Kingdom Fall - Two
Pairing: Farmboy!Bucky X Princess!Reader
Summary: When an invading Kingdom forces you to flee your home, you find yourself stranded in an enemy kingdom on a farm, and the farmboy is nothing like you thought he would be.
Warnings: Violence, Angst, Fluff, Kissing, illusions to smut, nightmares, death,
Word Count: 3.6K
A/n: busting this one out cause I feel like it. I have like 7 parts of this written so I feel like I might as well post it. I’m gonna re-do my master list soon too - but that sounds like a weekend adventure. ANYWHO, hope you enjoy <3
~*~
Adapting to living with a stranger is hard.
Of course, given your upbringing, you’re used to being constantly surrounded by people. What you’re not so used to, is sharing such close living quarters with a man.
You had anticipated he’d be gross and inconsiderate, but he’s quite clean and very kind, always offering you the last bit of food and giving you plenty of space. He’s even gifted you the bedroom, insisting that he wakes up far too early and goes to sleep far too late to require a bed.
He spends most of his days out in the fields, tending to the animals and the crops. On more than one occasion you have found yourself watching him work.
You find yourself entrance by his meticulous movements, the way his muscles ripple beneath the hot sun when he removes his tunic when he thinks you’re not looking. But what has you most interested in him, is his never ending kindness.
As you spend the days regaining your strength and trying to formulate a plan, you can’t help but notice just how kind this man is. From making you meals, to letting you have the first bath, to giving you all the clothes he can find.
His kindness knows no bounds.
It’s a particularly hot day, and he’s been outside in the fields for the majority of it. But now, as the sun begins to set and the wind becomes cooler, he’s left the house for the night.
With a glass of chilled water in hand, you venture outside to find him and gift it to him in thanks for his neverending patience and kindness.
“James?” You call, looking our across the fields then towards the barn further on the property.
You make your way toward the barn, brows furrowed when you hear soft speaking from within.
Immediately you think the worst, one hand grabbing a dagger from its sheath around your waist.
You push the door open, dagger hidden behind your back, but drop your guard when you take in the scene before you.
James is lying down on a makeshift bed of hay, a thin blanket tossed over his legs and a baby goat at his side.
His eyes are wide, lips parted as if he were mid-sentence.
You open and close your mouth a few times, trying to make sense of what you’re seeing.
“Are you all right?” He asks, finally breaking the silence.
“Have you been sleeping here this whole time?”
He nods, not seeming to give it a second thought.
“I have only one bed,” he says simply.
“To which you are entitled to,” you counter immediately.
He only shakes his head, but you copy the action soon after.
“No, this is your home. I am nothing more than an intruder and a bed thief, apparently. I will not allow you to sleep out here another night. You will spend time in your bed as you are the rightful owner!”
He shakes his head, a sad look in his eyes.
“But you’ve lost so much already.”
Your own face softens and you take a step toward him, “so give me this one thing.”
He watches you for a very long moment before huffing out a sigh and pushing himself into a seated position.
He turns to the baby goat at his side and gently pets its head.
“You be good, understand? I will be back in the morning.”
The goat nudges his little head against the brunets hand and bleats softly when the man rises to his feet.
He dusts off his trousers, looking a tad embarrassed, then offers you the gentlest, sweetest smile you’ve ever seen.
“Lead the way,” he murmurs, eyes soft when you smile back at him.
You lead the way back toward his home, pausing to wait for him when he locks up the barn.
When you’re back inside, you finally hand him the glass of water.
His fingers linger on yours for a moment longer than necessary, his eyes piercing through yours and in the moment you feel as if he can see your soul.
“I’ll draw you a bath,” you whisper, desperate to break free from the intensity of his gaze.
He shakes his head but you quirk your brows at him, daring him to refuse.
He watches as you leave to fetch some water, beyond amazed.
After so many years alone, all by himself on the farm, he finally has company.
It terrifies him how much he loves it.
And that company being you makes it all the better.
He hasn't known you long, but in the little time he has he’s come to realize that you’re nothing like any other woman he’s ever met.
You’re strong and firm in your word, yet you have so much capacity for kindness that it amazes him.
