It was a quiet afternoon in Washington, DC, when John decided to take advantage of a rare break to visit Peggy. Since his transformation with the serum, his visits to the former director of SHIELD had become a kind of refuge, a place where he could reflect on his past, his new reality, and seek some kind of guidance, even if indirect, from the woman who had known Steve Rogers better than anyone.
When he arrived at the clinic, John felt that familiar mix of apprehension and comfort. He crossed the lobby, with firm steps, but with a slightly lighter heart. He knew that conversations with Peggy always left him more centered.
When he entered Peggy's room, he was surprised by a young, tall, blonde woman with a firm and determined posture. She was sitting next to Peggy's bed, her hands resting gently on her aunt's, in a demonstration of affection and care. The physical resemblance between her and Peggy was evident.
Peggy, upon seeing him, smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with recognition despite the lapses of memory that sometimes plagued her.
"John!" Peggy exclaimed, her voice soft but full of affection. "Come, meet my niece, Sharon."
The young woman stood, extending her hand to greet him. Her handshake was firm but measured.
"Sharon Carter," she said, smiling at John with a determined glint in her eyes. "I've heard many stories about you. It seems you're becoming a legend around here."
John laughed lightly, a little disconcerted.
"A legend is a bit of an exaggeration," he replied, shaking her hand respectfully. "I'm just trying to do my job."
Sharon smiled back, her eyes narrowing in a gesture that reminded him very much of Peggy in her youth.
"Typical of a modest hero," she commented with a hint of teasing. "My aunt was always modest too."
Peggy, from her chair, looked at Sharon fondly.
"John is a good man," she said, her voice soft. "Just like you, Sharon. You both have that spark in your eyes. The same drive. I see it."
John watched the bond between the two women, impressed. He had heard of Sharon before, but had never had the opportunity to meet her. Now that he stood before her, it was clear that she had inherited more than just the Carter family name. She had Peggy's determination, the same inner fire that had driven her to become a key player in SHIELD.
After a while of casual conversation, Sharon looked at John curiously.
"I hear you're good at hand-to-hand combat," she said, her eyes shining. "Do you think you could teach me a thing or two? Aunt Peggy always talks about how important field skills are, but I think learning from a super soldier might give me an edge."
Peggy laughed softly at that, her voice filled with nostalgia.
"Oh, John," she said, looking at Sharon and then back at him. "You should have seen what I was like on the battlefield. Steve and I, we… well, we knew how to fight. I remember the glory days. And seeing you, Sharon, trying to follow in my footsteps… it brings back so many memories."
John nodded, feeling the weight of honor and responsibility. He couldn't say no to that request.
"Sure," he said, standing up and taking off his coat. "Let's see what you've got."
The two of them moved to a larger space in the room, and John began to instruct Sharon in the basics of hand-to-hand combat. While she was skilled, she lacked the experience John had gained over the years. He patiently corrected her, adjusting her stance and showing her some moves that would improve her technique.
"You're fast, Sharon," he commented as she practiced a sequence of punches and kicks. "But you need to be more precise. One well-aimed strike is better than three quick, weak ones. Don't waste your energy."
Sharon nodded, absorbing the teachings as she tried to apply the corrections. Her focus and determination were impressive, and John realized that, in time, she could become a formidable fighter.
Peggy watched from her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. Seeing her niece training and, at the same time, remembering her own days of action, filled her with pride.
"You two seem like a reflection of a time that has passed," Peggy commented, her eyes lost in some point in the past. "It's almost like seeing Steve and me again…"
John felt the weight of those words. He knew how much Peggy had sacrificed, and how much she still held onto from the past. Steve Rogers, Captain America, would always be present in her memory, but now she saw something new in the generations that came after her. Sharon was ready to carry on that legacy.
After training for a while, Sharon sat next to Peggy, breathing a little faster, but clearly satisfied with what she had learned.
"You have talent," John said, taking a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "With a little more practice, you'll be one of the best."
Sharon smiled, proud of the compliment.
"I have a great teacher," she said, looking at John and then at Peggy. "And a great inspiration. Aunt Peggy has always been my role model. All I want is to be as strong and brave as she once was."
Peggy, overcome with emotion, held her niece's hand.
"You already are, my dear," she said, her voice soft but full of tenderness. "I always knew you would be something special. And John… it's good to see that the world still has men like you, willing to do what's right. Steve would be proud. I'm proud."
John felt touched by those words. The weight of responsibility of being compared to someone like Steve Rogers was never something he sought, but hearing it from Peggy made him feel like he was on the right track.
"Thank you, Peggy," he said, looking directly at her. "But I'm just a soldier, doing my job. Steve was a hero. I just try to live up to what he stood for."
Peggy smiled but didn't say anything else. She simply watched John and Sharon, knowing that the future was in good hands. New generations of warriors were rising, and she was certain that both John and Sharon would do what was necessary to protect the world.
When the afternoon ended and John said goodbye to the two women, he left the clinic with a new sense of purpose. Talking to Peggy and training with Sharon had reminded him that he was not alone on this path. He was not just the product of an experiment. He was part of something bigger, a line of heroes who, in one way or another, would always find a way to fight for what was right.
And as he walked the streets of Washington, D.C., he knew that in time, both he and Sharon would make their own mark on the world.
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