Steve left Bucky to himself for as long as he thought wise. Around ten that evening, Steve drew in a hesitant breath, and approached Bucky's close door. He didn't know what had been going through his old friends mind when he had left earlier, but he was willing to bet that it hadn't been good. He only hoped that he hadn't done more harm than good.
"Bucky?" He asked softly, knocking politely on the door. He heard nothing from inside the door for several long moments. Finally it opened inward, Bucky standing in the gap with his eyes downcast. Steve's face flicked with guilt as he saw the look on the dark-haired man's face. Whatever he had been working through, it had taken its toll on him. "Can I come in?" He asked, his voice still soft enough not to spook Bucky. Bucky slid his tongue between his teeth, licking his lips slowly and nodding. He stepped away from the door wandering, almost aimlessly, back to his bed and sinking down on the mattress.
Steve followed him over, easing himself down beside him, and daring to reach out to lay a hand on his old friends shoulder. Everything in him wanted to embrace Bucky, to hold him until the pain lost its edge. He wanted to keep him close, love him, and help him heal like Bucky had done from him so many times. But he knew he couldn't, Bucky still wasn't ready.
"I'm sorry…" Steve murmured, looking at him, sympathy in his gaze. "I shouldn't have pushed you…"
Bucky set his jaw, his eyes hardening but he said nothing. Steve got the distinct feeling that Bucky was not ready to talk yet. After a long silence Bucky inhaled slowly, parting his lips to speak. "I'm tired Steve." He said wearily, the struggle of the evening still evident in his voice. "I don't want to talk about me, or my background, or Hydra." There was a note of finality in his voice that Steve knew that the conversation was over.
He stood slowly, trying not to feel too disappointed. "Okay," He said quietly, his lips pulling into a sad smile, "Okay Bucky, I'll see you in the morning." He said.
Bucky turned, shifting to the head of the bed and grabbing the end of the handcuff that were not attached to the bed post. He clumsily shifted the cuff around his wrist, trying to close it with his one good hand.
Steve glanced back, seeing Bucky trying to cuff himself in, seeing the look of resigned fear on his face. He knew he was putting himself back in the path of flashbacks and nightmares but he was chaining himself up none the less. Steve's stomached dropped out at the expression on his face.
"No," Steve said suddenly, walking over and pulling the cuff from around Bucky's wrist and clapping it around the bedpost with the other cuff. "No, I'm not going to do that to you again Buck." Bucky startled slightly, looking up at Steve in disbelief.
"What?" He demanded, his brow drawing into a suspicious frown. "Fury-" He started and Steve cut him off with an almost dismissive wave of his hand.
"My job, as your caretaker, as your friend, is to help you get better. These cuffs," He said, grabbing the chain and giving it a yank, "are not helping. If Fury has a problem with that…" He drew in a hesitant breath, "…He knows where to find me."
Bucky blinked in confusion, his gaze darting from the cuffs, to Steve, and then back to the cuffs. "I don't understand…You had orders." He said, staring.
Steve shrugged, saying the only thing that came to mind. "You're more important."
Again the look of confusion phased across his face. What could he say to that? An awkward silence stretch between the two of them, Bucky's mind spinning this information. Steve had already turned to leave, his hand on the knob, when Bucky spoke again.
"I guess I'll have to put of strangling you in your sleep until next week then."
Steve turned abruptly, staring back at Bucky, who met his gaze evenly. Steve gaped for a moment, just staring. Bucky gazed back for a moment, and then scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"God Steve…" He said in disbelief, rolling over and drawing the thick cover over his shoulders.
Steve blinked rapidly. He wasn't usually slow to pick up on jokes but he certainly hadn't expected one to come from the Winter Soldier.
"Oh…" He stammered hesitantly. "Right…G-Goodnight…" Steve stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him, still wide-eyed with surprise.