Summary: Between his best friend's upcoming nuptials, said best friend's new status as future ruler of the kingdom, and trying to fit back into his old life while dealing with the aftereffects of his imprisonment during the war, Bucky has more than enough on his plate. But when an attempt on Howard Stark's life leaves the royal court in chaos, Bucky still steps up and offers to go fetch Stark's son, Lord Anthony - the future heir to the throne, and Steve's fiance - in Steve's place, in part because keeping Steve safe and out of trouble is second nature, and partially in the hope an actual mission will distract him from the difficulty that has become his life.

What Bucky doesn't count on is Lord Anthony getting himself kidnapped before Bucky can bring him home, or getting captured himself during his attempt at a rescue. But a promise is a promise, and Bucky has sworn to return Tony to Steve safe and sound - no matter what.

Pairings: James "Bucky" Barnes/Tony Stark, minor Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, other minor implied/background pairings.

Warnings: for brief descriptions of torture and violence, nightmares, minor character death, arranged marriage, canon-typical violence, mentions of and references to brainwashing, and several moments where you may wish to slap the mickey out of some of the characters for being blind and/or stupid.

Also, not really a warning, but this is a fantasy/historical AU, with all the historical anachronisms that entails.

AN: My submission for the 2016 WinterIron Bang on tumblr. This beast almost killed me, and is officially the longest story I've ever written. I'm proud, if a little broken. X)

~Prologue~

In a land far away, in a world not entirely unlike our own, there was a sprawling, prosperous kingdom.

It was a pleasant kingdom, with fair laws, plenty of land, many resources, and kind and hardworking people. What made this kingdom different, however, was not the lands themselves, or even the the people, but the way in which they were ruled. For you see, the kingdom was made up of thirteen smaller lands - each land its own country, once upon a time - who combined their forces and joined together long ago. It was this union that made the kingdom prosper, as it allowed the smaller lands to pool their resources and better protect themselves, as well as preventing any petty wars or fighting amongst themselves.

But at the time, this also posed a problem, as each country had its own ruling court. How would they decide who would lead?

After much deliberation, and talks with all the courts and people of the land, it was decided that each country's court - or house, as they became known - would take turns ruling. The reigning house would rule the entire kingdom for forty years - the average lifespan of the poorest land - and the head of the ruling house would act as monarch, with the heads of the other twelve houses acting as the king or queen's court and advisors.

And so the kingdom lived under such rule for over 500 years - long enough for each court to rule at least once, and share its unique perspective and strength with the rest of the land. For how could the people of the land fear invaders, when there was the likes of Shield House, Star House, and the House of Defenders to protect them with its great warriors and tactical thinkers? How could the economy fail, when Mar-Vell House and Van Dyne House's friendly people and merchants were known throughout the world, and there was Baxter House, Storm House, and Stark House to spread knowledge and industry?

Suffice to say, the merging of the lands proved successful and beneficial to all. During those 500 years, the kingdom enjoyed great peace and prosperity, with only minor wars and strife marring their history.

Unfortunately, this peace did not last forever.

It was during the tenth year of Shield House's second rule when the great war against an enemy called HYDRA began. The HYDRA forces were led by a power-hungry man known as the Red Skull, who wished to conquer the kingdom for himself. The kingdom, of course, rose up and fought back against HYDRA, but sadly, a year after the war began, the reigning, beloved king died. The title passed to his named heir and son, King Michael, a brave soldier and one of the many commanders in the king's army, but unfortunately King Michael's rule was short-lived; his battalion was slaughtered a mere five days after his ascension to the throne.

By law and tradition, the other houses must vote and choose a suitable ruler from the ruling house's possible heirs in the event of a monarch dying, but with no named heirs and an ongoing war, it was agreed amongst the court and houses that a proper monarch would be chosen after the war ended, and that Shield House and its acting head - Colonel Chester Phillips - would continue to rule until the war was over.

And so the war continued, spanning nearly twenty-five years, but the kingdom and its people were not disheartened, and refused to give in. Their tenacity was rewarded when finally, under Shield's leadership and after many hard-fought battles, the war against HYDRA was won, and though the effects of the war would still be felt for years to come, the kingdom returned to relative peace.

But with the end of the war, and only five years of Shield's reign remaining, a new question arose - who would become the next king or queen?

