[Damn it. Bucky can see that Steve is still taking it personally despite him trying to explain, like Steve thinks he's trying to be nice and let him down gently for not being interested.

He doesn't want that. He knows how much it sucks to be rejected, and god knows he doesn't actually want to reject Steve, so he sighs and dives in a bit deeper.]

No, you don't get it.

[He stops in the street so that he can look properly into Steve's eyes, firm and steady.]

I want to say yes and ask you out on a date, but that wouldn't be fair to you. I'm fucked up, Steve-- [Okay, now or never.] --I've got one arm, a hell of a lot of scars, and my brain is scrambled. I'd be a jerk if I let someone get involved.