Steve didn’t need Bucky. He could fight his own battles and outside of Bucky, he felt like he was alone anyway. He’d made due without his friend for a long time too, all through boot camp, all of those months on tour… He knew he was going to need people in this fight, and it was going to be a hell of a fight the moment they hit Earth’s atmosphere again, but one person’s loyalty could be measured against any other.

But that said, Steve didn’t want to be alone anymore. He didn’t want to have people follow him blindly on appearance or even on action. He wanted someone that knew his heart.

Steve pushed up against the pillows so that he could see Bucky’s better, half turned on his side with his arm beneath his pillow. Their cots were just a foot apart, close enough that if Bucky exhaled roughly, Steve would feel it against his shoulder.

“Thank you.” And he meant that genuinely. “And thank you for putting up with Tony. I know he’s…an acquired taste. It’s all right if he makes crude jokes. Heck, half of the Howling Commandos did all the time. He’s harmless. I just wish you’d overlook some of that stuff since we really do need him.”