He’s reminded of one of the first conversations he had with you, when you mentioned that you had no husband, and for a moment he lets himself dream that he was lucky enough to be that.
He imagines what it would be like to be yours, to be able to call you his.
All his wildest dreams and greatest desires all rolled into one.
He shakes his head, shakes the fantasy from his mind as you re-emerge, a soft smile on your face.
“The water is ready,” you whisper gently, stepping aside to allow him space to pass through.
He steps by you, his firm chest brushing against you for only a moment before he steps into the bathroom.
He pulls the door closed, but the old wood doesn’t shut completely, leaving a crack large enough for you to see through.
You can’t help but watch as he begins to undress, his torso wrapped in thick, tanned muscle from working the fields all day under the hot sun.
For a moment you find yourself wondering what it would feel like to touch his skin, to have your fingers graze the firm muscle on his chest. You quickly shake those thoughts from your head and turn away as he drops his trousers.
You head to the kitchen to make yourself some tea while he bathes, and your mind wanders as you do so.
Your life has changed so drastically in such a short period of time, and you’re not sure how you feel about it.
In a little more than a moon cycle, you’ve lost your family, your home, and your way of life. But you've gained an ally, a friend or perhaps more.
You know not what has become of your home, your family, or Steve, and your heart hurts at the mere thought of them. But beyond the pain is something warm that you’re slightly ashamed of when you think of James.
He’s shown you nothing but kindness and compassion in the brief amount of time that you’ve known him.
You can’t help but wonder if he’ll help you reclaim what’s yours.
To do that, though, you'll need to know what you’re going up against.
In the time that you’ve been here with James, you’ve learned of your exact location and the amount of time it will take to make it back to your kingdom.
You don’t think the man realizes just how close he lives to the border of Aresia, your home. And if he does, he’s somehow blissfully unaware of the war being waged currently.
It would take no more than a day to ride to the forest behind the Aresian Palace, and from there you would be able to navigate your way through the city to find survivors.
Though you could very well do it yourself, having help would make the journey far more bearable and ensure your success.
You’ll need supplies, provisions, and weapons for any surviors you find.
You’ll need to create an army and lead them into battle if you want even a chance at reclaiming your Kingdom.
James’ voice pulls you from your thoughts.
You look up at him as he steps out of the bathroom, his hair wet and his face gentle.
“If I am to sleep on the bed, where will you sleep?” He inquires softly, perplexed at the idea of you sleeping anywhere but a bed.
You only shrug, “I will find somewhere, just as you did.”
He shakes his head and before he has a chance to think about his words, he’s speaking.
“We could... share the bed. Now, I am not saying this to be lewd or forward, mind you. I only suggest so as to save you the trouble of finding another bed or sleeping on the floor. I can promise that my hands will not stray and my eyes will not wander, though if they did I have no doubt you would put them back where they belong. I simply cannot allow you to sleep anywhere but a bed and I insist that-”
You raise a hand to silence him, a soft smile on your lips.
“Thank you, James. For your generosity. I would love to share the bed with you.”
A relieved smile lights up his face like the aurora borealis, and you can’t help but smile back at him.
“Thank you,” he whispers, as if you’re giving him something by taking up half of his space.
Though you’re grateful to have a bed to lie in, you’re a little worried as well.
Nightmares have plagued you since your first night here, and they haven’t exactly been the gentlest. You often wake yourself up thrashing or even crying at times, calling out for those who cannot answer you.
You only hope that you'll sleep more peacefully with him beside you.
~*~
“Princess!”
You look around, searching for the source of the voice.
“Steve?”
“Princess! Where are you?”
You gather the base of your dress and sprint toward his voice, heart racing in your chest at the thought of finally seeing him again.
It’s been so long.
He breaks through the trees bordering the farm, sweat and blood on his brow, but his blue eyes light up when they see you.
“Princess,” he whispers, dropping his sword and running toward you.
You slam into his arms, winding your own arms around his frame and hugging him close to your body.
“I thought I lost you,” you whisper, eyes squeezed shut tightly.
He presses you against himself and kisses the top of your head.
“You won’t find yourself rid of me that easily, your highness,” he whispers, chuckling when you slap his back.
