Some things are just fated to be. Bucky understands that now. (But that doesn't mean he'll stop trying.)
"It's okay, Bucky," Steve coughed, eyes wide and earnest. "Everything's gonna be okay."
"No." Bucky shook his head violently, terrified. "Steve- Stevie-"
Steve weakly wrapped his fingers around Bucky's wrist. He looked so peaceful, and Bucky almost resented him for that. "I believe in you, Buck."
"And what am I supposed to believe in now?" Bucky asked desperately, rapidly blinking away tears. "Steve, you can't-"
Steve's eyes fluttered closed, and Bucky stopped shaking and went very, very still. This, this can change. He will make it so.
Some things don't change, maybe they can't. Steve's eyes are always that same shade of blue, there is always a fight waiting on his lips and bruises painting his skin, and Bucky always falls in love with the sunlight on his hair and the blood on his knuckles.
Start over?
Yes.