18

(I really was not looking forward to updating this  so if this one feels half-assed, that's why. Also its been more than a whole year since I started this woohoo)

(Steve POV) 

Once Natasha leaves, I steel myself for the imminent conversation with Bucky and knock on his door. Quite honestly, I expect my entry to be denied.

"Yeah?" 

"May I come in?" 

"Yeah."

I shuffle into the room awkwardly, partially shutting the door behind me. 

"So... How's it going?" I ask, deciding to start off with small talk. He looks down at himself, at his newly lost arm and at his wheelchair, and lets out a small chuckle.

"Fine, I guess." 

"I need to apologize," I delicately seat myself on the edge of his bed, "for the way I treated you near the end of our time living together." 

"Steve, you really don't have to do that," he stops me. "That's honestly the last thing that's been on my mind lately. I forgive you."

"No, I do." I argue. "What I did to you was wrong. It was cruel, and it was terrible. I don't know how to explain why I acted that way. I guess I was thinking of you as the Winter Soldier instead of as you. But that doesn't excuse what I've done, and I am truly sorry for hurting you."

Bucky propels himself toward me slightly and comfortingly holds my hand. 

"I forgive you, Steve," he repeats firmly. "I understand. I will admit, I was definitely acting more like... him.. than myself. Your girlfriend just really pissed me off."

"But you were right. She was HYDRA." 

"Well, that, and I was a little jealous," he admits softly.

"What?" I ask, just to clarify that he said what I think he did. 

"I mean, come on," he instantly tries to defend himself, even though he doesn't need to. "I had only just gotten back from Wakanda, and only just gotten you back, and I felt like she was taking you away from me." 

I realize I'm smiling fondly at him when he looks up at me and smiles back. It's a different smile. The realest one I've seen in a long time. It's the first time I recognize him as the man he was in the 40s. Same smile from way back then. 

"I missed you," I say quietly. 

"Missed you, too, Stevie." 

We gaze at each other like that for a good few more minutes before eventually I pull away, dragging my hand from Bucky's grasp.

"So, um," I feign scratching my forehead to provide an excuse for why I pulled away so abruptly. "What's the situation with your arm? Shuri making you a new one?" 

"Uh, heh. " He takes his turn to be awkward now. "She's a little pissed off at me for losing it in the first place." 

"I would be, too." I get up off the bed and make my way toward the door. "I'm gonna go unpack a little bit, and then I'm gonna make some lunch, if that interests you." 

He nods and I leave, shutting the door fully this time. I think that went really well.

(Super super short one, but like I said, I didn't even want to update this. I just felt like I had to)