Phillips had been well-liked as Head of Shield, but the war had ended at the cost of his life. A man named Nicholas Fury was his successor, but while he had been trusted as an advisor and head after Phillips' passing, the people and other houses were leery of him on the throne. He was a great defender of the kingdom, but also a rumored spymaster; how could they trust such a shady soul as king?

The man Lord Fury had named as his heir, however - Captain Steven Rogers, who had gained recognition on the battlefield for his loyalty and bravery - was very well-liked; a man of the people, and a perfect candidate in their eyes, if not the court's. For while the other houses liked Lord Steven, he was young yet, and - having grown up outside its influence - inexperienced and unfamiliar with the rules and traditions of the court. And besides, it was virtually unheard of to give the house heir the throne instead of the house head - especially an heir as unseasoned as Lord Steven.

The court was divided on how to proceed. Never in the kingdom's history had their been a rule quite like that of Shield's, and while some were content to let things continue as they were, many more were eager to end the uncertainty of ruling without a monarch, even if said monarch would be young and inexperienced. Still others suggested that Shield should simply cede its few remaining years so the next house could rule, an opinion favored by nearly a third of the people and the court - and, secretly, by Lord Steven himself.

Ironically, one of Lord Steven's greatest supporters was the head of Stark House, Lord Howard Stark - the next in line to be king himself when rule was passed to Stark House in a few years' time. Impressed with his skills and bravery, Lord Stark cited Steven's great leadership over his fellow soldiers in the Great War, as well as his connection with the kingdom's people. After all, Lord Stark pointed out, Steven was just as qualified to rule as Lord Stark's own son and heir, Anthony, who had been groomed for the position his whole life, and was a few years younger than Steven besides. If Anthony would be given the crown without a second thought, why should they hesitate to give it to Steven? he reasoned.

So Lord Stark and Lord Fury came up with a solution: Let Steven and Anthony marry, so they may both rule as kings. With Steven's good sense and knowledge of the people, and Anthony's cleverness, upbringing, and pedigree, they would make a very powerful couple, perfect for leading the kingdom into a new age and securing its future.

The suggestion was favored by all. After all, it was well within tradition for an heir of the previous regime to marry into the family of the future one, or even have a child with a member of the next house. The naysayers who wished for Shield to cede rule were appeased, as were those who wished for them to keep it. Anthony was well-liked by the other houses - much more liked than his father, at least - and between that and the respect Steven garnered from the people, no one could see how their rule could be anything but glorious.

And so the engagement of Steven Grant Rogers and Anthony Edward Stark, soon-to-be-rulers of the kingdom, was announced. Both Lord Fury and Lord Howard congratulated themselves on their stroke of genius while the kingdom rejoiced, and almost everyone breathed a great sigh of relief, for it had been many years since they had felt such a sense of stability.

If Steven and Anthony had any qualms about the arrangement themselves, they didn't speak of them. For Steven and Anthony may have both been stubborn, but they were also duty-bound individuals who cared deeply for one another, even if those feelings had never reached beyond friendship. But, given time and care, who was to say these feelings wouldn't grow?

And so they did, though perhaps not in ways either Steven or Anthony could have imagined. For neither one of them could predict the series of events that followed, nor the paths their hearts would take….

Or the actions of one James 'Bucky' Barnes.

~Chapter One~

"Bucky!" Steve yelled, voice high and shrill.

Bucky huffed and sped up a little, skidding around the corner just as Steve came barreling around from his side. They collided and fell in a tangle of limbs, Bucky doing his best not to crush Steve with his considerably heavier frame.

"Jeez, punk, are ya tryn'a kill us?" Bucky wheezed, gasping when a bony elbow hit him in the stomach.

Steve grunted and dug his elbow Bucky into again - this time intentionally - as he scrambled up.

"You're the one knocking people down," he huffed, cheeks a worrying shade of pink from exertion. "C'mon, I found it!"

"Okay okay, hold on, take a breather," Bucky said, the words barely out of his mouth before Steve took off again. "Stevie, it's a kite - it ain't gonna run off!"

Steve ignored him, as usual, and dashed around the short stone fence that separated the cobblestones of the town from the greenery beyond. Bucky sighed and jogged after the smaller boy, not keen on letting him out of sight where he could get into trouble (again).

