Maya Stark

Chapter 49: The news sucks

Back home, Morgan was leading me to the living room so I could watch TV with her before she had to go to sleep. I had been trying to ignore the nagging worry I had since I'd gotten back and knew this would be a great opportunity to distract myself. I was oh so wrong. There it was, the second I turned on the TV. It was already on the news channel, so it's not like I found it on purpose. I wish I didn't find it at all.

'John, I think the first thing everyone wants to know is what is it like being Captain America?' The interviewer said. My mind struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. This "John" character sat in a Walmart-type Captain America suit. I didn't care about that or the name. My eyes were actually glued to the shield that sat at his feet. 'Do eagles fly overhead wherever you go?'

John laughed. 'Um, yes. Yeah, that and flags tend to start majestically waving in the wind.'

'Morgan, can you go get mom for me, please?' I ask quietly. Morgan runs out of the room quickly.

'And how's the tour been?' the interviewer asked. 'I know they did a big rollout for you, right?' 'It's the greatest honor of my life,' John said. 'Um, but I'm just a little shocked, I think. How did a guy like me—'

'Oh, wait, wait, wait. "A guy like me?" Somebody's being a bit too humble,' the reporter cut in. Morgan came running back in with Pepper on her heels. 'For those of you who aren't familiar with his resumé, John Walker, first person in American history to receive three medals of honor, ran RS-One missions in counterterrorism and hostage rescue. The government did a study of your body at MIT, and you tested off the charts in every measurable category. Speed, endurance, intelligence.'

'Look, here's the thing, uh, I'm not Tony Stark, nor Dr. Banner, okay?' My hand grips harder on the remote as I try to breathe. 'I don't have the flashiest gadgets; I don't have Super Strength. But what I do have is guts. Something Captain America always had, always needs to have, and I'm gonna need every ounce of it. Because I have big shoes to fill.'

'Did you know Steve Rogers?'

'I was two years out of West Point when Steve came back on the scene. I followed his career very closely as an Avenger. I like to think that I modeled my work after his.'

'So, you've always wanted to be a hero?'

'I liked that what I was doing would make people safe,' Walker said. 'Steve Rogers was the kind of guy who could do that. He gave me hope. Even though I never met him, he feels like a brother.' I lock my jaw and Pepper takes the remote and turns the TV off. I sat quietly on the couch and put my head in my hands. The last words rang in my air, and I struggled taking breaths. The familiar feeling of panic and anger filled my senses. I heard Pepper say something, but I didn't make out what. I felt the couch sink next to me and figured she sat down. Her hand hesitantly landed on my back, and she tried to soothe me.

'It wasn't your fault, Maya,' she said. 'You couldn't have known they would have done that.'

I closed my eyes, trying to focus on calming down. I took deep breaths. If I could calm down, it wouldn't get bad. I wouldn't spiral. After a couple deep breaths, breathing came easier to me and I noticed I was shaking. The next thing I felt was the urge to punch something. I opened my eyes and lifted my head up. I shook my head.

'How could they even do that?' I said, almost in a yell. Morgan wasn't there anymore. My hand curled into a fist.

'I don't know,' Pepper said, quietly.

'I... I need to go see Sam,' I said looking at her. 'I just... I need to.' My eyes tried to plead with her.

'Maya...' She sighed.

'I know,' I said. 'Okay. It's reckless. And I probably won't even be able to do anything. But Pepper... come on. I can't just sit in this house anymore. And even if I can't do anything about the shield, maybe I'll be able to help Sam with something else.'

She sighs. 'As much as I want to keep you tied up here, you're way too much like Tony to do that. I'll never be able to get you to stop. But I need you to be careful, Maya. To be safe.'

'I know,' I said, quietly. 'I won't be gone forever, that I can promise.'

She looks at me for a moment. 'When do you want to go?'

'Tomorrow.'

'Okay. Don't be gone forever, Maya.'