[closed to disassembling] - I Thought You Were Dead

[whatsfondue]

Bad luck always comes in threes.

Steve had never been the superstitious sort before (he was Catholic). First there had been an accident with Banner that had lead to a last minute switch-up in assigned team members for this mission. Then there had been an accident in an Stark Industries owned factory that left Stark worried, twitchy and furious. Not a good state of mind to be doing a mission with.

The third of course was the attack that had brought down the quinjet over the thickly grown jungles Steve was currently hiking alone through right now, having been forced (for once it was not his idea to jump out of a plane without a parachute) to hastily exit the plane while it was on fire. He'd been separated from the rest of the team in the explosion; he hoped they were alright...no, he KNOWS they are all fine. Now it was only a matter of getting back to civilization and getting in back in touch with the rest of the Avengers. Any civilization, he wasn't picky at this point.

He didn't know that by the time he made his way out of the bush into civilization, more than a week would have passed.

Comments

[whatsfondue]

He always ate more after a mission and he suspected Bucky would too if it was put it in front of him, especially the neglect Bucky put himself through in the last week. He waited patiently as Bucky considered his words. He meant for it give Bucky a choice; that if his friend wanted he could leave now and Steve will welcome him back with open arms. He knew Bucky still only tolerated the other Avengers for his sake. "It's what YOU want that I'm concerned about. I know the others can be...overwhelming...sometimes." He shrugged, as if to say, 'what can you do with that bunch of different personalities when they're together as a group.'

"I meant it. You can do whatever most you feel comfortable with."

[disassembling]

He shrugged his shoulders, willing to tolerate the others for Steve's sake, since he knew it was not in anyone's best interest to monopolize Steve from the others. Besides, he could always sneak off pretending to go to the bathroom and run off before JARVIS could hopefully report him gone out a window. "I can handle it," he said neutrally, not about to commit himself to a good time when there might not be one to be had. At least there would be food.

"You said you'd cook, so let's go and you can cook," he added and pushed out of his corner of the room and force Steve to leave to do what was originally promised. He'd tolerate the Avengers and hopefully not knife any of them, though he never made promises about Tony.

[whatsfondue]

A few hours later, Steve was walking up the steps to his own apartment, having fed and reassured all that he was fine and all he needs is a few days of food and rest. Brunch with the Avengers were loud and boisterous, almost a party. He enjoyed it though underneath there was a niggling worry about Bucky, who he can tell experienced an equal amount of uneasiness.

At least tonight he could cook something just for the two of them, if Bucky wanted (and stayed). He balanced the bag of groceries on one hip as he fumbled for the lock to his apartment with the other. Any groceries that was left in his fridge from a week ago would have gone bad already and will need to be thrown out.

[disassembling]

He had survived brunch without killing someone or sneaking out a window. The worst he had done was escape for a bathroom break that had taken longer than was required to empty his bladder and wash his hands, but he had sat for the overly enthusiastic conversation, laughter, questions and meal. He knew that it was important to Steve, so he had endured it as he had endured so many of Hydra's tortures and punishments, both done without complaints.

Perhaps the worst about this brunch matter that a part of him longed to enjoy it, felt like he could have at one time. Then the long years of lost memories and the mental scars kept him sitting quietly eating and just watching, picking out weaknesses rather than opportunities to join in. He kept to himself, but he enjoyed watching Steve have fun, expecting that the experience was enough to satisfy him because he was uncertain how to have fun himself in such a large group of people when all the memories on how to relate to others were still glaringly missing.

As always, he followed Steve back to the apartment like some stray cat. The walk was good for him, and he grunted as he reached out to plunk the bag from Steve's hold so his friend could actually open the door and not drop everything that had been bought all over the hallway.

[whatsfondue]

He always felt guilty that every time there was a gathering, Bucky attended them as something to be endured instead of something to be enjoyed. It as obvious with Bucky sitting in a corner with a blank expression on his face, like it was one one of those very boring debriefings with the higher ups when they'd been in the army instead of it being relaxed gathering of friends. It hurt to see Bucky tolerating it all for his sake instead of having fun in it as he would have a long time ago.

"Thank you." He offered a smile to Bucky in thanks as the groceries was taken out of his grasp, freeing him to open the door. Shoes were kicked off at the door and the shield set down to lean against a wall and he took back the groceries to put them in the fridge, blinking in surprise at the lack of rotten food. He then took in the lack of dust on the counters and shook his head. One of his friends (Tony, or more likely Ms. Potts) must have sent over a cleaner. Groceries put away, he turned to face Bucky.

