#I am very sensitive about steggy | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

captainjimothycarter · 4 years ago

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How about modern Steggy meeting at Pride? Both bi, but that's not why she's there, she's there cause her young child is trans and she's not letting them grow up ashamed of this ("Even if it does turn out to be a temporary questioning 'phase', I won't let them ever be ashamed of being who they are."). Cause like 10 year old Carter child who's a little antsy to be there, Peggy with bi-pride tipped curls, and Steve with the trans flag painted on his cheek

OP YOUR MIND!! They would fiercely protect the Carter Child, not that Steve thinks she can’t do it, but he’s downright feral at times when it comes to kids in danger. This might not be what you had in mind, so I do apologize. This got ahead of me is quite long.

“Ignore them,” Bucky breathed in Steve’s ear, tugging on the blonde’s hand to get him away from the protesters that are somehow legally allowed here. This was borderline abuse if you asked him. Sure, freedom of speech but it was quickly cut off when you yelled at children and elderly people for being themselves.

Steve growled under his breath and tugged his hand away from Bucky’s, careful not to touch the drying trans flag painted across his cheek. Natasha would be furious if he messed up her work. Or touch the chalk-dye of the flag in his hair.

“I’m fine,” he grumbled, despite Bucky didn’t look like he’d believed him. The guy stood out like a Christmas tree, literally with the bi flag colors wrapped around the metallic arm and shining bright enough to land a plane. “Just go find Clint, I’m going to walk off. Need to cool down.”

Before the man could say a thing, Steve was stomping off, in midst of the crowd to get away from his rightfully worried, best friend.

The last he expected was when he emerged from the other side of the crowd was to be tackled-hug by a ten-year-old child with bright hazel eyes, a buck-tooth grin, the same colors in his hair dyed on their hair, and wearing a shirt that read, ‘i’m the trans kid your parents warned you about.’

Steve fell to his backside to avoid instinct-wise to protect himself, an arm wrapped around the kid to prevent any of them from being trampled over by the crowds rushing from one stand to another.

“You’re Captain Ameria!” The kid sat upon his chest, still bright-eyed, kneeling rather painfully. “You’re Steve Rogers! I did reports about you.” They were actively bouncing up and down and Steve was doing his best to school the pain the sharp knees caused.

“I am,” he grunted. “Can we keep it to a whisper, son? It’s a secret.” He pressed his finger to his lips to indicate hush, hush until he saw the kid’s eyes widen and go glassy. “Oh no, no. Hey, hey, did I say something wrong?” He sat up and the kid latched on, imitating what Steve imagine what it was like to hug a Khola.

His arms wrapped around the kid and gently held them close, kissing their temple in a show of calming them down. What could he say? He still had parental instinct installed in him from his mother.

He could feel the kid’s sobs against his chest, feel their fingers dig into his shirt, refusing to let go while he tried to calm them down. If anyone noticed Captain America clinging to a sobbing kid, no one stopped to say a thing.

“Michael?! Michael!”

A breathless woman with flushed cheeks, the same brown eyes, and her hair dyed in the bi flag colors scrambles to them. She drops to her knees beside them and slides the last few steps, looking from her child to Steve.

“I-I don’t know -” Steve breathed, a panic looked etched on his face. “They tackled me and I-I fell and-and accidentally said son, a-a force of habit and they started crying. Did I say the wrong thing?”

The woman’s eyes lit up with recognition as to who Steve was before her face softened, tenderly laying a hand on the back of Michael’s hair and stroking it out of the way. “No,” she breathed. “No, you said the right thing. The perfect thing for them to hear. They ideologize you and always have. I guess seeing you here is...well, overwhelming. Michael, love, we got to let the Captain go.”

Slowly peeling away from him, the kid sniffles and rubs at their face, smearing the flag’s paint without realizing it. His face is flushed and eyes red, with tears still in them. He looks almost ashamed as he climbs from Steve’s lap to his mom’s. He could hear the murmurs of an apology.

“Hey now,” Steve breathed, fully sitting up now. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” He can’t help himself in tossing the guy’s hair and wiping away a stray tear. It makes the kid smile, at least. “You were just excited and overwhelmed, there’s a big crowd here today, huh? And I guess...me calling you son didn’t help did it? Just burst that bubble.” When the kid flushed, Steve just gave a helpless smile. “When my ma first called me Steve, I cried so hard I managed to throw myself into a panic attack.”

“I bet that did nothing to help the asthma,” the mother muses, giving Steve a fond smile. At Steve’s surprised look, she shrugs. “I might be a Brit, but I grew up on your story, Mr. Rogers. I’m Peggy, by the way. This is Michael.”

Steve shakes their hand and nods. “No, it didn’t. Managed to give myself a nose bleed too. It’s good to meet you two. Here, let’s get up before we’re trampled.” Getting the pair off of the ground, Steve brushes the grass stains off of their clothes out of habit. “I take it it’s your first pride?”

“For both of us,” Peggy muses, kissing her embarrassed son’s cheek. “Michael wanted to go to his first pride since coming out and I wasn’t going to tell him no. We’ve already been yelled at by them.” The tone alone tells Steve well enough who them is.

“Tell me about it. I’ve already gotten into two screaming matches before my friends had to drag me away.”

“That was you? Crickey, no wonder people looked nervous. Well, yes they’ve called me quite a few names already. Child abuser. Pedophile. Rapist. Disgusting, barbaric group.” She sets Michael down and hugs him close to her frame. “Even if this is a phase, I don’t care. I’m going to support and love my child regardless. They do not deserve to be ashamed of themselves.”

