AN: Hello hello hello. It's been a while, for those who follow me avidly. I haven't been on recently for school reasons, personal reasons and lack of motivation reasons. However, I've had this little gem stashed away for a rainy day and in washington right now, it's pouring. So I'm thinking this is gonna be a three to four parter. Most likely four because I have a few more intense events to cover. If you are one of my regulars or maybe you have read some of my stuff, you'll know I like- no, LOVE- Stoni. Fem!Tony and Steve are my number 2 spot in my OTP hall of fame, right next to Malec. So here's this, please enjoy and, because I love reading comments and seeing views R&R! (It really makes my day, a good comment can really pull me out of some of the deepest mind dumps or emotional lows, seriously!) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Chapter 1- Agent Stark
"Good morning ladies. My name is Toni Stark. I go by Agent Stark or Sir. I will not answer to Toni, Antonia or Miss." There was a terse silence in the yard save the sound of platoons doing PT. "Now let's get a few things straight; I am here to work along side Mr. Howard Stark, my father. I am also here to help my mother, Agent Peggy Carter. I am, however, an officer in this military- a superior to you- and I don't take bullshit." Someone in the lineup of men before her coughed and she shot them a look. "Now, go get some breakfast and then get in PT gear, we're running the loop." And with that she turned and walked back to the jeep where her mother was sitting beside where her father was.
"That was an... interesting speech," Howard said to no one in particular. Toni ignored the comment.
"You and Colonel Philips will be, along side Howard, making the final decision on the candidate, Toni, so we're really putting our trust in you dear," Peggy said, her red lips forming each word with a British influence.
"Do I get to train with them? Can I fire a gun?" Peggy narrowed her eyes and Toni decided not press her luck. "What are you going to be doing?" She asked instead, glancing up at her mother.
"Your mother's going to be taking an active roll in aiding Colonel Phillips on intel and special ops," Howard replied, shooting Peggy a look like 'I really wish you wouldn't'. "And come time, you will be aiding me and Dr. Erskine on the technical side. As for now, go get in your PT gear, Agent Stark. You've got some men to show up." A grin spread across Toni's lips. She kissed her father on the cheek and jogged off for her room, kicking her heels off upon arrival.
She reveled in PT. Loved wearing combat boots and shorts and a t-shirt. Someone had once told her that it was indecent, that a lady would never dress like that. Toni had merely looked down at her garb and shrugged.
"No lady would ever dress like that. I'm a woman. There's a difference," she had said. "One marries, does house work and has kids. The other kicks ass." Needless to say her father had reprimanded her upon finding out.
She met the men out in the yard, she had donned a tank top with the Camp Lehigh emblem on the front and the shorts that were issued to the men. She watched as they stood at attention, one hand at their side and the other forming a salute
"At ease!" She called out. Each man relaxed, letting their arms fold loosely behind their backs and their legs spread slightly. It was one fluent motion save the stumbling, erratic movements of one very short, very frail young man at the end. "You! At the end!" She thrust a finger out the stumbling one which received a chorus of snickers from the other men. He stepped forward. "Name."
"Steven Grant Rogers," he replied, sounding slightly befuddled.
"Steven Grant Rogers huh? Why are you here Steven Grant Rogers?" She demanded, slowly easing her way down to him.
"I want to be the best of the best Agent."
"What?"
"I want to be the best of the best, sir!" He shouted. Toni eased back onto the balls of her feet.
"Then why are you stumbling in formation? If you can't stand in formation then you can't fight a war. If you can't stand in formation, you can't shoot Nazis. Do you want to kill some Krauts, Steven Grant Rogers?" She asked, sounding menacing as she clipped off each word in his name.
"No ma'am," he muttered in reply.
"What?" She found herself caught off guard by his answer, expecting a 'yes ma'am!' strangely that was not was she got.
"I don't want to kill men but I don't like bullies." She felt like someone had just thrown a knife at her, like that was a personal jab at her. She turned her nose up and spun on her heel.
"Back in line Rogers, let's fall out boys! We got some running to do!"
As she always did, she showed them what running was supposed to look like. They ran the loop three times, to the dismay of a few, and as they stumbled and vomited up their breakfast Toni jogged backwards. A few of the men shot her a dirty look but she shrugged them off. Way at the back of the pack was the boy Rogers, barely keeping up and very much out of formation. Toni caught it out of the corner of her eye and stopped running.
"Halt!" She shouted and every man did just that. Rogers doubled over, resting his hands on his knees and he tried to catch his breath. "See this flag pole here? See that flag. Not a man has ever been able to get it. You get me that flag then you can ride in the jeep with Agent Carter," Toni cried. Suddenly there was a mad scramble to get the flag, men stumbling over each other to climb the pole and retrieve the flag. It made Toni snicker at the thought of one these men trying to impress her mother. From the jeep Toni could feel her mother's glare, probably a raised eyebrow in there, but she didn't turn around.
After a time she found their struggles pitiful so she pulled her whistle out and blew, sounding the shrill instrument signifying order.
"Back in formation boys! You make me cringe!" And then Rogers was walking up to the pole, Toni did nothing to see what he would do. Rogers pulled the pin at the base and let the pole fall, upon such action he walked to the end of it and snatched the flag up. Silently, the boy walked over to the jeep and climbed into it with Toni's mother. Toni stared for a moment and then recovered herself. "Alright then, let's go cupcakes! We can't just lollygag!" And then they were jogging again, passing the jeep, and Toni saluted her mother and the Rogers kid then continued on.