He slowly pulls away to look at you, both hands cupping your cheeks while a gentle smile spreads across his lips.
You smile back up at him, the expression fading when you notice a drop of blood falling down the side of his head.
“You’re hurt,” you murmur, bringing your hand up to inspect the wound on his head.
When you do, you find his hair is soaked with blood, the red staining his blond locks.
“Steve?!” You look at him with wide eyes, taking a step out of his arms as his eyes slowly become more and more red.
“I’m not hurt, Princess.”
You shake your head, “all the blood...”
He gives you a weak smile and steps away, a sword protruding through his chest.
“I’m dead, Princess.”
You jolt awake, tears prickling at your eyes at the intensity of your nightmare.
It’s been near a week since you and James have begun sharing the bed, and tonight is the first time you’ve woken yourself with your nightmare.
“(Y/n)? Are you all right?” James asks softly, turning over on his side to look at you.
You take a few deep breaths and nod, trying to maintain your composure.
“What happened?”
Those two words are all it takes for the floodgates to open and tears to leak from your eyes.
“It... it was so vivd. So... real,” you whisper, staying on your back and staring up at the ceiling.
“It was only a dream, you’re okay. I’m here.”
You nod, sniffling and trying to calm down.
“Do you... do you want to talk about it?” He asks softly, scooting slightly closer to you.
You can feel the heat radiating off of his body and you roll onto your side to face him, snuggling closer to him.
“I think I've lost everyone,” you confess softly, not going any further into detail.
He's surprised at both your proximity and your confession, but slowly wraps an arm around you to hold you close to his body, hoping to comfort you in a way his words cannot.
“I’m here. You haven’t lost everyone,” he murmurs, his chin resting atop your head.
You hum your agreement and relax into his arms the tiniest bit more, fingers toying with a string on his nightshirt as his hand rubs up and down your back, soothing you back to sleep.
When you awake again later on in the morning, James is gone.
You push yourself into a seated position with a soft huff, mind still reeling from the intensity of your nightmare and from the way James was able to comfort you.
Meanwhile, the man himself is locking the animals in the barn and putting everything away.
A storm is rolling in, and by the looks of it, it’s going to be an intense one.
He manages to finished everything and make it back inside just as the first drops are falling from the sky.
“(Y/n)?” He calls, surprised that you’re not in the kitchen pouring over a book or a map the way you normally are.
The sound of water splashing softly clues him in to where you are, and he follows the sound to the source, freezing in his tracks when he catches a glimpse of you through the crack in the door.
He makes a mental note to fix the door, but those thoughts get shoved aside as you rise from the water, naked body on display for his gaze.
He watches as if stuck under a spell as the water droplets race down the curves of your body, tracing a path that he would love to feel or even kiss.
He turns away quickly when you reach for a towel, cursing himself for not giving you more privacy.
He walks into the kitchen and sits down with his head in his hands, the image of your body ingrained behind his lids.
Granted, it has been a while since he’s had the pleasure of a woman’s body before him, but he knows without a shred of doubt that you are the most beautiful creature he’s ever laid his eyes on. Even if it was only for a fraction of a moment.
“James?” Your soft voice calls as you exit the bathroom, confused as to why he’s inside.
He looks up and swallows hard, trying to keep his thoughts pure.
“A storm is coming. I’ve locked the animals up until it passes, and I won’t be able to work the fields until the rain cease and the ground settles.”
You nod, eyes fluttering to the kitchen window. The clouds are dark and angry, and rain pours down from the sky.
“It will likely become cold. I was going to start a fire, if you’d like,” he suggests, rising to his feet and making his way toward the fireplace near the bed.
You nod your agreement.
“I’ll make us some tea, as well.”
When the fire is blazing and the tea is ready, you and James sit at the end of the bed in front of the fire, a tension between the two of you that wasn’t there before.
You’re not sure if it’s because of your nightmare, or the new sleeping arrangements, or if it has anything to do with the eyes you felt while you were getting out of the bathtub earlier.
Whatever is causing the tension has the room electrified.
“I still have not the slightest clue where you are from,” James whispers after a moment of tense silence.
