Because some people still seem a little lost on the character relationship that is Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, let’s fill you in
Bucky Barnes treated Steve Rogers as an EQUAL. He’s one of the ((at the time)) two people in Steve’s life ((the other having been Sarah)) to not look at him with disgust or treat him like fragile glass. Steve would fucking hate to be babied. To be patronized and mother henned. It’s not what he’d want in any sort of relationship. Which is why Bucky is so important to him.
When Bucky took him on the Cyclone, he did so because he never underestimated Steve. And you can’t tell me that Steve didn’t get them in their fair share of trouble. Both of them screwed with each other. It’s not like Bucky dragged him on, but probably pestered him until Steve agreed. Bucky wouldn’t have done it if Steve really didn’t want to AND Steve is one of the most stubborn people on the planet. If he really didn’t want to go on, he wouldn’t have.
When they laughed about it later, it was because Steve had been fine, just like Bucky knew he’d be.
When Bucky offered Steve a place to stay after his mom died and all Steve had to do was “take out the trash or shine his shoes” HE’S KIDDING. He’s fucking around with him. He is NOT serious. He’d never make Steve do something like that. His best friend is in unimaginable pain and he knows what will normally stir a laugh from him. Bucky’s never treated Steve as an inferior. Steve would want nothing to do with someone who did. Especially when the rest of the world already does. In fact, just being seen with Steve at all has the risk of a negative view for Bucky himself.
However ((and this is actually very plausible considering Steve’s personality)) Steve might want to do things around the house to earn his “keep” ((which Bucky wouldn’t see it as needing, but Steve would so as not to be a “burden”)) cause it’d be extremely difficult for him to maintain or even get a job. Steve’s not one to just take handouts. He had a job as a paper boy, which is already a pretty lousy job for someone Steve’s age to have, but given the rampant ableism of the times, any time off for being sick, probably saw him having to find another one over and over. So Steve would want to do something to not feel like he was a drain on Bucky, even though Bucky would never see it that way.
When Bucky discourages Steve from joining the army it’s out of fear for his safety. This is the man who knows each and every one of Steve’s disabilities. He’s been there almost his whole life through sickness and wants nothing more than to keep Steve safe. Bucky’s priority in life is Steve. Bucky didn’t want Steve to enlist, but no more than Steve didn’t want Bucky to enlist. This was a war. Friends and families being torn apart because of it. Bucky not wanting Steve to join the army had nothing to do with Bucky trying to keep Steve from achieving his goals, but rather everything to do with wanting him to stay alive and be safe.
However, this is only after Bucky’s already tried to help him enlist and taught him how to box. He was scared for him, but he still tried to help him in the beginning. ((this can be found in the tie in comics))
When Bucky says “sometimes I think you like getting hit” he’s KIDDING. Once again, he’s not making fun of Steve. He’s simply joking around with him. Bucky has had years to grow used to Steve’s stance on bullies and not backing down and admires this trait of Steve, but he also knows how single-minded Steve can be. That’s where Bucky comes in to help pull Steve back out of his own head. Steve’s the one that’s inspired him to also stand up to bullies in the first place. ((again this is in the tie in comics)) Steve is and always has been Bucky’s inspiration to make himself a better man.
When Bucky gets back from the Hydra base with Steve, he’s not jealous of Steve. He’s just been rescued from being tortured and tormented at the hands of “mad scientists” who experimented on him, saw this horrifying Nazi dude peel his face off to reveal the Red Skull and now has his best friend in this brand new body. The guy’s going through a lot of shit. Is there bitterness there? Of course. But that bitterness does not stem from jealousy. It’s from feeling a sense of abandonment. Of now having no place in Steve’s life anymore. instead of letting that dwell in the least Bucky turns it into something else and finds his place at Steve’s side. After being a POW, and probably wanting to go home ((having every right to want to go home)) he follows Steve back to the war that did all that to him.
When Bucky flirts with Peggy, he’s not actually trying to pick her up. That’s why he first glances to Steve before even opening his mouth. He knew what was going on there. He was trying to help Steve out. To bounce the flirt off of him. Be his wingman so-to-speak cause the Steve he knows doesn’t know how to speak to women at all. Yet he finds this woman to be charmed by Steve already. Peggy not even acknowledging him at all? That was a bit of a blow, but not enough that he’s actually offended by it. “I’m turning into you, this is a nightmare” Once again… BUCKY IS JOKING.
That’s the beauty of Bucky and Steve’s relationship. Bucky is close enough to Steve that he can poke at him, even in those areas that are sensitive. And Steve is close enough to Bucky that it doesn’t bother him. He likes it because Bucky gets him. He understands him and, once again, doesn’t baby him. He treats him like an equal. Which is so important to Steve.
Seriously, Steve and Bucky’s relationship is one of, if not the strongest, healthiest relationships in all of Marvel history. There’s such an amazing sense of camaraderie and understanding between the two of them that even through 70 years of brainwashing and torture just a few seconds together is enough to begin to crack through the programming.
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