He's not the Soldier any more, Steve saw to that with his earnest eyes and refusal to fight. Bucky may never get the image of that face twisted in pain out of his mind, but that's good. If it's seared into his thoughts then it will be harder to forget again, harder to slip away from Bucky Barnes. He knows who he is because of Steve, but that means he also knows how far away he is from being the friend Steve remembers.
Steve was also the last target he had as the Soldier, seeing him may well trigger the impulse to attack and send him under again.
No.
Better for them both if he keeps away, keeps to himself. It's safer for everyone that way.
Not that any of this shows on his face when he finally turns to look at her again, his expression unreadable and his eyes hard. He just nods to show he's heard, awkwardness rising inside him. He doesn't know how to talk to her, what to say, after everything that's happened.]
He'll come back for you.
[His lips twist into an approximation of a smile that's meant to be comforting, it's not particularly successful.]
no subject
He's not the Soldier any more, Steve saw to that with his earnest eyes and refusal to fight. Bucky may never get the image of that face twisted in pain out of his mind, but that's good. If it's seared into his thoughts then it will be harder to forget again, harder to slip away from Bucky Barnes. He knows who he is because of Steve, but that means he also knows how far away he is from being the friend Steve remembers.
Steve was also the last target he had as the Soldier, seeing him may well trigger the impulse to attack and send him under again.
No.
Better for them both if he keeps away, keeps to himself. It's safer for everyone that way.
Not that any of this shows on his face when he finally turns to look at her again, his expression unreadable and his eyes hard. He just nods to show he's heard, awkwardness rising inside him. He doesn't know how to talk to her, what to say, after everything that's happened.]
He'll come back for you.
[His lips twist into an approximation of a smile that's meant to be comforting, it's not particularly successful.]