[ she half-expects for bucky to jerk away from the lack of distance between them, in an effort to create space but much to her surprise — he doesn't. she won't think about it too much, not now anyway and will probably dwell on it later when she's keeping a watchful eye on her mark but for now? she takes it as him trusting her enough not to gut her when she's less than a foot from him.

he's right though, to think that she thinks he's just owing her a favour, because that is precisely what goes through her mind when somebody offers their help.

so she listens when he keeps going, opens up to her about things he's probably only told sam or steve or natasha.

her eyes never leave his, not even once he's said his piece. she feels vulnerable, like this; but bucky must feel it more. ]

I'm trying. [ to fix everything that dreykov destroyed, to piece them back all together one by one. ] And I know your offer is coming from a good place, too, it's just — this feels like something we should be able to take care of on our own, you know? [ but she brings up a hand to stop him from talking, because she knows he'll tell her it's okay to ask for help and yadda yadda. ]

But I will keep you in mind. I mean it. You will be the first person I reach out to if I need help.