Maybe it's the voice, or the tilt of the voice, or the fact that Steve is still in his own mind, but he actually answers the question when he hears that familiar taunt from behind the door.
"Ebbets Field, you jerk-" The words just tumble out before he can stop himself, until suddenly, Steve's snapping to attention. The thought that it isn't Natasha inside is forgotten entirely, because it's not the Winter Soldier who answers. That's Bucky's voice.
He looks at the door like somehow, if he tries hard enough he'd be able to see through it. But there's a whole part of Steve that can't bring itself to believe what's about to happen. It couldn't possibly be Buck. There's no ping on Steve's PDC, no notification from Technical Services that another Special has been created. No request for new orientation. But whatever denial is ramping up inside him, it freezes when the knob on the door starts to turn.
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"Ebbets Field, you jerk-" The words just tumble out before he can stop himself, until suddenly, Steve's snapping to attention. The thought that it isn't Natasha inside is forgotten entirely, because it's not the Winter Soldier who answers. That's Bucky's voice.
He looks at the door like somehow, if he tries hard enough he'd be able to see through it. But there's a whole part of Steve that can't bring itself to believe what's about to happen. It couldn't possibly be Buck. There's no ping on Steve's PDC, no notification from Technical Services that another Special has been created. No request for new orientation. But whatever denial is ramping up inside him, it freezes when the knob on the door starts to turn.