Chapter Text
When Buck was born, his mother hid him.
His father had been a Mag'har orc. He fell in battle leaving his mother pregnant and alone. Later she gave birth to Buck. And hid him.
She knew he would not amount to much. Born without an arm as he was, but she was willing to protect him with her life if necessary.
By the time anyone found out about Buck, he was already too big for anything to be done about him or his missing limb. They would figure out what to do with Buck when he came of age. There was use for anyone and everyone in the Horde, even if they had missing parts.
Maybe when the clans were spread out and there was no Horde, Buck would have been cast away, thrown into the wilderness so the elements or the animals would feed on him and end his short life, but not in this new Horde. He could prove himself eventually, he could be useful despite the fact a lot of people thought a one armed orc was pretty much useless.
Buck, however, was not useless at all in his duties. He could skin raptors and kill scorpids with the same proficiency as any other warrior. Still, he was not fit for battle.
The Warchief glanced at him and decided he was too short, too gangly, not strong enough for fighting. Deemed him valuable in other areas, maybe.
Maybe Buck could be a healer. He would need his two hands to be a shaman. If he could tame an animal, maybe he could become a hunter. Hunters were always useful to the Horde. Buck huffed and puffed but stayed behind and looked wistfully as the troops left to fight for the Horde.
One day he'd have his chance to prove himself.
Meanwhile, Steven Rogers had been born in Stormwind, the only son to his father, a great warrior who fought in the service of King Varian Wrynn. Now Steven served under the new King Anduin Wrynn. He was a paladin, trained to protect the innocent and bring freedom to the oppressed. The Light was with them and they were with the Light.
Steve had worked hard to be where he was. His father had little faith in him. When Steve was a child, he was small and sickly, his mother would hardly allow him to go anywhere by himself. She was afraid he'd catch any illness or the exertion would be too much for his fragile body. When he told his parents he wished to become a paladin, his mother refused. He could become a priest if he wanted, but not a paladin, never a paladin. Steve was disappointed that his parents did not trust him.
So he ran away. It didn't take long for his parents to find him, as it was a cold night and his mother fretted constantly. They found him buried under the snow. His parents feared they would lose him forever. But the Light had other plans for him.
He had a fever for a few days, they called in the priest to help the transition into the Light for Steve, so sure he was leaving them. And a month later, he woke up, taller and stronger. He could run without his lungs betraying him. He could become what he had always wanted to become.
It was a miracle.
His father proudly allowed him to train to become a paladin. He had the chance to grow close to the prince Anduin. They seemed to have their desire for peace and justice in common. When King Varian died and Anduin ascended, Steve stood with the rest of his order. He was part of the King's guard. He had ascended as well.
His father was proud. He was proud of himself.
But the Light always has other plans for everyone.