It only took a few strides to catch up to Steve, and by the time Bucky did Steve had already stopped short in front of him. Bucky managed to slow down just before he could plow Steve over again, but it was a near thing. Steve didn't notice nor care, enraptured as he was with the tree they were standing under.

He glanced over at Bucky, then pointed up at the tree. "See?"

Bucky craned his neck and squinted up after Steve's finger. Their kite was caught in one of the middle branches, string and tail in knots.

"We'll have to climb up and get it," Steve said, his chin jutted out at that stubborn angle that meant Bucky would be unable to talk him out of it. "Here, gimme a boost."

Bucky shook his head. "I'll do it," he said, ignoring Steve's glare. "I'm the better climber, and besides -" I'm taller , Bucky started to say, only to have Steve, the brat, yank him down by his shoulder.

"Gimme a boost," he repeated stubbornly, already climbing onto Bucky's back.

Bucky snorted and considered dropping the little punk on his ass, but straightened up and moved until Steve could grab one of the tree's lower branches. He did give Steve a strictly harder than necessary shove on the rump once Steve started pulling himself up, and flashed him a cheeky grin when Steve glared at him over his shoulder.

"Be careful!" Bucky yelled up once Steve had gotten almost halfway there.

"I'm fine!" Steve called back, scooting himself forward and cautiously standing up. There was an ominous crack from the branch he was standing on. "Still fine!" Steve cried, before Bucky could yell up at him again. "I'm okay, I'm almost there, I just have to -"

There was another crack, this one louder than the last, and then the entire branch gave away.

"Stevie!" Bucky shouted at the same time Steve yelped, and then Steve was falling, falling towards him, and Bucky tried to catch him, tried to break his fall, and -

He did. Because he was suddenly taller and bigger and stronger, big enough to catch tiny Stevie in his arms and hold him there, keep him safe.

"You okay?" he asked Steve, voice gravelly and much deeper - that of an adult.

Steve nodded, shaken, staring up at him with wide, shocked eyes. "You're huge," he whispered, awed. "Bucky, you're a grown-up!"

Bucky blinked and looked down at himself, but instead of the shock or awe or surprise he knew he should have been feeling, he felt calm. Detached.

Gone, whispered a familiar, accented voice in the back of Bucky's head. Everything you are or ever were is gone, Bucky Barnes. Only the Soldier remains.

Bucky wanted to protest - to shout or scream, or tell Stevie to run - but no sound passed his lips. Instead he looked down at Steve, and watched in horror as he raised his left hand - a shiny, foreign column of metal - and wrapped it around Stevie's throat.

Bucky startled awake, the scream he'd been unable to voice in his nightmare caught in his throat. Gasping, he jerked to a sitting position and blindly scanned the room for enemies, his fingers instinctively reaching for the knife he kept under his pillow.

Blinking rapidly and gulping in huge lungfuls of air, he kicked the blanket that was tangled around his legs off and swung them over the edge of the bed, using the feeling of the cold floor against the soles of his feet to ground himself.

Still, it was several minutes before his heart rate started to slow down, and he was able to hear the sounds of his own breathing without thinking of Steve's choked-off gasps.

Nightmare. It had just been a nightmare, twisted up into a memory because apparently Bucky's subconscious liked to torture him that way. Steve was okay, he was fine - Bucky had just talked to him yesterday, just before bed, in fact, and -

Everything you are or ever were is gone, Bucky Barnes.

Bucky covered his face with his hands, took a deep breath, and tried not to cry.

Bucky was walking the perimeter of the Triskelion a few hours later when he heard a familiar voice shout, "Bucky! Hey!"

Bucky had to stop himself from physically cringing, the memory of that same voice - only much higher and younger - calling his name in his dream this morning still fresh in his mind.

"Steve," Bucky answered in greeting, pausing and turning towards the other man as he jogged closer.

This Steve was bigger and stronger than his dream-counterpart, which made Bucky feel as relieved as it did uneasy. Sure, Steve wasn't the scrawny twig Bucky still sometimes missed, but he also wouldn't let Bucky crush his windpipe so easily, either.

Steve grinned at him, though the expression dimmed when he caught the strain in Bucky's smile. "You're up early," he noted carefully, raising his eyebrows. "Something wrong?"

"Just patrollin'," Bucky replied evasively, then started walking again, knowing Steve would keep pace with him.

