[ He can see that Bucky's angry, now that they're home after the debriefing and the emotionless mask of the Winter Soldier is coming down; he can see the snapping glint in his eyes and the way his jaw shifts and his mouth presses tight when he looks at him, so that there's no doubt at all just who Bucky is angry at. Or why, for that matter--because Steve talked his way into a mission, firmly resolved not to be left behind again.
This one wasn't supposed to turn dangerous. It was only supposed to be a simple sweep of an old HYDRA facility; their intelligence had told them there should be no one left guarding the place, and the firefight had been an entirely unexpected thing. Steve may not have the strongest sense of self-preservation, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to insist on putting himself directly in the line of fire, not with Bucky in his charge, with so much to lose if Steve were hurt or God forbid, killed; but damn it, he isn't helpless, he knows how to fire a gun, he knows how to keep himself alive. No one needs to keep him wrapped up in cotton batting like a child. He regrets scaring Bucky, but he doesn't regret going.
As always, Steve can smell a confrontation brewing a mile away, and he faces it head-on once he and Bucky are in private, back home where they can let their guard drop for each other. ] Hey, Buck. [ He makes his voice gentle, reaching for his best friend's hand. Steve doesn't want to fight with him. He loves him, wants to soothe him, make it better as best as he can. ] It's okay, you know. We're okay. Next time we'll be better prepared, take more precaution.
punishment
This one wasn't supposed to turn dangerous. It was only supposed to be a simple sweep of an old HYDRA facility; their intelligence had told them there should be no one left guarding the place, and the firefight had been an entirely unexpected thing. Steve may not have the strongest sense of self-preservation, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to insist on putting himself directly in the line of fire, not with Bucky in his charge, with so much to lose if Steve were hurt or God forbid, killed; but damn it, he isn't helpless, he knows how to fire a gun, he knows how to keep himself alive. No one needs to keep him wrapped up in cotton batting like a child. He regrets scaring Bucky, but he doesn't regret going.
As always, Steve can smell a confrontation brewing a mile away, and he faces it head-on once he and Bucky are in private, back home where they can let their guard drop for each other. ] Hey, Buck. [ He makes his voice gentle, reaching for his best friend's hand. Steve doesn't want to fight with him. He loves him, wants to soothe him, make it better as best as he can. ] It's okay, you know. We're okay. Next time we'll be better prepared, take more precaution.