Steve’s eyes fall to Michael whose still staring up at him like he’s the moon and stars and it makes him both antsy and warms his heart. “I wish I had that line of thinking,” he sighs, shaking his head. “Not that I’m ashamed of who I am, anyone with the right knowledge can research about me, history can’t erase that forever, but...the backlash one could’ve received in my time...it leaves a mark on you.”

It was a struggle in his mentality. Steve supported, openly every LGBT organization, spoke out against protestors, and haters. Donated large, marginal amounts of money, but when it came to speaking about his struggle and making an ‘official’ public remark? That’s when he backed out.

“But Mr - Captain…” Michael sputtered, tugging on Steve’s shirt.

“Steve.”

“S-Steve.” He was still breathy from the crying spell but his excitement to get to call his obvious hero by his name was etched into his face. “There are lots and lots and lots of people who would be happy to know that you’re like us too! You might get people mad at you but then they weren’t fans of you in the first place if they don’t support your decision. I know lots of my friends would know and be happy to know that you’re a-a-a trans guy like me!”

Well, what in the hell could he say to that? He looked from the smart kid up to his mother who just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “He’s right, you know?”

“Yeah,” he breathed, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Yeah, I do. I think you’re right, Michael, I shouldn’t hide who I am. Been asleep far too long and I think I got work to do to fix this mess.” He paused for a moment, reaching into his jeans to hand Peggy a business card [Tony’s idea] with a hologram of himself in his uniform and saluting, his name and personal number on the back.

“Call me tonight? I want to talk to you about this. I have to go.”

His eyes flew to something past the pair and Peggy’s neck craned to see over the crowd, clicking her tongue as she spotted what Steve had seen.

If it was just her, she’d help, but Michael was here and perhaps didn’t need to see his hero fighting a bunch of bigots. He was still quite sensitive to violence, the poor thing.

“Okay,” she agreed, scooping her son up and tucking his head into her neck. “You go do that.” She paused to kiss his cheek. “And be safe, please.”

That’s how, two days later, Steve finds himself standing in the very park Pride had taken place, on the portable stage with his team behind him. He still sported a black eye, almost healed but the remains of a yellow bruise were still there. His ribs ached from being kicked, but he was still standing. It was on the news for days how Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes and Clint Barton ruthlessly attacked a bunch of peaceful protesters.

Peaceful, my ass.

They didn’t see the symbols they carried, the signs, the proud man who stood in front of them? Steve wasn’t standing in 2013 anymore, he was in 1943 and standing before a german officer, wearing the same grin on his face. He knew his choices, the power of his voice, and money, and knew them well. He also knew what the other side of Steve’s fist felt like against his jaw.

“They were Nazis,” he tells Tony over dinner, rolling his eyes. Peggy’s on speaker between them, having just gotten done lecturing him. “I don’t give two shits what the media says.”

“Language,” Peggy muses, though Steve can hear the smile in her voice. “I have a son.”

“Whose asleep,” Tony interjects. “Cursing is allowed when the kidlets are asleep.”

“Says you.”

Steve rolls his eyes at them and downs the rest of his beer. “Pepper is gonna smooth it out, anyhow. I’m not making some public statements on how sorry I am ‘cause I ain’t. Don’t show up to an event and not expect a backlash. They’re lucky that’s all we did was break a few bones. Maybe it’ll teach ‘em next time. Besides, they attacked us. We gave them clear enough warning not to touch us.”

They had formed a barricade, protect those Pride Idiots from charging inside while the cops did nothing. Even Tony had to call in a few suits and help, Pepper immediately on the scene with her trusted news crew.

“I ain’t worried about it,” He continues, shrugging.

“Spoken like a true American,” Peggy teases, making Steve flush. “So have you given any thought to our earlier conversation?”

Tony’s staring at him from across the way, Steve’s started to nervously play with the end of his binder. “Yeah,” he sighs. “Yeah, I have. I’ll call you with the details.”

Taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves, Steve’s eyes scan the crowd. He knows there are a few of those Pride Boys out there, but he can’t make them out. He doesn’t care to. They wouldn’t dare to attack a stage when Captain America stands in full uniform and his team behind him. Pepper had brought out her news crew again, live broadcasting this emergency meeting, as well as a few other news sources.

She’s smiling at him from the side, giving him the thumbs up.

Steve’s eyes fall to Bucky whose gotten up with Clint and stood beside him, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “About time you’re doing this, though you owe Dugan 50 quid for this,” Bucky teases, leaning up to just barely kiss Steve’s cheek in a public display of affection. “I’m proud of you.”

Clint’s beside them, towering over Bucky, holding the life out of Bucky’s flesh hand and pulling him close. His head tilts to the side and signs to Steve, asking if he’s ready.

Steve nods, his eyes finally falling to the two people who got this started. Peggy Carter and her son. Michael runs up to him from the side of the stage when they arrive, climbing onto Steve’s shoulders like he’s always belonged there. Steve can’t help the laugh he lets out as he grips Michael’s legs around his chest to keep him secure. Peggy, for her own sake, smiles as she stands beside Steve, Bucky moving over to let her get closer.

“Alright,” He sighs into the microphone, perhaps too close. “Let’s get this over with.” He pauses, counts his heartbeats, feeling them in his throat. “It goes without saying, who I am and whose in my company, but I think we need to make some personal facts clear in the light of recent news.”

He stills and takes in a sharp breath, eyes scanning the vast crowd before he feels Peggy’s hand on the small of her back.

“My name is Steve Rogers and I am a transgender guy.” There’s a mixture of stilled silence and gasp throughout the crowd, followed by intense murmurs. Yet no one raises their hand or shouts questions. Pepper has these guys whipped. Good.