Steve snorted. "You know we have a patrol for that, right?" he asked. "I know it might have thrown you off, what with the misleading name and all, but…"

"Yeah, and they're shit at it," Bucky retorted. "I've counted at least three weak points in the walls since I've started, and that's not countin' the blatant security breaches. If I had the mind to, I could be in and out and doing all kinds of harm before any of these idiots could so much as think about raising the alarm."

Steve laughed. "That's not entirely fair, Buck. Most folks haven't had your training - you're on a different level entirely," he pointed out, elbowing Bucky in the side.

"Just sayin'. If this is His Royal Highness's guard, you're gonna be dead inside a week," Bucky grumbled irritably, brushing off the uncomfortable feeling the reminder of his particular skillset gave him.

"I'm not His Royal Highness yet," Steve said, his nose wrinkling. "And technically, I think it would be 'His Majesty'."

"That's right, I forgot - no royal anything until after you marry Lord what's-his-name," Bucky sniffed, rolling his eyes. "Great - that gives you four more months to whip security into shape."

"Tony," Steve huffed in disapproval, though he looked as though he was trying not to laugh. "His name is Tony. Or Lord Anthony, if you want to be formal."

Bucky snorted. "I don't care if he's Supreme Archduke Anthony - until I meet the guy, he's what's-his-name, the guy my best friend's been arranged to marry," he said stubbornly, finally stopping to face Steve fully. "Stevie, are you sure about marrying this guy? Everything I've heard about him makes him sound like a real piece of work, and besides - you two barely know each other!"

Steve sighed, clearly unhappy that Bucky wanted to rehash the old argument. "Buck, I don't know how many more times I gotta say it - he's not a stranger. We knew each other before the engagement was ever announced. He was - is - a good friend, and he helped a lot, when you were…" He stopped short and glanced away, swallowing hard.

Bucky grimaced in both guilt and frustration. He'd purposely brought up Steve's fiance because he'd thought it would be a safe topic, far from Bucky and his problems, and what had happened to him when he'd been with HYDRA.

Clearly that had been wishful thinking.

Steve cleared his throat, then looked back over at Bucky. "Anyway, you can't judge someone you've never even met just by hearsay," he continued, his expression still calm, but more strained than before, as though he were forcing himself to remain upbeat.

"Tony's a good person, you'll see. I know you'll like him. He's funny, and kind, though he tries to hide it. And smart - really smart, like you wouldn't believe -"

"Okay, I get it," Bucky said quickly, cutting Steve off before he could go any further. "The guy's great, I'll take your word for it."

Bucky crossed his arms and leaned back against the stone wall behind them, chewing the inside of his cheek as he debated whether he wanted to say what was really bothering him or not. "But it doesn't matter if I like him - it matters if you do," he said finally, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

Steve's face softened. "Of course I like him, Buck. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't," he said carefully, leaning back against the wall as well, and brushing his shoulder against Bucky's. "Like I said, he's a good friend. And, more importantly, we make a good team. I think… No, I know we'll be great leaders. Together."

Bucky mulled that over for a second, then sighed.

"Yeah, but do you love him?" he asked quietly, finally getting to the crux of his problem. Because Steve deserved better than a loveless political marriage done out of duty, even if he was twisting it around in his head to see it differently.

Steve's smile dimmed, but only a little. "I think…" he started, then swallowed, face turning pink. "I think I will, in time," he said softly, biting his lip and rubbing absently at his chest, where the metal, circle-shaped pendant he always wore under his shirt now sat. "I mean I... I love him now, of course, but not - not in that way. Yet. But Buck, you gotta know… you'll see, when you meet him. Once you know the real Tony, he's a hard guy not to love. He sorta just… sucks you in. You know?"

Bucky shrugged and grunted noncommittally, because no, he didn't know, and he didn't particularly want to sit here and listen to Steve try to talk himself into loving someone. But the answer was also probably as good as he was going to get, so he'd take it, for now.

"Hey, do you remember that kite we lost when we were kids?" he asked casually, deciding to change the subject.

Steve gave a little start of surprise, the chuckled. "The one that got caught in a tree?" Steve asked, mouth turning up at the corners.

Bucky grinned, ignoring the cold feeling in his chest. "Yeah, that one. How'd we get it down, anyways?"

