[ It's not the question Bucky is really asking him, but Tony smiles anyway. What Bucky asks is how Tony knows him and he doesn't. He doesn't know the man across from him at all, but at the mention of it, he still lights up with warmth he's been holding back. ]

Bucky is a friend. We occasionally work together. His missions are generally off-limits to someone like me... I have a certain image to keep, but I trust him.

Sometimes he even lets me improve his suit.

As for your file, that is in classified SHIELD knowledge. I know about it because I have clearance to know. And because he came back.

[ How it's different is a whole other trunk to unpack. ]

He cut his hair for one thing.