[ It's a talent. He was an excellent counselor if he does say so himself. And Sam knows he was getting somewhere even with Karli - had Walker not interrupted...
But that's neither here nor there right now. ]
Yeah. 'cause he didn't just leave. He left you.
[ Not a question. It doesn't matter how much Steve deserved to find his happy ending, it still sucks to be the one left behind. It sucks to know that the happy ending doesn't include you. Bucky's not the only one who got left behind, but Sam knows it hits different for both of them, and the hurt they're both left with is not a competition. Bucky's hurt is valid - and so is any anger or resentment that comes with it. And perhaps those feelings are made worse, because the Steve they can level with here hasn't even made the choice yet. He cannot tell them just hard those five years where that getting Bucky and Sam back, getting almost everyone back, just didn't end up being enough. ]
And that hurts in ways losing someone doesn't.
[ Sam shifts his hand, then, curls it around Bucky's shoulder. Solid and steady, but not unrelenting. Holding on, not holding down. Sam's gaze remains unwavering, even when Bucky looks away. ]
no subject
But that's neither here nor there right now. ]
Yeah. 'cause he didn't just leave. He left you.
[ Not a question. It doesn't matter how much Steve deserved to find his happy ending, it still sucks to be the one left behind. It sucks to know that the happy ending doesn't include you. Bucky's not the only one who got left behind, but Sam knows it hits different for both of them, and the hurt they're both left with is not a competition. Bucky's hurt is valid - and so is any anger or resentment that comes with it. And perhaps those feelings are made worse, because the Steve they can level with here hasn't even made the choice yet. He cannot tell them just hard those five years where that getting Bucky and Sam back, getting almost everyone back, just didn't end up being enough. ]
And that hurts in ways losing someone doesn't.
[ Sam shifts his hand, then, curls it around Bucky's shoulder. Solid and steady, but not unrelenting. Holding on, not holding down. Sam's gaze remains unwavering, even when Bucky looks away. ]