“That might come as a surprise to some of you and regardless of your personal opinion, I do not care. Let me restate that, I do not care if you support me or don’t. I want one fact and one fact made clear, if you decide to attack me, my friends, or anyone for being who in the hell they are, no amount of legal fear and paperwork will stop me from doing what I think is right to rectify that situation.”

“I was thankful to have heavy support during my time serving, before, and after, and even waking up here. It was recently brought to my attention as to what me coming out officially could do for the young LGBT youth and I am only sorry it’s taken this long for me to realize it.”

“To be fair,” Peggy muses. “You’ve been a little busy.”

Steve laughs, unable to help himself. “A tad bit.” He squeezes her to his side and presses a small kiss to her temple. “Now,” he speaks into the microphone. “If anyone else is curious, I’m bisexual too. And in this recent news, my team and I have gotten together to design a program to help the LGBT youth seek the sanctuary they deserve. This means after school programs for all ages, cafes, safe bars, book stores, all opened 24/7 to offer them help. There are homeless shelters in place that will help the youth kicked out, programs we’re establishing to help with anything from name changes to hormones, to funds to get back on their feet. Counseling as well for any who wish to seek it. Adoptive parents who figuratively would want to ‘adopt’ and assist the youth.”

“Who’s paying for all this?! It sounds like -”

The reporter, someone in the midst of the crowd, that Steve can’t see is instantly shut up when Clint charges off the stage and heads in his direction and pulls the man up to his feet by the collar of his neck.

“Who in the hell do you think is?” He snaps. “I wish these programs were around when I was a kid, then maybe I wouldn’t had destroyed my body using makeshift binders that hurt me. These kids, adults, whatever will get the help they need. If you have a problem with it, then I suggest you shut the hell up.”

“Thanks, Clint,” Steve breathes, jerking his head at Bucky to go get his boyfriend. “In a better sense of words, I am. Now, any questions?”

There’s a hell of a lot of questions that go over Steve’s head.

When did your name change? What’s in your pants? Did you have surgery? Did you have bottom surgery? Is that kid yours? Are they paying you to say this?

There’s plenty of statements too, raging from support but more often protest and the second it gets rowdy, it’s put to a stop when Natasha and Tony are strolling around the crowd.

Bucky and Michael are right - this is a long time coming. The youth, the people of today deserved to know who Steve truly was. Not that he’s ever denied himself. They deserve to know that he would do anything to protect them, even if it involves a few legal cases of punching a Nazi here or there.

Michael was certainly right, the youth of today deserved to know who had their back, and how proud he was to come home one day and run straight into Steve’s arms while his mum was at work, to tell him how he stood up to his bully and made sure the substitute teacher called him by his real name and how he got to tell them that his new dad was Captain America.

#Steggy #Steggy Prompt #Nonny Prompt #Bisexual Peggy Carter #Bisexual Steve Rogers #Bisexual Bucky Barnes #Transguy Clint #Transguy Steve Rogers #Peggy's lil kid is trans too #tw transphobia #tw slurs #I hope this doesn't offend anyone somehow #despite being trans i tried to write this carefully too

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peggysousfan · 5 years ago

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Agent Carter Series: Discovering True Love

Redo, redo! LOL I made a few changes for this chapter. I have FINALLY gotten chapter 4 done! Seeing as the plot is getting more complicated its taking longer to write. This is the longest chapter for the series, but there is a lot of peggysous development Note: As a reminder, if you ship steggy or like Steve Rogers, you will not be happy with this fic and I advise you to not read this, as it will make you upset. This was a specific requested fic and I am following what they asked.

Its been several days since Kresminski's death, but things at the office still seem different. There's a shift in the atmosphere, one that is constantly on edge; waiting for the slightest thing to tip it over and shatter. Not even Daniel has been in a light hearted mood, its as if everything has changed; and nothing seems to be giving any hope. The only thing that can be done is prove Howard's innocence and avenge all the wrong that has happened. Not just for Kresminski, but for Colleen as well.

As I look at the clock I notice its time to leave, so I slip a note to Daniel and he meets me in the file room again.

"Hey," He says with a smile.

"Hello," I reply. He takes my hand and I can't keep the blush at bay. Quickly I clear my throat and squeeze his hand in return. "So I got a call from Jarvis earlier...and you may not like it."

"What's going on?"

"Well, uhm.." I look around to make sure no one is near before I explain. "Its about Howard. He's... he's coming back. We're going to go get him and find somewhere to keep him safe for now."

"Where can you take him where the SSR won't find him? Peg, they've uncovered every single one of his houses and accounts. Even the dummy corporations that own them."

"I know, but he may have a residence they aren't aware of and he may be able to go there for the time being." Daniel nods and looks over his shoulder, luckily there's still no one there. A sigh leaves my lungs, hopefully all goes well. He reaches out and takes my hand reassuringly. "Be careful, Peg."

"I would say I will but you could always come with us."

"Peggy..." He hesitates. "I-I don't know."

"Daniel, if you come with us then its more back up then if you were not to." He shakes his head and glances at his leg.

"I'm not sure what kind of back up I can give you, Peg. I'm-"

"The best man for the job? The only person I can trust? Or maybe you're-"

"Okay Okay, I get you point." He laughs. That sound has become music to my ears.

"You are more than capable of helping, Daniel. I know that. I think its time you saw it too." He smiles brightly and I catch on with one of my own. For what seems like a frozen moment is only broken by the time sensitive reality.

"So, uh, when are we leaving?"

"As a matter of fact, right now." I smile at him before going upstairs and collecting my things.

