The shields were a necessity. He hadn't willfully chosen to become the way he had, but maybe the notion of constantly feeling the need to be on high alert and protective actually was woven into his personality. He couldn't rightfully say one way or another. Had he been that way all along or was it a result of being forced to adapt to that line of thinking? That was just another thing he had to try to figure out.

"Like the Norse goddess?" From anyone else that might have sounded flirtatious, but while he was serious there was a little bit of intrigue in the way he asked. Once one found out that apparent gods truly did exist in some form or another you couldn't really help but want to learn more on the subject -- as a curiosity and a precaution.

Idly he began gently tossing the ball in the air, both to test the feel of the object and a way to buy time while he considered just what name he should give her if one at all. After the next minute or so they'd likely never speak again, so did it even matter? It wasn't quite right to ask hers then not give his own, but...

"Bucky." He decided to let the familiar nickname fall from his mouth before he thought twice of it. It wasn't the full truth but nor was it a lie. It was the best he could do.