"Anything you want to do?" Perhaps wrestle again or even just sit quietly together, or even anything else, Steve would be glad to do with Bucky.

[disassembling]

He nodded his head a little at the fact that he was helping, but he wasn't about to have to follow Steve back to the store in order for them to eat tonight. He stepped into the apartment after Steve and was immediately on alert that something felt different or maybe that there had been a different smelling cleaning product used. He picked up the small details as he lurked for the source and realized after checking the bathroom and the bedroom that someone had come in and cleaned while they were not here.

He immediately went to the living room and found the couch set to normal, the blankets folded and the fort that had been then reduced to a normal every day living room. He stood staring at the couch like it had somehow betrayed him for now defending itself from being cleaned up. "Someone ruined our spot," he said coldly and marched away from the living room as if it had offended his sensibilities.

Instead, he just returned to the door, bypassing Steve to do so, and went to take off his boots to leave them with Steve's now that there was no actual threat to them.

[whatsfondue]

Their pillow fort taken down by a stranger who didn't understand was...understandable, even if he wasn't happy about it. Steve trailed his fingers along the top of one counter as he headed towards the sound of Bucky's voice, passing Bucky in the hallways as he did so and went to the living room. He stood at the doorway and looked at the pile of blankets on the couch, all couch cushions back in its normal places. The cleaner did a good job and saved him time and effort from having to dust and wipe everything himself, but he'd rather have had to do it himself than have a stranger take apart something they weren't suppose to touch.

Shaking his head, he began to to put the pillow fort back together, one blanket for the ground, another for the roof, and couch cushions for walls. Just like it was before. It wouldn't be exactly the same as before, but it would be close. Hopefully good enough to put Bucky at ease again. He'd not missed the cold tone of his friend's way or the almost angry footsteps.

[disassembling]

He knew that any sort of dependence on something as silly as a place to sleep on the floor was ridiculous, that he was being stupid and certainly not reasonable. It was just that that fort had been his and Steve's place, and it had stayed up since the first day that his friend had showed him one. It was like grasping for the past that evaded him more often than not, but that didn't make his reaction any more reasonable. He logically knew he couldn't behave like this, that it was inappropriate to be displeased with someone who had probably only come to help Steve.

He bent and untied his boots, slipping out of them and leaving them next to Steve's assortment of shoes. He returned towards the living room almost sheepishly, peering in as Steve once again put together the fort. He couldn't keep acting like this, he knew. It was childish and unproductive, and he was allowed none of those things as it detracted from his use. He mentally berated himself for ruining yet another moment with his too strong reactions, his displeasure, and his need to stay close to Steve.

"I'm sorry," he murmured softly from the living room entrance way.

[whatsfondue]

Steve tugged the last blanket making up the roof in place before he stepped back to inspect his handiwork. The fort he made today was a bit bigger than before so that it wouldn't be as much of a tight squeeze just to get in. There was also an extra blanket making up the floor and he'd tossed one of his extra bed pillows in as well to make it more comfortable the next time they decide to sleep in there instead of on a bed. He turned towards the entrance, blinking in puzzlement at the soft apology. There wasn't anything to apologize for, Steve thought.

"It's alright Bucky. There's nothing you have to say sorry for." He held out a hand invitingly, hoping Bucky would come closer instead of lurking in the doorway. "You want to try out....hmm...Tony would call it version 2. Pillow fort version 2 it is. You want to try out pillow fort version 2.0 right now?"

[disassembling]

There wasn't much of a shadow of the wall, but he somehow managed to find the little that was there and lurk in it. He saw that the fort had been easily remade, bigger, better and with more comfort in mind. It was too bad that they had slept as long and deeply as they had the night before or he probably wouldn't have seen any problem crawling in and curling up to sleep. As of now, he was still a bit full from breakfast, uncomfortable with his own thoughts and almost wishing that Steve would somehow stop being so kind to him all the time.

He left his spot and walked over to his friend, slipping an arm around the other man's waist. "You spend too much time looking after me," he murmured softly. "I'm tying you down when you have so much independence when I'm not around; you arrange your life for my comfort, and it's not fair." He suspected it would have been called selfish. He shrugged at the offer to use the pillow fort now, turning his head to rest his cheek against Steve's shoulder. "Yeah okay."