You sigh softly and take a sip of your tea, unsure of how much you should divulge to him.
“I’m from a neighbouring kingdom not far from here. Perhaps a days ride away, maybe more. I... I was forced to flee in order to save my life.”
He looks down, saddened at the fact that you had to go through something so terrible.
“You’ve been through much pain, haven’t you?” He asks softly.
You only shrug, eyes on the flame in front of you.
“From a young age I have been taught that pain is the only way. The only way forward... the only way through. Where I come from, we learn through pain, through pain we grow. Besides death, pain is the only thing we are promised in this life.”
Bucky chuckles softly and shakes his head, “we also grown and learn through love.”
Now it’s your turn to shake your head, your heart hurting as you think about Steve.
“Love is a weakness, nothing more.”
“I beg to differ.”
You turn your gaze to him, eyeing him closely as he sips on his tea, his own eyes trained forward.
“Oh? You are informed on the subject, then?” You inquire quietly, genuinely wanting his take on it.
He shrugs, slowly turning to look at you.
His eyes move from your eyes down to your lips, then back up again slowly.
“I have my theories... my thoughts on the matter.”
You hum, leaning closer with the hopes of hearing more.
“What sort of theories?”
He wets his lips, eyes darkened the tiniest bit.
“I think that... love is something as terrifying as it is beautiful. I think love can be stronger than anything else. Love can heal and love can hurt. It is the best and worst part of humanity. When you love someone, you would go anywhere for them, do anything for them. You would fight the Gods and you would live through Hell if only to make them happy. To love someone is to sacrifice everything you have... everything you are... and when they love you back...” he trails off, the back of his hand brushing against your knee lightly.
“When someone offers you the same level of love... well... then you are indestructible. Together you could take over the world. Overthrow empires and win wars. Because you fuel and power each other. You strengthen each other, and no amount of steel or silver could ever compare.”
You look at him, absolutely intrigued by his take on things.
From a young age you were taught that love was poison. Love would stand in the way between you and success, so love had to be stopped before it could start.
But the way James describes it. Something about it is so beautiful and so terrifying all at the same time.
“Have you... have you ever felt this love?” You ask softly, setting your teacup on the ground and turning your body to face him entirely.
He lets out a soft chuckle and shakes his head, eyes slowly raising to yours.
“If you would’ve asked me two moons ago, I would’ve said no. Now, though... now I’m not so sure.”
You swallow hard and lean closer to him, breaths becoming heavier as the atmosphere changes.
“What has changed to cause this?” You question, though you think you know the answer.
He lets out a breathy chuckle, one hand coming up to brush his thumb lightly against your cheek.
“I stumbled upon someone in the woods... at first I thought her a dream... something far too good to be true. Yet here she is, sitting before me.”
You let out a shaky breath, leaning your cheek into his hand and allowing him to guide your face closer to his.
You can feel his soft breath upon your lips, his own lips a breath away.
He waits, not wanting to push your boundaries, but when you utter a soft ‘please’ he’s leaning forward to connect your lips.
He isn't your first kiss, but he’s certainly the most passionate while simultaneously being the softest.
His lips are soft and slightly chapped, moving gently against your own, just testing the waters.
When you lean forward, one hand sliding through his hair, he becomes a bit more assertive.
The hand that isn’t on your face moves to your waist, holding you gently and pulling you closer all at the same time.
You melt into him, getting lost in the feeling of his hands on your body and his lips on yours.
He slowly pulls away, a small smile stretching across his face when you chase after the feeling of his lips.
“Is this okay?” He asks softly, his hand moving slowly lower. From your waist to your hip then down your thigh.
“Better than okay,” you whisper breathlessly, leaning your forehead against his.
He sighs, pressing a soft kiss to your lips once more then pulling back to look at you.
“I do not wish to have you only physically,” he confesses quietly, his eyes so full of vulnerability.
You bring your hands to his chest, thumbs smoothing over the bit of exposed skin where his top button has come undone.
“In what way do you want me?”
He chuckles gently, “in any way you’ll allow me.”
You smile and take his hand, brining it to your lips and kissing his fingertips.
“And so you shall have me.”
