[ His eyes track over Steve's face - they have been, but the scrutiny seems particularly sharp when Steve cuts himself off. Not afraid of Bucky's reaction, but on second thought in the confines of his mind, maybe a little afraid? Bucky's tempted to press, to probe.
While he likes the game for what it's offering, it's hard not to deviate from it and go down rabbit holes.
Yes, he wondered about the beer. Yes, he wants to ask, or to take a stab at why he's thinking Steve's drinking it, but--
Nah, he can't help it. He's not gonna set this one aside.
A hand comes up, halting, placating. Not a dramatic move, just the gentle lifting of fingertips up off the bar top a few inches, palm angled up.
Lemme stop you there.
A pointed expression - look at me. ]
This is not something you gotta worry about messing up.
[ Understand? Yeah, they may be on uncertain footing. They may be navigating again, trying to figure out what their dynamic is, who they are to themselves, who they are to each other, but that doesn't make it...
Just because there are a dozen questions doesn't make it any less certain in the ways that count.
He knows it's the case on his end, feels that security, because he got the benefit of Steve dragging him out of his hole in Romania. Got to watch him sacrifice his freedom, his reputation, and every single friend he had in the future for this. Him. A few other things, too, but... There's no downplaying the significance.
It's on him to make it clear that goes both ways.
He knows he can be hard to read. He knows his tone of voice doesn't always convey conviction. He chews his cheek again, then offers out his hand.
no subject
While he likes the game for what it's offering, it's hard not to deviate from it and go down rabbit holes.
Yes, he wondered about the beer. Yes, he wants to ask, or to take a stab at why he's thinking Steve's drinking it, but--
Nah, he can't help it. He's not gonna set this one aside.
A hand comes up, halting, placating. Not a dramatic move, just the gentle lifting of fingertips up off the bar top a few inches, palm angled up.
Lemme stop you there.
A pointed expression - look at me. ]
This is not something you gotta worry about messing up.
[ Understand? Yeah, they may be on uncertain footing. They may be navigating again, trying to figure out what their dynamic is, who they are to themselves, who they are to each other, but that doesn't make it...
Just because there are a dozen questions doesn't make it any less certain in the ways that count.
He knows it's the case on his end, feels that security, because he got the benefit of Steve dragging him out of his hole in Romania. Got to watch him sacrifice his freedom, his reputation, and every single friend he had in the future for this. Him. A few other things, too, but... There's no downplaying the significance.
It's on him to make it clear that goes both ways.
He knows he can be hard to read. He knows his tone of voice doesn't always convey conviction. He chews his cheek again, then offers out his hand.
If you need more, I'll show you. ]