Buck was exhausted and tired. Though tired not only in the sleepy way. He was tired of being him. He was tired of having a metal arm. He was tired of being judged. He was just tired and so it was rare that he was able to relax. But he knew if there was an occasion where he could truly relax, it would be with Steve.
The fact that this car ride was anything but relaxing didn’t bother him at all. The whole day was exhausting enough for Bucky to fall asleep on an active volcano. When his head slipped down onto the others shoulder the soldier had already drifted off into his not-so-sweet dreams.
Even though he really wished to stay calm and maybe just dream nothing for this nap he didn’t succeed and after just a few minutes he already started shifting uncomfortably in his place, a frown on his face.
He felt it when Bucky started to shift in place and looked over. It took some adjusting, but he managed to get a look at the man's face without really displacing him. What he saw had his own expression shifting to match Bucky's. His frown was all concern, though, and his brow softened as he tried to figure out what he should do.
In truth, it felt almost kinder to just let him rest. He wasn't sure, though, didn't know how to leave him in what looked like it might be a less-than-pleasant dream. In the end, it was that frown that had him reacting, reaching out to brush a hand gently across Bucky's shoulder.
"Hey." It was soft, barely a whisper under the sound of the cars rushing by theirs, the purr of the engine, the hiss of the air conditioner. "Bucky." There was already an apology in his voice. "Wake up, Buck. S'okay."