"It's complicated." Obviously that. Bucky stares at Sam's chest, nostrils flaring a little before he looks away and takes another drink. "I heard you moving around, in Walker's house, but mostly i followed the smell." Which actually explains very little, Bucky, use your words.

"So. It's like this." He opens his hand on the table and tries very hard to ignore everything else happening with his body right now. The rum helps and hinders this project. "Walker, the man whose house you were in? He and I have a bad history. He'd kill you ar once he knew I'd even talked to you, much less wanted you for a mate and kidnapped you out from under him. And the men on this ship, they wouldn't leave you alone unless you were mated to me.

So we could leave. This ship. They'd follow for a while but I can outrun 'em. But I... I don't really know how far we'd get before... I forget what it's like to be around people. How to ask for things first. And that would be dangerous, for you."

Another drink. "But if I let you go, he'd definitely hunt you down for the sport of it. Even if I took you to Pearl's." The head of the brothel the next town over. "And the Navy would let it happen, you know. Given him medals for worse."