Everything in Bucky's reaction -- the way his eyes have gone slightly wide, the way that his breath is caught in his throat -- broadcasts that it's been a long time since anyone has shown him this kind of affection. He hasn't been treated with anything approaching compassion in recent memory. No, he hasn't been treated like a person would be the more accurate way to say it.
This isn't the first time that they've been physical. They shared a kiss on Bucky's birthday, but it hadn't been quite so intimate as this. Right now their bodies are pressed up against each other, and they're alone, unseen by anyone else in the mansion.
Even then, Steve isn't entirely prepared for the question, though he hardly hesitates in his response. "Sure," he says softly as he reaches past Bucky to unplug the drain. The water slowly starts to recede around them, and Steve can only hope that a small amount of Bucky's trauma is going with it.
Steve stands up out of the water and then grabs for the towels hanging from the rack nearby, handing one over to Bucky. He steps out of the tub, drying himself off as he goes. When he looks back and sees Bucky still seated there in the dirty water, he somehow looks so small, despite the fact that his bulk fills up the space no problem.
Steve moves back over in the space of a second, his towel now draped over his shoulders, and reaches down to pick Bucky up out of the bath. He's not sure if Bucky will actually let him full-on carry him, but either way he wants to be there to support his weight.
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This isn't the first time that they've been physical. They shared a kiss on Bucky's birthday, but it hadn't been quite so intimate as this. Right now their bodies are pressed up against each other, and they're alone, unseen by anyone else in the mansion.
Even then, Steve isn't entirely prepared for the question, though he hardly hesitates in his response. "Sure," he says softly as he reaches past Bucky to unplug the drain. The water slowly starts to recede around them, and Steve can only hope that a small amount of Bucky's trauma is going with it.
Steve stands up out of the water and then grabs for the towels hanging from the rack nearby, handing one over to Bucky. He steps out of the tub, drying himself off as he goes. When he looks back and sees Bucky still seated there in the dirty water, he somehow looks so small, despite the fact that his bulk fills up the space no problem.
Steve moves back over in the space of a second, his towel now draped over his shoulders, and reaches down to pick Bucky up out of the bath. He's not sure if Bucky will actually let him full-on carry him, but either way he wants to be there to support his weight.