CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

( PLEASE BE MY ROOMMATE )

"ONE CARAMEL MACCHIATO," the barista shouts out into the sea of faces, crowded around the end of the concession. A small hand shoots up, pushing its way through the crowd of businessmen and women trying to get their fix. Quinn looked out of place being up there, however, once she turned around with her macchiato she realized that it was the business people who were actually out of place in the casual coffee shop.

She adored it not only for its convenience of being right down the road from her but because it actually held live music. It was something that she had never seen in person before but had always seen on TV shows or movies. Unfortunately, with it being in the middle of the day, there was no live music. It wasn't a setback as the coffee and atmosphere were to die for, that's why all the businesspeople from the financial district were here.

Quinn perched herself in a combination booth and table in the corner of the shop, where her laptop and notes had been reserving her a spot. Cars from the outside rolled by at a quick pace causing leaves to fall from their path. It looked like it could've been out of a painting. She loved this city, she didn't know why she just didn't come here in the first place. If only Steve would be here, she'd be in heaven.

She begins tapping in the keyboard of her laptop, entering in a feasible code for EDGE. She was almost ready to complete it. She just needed to add a few additional touches to the code and then it would be perfect. Hopefully, it could fit onto the small motherboard of a Fitbit. She looks at her phone to view the messages that she had sent to the woman, informing her of her whereabouts in the coffee shop. She had read them but hadn't responded to them.

This only made the out of anxiety growing in her stomach grow larger. What if she didn't show? She actually dreaded meeting her. All the other interviews have been flops. If only there was a clone of Jo that could live with her. Even though she shouldn't feel nervous, she definitely was. Meeting with these people always put her on edge. She never knew who could be a potential threat.

There was Frank that she gained through the interviews. He was like a parasite. He's the perfect description of someone who would answer an ad like hers. Thin, short, mouse-faced with dull brown curly hair and eyes that bulged out. If he had been normal, she would've accepted him as her roommate but the imminent thought of living with hyper conspiracy theorist made her cringe. Unfortunately, because of his nature and what he chooses to do in his spare time, he figured out that she used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. and happened to be associated with Captain America.

Ever since he's been up her ass about his little theories for S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to pump information out of her that she couldn't give him. Over the last couple of weeks, she's had "run-in's" with the strange man, which always lead to him asking her the strangest questions that she couldn't answer, "is there another S.H.I.E.L.D.?", "is Hydra really gone?", "did S.H.I.E.L.D. train sleeper agents? Are you a sleeper agent?".

Not only did she not know most of the questions, she genuinely would get offended. She felt paranoid and unsafe with this growth of information he was obtaining about her. It could only a matter of time before he found out about her mother. If he ever did, there's no telling what he could use to sway her into getting information to him. However, she highly doubted that he could even attempt to blackmail or threaten her let alone anyone for that matter. Even though he was crazy, and invading, he was kind to her. The kindest anyone has been to her since she moved. She brushed off his kindness as an attempt to possibly make a pass at her, a small, socially awkward guy can only get so far with talking to women. He actually reminded her a lot of she had read about Steve before the serum.

"Excuse me?" a voice calls out, beckoning for her attention. She rips her eyes away from her laptop screen to see a short woman with dark hair and big eyes framed with a set of bigger glasses looking down at her, a nervous smile on her face. Quinn greets the woman with a welcoming smile, hoping not to fend her off. "Are you Quinn?" the woman asks. Quinn takes in the sight of her once again before she answers. The woman is fumbling with the green coaster around her cup while fidgeting under her gaze. She's anxious as well. For some reason this makes Quinn relax a little.

"I am, and you must be Robin," she greets, a broad smile plastered on her face as she shuts her laptop off and places it beside her. She extends her hand to shake Robin's hand, noting that it was a firm grip - not a death grip that the rest of the interviewers have shown her. She couldn't decide if that was supposed to be a power move. "Please," Quinn invites Robin, as she gestures to the chair across from her.

