[The laugh - it's not quite as convincing as it should be. Honestly, neither is what Bucky says. And on top of it all is the way Bucky almost, almost doesn't clap him on the shoulder without it being a lot harder than it needs to be, because there's just... something about the gesture that doesn't feel right.
And the sinking feeling only gets worse.
When Bucky looks back at him, Steve's got this funny look on his face - somewhere between a dry smile and a grimace.] I know. I can always be a whole lot worse.
[Which is maybe what he's trying to tell himself, but he's not really all that convinced. It can always be worse, but... things might be pretty bad.
Bucky takes off down the stays without him, and Steve just picks up the pace to catch up - mostly. He still stays a step or two behind Bucky, instead of brushing past him like he might have, normally. He's starting to feel like his whole world's turned upside down, and yet it's also feeling a little too uncomfortably like the reality he has to face back home, and all of that gives him enough bitter food for thought that he doesn't say anything else the rest of the way to the dining hall, just works on following Bucky, picking up a tray, and getting plenty of food - including pancakes, which is actually, honestly just reflex whenever he eats breakfast with Bucky, no matter the time of day.]
Spam; Oct. 3
And the sinking feeling only gets worse.
When Bucky looks back at him, Steve's got this funny look on his face - somewhere between a dry smile and a grimace.] I know. I can always be a whole lot worse.
[Which is maybe what he's trying to tell himself, but he's not really all that convinced. It can always be worse, but... things might be pretty bad.
Bucky takes off down the stays without him, and Steve just picks up the pace to catch up - mostly. He still stays a step or two behind Bucky, instead of brushing past him like he might have, normally. He's starting to feel like his whole world's turned upside down, and yet it's also feeling a little too uncomfortably like the reality he has to face back home, and all of that gives him enough bitter food for thought that he doesn't say anything else the rest of the way to the dining hall, just works on following Bucky, picking up a tray, and getting plenty of food - including pancakes, which is actually, honestly just reflex whenever he eats breakfast with Bucky, no matter the time of day.]