Still | B. BARNES

Chapter 24

📍 Madripoor, Southeast Asia | May 2024

"We have to do something about this. I'm the only one who looks like a pimp," Sam complained as the four of them walked on the bridge.

Bucky wore a similar vest he wore as the Winter Soldier. It had the straps wrapped across his chest.

"You okay?" Sam asked Bucky, who replied with a nod and his usually stoic face.

Sam knew that something happened between the woman and Bucky. Ever since their talk on the plane, they came back a lot more quiet and cold.

"Well you don't look like it," Sapphire retorted, without shifting her gaze ahead.

"I have other reasons," he groaned, refraining from looking at Sapphire.

"Even she looks great," Sam pointed at Sapphire, who was in the middle of Bucky and Zemo.

Sapphire was wearing a dark red drape neckline which showed a huge amount of her pale skin and cleavage. The dress didn't allow her to wear any bra. It also had an open back and slit on the side that reached her hip. She matched the dress with gold ankle strap heels.

Her hair is in its natural state. Silky straight behind her back.

She dressed the way she did before going in Madripoor. The more her pale skin was shown, the more people would know not to fuck with her in the city. 

It dawned on her why Bucky was avoiding her.

He's turned on.

And Sapphire felt good about it no matter how fucked up that is.

She rose a brow at him. Bucky rolled his eyes and told her quietly but sternly, "Behave."

Sapphire clenched her jaw, looking away from him. It was now Bucky's turn to feel relief, knowing his words still affected her.

"Only an American would assume a fashion-forward Black man looks like a pimp. You look exactly like the man you're supposed to be playing," Zemo told Sam, showing a picture. "The sophisticated, charming African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger."

"He even has a bad nickname," Sam commented. "Hell, he does look like me, though."

"You smell this?" Zemo asked.

"Yeah, what is that? Acid?"

"Madripoor," Zemo replied before reminding them. "No matter what happens, we have to stay in character. Our lives depend on it. There's no margin for error."

A car approached them.

"High Town's that way," Zemo said to the direction Sam was looking at. "Not a bad place if you wanna visit, but Low Town's the other way."

Bucky opened the car door for Sapphire to get in before he did.

"Let me guess. We don't have any friends in High Town," Sam joked, entering on the other side of the door.

Thunder rumbled on their way there, as other motorcycles surrounded then heading in the same direction.

"You know the route your taking?" Zemo asked Sapphire from the front.

"Yeah," she replied before her breath hitched. She felt a handhold her right upper thigh. The worst thing, her dress had a slit on the right which made it easier for Bucky to creep his hand up, teasing her.

"Stop it," she hissed lowly, holding his wrist in place.

Bucky knew not to cross her, but the way she's breathing heavily, that moment was a confirmation that she did like it. Her pupils were dilated like they always do when she's aroused.