Skye was standing in the dark of a back alley late one Friday night. She had told her parents she was going to a late movie with Tucker but the truth was she went to Renée's place and waited outside until she left her place. Skye followed her. She had found out from Lila that Renée always seemed to be busy on Friday nights. According to Cooper anyway. Cooper had no idea what Skye and his sister were up to but he would likely find out soon. Skye followed Renée about ten blocks from her place to a neighborhood on the bad side of the tracks.
Renée eventually stopped outside an abandoned car shop and had a short conversation with a couple of rough-looking guys before she went into the building.
Skye made sure the camera on her suit was on and caught a glimpse of the men before she pulled the hood up on the hoodie she had on before she went and opened the door to the place and walked in like she knew what she was walking into. Once she was inside she walked through the crowd of people finding a place where she could stand to take in her surroundings without drawing attention to herself. She looked around to see what looked like a boxing gym. But it didn't look like anything sanctioned. It was an underground fight club. And Renée was involved. Skye saw her getting into the makeshift ring and was ready to fight. She stood back and let her suit camera record what was happening.
When Renée's fight was finished with her winning she climbed out of the ring and was handed an envelope before she went and got redressed before she left the building. Skye followed behind a minute later figuring Renée would be far enough ahead that she wouldn't be caught but Renée was standing outside the door and grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the building.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Renée asked
"I could ask you the same thing," Skye said.
"Last I checked I'm not underage. So you will tell me why the hell you are following me," Renée said.
"Because everyone who cares about you knows something is up," Skye said.
"Cooper asked you to follow me?" Renée asked.
"No," Skye said.
"Lila?" Renée asked.
"Lila doesn't know anything about it either," Skye lied. She wasn't going to put Lila in the middle.
"So no one knows you are here?" Renée asked.
"No," Skye said.
"So, you have no proof of what I was doing," Renée said.
"I have a video of it," Skye said.
"Delete it. Now," Renée said.
"No," Skye said. "And you either explain to me why the hell you are doing this or I will send it to Cooper."
"I'm doing it for a reason you will never understand," Renée said.
"Try me," Skye said.
"You have a large family. Who will always be there. You will always have what you need. And I'm not just talking the love because yeah I have that but you no matter what you need financially. You will always have someone to pay for things," Renée said.
"What do you need money for?" Skye asked. "You have two parents and yeah I don't know much but from what I do know they are good people. And you have siblings right?"
"Yes. My family is amazing. Which is why I can't let my dad die because we can't afford medical bills," Renée said her eyes filling with tears.
Skye let out a breath. "I'm so sorry Renée. What is he sick with?"
"Cancer. Nerve cancer. It's curable but requires expensive treatment. And well my dad is refusing treatment because of it. It's not something we can afford. So I have been doing this to make the money," Renée said. "I took self-defense training after being abducted and I'm putting it to use."
"Cooper know about your dad?" Skye asked.
"No. My dad doesn't want anyone outside the family to know," Renée said.
"You don't consider Cooper part of your family?" Skye asked.
"Well yeah, I do. But my dad has insisted no one be told. So I shouldn't have even told you," Renée said.
"How much will it cost?" Skye asked.
"Why?" Renée asked.
"Because I'm curious. It's not like I could afford it if that's what you are worried about," Skye said.
"You're not going to tell anyone?" Renée asked.
"I promise I won't tell a soul," Skye said.
"Roughly a hundred thousand," Renée said.
"And you think you can make that doing this?" Skye asked.
"Both my parents have some insurance that will help pay probably about half of it," Renée said.
"That's still a lot of make doing this," Skye said.
"I get about five thousand for every fight I win," Renée said.
Skye let out a breath. "And how many fights do you win?"
"One in three," Renée said.
"So thirty fights. You're going to put yourself in the hospital and have to use the money for your own treatment," Skye said.
"I'm careful," Renée said. "And you promised you wouldn't tell anyone so I'm not stopping," Renne said before she started to walk away.
"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone your dad is sick and needs money for treatment. And I lied. Lila knows I was following you tonight so I'm going to have to tell her something," Skye said.
Renée stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at Skye. "Fine. Tell her. She will tell Cooper who will tell his parents who will tell yours. Do they know where you are tonight?"
"No. They don't. But if I have to deal with the consequences. So be it," Skye said.
"Right. No teenager is going to go out of their way to get in trouble no matter the reason," Renée said before she turned back around and walked away.
Skye sighed and started the walk to follow Renée and made sure she got home okay before she hopped on the bus to go home herself.
When she got home she went inside.
"Hey. How was the movie?" Bucky asked when he saw her.
"Wasn't what I expected," Skye said.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Bucky said.
"I'm going to bed. I'm pretty tired," Skye said.
"Okay. Good night kid," Bucky said.
"Night Papa," Skye said before she went to her room. She sent Lila a text that Renée had never left her place before she got ready for bed.
The next day after breakfast Skye went to her room, sat at her desk, and opened up her computer. She started a video-chatted to Nick Fury.
Fury answered the video call a little surprised "Miss Rogers. I never would have guessed I would get a call directly from you," Fury said.
"Don't get used to it," Skye said with a small smirk.
"What can I do for you Miss Rogers," Fury said.
"That check you gave me," Skye said.
"The one you ripped up instead of cashing?" Fury asked.
"Yes," Skye said slowly
"What about it?" Fury asked.
"Any chance I could get a second copy of it? Or the money deposited into my bank account?" Skye asked.
"Found a need for it?" Fury asked.
"For part of it," Skye said. "And I'd appreciate it if it stayed between us that I have asked you for it."
"You're not planning to do anything illegal with it?" Fury asked.
"No. Not at all," Skye said. "A friend needs help. A good friend. And I don't want her to keep doing what she has been doing to get the money."
Fury nodded. "I can have it deposited into your account we have on file. And it's your money I don't have to tell anyone anything."
"Thank you," Skye said.
"But if you end up doing something illegal with it you will find out how scary I can be," Fury said.
"Noted," Skye said. "To be fair Fury you already scare me a little."
Fury smirked. "Good to know. The money will be in your account sometime today or tomorrow."
"Thank you," Skye said before they ended the call.