[With the punctuation of the last word, he looks up, gaze meeting Clark’s again. There’s something so different about the way Clark frames it that he needs a moment to run it through his head a few more times. Another moment and the gears click in place.

He laughs quietly in moderate disbelief.]

Not today, huh? [A smile breaks out, a real one that feels like his face might split in half.] You’re really something, Clark. [He nods with the remark and lets the smile fade.]

Yeah. Not today. [He tells himself this time, and suddenly it’s not so hard remembering who Bucky is.

But all of this isn't what he came over for. He makes a quiet sheepish noise and tries to activate his communicator with his chin again.]

Uh. There’s another message too. [A small beep follows. The first one plays again. Bucky makes a face and tries again.] Well, if I can get it to play for you...

[Another replay. But after the third, it decides to cooperate.]

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