The space they'd taken was entirely necessary. It wasn't something that had been easy to ask for, or even to really take once it was granted, but they'd needed it. Bucky had needed to take the time to let his heart mend itself and really allow him to explore the feelings he had for both Natasha and Clint without everything with Steve hindering him from feeling those emotions to their fullest potential. He had to take the 'what if' scenario out of the equation all together, and that had been hard -- painful even -- but he'd done it and was better off for it. Steve, it seemed, was too. They had a chance and didn't take it together, but they had the chance to take it with other people and they'd done so. Now it was a matter of finding their way back to each other in a way that worked for them both.
Above all things, they'd always been the best of friends. If they could fall back on that, rely upon that bond and the brotherhood they'd shared for so long, then maybe things would be all right. This was a hard conversation to have, but Bucky hoped -- truly hoped -- that after having it then their next conversation would be easier. And the next even better, until they finally found that sense of normalcy again. Bucky missed his best friend. He missed their connection, even at its most basic before all the complex romantic undertones came into play.
"I know," he said. "I don't want to hurt you either, Steve. All I've ever wanted for you, since we were little kids, was for you to have a happy life. And I hoped I'd always be in it, in whatever capacity I could be. You met and found someone who means the world to you. And if you're happy, that's what matters. I want that for you. I'm not going to begrudge you or him for it. I hope you can be happy for me, too. And I hope, as it gets a little easier, that we can talk about them with each other. Because as much as I needed the space, I don't want to have it forever. If you still need it though, I get it. I can keep my distance." He glanced down at the two Pokemon who now were kind of chattering at each other pleasantly. "These two might miss each other, though."