Yeah, there's definite tensing at the new name, because that's not a name, it's -
But Bucky - Soldat - tries to explain. And the thing is... the thing is, how can Steve be unhappy with him for choosing something for himself? There are still a lot of complicated emotions swirling under the surface, but above it all, he understands, and he shakes his head, because, "No, if your name's Soldat now, then I'm not gonna call you something else. That's just rude."
In a way, Bucky was just a childhood nickname he never quite outgrew or sloughed off, right? Maybe now, it's just like that's what he's done.
Because he's changed, yeah, but - he's grown. Steve can already see that. And he can feel guilty and angry at himself on his own time. Right now, he still feels happy to see his friend again, and stupidly proud of him for clearly handling himself amazingly under the most extenuating circumstances Steve can imagine. "It's nice to meet you, Soldat," he offers, feeling a little dumb for saying it, but it still feels like the right thing to say.
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But Bucky - Soldat - tries to explain. And the thing is... the thing is, how can Steve be unhappy with him for choosing something for himself? There are still a lot of complicated emotions swirling under the surface, but above it all, he understands, and he shakes his head, because, "No, if your name's Soldat now, then I'm not gonna call you something else. That's just rude."
In a way, Bucky was just a childhood nickname he never quite outgrew or sloughed off, right? Maybe now, it's just like that's what he's done.
Because he's changed, yeah, but - he's grown. Steve can already see that. And he can feel guilty and angry at himself on his own time. Right now, he still feels happy to see his friend again, and stupidly proud of him for clearly handling himself amazingly under the most extenuating circumstances Steve can imagine. "It's nice to meet you, Soldat," he offers, feeling a little dumb for saying it, but it still feels like the right thing to say.