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Tweak says, "Kittens in my nose!"

peggy carter is no damsel in distress (therightpartner) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2012-06-17 22:56:00

Entry tags:

peggy rogers, steve rogers

WHO: Peggy Carter & Steve Rogers
WHAT: Peggy has arrived and is confused. Steve has offered to explain. Also, they get to see each other. It's a benefit.
WHEN: June 17th; Afternoon
WHERE: Colligo Library's Steps
RATING: PG
STATUS: In Progress

Peggy had been thrown out of the library. She'd landed on her rear and felt absolutely no need to stand in the moments that she had been talking to Steve so that was exactly where she could be found, sitting in on the steps of the library, kneels folded up close to her chest, as she quietly studied the device that had been left on the ground next to her. It had been overwhelming enough, ending up somewhere that she wasn't supposed to be. In those few seconds after she had arrived and been expelled from what she was told was a library, a dozen thoughts had run through her mind, but hearing Steve's voice had crushed all of them.

Since the crash, it had been a voice that she hadn't expected to hear anymore. She had hoped, prayed, pled, and bargained that he would be all right, that he'd show up like he had before, wounded but alive, staggering back into camp as though nothing had gone amiss. She'd dressed up for the date that they'd arranged, some last long hope that he'd show even though she had known full well that thinking he would was ridiculous. But she had sat in The Stork Club until well past midnight anyway, watching as the staff swept the floors and cleared away glasses, stacking the chairs up in preparations for closing, and as one of them had quietly, politely, told her that they needed to lock up, she had allowed herself to stop believing, to let go and mourn for the loss of not only one of the greatest soldiers she had ever known but perhaps one of the best men.

And now, now, it seemed as though all of that had been a waste. Wherever she was, whatever was happening now, Steve was safe. He was alive. She had no idea how, but she wasn't about to question it. She was just going to be quietly grateful and sit here until he arrived to explain the rest of this mess. Because, as brilliant as she was, she couldn't for the life of her figure out what in the world this thing she'd been handed was supposed to do, or why all of the buildings in this city seemed to be three times as tall as she was used to and illuminated in ways that she had never seen before.

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therightpartner
2012-06-20 03:06 am UTC (link)

It was one thing to hear his voice, an echo in the air that had been transmitted by the device in her hand, but it was another thing entirely to see him. Standing the second that he was in sight, the strange device was all but forgotten as she took him in. Not a bruise or marking that she could see, no visible injuries or anything that might have made it clear that he'd crashed a plane in the middle of nowhere. Though, she supposed there might not be. It had always been a matter of lengthy debate just how durable the serum would make someone, but as she stepped slowly down from the entrance of the library, closing the slight distance between them, she couldn't have cared at all about the science in it. She was simply thankful for the fact that he was alive.

And then he spoke. Peggy laughed. She had to. The only other option available to her in the face of the words was to cry, and while she might do that later, now wasn't the time for tears. "You most certainly did," She said, her tone as admonishing as she could muster with the emotions welling up in her. "I was sitting in the Stork Club waiting until well past midnight," She said, taking the last step forward to close the gap between them, her hands coming up to delicately smooth over the front of his shirt. He was real, solid, and her breath caught in her throat as she tipped her head up to look at him. And even as she knew that now wasn't the right moment to cry, she could feel tears stinging at the corners of her eyes anyway. "Standing a girl up like that. You should be ashamed, Captain."

And then she was hugging him, putting all of the relief that she felt and emotions she was holding back into the embrace. There was a lot she could say, things that she had wished she had, but all of that could wait. Not long, perhaps, but it could wait. There were a few more pressing issues to address after all.

Taking a deep, bracing breath and stepping back, putting a bit of distance between them even though she didn't want to, she shifted her eyes to the city skyline before looking back at Steve, "So, what's going on?"

