Bucky's muscles tense when that familiar yet foreign presence presses through the broodlink, branches through him like a webbing. In a matter of moments, his breathing eases, his chest no longer struggling with the pain of breathing. He waits for the echo, for the sign that Sam has taken on the pain, or for Sam to start coughing blood, but neither come. Bucky calms a touch, his eyes sliding open as he takes in the sight of Sam alive and speaking to him.

His chest rises and falls, same as Bucky's, alive.

So very alive and Bucky can't stop the quiet relief that floods his system. Sam's still here, still okay.