[whatsfondue]

It was no hardship for Steve to re-arrange a few things for Bucky's comfort and well-being. There was so much more he wouldn't mind doing if it made Bucky content and warm. Feeling the arm around his waist and Bucky's cheek on his shoulder, he in turned wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders, pulling him close. "There's no such thing as spending too much time and what's this nonsense about tying me down and about fairness?" He shook his head and dropped his face into the top of Bucky's head for a moment, breathing in the scent of the shampoo they'd used last night and Bucky's own unique scent.

"C'mon. Let's get in and get comfortable." He could tell there was something bothering Bucky beyond the fact someone had taken apart their old pillow fort. Since that first time they put up the pillow fort, Bucky had always felt the most at ease inside it. Maybe once they were inside, his friend will be able to purge whatever it was that was bothering him. Steve reluctantly pulled away from Bucky and crawled inside first before waiting patiently for Bucky to join him..

[disassembling]

He frowned when his concerns on how much he wasn't good for Steve right now was brushed off. It was the usual argument and he suspected that they had conversations like this at least once a week now that he associated himself closely with his friend again. "You enjoyed yourself with the Avengers. You should stay there at the Tower with them and take on more missions; they like you and care for you," he said insistently.

Still, he followed Steve a little more tentatively towards the new pillow fort, waiting for his friend to get settled and comfortable before he even thought about entering. He paused to remove his weapons and lay them on the coffee table; no weapons in the fort was a rule he played by. He slipped over and backed inside, glancing up at the slight dip in the roof as he shifted one of the walls slightly before he rested his forearms on the floor and pillowed his chin on them.

[whatsfondue]

There had been some discussion over his safety with the Avengers when Bucky started appearing more and more openly. He appreciated their concerns and eventually argued them all into backing off and letting him do his own things. Steve had known from the first time Bucky had appeared on his window that time he'd come down with the bad flu that Bucky did not mean him any harm, quite the opposite really. And with time, his friends had relaxed too. "I like them too and I care for them but I like my apartment here and my quiet life here. Captain America and the Avengers isn't my entire life Bucky, nor do I want it to be."

His eyebrows furrowed when Bucky slipped in and instead of pressing close like he usually did, laid on his front on the blankets instead. Steve pushed himself up to rest his upper-body on a forearm, reaching out tentatively to brush over the top of Bucky's hair. "You're my life too, Bucky, you know. You said I spent too much time taking care of me. Well, you used to do the same. Kept gum and cigarettes for my stomach and asthma in your pocket all the time, sneaked me favourite treats when I was feeling too sick to eat anything else. Pulled bullies off of me when I was getting pounded on in the back alleys. And if I told you back then that you should go out and enjoy your dates with the dames and leave me to deal with my sickness alone you'd call me an idiot and cuff me a good one the back of my head. We're friends at the very least. And that's what friends do for each other." He hoped Bucky would understand now and stop feeling like he was a burden. Bucky had never been a burden.

[disassembling]

He would have liked to point out that Steve had a floor to himself in the Tower and could escape to any number of exercise rooms and avoid anyone that the man wanted while there. Perhaps that wasn't private enough, though he appreciated the little apartment that Steve still held. "No... but at least they will keep you involved in missions, which you enjoy to do." He also knew that there was the Falcon that Steve was good friends with too, though he had really only seen the man briefly at a distance.

He turned his head slightly towards Steve at the brush of fingers along the top of his head, watching his friend from where he was relaxing and getting used to the new pillow fort. "I know..." he managed to get in before Steve explained and elaborated on times, memories, and situations that had been stripped from him. Yet, he listened greedily, trying desperately to imagine where there wasn't even an inkling of memory to fill in the gaps inside of him. He hungered for those memories, for the apparent easy brotherhood that he had shared with Steve.

If those things had happened - and Steve had no reason to lie to him - he could see how taking care of his friend as diligently as he had that his current situation was a strange kind of turn-about. He nestled his chin harder on his forearms, which was difficult given that one of them was metal. "So... I used to take care of you when you were sick, and now you're taking care of me now that I'm sick? Is that how you see this?"

