The hope in Steve’s eyes hadn’t changed with the rest of his body. If anything, it just makes his eyes sparkle more as he looks up at Bucky. “Yeah...?” Bucky is messed up, broken, dealing with his own shit, but Steve still trusts him with his life. Obviously. You don’t get that particular look on your face any other way. “Thanks, Buck.”

They leave the bathroom and Steve gets dressed in Bucky’s now much better fitting clothes before he curls up on the couch, on the side Bucky obviously prefers to sit given the way it smells. He presses his cheek to the arm rest. It’s a comfort, too, scent and softness and a little bit of of a rough patch where maybe something had spilled before or rubbed off from Bucky’s remaining hand.

Bucky is allowed to make his phone call and Penny follows him loyally as she watches Steve. The guy isn’t right, she’s still got an eye on him, that’s for sure. But he’s not making any false moves. Not yet.