But imagine that in this Medieval AU scenario, Sam is falling harder and harder for Steve-
-And one day he canāt help himself, he thinks for a moment that he sees a reflection of how heās feeling in Steveās face, and he puts his hand on Steveāsā¦
Steve just looks down at Samās hand on his. Ā Samās skin smooth and only slightly calloused from horseback riding and fencing, jeweled rings on his fingers, where Steveās are rough and plain, with short, bitten-off nails-
After that Steve is scrupulously proper with Sam-
still friendly, but he makes it quite clear, without actually addressing theĀ āincident,ā that he doesnāt feel anything warmer than close friendship for his employer.
Sam tries not to take it too hard- he is quick to stifle the double shot of longing and humiliation whenever he and Steve have a moment together, and to simply enjoy Steveās camaraderie and friendship.
That is until thereās a raid on their camp and Sam is separated from his guards- he defends himself with his scimitar and with his falcon, Redwing, flying in his assailantsā eyes, and he survives with only a few minor cuts and scrapes.
When he makes his way back, heās met by a wild-eyed and frantic Steve taking one look at him and crying out with joy- throwing propriety out the window and running to strongly embrace him. Ā
Steveās hands canāt seem to stop running up and down Samās back, like he wants to make sure heās really there.
Ā Itās unlike any embrace Sam has ever felt, and between the dayās events and this, heās bewildered and off his head, and when Steve whispersĀ āI thought I had lost you,ā Sam tangles his hands in Steveās hair and kisses his temple, his forehead, his jaw-
and Steve is kissing him back- wherever he can, kissing Samās cheek and his nose and his eyebrow and the lobe of his ear-
Resting their foreheads together as Steve caresses his face, smiling, eyes wet. Ā
āAre you hurt?ā Ā Sam asks, clearing his throat and managing to contain himself a little. Ā He doesnāt want to- he wants this frenzy to last forever. Ā Never wants Steve to close himself off from him like before.
Steve shakes his head and leans in, wordlessly asking Samās permission. Ā
Their first kiss is deliberate and sweet, Sam opening up to Steveās tongue as fireworks go off in his head- a dizzy rush of Steveās taste and scent, and his blood still pounding in his ears from battle.