Do you ever think about the fact that maybe Steve doesn’t think he deserves friends, or people who care about him? That he looks back on his life, on how Bucky always ended up hurt because he had to pull Steve out of fights, how his ma overworked herself to take care of his sickly body, how Peggy put her career on the line for him for the chance that maybe Bucky was alive, how Bucky literally died for him, and thinks, all I’ve ever done is hurt those I’ve cared about? That he purposely kept his distance from the new team in the new century not only because he’s grieving the world he left but also because he thinks all he’ll do is put them in danger if he tries to get too close? That he shrugs off anyone who tries to care for him because all I do is hurt people, they deserve better, I don’t deserve their comfort?
And do you ever think about how Bucky would refuse to hear that, would keep pushing Steve to let him in, would remind him again and again and again that you deserve love, you deserve comfort, you’ve given so much for this world and it’s ok to be held, you’ve never hurt me, you’re worth it ?