Magical beings are known. Tony is from one one the merman tribes that work with humans, and is engaged - against his will to Nanor. Tony meets Bucky when he's working at the harbor and they get along so well that Tony's mating instincts decides Bucky is a compatible partner and start the mating phases. When Bucky goes off to war so goes Tony, and they both fall into the hands of Hydra.
Thefirst time Bucky had kissed him, sitting together on the end of apier, Tony had told Bucky that the mer mated for life. “Kiss meagain,” Tony had said, “and you’ll never be rid of me. Nomatter how far you go, I’ll find you.”
Buckyhad wanted nothing more than Tony at his side forever, and so he hadkissed Tony again, slow and sweet, reveling in Tony’s cooler skin,the ridges of his gills just under Bucky’s fingers. Bucky hadpromised to love Tony forever.
Buckyhadn’t realized that Tony would follow him to war, though.
Thecells that Hydra threw them into were dark and cold, a thin trickleof icy water seeping through the walls. Bucky felt along the stonesuntil he found a patch of moss. He peeled it off and pressed thespongy mass to Tony’s wounds. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Oh,gods, I’m sorry.”
Tony’shand pressed to Bucky’s face. “Shh. You’ve nothing to be sorryfor.”
“Ishould have sent you back as soon as you caught up with us,” Buckygasped. “Then at least you’d be free.”
Tonysniffed, a pale imitation of his most haughty attitude. “As if youcould have sentmeanywhere,” he said. “I’m a prince–”
Buckyhurriedly covered Tony’s mouth. “Don’t say that out loud,” hehissed.
Tonypulled Bucky’s hand from his mouth. “–of a man,” he concluded.“The sort of man who would never leave his mate to suffer suchindignity alone.”
“Youcan’t talk like that,” Bucky groaned. He sat back against thewall and pulled Tony into his lap to breathe the words in nearsilence. “If they know we’re mated, they’ll use us against eachother. Hurt you in order to make me talk.”
“Merare much stronger than humans,” Tony pointed out. “It will beunpleasant, but I will survive their primitive tortures.”
“They’llhurt me to break you,” Bucky warned, and felt Tony quivering withrage and uncertainty. Bucky closed his eyes and willed himself not tocry. “We’re going to die here.”
“Nonsense,”Tony said. He kissed Bucky gently, and fell silent.
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