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thefirstavenger
2012-06-21 02:09 pm UTC (link)

Steve couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the sight of Peggy. She really was one hell of a woman and he was happier than he could say to see her again. Though he seemed calm, if somewhat nervous, he was actually completely overwhelmed by the sight of her. Peggy had a bad habit of making his mind go completely blank, which would have been annoying if he hadn't been pretty far gone for her. In his time in the future, or present he guessed it was now, he'd resigned himself to the fact that he would never see her again. The fact that she was there, so close and so wonderfully real and alive, made something slot into place that he hadn't even realized was broken. For the first time since he'd woken up, he felt genuinely happy.

Her laugh made him smile and he ducked his head sheepishly. He felt awful for missing their date, but it hadn't exactly been his choice. Still, he didn't like the thought of disappointing her. "Well," he said carefully, "that's just unacceptable. You should never be left waiting. Believe me, Agent Carter, I would me more than happy to make it up to you." He smiled shyly. "That is...if you want. Sometime." He really hoped she said yes, because he really did want to have that date with her. He felt like he'd finally found that partner he'd been waiting for and he could only hope she felt the same way.

He hugged her back, arms wrapping around her and lifting her off the ground. He set her back down after a moment, practically grinning. For all this place had its flaws, he liked it. It might have been irresponsible, since he had responsibilities back home but, with Bucky and Peggy both here, he really didn't want to leave.

"Okay, this is going to sound completely crazy," he said when she asked what was going on, "but you just need to trust me, okay?"

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therightpartner
2012-06-21 07:34 pm UTC (link)

It was as heartbreaking as it was endearing that Steve seemed to assume that she would suddenly change her mind. It was so easy to forget that Steve was still very much that stuttering, stumbling kid inside, the one who had been so stunned by the fact she'd kissed him that he'd gaped like a fish until Colonel Phillips had knocked him out of his stupor, and that he was still burdened with all of the insecurities that came with being the one so often overlooked, ignored, and maligned by the opposite sex. It didn't help that she wasn't entirely sure how to make it obvious to him that his appearance was not her major motivating factor. Should the serum suddenly wear off, send Steve back to his original height, weight, physical strength, none of her feelings would change. It was the man he was inside, that strength of heart and character, that mind fully open to new concepts and new revolutions, and a spirit unwilling to back down from any challenge that he might come up against. That was the man she cared for.

So when he offered her a shy smile and stammered out the condition that they only had to make up their date if she really wanted, Peggy reached out, taking his hand in hers as she tipped her gaze back towards the city, "Once we get this all sorted," She said, squeezing his hand gently. "And of course I trust you. Steve, I was just carried out of that place by two individuals in suits of medieval armor. I think anything you have to say is going to sound sane by comparison."

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thefirstavenger
2012-06-21 07:52 pm UTC (link)

Steve smiled down at Peggy's hand holding his, feeling relieved that she still seemed interested in going on the date he'd promised her. "Great," he said grinning. "That's...great. We'll find some place around here where we can go dancing...just like we said we would." He knew that wasn't really what people did any more, but he was pretty sure nobody could really blame him for wanting the chance to have Peggy in his arms. He couldn't imagine anyone else would say no to the opportunity. He'd have to look for a place around here that would work, not something too modern. Maybe he'd ask Tony...no, maybe he'd ask Natasha. Asking Tony seemed like the sort of thing that would end badly for all parties.

He couldn't help the laugh that escaped when Peggy said that whatever he had to say couldn't be more crazy than what she'd already experienced, remembering a similar conversation between himself and Fury. "Tell you what," he said cheerfully. "I'll bet you a dollar that you change your mind on that one by the time I'm done explaining."

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therightpartner
2012-06-21 11:15 pm UTC (link)

"All right, then," Peggy said with a playful grin. There was obviously some complex explanation to why they were here, where here was, and what in the world made this place look as though three Londons had been stacked up on top of each other, but she couldn't think that it would shock her anymore than finding out that Steve was here, alive and well. "I'll take that bet. I can't help but think you're setting yourself up here for failure, Captain, but we'll see." It was an easy enough statement to make. All oddness of her arrival and this city aside, Peggy couldn't help but feel as though all of those were tiny obstacles to overcome as long as she wasn't alone. Not that they would have been monumental had she been, but there was a certain security that came with having support from someone that you trusted with your whole heart.

