[ yup, definitely harder than storming zola's train. harder than anything the commandos have tried, in no small part because bucky very much agrees with steve's sentiment - he doesn't want to be anywhere steve isn't. he doesn't.

but it's not right. he's alive for the moment, it seems, by some magic he won't even try to begin to understand. but steve is alive period. he can't just hold him back like -

- god, he really is turning into steve, isn't he. first it was the girl, and now it's the rational. he curses inwardly and reminds himself it's not the same. it's hard to cope with, feeling very much alive as he does, but he isn't. and there lies all he difference in the world. ]

I don't know how we'd do that either, but we'll figure it out. [ or at least make a damn good attempt of it. if steve stays here with him and something happens to him - how is he supposed to live this strange one-foot-out-the-door of an afterlife with that weighing over his soul? maybe this is a test, to prove his own worth. well, he can't really say what that is, can he, that's for someone else to decide. what he can say is he's not the sort of man who would risk his best friend's life and well being just because he's going to miss him when he goes. ] Gotta get you back to your enternet, whatever the hell that is.

[ he tries for a smile, though he's very much not feeling like smiling, as one look into his eyes will attest. he tightens his hold, trying to offer what comfort he can.

he's here. for the time being, he's here.

with his other hand, he lightly pokes at steve's forehead. ]

You got me, right in there. [ just like he had steve in his head when he shipped out. they've known each other too long to ever truly be alone. ]