[ Steve's gaze drops to the ground, shoulders hunching forward. ]
I know. [ He's not angry at Sam, or Bucky. He pulls in a deep breath, shaking his head as he exhales and some of the tension falls from his shoulders. And when he's sure that his thoughts are clear, he lowers the shields and widens the connection between them again, just enough for a thin stream: the sense of coming home after a long day's work, the shock of bad news, the frustration of being helpless to act. His jaw tightens. ]
Wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep. [ What I'd wake up to. How much time had passed. Who would be gone.
I don't want to lose you is what he struggles to say. And he won't pretend to be okay with this promise Bucky had Sam make, the thought of them going through with it makes him want to scream at them, but he knows that's not right either. ]
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I know. [ He's not angry at Sam, or Bucky. He pulls in a deep breath, shaking his head as he exhales and some of the tension falls from his shoulders. And when he's sure that his thoughts are clear, he lowers the shields and widens the connection between them again, just enough for a thin stream: the sense of coming home after a long day's work, the shock of bad news, the frustration of being helpless to act. His jaw tightens. ]
Wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep. [ What I'd wake up to. How much time had passed. Who would be gone.
I don't want to lose you is what he struggles to say. And he won't pretend to be okay with this promise Bucky had Sam make, the thought of them going through with it makes him want to scream at them, but he knows that's not right either. ]