[whatsfondue]

While he had an entire floor to himself and theoretically could lock all the doors, Clint liked to pop in and out of the ventilation system and Tony was liable to walk in ignoring the locks at any time. While he doesn't mind that happening a few times, trying to live with it all the time was annoying. "I am still DOING missions, Bucky. I've not yet hanged up the shield and retired. And I still spend quite a bit of time off of missions. Outside of that, I need private space of my own. And Sam has his own apartment elsewhere too." He's always needed a place that was just his. Captain America was so public already, that just made him need his own space even more, as much as he liked his friends. Bucky was the only exception.

Bucky did not remember he knew, even as he talked about their shared life experiences. But he wanted Bucky to know that this wasn't a matter of give or take, or fairness. Just that they were friends, and that was what friends did. "Like I said before, it's not a matter of fairness or taking turns. If I got as sick as I used to you'd be trying to take care of me now. Because you want me well, right?" He also wasn't sure sick was the right word for Bucky. Missing memories and references most people would have, sure. But sick didn't seem right. Seeing Bucky nestle his hand on the metal arm, he reached towards the back and grabbed one of the pillows he stuffed there and pushed it towards Bucky.

[disassembling]

He knew that and he also knew that not everyone spent full time at the Stark Tower as well, but everyone had some aspect of rooming to themselves. There were enough floors, though he had never inquired on if he was given a broom closet or a prison for his quarters. He stayed overnight so infrequently that either would work if he didn't stay with Steve anyway. "Yes, and we all remember how the last mission went," he replied sourly. "Next time, a parachute should come attached to your shield, since you remembered to bring that." He huffed softly. "Sam is an Avenger now?"

He pondered that, remembering how he had lamely tried to help Steve with that illness. It had seemed like the right thing to do, like he had been good at it and might even someday enjoy it. "I... want you at pique health at all times," he agreed softly. He eyed the pillow, not certain what he was supposed to do with it when he was perfectly comfortable as he was nestled on his arms, one soft and warm, the other hard and cold. "You were sick a little while ago, but I didn't take very good care of you. Do you think I should be like you and have my own place?" He actually couldn't imagine that right now.

[whatsfondue]

When Bucky started appearing more with Steve, Tony had pulled him aside and asked if he should start renovating a floor for Bucky. Steve had told him no, that Bucky was unlikely to stay over often enough to use one. He felt uneasy enough as it is to have an entire floor to himself when he wasn't all that often at the tower; a single guestroom would have been just fine. "That was an accident." Steve answered, exasperated. "If it makes you feel better Tony's currently trying to redesign my uniform to have some sort of parachute attached at the back." He'd also told Tony he's not accepting anything that would add more weight or restrict his mobility in any way; only time will tell if Tony can come up with anything with those restrictions. "We all consider Sam one, whether Sam acknowledges that is a different matter entirely." Tony did in fact, has set aside a floor for Sam, except like Steve, Sam spent most of his nights elsewhere.

"And I want the same for you. It doesn't matter if you never remember everything about your past. I just want you to be warm, well-fed, and always content. If there's anything I could do for you to be like that, I would." And Steve recognizes this is why there is very little he could say no to Bucky for. Since Bucky didn't seem to know what to do with the pillow, Steve decided to show him by example (there was a second pillow in the back), but plopping down on it, arms wrapped loosely on the pillow and resting his chin on it. "You were fine that night." Steve tried to reassure Bucky. He had wanted Buckys company more than any physical thing Bucky could bring him for his comfort.

Away until Tuesday

[disassembling]

He gave Steve a dark look, hoping that it would chasten his friend to being a bit more careful when it came to jumping off of high and fast moving objects. He knew that Steve could take it, but it wasn't a risk that he wanted to see happen all the time now that they were together and seemingly dedicated to keeping the other safe. It was hard to do that when his friend was continually jumping out of planes or off of vehicles into some situation. "I didn't realize he was a fabric designer on top of everything else," he replied sourly to the idea of Tony designing any type of non-gaudy uniform. "I should sew a parachute to your back," he added with a shake of his head. He shrugged a little at the idea that Sam had earned the Avengers title so easily, though with all that had happened, the man was probably the most responsible of the group.

"You've... done more than enough for me," he replied softly. He was aware that his presence on missions in particular had a high potential to damage Steve and the Avengers because sooner or later, Hydra would come looking or the public would realize some of what he had done. They'd probably just associate him with Hydra and put to trial for his actions in assassination and terrorism. He eyed this display of using the pillow and frowned, pointedly pillowing his chin a little more on his arms instead. "I was acceptable," he said in reply.