Daniel and I have developed a routine when we meet in secret. One goes upstairs first, then several minutes later, so does the other. Before I leave the SSR, I manage to slip him another note to meet across the street in the alley; an alley where Mr. Jarvis and I will be at in the car.

For several minutes all is quiet as we wait for him. At first Jarvis was confused on why I asked for the delay, but it wasn't until Daniel appeared that he understood.

"It would seem backup has arrived."

"Indeed it has." I smile. He glances at me with an odd look, and I'm unsure what it could mean. Its a bit hard to read in the dark.

"Jarvis. Peg." I glance at him before we head to the docks. Jarvis has that odd look on his face still, and dare a say a smug smirk as well; but it doesn't last for long so I ignore it.

The plan is simple: Hand off the money for Howard to the smuggler and be on our way; if things go south, Jarvis has a backup gas in the case and then Daniel and I can fight off any others that will be there. When we get there, Daniel and I hide away in the shadows while waiting for Jarvis.

The man bouncing the ball comes our way when I grab it from the wall, so Daniel hits his calf with his crutch and I knock him out with one punch to the head; but reinforcements come. I look over at Daniel and he looks at me, and we both know what to do- fight. We knock down each man and head towards Jarvis. Daniel and I stick by the wall side by side and listen in. As we do our hands graze each others and I feel a shock. He looks down at our hands and then at me, and an odd shift moves in the air.

Apparently Jarvis had some trouble with Mink, so Daniel knocks him down. After a few moments of walking, we go to retrieve Howard.

"My favorite foreigners." Howard says whilst standing straighter from the pool table. "Took you long enough."

"A thank you would be nice." I bite my lower lip to try and hide a smile from what Daniel says, but it doesn't work."

"Uh...who's this guy?"

"He's the man that saved your arse. I'd be grateful if I were you." I say, and he glares in my direction.

"Did Mr. Mink have his guys black mail you?"

"Indeed, sir."

"You certainly know how to pick your partners." I remark, and I can feel as well as hear Daniel start laughing. When had he moved so close? I glance at him and we both freeze, but Howard speaks and time begins to move again.

"Well Mr. Mink is a black market smuggler, but he got me back into the country. And he's predictable in his greed. I like predictable and I like greedy." As he says this he takes an 8 ball and tosses it across the room. Daniel and I dodge it and it hits Mink in the forehead, causing him to drop immediately and pass out.

"Well that's a relief. Now may we go?"

"Well someones in a hurry." Howard smirks and pats his shoulder. "Gotta tend to the ol' wife, eh Jarvis?"

Daniel moves around and tries to cover up his smirk, but he doesn't hide it very well. I nudge him and he chuckles, making my lips turn up in a smile. Have we moved closer? As we look at one another, Howard says something and we jump.

"What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing!" We say at once.

"Right...cause that wasn't-"

"Perhaps we should leave. That is before Mr. Mink awakens and finds we did not pay him what he requested." Jarvis interrupts Howard, and all but saves us from an awkward conversation.

Although I don't understand why it should be awkward. Daniel and I are only friends, right? I glance at him and catch his eye, but he quickly glances away. Were we thinking the same thing? But I don't ask that question aloud, instead I walk beside him as we head towards the car. Jarvis is behind the wheel, Howard in the passenger side, and Daniel and I are in the back. Howard gives Jarvis directions to a placement where he may be able to stay, but unfortunately the SSR knows about it.

"Well where else can I go?" That's a good question. I look over at Daniel and he looks at me, and I don't know what to do; until an idea pops in my mind. Bloody hell.

"Take a right turn on the corner up ahead." I tell Jarvis.

"Why? Where are we going?" Daniel asks. I bite my lower lip and look away until we get there. "Wait isn't this...?"

"My apartment building? Yes, unfortunately."

"The Griffith. Tell me, how's Miriam." Of course he's been here before, why am I not surprised.

We devise a plan for the time being. I will keep Howard in my flat until we can find something more permanent, and Jarvis will take Daniel home so we can work tomorrow. I sneak Howard through the back and up the shaft, but Miriam catches me. Quickly I come up with a lie of doing laundry, but she still has suspicion.

As if I'm some child, she walks me upstairs to me apartment door and gives a lecture about being a young woman. Terrible argument of not being able to govern our own impulses, which is why she plays mother hen to us all; perfect. Because I don't have one mother already to yell in my ear when needed. Miriam then points to the shaft where my 'laundry' awaits. Luckily Howard already beat us here and left. Thank God. I grab my bag and walk back towards my door.

"Good night, Miss Fry."

"It's nearly 6 am Miss Carter," Bloody hell! That early already??

Miss Fry walks down stairs as I enter my flat, but with a quick search I don't see Howard. Damn, where'd he go? As I walk back into the hall, I hear a woman giggle and a man chuckle. Oh dear lord, does this man have no common decency?? Irritated, I bang on the door and Lauren answers.

"Sorry, you just woke me." She lies. Hmm, and that explains how she's got a hold of Howard's jacket.

"Oh that's okay, Lauren, my cousin Peggy. Peggy, Lauren." He glances between us nervously and looks down as I glare.

"Don't you think your cousin looks just like Howard Stark?" She asks as I shove Howard along.

"My cousin's a lot shorter." I proclaim before shoving him again in the room. He turns around as if offended. "You are disgusting."

"Oh come on, Peg! I was just having little bit of fun."

"Howard there is no time for 'fun'. We need a plan and a solid one at that. And it better include when you're leaving my apartment." I say whilst getting ready for work.

He explains he's here to give me a camera pen to take with me to the SSR. Once I have it I'll be able to use it and take photographs of the invention's we've found. Sounds easy enough. I take it from him and get changed, then head to the office.

