Bucky has never wanted Steve to be anything other than what he was. If other people called him girly and assumed that was bad, they just either didn't know any kickass girls or didn't bother to look beneath Steve's unassuming outer shell to see the bravest guy in the world underneath.

Braver than Bucky, he always had been. Always would be.

Penny growls low in her throat as a secondary warning before Bucky lets her know it's okay through a hand gesture. She's good at her job, so she retreats to lie down a short distance away, though her ears stay pricked and she's ready for if this goes wrong. She knows her human doesn't take well to touching.

But this is Steve. It has to be okay. So he let's Steve enfold him in his arms and he tries not to stiffen up too much, even holds him back loosely with the one arm he has left to him now.

"I'm still gonna kick your ass after all of this. I remember getting a letter from Becca telling me you tried to join up yourself."