Siren

Feeling broken

"What are you doing here, Rogers?"

Steve stands in front of her, hands deep in his pockets with that adorable Steve Rogers expression on his face. Nope. Sorry Captain, but that face stopped working on her years ago. He knew this, it didn’t stop him from trying anyway.

"Can we talk?" He motions with his head towards the inside of her new apartment. Hesitant Juno stares him down while she thinks about all of the reasons she should say no. She wasn't in the mood for a lecture or him coming here on Bucky's behalf, but he was her friend too.

"As long as what you want to talk about has nothing to do with Bucky, sure. Otherwise piss off. I'm not in the mood." He raises his eyebrows at her tone but agrees to her conditions. Taking another second before she steps back so he can walk inside, closing and locking the door. "I'd offer you something to drink, but I haven’t had time to shop yet.” She says sarcastically, motioning for him to sit on the couch.

Steve folds his large frame down to sit on the small couch looking almost comical as he glances around the place that had once been his when he first defrosted. Not beating around the bush he gets straight to the point of his reason for being here. “I don’t think you should quit the team.” He holds up his hands when she opens her mouth to speak. Snapping her mouth shut, Juno lets him talk. “Move into the Tower like Tony suggested. We won’t put you on any missions with Bucky. Whatever you want we can help make happen. Quitting feels like a mistake to me.”

Juno shakes her head no. “Sorry, but I’m done. I’ve been a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent since I was sixteen. Became an Avenger at twenty-one. I’m tired of fighting. Of being used for my abilities. I’m just done.” He nods his head as he listens. She knows that he’s felt the same way as her, so Juno played on those thoughts of his even if they were ones she’s been secretly having lately.

“I get that, but what do you plan to do for work? You can’t stay here forever.” He gestures his hand around at the small apartment. Juno appreciated his concern for her well-being, she really did and wished she could tell him what was going on, but she couldn’t.

“I know that. Like I told Tony, I’m covered. I have a nice nest egg put away so this is only temporary until I figure out my next move. Besides, Pepper helped me invest my money wisely and I was also recently informed that my long lost aunt died and left me some money. So I’m all set for now. I can go anywhere or do anything I want.”

Steve looks at her suspiciously. “Buck didn’t say anything to me about you losing any family.” Juno could see his super soldier brains trying to work out her story because he knew she wasn’t close to her blood relatives, hadn’t been since she was a kid, so why would they have left her money? Being quick to head him off she expands on the lie being told as part of her cover with a hint of the truth to make it believable.

“That’s because I’d only just found out and hadn’t found the time to talk to him about it. What with Bucky ignoring me and all.” The tightening around his mouth told her that he wasn’t happy with his friend about this whole situation. While she might not have been confiding in him, Buck had been to the extent that Steve at least knew that there were problems with her and Bucky’s relationship for a while now.

The text alert on her phone went off notifying her that she had a new message. It was Fury.

Nicky: Your aunt, Molly Donahue passed away 3 months ago. Seeing as she really did have a sizable fortune we’ve matched it and it’s being sent to your account.

How the hell… Right. The apartment was bugged. She forgot about that. Putting her phone face down on the coffee table she sat back and fleshed out her story. “You of all people know I haven’t talked to any of my family since I was kicked out when I was eleven. Anyway, my aunt’s lawyer got a hold of me through the legal department and let me know she had passed and that she had set aside money for me. Must have felt bad for cutting me out and wanted to make up for it somehow.”