Disclaimer: I do not own any of Marvel's characters or plot lines. This is made ownly for enjoyment and no copyright law infringement is intended.
Rating: K+
Author's Note: This is simply a one-shot for me to let out my Steve/Peggy and Daniel/Peggy feelings. The information about SHIELD is completely AU combined with what little I know/remember from other MCU works. I hope you enjoy it!
It's just a drink, Peggy Carter told herself.
Oh, but wasn't it more than that? To Daniel Sousa, who had asked her a few weeks ago, it was more than a drink. It was closer to a date for him. And for her, who had finally chosen what to do with her life, it was more than a drink. His feelings for her were more than that of a friend, and honestly, she didn't mind. She didn't mind that a selfless man with integrity liked her. She didn't mind that a brave, loyal man had feelings for her.
It wasn't the first time. Steve Rogers had been the first man to really like her for her she was and not what she looked like. He had been a laughable young man, weighing about ninety pounds, having almost no muscles, and bearing several diseases/health problems. He'd been brave even though he couldn't do many of the physical things that the other soldiers and recruits were able to do. She had seen him in bootcamp, desperately trying to keep up with the others though failing miserably. However, he had made up for his physical limitations with his heart and intelligence. He never gave up, never was disrespectful, and solved problems no one else could. When the commander had tossed a fake grenade, instead of running from it, Steve had jumped on it. That was when she realized she really respected him. As time went on and he became a super soldier she grew to love him more and more. Inside he hadn't changed, however, and she'd lost him when he sacrificed his life for millions of innocent lives. She hadn't quite moved on all the way, though she knew he would want her to.
Daniel Sousa was a lot like Steve. He had fought valiantly in the war, and had been crippled. He had an aluminum crutch which he relied completely on, and couldn't do what everyone else in the SSR could. Still, he was smarter than them all. He'd been the one to figure out she was the blonde, and even though he liked her he stayed loyal to the SSR by convicting her. When she explained herself he had instantly believed her again. And unlike the others at the SSR, he treated her as an equal, not as a woman. When he stuck up for her it made things worse for the both of them, and yet she appreciated the gesture more than he could ever guess. As time went by she knew it was inevitable that he would ask her on a date.
It had taken her a while to say yes. It wasn't because of Daniel himself, but it was because of her love for Steve. She had waited for the right partner, and then he had left her. It was selfish of her to think in that way, but that was how she felt. Now that she had been given time to heal she thought she might be ready to search for the right partner. Obviously Steve and her were not meant to be, else he would have survived the war.
Peggy dressed nicely, though not formally, and retouched up her make-up. She put on the red hat that Colleen had always said suited her nicely, and started walking out the door. She felt a pain of sorrow at the memory of Colleen. Colleen had been her roomate before the whole Leviathan disaster, and had been killed by agents looking for Peggy. That was when she decided she couldn't let anyone get too close to her. She was a danger to anyone because of who she was. HYDRA was out for her.
Wasn't that ironic? Only one man in the SSR could give her any respect, yet HYDRA has sent its best to try and eliminate her. The world really didn't make any sense, Peggy supposed. That's why she had finally went back on her initial rule. She had let Edwin Jarvis close to her. She had let Angie close to her. Now she was either going to get a lot closer to Daniel or he was going to get far away. She wasn't sure which she preferred.
Peggy's heels clicked against the street cobblestones as she strode to the bar she had agreed to meet Sousa at. He had offered to pick her up as any gentleman would, but she had declined. Peggy needed this walk to rehearse what she would say, to present what she had to tell him in a way that would show both the advantages and disadvantages. He had to know that his decision would change his life drastically.
The air was clear and cool that night, and she felt refreshed. This was a new beginning for her, and for many others that would eventually join her. Peggy had had a lot of new beginnings in her life so far, and she could catagorize them: Growing up. Joining the SSR. Meeting Steve Rogers. Losing Steve Rogers. Going back to the SSR office. Helping Howard Stark. Being caught, sentenced, released, and granted amnesia by the SSR. Leaving the SSR. Making plans with Howard Stark. And this new chapter in her life would be, Carrying out plans with Howard Stark.
Peggy was ready. She had no other option, really, that would use her talents to the maximum. That's why she had agreed to Howard's ridiculous plan. It was a long shot, and probably wouldn't work, but things would be easier with other support. That's why she had to talk to Daniel Sousa about.
She walked into the bar five minutes before their arrival date, but Daniel was already seated at the bar, his aluminum crutch propped up against the counter. He turned and smiled at her and she strode up to him.
"Hey," he sadi, almost shyly. Peggy smiled back as she took a seat.
