There's a little flare of relief, of - not quite pleasure, but satisfaction, maybe, when Winter says he'll probably ask Steve. That Steve knows best.
Even if that somehow feels a little awful, too, because, "I don't want you to - you know I can only give you my opinion, right? You can ask - you should ask. Of course you should. But I know you don't really know me right now. I expect you to take what I say with a grain of salt, if you need to. Just because I say I want what's best for you - I do. But I understand if you don't trust that yet."
Steve understands if he has to earn Winter's trust. He knows he comes on strong, trusts probably too easily. He's never been sorry for it. But he can't expect the same of everyone else. Not after what Winter's been through. Maybe a little paranoia is healthy, even if Steve hates having to admit it should apply to him, too.
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Even if that somehow feels a little awful, too, because, "I don't want you to - you know I can only give you my opinion, right? You can ask - you should ask. Of course you should. But I know you don't really know me right now. I expect you to take what I say with a grain of salt, if you need to. Just because I say I want what's best for you - I do. But I understand if you don't trust that yet."
Steve understands if he has to earn Winter's trust. He knows he comes on strong, trusts probably too easily. He's never been sorry for it. But he can't expect the same of everyone else. Not after what Winter's been through. Maybe a little paranoia is healthy, even if Steve hates having to admit it should apply to him, too.