Little Miss America

Chapter Thirteen

"John F. Walker, it is the order of this council that you are no longer to act in any capacity as a representative of the United States government or its military. You are hereby stripped of your title and authority as Captain America, effective immediately."
You were sitting in the front row, next to Olivia.
You had changed in the car, and covered all the bruises on your face as best you could. There were hundreds of reporters outside, so you had to be careful not to show too much. But luckily, no one seemed to paying much attention to you right now.
All eyes were on John.
"Consider yourself extremely fortunate, Mr Walker and return the shield to us with expedience."
John walked out as the Senator said that last part.
Olivia grabbed your hand and quickly pulled you through the room, running after John.
There were cameras waiting on the other side of the door, and you lowered your head as you pushed through into another room. Olivia helped shield you until the doors behind you closed, shutting them out.
The room was empty, except for where John had settled on a bench.
Olivia went to sit next to him; you stood up facing both of them.
"They just do not know what it takes to be Captain America. They just don't" he sighed. "It's not like I'm just gonna disappear."
"Okay, focus" Olivia said. "Take things one step at a time. You start by visiting Lemar's parents. They need to see you." Olivia turned to you. "Y/n, do you have anything to say to your father?"
John stood up, anger rising in his face. He looked over you threateningly.
"I'm sure she has a lot to say" he spat. "You're probably so glad that all this is happening. This is what you wanted, right? To see me fail?"
You stared into his eyes without a word. You knew what he was about to do.
"Say something!" he shouted.
"I- I think..." you said quietly, debating whether to say it or not.
"Go on! Say it!"
"You deserved it" you whispered. Whether you hadn't said it or not wouldn't have changed what he did next.
There was a brief moment when nothing happened. Then everything seemed to happen at once.
John slapped you across the face, and you fell over trying to get away. He cried out with annoyance as he kicked you in the side, and you rolled over in pain. You got to your feet and faced him.
"I can't believe you. After everything I've done for you!" he cried, swinging at you again.
You dodged his fist and turned to sprint away.
You ran out the room, ignoring John as he called for you to come back.
There was a growing pain in your side and your face was burning red.
You came to some double doors and pushed them open, despite the chattering noise you could hear behind them. Cameras started flashing, blinding you as the reporters turned your way. They immediately started calling out to you.
"Y/n!"
"Can we get a statement?"
"How do you feel about this?"
"Y/n over here!"
"What do you think will happen now?"
"What do you have to say about your dad?"
"Y/n! Can we get a statement!"
Your eyes were watering. You wanted to break down there and then.
"Excuse me" you mumbled, your voice breaking.
It was like a physical wall; a barricade closing in on you.
"I just need to get through" you pleaded, pushing through everyone as carefully as you could. You couldn't be agressive. You couldn't yell at them. All eyes were on you.
When there were only two or three more people on your way, you started running.
You shoved past them and sprinted off down the road.
You just wanted to escape.
You needed something that could help you escape.
You ran and ran, until finally you saw a small bodega across the road. You crossed the street.
A little bell rang as the door opened inwards.
The cashier looked over at you and watched as you walked down one of the aisles. You hovered there for a moment, then walked towards the till empty handed with your head lowered.
"Hey you're out of, um, you're out of salt and vinegar flavoured chips" you lied. "Could you see if you have any in the back?"
"If it's not on the shelf, then we don't have it" he replied bluntly.
"Please" you looked up and smiled as sweetly as you could manage.
He didn't recognise you, but he was persuaded enough to give in.
"Fine" he sighed, and left from behind the counter.
The moment he stepped through a doorway you ran behind the counter and picked up a few packs of cigarettes. You opened the cash register and stared at the money.
You didn't need it. You told yourself over and over in your head that you didn't need it. You should just leave. Leave! But what if-
"Here- hey!" the cashier came back out.
You grabbed a handful of the money and jumped over the till.
You ran outside and sprinted down the street, stuffing the things you had just stolen in your pockets.
"Come back here!" the cashier yelled, but he did not run after you.
You didn't stop running for a few blocks, until you collapsed in an alleyway.
You sat on the floor and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily while processing what you had just done. You couldn't figure out why you had done it. It wasn't necessary. The cigarettes were meant to be the only thing you went in for.
You were crying as you tried to light one. Your fingers were shaky and the lighter caught your finger slightly.
Ignoring the burn, you lit the cigarette and started to smoke, still with tears rolling down your cheeks.
As it started to get dark, you climbed up the fire escape on the side of the building and lay down on the roof to watch the stars.
Smoking and stargazing, you thought. What a way to relax. You just... you wished you could relax.
As you tried to distract yourself and forget about everything that happened in just the last week, you didn't notice the absence of your phone from your pocket.
You had left it in Olivia's car. And it was buzzing with notifications.
"Y/n where are you?"
"Please call me."
"Y/n?"
"Pick up the phone."
"I've gotta know you're okay."
"Call me as soon as you get these messages."
All from Bucky.
"Hey sweetie, where are you?"
"I stopped by your house, you weren't there."
"Could you call me please?"
"Y/n please pick up the phone."
"Are you with John?"
"Are you okay?"
Those were from Sam.
And you had many others from the other avengers as they had seen the news. They had seen photos of you almost crying on camera. They were worried John had done something to you, since you weren't answering.
There was also one from Karli, that you were later going to wish you had seen. You were going to wish so badly that you hadn't left your phone behind.
There was a message with an address. Then a second text reading:
"Find me, or I will find you."