Bucky, for all the time between them and things left unsaid, knew Steve. He knew that however things were going with Peggy, it wasn't fast, and Steve wasn't saying it because Steve had ... notions about how things should go. And he didn't have time for those anymore. Not if he wanted what they got to be anything but a kiss-for-luck goodbye before the Arena.
He just hoped Peggy was more practical and gave it a push. They deserved whatever they could get, however screwed up.
He looked up at the kick, the distraught words. "Don't ... fuck, Steve, don't be sorry. I'm not. I'm not sorry you got somebody, and that you got somebody great like Peg. You're not doing anything to me. I'm not ... I'm not ditching you. It wasn't me coming over here to tell you to pick me or I'm gone. I wouldn't. I'm not ... fuck, that wasn't it. I'm around, I'm your best friend. That doesn't change. Even when I didn't talk to you, that didn't change. I fucked it up, but it didn't CHANGE. I meant forget ... forget the part where I said ... just pretend it's me acting. That's all. We can leave that part there," Bucky said, alternating between rushed words and too-long pauses.
Bucky looked away again. "Talk to her. She had ... you know Peggy. She's got reasons, and she's smart. See if she can sell it to you." Bucky winced a little. After. After, Steve would be gone. Probably Natasha, Barton, Scott - everyone. With their fucking Capitol-sponsored luck, last man standing would be Rumlow.
What the hell would be left afterward? Bucky couldn't ... he couldn't think about it. He didn't think he could be the one left, but Steve didn't need to know that, either. "I'm not Stark's favorite person right now," Bucky said. But the lie wouldn't matter anymore, so he didn't need to stay away. "But yeah. I can go, if he lets me in the door."