It hurts to get down on the floor and Steve knows he’ll pay for it later but there is a dog here and Penny is amazing and Steve knows already that he’s gotta do this with his arms around the service animal or he’s going to lose it again. It’s not that he’s angry at Bucky, he really isn’t. It makes a lot of sense why the guy wanted to be alone. Objective Steve can understand that, but Objective Steve isn’t having s really good track record staying in control here.

It’s why he presses his face against gray and white scruff and lets Penny half bowl him over in the playful way dogs do while cans rolls by the door from discarded grocery bags.

He does peek one blue eye over Penny’s shoulder at Bucky, though. He’s here. He’s got his attention on his friend and not the Purple Heart or the bum arm. “I want to know what you want for dinner,” Steve says, because Bucky’s got to know by now that he still respects his space. “I’m going to be putting a lot of chili powder and cracked red pepper flakes in yours though, if that helps you make up your mind.”

What Steve wants is for Bucky to love him. He wants his best friend and brother back. There might be a brooding, long haired hipster overlaying the suave, cool dude that used to be his best friend, but Steve has got a big heart. It might be damaged but that just makes it easier to mold around change.

“And then I want your phone number. And for you to promise me that you’re not gonna just stalk my neighborhood without me anymore.”