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Where did he learn to do that?!
Sam questions, his hands squeezing the edge of his seat as he stares wide eyed at Bucky pulling a second arrow on the bow, stretching and shooting again – it flies all the way to the center of the target and gets embedded right between the first one he thrown.
The people around the ballroom gasp.
Bucky lowers his bow and sends him a serious look between his hair.
Shit. Bucky is trying to win the competition so Sam doesn’t have to marry any of the other suitors.
“Is that our horseman?” his father asks, leaning over his chair to the steward standing beside him.
“Y-yes Sir.”
“This is for nobles only.”
“He’s a noble!” Sam says immediately and everyone at the dais turns to look at him. “I mean. He has noble blood. His parents died when he was young and they lost their lands on the east side.”
His father gives him a considering look while everyone else looks a bit dubious.
“He’s good at least.” His mother comments and Sam has never been more grateful in his life. “He’s proven he deserves his place.”
His father nods and calls for the next contender in the challenges that will decide Sam’s future husband.
Sam doesn’t pay much attention to the rest, mostly because no one manages to shoot as impressively as Bucky, but also because he’s watching him cross the room. Steve leaves his guard post to pat him on the back, while Clint sneaks out from behind one of the curtains to give him an enthusiastic high five.
Of course it was Clint! Who else would have taught Bucky to do that – it’s still kind of impressive he learned it so fast.
But what the hell is he doing?!
“What the hell are you doing?!” Sam hisses when he finds a moment to sneak out of the ballroom and meet Bucky in an empty hallway.
“You said you didn’t want to marry any of those morons.” Bucky shrugs, like that’s a totally reasonable response.
“So you decided you’d participate? And what? Win? And then we’d marry?”
Bucky purses his lips and shrugs again. “Pretty much.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Look. We’re friends,” Bucky says. “And whether you like it or not, I care about you. If we have to fake a marriage, so be it. It’s not like I have anything better to do with my life than becoming a prince consort.”
Sam takes a deep breath, closing his eyes.
Bucky is doing this for him.
This guy is so selflessly annoying.
Sam wants to punch him.
Then again, maybe having to rule the kingdom, in the future, with a friend by his side, isn’t such a bad idea – Sam is actually relieved.
“How about telling me about your plans next time?”
“You’d freak out about it,” Bucky points out. “You’re freaking out about it right now.”
“I am no such thing!” Sam stabs a finger on his shoulder.
Bucky smirks at him and damn it. He’s really handsome. He’s a strong, perfectly capable, kind, good looking guy – the kind of man anyone would be lucky to spend their life's with. He’d have to be an absolute idiot to waste the chance of finding someone he truly loves.
Too bad Sam is too selfish to tell him that.
Instead, “Don’t you dare lose Barnes! Or I’m kicking you out of my stable myself.”
Sam turns on his heel and marches back towards the ballroom – behind him he hears Bucky say calmly, “Yes, my prince.”
➽───────❥
The next challenge is combat, of course it is.
Sam winces, wondering how someone who rides horses is supposed to fight people who literally go to war.
What if Bucky gets seriously hurt?
He spots Steve giving him a pep talk while Bucky bounces from side to side in the ring, facing his opponent – Steve probably trained him. That’s good. Means Bucky has a chance to throw in some punches before he’s sent to the infirmary.
Damn it. Sam should have told him to give up, what was he thinking?!
He got way too excited about marrying his friend, this is all on him.
“Stop tapping your foot,” Sarah mutters beside him.
“He’s so stupid. He’s doing this for me,” he whispers.
“Took him long enough.” Sarah huffs.
“What do you mean?” Sam frowns.
“Seriously, Sammy?” she asks giving him an amused look. “How many morning dates do you two need before you figure it out?”
“They’re not dates. They’re riding lessons. It’s part of my duties as a prince, you know?”
“Every. Single. Morning.” She lifts an eyebrow. “Combat is one of your duties too, and I don’t see you fixing your jacket and shining your boots just to see Steve more often than strictly necessary.”
