If it's of any consolation, Bucky didn't take it to heart. He'll mull over it more when he's back home, alone, going through the motions of what's left of the day, but for now he's trying to hopefully get on with their excursion.

Eventually when the car is about the size of a toy over his shoulder, Bucky decides he shouldn't venture any further. Especially when he can't see an equivalent lego figurine-sized Arthur anywhere in sight. Maybe he would have heard something if he still had his enhanced, well. Enhanced everything, just about. But Arthur had started in the opposite direction, and Bucky is still oblivious as he closes the distance between himself and the car.

"Arthur?" he calls out once, scanning their surroundings, immediately assuming the worst. Bucky's pretty sure the chances of Arthur keeping a handgun in the glove compartment is next to none and he's not confident he can take on anything more than human. Still, he checks the car, peeks into the window and then makes his way towards the barrier again, scanning the floor for any evidence. Torn fabric, blood, cane, knife, large intestines, small intestines, Asgardian symbols, dinosaur prints--

Or you know. Just normal shoeprints, beyond the gravel where the not-quite-mud-yet starts. Bucky follows the trail at a light jog until he stumbles upon Arthur, clothes a little messed up, just starting to recover from his fall.

"You okay?" Squinting, keeping a safe distance away. He wants to swoop in and help, sure, but he's been rebuked once already. "...what's our codeword?"

It's not paranoia if there are shapeshifting aliens out there.