Dusk had started its way across the sky, leaving Camp Lehigh in a graying haze. Toni walked through the camp, arms folding behind her back, taking in what had become of her. She was no longer the same little girl who had spent her childhood tinkering with tools rather than the dolls gifted to her by her grandmother, or the youth that argued with her math teacher about what was correct. She had lost that person, almost as if they'd been stripped away, and now she was fighting violently with society. Making her case that she was not a thing, not an object to be purchased. She had goals and now she was reaching them.
Lost in her thoughts she almost didn't notice as she passed Steven Grant Rogers. She almost didn't hear the quiet "ma'am" that came from his lips as he tipped his cap. Almost. She stopped and looked as he walked on, no doubt heading for the barracks.
"Private Rogers!" She called. He stopped, standing at attention. "You salute an officer of higher rank when passing," she snapped.
"Yes ma'am," he mumbled.
"At ease." There was a pause as she circled to in front of him. "Why join?" She asked.
"Ma'am?"
"Why join if you get berated like you do? Why join if you know you'll have to deal with officers like me?" He looked at her, figuring out a proper answer.
"I already told you ma'am, I don't like bullies." Toni sighed.
"Dismissed. Sleep well Private," she said and then continued her walk to her bunk. It was a walk spent in wonderful silence. Silence that allowed her to contemplate the choices. Most of the men, she decided, were to abrasive and shoot-first types. And, in mild horror, she realized that Rogers had been the most qualified based on the standards. There has to be someone else.
"GRENADE!" Phillips shouted Toni snickered from the tailgate of the supply truck as the Colonel tossed the dummy grenade. Men scattered, a few leaping over sandbags to find shelter. One ran towards the grenade, stumbling over it and curling around it.
"Get back!" He screamed. Phillips chuckled but something in Toni told her that there was no one else. Rogers was officially overqualified. He was beyond ideal save for the lanky and undersized body he possessed along with the copious amounts of physical ailments.
"It's a dummy Rogers!" A man called and everyone started to regroup. As Rogers stood he started coughing and wheezing. Toni, unexpectedly, found herself as the first one to his side.
"Private Rogers?" She said hurriedly, in a hushed voice. He tried to wave her off. "Asthma," she breathed. "Do we have any injections for Private Rogers?" She snapped. Her mother was the second to Steve's side. She'd appeared out of practically nowhere, toting a thin syringe of adrenaline. They slid the shot into his arm and injected the hormone. It took a minute but he started breathing normally again, taking a gasp for air as his first breath.
"Escort Private Rogers to Med Bay, Agent Stark." Peggy said. Toni straightened up and started walking. Rogers didn't follow.
"I'm fine," he huffed, still gasping for breath.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go Private." Then she looked around at the other men, each one staring and some trying not to snicker. "I expect you in full gear, weapons too, by the time I return. We're running the loop!" She shouted and dragged Steve off, griping his arm tightly. As soon as they were out of sight of the witnesses to his attack he ripped free of her grasp.
"I'm fine Agent Stark!" And then he stopped, closing his eyes as took a few deep breaths.
"You have severe asthma, a family history of diabetes, color-blindness, high blood pressure and a long list of others. You are not fine Private," she grumbled, turning to face him.
"I can do what every single one of those men can do, but I may go slower. I'm not perfect, no human is. Take away my dignity if you want but I am still a soldier and I can fight just like them." And then he was making for the barracks, obviously wanting to join in for the run. Toni watched him go, she didn't know why, but she just let her eyes follow the tiny figure make for the bunkhouse. She found herself remembering what she'd told her parents back when the troop ships were starting for England.
"Gimme a gun and I can do some real work, but you can't keep me cooped up here. I can do what every single one of those men can do, I can do it faster too. Let me be like mom."
"He's our man," Dr. Erskine said. Howard shrugged, running a hand through the back of his hair. "Agent, what do you suppose?" Toni nodded, not eagerly so it didn't seem like she approved as much as she did.
"Yes Doctor, I think it's a fine choice. Just so long as this serum of yours works then he should evolve nicely." Phillips, disgruntled, grumbled something.
"Colonel?" Dr. Erskine asked.
"He's a twig, Doctor! Are you sure you want a twiggy performing these trials?" Erskine just smiled and winked.
"Why don't you go get the boy Ms. Stark," Erskine proposed and Toni nodded. As she passed her father she kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll be back in a minute," she said and left the lab. As she walked out Peggy walked in and approached Howard's side.
"She going to get Steven?" She asked, her British accent filling the room. Howard visibly relaxed as she leaned an elbow on his shoulder. He nodded. "Well I've got the press all prepared, I've scheduled a PR meeting with three newspaper for you me and Dr. Erskine. Oh, and her friend Virginia rang, says she's stopping by," Peggy told them. Howard just nodded and looked out over the intricate lab that he was now in charge of.
Toni watched Steve enter the car with pursed lips. He squirmed slightly to find a comfortable position and flashed Toni a weak smile. She did not return it. The drive was spent mainly in silence, occasionally filled with Steve pitifully pointing out places he'd been beaten up in.
"You got beaten up a lot," Toni commented, looking out on the damp city outside. He shrugged.
"I pick fights, I told you I don't like bullies." Toni rolled her eyes.
"Bet that caused Mama Rogers a load of trouble." Steve looked over at her. "And you? Why do you have such a problem with fitting into society's idea of a woman?" She opened her mouth to say something snappy and then closed it, furrowing her brow and looking over at him. He was right; they were both on the same side.