[whatsfondue]

Steve responded with a look of his own, one of deliberate, wide-eyed innocence. Tony called it 'the look of pure evil'. Steve said he had no idea what Tony was talking about because he had the best of intentions. It's not like he he wanted to jump off of high buildings or fast moving vehicles (though the adrenaline rush he got every time was exhilarating) with no proper gear, usually it was because their enemies gave him no choice. "Tony likes a challenge. And body armour is within his area of expertise." And if it wasn't, Steve was sure Tony would make it into his. "You can try adding a parachute." Steve added fondly. "But under the same conditions as I gave Tony; it can't add any extra weight and it can't restrict my mobility in any way." It was not only his strength he relied on in a fight, agility also played a big part and he can't have that part compromised in any way.

Truthfully Steve thought most of his other friends considered Bucky to be an Avenger to some degree or another, if only more attached to Steve than the rest of them. And there were already contingency plans in place for dealing with the public if public opinion went ill against Bucky (though Steve thought Bucky would probably disappear first if that happened.) As for Hydra, if they came looking, the Avengers would be glad to deal with them. It wasn't like they weren't alrady running missions digging up as many bases as possible anyway.
.
He shifted suddenly to abandon his pillow drop an arm around Bucky's waist. Half-covering Bucky with his larger body, he dropped his face into Bucky's shoulder "It's enough that you're here." He murmured into warm cloth covered muscle. "That's all I need."

[disassembling]

He didn't buy the look that was given in return to him and knew that there would be yet more incidences of Steve jumping off of high or fast moving places. He narrowed his eyes to show that Steve's attempt at innocence was certainly not working on him, though he would only give Steve the cold shoulder for recklessness and ignore any complaints about his own behaviour on missions. "So it meddling," he replied darkly because he was certain that Stark was always looking for an opportunity to do that too. "You're strong enough to take the extra weight and be able to fight as optimum level," he growled, though agreed with the fact that anything worn had to not impede mobility.

He tensed when Steve suddenly shifted, almost rolling to his side as if he thought he might have to defend himself from some kind of impromptu wrestling match, given they had given up on it at Stark Tower. Yet, he settled easily when Steve's weight only shifted to half cover him, effectively pinning him to the blanketed floor, but his eyes half-shut in pleasure at the closeness as he pillowed his cheek more onto his arms.

"You're too easy to please," he grumbled half-heartedly. "And you should stay behind on the next mission too."

[whatsfondue]

It was inevitable in their line of work; while he's not going to actively look of chance to jump off of high or hast moving spots it's going to happen again whether they like it or not. What could be improved so that no one is left stranded for days like he was for the past week; better communication systems, better processes for dealing with what happens next if it happens again. All this would be worked out in the next few weeks barring missions. "Tony likes tinkering." Steve agreed lazily. "Says perfection is boring...there's always something to improve on." He wrinkled his nose at the thought of added weight on his uniform, though it was true he could stand quite a bit more weight than average. "There's a point where added weight is just going to slow me down and I can't have that."

Steve'd noticed the way Bucky had tensed when he dropped his weight unexpectedly on top of Bucky and was prepared to pull back immediately but Bucky had settled the next minute much to his relief. Before, he'd always left it to Bucky to initiate anything. His eyes slid half-closed as well as he rubbed his face back and forth against Bucky's shoulder, breathing in the scent of the soap they'd used last night and a light metallic tang underneath that he's now associated with Bucky.

"Might have to support them remotely, or be the backup. It depends on the type of mission. Unless you want to go?" But most likely he could afford to sit out on the next one unless it was something like the Chitauri invasion again, as he was hardly the only heavy hitter in the team. "Would you prefer I be more demanding on you? Ask you for treats or HYDRA agents instead?"

[disassembling]

From what he had read in various files and seen himself, there were a lot of things that Tony liked. There was a part of him that was surprised that Steve got along with the man, given that his friend was selfless and honourable and Tony was... well, pretty much the opposite in almost all life endeavors. Steve had clearly figured out a method to dealing with the man, though he hadn't even come close to puzzling out what that was. "As long as he doesn't try to improve things attached to me," he grumbled, aware the debate about his arm was still a big issue for Tony who practically found any opportunity to sit next to him or admire his arm when it wasn't clothed and hidden. "You wouldn't complain if it was me clinging to your back," he added dryly.