"It's nice to see you too, Daniel. How are things at the SSR?"
"Unbearable," he replied. "Thompson's getting all of the credit for what you did, everyone's starting to believe him, and there are so many awful rumours spread about you that I can't even keep track of them all." The bartender came up and they ordered before picking up the conversation again.
"Well, at least I'm not forgotten." Peggy's mouth curled into a half grin. "Is everyone just as thick headed as I left them?"
"Worse," Daniel remarked. "And you're not even there to make them realise how stupid they are."
"I did enjoy that quite a bit," Peggy remarked. She felt like she had made a right decision by decided to talk to talk to Sousa about her idea, though she knew all this idle talk was only distracting her. Still, it was nice.
"So what are you doing these days?" he asked, sipping from his Bourbon. This was it. She had to tell him.
"I've been in contact with Howard," she began. "We're making plans."
"For what?" he inquired casually, though she could sense the suspicious undertone.
"We're thinking of making a new organization similar to the SSR, but more competent." Peggy paused, thinking he would be shocked or at least have some emotion. However, Daniel just let out a chuckle.
"Any organization could be more competent than the SSR without even trying," he replied. "But I'm interested. Go on."
Peggy smiled a little. "It's called SHIELD-Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
Daniel whistled lowly. "Sounds like someone really wanted to spell 'shield'."
Peggy gave him a sideways look. "We're going to have an intense training camp set up so that only the best agents can get in. Our goal is to be ableto protect the earth from abnormal things, such as aliens, messed-up scientific experiments, and basically everything HYDRA."
"Did this idea come from the whole super-soldier serum and Red Skull thing?" Daniel asked.
"In part, yes. It also came from the Leviathan catastrophe, and Howard wanted to make sure that in case any of his inventions or blueprints were stolen he'd be able to either retrieve them or be able to defend against them." Peggy swallowed from her glass. "What do think?"
"I think it's a good idea. I bet this SHIELD company thing will utilize you better than the SSR ever did. You'll be very successful."
Peggy's forehead creased. "I was wondering if you might be interested in joining, though it seems as though you have no interest in the matter."
"It's not that. I'd love to be a part of something good. I just don't think that I'm cut out for that sort of thing." Daniel looked away.
"What kind of nonsense is that? Why wouldn't you be good at it? It would be just like at the SSR, only much better."
"You know why, Peggy. You that I can't do anything in the field." He motioned to his crutch. "I can't even keep up with normal humans, let alone supernatural beings."
"That shouldn't stop you, Daniel. You shouldn't think like that." Peggy took in a deep breath. "I could have chosen not to apply for a job at the SSR because I was a woman, and look where that would have gotten us? Captain America would still be running around the country in spandex selling war bonds and thousands more unnecessary lives would be taken. But I didn't let my gender stop me from doing things."
"Steve would still be alive, though."
The quiet comment made Peggy reel in surprise. She knew it was said not out of spite or jealously, but of fact. It was true. If Peggy hadn't encouraged Steve to do what he thought was right then Steve would still be alive. In a way it was her fault that he was dead.
"I know, Daniel. I know. But it was his choice from the very beginning. And now it's your choice. You can let your disadvantages get in the way of your life or you can get past them. Steve did, and I know you can."
"I'm not like Captain Rogers at all," Daniel argued. "He was strong and brave and...perfect. I'm not."
Peggy looked down, her eyes stinging. She felt horrible that he couldn't see his worth. "Yes, yes you are. You are so much like Steve. I fell in love with Steve when he was still a scrawny boy from Brooklyn. In a way I wish he hadn't transformed into Captain America. But what was inside him, his value, didn't change. He still respected me and treated me like I was his equal, even his superior, at times. You do that, too. You've always stuck up for me, and for that I'm grateful. It's like seeing a part of him every day. But let's not talk about Steve. I'm here with you."
Daniel's eyes widened. Peggy knew why he was surprised, and she herself was surprised that she had said that. Even more shocking was that it was true. She had let Steve go, and she hadn't proposed about SHIELD to Daniel just to talk about Steve. She had come to help him get out of the pit of the SSR and into a job that utilized him.
"So what do you think?" Peggy asked softly. "How about getting a new job with SHIELD?"
Daniel smiled. "I'd be honoured."
And so a new chapter in Peggy's life started; a new one where she wasn't a lonely woman mourning her loss, but a new chapter where she made lots of friends and memories. A new chapter where she would have a new beginning. SHIELD was only a small part of this life. Howard was only a small part of this life. This chapter was mostly about Angie and Mr. Jarvis and Daniel.
It was her most glorious chapter.
