Cap's side-kick, Liberty

I yawned as I woke up from the best night's sleep I've had since I was born. I opened my eyes and could immediately hear my heart in my ears. I jumped back from the skinny face just inches from mine. He knew he scared me and got off his hands and knees, standing up to his full, but small, height. Bucky walked in and started talking to the other man. Seeing his cuts and bruises, I realized it was Steve. Bucky looked like he was teaching Steve, Steve just sat there staring at a spot on the ground next to me. I could tell both of them were getting annoyed at each other. Steve's eyes gazed at me. He looked at me, then Bucky, Then back at me to roll his eyes. I knew that look. That's the look my brother would give me when our mother was lecturing to us about how to live on the streets and how to stay out of too much trouble. But that was a long time ago . . . I jumped out of my flashback seeing Bucky now looking at me. Bucky looked almost concerned, but Steve was jumping with excitement. I could tell what they were both thinking. "Are you sure you can handle a pet Steve?", Bucky asked. "What else are we gonna do? throw her bock out on the streets? Look, Bucky, I'll take care of her while your on the battle field, and when I go to boot camp when I get recruited, she can be my side-kick!" Steve jumped around while Bucky took a seat. "OK fine Steve. but she needs a name" My ears perked up. A name? I had never really had one. I had gotten used to mutt and plain old animal. It's what the New Yorkers who dared come into the alley called me. A name sounded fun. I ran up between Bucky and Steve. "A name, eh?" Steve said. "How about. . . army?"
"c'mon Steve she's a girl. Call her somethin' pretty like 'Flower'?"
"'Flower? no way. she's got to be tough. How about atlas?"
"Girl names Steve"
"Lucky? Lassie? Liberty?"
I jumped onto Steve, almost knocking him over. "I think she likes it" Steve said, laughing at me. "Liberty it is then" Bucky said, rubbing my head between the ears. Both Steve and Bucky stayed in that night, laughing and playing games with me. After the best day of my life, both the boys went to bed. Bucky acted like a blanket to Steve, so I jumped in and snuggled down between his arms. He chucked with delight when I pressed myself to his chest, not wanting to share his body heat with Steve. I fell asleep again, excited to wake up the next morning. The smile on both Steve's and Bucky's faces made me excited to be their one and only, Liberty.

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