Robin smiles sheepishly as she quickly places her coffee down on the table. Quinn couldn't help but watch Robin, she every movement she made was cautious like she was nervous and taking her time with everything. Robin's hand swoops through her bangs, trying to get them away from her glasses. "I'm glad you chose this place, I really like it," Robin comments, showing another shy smile which Quinn returns.

She couldn't help but feel for the woman, she must've felt awkward about interviewing for a roommate but, she needed to be cautious and not pick the first person who answered the ad. If she did that she could've wound up with the alcoholic she interviewed. "So," Quinn begins, picking up a notebook of questions she had listed out. "What brings you to me? Why are you looking for a new place?"

"Oh," Robin states, her posture becoming a little slouched. "I just got out of a relationship. It was not amicable at all," her tone was low as if the breakup was painful. Quinn takes this time to watch her body language. Blair had once informed her that a person's body language was a way to get them to tell you the truth. Unfortunately, the hurtful breakup was true. But for what reason?

"Do you mind me asking why you broke up?"

"Not at all," Robin perks up, waving her hand in a nonchalant gesture. "We broke up because she thought I was always cheating on her when I was actually here, playing at night, turns out she was only accusing me of cheating because she actually was," she throws a thumb up at the stage where usually the live performers would play their music or perform their poetry and rhythmic stories. This intrigued Quinn. She had never been one to be artsy. "So you work here as a...?"

"Oh I don't work here," Robin quickly corrects herself. "No, I actually am a cellist for the symphony downtown. I just come here and play sometimes for free,"

Artsy and charitable. She'd get along well with Steve if he came over.

"Gotcha," she hums out as she writes this down. "So do you have any pets?"

"No," Robin simply answers.

"Do you have any problem with dogs?"

"I actually love dogs, the bigger the better I always say," Robin excitedly chides. Quinn marks this down as a plus. She needed someone to help her out with Rudolph.

"How would you say your lifestyle was like at home?" Robin perks a brow up at this. "Like are you uptight and neat or are you just loose and chill?" she clarifies, making Robin's lips form an "oh".

"I'm usually chill except when it comes to reasonable things. Like going through my stuff or partying on a night that I have to work the next day, I might get mad at but -" she lists off before Quinn interjects. She needed to stay focused or else she wouldn't make it home on time to change for her shift. Although she liked talking to Robin already she notes that she can be a bit long-winded.

"I get it, who wouldn't? How long have you lived in New York?" she continues.

"About eight years."

"Have you ever done anything illegal?"

"I shoplifted once when I was a teenager and I felt so guilty I took the clothes back and turned myself in," Even the look on her face conveyed the guilt that she still felt. It was enough to make Quinn's heart clench. At least she knew that she'd never steal anything. She glances at the time before raising her brows. She could actually get to work on time if she wrapped it up early. "That's so sweet. I have one last question, before the end here. What are your views on the Avengers?"

"Pfft, the Avengers?" Robin teasingly laughs, causing Quinn's brows to furrow. Was this the deal-breaker? If she couldn't handle the Avengers then she wasn't good enough to be around. Especially since Steve would most likely be over a lot. "The city would be lost without them," Robin continues, making Quinn's mind do a complete one-eighty.

"When the attack happened back in twenty-twelve, I was thankfully out of the city visiting my parents, but my brother also lives here. He's a cop. He was being held hostage at Penn Station by aliens when Captain America came to the rescue. Without the Avengers and without Captain America, I would've lost my brother and we could've lost that war."

Quinn couldn't help but stare at the woman with a bug-eyed look. Not only did she have a connection to the Avengers, but she also had a connection with Steve. She can't help but picture Robin's surprised face when Steve comes knocking on the door. She could possibly reunite Steve with her brother and her brother could thank him. Quinn's mind swirled with all the possibilities that could happen with this information.

"Wow." Was the only word she could think of. She needed a sip of her macchiato in order to snap out of her daydream.

