"I know," Steve says, and... okay, there's maybe more exasperation behind it than he means to put, but, "I know that."

But the thing is, "You're you. You've always been you. Even when you don't remember, you're you. I don't - know how else to put it."

He wants to get up, but that would probably be bad, so he just pulls his legs closer, digs his fingers into the fabric of his jeans. "I don't expect you to feel the same way about anything. I know I've said it. But - Buck, you're not some weird alternate universe version of some guy I knew."

Steve huffs a little. "Believe me, I've met those. And you know what? They were still you, one way or the other. That's why - I don't know. If I'm bad for you, if it's bad for you to be around me, I get it. If you don't want to be the guy you think I want you to be, then - I get it. But don't pretend I don't know you, like I keep comparing you to somebody else. I'm not."

He blows out a breath. "But if it's easier for you to think that way, then - I don't know." Because Steve will do anything for Bucky, but... he doesn't know how well he'd be able to pretend this isn't Bucky. Clearly his past actions have shown that.