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Sam doesn't quite know when it started.
Well, to be completely honest, he never would've noticed their... 'charades' at all if it weren't for Shuri. Bless her heart, really. The princess has a lot to put up with.
Sam was having a relatively normal day, which believing that was his first mistake. Shuri came storming towards him, a particularly nasty scowl on her face that he would've raised an eyebrow at or maybe chuckled if he felt like cutting his life short.
"You have to keep your lovers in check, it is not long before they are to be out of the window." Shuri sighs, shaking her head in disappointment. "I cannot bear with their banter any longer."
"Banter?" Sam inquires with a curious tilt of his head. "News to me." It was. Ever since they'd resolved their dispute and major misunderstanding, and ever since their relationship bloomed, Sam was under the impression that they've been getting along.
Shuri seemed to mirror his confusion, her eyebrows furrowing. "...Do not tell me you are unaware."
"Hate to break it to you." Sam replies.
"My brother, as unfortunate as it is, and Sergeant Barnes have been fighting. Over you."
Sam blinks once, then twice. "You can't be serious."
———
Turns out, the princess was quite serious.
Sam was just about to call over his boyfriends, but before he could turn a corner, he'd overheard familiar voices.
"Why are you even arguing with me over this?" Bucky says, tone clearly frustrated.
T'Challa is quick to retaliate, Sam observes. "Do not think I don't see you hogging Samuel. Your greed is beyond me."
"My greed? You practically abuse your power to cling to him like a leech!"
"I am King of Wakanda and I will have Shuri meddle with your arm in your sleep, you–"
Before T'Challa could even finish his sentence, a heavy sigh coming from behind caused them to turn their heads.
"Seriously?" Sam said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, an eyebrow raised and despite the disappointment on his face, the tinge of amusement was evident.
"Samuel," T'Challa's voice was suddenly fond, a stark contrast to how he was speaking to Bucky quite literally a few seconds before. He stalked over, placing a hand on Sam's waist and leaning down to plant an affectionate kiss on the latter's temple.
Not long after, Bucky came over as well, stood behind Sam to kiss his jawline, whilst not-so discreetly glaring at T'Challa from over his shoulder.
"And here I thought Princess Shuri was over exaggerating." That seemed to make both Bucky and T'Challa tense up, to his entertainment.
"...The hell did she say?" Bucky asked lowly, metal hand resting on Sam's hip.
"That you two are being childish." She didn't, but it wasn't exactly a lie. The strong implication was there, considering her frustration.
T'Challa scoffed, it teetered on the edge of being considered a chuckle. "To think I'd have been slandered by my own blood behind my back. I will be sure to have a word with her."
"I don't blame her. If I'd known that you two were bickering like children..."
"We are not 'bickering like children.'" Bucky argued, squeezing Sam's hip in warning. "We were just... straightening things out. I'm trying to play fair game here."
"Fair game? Is that what you think you are doing?" T'Challa said with a frown.
"Don’t you start." Sam interjected, directed to the both of them. He'd prefer not to be right in the middle while they banter for God knows how long.
Times like these make him question why and how he let himself get involved with these two, but his regrets always remain as none.