically screeched.
“I can’t tell.” Bucky said again. “I was on my way here and heard him.”
“Alright, I think he’s fine.” The blond whispered. “He needs a bath and maybe a few stitches.”
“So he’ll be ok?” Bucky confirmed.
“Yah.” Steve smiled, it brightened his face in the most beautiful way. “Thanks to you.”
“Me?” Bucky blinked.
“Yes you.” Steve laughed. God that laugh was music to his ears. “I’ve gotten used to him leaving for a day or two. I wouldn’t have noticed that something was wrong for another day or two.”
Bucky smiled. “Well, I guess there is always a silver lining.”
That must have dragged Steve back to reality. “What do you mean?”
“Oh.” He remembered why he had made the trip in the first place. “I found this in my apartment.” He quickly got out the paper in his pocket. He handed the smaller one to Steve, the one where Hydra announced they stole Winter and gave a quick story of the mess in the apartment he owned.
“Oh, Buck.” Steve whispered. “I’m so sorry. Is there anywhere I can help?” His bright blue eyes watered in the corners.
“I'm not sure.” He looked down again. His hands shook and he quickly shoved them in his pockets. “I don’t have much, so I can’t repay you even if you do.”
“You don’t need to repay me.” Steve argued. He reached over and grasped Bucky’s arms with large, strong hands. “The Avengers fight for people’s safety. We don’t ask for anything in return.” He moved closter, sharing his warmth with the smaller man. “I can help you.” He promised.
“Alright.” Bucky nodded. “If you’re sure?”
“I am.” Steve gave another small smile. “Do you need a place to stay? Or a ride home?”
“Oh! Um,” Bucky thought of his trashed apartment, and his probable eviction. “Maybe? I think I’d need a night in a hotel, then I could walk home tomorrow.”
“Walk home? I’m sure I could give you a ride, or someone else would.” Steve argued, his eyes wide and concerned.
“Nah, I live in Brooklyn, I won’t take anyone’s time.” Bucky rolled his eyes. “Should we get Doger to the tower?” He asked, trying to change the subject.
“Yah, we should.” Steve looked at his large wolf. “Let’s get moving.” He picked up Doger, who yelped in pain and surprised, stood, and motioned for Bucky to follow.”
Bucky smiled and stood. He followed the super soldier -oh god I just sat in an alleyway with a super soldier and his wolf!- into the large tower that stretched up to the sky, where the Avengers live.