When Steve touched his face, he closed his eyes. If this had been a dream, it was his own mind that was playing the joke on him. To give him this moment, to give him Steve back again just for him to open his eyes and realize his best friend wasn't actually there-
That would have been cruel.
Bucky knew he could soldier on. He was as stubborn as they came. No matter what happened or came after him whether it was HYDRA or the goverment or aliens, he could get through it. But the joy would be gone. That part of him that sparked to life whenever Steve was near would be dead. It had been dead.
When he opened his eyes again, tears broke away and fell down his face. But Steve was here. Even in the dark, he could see the outline of him. He knew it by heart. "I'm never going to let you forget to prove it," Bucky teased, mouthing the small part of Steve's palm. "I love you, to the moon and back." He smiled at his own joke. Steve wouldn't have understood it but Bucky would explain it to him.
He wanted to pull Steve in again and go back to that kiss. That fire he'd thought extinguished inside him suddenly started to burn again. He didn't think he had gotten enough. But they really should keep talking about what had happened after Steve left. With Sam. Karli. Zemo. Bucky already knew he'd get in trouble for that one. He nudged his nose into Steve's playfully. "I'd really like to keep kissing you. There's just ...there's more you should know and before I get too distracted," implying that he already was a little, he admitted in a strained sigh. "We should find a place to sit."