"Little bit, not gonna lie," Bucky replied with a shrug. "C'mon, Stevie, I know as well as you do that you still kinda think you're still scrawny."

Steve shrugged. "Habit," he murmured. "Although I'm getting better about it."

"I know," Bucky replied. He grinned and nudged him. "But you gotta admit, not many guys would be that comfortable with a woman who could do all sorts of unpleasant things to their important bits."

Steve snickered a bit. "Yeah, well, bein' afraid has never been my strong suit," he said with a wry little grin.

"Ain't that the truth," Bucky agreed, snickering. "At least I ain't bailing you out of scraps as often anymore."

"As often." Steve snorted quietly. "True. And you've got your dragon to look after, too."

Bucky was quiet for a moment at that.

"'S not like she needs me to look after her," he finally said.

"Maybe," Steve said after a moment. "Did she come back on her own? Or did someone have to give her a nudge?"

Bucky was quiet for a moment, hesitant.

"I went to find her," he finally admitted. "She was gone too long."

Steve nodded. "That's what I thought," he murmured. "You can take care of her in your own way, Buck." He looked rather pleased with that, actually.

Bucky just shook his head a bit.

"Not the same," he said. "It's just not."

"It's not the same," Steve allowed. "But she's not the same, either. Different situation, y'know? If it works for you..." He trailed off meaningfully.

"I got no idea what works or not," Bucky pointed out, carefully not looking at Steve. "She's a dragon. I'm just a guy with a metal arm."

Steve snorted quietly. "You've never been 'just' anything, Buck," he muttered. "Besides. She didn't send you away."

"Doesn't matter," Bucky muttered. He didn't say anything else, just waiting for the subject to change.

Steve huffed a bit. But he knew when to stop and revisit a subject later.

"Think that's enough food? Or should we get somethin' else ready?"

"Start with this," Bucky said after a moment. "Can always make more later."

Steve nodded. "Sounds fair." He raised an eyebrow at Bucky. "Want to go get them, or should I?"

Bucky raised an eyebrow in return.

"You think I'm getting anywhere near your witch girl without someone else there, you're crazy," he said, grinning a bit. "No telling what might happen."

"She's still with Kenzie," Steve pointed out reasonably, rolling her eyes. "Who happens to like you alive and unroasted."

Bucky just grumbled a little under his breath and still made Steve walk out first. Steve had a better chance of not being magicked.

Steve huffed but went into the main room again, clearing his throat a bit.

"We made food for everyone." He gave Gemma a bit of a look. "Since some people haven't eaten enough today."

Kenzie rumbled a little laugh, her eyes still distinctly draconian as she reluctantly released Gemma.

"I had breakfast," Gemma said, a little defensively as she reluctantly moved away from Kenzie. "Some breakfast," she added.

"I could do with a snack," Kenzie said, herding Gemma in front of her as she made her way into the kitchen. "And so could you." She shot Bucky a look.

Steve (not very successfully) hid his snickers.

"I'm fine," Bucky muttered as Kenzie walked past with Gemma. "You go ahead." He ignored Steve's snickers.