Chapter 24-Bullies
By: MysticFantasy
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James panted as he continued to run the track. Despite the fact that he hates gym class, he loves to be athletic. He figured having a gym teacher was making athletic activites less enjoyable.
"Rogers, that's your last lap." Coach Henderson declared. "A new best time too. I wish some of your classmates could accomplish such achievments."
James looked over the track where the remaining students continued to run the track. He spotted a few of them giving him envious looks.
"Guess this kind of success can only come from the son of Captain America." Coach Henderson mused.
James raised a brow at his coach before heading to the next station.
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"...only reason he's so good at all this stuff is because of who his dad is."
"I know man."
"Yeah. If he wasn't Captain America's son, he'd be like the rest of us. Maybe even like the nerds."
James kept his back against the metal lockers as he continued to hear the other teens talk about him. He knew it already happened but to hear it personally...It hurt just a little more.
"I bet he got that same super serum from his dad. Otherwise he'd be a weakling ready for the beating of a life time."
"Yeah. That's the only reason everyone knows who he is."
"Famous only because of his dad and the Avengers. Bet that's the only reason he's ever going to be a somebody."
"I bet that's the reason he's making passing grades."
The three teens laughed as they left the locker room.
When the door slammed closed, James sighed and stood up. He reached into his locker, opened his backpack and grabbed his special wrist communicator.
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"Your parent's are going to ask why you wanted to leave school early." Clint said as he pulled the car into the garage of the tower.
"I need to talk to them anyway." James replied as he opened the door and climbed out.
"Something happened at school?" Clint asked as he looked at his godson carefully. "Did anyone pick on you?"
"No." James answered as he made his way to the elevators.
Clint stayed where he was as he watched James step into the elevator and the doors close. He knew that something was bothering the teen but James was like his father and mother when it came to admitting a problem.
He wouldn't admit something was bothering him until it ate away ate him for too long.
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Steve and Natasha were sitting together in their suite overlooking a few files from SHIELD when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Natasha called.
The door opened and the two were surprised to see their son walk in.
"James?" Steve questioned as they stood up and walked over to their son. "What are you doing home early?"
"I just...I need to talk to you." James answered.
"Is something wrong?" Natasha asked with a concerned tone. "Did something happen at school?"
"Sorta." James answered.
"Come on. Sit down and tell us." Steve said as they moved to the couch and sat down.
"Tell us everything." Natasha said.
"It was after gym. I just finished changing when I heard a bunch of other guys talking."
"What did they say?" Steve asked.
"They said...They said that the only reason I was good at anything, passing all my classes and was known by everyone was because of you dad. They said that if it wasn't because of you, I would just be another nerd for them to pick on."
"I see." Steve said. "James, listen. I've told you about how I was bullied when I was your age. Most of my life actually. I told you about everything those bullies did to me when they got me cornered. They did it for no reason except to feel like they were real men. They wanted to feel powerful for picking on something too weak to fight back. But I think I know why these kids are saying those things about you."
"Why?" James asked.
"They're jealous." Natasha answered.
"Jealous?"
"Yep." his mother confirmed. "James, you're the son of the most famous hero the planet has ever known. A man who has fought in World War Two, fought against an alien race and now leads the Avengers. He's famous, very financially stable and is all around the world's nicest man. Honey, other boys your age envy you for the fact that you are Steve Roger's son. You've got something that other boys can only wish to have."
"I didn't think of it that way." James said. "But why would they say all that stuff behind my back?"
"That's how bullies are." Steve said. "They talk behind people's backs, hit someone when they're down...They do it because they usually feel bad about themselves for some reason and take it out on other people. But don't let them get to you son. They're talking out of jealousy."
"What should I do?"
"Don't listen to them for starters." Natasha said firmly. "You're a smart and athletic person. All of your school achievments are done by you and no one else. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."
James lightly smiled. He always felt better after he talked to his parent's about something. They always knew what to say to make him feel better.
He liked to think of it as a parental super power they had and didn't realize they had.
"Thanks mom. Thanks dad."
"That's what we're here for." Natasha said as she smoothed back his red hair.
"But you're going to have to do a few extra chores to make up for the fact you left school early." Steve added.
"Aw...dad."
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A/N: To clear some confusion. In chapter 23 Steve did die but please remember that these are one shot stories. It was just for that one chapter that he was dead. I wanted to write a sad depressed James for some reason. But Steve is alive in the remaining chapters. Sorry for the confusion.