He issued a soft hum of pleasured acceptance to the feel of Steve's cheek rubbing against his shoulder, and he stretched out in their little fort now that he was secure and settled there. Steve's weight helped, and it was easy to close his eyes and savour the closeness between them in the similar way that he did when he was allowed to cuddle up to his friend in bed. He still wasn't entirely over having lost his friend for a week either.

"I can do any mission," he said simply, though it wouldn't be the same without Steve. He performed best hunting or as an assassin. "What kind of treats could you ever hope for out of me?" He had noticed that no one, not even Steve, pushed to know if he had information on Hydra despite his history with the organization. "I know... some agents."

[whatsfondue]

Tony was something of an acquired taste Steve had to admit. But the man was genuinely kind and generous underneath the talk and bluster if you cared to dig past the exterior and the first time they met, Loki's interference or not, Steve was ashamed to admit that he'd not seen past the prickly front. Steve's understood after long association it was what Tony was NOT saying that was more important than the hundred words that was coming out of the man's mouth. "He knows." Steve said reassuringly. "I explained it twice and pretty sure Natasha did too." As long as Tony kept it to looks it was fine. "You're right I wouldn't Why would I complain about such a unique accessory to my uniform?" He bantered back.

He sighed contentedly as Bucky settled down, and turned to rest his cheek on Bucky's back, careful not to put his entire weight on Bucky. Not that he thought Bucky couldn't take it but this was comfort, not wrestling or sparring. Awkward morning or not, he'd missed this in the past week.

"Yes I know, but will you actually work with the other Avengers?" Steve asked, half expecting the answer to be know. He wasn't unaware of what Bucky did best; the file Natasha handed him after Project Insight had detailed quite a few of the missions the Winter Soldier was sent on. "I don't know....you could surprise me with almost anything and I'll probably like it." Everyone among the Avengers knew not to push Bucky for information. Captain's orders. Steve lifted his head off of Bucky's back, his voice serious. "If want to...do...anything about those agents, I'd like it if you told at least me beforehand. Otherwise if you don't want to do anything, that's fine too. It's your choice."

[disassembling]

Oh he knew that Steve and a few of the others had warned Tony off of getting too close to his arm, but there were little attempts all the same. He never said anything about them because all it really required was to shift the plates of his arm, a threat that he could make noise or do immediate damage that seemed to keep Tony from pulling a screwdriver on him. "Do you and the others still have bets going on how long it takes him to have a meltdown about it?" He knew the others had a good chuckle over Tony's fascination and it was probably some personal affront that he refused to let his arm get updated. "I'm heavier than a parachute, you realize. And I would be certain to land on you."

He went silent at the idea of working with the other Avengers without Steve, but a mission was a mission. It required that he do things that he didn't enjoy sometimes. "I could," he said grudgingly. "The mission objective will always be the most important thing to me, and no one, not even the Avengers will stand in the way of reaching it." He slid so easily into Soldier mode.

He shifted his flesh arm out from under his cheek and curled it back to grasp onto Steve's back. He hadn't thought much about the agents whose name's had stuck in his head or come back to him now that he wasn't getting blanked anymore. There were names and there were faces, though some didn't match up together. "What's left of SHIELD probably rounded up most of them," he murmured softly. "Contingency plan states that exposed agents are eliminated or smuggled from the country and replaced with others."

[whatsfondue]

Steve raised one eyebrow. "Of course. Do you want in on it? Person with the closest date and time slot takes the entire pot." A bit of harmless fun that no doubt Tony knew about and probably part of the reason he kept poking at Bucky. Another part was probably just Tony being stubbornness regarding technology; the more he can't touch a piece of tech the more he wants it. He smiled, amused at the mental image of Bucky clinging to his back as they made free fall; he made a mental note to see if he could sketch out a comic or something similar later. "Some things are worth the extra weight and risk."

Steve frowned when he heard the Soldier respond. "We always try to assign something suitable to that person's skillsets." And he'll make doubly sure whoever is assigned to Bucky is someone who won't grate on Bucky so much. "You know that some times there's no other option but to abort the mission right, no matter the objective. Like last week." He had to make that clear; the Avengers were not Hydra where the Mission was always first.

He allowed the hand to press him back down against Bucky's warm back. "I know." He murmured back. "Natasha and Clint work with Coulson on that occasionally to find the ones that still alive and in hiding. It's just...I was thinking of closure for you. So that it's not always hanging over your head."