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[stevegrogers]

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[stevegrogers]

Morals were an ever shifting thing Steve had found out the past few years; for others, of course, because he tended to hold very tightly to the things he believed in most. Oh, he knew it could often have a downside and there were times he needed to adjust and broaden his viewpoint. Times were always changing but there were a few things he would never bend on and it included his friends being tagged and monitored like animals. Yes, he listened to all the supposed speeches but he knew what it all came down to. What those in power were capable of. How long before they tried to pick apart Wanda, Peter and the others if they went along with it? Look at everything Bucky endured by those who believed in their own 'greater good'. So no, he wouldn't broaden his mind in this regard or feel badly for the lengths he went through to rescue Bucky. The name along caused a pain in his heart, in his entire being, really. Since they met they had always revolved around one another and now the loss of him felt greater than it ever had. But he knew it would be temporary and resolved soon.

Very soon it seemed.

Getting up from the couch, Steve headed over to the door to pull it open and take in the man before him. "Buck," he greeted, opening the door wider to let him in before he went through the motions of all the locks and security. They were practically useless to those who would try to break in but they were still protocol. "I hope you're aware how stupid it is you're here?" he continued, walking into the kitchen to pour them both a glass of water because he figured Bucky needed it. He set both glasses on the island, his hand gesturing towards the hallway. "You can take the last room on the left." Not the greatest accommodations but they had both experienced worse.

He leaned against the island, regarding Bucky for a few long moments. "How are you?" He paused and then added, "Really. Don't talk like you did to the others. Tell me." How much did he remember? Did the pain linger? Were the nightmares still a problem? He knew the latter would always be the case for him because of all his 'unresolved' issues. But when did he ever really have time to attempt to pull himself apart and then back together? No one ever gave him the chance and he had learned how to just deal with it. Swallow it all down and just do what needed to be done.

[armeyets]

When the door opened and they faced each other over that apartment threshold, there was that faint hovering moment of indecision — looking at each other and feeling like part of him was staring at a stranger — while another, larger part was like he was gazing on a missing piece of himself. A familiar anchor. Bedrock. And so, thankfully, ancient muscle memory kicked in and Bucky closed the distance between them, pulling the other man into a bone-creaking hug, before they moved apart and Steve started ushering him into the apartment.

"Completely stupid," Bucky acknowledged, cheerful despite the circumstances, as he accepted the glass and took a thoughtful sip from it; his blue eyes roaming across the apartment, taking it in, automatically noting entrances and exits and windows and sightlines. Some old habits died hard, and he hadn't fully let go of that paranoia yet.

And for Steve's question... Anyone else would've gotten a curt I'm fine. But lying to this man felt wrong, and so Bucky chewed over his thoughts for a moment. Trying to figure out the best way to summarise it. How to answer How are you, when he still didn't fully know himself?

"Shuri made some progress. Something about making a digital copy of my brain, and trying to extract the programming without erasing my memories. To be honest, all of it was pretty much over my head. She wasn't done, but I didn't want to be on ice for years while you were out here — and the most important thing is the trigger words don't work anymore. At least, they shouldn't." The slope of his shoulder tipped in a shrug. "And I figured... if it fails, then I'm with the only other person who can subdue me."

And there it was. The other reason for him being here.