"So, what is this wonderfully fantastic situation that we find ourselves in, then?" Peggy asked, a hint of mischief sparkling in her eyes. It was clear that she was pretty much determined to not be moved by whatever he had to say, no matter how mind-numbingly bizarre it might be. It was a playful challenge, one that she had a feeling that she might lose no matter how much she tried to pretend, but it was still fun to think otherwise. "Because I'm pretty sure I wasn't anywhere near the Bermuda Triangle before I was tossed out of there."

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thefirstavenger
2012-06-22 08:23 am UTC (link)

Steve laughed. "People keep thinking that," he said with a smile, "and I keep proving them wrong." People really should have known by this point not to bet against Steve - the understandable incident with Fury aside. He just had a habit of defying expectations. Still, Peggy had always had a way of doing the same, so maybe she wouldn't be surprised by all of this. No, he thought, there was just too much for her to take it all in stride. As amazing as she was, she was still human. And he couldn't see anyone just accepting what he was about to say. Not even Peggy. Smiling, he took a moment to compose his thoughts before beginning to explain things in a way he hoped might make some semblance of sense.

"Well," he said, "to start with, it's 2012. I was actually already in 2012 before I got here...apparently the serum is really effective...enough that being frozen in ice for almost seventy years didn't do much. I got recruited by a government organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. to be on a team of other people who are...similarly unique. There's Tony Stark...he's Howard's son and he fights in sort of electronic suit he created himself. Then there's Thor...he's actually a Norse God. Bruce Banner...uh...well...he tried to replicate Erskine's formula but it didn't work out quite the same. He turns into an enormous green monster when he gets angry. Then Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton are regular humans...well, heavily trained assassins...but regular compared to the rest of us. I saw you again, actually...right before you died." He paused a moment, not quite able to just carry on after that.

"Anyway, then I wound up here," he said finally, "and here is...uh...how did they put it...apparently it's a sort of pocket universe or something. Anyway, God's younger brother, because God apparently has one of those, likes to pull people out of time and space like a really strange ant farm...because that's something gods do apparently. I don't know. And now we're all stuck here until Asaph, that's the god in question, gets bored and sends us on our way. So...yeah. That probably wasn't a very good explanation, but I swear it's true."

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therightpartner
2012-06-22 09:00 am UTC (link)

Peggy couldn't help but think that he had to be making at least part of this up just to try and throw her. Staying alive in ice for seventy years? Howard's son? Norse Gods? This was quickly moving from the realm of baffling to utterly implausible. The disbelief was shining rather clear in her eyes until Steve concluded his rundown with the information that he'd seen her again. And Peggy knew well enough that Steve wouldn't have thrown anything like that in there if it wasn't the one hundred percent honest to God truth. He wasn't like Howard, who would toss out things just to impress, or Sergeant Barnes, who would say next to anything to try and provoke a laugh. Steve only pressed issues like this with the most earnest sincerity, and everything that he said after that was taken as it was presented.

As he finished, Peggy just looked up at him, her expression making it obvious that she was still trying to take it all in, before speaking, "I'm afraid I left my wallet back on the base." Because, really, what else was she supposed to say to the knowledge that she was apparently now an amusement for a all-powerful deity?

"I am glad that you found a place," Peggy said softly, after a moment, raising a hand to rest lightly over Steve's heart. "Even if it wasn't with us, I would much rather you be safe and happy somewhere else...than gone for good."

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thefirstavenger
2012-06-25 07:04 am UTC (link)

Honestly, if someone else had told Steve this same story and he hadn't lived it, he probably would have thought it was the biggest load of crazy bullshit he had ever heard. And he'd let himself be pumped full of chemicals and shot up with lasers because a scientist told him it was a good idea and, as Tony might say, it seemed legit. He really felt like his slang was coming along. The point was, he knew he probably sounded absolutely insane, but he just hoped Peggy would trust him. Because he wanted her to feel like she could. He would never lie to her, not if he could help it. He just really wanted her to know that. He was anxious as he spoke, but he relaxed and gave a sigh of relief as she laughed.