When I get there I see Daniel already hard at work. How is he here already? He amazes me at his incredible work effort. If only he was doing it for the right reasons. Sighing, I continue walking past him and hang my coat, only for Thompson to emerge from Dooley's office and give a speech. He's in charge while Chief is away. Great, because that's exactly what we need right now. As I listen to this unimportant drag on, I feel someone come up behind me and grab around my waist. Bloody hell.

"You look tired. Long night?" He whispers in my ear. Oddly a shiver runs down my spine, and its not a very good one either. I ignore his question and cross my arms as I continue to look at Jack, but Steve keeps insisting. "Peggy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm listening. Now hush." I snap. With one glance I can see an unhappy expression, and he steps away from me; but only slightly to my dismay.

Thompson finishes his speech and everyone starts to line up for their assignments, but knowing Jack , I won't be getting to do anything except the lunch order.

"Not in a hurry to see what job Thompson has in store for you?" Daniel jokes as he walks over to us. I smirk and shake my head.

"You mean the lunch order?" Daniel chuckles in turn and shakes his head.

"Very funny, Peg." I hum in confirmation and look at him, really look at him.

I thing the product in his hair isn't put in as much as normal because I can see a small curl on his forehead. I wonder how curly it really is...

"Its not all that funny, actually." Steve intrudes as he grabs his jacket. "Besides there isn't any assignments for Peggy to take right now. Grabbing the orders is useful for everyone."

"How's that? She's the one doing all the work for us to eat and its not exactly real work. She's taking your lunch like an errand girl rather than getting to be in the field," Daniel replies with a raise brow. I chuckle and turn away to hide it.

"There's nothing in the field for her."

"Right, if you say so... But I'm pretty sure she can speak for herself."

Steve sneers and shakes his head whilst looking down. Why is he being so rude? I roll my eyes and nudge Daniel, giving him a look; luckily he knows what I mean- Its not worth it. Steve starts to speak up but Thompson interjects and orders me to fetch lunch. Surprise surprise...I look back at Steve, who's walked by my side, and realize he's planning on leaving.

"Where are you headed?" I ask.

"There was an anonymous call that lead to the Stark weapons. There has to be finger prints of some kind we can trace. Find the guy who tipped in."

"What if you don't find anything?" Daniel chimes in.

Steve glares but keeps any rude comments to himself. "Then it'll be another dead end. But we have to do something and catch Stark." At this I can't keep my sneer to myself. How Steve can be okay with arresting one of his closest friends from the War is beyond me.

"It was a public phone, Rogers. The only thing your liable to catch is a bacterial infection." I retort, making Daniel duck his head in laughter. I glance at him and smile, which makes Steve glare at me.

"Yeah well its worth a try, Peggy. Unlike others I'm going to actually do some work around here."

As he says the word 'others' he looks at Daniel, which makes my blood boil. Daniel does more work than half of the ninnies in this office. He storms off and Thompson doesn't question his absence. Why would he, they're thick as thieves. As Steve walks away I glance at Daniel who's head is turned down. I hate seeing him so degraded.

"Just ignore him. He's an arse." He looks up at me and laughs.

"Yeah, sometimes." I roll my eyes at this and grab my notebook and the camera pen Howard gave me.

"No, not 'sometimes'. All the bloody time." I sigh and glance away. "It drives me up a damn wall at times. He's not the man I thought he was." Daniel nods with a slump in his demeanor. What's this about? "Daniel? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You should probably... you know. Before Jack has something to say." That was a quick response. Too quick to be honest.

I don't like this change, it seems distant- cold. I like Daniel, I really do. I hate when he does this. For a moment we simply stand in awkward silence, until an idea comes to mind.

"You're right, I should. But when I'm done collecting the orders, perhaps you can come with me and get them. It'll be faster if there's two of us."

For a moment he's silent, probably from shock. I normally don't ask for help in anything, even if its as simple as lunch orders. But nonetheless he agrees and I smile at him before walking away. Its odd how how I feel like this when I'm around Daniel. I can feel my stomach flutter in knots and my heart beat faster. I shouldn't feel like this, but I can't stop it. I need to distract myself, and luckily I can.

I walk into the lab and pass Mr. Doobin the notebook for his and the other lab technicians their orders, as well as ask about Howard's inventions so far. They've been tampering with them to discover what they do. Doobin falls for the distraction and goes on talking about one of them while I use the pen to snap photos of the crates and devices in the room. Once done I disappear quickly out of the lab and go to my desk for the reports I need to do. After several dragging minutes, Doobin comes out and hands me the notebook. I quickly take the rest of the orders and go to Daniel's desk.

"Hey," He greets, but not in his usual polite or excitement. Hmm, I don't like this.

"You're coming with me, so come on. Off you pop. We have a lot to get done."

"'Off you pop'? Really Peg." He smirks. There he is! The Daniel I know and adore.

"Oh haha, have your laugh. Cultural differences, Daniel." He mumbles but smiles anyway and meets me at the coat rack.

"Yeah sure, 'cultural differences'" I can see the cheek he has and I get that fluttering feeling again. Dammit.

"You know what, Sousa. You will find that I am not someone to be trifled with."

"As if I didn't know that already."

He smirks and all I can think is how to get it off of his face. But soon I realize what I'm thinking and try to fight off the flush of heat in my cheeks and the dazzling thought from my mind. We walk out of the SSR and take a cab. I give the driver directions but Daniel turns to me with a confused expression.

"Uh...where are we going?"

"I have to give this to Howard before I forget. Then we can handle the lunch for those twats." He chuckles at me and shakes his head.

