Steve closed the apartment door and released Mr. Pickles. The cat landed lightly on the floor and retreated to a chair. Maybe he could ask Jerry to help Ruth with her fern, but that could wait for now. It was about time to check the equipment again, see if there'd been any development.

"You're just gonna let that lady think we're gay, then?" Danny asked, breaking Steve's concentration.

Steve blinked at Danny as the words sank in. Ruth had been sweet, and he hadn't wanted to blow their cover. And he couldn't deny that a part of him had enjoyed the assumption that Danny was his boyfriend. Their friends called them a married couple all the time, but that was just teasing. This was different.

"I didn't think you'd mind," Steve finally replied, trying to conceal his disappointment.

"I just prefer the label 'bisexual,'" Danny said casually, as though coming out was no big deal. He settled down on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

Steve was completely shocked. That hadn't been the answer he was expecting at all. And more importantly, did that mean he actually had a shot with Danny?

When Steve didn't reply, Danny twisted around to look at him. "Steve? Are you okay?"

"Um, yeah," Steve said, trying to pack away all of these feelings for later. He walked over to the computers and studied the monitors, but he wasn't really seeing them.

"It isn't a problem, is it?" Danny asked, a new edge to his voice. Hurt or anger – Steve wasn't sure.

"Of course not," he said immediately, turning to look at Danny. "You know I love you."

Oops. He hadn't meant to say that. In the context of this conversation, those words felt more revealing than usual. Steve fiddled with a pocket on his cargos anxiously.

The tension drained from Danny's face, and Steve knew, despite his awkwardness, that he'd said exactly the right thing.

"C'mere," Danny said, patting the couch cushion beside him. "Relax. Nothing's happening yet."

Steve sat, feeling self-conscious. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands.

"How long have you known?" he asked, without really meaning to.

"That I was bi?" Danny verified. "Maybe . . . fourteen, fifteen? But I didn't act on it until I was in my twenties."

Steve nodded woodenly. His mind was hung up on the phrase "act on it." Unwillingly, it conjured up images of Danny kissing tall, dark-haired men, going back to their houses, doing –

"What about you?" Danny asked, and Steve immediately snapped out of it.

"What do – I mean – um –" Steve stumbled. His eyes were focused acutely on the floral print curtains as he flailed for a response. He'd never been so nervous around Danny, not even when the detective was shirtless.

"When you knew you were straight," Danny added helpfully. "Did you ever think you might be . . ."

Steve must have been slowly losing his mind because he could've sworn that Danny sounded hopeful.

"Yes," he admitted and gulped, half-wishing he could take the word back. Danny remained silent, waiting for elaboration.

"I'm a – uh, I –" God. Steve felt like he was choking on marbles. He'd never this sentence aloud, never. He'd never told his father, for fear of pushing him away further. He hadn't been close to Mary when they were kids. And once he joined the Naval Academy, there was no question that he'd keep that part of himself secret. Even though this was Danny, the last person who would reject him, he found it a struggle to release the words after all this time.

Then Danny placed a comforting hand on Steve's knee. The frenetic knot of energy in his stomach stilled; he released the trapped air in his lungs in a rush. He looked to Danny, to the softness in his eyes, the faint smile lines around his mouth, the dusting of golden stubble on his jaw. In that moment, there was no place in the world where Steve would rather be, or another person he'd rather be with.

"I'm –" he swallowed, digging deep for courage "– I'm bisexual too."

Danny smiled wide. Those little creases deepened, and his eyes brightened. It was quite the accomplishment, making Danny Williams proud.

"C'mere," he said again, holding out his arms. Steve fell into them with great relief, breathing in Danny's smell of aftershave, sunscreen, and grass. Maybe he held his partner a little closer and longer than what would be considered normal for friends, but under the circumstances, he thought he deserved it.