Steve didn't know what he did, but Bucky was giving him that look that generally meant he was annoyed at him for something.

Steve tries to recall anything stupid he'd done in the past week, sifting through the worst. He cringes inwardly; there was a stunt he'd pulled where he drove an enemy motorcycle off a Hydra facility's roof, leapt off said motorcycle, and crashed into a tree. Bucky still didn't know - Steve swore Sam to secrecy.

He acts natural, continuing to read his book and silently ignore the brunet. If he didn't address the issue, it never happened.

Bucky huffs and glances away, muttering to himself. He was conflicted.

Mainly, he was struggling coming to terms with feelings - it was only recently he'd been declared officially out of Hydra's control by S.H.I.E.L.D..

He was having troubles understanding what Steve meant to him. It was different than a normal friendship - Bucky had a normal friendship with Bruce, for instance. The two had bonded, to everyone's surprise, over shared interests, which was science. He didn't feel the same way towards Bruce as he did for Steve.

It was confusing. He kept trying to convince himself of different things - he'd had girlfriends before, right? It wasn't like he'd want to kiss him or anything, right? That was ridiculous.

It was driving him insane, not knowing the word for it or understanding it at all. What if it was a backfire in his brain due to Hydra's work? He felt like the answer was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't say it.

He blinks and realises he'd been zoning out, staring blankly at Steve, who was very focused on his book and apparently hadn't even noticed.

Steve finally can't take it. He puts his book down and looks at him, and Bucky looks embarrassed at being caught staring.

"What's up?" Steve asks carefully, waiting for him to explode. Bucky was back to looking annoyed now that he was engaging with him.

Bucky did not want to do this now. He needed time to think. Maybe eight month's worth of time. But here Steve was, right in front of him, looking expectantly at him and asking the question. Bucky shakes his head, folding his arms stubbornly across his chest.

"Just -- you," he grumbles and Steve slowly moves his book onto his seat.

"What'd I do?"

Bucky frowns a little. "Nothing. You've done nothing, Steve."

Steve relaxes but nods cautiously, looking at him. "Nothing? Okay, right," he says slowly and Bucky raises an eyebrow at his odd behavior. "So what's up? You're giving me the look."

Bucky furrows his brows, studying him for a moment. His eyes dart over his face and he curses inwardly. Crap, so Steve really did look attractive on the norm and not just occasionally. Bucky also figured, maybe it was just the lighting. It was not.

"Am not," Bucky speaks a moment too late. "You're just -- " Steve frowns a little as he watches him. Bucky mutters something in Russian. "It's on the tip of my tongue. S***, what's the word..."

"I'm sorry, I'm confused."

Me, too. Bucky groans, his face flushing as he slowly gets more embarrassed.

"F*** you, Steve, and your -- your stupid face and smile and humour and everything," Bucky huffs and Steve raises an eyebrow. "You think you're getting to me? Ha! No," Bucky continues, waving his hand, purely babbling at this point. "No, that would mean I'm -- I'm -- "

He trails off and stares at him, eyes wide. He found the word.

"I'm... gay," he says carefully, testing the word. Steve remains silent, staring at him. "I'm... gay. I think? I mean, I think I like you a lot but -- " He frowns down at his hands, confused.

"Gay is someone liking the same gender, like a man liking a man," Steve says slowly, following along. Bucky stares at him blankly. "Well, romantically, emotionally..,"

"Physically?" Bucky considers this, again looking at him and slowly nodding. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm gay. Furthermore," he adds, shifting a little, "I'm pretty sure it's your fault, so I hate you."

Steve opens his mouth and closes it again. "I'm sorry, are you... mad... at me?"

Bucky drops his face in his hands. "The long and the short of it is, I'm probably gay and, don't know about you, but I really like you -- apparently in a gay way -- but it's so confusing, and I don't understand, and -- God, I get butterflies and whatever when I'm with you. And I hate that I don't understand, and I hate that I like you."

Steve nods along. "I understand. It was kind of the same for me."

Bucky perks up, head tilted. "You're gay too?"

"Bisexual," Steve admits and Bucky nods slowly, trying to follow along. "Liking both guys and girls," he explains and Bucky nods back. "Wait, so you do like me?"

Bucky goes red, hiding his face in his hands. "Yes," he admits in a quiet voice. It made sense to him, and suddenly he didn't feel so lost. They sit in silence until Steve shuffles again.

"How long?" he asks curiously.

"Since '34," Bucky mutters. "But I didn't really know it then."

Steve nods, glancing away as he blushes. "I've liked you since '32," he confesses and Bucky stares at him. "Nat told me the definitions shortly after I was defrosted."

The silence stretches and Bucky rubs his face. "Seventy years, Stevie. You never told me?" He frowns suddenly, and Steve looks sheepish.

"You never asked."

Bucky studies his hands, his mind whirling.

"So... now what?"

Steve pauses, thinking. "So if I'm gay... and you're gay..."

Bucky watches him quietly, raising an eyebrow.

"Then... why don't we..." Steve searches for what to say, very red in the face. He was never good at flirting or dating, if that was what they were going to do.

Bucky, in a moment of confidence, leans forward and kisses him, smiling a little when Steve kisses him back.

Steve couldn't help but feel relieved that Bucky still had no idea about his stupid stunt. Yeah, that would've been a problem.

Bucky found out weeks later. Steve never heard the end of it.