Steve let out a little snort. "We didn't. I climbed up to get it, then fell on you and broke your arm, and nearly my own neck," he replied, sounding faintly amused. "Why?"

Bucky shrugged, rubbing at his left arm self-consciously. "No reason," he said, the sound of little Stevie's choked-off screams roaring in his ears. "Was just rememberin' it this morning, is all."

Having skipped breakfast, Bucky didn't object when Steve suggested they head back to the Triskelion's kitchens and try to charm some of the staff into giving them something to eat.

They had barely started in that direction, though, when they were stopped by a frantic member of the guard.

"Lord Steven, I've been looking all over for you," he puffed, bidding Steve a hasty salute - Steve had been a captain long enough that the gesture was ingrained in half the guard as habit - and nodding at Bucky.

"What's going on?" Steve asked, straightening up and going into business mode immediately. "Is something wrong?"

"Not sure," the man admitted. "But a messenger from Stark House just came in, and whatever news he has, it's urgent. Lord Fury has sent messengers out to the other houses and called for an assembly of the court, and he's requested your immediate presence for an emergency meeting."

"What kind of message?" Bucky asked, while Steve sucked in a sharp breath, face going tense.

An urgent message from Stark House wasn't necessarily cause for alarm, but a message that warranted summoning all the other houses meant something big, and probably not good.

The guard shook his head again. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's got everyone abuzz," he said, then hesitated, and looked between Bucky and Steve. "There's - there's already a rumor, though. One of the guards heard part of the boy's message, and, well…" He bit his lip, settling his gaze on Steve. "I'm very sorry, sir. But it sounds as though there's been a death in the house."

"What's happened?" Steve demanded the second they burst into Fury's chambers, scaring the young man standing in front of Fury's desk into jumping nearly a foot in the air. "They're saying somebody's died, and you're sending out summons to the rest of the court. What's going on?"

The young man quickly moved out of Steve's way as he crossed the room, Bucky on his heels, but Fury remained as unperturbed as ever, and just leveled them with a glower.

"Sit down," he told Steve, then turned to Bucky. "You, out."

Having expected that anyway, Bucky shrugged and started to comply. He hadn't taken two steps towards the door, though, when he felt Steve's hand on his shoulder.

"He can stay," he said firmly, jaw set. When Fury looked as though he was going to protest, Steve indicated the young man with his chin. "If he can stay, so can Bucky," he said, arms crossed.

Fury gave a long-suffering sigh, the kind people tended to get when they were intimately familiar with Steve Rogers and his legendary stubbornness. Bucky was quite sure he'd been the one to perfect that sigh, as well as the accompanying look of grudging defeat. It was always entertaining to see it on someone else, though.

"This is Peter, the messenger from Stark House," Fury said, pointing at the boy - Peter - who smiled tentatively and gave them a nervous little wave.

Amused despite the circumstances, Bucky waved back, but didn't smile. Peter looked slightly terrified.

Fury shook his head, the corners of his mouth turned down, and sighed deeply again, completely ignoring both Bucky and Peter as he fixed his eye on Steve.

"Howard Stark's been poisoned," he said grimly, fists clenched on his desk in front of him.

Steve's whole body rippled in shock. " What ?" he gasped, leaning over and planting his hands on Fury's desk. "I mean… how? Is he…?"

"He's alive," Fury replied, and ran a hand over his bald head. "But barely. They're not sure he's going to stay that way, and he's not conscious - or at least, he wasn't when Peter, here, left - but he is alive, for now."

Steve nodded jerkily, shoulders tense. "Do you know who did it?" he asked, face steely.

Fury shook his head. "No, not yet. Which was why I was hoping to be discreet about this," he said, and glared pointedly at Bucky.

"How do you know he's been poisoned?" Bucky asked, not taking the jab personally despite Steve's bristling. First rule of secrets: the less people who knew about them, the less people there were to tell them. "How do you know he isn't just sick?"

"Because Peggy found the poison," Peter piped up, stepping closer to the desk and then shrinking a little when he realized that everyone's attention was now on him. "Uh, well, her and Jarvis did, anyway. They found it in his Lordship's liquor. She thinks whoever it is probably intended to get her, too. She's investigating the whole thing personally, and sent me to inform you and to get some of your people together."

"Peggy?" Bucky asked blankly, looking over at Steve for clarification.

