[His lips press together into a grim line and he doesn't answer immediately. He can't. Because he knows how close he had come to dying the last time he faced the Winter Soldier. And he can't say that he would make a different choice now if it came down to that.

But he can't admit that to Bucky.]

I don't think that's something he can risk right now. And even if he did, there's not just me here. I have the Avengers backing me and we can find a way to get you under control. [He thinks briefly about Shuri and what she's told him about what she can do for Bucky.]

We'll figure it out, Buck.

[His chest constricts as Bucky pleads with him. A part of him wishes he could just comply. But it's not that easy.]