“Shut up,” Sam mutters, his face heating as he turns back to the fight about to start.
The first blow sends blood spilling from Bucky’s mouth.
And then the hits keep coming. And coming. And coming – and Sam’s stomach twists every time Bucky hits the ground.
At some point, Sam is ready to rise from his seat and end the fight, but Sarah places a hand over his, holding him back – he doesn’t have the authority to do that.
And Bucky, that idiot, just keeps. Getting. Up.
Sam watches, horrified, as the opponent huffs, clearly tired, unable to believe Bucky isn’t giving up or passing out. Bucky just braces his hands on his knees, spits blood to the side, and smirks.
“He’s going to die,” Sam murmurs.
But then Bucky surges forward, taking advantage of his opponent’s exhaustion, striking without pause, blow after blow, completely savage. Even the crowd, which had been against a commoner participating, starts cheering for him.
When the opponent finally collapses to the ground, groaning, face bruised and unable to rise, Bucky’s hand is lifted as the winner of the round.
Bucky looks straight at Sam, through the one eye he can still open, and he tries to fucking wink at him.
Stupid, goddamn, dumb asshole.
➽───────❥
“Stupid, goddamn, dumb asshole!” Sam hisses, climbing into Bucky’s infirmary room through the window.
Bruce doesn’t even blink at it, focus on wrapping Bucky’s middle – clearly used to Sam doing that every time one of his friends got hurt.
“I won,” Bucky states, unrepentant.
“At what cost?!” Sam points at all his wounds.
“My dignity,” Bucky groans when he tries to turn to Sam.
“Stay still,” Bruce warns him.
“No. No. Don’t you dare do this to yourself! Do you think I could live knowing you almost got yourself killed because of me?!”
Bucky sighs, he has the gal to look exasperated. “And do you think I could live with myself if I let you marry one of those pompous rich guys that only want your title, all because I can’t take a punch? That’s not happening Sam.”
“Why are you so stubborn?!”
“Comes with the package.”
“Ugh. I hate you!”
“What’s the next challenge anyway? You could help a guy out since I’m doing this for you?”
“That’s cheating!” Sam huffs, crossing his arms.
Though he isn’t worried about the next challenge at all.
“Have I told you look cute when your mad?” Bucky smirks.
Sam grabs a pillow from the bed, ready to throw it at his face as Bucky starts laughing and lifts his arm, immediately oowing in pain.
“I warned you,” Bruce says flatly.
Sam lowers the pillow with an eye roll and goes back to the window he came from.
“It’s riding, you lucky idiot,” he mutters on his way out.
➽───────❥
Despite of his injuries, Bucky wins the horse race easily.
He also wins the swords fight by a single point, and Sam can tell Natasha taught him all her tricks – it’s impressive how much Bucky must have trained to get through all of these challenges.
And then there’s the etiquette banquet.
Bucky looks completely lost in front of all the cutlery. He glances across the room at Rhodes, his hand hovering uncertainly over the forks until Rhodes gives him a subtle nod.
Sam narrows his eyes.
How is it that everyone apparently knew Bucky would be participating in his own courting competition… and no one told him?! He feels betrayed.
“Looks like we have a winner,” his father mutters to the steward.
“Your Majesty, he’s just a horseman. You cannot seriously consider him.”
“He is the heir of the Barnes family,” Sam says, out of turn.
The steward looks at him calmly. “They have no lands anymore. No title.”
“He still won every single competition.” Sam glares at him.
“But what will our people think when a commoner becomes their prince?”
His father tenses, his eyes narrowing but not really focused on the ballroom. The final challenge is dancing, Sam never thought he’d see the day Bucky dances, and he’s pretty sure he and Tony are cheating again – Tony is probably leading the dance, murmuring the steps under his breath as Bucky follows.
“That’s not true,” Sam says quietly, approaching the throne. “You said I needed a worthy husband and we found one. He may not have a title anymore, but he’s proven he’s willing to fight, to learn, to stand here and earn the right to marry me. Either this is a fair judgment or you chosen what you wanted all along.”
