Chapter Thirteen: From Soldier To Cover Star
It was the day of the big photoshoot. ‘A
Superhero Meets Hollywood Romance’. Sarah’s publicists were buzzing with
excitement, as were Cece and Lily. The news was out, and it was huge.
There was no way poor Tony and Nat could have kept this from Steve. Even though
televisions and monitors mysteriously conked out, and access to entertainment
websites inexplicably blocked, there was no getting away from the mammoth crew
advancing toward the Avengers Compound like army tanks. Photogs, set decorators,
makeup artists, stylists, and assistants got to work, setting up in the
designated area Tony had given them access to. He looked on astounded,
realising what a big deal this was.
“Little Sarah Carter,” he thought. “Who
would have thought?” A soft smile crept onto his face as he watched her
flit through several clothing rails, picking out her favourite pieces. Pride
burst through his chest, not unlike a father watching his baby girl prepare for
her first ballet recital.
Just then, Nat power-walked over to Tony, disrupting
his little moment. “I can’t find him anywhere,” she whisper-yelled.
“Uh, remind me what this is about…” All it took was
a moment of wonderment to derail Tony’s thoughts.
“What do you think? Steve! His motorcycle’s out
back, his car’s in the garage, but… I can’t find him anywhere.”
Of course, she wouldn’t find him. Many years ago,
Steve had found a secluded spot on the roof. At first, he’d considered
reporting the blind spot to Tony. It was, after all, even out of F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s
range. A security risk. But he decided against it after sharing the secret spot
with Sarah. She’d had a particularly horrid day at boarding school and “ran
away” to the compound. It had become a sort of solace for them both.
From this vantage point, Steve had a bird’s-eye view
of the commotion below. He watched Sarah get her hair and makeup done,
chuckling to himself when he caught her doing a dorky dance as she psyched
herself up for the shoot, and then released a wistful sigh as he turned to
leave, silently saying goodbye to her.
It’s only when Tony’s autonomous Audi crawled up to
him that he found Steve dawdling across the running track, fully decked in his
suit. “What, did you teleport here? Romanoff’s been looking all over for you.”
“Hm, has she?”
“You know, things have been quiet around here
lately. If you wanted to get away for a couple of days… I hear Asgard’s great
this time of year.”
That earned a soft chuckle from Steve. “I appreciate
the concern, Tony, but I’m good. I’ve made peace with it. They’re happy.”
“Damn it, Rogers,” Tony muttered at Steve’s
laissez-faire approach.
“What? You don’t approve?”
“What about you?”
“What about me? They’re my two best
friends. How can I not want them to be happy?” Tony had no
comeback. While a typical Steve Rogers response, he resisted an eye roll.
Snarkiness would be in poor taste for such unadulterated selflessness.
“…Besides, even if I could, what type of man would I be if I were to tell them
the truth now? They’ve only just gotten together.”
“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing."
After a moment of contemplation, Steve replied, “I
hope so too.”
Upon spotting Bucky from across the makeshift set,
Sarah left her makeup chair and made a beeline toward him. “Where have you
been? Last I heard from you, you said you’d call me back!”
“I know… I know… I’m sorry,” he said, carefully
placing his Vibranium arm around Sarah’s shoulder as he pulled her in for a
swift peck on the forehead. “Steve and I had ‘the talk’ yesterday.”
Sarah’s eyes widened at the news, her heart
momentarily stilled. “Well, what did you say? What did he say?
Are you guys good?”
“We’re good, Sarah," Bucky smirked. "You
don’t need to keep looking over your shoulder anymore.”
“Looking over my sh– I do not!” she scoffed.
“Oh, yeah, you do. Believe me. You care about what
he says or thinks more than you realise… Or more than you’d care to admit.”
Sarah opened her mouth to speak, to deny the
accusation, but she couldn’t. Instead, the couple locked eyes, sharing a look
that spoke volumes. It was in this moment of silent communication that Bucky’s
suspicion and concern had solidified.
Detecting a change in Sarah’s heart rate and pupil
dilation—signs he now knew meant she felt stressed—he cupped her cheek. “I’ll
see you in a bit, gorgeous.”
The last thing Bucky wanted was for Sarah to feel
guilty about her unresolved (or, more accurately, her unacknowledged)
feelings. He navigated his way through the horde of stylists, leaving her
somewhat confounded. How had Bucky derived this conclusion? Was she really that
transparent? Or were Bucky’s abilities a little different from Steve’s?
Sarah took a moment to focus on her breathing; a
technique she had learnt in rehab. This was the first time since ‘the
incident’ that she had felt such strain. Her chest tightened as
perspiration formed along her hairline.
“Breathe,” she thought. “Just breathe.”
It hadn’t occurred to her yet that this was a sign
of regression. Hell, it hadn’t occurred to anyone. No one could
have predicted the events that followed. No one, that is, except perhaps for
Steve.
As the camera flashes erupted around Bucky and
Sarah, Bucky felt nothing but discomfort. Being in the spotlight was never his
forte, never mind posing alongside a seasoned actress dressed in designer
outfits for a high-profile photoshoot.
“Bucky, relax,” Sarah whispered, her hand gently
squeezing his as the photographer directed them into various poses. Bucky
managed a strained smile, hoping it looked convincing enough for the cameras.
Sarah, on the other hand, radiated confidence, effortlessly striking poses and
exuding charm with every click of the shutter.
For Sarah, this was a dream come true—a chance to
share her world with him. And for Bucky, it was a way to make her happy, even
if it meant stepping out of his comfort zone.