"Don't worry about it," he assured her. "I'll spot you this time." He took a dollar out of his pocket and held it out to her so that she could take it. "Anyway, you have a hundred dollars in your account here, to help you get by until you're settled. Sounds like a lot, but prices went up with the times, so don't be too surprised by that."

He smiled when she spoke again, comforted by her touch, but it was sad. "I'm glad too," he said after a moment, "even if I sometimes still feel incredibly lost. But...if I had the choice, I would have picked you all. Every single time. Life just...doesn't always go the way we planned." He paused. "You know...if there'd been any other way..." But there hadn't been, so he let the sentence drop.

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therightpartner
2012-06-26 03:36 am UTC (link)

Taking the dollar with a bit of a grin, she smiled as she leaned forward, slipping her hand into the pocket of his jeans to tuck it right back where it had come from. Stepping back, Peggy tugged playfully at the hem of his shirt. It was odd, seeing him out of uniform and in clothes that, well, to be frank just seemed a little odd to her, but there was an informality to them that suited Steve all the same. "It'll be enough," Peggy said after a moment before her smile softened as he allowed his last words to trail off.

"I know, Steve," She said, her tone gentle as she pushed up on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. "I know. But there wasn't. And we can't change what has already happened even if this place seems to be able to take us out of it somehow," She said with a smile and a shake of her head before slowly moving to slip her arm around his, casting a brief glance upward. "So, soldier, how'd you like to show a pretty lady around town?" It was playful, silly, but it seemed the most appropriate thing to do after he'd dropped at much information at her feet.

"Maybe you can tell me a little more about these new friends of yours while you do."

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thefirstavenger
2012-07-03 06:08 pm UTC (link)

Steve flushed as she slipped the dollar back into his pocket, barely keeping himself from making a truly embarrassing sound of surprise. While he had definitely gained some confidence with his transformation, and while he definitely knew he and Peggy were heading toward...something, he was probably never going to be very sure of himself around women. He'd spent too long as an awkward, scrawny young man who was constantly looked over and laughed at for that. "If anyone can manage, it'd be you," he said after a moment. "You're just about the most...well...you're a lot of mosts really, but you're definitely the most sensible person I know." He paused. "Of course the other people I know are Howard and Bucky...and me...so I'm not sure that's saying much."

Steve wrapped his arms around her waist as she leaned up to kiss his cheek, wanting to keep her close to him. "I just...I wish we could have had more time," he said regretfully, but then he smiled. "But...I guess we have that time now. So...that's something. Maybe Howard'll even show up. You, me, him and Bucky all here? Can't think of anything else I could possibly want." He paused, suddenly hesitant. "I'd really like that," he said shyly, "but there's something I really wanted to do first. I've sort of wanted to ever since I saw you." He wasn't even sure himself whether he meant on the steps of the library, or that first time he'd seen her at the camp. But he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, a slower, gentler kiss than the last one they'd had.

"I hope that wasn't too forward of me," he said, after he'd pulled away.

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therightpartner
2012-07-03 09:15 pm UTC (link)

It was a gentle kiss, a soft, lingering action that was utterly and completely representative of Steve, Peggy thought, as he pulled away, a broad smile breaking out over her face at the question that followed, "Just forward enough," Peggy said playfully as she looked up at him, resting a hand lightly against his chest as they lingered in this position for a long moment, Peggy just taking in the closeness before shifting to take his arm and cast another glance up at him.

"You, me, Bucky, and Howard? This place wouldn't stand a chance," Peggy said with a grin before laughing. "God help everyone here should the entire Squad show up." It was a nice thought, really. Even if this place was utterly baffling, it would be nice for Steve from the sound of what he had gone through to have familiar faces around for however long they stayed here. Though, she imagined it would be heartbreaking for him when any of them left, returning to a place where he couldn't follow.

But, with any luck, they wouldn't have to worry about that.

"It would be an interesting mix, you have to admit," Peggy said with a grin. "Maybe show some of these children exactly what us old folks are capable of." Which, really, was an utterly ridiculous statement in Peggy's mind to make when she and Steve both weren't even out of their twenties. But in this reality, she might as well have been her great-grandmother, complaining about how things were so much nicer when everyone used rode horses than bothering with automobiles.

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