Natasha was giving Steve the change that they needed. He took a few steps forward and looked down at Bucky. Eyes meeting eyes. He knew that at any moment Bucky could try and break free so they needed to make this count. God it hurt to see him like this... Especially as at that moment Steve saw no recognition at all in his eyes.
But he was in there somewhere. Every report he'd gotten, everything he'd been told told him that! "You don't want to talk, that's fine, but you are going to listen." He moved so he was closer to the ground, looking at Bucky on his level. "You were always better than me at the covert operations... Come on Bucky, I know you're in there somewhere. Think. Ignore the pain and reach back." He never raised his voice. "You're my friend. You may not remember it but I do. Camp Lehigh, the missions in Europe, Red Skull and Zemo. We're partners, Buck. We lost you, I failed you, and because of that you became this, but this isn't who you are! You're stronger than this, a better man than this! And you can't tell me that whatever mind wipe they did took away every part of you; you're man I trust with my life! We are partners! We were always in this together and that hasn't changed. We know who you are! You are James Buchanan Barnes."
He was pleading now. He'd already failed him once... He couldn't do it again. His eyes never left Bucky's, he didn't know how this was going to end, but he wasn't going to fight him.