He understood now. He had the answer to Sam's question.

What makes you happy?

Steve had considered that question for years. Well, helping people made him happy. Making a difference made him happy. Bucky made him happy.

Bucky had been the missing piece all along, so important to Steve that he hadn't even realised how important he really was to him until lately.

Steve reflected on this, and it suddenly seems a lot simpler than how it did four years ago. He exhaled and rubbed his face, leaning back in the seat at his desk.

"Hey," Bucky spoke as he walked in, "Tony wanted me to give these to you to look at, some new Accord thoughts for next year." He looked at him and raised an eyebrow when he recieved no response. "You okay?"

Steve blinked, nodding briefly. "Yeah, I just..." He trailed off, unsure of how to word it. He loved Bucky, of course he did, but... he wasn't sure like that or, well, like that. As far as he knew, Bucky wasn't gay. He, however, was bisexual, and had had some... interesting thoughts over the years, one-sided arguments against himself.

Either way, he was important to Steve, and that thought urged the blond to speak his mind.

"I'm just thinking," he sighed, deciding against it momentarily. Bucky dropped the papers on his desk, sat on said desk, folded his arms and waited. Steve pursed his lips, moving his seat forward. "Years ago, Sam asked me what made me happy. And... I just realized I have an answer."

Bucky smiled and gestured for him to continue. Steve rubbed the back of his neck, almost embarrassed to admit this to his best friend. "Well, obviously what I do, I love my job and everything," he spoke, beating around the bush. "I care about the others," he continued, now avidly avoiding his eyes. "And... I also really care about you." Bracing himself, he looked up at him.

Bucky gave him a half-grin, glancing away briefly. "Yeah? I'm glad, Steve," he hummed, trying to ignore the heat steadily rising in his cheeks. He looked at him again. "I care about you too," he mused and Steve smiled a little, still disappointed in himself for not coming out with the truth right away.

"No -- Buck," he sighed and took a shaky breath. "I... Like you, like you. You make me really happy, and..." He trailed off, watching his reaction. Bucky was stone-faced. Steve swallowed the lump in his throat and pushed back his chair. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean -- I'll go -- "

Bucky pushed him against the wall, his expression still unreadable. He pinned him by his shoulders and Steve stared at him, cluelessness written on his face. Bucky's eyes flickered between Steve's eyes and lips.

"I've been waiting eighty godd*mn years for you to say that," he growled before leaning in and kissing him, cupping his cheeks and pulling him close. Steve's eyes widened in surprise before drifting closed as he wrapped his arms around him.

Bucky kissed him harder, forcing his mouth open, and pushed him further against the wall, spreading his legs apart so he could stand more comfortably. Steve hummed in appreciation as Bucky ran his tongue along his lip. Steve broke away after a second, flushed down to his neck, shifting anxiously on his feet. "Buck -- you make me really happy," he said breathlessly.

Bucky grinned and nodded distractedly as Steve pulled at his hair. He bit back a quiet whine and leaned further into him. "You do too, Stevie. Always have," he hushed.

Steve relaxed at the wave of clarity that flooded over him. They stilled for a moment and he looked at him. Bucky's eyes were bright as he gazed at him and smiled, absently running his fingers along his side. Steve pressed himself against him and Bucky kissed him again.

Steve supposed this meant they were... a couple. He smiled at the idea. "Wanna go get some fondue, Steve?"

He shivered at the euphemism as he watched Bucky's eyes gleam. He smiled, exhaled and nodded.

He now understood what made him happy.