Bucky's assessment, and his pointed declaration of where he would be for the foreseeable future just made Steve nod in acceptance. They weren't going to move back in together and be roommates, after all. "Tony will never come out and say it, but I needs to have people around. He's been spending too much time alone and not even Rhodey can get him out of that shell of his. I'm sure he does appreciate that you're there."

He could never guess what the two were getting themselves signed up for by staying together, and so he just smiled, shoulders relaxing further.

"I really don't know what's going to happen. Thor sounds happy about a fight, but he always is. And you know I can handle myself. Nothing that I can't handle. But I guess once I've got em on the ropes, you could come in and mop up?"

Steve had fallen back into their usual banter. It had been years of life and decades of sleep between then and now but Bucky had been a fast and easy friend. And it wasn't the wisecracking.

It was just that Steve felt safe and whole when he looked at him. His eyes were the same. Yes, they were clogged up with angst and wounded, maybe beyond repair, but Steve loved him anyway.