[ Sam glances up at Steve then, wry smile pulling on his lips even as he puts his hand over Steve's. He appreciates the sentiment, even if he can't agree that this is a burden he could - or should - share. He has no right to project his needs onto past versions of them all who cannot answer for their own futures, or be asked to cater to what Sam's already gotten used to needing from them.
He was always the first one to fly in the EXO Falcon harnesses, mark 1 through 6, until they got it right with mark 7. Not to push his own career. Not because he thought himself better. But because Sam would rather find the malfunction himself than let Riley find it - and the brass wasn't unhappy to risk a black man over a white man, either.
Some things just fall into place like that.
Sam gives Steve's hand a small squeeze. ]
Don't tell Bucky how to treat me. I know you meant well, but I'm asking you not to. I'm okay, and I promise I'll hide behind Tasha if I need a break from his nonsense. Or yours.
[ He glances away briefly, then back to Steve, uncertainty giving way to a hesitant kind of mirth. He's asking Steve to let Bucky find his own way back to the relationship that this hatching nonsense robbed Sam of.
But also he's trying to find footing with Steve that's not just painful, that's a reprieve from walking over glass with each other. ]
no subject
[ Sam glances up at Steve then, wry smile pulling on his lips even as he puts his hand over Steve's. He appreciates the sentiment, even if he can't agree that this is a burden he could - or should - share. He has no right to project his needs onto past versions of them all who cannot answer for their own futures, or be asked to cater to what Sam's already gotten used to needing from them.
He was always the first one to fly in the EXO Falcon harnesses, mark 1 through 6, until they got it right with mark 7. Not to push his own career. Not because he thought himself better. But because Sam would rather find the malfunction himself than let Riley find it - and the brass wasn't unhappy to risk a black man over a white man, either.
Some things just fall into place like that.
Sam gives Steve's hand a small squeeze. ]
Don't tell Bucky how to treat me. I know you meant well, but I'm asking you not to. I'm okay, and I promise I'll hide behind Tasha if I need a break from his nonsense. Or yours.
[ He glances away briefly, then back to Steve, uncertainty giving way to a hesitant kind of mirth. He's asking Steve to let Bucky find his own way back to the relationship that this hatching nonsense robbed Sam of.
But also he's trying to find footing with Steve that's not just painful, that's a reprieve from walking over glass with each other. ]