XoxoxoxoxoX
New York City – 1941
"When the Agent from the British Intelligence Services arrives, you'll be in charge of keeping them company during their time in our fair city." Colonel Phillips instructed the young officer walking alongside him.
She looked rather less than impressed with her newest assignment. She was the youngest and, so far, only female Sergeant working within the Strategic Scientific Reserve, and she sure as hell resented being passed off as a babysitter to some snobby Brit during their stay. She hadn't gone through hell in basic training, or beat out the boys when she'd aced flying a Spitfire to become a glorified secretary. Anna Brennan was cut out for more than that.
"Yes Sir."
"And if that means playing a tour-guide around the city, by God, you will do it."
"With all due respect sir –"
"If the next reply out of your mouth is anything but, 'yes sir', I don't want to hear it, or else I'll have you working desk duty for a month. Am I clear?"
Anna sighed deeply, but decided against the myriad of smartass replies bubbling to erupt. "Yes Sir."
"Good girl." Fuck you… "And one more thing; you'll be escorting this Agent everywhere. You are not to let them out of your sight while you are assigned to them. We may be allies but I'll be damned if I have the Brits reporting back to other agencies on us! So if I hear that you've even taken your eyes away while they're on the John, instant demotion."
Anna's scowl deepened impossibly, now beyond furious at a complete stranger whom she was now tasked with stalking and her Commanding Officer. So much for making a difference during the war….I'd have probably made more of a difference in the damn munitions factories, she thought bitterly.
The Colonel and Sergeant walked in silence until they entered a small boardroom, where two people stood waiting. One was an older gentleman, looking as though he was the same rank as Colonel Phillips. Probably her assignment, Anna sighed internally. The other person, however, was a woman no older than herself, give or take a year, with curled brunette hair and an impeccable crisp khaki blouse, black skirt and pumps. Anna suddenly felt self-conscious in her regular army clothes, none of which were as well fitted as this. Even her blonde hair, pulled into a bun, felt frumpish.
"Ah, Colonel Phillips, a pleasure at last!" The gentleman greeted.
"General Porter, an honour." Colonel Phillips extended his hand and the two men shook. The women continued to eye each other off with a mixture of curiousity and caution. "May I introduce Sergeant Anna Brennan of the Strategic Scientific Division?"
"Pleasure, madam."
"All mine Sir." Anna replied, shaking his hand firmly. A good handshake always made a good impression; her father had always told her that. Even if this was the person she was destined to babysit, she wasn't going to be rude about it…yet.
"And may I introduce Agent Margaret Carter, of British Intelligence." General Porter indicated to the woman on his left, who shook both Colonel Phillip's and Anna's hand. "I understand that Stg. Brennan will be accompanying Agent Carter around the city."
Both women's mouths dropped open, though closed quickly enough as they had the sense not to speak out of line in front of their superiors. All Anna could do is look back and forwards between the General and the Agent, utterly perplexed at this, not necessarily unwelcomed, turned of events. Agent Carter simply glared at the young officer.
"That's right, best little tour guide in the army!" Colonel Phillips chuckled heartily. "How about we let these ladies get acquainted with one another whilst we discuss the next deployment?"
"Capital idea! Excuse me ladies, a pleasure again Stg."
Both men promptly left the room, leaving the women in stunned and sullen silence. It was an awkward few moments before either one spoke. Unfortunately, it was Anna who made the first, clumsy move.
"So…uh…Agent Carter, right?"
"Is that how you address all your Commanding Officers, Sergeant?" she sniffed haughtily, clearly not impressed with the woman assigned to babysit her. Who did they think she was anyway? What about her said she needed a handler, or more insultingly, an assistant?
"N-No," Anna managed to stammer before indignation took hold. She glared back at Agent Carter. "No Ma'am."
"Oh good, you've just made an exception for me." Anna's mouth dropped, ready to step out of line and give this snob a piece of her mind. Couldn't she just appreciate they'd been put into a crappy situation and make the best of it? "Now I don't know what your orders are –"
"My orders are to stay with you for the duration of your visit." When Agent Carter's scowl deepened at the Sergeant's lack of respect, Anna simply smiled and finished, "Ma'am."
"Well I don't need a minder, thank you very much!" Agent Carter snapped, all decorum dropped. "I'm perfectly capable of handling myself!"
"Hey, you wanna complain to someone, go whine about it to the Colonel, or better yet, the General because you can sure as shit bet that it wasn't my idea to be babysitting a society girl who decided she liked wearing a uniform!" Anna snarled back.
"How dare you?! I'm one of the highest ranking Officers with British Intelligence!"
"And I'm the only woman in this joke of a Reserve division who should be out there in the skies, shooting from a Spitfire, but now I'm stuck playing a glorified secretary!"
Both women had gotten nose to nose, neither of them being particularly subtle of their dislike for each other, though internally there was a flicker of respect.
"You know what?" Spat Agent Carter. "I don't need this. I'm leaving."
"Wait a minute, where the hell do you think you're going?" Anna demanded as the British agent walked towards the door.
