It would be strange to try to explain why he feels the need to withdraw on himself when talking to Steve now. It would be a start to say that this isn't his Steve, but in a way, is that even so much of a change? He's pretty sure he hasn't been any Steve's Bucky in a very long time. He lost the right to be that man ages ago, somewhere cold, when he had a colder name.

But all of that has only just been laid bare for this Steve, and it hurts a little to talk casually of his own capacity for violence with him. It feels too much like endangering his next chance of being a better man.

And here this Steve is holding out an axe to him. All of a sudden, Bucky finds himself missing the shield, missing that time spent as a better man for certain. But that's no way to think in the middle of a misty deathmatch, so he just reaches out and grabs the handle. "What are you gonna use? I think we're a little short on shields here, Steve."