Steve exhaled, he could feel the difference. His arms were by his side his palms turned down towards the bed. He squeezed the bed sheets, they were much softer than the sheets that he and Bucky had laid on. He sighed and opened his eyes, looking up at the ceiling. The pattern was off. He rubbed at his eyes and turned on his side.

He listened to the outside, a familiar hustle of Avengers outside woke him. If he was sleeping here that meant he was still in between missions. He rolled on his side, his eyes training on the wall in front of him. He thought back, trying to remember his other life. With Bucky, and Jackie. All the memories were still vividly there like they really had happened.

He groaned and sat up, he reasoned that had to be the most unfair thing of all. The fact that he could remember a time better than the reality he lived in. He chest clenched, his entire being wishing it wasn't true.

There were several knocks on his door. Steve sighed he rubbed at his face, he knew he needed to leave the room and act like the Steve Rogers the world needed. There were more knocks. "Coming!" He yelled.

He moved his hand away from his face and stood up and went to the door opening it up. On the other side, Tony was leaning against the doorway his arms crossed. He looked mystified as he scanned Steve's body.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever." Tony murmured, Steve shrugged in reply. He felt a bit bad, but he was still in mental mourning.

"I've just been here..."

"Well I'm happy you are here, I feel like everything been a shit show. But...you were here so...I don't know. Anyway, Barnes is looking for you."

"He is?" Steve frowned, it was rare that Bucky even acknowledge him unless they were around other people.

"Yeah, but indirectly. He just asked if anyone had seen you. After we said no, and he looked bummed and didn't say anything else."

"Oh." Steve frowned, it didn't sound like Bucky had any real interest in wear he has went.

"I know what it sounds like but I've been around men enough to know when one's pining. And that one-armed man is pining badly. Go talk to him." Tony reached over patted Steve's arms and walked off.

Steve watched him leave for a few seconds, he had to work up the courage to walk again. He took a step away from his door and closed it behind him. He walked through the hallway that led to the kitchen. He realized that Tony had never given him a location.

"Hey!" He was stopped by the sound of Bruce's voice. Steve turned back and looked at the shorter man.

"Oh hey, Bruce." He remembered having drinks with Bruce in the other world. He couldn't remember a time he had been alone with Bruce before.

"Hey, uh I just wanted to say hey. I feel...like I haven't seen you in awhile it's weird. Anyway, since you're here. Want to grab a coffee or something, we haven't actually sat and talked since before the whole Accords thing."

Steve blinked almost physically taking a step back. "Uh yeah, sure. Is later today okay?"

"Sounds good, I'll catch you then." Bruce waved a packet that he had been holding and left down the opposite way.

Steve hummed, a bit of the hurt in his chest ebbed away. He could at least count on Bruce's relationship. He realized he could probably count on Nat's and Sam's friendship too. They were all close, and every day he was warming up more to Tony.

"Maybe I'll get a dog." He said to himself. He knew he wouldn't go through with it, especially alone without Bucky.

"Shouldn't talk to yourself Steve, and if you get a dog there are a billion shelters all over the city. Good luck," Nat said as she walked by. Steve blushed and watched her go. She glanced back a few times like she was making sure that he was still there.

Unsure where to go from there, Steve took a turn and headed to the kitchen. He wasn't surprised when he saw Bucky leaned over the counter talking to Sam. Steve felt the heat of self-consciousness. It was evident to him that Bucky probably never needed him, and might have just had a question. He slowly began walking, hugging the wall, towards the pantry.

He ducked his head when he passed the two of them. When he stood in front of the door he quietly turned the knob and slipped in, closing the door behind him. Safe in the pantry he took a deep breath and stepped in deeper. The pantry was as big as a walk-in closet and had its own tiny window above head.

Steve turned his back to the door, he leaned up on the tips of his toes and glanced outside. New York still looked the same, and it still seemed the same. But Steve felt a difference in the way he felt about the city.

The doorknob of the pantry turned. Steve froze, he fell back on his heels and stood still. A person stepped inside and closed the door behind them quietly.

"I was just trying to find some soup-" Steve turned around as he spoke and stopped dead in his tracks. Bucky stood in front of him, his hair pulled back and a serious look on his face. "Bucky?"

Bucky took too long steps forward and took Steve's hand. He leaned up his lips inches from Steve's. "I missed you, I have no idea why but I do. And I feel this is appropriate. Can I?"

Steve's face was a deep red, there were no words coming from his mouth. He nodded slowly but didn't move any closer to Bucky's lips. Bucky smiled and leaned the rest of the way up, he kissed Steve deeply on the lips. The hurt in Steve's chest melted away, and there was nothing but hot burning heat left behind. When Bucky's lips moved away, Steve's face was frozen with emotion.

"Did you know you have the most beautiful eyes, and when I asked to kiss you they shone?"

Steve blinked several times, Bucky had actually complimented him. "U-Um they're okay." Bucky leaned in and kissed the side of Steve's head, his hand coming up the side and touching his face.

"They're beautiful, and you're beautiful. And I can't keep separating myself from you."

"Why did you?" The words slipped out faster than Steve had to think them.

"Multitude of reasons, guilt, I'm fucked up, shit like that. But I can't you're...everything. Awful sorry if that sounds creepy, but you're like the sun to me. I've missed you." Bucky admitted he was blushing a bit himself, but for once he was smiling too.

"I...we can have a long conversation about how I think you're perfect later when we're not in the pantry."

"I like the pantry, cozy." Bucky stole another quick kiss setting Steve's face aflame. "And you're cozy and cute. You can expect to be receiving compliments regularly now." Bucky smiled, it was like he was in a dream of his own.

"Hmm..." Steve felt intoxicated there was something especially real about this moment. He thought it vision, wondering if he was in control of this. If this was another simulation. He felt a strong pull towards Vision suddenly, an even stronger feeling said that Vision as safe in his room.

"Well I have one more question," Bucky asked he looked down towards Steve's hands. "All those times we did stuff, back then and hopefully now again...we never dated right?"

Steve shook his head, "We barely spoke to each other."

"Well...do you want to? Not just speak to each other, but date. I've read a ton of articles that's okay now. Being queer like us."

"Yes." Steve nodded, he couldn't think of anything else important. He could barely remember his name. He stepped towards Bucky kissed his cheek, nearly smashing his face into Bucky's. Bucky let out a laugh and turned Steve's head so he could kiss him better.

"Phew, I was afraid."

"That I'd say no?"

"That you'd hit me for waiting so long to ask."

"I just might...remind me to do that tomorrow." He smiled, he was too happy to be pissed at Bucky.

Bucky pressed a long kiss on Steve's lips. "Deal, boyfriend."

"Thank you...Bucky...I mean boyfriend."

Bucky laughed again and ruffled Steve's hair. "I'm never letting you go again, Stevie. We might just have to live here in the pantry."

"At least we have food." Steve looked at the cans.

"And each other," Bucky added.

"That's all we need."

"Yes, it is, and maybe this too." Bucky leaned up and closed his eyes pressing a prolonged kiss on Steve's lip. Steve felt his lips smile, he closed his eyes and deepen the kiss. He let his body relax, and melt into the possible future they had.