[The worst day of his life. As much as he knows that Steve leaving had hit him hard, he knows that isn't it. Even Karli's death, the very reason that Sam's here isn't enough. It's something more personal than that. Something closer to Sam's heart. His parents deaths, perhaps. His aunt. But then there's the conversation from before, and the answer is obvious-]
Riley.
[His smirk fades, replaced with something far kinder. More understanding. Regrets have filled the majority of his post-Hydra days. So he knows what it feels like to wish he could change the past. To protect at least one more person. But Sam is better than that. Always has been. Always will be. He throws himself in to harms way, doing anything he can to protect the people around him. He's taken beatings, has bled for the cause. And still, he continues fighting.
Continues hurting. Suffering. Because he'd sooner keep those problems to himself than ask for help.
...he really does have a type when it comes to best friends.]
Next time you decide you need this, you tell me.
[Because he doesn't need to ask. If Sam needs the company, then Bucky will drop whatever he's doing to be there.]
no subject
Riley.
[His smirk fades, replaced with something far kinder. More understanding. Regrets have filled the majority of his post-Hydra days. So he knows what it feels like to wish he could change the past. To protect at least one more person. But Sam is better than that. Always has been. Always will be. He throws himself in to harms way, doing anything he can to protect the people around him. He's taken beatings, has bled for the cause. And still, he continues fighting.
Continues hurting. Suffering. Because he'd sooner keep those problems to himself than ask for help.
...he really does have a type when it comes to best friends.]
Next time you decide you need this, you tell me.
[Because he doesn't need to ask. If Sam needs the company, then Bucky will drop whatever he's doing to be there.]
You're not alone, Sam.