"Did I say too much? I've been told I talk a lot when I'm nervous...and when I'm not nervous," Robin questions, wincing as if she had said the wrong answer and was waiting for a verbal retaliation. Quinn shakes her head profusely as she places her notebook down on the table. "No, no, Robin, this is good. You've blown my mind," Quinn affirms, trying to make Robin feel comfortable with her answer. "This is actually the first normal interview I've done,"

"Well that's good, I'm glad!" Robin beams. Quinn taps the notebook with her pen anxiously for a moment as she mulls over all the information. She couldn't say no to Robin. She needed to make an offer. "I-I actually want you to be my roommate,"

Robin chuckles as she begins to feel flattered by Quinn's quick liking to her. It was something she needed after the breakup. "Thank you, I'd love to take you up on the offer," Robin bites down on her lip, narrowing her eyes. "But I don't know anything about you,"

"Oh," Quinn chides, suddenly starting to feel nervous for some reason. "Ask away,"

"When did you move to New York?" Robin questions, starting off easy.

"About a month ago," Quinn answers honestly.

"Do you have a job?"

"I do have a job, it's not the best but it's something," Once again this is the truth.

"What do you do?"

"I used to be an I.T. but I guess you can call me a tech specialist now,"

"Care to elaborate?"

Quinn hesitates, gnawing at her bottom lip. She feels embarrassed as she grumbles out, "Apple,"

Robin leans forward, narrowing her large blue eyes at Quinn. "The store?"

"I told you it wasn't the greatest,"

"How can you even afford a place on Hudson? It's like eight thousand at least,"

"Well, I can't, that's why I'm looking for a roommate,"

"Makes sense," she shrugs.

Quinn looks at her phone, her eyes widen when she looks at the time. She's cutting it really close to being able to change for her job. Her eyes dart back up towards Robin, showing her a gleaming smile to try to be polite. "Actually, Robin, I'm going to have to get going pretty soon. My shift starts soon. Did you want to continue this on a later date or -"

"No, I like you," Robin interrupts, catching her off guard and leaving her mouth open. "You're genuine. I'll take your offer,"

"Really? That's great!" Quinn yips excitedly, her grin stretching into a genuine smile. "So when could you move in? Do you need help? I'm willing to offer my services,"

"Thursdays and Fridays work best for me, I have those days off. Or I can do Saturday mornings," Robin informs her, the symphony had a demanding schedule.

"Let's try for Friday, just text me the address that you live at and I'll be there with help," Quinn quickly packs up her laptop and her notes into her bag. Trying her best to still remain polite with Robin. Even though she was becoming her roommate she still was a stranger. Quinn apologizes for cutting the meeting brief but wishes her luck as she bids her goodbye.

"Oh! Hey, Quinn?" Robin calls out to her, just as she was about to enter a sea of suits and blazers exiting the coffee shop. "What's your take on the Avengers?" she shouts over the commotion of the coffee shop. Quinn narrows her eyes at her soon-to-be roommate. She couldn't hear a thing besides the crowd in the coffee shop.

"What's your opinion on the Avengers - Captain America or whatever," Robin raises her voice as she crosses the coffee shop. It was time for her to get going as well. The question brings a smile to Quinn's face. She was glad that the Avengers were a big part of her life already and she didn't even know them. "Oh, I love the Avengers and I lo- I like Captain America,"

A/N: Quinn went from working for a government agency to working for a large company anyone can work at because she waited for the last minute to get a job. If that's not relatable I don't know what is.

Also, sorry for the Steve-less chapters. Hopefully I'll make it up to you when he is introduced in the second part of the series.

I've also started a new fic called Full Stop about Tony Stark that ties in to this fic. Actually I have a big plan for a lot of the MCU characters and they'll all be featured in their own fic with other characters of mine that tie in together like the MCU. I only have Full Stop somewhat started but I do have plans for a couple of fics for characters who were already introduced in this series. So be ready for them!