[ there's no time to appreciate the sudden influx of air to his lungs, or to think maybe bucky's decided to really trust him, because as soon as steve's even considered smiling bucky's flipped him over. confusion quickly gives way to understanding, though, and steve doesn't resist the patdown—somewhat of a mistake, given his easy acceptance of bucky pushing him around means he's entirely unprepared to be dumped unceremoniously on the floor when bucky tugs up the sheets. at least he didn't hit the corner of the nightstand, just tumbled awkwardly into the wall.

steve rights himself easily enough, sitting up against the nighstand while bucky cases the room. it's a good opportunity to really take in his appearance, now that steve doesn't have to worry about getting choked out if he says the wrong thing—bucky looks fine, in a word, and at least better than steve left him. not favoring the arm steve dislocated, no gsws that need immediate attention. it'd be a relief if it weren't more than a little weird.

if bucky got the serum, he should heal fast, but not this fast. not even steve heals this fast, and realizing that only brings attention to the complete lack of pain steve himself is feeling. he was shot three times. bucky broke his nose, at least, beating his face in with that metal fist, and probably his orbital bones too. he fell hundreds of feet into a river. super soldier or not, he shouldn't be upright and conscious right now. he should probably be dead. he'd expected to die.

why is he alive? ]

I'll talk about whatever you want, Buck, [ steve says, earnest and sincere, but now he's had the thought it's hard to shake it, and he can't relax until he gets more intel. ] Can I ask you a question, first? Do you know where we are? Or how we got here?

[ that's two questions, rogers. ]