"You're so... aggravatingly proud for such a little thing. How do you pack it all in there?" She snapped. Steve shook his head.
"No, not proud. Just passionate. Like you."
When the car eased to a stop it was in front of a sad looking antique store. The two walked in and were met by an old woman.
"Lovely weather we're having," she commented. Steve watched with a confused expression.
"Yes but I always carry my umbrella." Toni replied, just like her mother had shown her.
Steve had not been expecting the secret back room that turned out to be the lab. He had not been expecting the set up inside the lab. These two facts made Toni smile because he looked so surprised when they walked in. She could only envision, though, the pain that would undoubtedly ensue during this procedure. She looked away from the kid and led him down to the bottom tier of the lab.
The whole process was a blur to her really, excitement had clouded her memory and she really only remembered the part where Steve had told them to keep going, no doubt through grinding teeth. Her father shouting things, Erskine hesitantly continuing, Col. Phillips staring with baited breath, it had all blurred and felt like seconds to her. And then Erskine opened the casket that held Steve.
The once tiny figure was now huge, had rippling muscles and what had been an overly large hospital dress was now perfectly tailored to his body. He was at least half a foot taller, probably more, and looked well proportioned.
Toni scurried her way down the stairs to where Steve was, cursing her father for insisting she wear a skirt and heels. Steve's eye caught on her, she could tell, and she rushed up to him. She had to take at least half of her attention away from Steve so she could focus on not reaching out to touch his now muscular body, to poke the new serratus anterior muscles on his sides. The fact that science had given him this new shell was unbelievable to her. Steve was watching her, she realized, so she straightened up and met his gaze.
"How do you, erm, feel Private?" She asked. He looked slightly shocked but looked down at himself.
"Well, taller for starters," he replied. Toni tried not to laugh.
"Your last name ought to be Obvious," she replied, biting her tongue after. Steve cracked a smile, licking the left corner of his lower lip. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get a blood sample and later today perhaps we can do some preliminary tests on the limits your muscles can take, if you're okay with that," she said, biting back excitement. Steve just shrugged.
"Sure. You seem... eager." She chuckled.
"Understatement, my dear Watson." Steve smiled, glancing down as she stuck a syringe in his arm. "I've been thrilled for this since day one, I've always wanted to work with my father, follow in his footsteps. This is a way to do that and help the war effort, I do what I can, and you do what you can. If you'll excuse me, you clearly have a line-up of enthusiastic spectators." She pulled the syringe of blood from his arm/
She forced herself to step back because as close as she was, she was afraid that she was going to end up pressing her palms against his practically inflated chest. She wondered if this was how men though of women suddenly. And then she was forced farther from Steve because the crowd of political figures had swarmed him.
Then a gunshot rung out and panic reigned.
Toni looked up just in time to see Erskine collapse and a man to take off with a vial of serum. She locked eyes with Steve and then he was out and after the man. Toni stayed just long enough to see her mother grab Erskine then toss her a gun.
"Go get the bastard!" She cried.
She was out the door in seconds, following Steve out.
Erskine, Howard said, died of the shock and blood loss. Steve got the guy, but only found out the name 'HYDRA' which was of no help, since they had no information on it. And then, to top it all off, the Senator Somethingoranother swept Steve off to the stage.
She'd been able to talk to him once before he went of the Capitol Hill goon. It'd been burned into her head.
"You should be out there, fighting," She grumbled.
"I could say the same to you."
"Don't Steve. You, the serum, that's been my dream. And now that it works I can't continue. Don't do this to me, please Steve. You're everything I've- we've- been working for, don't do this- you're so much more than a piece of entertainment," she had pleaded. Steve shook his head.
"The Colonel doesn't want me Agent, we-"
"That's bullshit Rogers; you are the most dedicated soldier I've ever seen. Erskine told you not to forget who you are, so don't. Help us, help me." Steve stared at her for a minute, searching her face.
"I've got to go. Thank you for everything Agent Stark," he mumbled finally.
"Oh please, you know you can call me Toni." She sighed in defeat and then looked up at him once more. "We expected big things from you Steve."
Toni found herself in England next, and lost count of the men that went out and never came back, stopped caring when Steve left and Erskine died because her mother was suddenly detached and her father was no longer allowing her near his experiments. Only Pepper could make her feel better.
It was a Sunday, the Aldbourne camp's day off, when Pepper showed up, toting a small bag and a wide smile. Pepper shock of bright orange hair was a relief to Toni. She hadn't even known that her best friend was coming to the base, and was surprised that Col. Phillips and her parents even allowed it. They spent the next week meandering through London after taking a train into the city, taking in all the glory, never having experienced, much less without men.
Then word came through that Captain America was going overseas to try and support the troops. Her parents, the S.S.R. and apparently she were going to a post on the French-Austrian border one week ahead of the Captain. Somehow, she could never figure it out, she conned her parents into letting Pepper come too.
She hadn't seen Steve face-to-face in almost one month, and now she was forcing on a smile and introducing Pepper to him. She'd spent all week telling Pepper about how he'd abandoned the cause to go be a showgirl. Pepper was still excited. Especially when Toni introduced her with her full name.
"So you were how tall before the serum?" Pepper asked, shaking Steve's hand.
"Five four, and ailment-riddled," Steve said, a small... cute smile on his- Toni shook her head slightly, realizing what she was thinking. Steve had alienated himself from her the moment he left the S.S.R. to go dance on stage.
