LEGACY: a bucky barnes story

Chapter 1 - Achievement

2014

"Each of you sit before me having exemplified the skills and qualities of a true agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.," he boomed over the loudspeakers.

"I am honored to be your commencement speaker of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy graduation of 2014. You have all worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and I couldn't be more proud of the skills and talent with which you shall serve S.H.I.E.L.D.

Over the course of your training here, I've had the honor of observing your progress, your triumphs and failures, and the perseverance you've had through it all. Each of you have earned the mantle of this esteemed agency, and I know you will..."

The commencement speaker kept going, but I couldn't help my mind wandering. He introduced himself at the beginning, but I can't remember his name for the life of me. I was lost in the exhilaration of it all.

I was really here. I made it to the finish line. Dad would be proud, I'm sure.

From my seat, I turn to stealthily scan the attendees behind the rows of graduates. It's not long before my eyes find Matt, Emily, and Maria Hill. My heart swelled with the sight of them.

Grinning at Emily's thumbs up, I turn back to face the stage. With his head imperceptibly tilted, Nick Fury's eyes unmistakably ask, are you even paying attention? I grin once again and turn my attention back to the end of the speaker's speech.

"Thank you all for your hard work, your soon-to-be service to this country, and for letting me speak here today. I'm Alexander Pierce, and I look forward to seeing you soon." Applause follows as Mr. Pierce takes a seat next to Fury.

Ah yes, okay, Alexander Pierce. Secretary for the World Security Council.

I doubt I'll see him much day-to-day; the World Security Council is of great magnitude and I probably won't have anywhere near their clearance level.

I became cognizant just in time to hear the words "congratulations graduates" before the auditorium erupted. I embraced some of the graduates around me. I clutched the shoulders of the graduate to my left, trying to speak over a thunderous auditorium.

"Can you believe this? We actually did it?" I hollered over the chatter.

"I don't think it's hit me yet! How's it feel?" Shemar called back.

I was fortunate to have had Shemar Coleman as my unofficial comrade throughout training—I'll be forever grateful that S.H.I.E.L.D. assigns partner-based exercises alphabetically.

"I don't even know. I guess my first thought is that I wish Dad was here to see this."

It's bittersweet; though Dad would have been beaming with pride, I wish I could see him beam.

"I hear you, and I know everyone's gonna tell you that 'he's here, watching over you', so I'm not gonna say it. No use repeating what you already know. I'm proud of you Jen, I hope you know that. I'm gonna go find my folks—and I'll see you on Monday for assignments!"

Poignant yet not sappy. I can count on Shemar to be the voice of reassurance without dwelling on bygones. If we're partnered on a real S.H.I.E.L.D. assignment, we'd kick ass. I hugged Shemar once more, before scurrying to find my folks. I stood on my tiptoes, hardly seeing over the heads of graduates and their families. Once I caught sight of a towering blonde figure, I made a beeline in their direction. Having an absurdly tall family member makes pinpointing among the crowds simpler.

"Mattie!" I yelled, hardly a match for the boisterous volume, "Mattie! God dammit...Matt!!"

His head spun around, eyes searching inquisitively. When his eyes found mine, he smiled broadly with arms outstretched. I ran and wrapped him in the biggest hug I could muster.

"JJ! You did it, congrats! How do you feel?" Matt asked, arms still around me.

"Happy, and sad. But—Emily!" I turned to my sister, and returned the bear hug she'd enclosed me in.

"Jaige, this is so cool! And like, official and stuff! Also, I know you like worked really hard and stuff and it's awesome—you did it! I think Dad would be smiling if he was here. And Mom, too, although you said she was a worrier so she'd probably be like worried but still proud and..." Emily prattled on.

I held Emily tight, pressing my cheek onto my sister's head, before giving her a quick peck on the forehead and pulling away.

"Thank you; I think they would be too."

"Congratulations Jennifer, you held your own and did your dad proud," Maria beamed.

"Thank you, Mar—I mean, Agent Hill."

"God, you can still call me Maria. But, just not at work. That'll be the only place where I'm 'Agent Hill', kay?" Maria teased.

"Well how 'bout that, we've got an Agent Coulson again."

I smiled and spun around, stopping short of a hug in remembrance of the prestige he holds at S.H.I.E.L.D.

"I—um, thank you, Director Fury," I fumbled, hand outstretched.

"Ah, come on now, we're family, none of this shit changes that," Fury asserted, waving a hand broadly and then extending that hand to meet mine.

Upon grasping my hand, he pulled me in close and patted me on the back. He spoke in a low voice in my ear, "your dad would be overjoyed, you understand? So, so proud."

"Thank you, sir. I can't wait to get into the field and uphold the Coulson name."