fiction | Part of the journey is the end

2. The star-spangled man

There was a shot of Walker opening his Captain America suit. He was in his high school gym locker room. He looked at his locker that had 'JW 10' written on it.

Everyone glared at Walker.

"Reliving the glory days?" asked Walker's wife, Olivia. Both of them chuckled. "You nervous?" asked Olivia. "Who, me? Never," said Walker. He chuckled softly. "I've been a captain before, obviously, but this is different. This is... Everybody in the world expects me to be something. And I don't wanna fail them."

"Well, he doesn't seem that bad," Steve said hesitantly.

"Still doesn't deserve the shield," said Bucky furiously.

Olivia told Walker to be himself, and they would love him.

Everyone scoffed.

Olivia wished him luck and left. As she left, she passed Lemar Hoskins, Walker's best friend. Walker was practising his Captain America voice when Lemar said that's why he failed drama class.

Scott crossed his arms. "That's a bad Captain America voice."

Lemar and Walker talked about how they couldn't believe this. "Don't get me wrong, this has been great, it's been great, but it's been a lot of handshakes, a lot of suits, a lot of speeches, and senator meetings, and I just wanna do the job."

Steve had mixed feelings about John Walker being Captain America. Steve would've obviously preferred Sam as Captain America, but he had his valid issues with the shield that Steve didn't realize, and Walker didn't seem that bad so far. The government could've chosen someone much, much worse.

"This is the job, John."

"Unfortunately," muttered Steve.

"All of it is. Star-spangled man with a plan and all that. It's always been in the job description." Lemar opened the bag with the Captain America suit and said the suit came with expectations, and Walker couldn't punch his way out of problems anymore. Walker nodded. Lemar clapped Walker on the back and said, "Time to go to work." Walker looked at the suit. "Time to go to work."

"Please don't go to work," Tony glowered at Walker.

On the football field, the marching band played the tune to 'The Star Spangled Man.'

"They even took Steve's theme!" yelled Bucky.

Walker signed autographs and took selfies, dressed in his Captain America suit.

Everyone growled, especially Bucky.

The entire event was televised, and the crowd cheered as Walker ran to the centre of the field. "Ladies and gentlemen... Your new Captain America!" said the interviewer. The crowd cheered louder.

Everyone, except Steve and Sam, booed. Steve and Sam just shook their heads in disbelief.

"This is bullshit!" yelled Peter.

"Good morning, America!" said Walker.

"He sounds annoying too," scowled Wanda.

The marching band ended, and people brought chairs for the interviewer and Walker to sit on. Lemar and Olivia smiled. Walker took off his helmet. The interviewer said that it must've been fun coming back to his old high school after so much had changed.

Peter scoffed. "Who would want to come back to their high school?"

"John, I think the first thing everyone wants to know is what is it like being Captain America? Do eagles fly overhead wherever you go?"