It’s a big jump; almost impossibly large, to imagine that he’d do this for someone who doesn’t even know him. Set aside everything he currently knows, burn up his current life and set it ablaze, sacrifice it in order to give Gamora a safe way out. It might seem saintly. Why would he do this for her?

But that’s the whole point.

The corner of Bucky’s mouth flickers; a little sad, a little rueful, a little set in his ways. “Someone else did the same thing for me, once,” he says. “I’m just paying it forward.”

Steve had offered him a way out. Steve had reached out a hand. The circumstances weren’t exactly the same, but he’s got this debt hanging around his throat and if there’s at all a chance he can save another assassin, another cornered animal who doesn’t have to die—

Bucky’s made up his mind. He reaches to the SWORD earpiece that he can activate at a touch, but instead he just takes it out, drops it to the floor. Stands ready with his heavy boot to smash it, as soon as she says yes. If she says yes.

“I was getting tired of the leash anyway,” he adds.