“We seek someone who can lead the kingdom alongside Your Highness,” the steward insists. “We must think wisely.”
“I will lead the kingdom in the future. We’re only choosing my partner.”
“That’s enough.” His father lifts his hand between them. “I’ve made my decision.”
“Dad–“
“Samuel,” His father interrupts immediately. “I’ll announce the winner this afternoon. Go back to your seat and act like a prince.”
Sam bows stiffly, gritting his teeth as he turns and walks back to his place.
➽───────❥
“They’re right here, sir,” Joaquin says conspiratorially, pointing towards a small office in the darkened library.
“Thanks, kid.” Sam pats his shoulder, and Joaquin gives him a thumps up before tiptoeing away.
Inside the office there’s loud laughter, the aura filled with happiness and easiness, which only makes him feel worse.
“You almost dropped me in the spin!” Tony is saying, as Sam quietly pushes the door open.
“I didn’t! I have a strong grip, Steve tell him!” Bucky shoots back. Clint laughs, Natasha passes around glasses of wine, Steve shakes his head, and Bruce pretends he isn’t there.
They barely fit all in the little room and yet they haven’t notice him.
“Y'all giving Stark too much credit when I lost the horse ride just for you!” Thor says and Sam hadn’t even expect him to be there. He’s one of the suitors but Thor doesn’t really want to be a king, he wants to be free and marry for love.
Why doesn’t Bucky want the same?
A chorus of teasing protests fills the room, Bucky is shaking his head when his eyes land on Sam by the door.
“Sam!” he says, and he sounds so happy. “I’m the only one who completed all the tasks successfully!”
He opens his arms dramatically.
“Yeah!” Clint lifts his glass, “He deserves a kiss!”
“He’ll have a whole lifetime for that,” Rhodes adds with a smirk behind his drink.
“Whoa! Don’t look so happy,” Tony says sarcastically when Sam doesn’t smile.
That in turn, turns Bucky’s smirk upside down, his arms falling to his sides, completely destroyed.
Great. Sam just made him sad.
“Is everything okay?” Steve says coming to Sam, ready to give him some comfort.
Sam lifts his hand to stop him.
“I… it may not be possible,” Sam admits.
The silence in the room is loud, everyone falling so quiet so suddenly.
“They may not consider your status,” Sam clarifies when it seems like Bucky is dying on the inside.
Sam’s throat feels like it’s closing up, like he’s breaking up with Bucky or something, it doesn’t make any sense! Bucky will be okay, and Sam was always going to marry whoever his father chose.
Still, it almost feels like… this hurts a lot.
“I’m sorry,” he rushes, turning to speed walk out of there.
He’s not even sure what he’s running from. Disappointing his friends, who worked so hard to help him out… or not having the chance to actually marry Bucky.
A hand grips his arm in the middle of the empty, dark library and Sam is forced to turn around.
“Sam, wait!” Bucky breathes out.
“I’m sorry. I know you made a lot of effort, I really appreciate it–“
“Is it me?” Bucky asks. And he looks so conflicted. “Did you not want me to win? It… never crossed my mind you might’ve hate this idea.”
“No, no look,” Sam shakes his head. “My father may not consider you noble enough, it’s… political.”
“That’s not fair.” Bucky frowns angry.
“I know but see the positive side.” Sam forces a smile, the kind he’s perfected over years of being a prince. “You’d hate being a king, it’s immensely boring. And you deserve to find someone you actually love and start a family or something like that.”
“No!” Bucky snaps. “No, Sam. You can’t marry anyone else.”
The sudden angry outburst catches Sam by surprise.
Bucky closes his fists, eyes furious. “You can’t! I did everything to guarantee I’d be the one. I trained my ass off. I learned archery, swords fighting, I had Tony and Rhodes teaching me how to hold a fucking teacup! I sabotaged my best opponents – Natasha food poisoned Brock, and I had Thor dulling the swords in the lockers room.”
