Maya Stark

Chapter 93: Sam Wilson is Captain America

I land next to Sam, who had Karli draped across his arms. There were police and reporters and civilians. It definitely did not help to soothe the panic rising in my chest. Sam set Karli down on a stretcher as people started asking him questions. I stared at Karli a little too long as they wheeled the stretcher away. Sam squeezed my shoulder and I jumped slightly, looking over to him. He nods to where Bucky and Walker and I take the hint. I walk over to Bucky and stand next to him, facing the direction Sam was.

'Are you okay?' Bucky whispers to me.

I nod and take a deep breath. 'Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.'

It didn't sound believable to me and I'm sure he knew I was anything but fine. I feel his gaze leave me and I take another deep breath. Two GCR members and the senator walk up to Sam.

'Sam, thank you so much, from all of us,' a GCR member, Ayla said.

'Sincerely,' said the senator. 'You did your part in dealing with those terrorists, now we'll do ours.'

'Are you still going forward with resetting the borders?' Sam asks.

'Our peacekeeping troops will begin relocating people soon,' the second GCR member, Lacont, said. 'The terrorists only set us back a bit.'

Sam sighs. 'You have to stop calling them terrorists.'

'What else would we call them?' the senator asks.

'Your peacekeeping troops carrying weapons are forcing millions of people into settlements around the world, right?' Sam asked. The senator nods and I cross my arms. 'What do you think those people are gonna call you? These labels, "terrorists", "refugee", "thug", they're often used to get around the question, why?'

'Those settlements that happened five years ago, do you think it is fair for governments to have to support them?' Lacont asked.

'Yes,' said Sam.

'And the people who reappeared only to find someone else living in their family home, they just end up homeless?' the senator asked. Sam didn't say anything. 'Look, I get it. But you have no idea how complicated this situation is.'

The senator started to walk away but Sam stopped him.

'You know what? You're right. And that's a good thing. We finally have a common struggle now. Think about that. For once, all the people who've been begging, and I mean, literally begging for you to feel how hard any given day is... Now you know. How did it feel to be helpless? Now if you could remember what it was like to be helpless and face a force so powerful it could erase half the planet, you would know that you're about to have the exact same impact. This isn't about easy decisions, Senator.'

'You just don't understand,' the Senator said.

Sam scoffs. 'I'm a Black man carrying the stars and stripes. What don't I understand? Every time I pick this thing up, I know there are millions of people out there who are gonna hate me for it. Even now, here... I feel it. The stares, the judgement. And there's nothin' I can do to change it. Yet, I'm still here. No super serum, no blond hair, or blue eyes. The only power I have is that I believe we can do better.' A smile pulls at my lips as I watch him. 'We can't demand that people step up if we don't meet them halfway. Look, you control the banks. Shit, you control the borders! You can knock down a forest with an email, you can free a million people with a phone call.

'But the question is, who's in the room with you when you're making those decisions? Hmm? Is it the people you're gonna impact? Or is it just more people like you? I mean, this girl died trying to stop you, and no one has stopped for one second to ask why. You've gotta do better, Senator.' Bucky and I shared a look. The same proud look. The same look we used to give Steve. 'You've gotta step up. Because if you don't, the next Karli will. And you don't wanna see 2.0. People believed in her cause so much that they helped her defy the strongest government in the world. Why do you think that is? Look, you people have just as much power as an insane god or a misguided teenager. The question you have to ask yourself is, "How are you going to use it?"'

Sam starts walking towards us and Bucky and I straighten. I wipe a little blood off my lip with my thumb as he gets to us.

'Sorry, I was, uh, I was texting and so, all I heard was, um, "A black guy in stars and stripes",' Bucky said. The three of us laugh. 'Nice job, Cap.'

'Thanks,' Sam said. 'Sharon?'

Sharon was leaning against a car, putting pressure on her bullet wound. We walked up to her.

'Blocking my light,' she muttered.

'We gotta get you to a hospital,' Sam said.

'She's not gonna listen,' Bucky said.

'Besides, she's fine,' I said confidently.

Sharon gave me a look but then agreed, 'It's not the worse thing that's happened to me all week.'

'Told you,' Bucky said.

'Uh, Cap?' a guy behind us called.

'I think he's talking to you,' Sharon said. 'Look, I'm sorry for how things ended down there. For what it's worth, suit looks good on you.'

Sam chuckles. 'Thanks.'

'Alright, look, can we get out of here, please?' Bucky asks Sharon.

Sharon laughs and Sam adds, 'I didn't forget my promise.'

I hesitate, everything hitting me that it was finally over. It was time to face reality.

Apparently, Sam could see the hesitation in my face, 'Maya? Are you okay?'

I turn and look at him. 'Yeah, I just realized I had to go home.' I wrapped my arms around my waist, suddenly uncomfortable.

'Not necessarily,' he said. 'I could still use your help wrapping up here. As long as you aren't running away yet.'

I smile. 'I'll help, yeah, just... give me one second.'

I could still see Bucky; they hadn't made it all that far. I run up to him and he stops, turning to meet my attention. Sharon stops a couple feet ahead.

'You crossed my name out in that book, right?' I ask.

He hesitates and avoids eye contact. 'Yeah, yeah, sure.'

My eyes harden. 'You're going to cross my name out as soon as you can, right?'

He chuckles. 'Yeah. I promise.'

'Good,' I said as I start to back up. 'And I know you're already thinking of a name. I make no promises that it will help you, but it'll help whoever it is. I promise that.' He nods, a smile playing at his lips. 'I'll see you around, Buck.'

I turn and race back to Sam who was waiting for me by an ambulance.

'Last flag smasher fell into the Hudson,' he said. 'It'll be easier with you.'

I roll my eyes. 'That is such a one-man job. But I appreciate it.'

'Anytime,' he said. 'Race you there.'

He smiles and takes off. I roll my eyes, still smiling, and fly off after him.