Mister Rogers ⍟ || Steve Rogers

II. Recruited

As I sifted through files concerning Barnes, I couldn't help but think about my mother. She was most likely a victim of the Winter Soldier. For some reason, this didn't stop me from wanting to help Barnes. Maybe this was partly because of my connection with Steve or just wanting to find closure in my mother's death. Either way, I would continue to help him.

I had never looked into her death until the night Steve and I discovered Armin Zola. The security footage of her murder sparked my curiosity, but I still hadn't checked on the case since. The file presented itself on the laptop in front of me. I hovered my mouse over it.

My mother was a brilliant person, as a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, I now realize how hard it was for her to struggle her life as an agent with her life with my father and I. Most of our memories together as a family consisted of arguments between the two, them both ordering me to sit and watch TV while they moved to the kitchen. Those moments always led me to question why my father, a dentist, chose to marry one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top scientists in the extraterrestrial field.

"Ms. Marrese," chimed Jarvis, causing me to slam my laptop shut before I could click on the file, "The Captain is trying to reach you. Shall I put him through?"

I smiled to myself. Despite him being a robot, I always enjoyed hearing his voice. It was nice to not be the only one speaking without an American (or Asgardian) accent. "Of course, Jarvis, thank you," I said.

Steve's voice rang through the room, "Addy?"

"Hey! Yeah, what's up?"

I heard some movement and then Natasha's voice boomed urgently, "Look, Barton got hurt pretty bad. We're hovering above the tower right now getting ready to land. Think you could grab a med kit and fly up here? Just want to help with some of the pain until we can get him to Dr. Cho who should be arriving soon."

"No!" Came Barton's voice with a little bit of strain, "I'm fine. Don't risk Tony finding out."

"Clint," said Natasha tiredly.

There was some more rustling and then Barton's voice rang aloud again, "Stop fussing over me. The reveal will be worth it. You don't need to come up here, Addy. Here, Cap."

Steve's voice came on again, in a hushed tone this time, "So, have you thought about it? Joining?"

"Uh, a little. I've been a bit busy with-"

"Addy."

"Steve."

"All I'm asking is for you to stop pushing it off. I can't really go into it right now with people listening in-"

"Hey!" Shouted Tony.

"-but I do believe you earned a spot on this team when you took down S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA with me. You proved yourself. What are you afraid of?"

I remained silent.

After a long pause, Steve sighed, "This is a lost cause isn't it? Fine, you don't want to join. I won't push it."

"I'm really sorry, Steve. I don't mean to upset you. It's just me," I said quietly, guilty heavy in my voice.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I'll see you soon," he said, ending the call.

I sat in silence for about five minutes, unable to shake the sound of disappointment in Steve's voice. It felt wrong to say no after everything, but it also felt wrong to say yes.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Jarvis alerted me of Dr. Helen Cho's, a geneticist friend of Tony and Bruce's, arrival. I greeted her at the elevator, where she struggled under the weight of some clunky machine parts she carried. I offered to help.