As the bright flashes of the cameras continued to
assault Bucky’s senses, Sarah noted his growing distress. With a gentle touch,
she slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers as they stood amidst
the bustling set of the photoshoot. Bucky’s tension was palpable, his gaze
flickering nervously to the crew members and cameras surrounding them.
"Hey," Sarah whispered, her voice a
soothing melody amidst the chaos. "Forget about them for a moment. Pretend
it’s just us."
Bucky locked eyes with her, finding comfort in the
gentle warmth of her gaze. Amidst the cacophony of noise, the piercing stares,
and the expectations, he sought refuge in the familiarity of Sarah’s presence.
She became his sanctuary in the midst of this chaotic spectacle, her quiet
strength grounding him with every glance, her steadfastness offering him solace
in the midst of the storm.
With a subtle yet deliberate movement, Sarah reached
up and gently cupped the back of Bucky’s neck, drawing him closer to her. And
then, in a moment of spontaneity and desperation to ease his discomfort, she
pressed her lips against his, kissing him deeply and passionately.
For a heartbeat, the world around them faded into
insignificance. There was only the sensation of their lips moving together, the
rhythm of their breaths syncing in perfect harmony. Bucky felt himself
surrendering to the moment, allowing Sarah’s kiss to wash away his worries and
fears.
When they parted, Bucky slow-blinked in disbelief,
the chaos of the photoshoot momentarily forgotten. In Sarah’s eyes, he saw
nothing but empathy and affection, a silent reassurance that they were in this
together, no matter what challenges they faced. And in that moment, surrounded
by the glitz and glamour of the set, Bucky found the resilience to do her proud
and play the role of cover star.
His rugged demeanour, marked by his strong jawline
and piercing eyes, stood in striking contrast to Sarah’s delicate elegance. She
exuded grace and poise, with flowing locks of golden hair and eyes that
sparkled like sapphires. Together, they embodied a modern-day fairytale, where
the prince and princess hailed from different worlds yet found a mesmerising
harmony in their union. As they stood side by side, the blend of Bucky’s raw
strength and Sarah’s ethereal beauty created an intoxicating scene, captivating
all who beheld them. It was a sight plucked from the pages of a timeless
romance, where opposites not only attracted but merged to form an enchanting
and unforgettable tale of love.
During the interview segment following the shoot,
Sarah spoke about their relationship, her eyes bright with affection as she
recounted how they'd first met. Sitting beside her, Bucky listened attentively,
offering a few shy smiles when prompted. It was surreal to hear Sarah speak so
fondly of him, and despite his apprehension about the limelight, he found
himself grateful to be a part of her world, if only for that moment.
Vivienne, the journalist covering the story, crossed
her ankles as she adjusted the digital recorder on the ottoman before she
continued. “For our readers, I’m obligated to ask… How do you guys stay in such
great shape?”
“Oh, I’m in shape?” Sarah feigned surprise, knowing
all too well the obligatory ‘diet and training’ question had
to be asked sooner or later. “Gosh, I don’t know... I guess I stay in shape by
dodging paparazzi and doing a daily workout of chasing my dreams. Keeps me on
my toes,” she quipped, her eyes twinkling with playful humour. Her witty response
elicited chuckles from those around her, adding a touch of light-heartedness to
the conversation.
Vivienne then turned to Bucky. “Sergeant Barnes?”
“Me? Yeah, my job kind of takes care of that. I just
need to… you know, show up.”
“So, no real routine? No special diet?”
Bucky tapped each of biceps. “What can I say? All
super soldier.”
Much to Vivienne’s dismay, the interview was
mediocre, at best. The “Sarah Carter/Bucky Barnes” story was supposed to set
tongues wagging with thrill and spice, not be doomed for lining the next day’s
kitty litter box. Sure, the subjects were flaming hot, but there was nothing
compelling to uncover. No angle. No scoop.
Nevertheless, Vivienne trudged on, turning her
attention to Sarah as she silently berated herself for volunteering to cover
the story. “You’ve both travelled quite extensively. What are your favourite
places to visit?”
“You know what? As cheesy as it sounds, I’m a sucker
for Paris. Getting whisked away on a romantic getaway is kind of a fantasy of
mine.”
“Not very subtle, is she?” Vivienne teased, arching
an eyebrow at Bucky.
“No… No, she’s not. I keep telling her that for a
professional actress, she hasn’t quite nailed the art of subtlety.”
Once the playful ribbing came to an end, Vivienne
sat back in her chair and asked the final question for the interview. Heaving a
sigh of relief, she glanced between the couple and smiled. “You’re equally
close to Captain Steve Rogers. Has your relationship changed that at all?”
Bucky gestured for Sarah to answer first. “It’s
Steve’s nature to be protective. So naturally, I expected some resistance from
him. But I think because we both have such a rich, treasured history with him,
it was easy for Steve to accept and support us.”
Her answer was so quick, so confident, so
well-rehearsed. Bucky blinked, reeling at the adept way Sarah answered the
question. The only problem he had with it was the fact that it wasn’t the whole
truth.
“Actually… I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t
know how he’d react to the news. Which is why I chose to bide my time. But at
the end of the day, you really can’t find a better friend than Steve. He’s as
selfless as they come.”
“He really is. Steve is… He’s… something else. My
sister’s a lucky girl. I hope she realises that,” Sarah added, unprompted.
And just like that, the editorial gods smiled down
on Vivienne. It wasn’t so much what Sarah said, but how she'd
said it. And with that wistful expression on her face, Vivienne knew she had
just struck gold! This was the angle she had hoped for.
Thank you so much for reading! 🙏 Your support means the world to me, so if you
enjoyed this chapter, please show some love by liking the video and
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