Work Text:
John and Y/n met as children. They were the two that adults assumed would take it the whole way; childhood sweethearts to a white picket fence. Y/n was always the leader in forest expeditions, picking up bugs, being too curious, and too kind. John would always say he got his confidence from Y/n. In high school, the roles switched. Y/n followed after John, became friends with his friends, and made sure Olivia never felt threatened by her. John would get the junior varsity football team to come to school plays, and Y/n convinced the theater kids to attend their games. That was until John became captain of the varsity team. Y/n was quickly lost in the fold of varsity games, Olivia and Lamar, and his joining of the JROTC. There was no lack of attempts made by Y/n to stay connected, but John made it very clear she was no longer cool enough. It was a blessing in disguise for Y/n. She found her footing in theater and went on to Brown University for International Affairs with a minor in theater. They had lost touch until now.
John hadn’t expected to see her here. He almost hadn’t recognized her sitting across from him at his hearing; all buttoned up and with an angry look. Y/n was one of the normally nameless Senators who gave out these sorts of decisions. She wasn’t the one presenting the verdict, but she was there at that table.
A Senator speaks, “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.”
John tries to cut in, “Senator, uh, permission to present to the council testimony as to the circumstances of the incident.”
“Circumstances of the incident have been considered. It’s only because of your previous exemplary service to this country that I’m recommending against a court-martial,” John urges.
“With all due respect, I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation fully, thereby, have misunderstood the circumstances…”
“This is not a negotiation.”
“I understand that.”
“This is a mandate.”
“I’m just asking to be heard.”
“It is a mandate.”
“I understand that! I understand that! I lived my life by your mandates! I dedicated my life to your mandates! I only ever did what you asked of me, what you told me to be and trained me to do, and I did it. And I did it well.”
“You will be given an other than honorable discharge retroactive to the beginning of the month. You will hold no rank in retirement and receive no benefits.”
“You built me… Senator, I am Captain America.”
“Not anymore. And if you continue to demean and denigrate the priorities and dignity of this council, you will spend the rest of your life in the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. Consider yourself extremely fortunate, Mr. Walker, and return the shield to us with expedience.”
As the Senator speaks, John turns and leaves the courtroom.
Y/n hadn’t expected to see him here. She stood in the doorway to her home and an empty looking John on her bottom step.
Her words were clear and sharp, “You shouldn’t be here.”
“You were the last vote,” John said with a hollow tone.
“John, you need to leave,” Y/n urges.
“Did my dropping you in high school hurt your little feelings that bad?” John asks with half a sneer.
Y/n’s public-facing expression drops to one of irritation and venom. “You’re an International Affairs nightmare, John. You should have never been chosen to become Captain America.”
John’s nostrils flared, anger surging through him at Y/n’s words. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Oh, really? And who should have been chosen instead, hmm? Bucky Barnes? A hundred-year-old formerly brainwashed assassin?”
“I had a pick, but you were chosen instead. It’s all public record.” Y/n counters.
John scoffs, his eyes never leaving yours.
“Oh, really? And who were they? Some perfect soldier with a clean record and a boring life?” He steps even closer, his frame towering over Y/n.
John’s attempt to intimidate Y/n fails. She knew too much to be afraid of him. John punched the door frame by Y/n’s head, trying to gain control of the conversation.
“God, John, you’re still the same. Nothing has changed since high school. You aren’t the main character in this story,” Y/n said with a scoff.
John’s jaw clenched, his hand still against the door frame. “Oh, really? And who is the main character? You?” He leaned in closer, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and frustration. “You always thought you knew better than everyone else, didn’t you? Just because you went to Brown and have a fancy job doesn’t make you the expert on everything.”
“John, I know better on this topic because I know you and the kind of man you are. You’re impulsive, prideful, and worst of all, dangerous. You made your choice when you downed the serum, just like when you killed those civilians in Afghanistan. And that is who you’ll always be: a nervous little boy who thinks he needs to become someone else to be loved.”
Y/n’s words seemed to punch through John’s cloud of anger, hitting him square in the chest. His fingers clenched into fists as his eyes remembered the curve of Y/n’s jaw. John's anger momentarily faded, replaced by a mix of surprise and vulnerability. He tried to maintain his composure, but Y/n's words struck a nerve.
"You don't know me, Y/n. You don't know what I've been through or what I've had to do." He says as he takes a step back, creating a small distance between Y/n, but still towering over her. "And I'm not the same person I was in high school. I've grown, I've changed."
“All I see is the football captain still unhappy with what he has.” Y/n counters. “You still have that same sad look.”
"Sad look? I don't have a 'sad look'. I'm just tired of always being judged by others." He scoffed and shook his head. "You always saw me as that high school football player, didn't you? But there's more to me than that. I've accomplished things you can't even imagine."
“No, John, I didn’t always see you like that. Not until you told me I wasn’t good enough to hang out with you anymore did I start seeing you like that.” Y/n countered back with venom. “And here you are nearly 20 years later bringing up the same shit that broke our friendship then!”
John's frustration reached a boiling point. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "That was a long time ago, Y/n. People change, situations change. We were just kids back then. I may have made some mistakes, but I've grown since then. I've become better."
“Your actions as Captain America prove that statement wrong,” Y/n says, starting to close the door.
John grabbed the edge of the door, his super strength keeping it open with ease.
“John, let go.” Y/n hissed.
“No, I’m not done yet.”
“Well, I am. I will call the police if I have to.” Y/n warns.
John's grip on the door tightened, his frustration reaching its peak. "You can't just dismiss me like that, Y/n. We need to talk."
He took a step forward, forcing himself into Y/n’s home without permission. Y/n stepped back to distance herself from him.
“Jonathan, go home to your wife,” Y/n warns again.
John let out a bitter laugh. "My wife? You think I can go back there, just walk through that door, and everything will be fine?" He shook his head, taking another step forward. "Olivia left me, Y/n. She left me with nothing. My reputation is ruined, my career is gone, and I have nowhere to go."
Y/n froze. He didn’t come here to fight. Y/n looked down at John’s outfit. He was still wearing his formal military uniform from the verdict reading earlier in the day.
“You have nowhere to go,” Y/n repeated back softly.