Sam blinks. “You did what?”
“I was supposed to win! And you’d be with me!” Bucky points at himself, almost frantic. “I won you, Sam. You’re my husband, I won’t let anyone else have you, I couldn’t live with myself.”
“Whoa.” Sam lifts his hands a little spooked. Bucky starts pacing around, dragging a hand through his hair. “Okay, I think you’re crossing a line here buddy.”
“This was my only chance.”
“Chance to what?” Sam asks, utterly confused, because either Bucky is strangely obsessed with him, or he really wants to be a prince or… or he maybe, actually…
“I don’t care if I have to do that boring ass job of a royal. I don’t care if you’d never see me that way, or if I could never kiss you. I’d be by your side, I’d be there whenever you needed me to be. I’d treat you right, I’d care for you, you’d never be lonely or sad next to me. I wouldn’t let it Sam.” Bucky looks at him, desperate.
And Sam is there, frozen in shock, not wanting to believe it.
“This was my only chance to marry you.”
“To… to marry a prince?” Sam asks, he needs to ask.
“Just you, Sam.”
Maybe it’s on him, really. Sam should have realized no one goes through such lengths just to marry a friend.
And now Sam has to confront his own feelings. Feelings he never thought about because they were never supposed to be possible.
But Bucky is right, it’s he? This is their only chance.
How could Sam ever deny him after a declaration like that?!
“I’m… going to–“ Sam points back, stepping away.
“Sam…” Bucky whispers.
“I-I’ll solve this.” Sam holds his palms up.
“Sam!” Bucky begs, but Sam already turned on his heel and ran away.
➽───────❥
“What are you doing?” Sarah hisses.
“Do my hands look sweaty?” Sam asks, pulling away from rubbing them against his pants.
She makes a face of disgust.
“Yeah, I thought so,” he says turning to were his parents were sitting, preparing to announce the winner. “Wish me luck.”
“Sure…”
Sam stands and carefully walks up to the space between the King and Queen’s thrones, clearing his throat.
“Dad… a second of your time?”
Both his parents turn to him curiously. Sam knows this is risky, he could just push his father further in the opposite direction. But if he doesn’t try, he’ll never know.
“Yes, Samuel?”
Sam licks his lips, brushing his hands against his pants again. Oof. Okay, here goes all or nothing.
“He’s not just a… horseman, Dad.” He takes a deep breath. He leans in, voice low. “I’m already in love with him.”
His mother gasps, covering her mouth. His father’s eyes widen.
Sam doesn’t get to hear their response because the host begins announcing the participants’ entrance again, and Sam has to rush back to his seat.
Sarah leans over then and says, “I’m proud of you.”
He gives her a weak smile.
Bucky stands below with the other nobles, head held high as the king speaks about strength, intelligence, and worthiness to become consort to a prince.
But Bucky’s eyes are unfocused, distant... sad.
Sam leans forward, gripping the edge of his seat until their eyes finally meet.
He wants to tell him it’s okay, that everything is going to be okay, that he loves him too, that they can run away on their horses, leave the kingdom and this stupid forced marriage behind. They can be happy, just the two of them.
But he can’t exactly shout it right now.
"–So, after watching all the nobles before me face each challenge with such skill, I can only choose the one who completed them all. Perfectly.”
Sam turns towards his father.
The king is already looking at him, a serious look on his eyes as he adds, “Fair is fair. Prince Samuel’s new consort and future king of our kingdom is… Lord James Buchanan Barnes, of no lands.”
There’s a shocked silence in the room.
Even Bucky eyes wide in disbelief.
The steward beside the king, with the medal in hand, looks pale and horrified.
Then, two places to Bucky’s right, Thor slams his axe on the ground with a loud, happy, “YEAH!”
Heads turn, but the rest of his friends join in, clapping and cheering loudly – Tony whistles into the air, Rhodes cups his hands shouting Bucky’s name, and slowly, the rest of the crowd starts feeling the pressure to join in.
