Such is the prison life. A soft huff escapes him at Steve's tone and conviction, and part of him wants to say this isn't your fight, Steve. Wants to argue, or discredit him, but the fact of the matter is he'd really held his own back there. Between the two of them they did enough damage to probably buy themselves at least a second thought from any more hired goons — Alex's price would have to shoot way up to sway someone, or he'll have to wait for a few new sorry suckers to convince.

Or change his tactics, which is an even icier possibility.

One that Bucky doesn't want to dwell on too hard.

So instead he purses his lips, allows a moment of quiet to pass, and then murmurs, "A good thing would've been never holding him down in the first place."

Not allowing himself to be caught up and intimidated into being a thug for the first few months of his stay here. He's only fortunate that he got himself out before any real damage was done. Alex is his only real enemy, but he's a big one.