"Anyways, Steve this is Pepper, Pepper, Steve," Toni grumbled and then she swung her arm around Pepper's shoulders. Pepper flashed her a grin.
"It's nice to meet you Ms. Potts." Pepper turned to Toni, grinning wildly now, and whispered, "He called me Ms. Potts." Toni just smirked and turned back to Steve.
"Well see you around Captain," Toni said, turning with Pepper and leaving his presence.
"Oh my God he's huge!" Pepper muttered shrilly. Toni forced back a smile.
"You're a goofball." Pepper narrowed her eyes.
"I am not! He's ginormous." Toni shrugged and stared on at the path ahead of them. Pepper looked at her. "Do you like him? Is that why you're so angry he left?" She asked. Toni gave her a horrified look and shook her head rapidly.
"No! God no! I- he- the Doctor- he left us! I'm pissed because we need him! He's an experiment dammit, a test built to help the government and the war effort, enough Pepper." Pepper bit back a teasing smile.
"We or you?"
"WE! Come on, I wanna go to the woods, I hate his little 'performances'." Toni snapped. Pepper pushed her lower lip out.
"Aww but Toni! I haven't seen one, come on, just one more show," Pepper pleaded. Toni shook her head.
"Nuh uh, if you want to see him then go on, but me, I'm going to the woods and ignoring that bastard." Pepper's grin reappeared. "No! No! Quit! I do not like him!" And then she found herself in the woods. She didn't know for how long, just that she lost track of the time out there. She got lost, staring out at the other hundreds of trees, wishing she could be out fighting.
A sudden thought dawned on her, an aggravating one. Steve had only wanted to go out and fight the good fight, wanted to protect his country. It dug at her that they were not that different, in a way. They even had their respective 'handlers' per say. Steve had briefly mentioned this Bucky Barnes on the ride to the experiment, the one who always pulled him out of fights. And Toni had Pepper. She chewed her lip as she lay in the bark and dirt. Both fought against the grain.
When the drops of rain hit her lips and forehead, tasting of pine and smelling of that fresh rain smell, Toni finally left her place there. She meandered back to camp, hoping to find Pepper somewhere. No such luck, save for finding Steve. He was behind to stage, sitting on some boxes in a dry area. Toni, holding her jacket over her head, walked over. Steve was drawing, and as she got closer she saw what; a monkey, holding an umbrella and riding a unicycle. Personal dancing monkey. She couldn't help but think about Steve's potential, what he was supposed to do.
"You weren't supposed to be their monkey, you know," she said, surprising him. He looked back at her as she pulled her jacket back on. She could suddenly feel her mother's freedom red lipstick burning on her lips. "There was supposed to be a whole army of you, you were just the beginning." He sighed.
"And here I am, subject one- and only."
"If you wanna fight, then fight Steve. You don't have to stay here and be this... show girl."
"I think it's a little late for that, don't you agree?" Toni bit her lip, debating what to say next, but was interrupted by the sound of marching. They both looked up. Worn, broken soldiers came marching in. Steve furrowed his brow but Toni recognized them, her mother had a personal hand in the infantry's well-being. She sighed. "They look awful." Steve muttered. Toni nodded.
"These ones have really faced some of the worst, definitely more than most. 107th's as good a team of enlisted men as any volunteer team," she replied. Steve looked up.
"The 107th?" He asked. She nodded. He was up and running through the crowd in a flash. Toni followed after him.
"Steve!" She cried as they pushed through the tired men. She heard him, barely, asking around for a name... she realized it had to be the Bucky guy. Just as soon as she figured it out, she too was pushing through them, shouting the man's name.
"Barnes? Sergeant Barnes?" She called, remembering his rank. Finally someone stopped her.
"Miss, I don't know the serg personally but if he made it then he's here, if not he's either captured or dead." Toni's chest felt heavy, fear washing over her for Steve. She could only imagine if this was Pepper. She nodded, turned and started pushing towards Steve.
"Steve! Steve! Follow me! We've got to check with the Colonel, he'll know!" She called. Steve nodded and they burst out of the gaggle of men.
"You didn't find him did you?" He asked. She shook her head.
"One guy in there though said if Barnes made it out then he's here somewhere, but Phillips can tell us for sure."
Toni stood behind Steve the entire time, trying to look tough and menacing, as he asked the Colonel if he knew anything about Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. Phillips just stared up at him for a while, right until Steve tried to spell out Bucky's last name.
"I can spell," he said, abruptly interrupting Steve. He sighed, pushing himself out of his chair. He picked up a stack of papers. "I've signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count, but..." Toni breathing eased to a stop as she felt her lungs and heart and stomach and throat freeze over. "The name does sound familiar. I'm sorry. Really." Toni prepared to walk out with Steve, prepared to console the goliath himself. She was stopped by his voice cutting through her thoughts.
"What about the others?" Steve demanded. Toni looked up, wide-eyed. Speaking out of turn in the military could mean Courts Martial. She bit her tongue, watching Steve in disbelief. "Are you planning a rescue mission?" Toni's heart dropped, not only was his ass about to get handed to him, but no doubt he was going to face disciplinary actions.
"Yeah, Captain, it's called winning the war," Phillips growled, straightening up and staring Rogers down.
"But if you know where they are, why not do-"
"Those men are thirty miles behind the lines, through some of the most fortified territory in Austria, maybe Europe. We'd lose more than we'd save; those are men we could be sending out to somewhere like Belgium. I don't expect you to understand that because you're a chorus girl." Steve had clenched his jaw and was glaring back at Phillips.