"Twats?" There's that smirk again. God how does he keep doing this to me?

"Daniel don't you dare."

"Dare...what?" I look at him and see a challenge glisten in his eyes, oh is that how he wants to play it?

"You are in a very sassy mood today." I state, which only makes the grin on his face widen.

"Is that right? I hadn't noticed."

"Daniel!" I laugh, as does he, and for a while I forget all of the trouble we are getting ourselves into.

All of this work for Howard, helping him clear his name, its suppose to be a good thing. But maybe its helping more than just him; maybe its helping Daniel and I get closer. We've never really had this much time together before, and now looking back, I regret letting Steve dictate that. I should never have let his childish jealousy prevent me from spending time with Daniel; innocent or not, its my life and I can do whatever I damn well please. As I'm lost in thought again, Daniel speaks up.

"Wait, Peg. How exactly am I able to go with you if men can't go past the lobby? I mean I don't look like a woman so..." He squints his eyes in thought and I can't help but smile, confusion is quite adorable on him I must admit.

"Well I could sneak you in the same way I snuck in Howard," But a quickly as I think of this I realize my mistake. Being scrunched in a dumbwaiter would be uncomfortable for Daniel's leg. Dammit I hadn't thought this through. "But then again that would prove to have complications."

"Why's that?" I feel horrible for even thinking it, but I don't want him to be uncomfortable or in any pain.

"I snuck him in through the dumbwaiter, which is in fact rather small, so..."

"Yeah that's gonna be complicated," He chuckles. He doesn't seem to be offended, but I still apologize for it. "Its not your fault, Peg. You're just being a good friend."

I should be happy about this, but oddly enough my heart sinks in my chest. We are just friends, but for some reason I feel as if we shouldn't be only that.

"Right, yes, o-of course," I stutter. Get yourself together Peggy. "Well I could always go and give these to Howard while you grab the lunches, then we meet back here and walk back together?"

I really wanted him there. I know we've already spent a lot of time together lately, but it doesn't seem like enough.

"Yeah we could do that." He smiles at me and looks back out the window of the cab. If only I could read his mind. I nudge his shoulder lightly, then look away. "What?"

"Hm?" Innocently I look back at him, but he just knits his brow and looks confused.

"You just- Didn't you just nudge me?" I shake my head as a no, but I don't think he believes me. He squints at me and frowns. "You sure?"

"Would I ever lie to you?"

"No..."

"Well then its settled." Curiously he peers at me, but looks away with suspicious. I look in the opposite direction and bite my lip to contain a laugh, but it doesn't work.

"I knew it! You did!" He laughs with triumph. And his eyes sparkle in amusement.

"Why does it matter? It was only a small nudge."

"But why do it, though?"

"Because I felt like it." He nudges back and I do the same. "Daniel!" We both laugh only to stop when the cab driver tells us we've arrived. "This isn't over, Sousa."

"I don't doubt that, Carter." Ugh, that damn smirk again. This man will be the utter death of me and never know it.

I smile at him before heading into the Griffith to look for Howard. And of course he's not in my apartment. I swear I'm going to kill him one day. I find him in Helen's room and lecture him, but he simply brushes it away. I give him the camera pen and he sets up a red room in my bathroom to develop the pictures.

"Here, you take care of them while I head back out." I say as I leave the bathroom and grab my overcoat.

"Wait, where are you going?" He follows.

"I have to head out and meet with Daniel then-"

"Daniel? Is it that one guy you were with when you got me from Mink?" I nod in confirmation and he smiles, and not a good one at that.

"What now?" I ask annoyed.

"Nothin', just...You seem pretty close with this Daniel guy. What about Steve?"

"Howard, I swear on my Nana's grave-"

"Not like that! I'm just asking. Are you happy?" At first I don't know how to answer his question, then I realize he's being serious. He actually cares. "Peg. Are you happy with Rogers?"

"I-," With a groan of frustration I look away, "That's none of your concern, Howard." And with that I leave the building and find the man I needed to see.

"Hey, you okay? You look... annoyed."

"Well I did just speak with the irritating wanker known as Howard Stark." He chuckles and its music to my ears. No matter how down hearted I can feel, Daniel always cheers me up.

"I got the lunches, so we should probably get going."

"Agreed. Lets go." I nudge him again and he simply smiles.

When we arrive back at the office, everyone is as busy as always, but there is something new. Steve walks around with a homeless man beside him. Odd... I look over at Daniel and he give me the same curious look.

Steve takes the man into the interrogation room while Thompson goes to observe; however, it appears Steve hasn't been able to get anything out of him. Nearly 30 minutes have gone by and no one emerges from either room.

Eventually Jack comes out and walks over to Daniel's desk, and I can over hear the conversation.

"Me? How the hell am I gonna convince him to talk?"

"I don't know, Sousa. But you need to think of something. Quick."

"Why me?" He asks while reaching for his crutch.

"Because everyone else is on break and its not like I'm gonna ask Carter."

Ugh, wanker. Daniel sighs and walks over to me as Thompson goes back into the room. He asks me what he should do and I shrug my shoulders.

"The only thing I can think of is making a war connection. But the guy isn't like me, Peg."

"You could try connecting in another way."

"How? There is no-wait. I got it." He smiles at whatever it is he's thinking, but then it turns into a frown. "Please don't be mad at me."

"Why would I do that?" He looks away sheepishly and sighs again.

"Can you grab a bottle of scotch or something, maybe some food? The guy's been through the ringer, seen some bad things according to the file I read earlier."

"So your strategy is to give him a drink?"

