There was always an element of danger to any mission, no matter how easy and simple it looked on paper. No one could control all the variables at all times. It had been like this back during the war when working with the Howling Commandos and it was no different seventy plus years in the future with the Avengers. He could only do this best and trust his teammates, Bucky included to do his best and worry in private.

"I just heard your stomach." He said chidingly and brushed one of his thumbs gently underneath the eyes where dark under-circles had formed due to lack of sleep. "And I can tell you didn't sleep much either." Steve didn't expect the other Avengers to have been able to stop Bucky or even to get him to take care of himself just a bit more than he had. While they and Bucky had been getting better working in the field, off-duty interactions were a different matter entirely. "I've said this before and I'll say it again, functional is NOT optimal. I want you to be optimal as much as possible." No doubt this was discussion they'll be revisiting again and again.

"You won't be 'letting' me." He replied just as softly, fingers stroking down one cheek in a light carress. "It'll be my choice. And I'm not going to hide you away somewhere like a dirty secret or some weapon to be taken out and used when necessary." The last especially. He'd have become just like Hydra at that point.