"No sir, I understand just fine."
"Well then understand it somewhere else; if I read the posters correctly then you've got someplace to be in thirty minutes," Phillips finished, turning to accept some papers from a runner.
"Yes sir, I do." Toni could hear the steel in his tone, her heart dropped, he had a plan.
"What are you thinking Private Rogers?" She demanded, storming after him. He stopped and turned to face her.
"You're always where I seem to be. Thank you, for helping me with everything, but this time you can't be where I am," he said. Fury flared up inside her, glinting in her eye.
"Wherever you're going I can go too!" Toni stated, staring at him with her arms crossed.
"Toni, this could get me a Court Martial and potentially shot, what I'm doing is a direct disregard for the orders I've been given. I can't drag you into that."
"At least let me get you prepared," she conceded. He sighed and nodded.
When the two met up again, Steve had hijacked one of the cancan girls' helmet and a handgun. Toni glanced at his weapon and then shook her head.
"No, take mine." She forced a gun into his hand, a Luger. He looked at it in disbelief.
"Toni, this is a nice gun, I don't know if I can get it ba-"
"Just make it back and have my gun, no being a hero or anything," she instructed. Steve just stared at her silently. "Come on Steve, you've gotta go before they find you. I got my dad to agree to fly you and my mom insisted on going too so if you get them killed then you are in so much trouble." Steve nodded. "Alright, don't forget, bring me back my gun alright. And this Bucky kid, I wanna meet him."
"So you helped him commit mutiny, sedition, desertion, and willfully disobeying an officer of higher rank," Pepper said, pulling her blanket tighter around herself. Toni hissed a 'shhhh' at her.
"Don't say it out loud, Phillips doesn't know it was me and he has no idea where Rogers is!" She whispered fiercely. "How do you know all that anyways?" Pepper pulled a book out from under her bed.
"Military conduct, I was bored on the flight. Anyways, you know those crimes are punishable by death right? And that you could be found guilty of them too?" Toni shot her a look.
"Quit, I'm already worried enough!" Toni spat. Pepper put her hands up in defeat.
"Sorry, sorry." Then Toni saw her annoying grin start to spread across her face.
"I don't like him!" And with that Toni grabbed her pillow, pulled it taught over her head and tried to ignore the grin that was no doubt still spread on Pepper's lips.
It was a week over pacing around back and forth, listening to Phillips repeat that 'I'm going to have to declare him M.I.A. and sooner or later, K.I.A.' and of course the looks from her parents. She hated waiting.
And then she heard the stirring about camp as she was walking for Phillips' 'office'. She looked up in time to see a huge column of men approaching, with tanks and battered faces, all led by Captain America himself. Toni's breathing picked up and she found herself running towards the men. And then she saw Steve smile when he caught sight of her. She slowed to a stop, her eyes wide and breathing accelerated.
There was a battered and beaten man next to Steve is the ratty remains of combat gear. He was tall-ish with a shock of unruly dark brown hair and shining blue-green eyes. Even given his physical state, as the crowd gathered, he looked around and then shouted, "Let's hear it for Captain America!" And then Toni found herself in the middle of it all.
"Got my gun?" She hummed quietly. Steve smiled and pulled it out from the back of his belt looped around his leather jacket. She could feel the side-glances from who she could only assume was Bucky Barnes.
"Saved my life countless times," he replied, still smiling. Toni kept their gazes fixed together.
"A little ironic don't you think? A guy called Captain America running around killing Germans with a German gun in the name of America?" Steve's lips split in a quiet laugh.
"Yeah, a little." Then the guy next to Steve cleared his throat.
"Gonna introduce me Steve?" He asked smoothly. Toni looked over.
"You must be Sergeant Barnes? Nice job getting yourself captured," Toni said, eyebrow raised. Bucky meet her gaze with a slick smile.
"If I hadn't gotten captured then Steve would've never rescued all these guys. You arguing?" He asked. Toni pursed her lips.
"This is Bucky Barnes, right Steve?" Steve nodded. Toni looked back at the tattered companion of Captain America. "Alright then Sergeant, maybe I'll see you at the pub in town tonight." Bucky's lips stretched into a wild grin which he flashed at Steve. "Will I be seeing you at the pub tonight?" She continued, turning to Steve. He looked over at Bucky.
"Apparently I've got a date with Phillips but if he gets me home early enough then maybe," he replied. Toni pulled her lips together in an attempt to force down a smile.
"Need a ride to this date?" He shook his head.
"Looks like he's coming to me," Steve answered, nodding towards the sound of a grumbling Colonel.
"I wish you luck." Steve turned to Phillips.
"Sir, I'd like to turn myself in for disciplinary action, I-"
"That won't be necessary son," Phillips barked, cutting Steve off. Steve glanced over at Toni who merely shrugged.
"Yes sir."
Toni straightened the dress she was wearing; a red and black rockabilly swing dress. She turned to Pepper.
"Yes?" She asked, inflecting the end of the word unsurely. Pepper grinned.
"You look great Toni! And me?" She replied, twirling in her blue silk halter dress. Toni gave her a look.
"Peps, you look amazing in anything, why even ask?" Pepper shot her a look.
"And you don't?"
"Not like you. Come on, let's go," Toni grabbed her friend by the hand and they left their tent. They climbed into a jeep parked outside and Toni drove them towards town. They were late, by the men's standards, for the party- but as Pepper had said, you can't rush perfection.
