"I could do that." Bucky says to plan B, with the ghost of a smile on his lips, an echo of a boy who'd done that in the name of his friends own good too many times to count. Steve was skinnier then, shorter, though he still hit plenty hard, but Bucky's pretty sure he could manage it again.

He shakes his head, and Sam's question, away. "I want to help him." even if Steve said he didn't need any help. Bucky and Sam knew different and it's nice having someone who agrees with him, a co-conspirator against Steve Rogers punk attitude.

Touching Steve isn't as hard as it is with others. There's no threat, even a wrongfully perceived one, with his best friend. The memory of HYDRA's last order has faded enough that it no longer gets in the way.