"Not exactly." He smirks. And then it hits me. He's going to use it as a reward for talking and giving us anything he may know. While this is a dangerous field to tread in, Daniel can always twist any report he gives on the answer the man gives him.

"You're brilliant. I'll go and get what I can and have Jack bring it to you."

After I grab the scotch and burgers for Daniel, I give them over to Thompson and Steve comes over with an unhappy expression. Ironically lunch break is over for most and the office begins to fill up again.

"What's that for?"

"Sousa requested it for the interrogation."

"And how is that gonna help?" He sneers. What I wouldn't do to put him in his place. Daniel is worth a lot more than Steve thinks.

After a few minutes of waiting, Daniel comes out of the room with a look that can only be described as a victory. The man talked and said described what he saw, luckily it wasn't much.

"The guy saw a well dressed man and a dark haired woman get on the boat. That's it." I love that smile on him. He looks so young and happy.

"You're lying" Steve says accusingly.

"No I'm not. You can even ask Thompson. The guy gave us what we needed easily. " At this he gets stiff and angry, and I don't like it. I stand up straighter and watch Steve with caution.

"That's bull shit!" But before I know it, he shoves Daniel and he fall back into my desk.

"Daniel!" I rush over around the desk and over to him. Once I'm sure he's okay I turn to Steve and push against his chest- Hard.

"What the hell is wrong with you!"

"So you're standing up for the gimp that took over my interrogation?" I can already feel my limbs shake in anger at his vile words. He walks closer to he and speaks in disgust. "Now why would you do that unless you were sleeping with him."

I've had enough of this. I reach up and slap him across the face, the sound echoing though the office. Everyone stops and turns towards us.

"Go to hell Rogers! You still don't know a bloody thing about me!" I can't be in this office any longer, I need some air. I walk all the back to Griffith and not bothering to looks back.

When I return I go straight to my room and find Howard still in the bathroom. The pictures finish developing within a few minutes, then they're ready to be viewed; but unfortunately the inventions aren't the first ones on the film.

Howard is more and more repulsive. He takes it from me and tears off several to spare my eyes, as if I want to see what he's done with those woman. Ugh! I take them back with a disgusted look and peer at the photos left. All of his inventions -Perfect. Finally a win. Even if it is a small one. Angie hollers from outside and reminds me its time for dinner.

"Go, I'll look through these You work too much, Peg."

With a roll of the eyes I walk out of the room and go downstairs with Angie. She talks about her day and I listen while we wait in line. As we pass though, I take a few rolls for Howard's to eat. I lie to the girls and say I'm going to eat in my room to read the last pages of Agatha Christi, when really I'll be going over the photographs with Stark. As I enter the room he has a grim and serious expression, one I don't like. He says all of them are in fact at the SSR, but he doesn't seem thrilled about it.

"Why is your mustache so sad?" I joke, but he doesn't give in. "Howard?"

"I need you to steal one of them back."

He explains its practically a glorified light switch in a ball that shuts off the power grid and can never be turned on. Splendid. So much for a win. Apparently he is the only one who can deactivate it, so now I need to head back to the office, sneak into the lab, steal the device whilst replacing it with an exact inactive replica, and come back without destroying New York's power grid. Just another simple day for me I suppose.

I go out to the hall and ring in Jarvis for a ride. But he acts strange, and one clue leads to another I can tell Howard was lying. If he is then what exactly does this device do? We go to the SSR and I go with the plan, find my way onto the lab and switch them out. It was easy enough but now I'm curious as to what this invention is. I go to hide in a storage room and press the button. When I do, the lid opens and a vile pops out, but what's inside has me at a complete loss of words. This can't be real. Angry, I storm out of the room and head out, but I'm caught off guard by someone from the office coming my way, so I hide in the interrogation room.

"Peggy? What are you doing here? Jack said only men had to work overtime." I turn around and am greeted with an unpleasant sight. Steve.

"Didn't mean to disturb your....self loathing." He's grabbing the bottle of scotch the homeless man never finished and takes a swig.

"Self loathing?" He scoff and drinks the rest. "Why are you here, Peg? Not just at night. Why are you at the SSR."

"If you're asking why I work here then I would be quite offended by such a question." He squints at me and walks closer. "I work here to uphold democracy. Do you really need a reminder of that?"

"But the rest of us do more than take lunch orders. And that's all you do here." I clench the bag I have that contains the device I stole. Hopefully he doesn't get too curious and try to take it. Then again its as rightfully his as anyone's, but the last thing we need is more men like Steve Rogers.

"You'll never know the thrill of wondering if Thompson is in the mood for a club sandwich," I retort. Please just stop talking so I can leave already.

"What are you hiding, Peg?" I glance away at look at the door, backing towards it.

"I'm not hiding anything, Steve." He walks closer and reaches his hand out to my cheek, and before I can respond he wraps the other hand behind my waist while presses his lips against mine. For a moment I'm stunned and don't move, but then he pulls away.

"I know you're still mad at me for earlier. How about dinner, tomorrow. I'll make today up to you." I start to protest and say no, but his hand glides lower and he hovers over me. "Please? I was a real jerk and I wanted to apologize."

"The one person you really should apologize to is Agent Sousa. All he did was his job and help you with your case. Not only did you treated him unfairly, you shoved him unprovoked because of jealousy. And I won't stand for that." Before he can respond, I turn the nob on the door and rush out. Does he really think a kiss will make everything better? He's more out of his mind that I thought he was.

As I leave the SSR, I head to the car and Jarvis drives me back to the Griffith. Once there, I go back upstairs and confront Howard. The vial is exactly what I though it was; a container for Steve's blood. I tried to contain my anger but it spills out any way and my fist hits him in his eye.