When they parked outside the pub, already dark out, Toni pulled out her mother's lipstick and put some on her lips. Pepper walked up and interlaced their hands, smiling. They walked into the pub, let go of each other's hands, and tried to look intimidating. Apparently it worked, but their only proof was the silence that fell.
Toni looked around at all the men in the pub, clearly all American. She smiled innocently and continued through towards the other room.
"Want something?" Pepper asked.
"A scotch Peps, I'll be in the other room." Pepper nodded and walked up to the bar.
Toni walked into the room to find Steve and Bucky sitting at the bar directly next to the door. They were laughing so she took the moment to push herself up against the archway, leaning on her shoulder.
"Private Rogers," she said, over their laughing. Steve spun around, surprised to see Toni, much less in a dress. Bucky turned to look too, starring at her.
"Agent Stark," Steve replied. Toni winked and Bucky fell back onto his stool. Steve swung his arm into Bucky's stomach, making him grunt and Toni smirk.
"Told you that you might see me here." Then Pepper walked in, carrying two scotches, and Bucky slid forward, grabbing the bartop behind him. Pepper just kind of stared awkwardly at him. "Sergeant Barnes, this is Virginia Potts, I call her Pepper." She reached back and nudged Pepper forward towards Bucky. Toni sidled into the seat next to Steve, who still looked a little shocked.
"So I hear you're getting your own team," she said.
"Yeah, James Montgomery Falsworth, Gabe Jones, Jim Morita, Dum Dum Dugan, Jacques Dernier and Bucky. We're thinking the name Howling Commandos fits." Toni smiled.
"It does."
"Thanks again, for the Luger and all the help. Your parents didn't try to stop me once," he told her. On his other side she could hear Pepper laughing. She thought about the gun on her dresser; she'd gotten it off a German officer that had come riding through the camp- bastard didn't know where he was going. She wanted so bad to use it, but under her father's watchful eye that wasn't going to be happening any time soon.
And of course here was Steve and for once she trusted someone other than Pepper. Maybe it was that he'd come back with both the Luger and Bucky and of course the veritable army he'd rescued. Maybe it was just that she'd wanted him to succeed so badly that when she did it just confirmed something she already knew. Either way, she trusted Steve and that was foreign to her.
"I've been thinking, under my care it doesn't see a lot of combat. You ought to keep it. But at the end of the war, you gotta get it back to me right?" Steve nodded.
"Definitely." She took a swig of her scotch and stared at the far wall.
"You any good at dancing Private?" Toni asked, turning back to him. He furrowed his brow.
"Actually it's Captain now and-"
"Don't care, you'll always be Private Rogers to me."
"-And no, I do not dance." Toni grinned manically. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, backing towards an open space in the room. "Toni-?"
"Come on soldier boy, we're gonna dance. People say I'm the best teacher." She looked behind herself and winked at the man sitting by the jukebox, tossing him a quarter. The man slid it in the jukebox and a swing beat started up. Toni looked back at Steve. "Good news, I love this song." Steve didn't look reassured.
"Toni, I'm gonna embarrass myself," he hissed under his breath. She laughed loudly.
"That's half the fun Rogers."
Bucky turned around in his seat to watch Steve stumble over himself as he tried to keep up with Toni. He had a good time laughing at the punk. Beside him Pepper was laughing too. From the bar, he heard Toni shout, "Flip me!" Steve's jaw dropped.
"What?!" He cried.
"Now! Come on Private!" Steve grabbed her by the waist and flipped her under his arm and over his shoulder, all while holding a look of pure terror. Toni was laughing like a maniac, a grin spread wide across her face. The entire room was alight with laughter.
Bucky realized that it'd been a long time since he'd laughed. He liked the feel of it.
Toni was sitting at her desk in the underground bunker they'd commandeered from the Germans. They'd refurbished it into a lab for Howard and herself and a intel H.Q. for the rest of the 107th.
Boredom had drowned her and she resigned herself to sitting in her chair, reading through boring papers. She was distracted, though, by the thought of dancing with Steve the previous night. She sighed and dropped the papers on her desk.
Steve swung around the corner then, looking smart in his dress suit, as was custom for the off-duty men. He caught her out the corner of his eyes and stopped, turning to face her.
"Agent Stark," he said, flashing her a small smile. She stared at him. It aggravated her in a good way that he was always wherever she was for some reason- or vis versa.
"Private Rogers," she answered. "Thanks for last night." He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Forgive my dancing skills, they're lacking." Toni smiled and stood.
Stupid.
She motioned for him to come closer to her.
Don't do it.
Steve was close to her now, close enough for her to feel his excessive warmth.
He'll cut you from the research.
She eased her lips onto his gently and kissed him, slowly- slower than she'd ever kissed anyone before. She could tell it'd shocked Steve.
You deserve the punishment you get.
Toni was surprised to find Steve kissing back, just as slow, and she parted his lips. Toni wondered if he'd ever kissed anyone like that, or even kissed anyone at all. Then her mother rounded to shelves that created a barrier. She cleared her throat.
Steve practically jumped five feet from Toni, leaving nothing between her and her mother's glare.
"Agent Stark, you're father's asking for you and you as well Captain Rogers," Peggy said, keeping her eyes fixed on Toni and red lips pursed. Toni started towards her father's lab area when her mother stopped her, letting Steve continue. "I won't tell your father because I know him and you do too and we both know what he'd think of that but I want you to think about it before you dive in with Rogers. He's a hero, dear, and heroes get themselves killed." Toni glared at her mother.
"I know what I'm doing," she snapped, pushing past her.