Peter flushed. "Uh, well, Lady Margaret. His Lordship's sister. Sorry, I forget -"

"Scariest and most efficient woman you'll meet outside of Natasha Romanoff, and Howard Stark's right-hand everyman," Fury said, waving Peter off. "The official line is that he's taken ill, but that's more to keep any panic from spreading to the people. The point is, this is an attempted assassination of the head of Stark House, who also happens to be one of the first in line for the throne. And Peggy thinks whoever this is was hoping to off her, too, which could either be because she's Howard's sister or because of the work she does for him, but either way, we have to assume the whole Stark family is at risk, as well as anyone else close to the throne."

Bucky tensed and looked sharply over at Steve, who paled - though not for the same reason Bucky did.

"Tony," Steve breathed, face drawing up in worry. "You haven't mentioned Tony. Is he okay? Is he -"

"He's not in Malibu," Fury said, and didn't sound at all happy about it. "Apparently, he's been demonstrating some new inventions at Fort Mira, and he's not due back for another few days."

Bucky frowned. Fort Mira was all the way across the desert, at the very edge of the kingdom. A very worrying distance if you wanted to protect somebody, especially if said somebody was an heir to the throne with a target on his back.

From their unhappy expressions, Steve and Fury thought the same thing.

Peter cleared his throat.

"Captain Rhodes is with him," he said, which didn't mean anything to Bucky but must have to Steve, since some of the tension left his shoulders. "Peggy wanted to send someone to go fetch him right away, but, ah…" He bit his lip and glanced at each of them in turn, fidgeting nervously.

"You haven't sent anyone?" Steve asked incredulously, the previous tension returning to his posture and then some.

Peter shrunk in on himself and looked helplessly to Fury, who grimaced.

"That would be one of the reasons we're trying to remain discreet," he sighed. "And why Peggy sent word straight to us. Otherwise, I don't doubt she'd be traipsing across the desert and collecting him herself right now."

"I don't understand," Steve said, just as Bucky started to get the picture.

"She doesn't trust her own people," Bucky guessed, then nodded at Peter. "Well, some of her people," he amended, making Peter flush again.

Fury nodded, his mouth a thin line. "Fact is, it's looking very likely that someone in Stark House tried to kill Howard Stark - or at least, passed on the information that allowed it. No one outside their circle should have been able to get that close." He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "Peggy would sooner rip her own arm off than send people she doesn't trust to collect her nephew, and besides, if she can keep her people close..."

"Keep your friends close, your enemies closer," Bucky surmised, and wondered if he imagined the flash in Fury's eye when he looked at him.

Steve nodded, face grim. "Tony comes here," he said firmly. "It'll be the safest place for him outside Marvel Castle. I'll leave immediately. It should only take me -"

"Absolutely not," Fury said, narrowing his eye at Steve. "I've already put together a protection detail. They can bring him back and tell him what's going on."

Sensing an argument, Bucky went to put a hand on Steve's shoulder, but Steve brushed him off and loomed over Fury's desk.

"One person will be faster and draw less attention than a whole team," Steve said, jaw set at the stubborn angle Bucky just knew meant there was going to be a fight.

Fury stood up and glowered back at him. "Have you been listening to a word I've said? Everyone and anyone close to the throne is a possible target, right now. That includes, especially, you . It's bad enough he's out there, I'm not risking both heirs at once by sending you to the ass-end of the kingdom, too."

Steve scowled back at him. "You also said we had to be discreet," he shot back. "Nobody will be expecting me to go, and I'll be quicker on my own. Besides, you know how Tony is - he's more likely to cooperate and take this seriously if it comes from me."

Fury slammed his hand down on his desk. "Damn it, Rogers, there are bigger things at stake here, and I don't have time to -"

"I'll go," Bucky said loudly, cutting off the argument before it could go any further. They both stopped and turned to stare at him, so he cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I'll go," he repeated, this time directly to Fury as he met the man's gaze head-on.

"Buck," Steve started uncertainly, but Fury silenced him with a raised hand.

"Why?" he asked calmly, inclining his head towards Bucky and giving him his full attention.

Bucky shrugged. "Steve's right, one person will be faster and draw less attention," he said, glancing quickly at Steve and then back. "The way I figure it, you just need someone who can get there quickly and tell him the news, then escort him back safely. And since you want to be as quiet and careful about this as possible, well." He shrugged again. "You know my history. I'm the perfect guy for the job."

