[Bucky rests his forehead against hers for a moment. That wouldn’t have been possible, before, not without leaning down a whole lot more. Her hands on his face still feel the same. She’s patched him up after enough boxing bouts for him to remember.

She said the serum effects seem permanent so far, and he doesn’t quite know how he feels about it yet. Her question makes him open his eyes.]

Yeah I did. Kept it with me till they took all our stuff. [He’d folded and unfolded it so often the paper had started to wear out. Nearly decked Dugan once when the man had tried to get a better look at ‘Sarge’s girl’. ]

Don’t have to fight God about it, sweetheart. I’m right here.

[The endearment slips out before he can really think about it. It probably wouldn’t matter anyway. He couldn’t disguise the fondness in his voice even if he tried.]