[ Bucky is everything that matters to Steve, no matter what state he's in, no matter if he isn't feeling himself quite yet -- or even if he doesn't feel like himself anymore. Steve tries not to think too hard on that, aware that he needs to give Bucky enough space, enough time to recover on his own, to find himself again instead of imposing his own hopes (and oh, he has so many, so many; he's missed Bucky so sorely) on that recovery.
It's difficult, it's painful to know that Bucky doesn't remember, but Steve is always aware that what he endures is nowhere near the scale of Bucky's own private hell, and for him, he can be patient. He loves him, cares for him all through the violence, the nightmares, the heart-rending, soul-crushing screams he so often hears from Bucky's room in the middle of the night.
He's there when Bucky needs to hold on to someone, and he's there when Bucky chooses to walk away.
Today's a good day. Today's the day when the ice melts just a little, and Steve's heart is warmed by that little smile, the way he tentatively draws nearer. It's progress, even if they don't talk about it, and he offers the sandwich to him, fattened with meat and vegetables and everything healthy in it. Steve smiles back, warm and quietly delighted by Bucky's attempts to engage. ]
Only if you'd like me to. [ Always, always on Bucky's terms, not Steve's. ]
your bucky is so beautiful and so sad T_T
It's difficult, it's painful to know that Bucky doesn't remember, but Steve is always aware that what he endures is nowhere near the scale of Bucky's own private hell, and for him, he can be patient. He loves him, cares for him all through the violence, the nightmares, the heart-rending, soul-crushing screams he so often hears from Bucky's room in the middle of the night.
He's there when Bucky needs to hold on to someone, and he's there when Bucky chooses to walk away.
Today's a good day. Today's the day when the ice melts just a little, and Steve's heart is warmed by that little smile, the way he tentatively draws nearer. It's progress, even if they don't talk about it, and he offers the sandwich to him, fattened with meat and vegetables and everything healthy in it. Steve smiles back, warm and quietly delighted by Bucky's attempts to engage. ]
Only if you'd like me to. [ Always, always on Bucky's terms, not Steve's. ]