[It's impossible for Steve not to notice the way Bucky's hunkered down. It's not the same as when he's thinking about bolting - it's different, somehow, which means something else is causing it, and it doesn't take half a brain to guess what. He's watching Bucky's jaw clench and flex, unhappily, when Bucky speaks up and practically startles him.

He glances at the shield, then back frowning a little more.] Yeah, but I'm just gonna have to resort to some different tools, for now. If you need that, you take it, and you use it. Sergeant.

[Yeah, it's ridiculous to pull rank, and they both know it. But he means it. Use it, dumbass, because in Steve's mind, you never lost the privilege to hold it. You never had to earn it.

And he should leave it at that, maybe, but he just can't stop himself from going on, because he still hates the look on Bucky's face, and the way he feels like he's miles away, even when he's sitting right there.] Look. Talk to me. I can see you sitting there chewing on that piece of your mind, so give it to me.

[He's always relied on Bucky to keep him in check. Maybe he never listened, outwardly, but Bucky's always been his common sense. Always told him when he's really put his foot in it. If he's done the wrong thing, he want to hear it. If Bucky just wants to sit there and scream... Steve actually wants that, too. Anything would be better than this.]