[ Brooklyn ] a visit to the vet

[from_the_outside]

Getting Bucky to agree to the chip had been like pulling teeth, but he'd eventually given in. Neutering had been a whole other conversation, and she's still not sure he's totally on board with the idea. 

But agree to the chip he had, and an appointment had been made, and now she's waiting by the door of the apartment, checking the time as Bucky wrangles an unsuspecting Alpine. "Baby, do you need some help getting him in the carrier? We've got to get going."

Picking the vet had been a whole other adventure, but they'd finally settled on one nearby that had glowing reviews from multiple pet owners. Still, she thinks Bucky's more nervous about the whole idea than Alpine himself.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She gives the spot he'd pointed to a skeptical glance. "Only if we have a mat to put under it. Why not move Alpine's somewhere high up and put his in the kitchen?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky eyes the exploring dog, then eyes Sharon. "He's going to eat Alpine's food if we leave it in reach, huh?"

[from_the_outside]

"Probably," she says, amused. "He won't know it isn't for him. But let's make sure it isn't an issue."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stands, carefully, one hand on Alpine's back. "Come on, buddy," he says. "Guess you get to climb all the cabinets without me trying to stop you now. Let's go find a place to put your food."

Balancing carefully so as not to disturb the little white cat, he starts toward the kitchen.

[from_the_outside]

"Come here," she coaxes the pit, who leaves off his sniffing around and comes back to her cheerfully, dropping the toy back into her lap as she strokes her hand over his soft ears. His eyes are calm and bright as he watches her back, and she can hardly believe nobody's taken him before now.

"People must have thought you seemed a little scary, huh?" she murmurs. "But you're just a big sweetheart."

[nerves_of_ice]

He decides that the passthrough is a better option than the far counter, and crouches down to claim Alpine's food dish and water bowl, setting both neatly on one end of the passthrough so he can both eat and keep an eye on everything.

Alpine swarms down his arm to investigate, and Bucky laughs. "Oh, you like that idea, don't you?"

[from_the_outside]

"He likes a good vantagepoint, just like you," she says, amused.

The dog, meanwhile, tired out from his long day of playing and the excitement of coming home with them, settles onto the floor next to her with a whuff as he puts his head in Sharon's lap and looks up at her with melting brown eyes.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I always knew he was a smart little guy." Bucky adds some extra treats to Alpine's bowl, figuring it can't hurt, then leaves him to snack and crosses over to get the dog's bag and set out some food and water for him, too.

"Did you tire him out?"

[from_the_outside]

"I think he tired himself out." She runs her hand over the dog's head and grins as his tail goes thump-thump-thump on the floor.

"Are you sure you don't mind trying this out? Four is a lot of bodies for an apartment this size, even if one of them is tiny."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm sure," he promises. Bucky crouches down on his heels beside them. "We've got the courtyard for the building in the back to start with, which'll help. If we need to figure things out, we will."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

The dog's fur is short and so soft and sleek, he gleams like a seal. She flips one silky ear back and forth and smiles, then looks up at Bucky. "Want to give him a pet?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure." Bucky gives her a quick grin as he reaches out. "I just didn't want to get in the way."

[from_the_outside]

"You couldn't possibly." She lifts her hand to give Bucky room, and leans back carefully so as not to disturb the dog. "He'd be your dog, too, you know."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, yeah, but you should get to know him first," he counters, even as he ruffles the pit bull's ears. "Besides--"

That's as far as he gets before a solid thump announces Alpine's descent from the counter. The little cat scrambles up Bucky's back and peers over his shoulder at the scene below.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon laughs and reaches up to stroke Alpine's head, being careful of the tender spot where the vet had injected the chip. "Somebody's feeling a little jealous?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe." Alpine butts his head against Sharon's fingers, purring. "Or he wants to be sure we remember he's here."

The dog twists his head to look up as Bucky pets along his throat, and lets out a hopeful whine as his tail thumps harder.

[from_the_outside]

"No fear of that, buddy," Sharon assures the little cat. "Nobody could ever replace you."

The dog rolls over as Bucky pets along his throat, offering up his belly hopefully, his tail whacking against the floor.

[nerves_of_ice]

He rubs in circles on the pit's belly and chest, chuckling. "Who's a good dog, huh?"

Alpine stretches his neck out, sniffing suspiciously in the dog's direction.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon takes advantage of Alpine's stretched neck to stroke his throat, feeling him begin a surprised purr at the sensation.

"He really is," she agrees. "I can't believe no one took him before. I guess they thought he was too scary looking."

[nerves_of_ice]

"This guy? He's not scary at all." He pats the dog's chest firmly, then sighs as the pit rolls over and sits up with an excited whine, bracing against the claws he's expecting to feel in his shoulder.

[from_the_outside]

"Pit bulls have a bad rap. People use them in fighting rings and those dogs come out of them pretty traumatized and touchy."

Not this guy; he doesn't seem to have any scars or bad habits. Maybe he was too young to go into the fighting pits.

The dog, a little more cautious, pushes his head forward, nostrils flaring as he sniffs at Alpine. Sharon chuckles, watching with interest. "Be nice, you two."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Understandable," he murmurs, keeping his voice low so as not to startle either the dog or the cat. "I'd be touchy too in a situation like that."

Alpine doesn't hiss, at least, but he crouches lower on Bucky's shoulder and makes a low rumbling sound, watching the dog intently.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon puts a calming hand on the dog's back, feeling him tremble with excitement. "He wants to be friends so bad," she laughs. "Give it some time, bud. Alpine will come around."

[nerves_of_ice]

“You know, I really think he will,” Bucky murmurs. “He’s not scared, or anything like that.”

[from_the_outside]

Alpine's tail lashes, and he continues making a low growling sound, but she thinks Bucky's right: he's just letting the dog know who's in charge. "Let's hope it stays that way."