Chapter 1
“Ugh.”
Steve’s alarm beeped aggressively on his nightstand. He loved his job, don’t get him wrong. Doing what he loves doing the most and getting paid for it was the greatest gift in his life, but his schedule. God, his schedule. Waking up at 5:30 in the morning isn’t fun, no matter how much you’re getting paid.
Over time he got accustomed to it, but waking up this early was not his cup of tea. He’s been doing this for a while now, surely not as long as others but long enough. When Steve was 14 he was scouted while he was doing a school play, a modern telling of Romeo and Julliet. Just a few months later he was cast in a sitcom called Costumed Chaos.
Steve played a patriotic superhero wannabe who always got in trouble. He quickly became a fan favourite and gained his spot in the spotlight. He starred in more and more movies and series and soon became Hollywood’s Golden Boy.
Just sucks that said golden boy has to wake up this early in the morning.
Currently, Steve was working on his psychique and getting big for his next movie, a superhero franchise. He never was the biggest, most muscular or fittest human on the planet but he just started to work out and started to see actual results. He wasn’t as tired walking up the stairs, could actually run a mile without almost dying and little baby muscles started to show.
Said baby muscled man rolled out bed with a big sigh. It was still dark out since it is October already. Great. The season of white girls who wear leggings, uggs and drink pumpkin spiced lattes all day. The season of Halloween and bad weather.
Steve walked towards his closet and changed into his workout clothes and went for a run in this lovely October weather. A perk of going jogging early in the morning? No paparazzi. Not that they followed him a lot, he never did anything scandalous that would land him in the tabloids.
Once he was back home he took a brisk shower and checked his emails. Strange. Maria, his publicist had texted him that he needed to come by the office at 8 sharp. Was there a scandal Steve didn’t know about?
Steve got dressed into his casual attire, some jeans with a white shirt. Said shirt might have been a little too tight, so what? He wanted to show off his little baby muscled to his devoted fans.
O the fans. The best part of Steve’s whole career. After his debut he gained quite the fanbase. Loving, devoted fans. Maybe to devoted? But you don’t hear Steve complain. Everytime he encouters one of them his mood is twice as good. They give him gifts, hugs, compliments, they just are the best.
He went outside and got into the car Maria sent to pick him up. Still weird, an own private car with a driver. When Steve was younger money was always a little tight, meaning he always had to walk to school and had to wear hand-me-downs. But look at him now, sitting in a luxury car with a driver!
Never in a million years did he expect this.
At his destination he got out and made sure to thank the driver. Always the gentleman. He walked into the enormous building and greeted the workers as he made his way to Hill’s office.
The familiar door came in sight and Steve went in.
Hill’s office was insane. The white room was lit by the natural light that came from the top to floor windows through which you had an amazing view of the New York skyline. An occasional plant made the room look less sterile and an incredibly fuzzy carpet warmed the room up.
“Rogers.”
“Hill.”
“Goodmorning, take a seat.” Hill said, straight to business as usual.
“Now you’re probably wondering why I called you in,” she said looking him in the eye, “don’t worry, you did nothing wrong. Are you familiar with the actor James Barnes?”
Steve snorted. Of course he is. James was an infamous actor in Hollywood, at one point a serious competitor but then he went completely of the record. Snapping at Ellen, Ellen of all people! Hitting paps, being drunk or high or both at events and ending up either in jail or rehab. He almost had a daily article in all the tabloids.
“Yes. Yes I am ma’am, may I ask why?”
“You’re going to be ‘dating’ him for the next couple months.”
If Steve had water in his mouth he would have spit it out in a very theatrical way.
“Excuse me?”
Hill sighed. Obviously not up for Steve’s whining at this time in the morning. “Well, you’ve been wanting to come out the closet for a while and James needs redemption. This is a very logical solution. Me and his new publicist talked about it. End of discussion, you’re doing this, it’s in your contract.”
So half an hour of useless discussion Steve was on his way to ‘date’ with his ‘boyfriend’, James Barnes. Arriving at the coffee shop they were supposed to meet up he got out of the car and looked at his watch. He was still a little early, good, don’t want to be late for your first date.
Not a date.
For your first whatever.
Was it stupid that Steve was kind of nervous? It was a fake date with his fake boyfriend for his contract.
An unfamiliar black SUV pulled up and out of the car stepped a man.
Not just a man. The hottest man on the planet. Dressed in tight skinny jeans and a soft looking pastel sweater. His hair is much longer than it was since his last red carpet, he also looked much better than that time.
James noticed Steve’s staring and gave him a smile and a hug. “Sorry, if this is awkward, gotta sell it y’know.”
When Steve was released from the man’s strong grip he got the chance to look him in the eyes. Beautiful grey eyes, not bloodshot and his pupils weren’t dilated. Good for him.
“Hey… Nice to meet you, wanna go inside? I’m freezin’”
James nodded and the pair walked inside the coffeeshop. It wasn’t very crowded, which isn’t weird for an early october monday morning. The two of them sat down by a table close to the window, they were there to be seen together. Steve ordered a cappuccino and James a ridiculously sugared drink.
The two drank their drinks in silence for a few minutes until Steve broke it.
“So… This is a little weird, huh?”
James nodded. “This wasn’t my idea, just sayin’ but I’m glad it’s you. You seem like a cool fake boyfriend.”
Steve giggled. Giggled, a grown 27-year-old man with baby muscles giggled. What is happening to him?
“We should probably get to know each other some more huh?” Steve said, to which James nodded.
Steve told James about his painting habits, his cat which is actually his neighbours cat but they neglect her so now it’s Steve’s, about his favourite foods and his family. His mother who Steve absolutely adores and is his best friends. His father who passed away when he was 17 but still loves. About growing up in Brooklyn and growing up in the spotlight. James was listening with his full attention. Sometimes nodding or laughing when Steve made a joke.
“You grew up in Brooklyn? No way! Me too!” James exclaimed.
It was James turn to tell about his life. He told Steve about his parents and his seven siblings. About his friends and about his secret love for One Direction, he made Steve promise not to tell anyone about that. About his days as a Disney Star and about his latest project.
“I’ve got to tell, I’m glad you’re back on your feet again. You look great, much less dead than last time.” Steve said earnestly.
“So I still look a little bit dead?”
Steve’s eyes went wide and he stumbled over his next words, “What? No I-I didn’t. Fuck. Shit. No you look great. Really great.”
What was this man doing to him?
“Thanks. You too, you’ve been working out?”
Steve blushed a little bit. So far he’s been enjoying James’ company, maybe this whole deal isn’t going to be too bad.
☽‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