Chapter 37-Public appearancce
By: MysticFantasy
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"James? Are you getting ready?"
Natasha asked before she entered her son's room. She found her thirteen year old son standing at his open closet door looking at the different clothes he had, trying to figure out which one would be best for the event they were going to.
The mother lightly chuckled as she walked over to help.
"You are just like your father when he had to go into the public for the first time." she said picking out a black jacket lined with red. "Your uncle Tony sure gave him a hard time about it too."
"But dad always seems so in control." James said.
"I think it's because of his short time as an actor." Natasha said. "He had to be perfect in front of his fans and cameras. There were plenty of both before he became Captain America. Then there were four times as much fans and camera. He couldn't let himself look nervous or out of touch because then it would make the people think he wasn't a real soldier. There were already so many who thought he was a fake but that all died down when your father turned the war around. Maybe you should ask him for some advice before we head to the base."
James nodded although he was sure that even his father's advice wouldn't calm his nerves much.
This was going to be his first public appearance and it was making him weak in the knees. Other than little schools plays from grade school, James had never been in the publics eye before.
From what he understood, there were going to be a few tv crews and professional photographers present.
His parent's had done a great job of keeping him out of the way of cameras since he'd been born. But now he was going to be present before them for an anniversary party that his father had been invited to as a guest of honor.
It was the eightieth year of the end of the war and since Captain America is the only surviving soldier of the war, he and his family had been invited to the celebration. The two parent's believed that it would be a good chance for James to make his first public appearance.
"You look so handsome." Natasha said playfully pinching his cheek.
James chuckled.
"Now go find your dad and ask him for some advice." Natasha said. "He picked up a lot of tricks during his stage days."
The teen nodded and left his room to find his father who was in his own room. James spotted his father fixing the uniform jacket of his old captain uniform. He was always amazed when he saw his dad in the uniform.
He already had that classic appearance but the uniform somehow amplified that. It gave him a look of authority and respect.
The soldier noticed his son staring at him from the reflection of the mirror.
"Hey buddy." he greeted turning around. "You look great."
"Mom should be thanked for that." James said as he walked over.
"I believe you. She's helped me so many times over the years." Steve replied. "I could never trust your Uncle Tony to not make me look like fool."
James chuckled.
"So, are you excited about this party?" Steve asked.
"Actually, I'm really nervous." James answered.
"I understand." Steve said as he buttoned his cuffs. "Your mother and I kept you away from the camera's all your life and this is your first public appearance."
"Mom said I should talk to you since you learned how to not be nervous a long time ago." James explained as he sat on the bed.
"Well, I almost had to learn in just a day." Steve said as he sat next to his teen son. "It wasn't even a whole day after I became a super soldier that the senator put me on a stage in tights. I didn't even know my lines. I had them taped onto the back of my shield. I stammered a little but I eventually calmed myself down."
"Got any pointers?" James asked.
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James felt his heart pounding inside him as the limo turned into the drive way of the large dinning hall.
He watched his parent's give themselves a quick touch up before the limo came to a stop. The driver then went around and opened the door for them.
He lightly gulped as his father stepped out and helped his mother out. Then he followed and was soon face to face with a dozen flashing cameras and even more questions.
"Captain Rogers, is this your son?"
"What's your name?"
"How old are you?"
"Why haven't we seen you before?"
"Do you plan on becoming like your father?"
James felt a gentle nudge in his back which told him to move forward. His feet somehow started moving toward the entrance.
The photographers and reporters stayed on them the whole time.
"Captain Rogers, is he your son?" a reporter asked before the three walked inside.
"Yes." Steve answered as they faced the cameras. "This is my son, James Rogers. My wife, Natasha Romanoff, and I have kept him out of the publics eye until now for his own safety but we feel that it's time that everyone has the right to now that we have a son. Rumors of this have been going on for a while so we'd like to clear things up that Natasha Romanoff and I are married and we have a thirteen year old son."
With that, James followed his parent's into the building as the reporters fired off another million questions.
Once inside, James looked at the greatly decorated hall that was filled with dozens of different ranking officers and regular civilians.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Captain Steven Rogers, Natasha Romanoff and their son, James Rogers!"
James tensed a little as everyone in the room turned and began cheering at them. Photographers that were allowed in were snapping as many pictures as they could.
The teen followed his parent's into the room where many officers walked over and began shaking hands with his father.
"You look just like your father." a sergeant told James. "Bet you're gonna be like him too, huh?"
"Uh, if he lets me, sir." James answered. "They like to keep me away from things that might be too dangerous."
"Your parent's are very cautious. I've seen your father in the field. He's the same way with the men that follow him. That's why they always come back."
James smiled at hearing how other soldiers looked up to his father and trusted him so much to look out for them in battle.
For the next two hours, James heard stories about his father. Everything from battles to volunteer work. There was nothing but praise coming from all of these military officials.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Can I have your attention please?" a general asked from the stage.
The room quieted down and gave their attention to the high ranking officer.
"As many of you know, we had a very special guest of honor here with us today and I'd like to ask for him and his family to join me here. Captain Steven Rogers!"
James followed his parent's onto the stage and was once again blinded by the many flashes from cameras.
"Captain Rogers, it is with great honor that we welcome you and your family to the celebration on our base. We'd like to present you with this medal of honor for helping to keep our country safe and making sure our boys come home safely to their families."
James smiled watching as his father held his now twelfth medal of honor and stood with the general while reporters flashes their cameras.
The red haired teen looked into the crowd and spotted a teen girl about his age. His cheeks flushed when she winked at him with a flirtatious smile.
"Enjoying being in the public's eye?" Natasha asked, having seen the interation between her son and the teen girl.
"Maybe." James answered.