Bucky worried his bottom lip, sucked it in and bit on it while Steve talked. A pained look flickered across his face.

"Of course we do. You, above everyone, deserve to be selfish," he promised Steve, reaching out to take his face in his hands.

"But I can't.... I can't just stand by and watch things happen when I might be able to do something about it." There was a pained note in Bucky's voice, something tight and uncomfortable. "I feel like you used to get that. You of all people should know what that's like."

He wasn't sure when they diverged from that path, but he can't go down that direction, not when it could endanger everyone he cares about, and especially Steve. To protect him, to keep him safe, Bucky would be whatever he has to be.

"Steve, please, let me do this?"