Bucky can count on his one remaining hand the number of times that he's actually cried in front of someone since he hit puberty. It's just not something he does, he likes to see himself as stronger than that, even though he tells anyone else that needs to cry that there's no shame or weakness in it.

But he can't stop now, not for anything.

He clutches at Steve as though his friend is the only line holding him down, and lets it wash over him in shuddering waves. He feels Penny press herself against his back with all her weight, something she's trained to do in flashback moments to anchor him, and he just gives into it.

It's a good twenty minutes later when he finally peters out, his forehead resting on Steve's shoulder and his eyes swollen red, head thudding and embarrassment starting to sneak in alongside exhaustion.

"--sorry." That had been a dumb move, he should have known better. "Jesus, Steve, I'm sorry."