When she got to Howard, Steve had picked up a circular, silver shield. Toni stopped in her tracks and just kind of stared. Steve had a goofy grin on, one that made her angry- mainly because of her mother's warning.
"What do you think?" He asked expectantly. Toni pulled out her gun and fired four rounds at the shield. Steve braced as she did, clearly not expecting that assault. When she lowered her gun she was satisfied to find it held quite nicely, not even denting. That shield could just keep him alive.
"Yes, I think it will work wonderfully," she replied curtly and left the two's presence.
"So you and Bucky hit it off then?" Toni asked. Pepper nodded.
"He's taking me to dinner tonight, Phillips gave him a twenty-four hour pass," Pepper replied. Toni stared at the tent ceiling, listening to the sound of training outside. "And you and Steve? No more denying it to me, not after that dancing stunt." Toni sighed.
"I dunno, we had a moment in the bunker- just a kiss," she murmured. "I think he and the Howling Commandos are going out on a mission in a bit." There was a pause. "I can't stand being here and doing nothing. It's so boring Pepper," she whined. Pepper turned and looked at her, pinning in an earring.
"Then why don't you go fight?"
"You know why. Paps says no way any daughter of mine is going out into combat," Toni growled, mimicking a crotchety old man voice. Pepper laughed.
"Want to come to dinner with Bucky and I? Come on, you and Steve and Bucky and me... it'd be awful cute. Do you know how great this is Toni? You and I, best friends, are dating two best friends. Toni, stop moping and feel great with me. Come on, up and at 'em!" As she finished there was the sound of Steve's voice outside.
"Toni, you in there? I have a couple questions I need to ask you," he called. Toni gave Pepper a look and stepped outside. Steve was standing, straightened to full height, at ease as she came out. Toni snickered.
"What is it Rogers?" She asked. He looked at her.
"Walk with me? That's one," he said. Toni raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're slick Rogers, I'll give you that."
They ended up strolling through her woods- she'd claimed them some time ago- in silence. There was a couple glances up on her part, wondering when his second question would come. She sighed, feeling the cool Austrian air around her.
"There are some HYDRA bases just north of the border here, and me and the Howling Commandos are going to take it out tomorrow. Is there any way that you'd be free tonight? I want to take you to dinner before I leave," he said, coming to a stop. Toni thought about her evening, nothing but that mildly important test with the serum recreation her father needed a partner for.
She closed her eyes and took a breath to clear her head.
This is stupid. Mom's right.
"Come around seven to get me," she answered, wanting to bang her head against a tree immediately after saying it. He nodded. "But only if you kiss me." Steve looked taken aback which made her grin. "Relax boy scout." She stood up on her tip toes and pulled Steve low enough so she could kiss him. It was still slow, but distracting enough for her to back towards a tree without Steve noticing. She pinned herself between the trunk and Steve. He smelled, she realized, distinctly of pine needles and soap.
She felt her hand on the side of his face, thumb underneath his chin. Her breathing evened out to a slow, steady balance. She could feel his heart against her, thumping rapidly. Then he eased back.
"Toni, I don't wa-"
"To go too fast, I know. Alright Private, seven it is."
Toni made her way back to her tent, Steve having had to go in the opposite direction, feeling like someone had shocked her lips with a battery or something. She wondered how she was going to explain that to Pepper.
When she returned, she was surprised to find Bucky exiting her tent. A maniacal grin broke out across her face. Bucky turned around just in time to se her walking towards him with a scary smile.
"Agent Stark," he said, tipping the brim of his cap. Toni rolled her eyes.
"Smooth is gonna get you nowhere with Pepper, she doesn't take shit... And I'm afraid that's all you're full of." Bucky searched her face, scanning her with his eyes. She winked which made him raise an eyebrow.
"Really? Because she seems pretty charmed." Toni snorted, grabbed the boy by the arm and hauled him away from the tent.
"Look, Sergeant, I've known that girl since my dad started up Stark Industries. She is the daughter of a former assistant. If I say smooth ain't gonna work, then smooth ain't gonna work. Sincerity will though, sincerity and honesty. Do you know how many men she's turned away because she didn't like their attitude? So drop the act tonight and take that girl dancing, she hasn't had a good dance partner in years," Toni snapped. Bucky eyed her warily.
"What makes you think I'm a good dancer?"
"Please, you're Mr. Sly, if you're not a good dancer then Hitler's marching down here right now personally surrender," she laughed. Bucky sighed in defeat.
"Alright, where should I take her?" Toni gave him a look, eyebrow raised.
"How should I know Sergeant? This is Austria." She left him standing in the center of the camp, heading back for her tent. She wished she could tag along and watch Peps dance, maybe get flipped over Bucky's shoulder like she'd gotten flipped over Steve's.
"Flip me!"
"What?!"
"Now! Come on Private!"
She shook the thought from her head entered the tent. Inside Pepper was sitting on their dresser reading a book. Toni smiled to herself, Pepper never failed to make her do that.
"He's taking you dancing," Toni said, clearing her throat. Pepper looked up from her book. "So wear something you can swing in." Pepper flashed her a quick smile, it didn't last.
"You okay?" Toni nodded, not wanting to have to tell her that the Howling Commandos first mission was tomorrow. It would either go well or very poorly. She nodded again, deciding Bucky could tell Pepper when they were going. "What'd Steve want?" Peps asked finally, wiggling her eyebrows. Toni snickered and threw a pillow at the flame-haired dame.
"You're insufferable!" She said, falling back on the bed.