Sam sees the steward trying to change his father’s mind but he’s quickly cut off by an angry king.
Sam takes the opportunity to runs past them and rip the medal out of his hand.
“I’ll do this for you.” Sam winks at him. He takes a moment to look at his father and say, “You’re the best, Your Majesty.”
His dad huffs and pats his shoulder, but his mom pulls him into a quick, delighted hug.
Then Sam is moving down from the dais where Bucky is being shaken by Thor.
He stops in front of him, forcing a neutral expression.
“Congratulations,” he says. “You’re my future husband.”
With the celebration still roaring around them, and Clint apparently starting a fight with whoever dared to discredit Bucky’s worth, no one is paying attention to them.
“Are you happy with this?” Bucky asks, lowering so Sam can put the medal over his head.
“Sure. Who do you think convinced the king to accept you as the winner?”
“What did you tell him?”
Sam purses his lips. “Well. That I might or might not have feelings for the winner. I figured my father would still put my happiness first.”
Bucky starts smiling immediately, his eyes suddenly gleaming – which sucks because now Sam is all emotional too, his eyes starting to sting.
“You do?” Bucky still asks.
“I said might, Bucky. Stop crying, you’re going to embarrass us.”
“I’m not crying. My eye’s just swollen because my eye socket was punched in.” Bucky laughs, blinking his eyes. “You’re crying!”
“I’m not crying, I got dust on my eye in the library you idiot!” Sam punches his shoulder and Bucky immediately doubles over with a hiss.
“Oh my God I’m so sorry!” Sam’s says worried.
“It hurts so much…” Bucky moans. “Can you kiss it better?”
He smirks between his hair and Sam sighs exasperated.
“We can’t just make out here.” Sam looks around as everyone is finally calming down and his father is asserting that the decision is made and not questionable.
Sam steps away from Bucky, clearing his throat as he whispers, “I’ll send Joaquin to pick you up, wait for the signal.”
Bucky nods.
➽───────❥
There’s a lot of bureaucracy to get through before the celebrations properly begin, and Bucky has too be so social that Sam feels just a little bit of pity for him.
But Bucky is happy. He’s crazy happy. Sam never saw him smile so much.
“Did you know?” Sam asks, leaning towards the guard at his side as Bucky gets the shovel talk from his father with a pained look on his face.
“Everybody knew, Sam,” Steve mutters. “Only you two were too stubborn to see it.”
Sam huffs and gives Steve a small smile. “Fine. You don’t need look so happy about it.”
“You kidding me? This is the best moment of my life.” Steve presses a hand to his chest.
“Well, then I need you to find a distraction. I’m going to meet Bucky outside.”
“You’re in that much hurry?” Steve smirks.
“It’s all pent up, man.”
“Alright.” Steve lifts his hands placatingly.
Sam watches Steve make gestures to Clint. Clint nods and elbows Tony, whispering in his ear and then Tony is nodding – he clears his throat, fixes his suit, and suddenly drops dramatically with a loud cry, calling everyone’s attention to him.
“I own you all my life,” Sam says, and Steve chuckles as he slips away.
Five minutes later, Joaquin brings Bucky into the wine storage room, flashing Sam a thumbs up before disappearing again.
“How long do we have?” Bucky asks.
“Not enough, ” Sam says – and then he’s grabbing Bucky’s collar pulling him into a kiss.
Sam is going for desperate, but Bucky grabs his waist, lifting him easily and setting him on top of a table, and he goes for slow, steady and gentle – Sam doesn’t think he’s going to survive his love for this idiot.
“Damn Bucky…” Sam breathes against Bucky’s lips, his arms around his shoulder, fingers tangling in his hair.
This feels good. This feels right. This is finally happening.
“Yeah, Sam?”
“I’m probably in love with you,” he says quickly, holding his breath as he pulls back just enough to see Bucky’s eyes soften.
“I’ve been in love with you for years, Sam.” Bucky shrugs.“I won.”
“Shut up,” Sam murmurs, resting his forehead against his. “The only thing you won was me.”