"Partner," Bucky nods, accepting the mild... not censure, but waving away the self-cynicism he'd been trying to establish.

He smiles, this time more easily, more openly. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me." Some things don't ever end. "You... we. We can do what most people can't. Turning away from what needs doing - that's never been you." And I won't even try.

"Avengers, huh? From what I know... it sounds a good team to be on."