"And here you wanted to skip the pleasantries," Bucky says, with a flash of white teeth, too on edge to keep the grin from turning into a grimace. He steps back, not out of respect, but because he needs to or else risk breaking detente. The shield keeps him grounded, its weight a reminder of ideals he's worked hard to reclaim as his own.

It's a small island. They'll run into each other again, but he's in no rush to test his control a second time anytime soon.