i'll do this on my own

Maisie stared out of her kitchen window, watching as the city started to wake up around her. Of course, like most nights, the black-haired female had barely slept. “At least I don’t have to go to work,” she mumbled to herself in a snarky tone before taking a sip of her tea and retreating back to her bedroom.

Ever since the dissolution of SHIELD, Maisie had been trying to get her life back together. She distanced herself from the old crowd, including the Avengers. Every time Fury called, she didn’t answer. Maisie wanted to try and have a go at a normal life. So she enrolled in online college to be an addiction counselor, moved to the outer edge of Manhattan, and did her best to block out everything and everyone from her former career. Needless to say, she was failing miserably. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the fire and flames that had been left in her wake. She saw the SHIELD crumbling from the inside out—she saw her mentor, Phil Coulson, take his last breath. Maisie was not yet twenty-eight, and she had seen more than enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. The only thing that seemed to help was Xanax—and Maisie’s prescription had just ran out.

The petite twentysomething nudged open her bedroom door and shuffled across the floor before climbing into bed, burrowing under the blanket. She set her mug down on the bedside table before resting her head on her pillow. If she couldn’t fall asleep, Maisie was determined to get at least a little bit of rest.

Her phone rang just as she started to drift off, snapping her awake. One glance at the screen told Maisie all she needed to know. Nick Fury was trying to get a hold of her. She simply sent him to voicemail before rolling over and facing the wall. That was the last thing she needed.

--
Steve watched as Fury hung up his phone and sighed in frustration, running a hand over his weathered face. “Just as I thought. She sent me straight to voicemail…again.” The former Director stood up from his spot at the kitchen table and walked toward the kitchen window, staring as the city started to come alive. Steve moved his gaze to his now cold cup of coffee, taking a sip before standing up. The Super Soldier was doing his best not to lose hope, but the wall of silence from Maisie was starting to make him feel helpless. He moved to stand by Fury, looking down at the slowly awakening city.

“The first few times that I called Agent Vandro, I left messages. But after the first five or six times, I just hung up. To be honest, Captain Rogers, I don’t know why I even keep calling.” Fury sighed again before turning his back to the window. “She was the best damn rookie we ever had.” He walked over to the fridge, opening it and grabbing a carton of orange juice, drinking right from it.

Still saying nothing, Steve began to formulate a plot in his mind. It was risky, and he didn’t know how well it would be received, but he had to try. They were running out of time. And they needed Maisie’s help. “Director… I think I should go to Maisie’s apartment and talk to her. She and I were always rather close. Maybe if she hears how much we need her directly from me, face to face… she’ll be more apt to help us. And if she tells us no—well, then at least we can say we’ve tried everything.”