"You used me. You lied to me." I try to calm my nerves by pacing, but it doesn't help

"You hit me!"

"You don't get to use my reaction to your lies as a reason for your lies! Why do you even need this in the first place?! Steve is alive and well. What good is this when you already have the source?"

"Because that is the original vial! Steve going into the ice changed his blood. Its tainted. I don't know how or why, but it is. That is the only original sample we have before Steve went down."

I question why he lied to me, and he explains its an instinct. He didn't get to be so high up in American society without picking up several bad habits; lying being one of them. Howard thinks that this last vial contain the serum from the blood could help cure many medical illnesses.

"And what will happen if its used for non-medical purposes? It can create more of the serum, Howard." Just the thought of more egotistical bastards getting the serum is enough to make my blood run hot as fire. I'll be damned if I let anyone else receive it if they don't deserve it. Erskine was wrong about Rogers, and I won't let his mistake take hold again.

"I know, that's why I don't want it in the SSR's hands."

"You still lied to me, Howard. Knowing damn well you could have told me the truth. You can't stay here. You have to leave."

"Where can I go? I'll get caught." I shake my head in frustration and walk towards the door

"You're the genius you figure it out."

I shut it behind me and head towards the stairs, but then think it over and go to the hall phone. There's only one person I want to be near right now. I call him and tell him to meet me at the Automatt, and he does.

"Hey, you okay?" I sigh and explain everything that happened with Howard. Once I finish, he huffs a deep breath and leans back in the booth. "Damn."

"I just don't understand why he didn't tell me. Its not as if it matters or not. I would have switched them either way. But what makes me angry, Daniel is the fact that he' was only thinking of himself. If the contents are used for recreating the serum... It would be catastrophic. It doesn't make sense."

Daniel sighs and stakes another drink of his coffee. "I don't know, Peg. Maybe...maybe he was trying to keep you from the truth. To protect you somehow. But I do see your point on the serum being recreated. If the wrong person gets it...it could be all bad."

"I don't need protecting, you know that." He smiles shyly and glances away, and that's when it hits me. What if Daniel received it? But I shake off that thought, it can't happen, not right now. "But yes it would be bad. Enormously so."

"I know. But he's your friend, Peggy. He cares about you. ANd as for the serum? I don't think we need to worry about it, at least not right now." Silence fills our booth and I don't know what to say.

He takes my hand in his and rubs his thumb over my knuckles; its very soothing I must admit. I then turn my hand over and grasp his in mine, a silent gesture with a much bigger meaning. Our eyes meet and my chest tightens while my heart pounds. There's that feeling again. The fluttering in my belly and the tingle in my hands. It always happens when we're close or touching; its rather exciting actually. I quite like this.

For several moments we just sit there across from one another before he pulls away with an apologetic smile.

"I should get home, its kind of late. We have to be at the office bright and early."

"Sadly." I sigh. He takes my hand again and gives it a quick squeeze before standing and grabbing his crutch. I should just say goodbye and leave, but something's telling me not to. I follow him outside and stop him. "Wait! Daniel."

He stops and turns around to face me. Quickly I catch up to him and press a kiss to his cheek. Probably lingering longer than appropriate.

"Goodnight." I whisper, afraid of disturbing the quiet. Even in the dark I can see him turning a bright red.

"Goodnight, Peggy."

We go our separate ways and all I feel is a buzzing sensation throughout my body, my lips tingling the most. No matter how hard I fight it, a grin blossoms across my face. When I return to the Griffith, Howard's long gone. I know what he did was wrong, but I do feel upset for shouting. What's done is done I suppose.

The next day when I'm on lunch duty again, Jarvis sneaks up behind me and tries to match my pace. I ask him if he knew about the vial Howard wanted me to steal, and he all but confirms my suspicion. He tries to convince me to forgive him, but I won't hear it.

As I get into the office, I go about dropping off everyone's orders then sitting down at my desk. As I do I see Steve standing looking at the board with all of the evidence against Stark. He's talking with Thompson about it, but Jack walks away to talk to the newly returned Chief Dooley; and yet Steve continues to stare. He takes the photograph of me at the Spider Raymond club and goes to his desk. Oh no, I fear he's figuring it out.

Thankfully a quick idea pops into mind. I write a note to Daniel and slip it to him. 'Steve is on my trail. Need to do something.' -PC. Once I'm back at my desk and he reads the note, he looks back at me with a subtle nod. We have to keep Steve from figuring it out.

Throughout the day we continue to pass notes on what to do and come up with a plan. The one way to keep him from discovering I was at the docks is to hide my personal file.

"You're sure this can be the only thing connecting me to the woman described?"

"I'm sure." Daniel says in confidence before looking back at the stair case. We've snuck away to the file room so he could give me my file. In doing so there is no connections whatsoever to me and the dark haired witness the homeless man spoke of to Daniel.

"I have bullet scars on my shoulder that are mentioned in the diagram. If Steve were to analyze the photograph from the club close enough-"

"Then he'd be able to figure out it was you." He finishes my sentence. I should hate that but I rather enjoy it. Its nice to have someone understand how I think.

The rest of the day goes by quickly and I go back to the Griffith hotel. As I do, I try to think of a way to keep this vial of blood a secret and away from being discovered. I set it down on my bed and blast the radio to cover the noise I make with the hammer. I create a hole in the wall behind a painting and hide the vial there. Hopefully it'll be safe and never turned back to what it was; if it ever is I'll make sure the right person gets it. No more sexist arses will have such power.

#peggysous #peggysous fic #peggy carter #daniel sousa #Peggy x Daniel #anti steve rogers #anti steggy

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