Still | B. BARNES

Chapter 38

Play the song to get the full effect of the following scenes. Read slowly and savor the moment. It's a MUST:

📍 Delacroix, Louisiana | May 2024

For the last few days, Sapphire began to train Sam.

"God, woman," Sam heaved as he was passed out on the floor from doing push-ups.

Sapphire chuckled and handed him the shield, "Come on."

Sam wielded the shield onto the trees that had paddings, and Sam failed to catch it when it returned.

Sapphire held a hand out and caught it by the edge behind Sam, "You have to stop being afraid of it."

"You try it," Sam challenged. "That's a big chunk of metal that could slice you."

Sapphire wielded the shield vertically, passing through the trees.

"Sam, this shield belongs to you now. Steve gave it to you. 'Gave' like past tense. It's yours now, so start treating it the way it should be," Sapphire told him without shifting her gaze from Sam as the shield came barrelling back to her.

She extended her hand and caught it with ease, not even blinking before giving it to Sam.

"You know, when you left the therapy session with Christina, Bucky asked me why did I join if I hated him so much," Sapphire told him.

"Yeah, why?" Sam asked.

Sapphire pursed her lips, "I didn't join because of Bucky. I joined because of you."

"Bullshit," Sam chuckled at her.

Sapphire rolled her eyes, "Fine. It was because of Steve too. He made me promise that I will help you and Bucky if you needed it.'"

"Steve saw something in you that is worth carrying this shield," she told Sam. "And what he saw was something that is not made out of your jet pack or superhero suit."

"I've been meaning to ask something," Sam mentioned. 

"What?"

"Back in the Raft, when Steve broke us out, why did you stopped Scott from untying you?" Sam asked with full curiousity. 

"Well," Sapphire sighed. "I don't do good with men touching me when my eyes are covered or my hands are tied. But..."

"But?" Sam awaits for her to answer.

"I trust you, Sam," Sapphire said with sincerity.

"Why?"

"I once had a good man," Sapphire had a soft smile, remembering Professor Callahan. "He was my mission and I went through it."

"I'm sorry," Sam said. 

Sapphire chuckled, shaking her head, "It's okay. I've come to terms with it. But through his death, I found the eagerness to fight for my freedom. And I know that someone out there," she scoffed. "Maybe more than one. They would need a good man to help them too."

"The world does not need a good hero," Sapphire looked at him intently. "It needs a good man, Sam."

Sam bowed his head, remembering Steve's words to him before he went on the quantum platform, "You're a good man, Sam..."

"And you are my friend," Sam replied, looking back up to Sapphire, which made her smile.

"Alright, give it a go again," Sapphire patted his shoulder, stepping away from Sam.

Sam wielded it fast and caught it. He looked at her with a grin.

Sapphire nodded, "Try it with the jumps."

He wielded the shield and jumped, tucking and rolling before catching the shield again.

"Nice," Sapphire complimented. "Make sure your knees land perfectly though. It might resort to injury."

Days passed, and Sam trained more in between the jogs he would wield the shield to posts or trees while doing tumblings.

Back to the front lawn of Sam's house, he wielded it to the pads attached to the trees performing tricks. He landed from a tuck and roll and caught the shield with both hands on his knees.

Sam looked at Sapphire at the side, who gave a nod, "Perfect."

That day, she had to return to the city for her next session with Christina.

"Hey," Sam called out to her. 

Sapphire stopped on her tracks, turning around to face him, "What?"

"If I call you, will you answer?" Sam asked.

Sapphire smiled, "If you ever need my help, I'll be there." 

"That's great," Sam smiled back. "That's really great, Monkey." 

"So, I'll see you when you have anything on Karli," Sapphire said.

"Yes ma'am," Sam nodded. "Thank you, Saf. For everything."

"I got you," she patted his shoulder with a smile before walking away.

"Oh, by the way," Sapphire turned around again. "Thank you for being there for Bucky and me." 

Sam smiled before Sapphire finally made her way out of his city. 

Sapphire looked up to the sky and everything was so clear. 

It was all so clear to Sapphire. 

Because in the process of helping Sam, she realized  that  she no longer needs to be afraid of getting lost and being alone. 

Aside from Bucky, she knew that Sam will always be there for her, no matter where she is. 

Perhaps, he was the second man Sapphire trusted next to Bucky and before Steve. 

Sapphire  still has a long way to go, but she knew that she's gonna get through it.

And little by little, as each day passes, the voices began to fade inside Sapphire's mind and in her dreams.