[It hurts to see Bucky looking at him with betrayal in his eyes, but it's even worse to see him shut down completely. They've never been ones to mince their words with one another, but would argue back and forth before settling into some form of compromise. But that had been in the past. Things have changed between them and Steve is at a loss for how to best deal with it.]

I get that you've gotten used to handling things yourself, but we were always a team, Buck. I wouldn't leave you to deal with Pierce alone anymore then you would have left me behind to handle the bullies that used to pick on me. We're in this together.

['Whether you like it or not' are the words he leaves unsaid.]