"No, you'd be fucking miserable in the 40s," James acknowledge wryly, finally looking at him. His eyes were haunted, dark with regret and fear. "I just mean... you know one of the reasons I avoid Steve is 'cause I hate how he looks at me. Like I can see the reflection of Bucky in his eyes, and I know he's wishing he could help me 'get better', be more like I was."

He shook his head, fists clenching. "I don't want to see you ever look at me like that. Like you're wishing I was more like him. And the thing is, you deserve someone more like him. Not a brooding, surly, antisocial asshole."