"Some would say your history doesn't count in your favor," Fury remarked, almost offhandedly, though his expression had turned contemplative. "You've only just been cleared for duty, and I have other people who could work just as well."

Steve made a noise, but neither Fury or Bucky paid him any mind.

"You do," Bucky agreed, squaring his shoulders. "Romanoff would probably be your first choice, but as she's not already here, I'm going to assume you've got her off on a mission. I'm the next closest to her skillset."

He chanced another look at Steve - who still looked torn between impatience and irritation - then sighed.

"Look, I'm not saying you have to send me, but you and I both know that Steve isn't going to back down unless he either goes himself, or you send someone he approves personally. I, for one, don't want to have to chase his stupid ass across the desert when he decides to sneak off and do what he wants anyway, so I'm offering."

Steve gave a disgruntled little huff, but when Bucky turned and raised an eyebrow at him, he schooled his features.

Fury frowned a little harder, looking back and forth between Steve and Bucky before settling on Steve. "What do you think, Rogers? You trust him with the job?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Implicitly," Steve said without a second's hesitation, meeting Bucky's eyes and giving him a steadfast, trusting smile.

Bucky had to swallow down the bubble of unexpected emotion that smile brought, and looked back at Fury, who nodded decisively and said "You leave at once. Grab whatever equipment you need and then report to the stable. We'll have a horse ready for you when you get there."

Taking the dismissal for what it was, Bucky gave a sharp nod and turned to leave, already making a list in his head of what he would need.

Bucky had made it out of the office and most of the way up the hall when he heard Steve's heavy footsteps behind him, and huffed quietly to himself.

"I can handle this, Stevie," he said, without stopping or looking over his shoulder.

The footsteps sped up until Steve was beside him, face pinched in a combination of worry and exasperation.

"I know you can," Steve said, catching Bucky's arm and pulling him to a halt. "It's not you I'm really worried about."

Bucky blinked and raised his eyebrows, surprised enough that he didn't immediately pull out of Steve's hold. "Stark Junior?" he asked, biting back the quip about clingy spouses when he saw how serious Steve's face was.

Steve shook his head, made a face as though he thought better of it, and then nodded, mouth twisting. "It's just… I have a bad feeling. The timing, the place… Lord Howard rarely sends Tony that far across the realm, let alone to a place like Fort Mira, where anyone he could have been demonstrating to could have easily come to Malibu, or even someplace closer, like the Future Foundation. This whole thing feels wrong, somehow."

Bucky bit the inside of his cheek, torn between wanting to ease Steve's mind and acknowledging how off the whole situation felt.

"Not going to lie, it's fishy," Bucky admitted, then added, "But he's in a fort surrounded by soldiers. It may be far removed, but at the moment it's still probably safer for him, especially if this was an inside job."

Steve still didn't look convinced, so Bucky chuckled and patted Steve's arm. "Hey, look on the bright side. You've been sayin' you wanted me to meet him. Well, it's finally happening."

Steve huffed and grinned a little in spite of himself. "Yeah, but now I'm not going to be there to play referee," he said, his smile dimming. "He's - he can be a bit much, at first. Try not to let him get under your skin. Once you get to know him, he's one of the greatest men you'll ever meet, but if he doesn't know you very well and you rub him the wrong way…" He shrugged, looking oddly guilty, which made Bucky think there was probably a story there. "Just… just look after him, Buck. Please?" he asked, eyes wide and pleading.

Bucky stood up straighter, wondering what this Stark guy had done to earn so much of Steve's loyalty, then nodded, face serious.

"I'll bring him back, Stevie. Safe and sound. You have my word," Bucky promised, reaching out and giving Steve's shoulder a squeeze.

Steve smiled in relief, and wrapped his hand around Bucky's wrist. "I know you will," he said, in the same tone he'd told Fury he trusted Bucky. Then his smile turned wry. "Just make sure you come back in one piece, too. And remember what I said about Tony. I don't want to have to explain to the court that my best friend and my fiance killed each other in the desert."

Bucky snorted and gave him one more pat on the shoulder, then a lazy salute before he started heading back on his way again.

He'd been dying for a mission for weeks, and this was an easy one: Get one guy, and keep him safe until they got back to the Triskelion.

How hard could it possibly be?