"Are you gonna tell me?" Pepper continued urging. Toni pushed herself forward and leaned back against the canvas 'wall'.
"Nothing, just had some questions for me." Toni didn't want to share her moment with Steve, not even with Pepper. Instead she let her mind wander to what the Commandos would be facing and how bad the scenario could get.
"You gonna come with us tonight?" Pepper asked, finally breaking the silence. Toni shook her head, thinking of Steve asking her to dinner.
"Nah, I've got a test to help my father with." Pepper nodded and returned to her book.
"What was Bucky doing in here anyways?"
"What? Oh, he was... uh-"
"Come on Peps, I told Steve and I kissed, now what was he doing in here?" Toni grumbled, flipping her other pillow in the air.
"Nothing inappropriate I swear. I'd asked him to come say hi. You were gone for a half an hour so he stopped in. We were just talking I promise," Pepper replied. Toni nodded.
Overseas was not as fun as either had hoped, there wasn't much to do or see and neither could grab a gun and go shoot some Nazis. The only good part, Toni decided, was Steve and having Pepper there to share in her misery. And the occasional test that her father needed her for. But here she was, blowing off her father so she could go eat dinner with Steve.
I told you no.
She wondered how angry her father would be when he found out that she was skipping out on him.
Bye-bye science, daddy's gonna freeze you out.
The only consolation was the electric feeling that sparked on her lips whenever Steve's name passed through her mind.
But Private Rogers...
She felt the warring sides of her mind begin to battle.
But your career...
What career? I'm only ever an assistant.
Toni opened her eyes and stared up, gritting her teeth a little. Was it really fair that she had to have two conflicting points of view, one of them being extremely, extremely good-looking in his dress uniform?
Seven rolled around and Pepper had been gone for half and hour. Somewhere she was laughing and smiling with Steve's best friend. Steve showed up exactly three minutes late and in twenty-seven minutes, her father would be looking for her. He was in said dress uniform, cap under his arm. Toni couldn't help but comment to herself that he did look rather dashing.
He took her in the opposite direction of the small Austrian town, which perplexed her. They spent the first fifteen minutes of their walk in silence, Toni constantly checking her watch or looking down at the shoes or glancing out at the direction they were heading.
"Private Rogers, I-"
"I may have misled you Agent Stark," he said, glancing down at her. "I was planning on telling you when I asked you to come out tonight but I thought it would be better this way. I heard your parents talking a while back, saying you were complaining about never getting to go out of the camp unless it was into town with Pepper. There's a lake about a half mile ahead and I thought you would want to see it. I apologize if you were expecting-"
"Don't, this is perfectly fine Private." He looked down at her, her gaze fixed ahead, and smirked a little. She hadn't been wrong; he'd always be Private Rogers to her.
They reached the lake after another fifteen minutes, and in the setting sun it shone in a vivid array of pinks and oranges and blues and yellows. Toni just stared, watching the light reflect off its surface. She caught Steve glancing down at her once but he redirected his gaze fairly quickly. As the light show continued Toni wondered if she should take his hand or something.
The top of the daystar was reaching the horizon now, threatening to engulf the world with night. The display of nature made Toni breath hitch in her throat. She watched with wide eyes and serenity in her mind.
"I'm glad we made it out here before the sun set, that was what I really wanted you to see," she heard Steve murmured.
"Thank you," was all she could manage to say.
She'd had boys take her to the movies, or dinner, or a show, but she'd never had a guy take her to just watch the lights. She'd never had a moment with someone, save Pepper, where they just sat back and enjoyed the peace of the calm in silence.
She suddenly thought of her parents, Howard meeting her mother because of Stark Industries and being the U.S. and England's weapons tycoon. Agent Carter, she had been. Toni found herself wondering how they fell in love and if it was slow and steady or sudden and star-crossed, either way her parents loved each far more than she'd ever expect.
"We can go whenever you want, I just wanted to show you that," Steve said, interrupting the silence.
"Do you want to go?" She asked, turning to look a him. He shrugged.
"Not particularly."
"Good." She leaned back on the log behind them and watched as the stars and moon started to shine out.
She lost track of time, as usual when she was out to enjoy the serenity. At some point the sky grew black and the stars twinkled bright and the moon shone but she hadn't the slightest idea of the time. Part of her was snickering at her father, alone in his lab instead of out in the night. That same part also noticed that she'd never actually spent a date in silence the entire time.
"Steve?" She murmured, fearing he'd drifted off to sleep.
"Yeah?" Came his voice.
"What was it like, defeating your bullies?" She heard Steve's head move against the log so as to look at her.
"I don't really remember a lot of it, just that I got Bucky out. It was all kind of an adrenaline-fueled blur," he answered. She nodded, her eyes fixed on one particularly dim star. "You want to fight don't you?"
"You can't say you don't know me," she joked half-heartedly. She heard Steve sigh.
"Unfortunately no," he whispered back. There was a long pause.
"I'm all about physicality, there's not a subtle bone in my body Steve. I don't know how to be around you," she muttered softly.
"Well then we're equals in this because I've never even kissed someone before. New territory, Miss Stark."
"When do you leave tomorrow?" She asked finally. Steve shrugged.
"Probably early, I think we're going for cover of dark but we want a early start so its dark when we get there," he replied.
"You're not flying in?" He shook his head.
"This one's thirty-five miles northeast, we're driving."
"And you're gonna have that Luger of mine when this is all over right?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am; it makes me feel like a housewife."
"Yes sir."