DEFYING GRAVITY || MARVEL (4)

THREE

CHAPTER THREE: THE BIG THREE

Two Nights Later

SAM GAVE UP THE SHIELD.

Steve had given his shield to Sam, handing the mantle of Captain America to Sam before he died. And what did Sam do, he gave up the shield. That night they revealed the new Captain America set Maggie and Bucky both into a shock. The shock was then replaced by anger. Bucky was the angriest, that Sam gave up his best friend's shield and then it was given to someone else.

On the news, it was revealed that the Department of Defense had chosen a man named John Walker. Maggie swore that with his uh helmet on that Walker looked like a younger version of Carl Fredrickson from Up. She knew right when she saw his face that he wasn't suited to wield that shield. She knew that it wasn't what Steve wanted at all, he even told her what he wanted. Bucky even knew what Steve wanted and it made him even more angry. He was still grieving, and Maggie felt everything he felt.

Two nights had passed since Maggie and Bucky saw the news report. After cleaning up from dinner, Bucky sat in bed with Alpine as Maggie went to the kitchen. Emma was already put in bed since it was their bedtime. She came into the room with two bottles of Heineken in her hands, handing one to Bucky as she got comfortable on the bed beside him. His arm wrapped around her shoulder to move her closer to him. He wasn't in the best mood since they were watching John Walker's interview.

"We don't have to watch this, James," Maggie assured, seeing the expression on her husbands face. "We can watch something else."

"No, let's watch this," Bucky said, in a non-assuring voice.

"For those of you who aren't familiar with his resume, John Walker, first person in American history to receive three Medals of Honor, ran RS-One missions in counterterrorism and hostage rescue," the female interviewer said. "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, I'm not Dr. Banner, okay? I don't have the flashiest gadgets, I don't have super strength. But what I do have is guts," Walker said, making Bucky scoff. "Something Captain America always had, always needs to have, and I'm gonna need every ounce of it. Because I got 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."

"You've always wanted to be a hero?" She asked.

"I liked that what I was doing would make people feel safe. 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."

The moment Walker said that, Maggie immediately turned off the TV. Bucky's eyes started to water, red and puffy from how upset he was. Maggie was quick to notice, and a sad expression took over her features. She hated seeing him like that, hated feeling how he was feeling. Alpine left the bed, sensing the tension between her owners.

"What a fucking joke," Bucky commented in a lowered voice, setting down his beer.

"I know," Maggie said sadly. "I don't what Sam was thinking-"

"Steve gave him that shield and he just fucking gave it away!" Bucky bursted out, losing control of his anger as he cut Maggie off. "This is not what Steve wanted."