There wasn't a chance that Steve was going to get a word in edgewise. Bucky was on a tear, flushed and shouting, practically spitting his words at Steve. He wasn't pulling his punches, either, hitting precisely where he knew it would hurt most, and after a couple of those jabs - accusing Steve of being a martyr, of forcing his own wants on Clint - Steve found himself releasing his grasp on Bucky's shoulders, letting his hands drop to his sides. And he flinched, a physical recoil, when Bucky dredged up what Steve knew to be a stomach-twisting truth. He'd always wanted to do the right thing, yes, but he'd also had a hell of a lot to prove. His actions hadn't been entirely selfless, however much he wanted to think they were. And there weren't many people who knew that, but Bucky did, and having him fling it back in Steve's face hurt. Made Steve feel so much lesser.
Now wasn't the time to allow himself to be overtaken by that kind of self-pity though. That was a worthless emotion, useless in the long run, and Steve couldn't afford that kind of wallowing right now. So he straightened his back and returned Bucky's gaze, his own eyes blazing.
"You won't have a choice, Buck," he said, stepping closer, the two of them practically nose-to-nose. "Stane'll make sure it's me." Steve took a deep breath, his jaw flexing, hands clenching at his sides. He looked just as rebellious as Bucky did, and he hated that this was turning into a fight. He'd been prepared for that, he'd even assumed an argument was coming, but that didn't make this any easier.
"And you know what?" Steve added, tone growing heated. "Screw you for acting like it was any easier for me to watch you in there. You think I wasn't goin' out of my damn mind? Like it'd be any easier for me to sit back and watch it happen all over again?"