[ He'd asked Natasha if they were missing something. A last-ditch effort to see if there was a chance that what she'd thought she felt for him hadn't been entirely imposed on her, if only for his own peace of mind. She hadn't given him a direct answer but still shut down that line of thought pretty thoroughly. As she always has, in her own way, which is an answer in and of itself.

He's not sure he can bring himself to ask the question again in such quick succession, even if Bucky's not gonna be breaking up with him any time soon. He's wondered if there's some memory after what he's got from Wakanda that can explain Bucky being out of the ice, but there's just the raft and then nothing. He remembers enough now that the things that don't come back easily are just foggy and confusing, rather than complete blanks. So no, he's not missing anything. Bucky never chose to stay at his side, before this place; neither did Natasha. He doesn't begrudge either of them their choices if by his side isn't where they need to be, and it's why he hadn't fought Bucky going in the tube. But there was a reason he couldn't finish that sentence just now. ]

They never made a lick of difference to me, Buck. If there's something you want me to say you just gotta be around to hear it.