Maya Stark

Chapter 59: Anixety Attack

I was the first one out of the house. I felt trapped and my breathing was shallow. I took a deep breath of fresh air when I got outside. Sam and Bucky were close on my heels.

'Sam—' Bucky started.

'Why didn't you tell me about Isaiah?' Sam asked. I walked ahead of them, trying to push down the panic. 'How could nobody bring him up?' Bucky didn't answer as we walked up the street. 'I asked you a question, Bucky.'

'I know,' Bucky sighed.

'Steve didn't know about him?'

'He didn't. I didn't tell him,' Bucky said. I heard their footsteps stop so I stopped as well. I finally turned around to look at them.

'So, you're telling me that there was a black Super Soldier decades ago and nobody knew about it?'

A cop car pulls up, it's sirens going off once. The officers get out of the car and one of them says, 'Hey.'

'What's up man?'

'Is there a problem here?' the cop said. I walked back so I was next to Sam.

'No, we're just talking,' Sam said.

'We're fine,' said Bucky.

'Can I see your ID?'

'I don't have ID,' Sam said. 'Why?'

'Okay, sir, just calm down,' the officer said.

'I am calm,' Sam said. 'What do you want? We're just standing here, talking.'

'Just give him your ID so we can get the hell out of here,' Bucky said.

'No, I'm not giving him shit,' Sam said. 'We're just talking.'

'Look, is this guy bothering you?' the cop was looking at me now.

'No, he's not bothering me. Do you know who this is?' Bucky said before I could say anything.

The older cop whispers to the one we've been talking to, and instant regret shows in his eyes.

'Oh, God, I am so sorry, Mr. Wilson. I didn't recognize you without the goggles. I'm really sorry about this.' I scoffed as another cop car pulls up behind us. 'Just wait here, okay?' The two cops walk away to go talk to the others.

'I didn't tell anybody because he had already been through enough,' Bucky said to Sam.

'Mr. Barnes, there's a warrant out for your arrest,' the officer from before said.

'Look, the president pardoned him for all that,' Sam said.

'Not for that. You missed your court-mandated therapy. It's like missing a check-on with you PO. I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes, you're under arrest.'

I watched, quite helplessly if I may add, as Bucky gets in the cop car. It all hit really hard. Everything that has happened in the span of two or three days. I run a hand through my hair and move over to sit on the curb for a second. I put my bag down next to me before I sit.

'You good, Maya?' Sam asked, looking at me cautiously.

I nod silently. I put my hands on my forehead as I try to breathe. My chest was tight, and everything flooded out at once. I felt the panic taking over me and I started shaking, silent tears falling down my face. I was scared, sad, frustrated, and mad. My breathing was fast, but it felt like I wasn't getting any air at all. I was hyperventilating. Panic overtook my thoughts. I couldn't do anything about it. I wasn't in control of my emotions or anything happening at all. Everything was falling apart. I let everyone down. I should be stronger than this. I'm pitiful.

I was freezing as chills racked my body. A fleeting thought of passing out came and went quickly through my brain as I tried to calm down. I closed my eyes tights and struggled to take deep breaths. I wasn't very aware of my surroundings anymore and I begged myself to calm down. Despite the shivering and being cold, I was sweating. My cheek still ached form the earlier fight, a bright purple bruise already there. I tried to focus on anything else. It wasn't working all that well.

I don't how long I was sitting there trying to catch my breath. But I did eventually get in control and calm down. I had almost forgotten Sam was a thing, but I felt his presence next to me. He had sat down at some point. I'm glad he didn't try to talk to me. It would have made it worse. I lifted my head finally after my breathing steadied and I calmed. I wiped my face of tears and sweat. I was still shaking but not as violently. A couple months ago I got my first Anxiety attack, but I knew what it was. He got them a while ago. After the battle of New York. I wasn't all that surprised when I started getting them.

'When did those start?' Sam asked, after a couple more seconds of silence. His voice was hesitant.

'Uhm,' I started, my voice quiet, 'maybe two—three months ago? They're usually induced by stress.' I could see Sam nod from the corner of my eye. I stood up. 'Come on. We need to figure out how to get Buck out of jail.'