"Anywhere but with you. I don't give a damn about your orders, I want you nowhere near me!"
"Like hell you will! I'd rather scrub the latrines than be with you but dammit, those are my orders and I'm not letting you leave without me!"
"I'd like to see you try, Sergeant," Agent Carter sneered over her shoulder. "I'd lose you in an instant if I wanted to."
"Oh, you'll never lose me, sweetheart!"
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
"Can't it be both?"
"Just watch!" With that, Agent Carter took off running down the hall. Anna was rooted on the spot before growling angrily and taking off in pursuit. "God Dammit!"
By the time Anna began to give chase, Agent Carter had already had a good minute's head start on her, and despite their size, that woman could run fast in a pair of pumps. She could only faintly hear the click of her shoes on the floor, but it was their direction that gave her an idea.
Anna knew her way around the New York headquarters, and knew them well. Between meetings she was forced to attend with the Colonel every day, she explored the building and found that should you look hard enough, there were secret doors and corridors that would allow you to cut others off on the opposite side of the building should you wish too. Anna smirked triumphantly.
Oh, I do want to…cut her that is.
Finding a familiar, unassuming door, Anna threw herself down the corridor that would eventually lead her four halls away, her legs pumping fast and her blonde hair coming loose of its tight bun. If she could read Agent Carter the way she assumed she could, she would have but a moment to spare before stopping that snobby Brit in her tracks.
No one gets me demoted! I've worked too damn hard for this!
Stitch forming in her side and breathing hard, Anna made it through to the other side of the secret corridor, leaving the door open just a crack As if on cue, she heard the frantic clicks of a woman running down the hall towards her space, only making her smirk grow. Right before Agent Carter zoomed past, Anna swung the door open furiously, clotheslining the Agent around the chest with a surprisingly hard thud. Both women grunted with the force and were knocked to the ground.
Agent Carter was stunned for the briefest of moments before seeing her attacker and letting out the loudest curse Anna had ever heard another woman say…besides herself. The Agent swung out at Anna, her petite fist snapping her head back and splitting the corner of her lip. Anna cried out, but not before recovering swiftly enough to throw a decent left hook that caught Agent Carter just above her right eye, leaving a cut over her eyebrow. Both women threw themselves to the wall to heave themselves up, drawing the guns and staring each other down menacingly over the barrels.
"What the hell is your problem?" Agent Carter demanded furiously, chest heaving with exertion.
"I told you, didn't I?" Anna panted, wincing when the motion of her lips agitated the cut. "You're not gonna lose me that easily."
Both women continued to glare each other down for another moment before Agent Carter lowered her weapon slowly. "You are serious, aren't you? Your job really means this much to you?"
"Do you think I go around beating up British Intelligence Agents for giggles?" Anna replied, slowly re-holstering her gun. "Look, I know you don't like this. Neither do I; we're clearly here for more than they'll ever give us credit for but…"
"What the hell is going on here?"
Colonel Phillips and General Porter had just rounded the corner and were staring aghast at the two women, one of whom had a bloodied lip, the other with a cut above her eye. Both had clearly been in some sort of fight.
"Sergeant Brennan, did you think this was some sort of joke? I told you to look after her, and you've clearly disobeyed –"
"It was my fault, Sir." Three pairs of eyes rounded on a calm and collected Agent Carter, who stepped forward to stand in front of the Colonel. Anna couldn't believe her ears. Was she really…? "Sergeant Brennan was showing me around when I happened to trip, and in her haste to stop me falling, it appears we've simply…bumped heads?"
The General seemed to buy it but the Colonel wasn't so convinced. Eyes narrowed, he looked at Anna suspiciously. "Is this true Sergeant?"
"Y-Yes Sir. I do apologise for my clumsiness Sir, General. I meant no offence."
"And none taken, I'm sure!" The General replied warmly. "Seems it was just a little accident, eh Colonel? Come, let us let these ladies freshen up, and we will meet them both back in the boardroom at 15:00?"
"Will do, General."
"Capital! Shall we, Colonel?" The General and Colonel began walking off, not without more suspicious looks being thrown in Anna and Agent Carter's direction. Neither woman moved or spoke until the men were completely out of sight, and the footfalls had fallen silent.
Then something happened….
It started out as something of a cough.
That cough became a snort.
That snort became a giggle.
That giggle became two.
That dissolved into loud laughter, the Sergeant and the Agent almost doubled over, clutching each other's shoulders in an attempt to hold the other up. It wasn't very successful, as they both swayed with incredulous laughter and snorts until they were out of breath once again. They stood, now smiling at one another, occasionally giggling between breaths.
"My God, I can't believe that actually worked!" Anna exclaimed.
"Neither can I!" replied Agent Carter. "I'm usually a little more creative than that but…what else could I blame it on?"
"Very true. Listen," Anna turned to face the Agent. "I'm sorry, about before. And, you know, kind of knocking the wind out of you and punching you in the face."
Agent Carter sighed, but smiled. "It's quite alright Sergeant, I think we were both a little out of line here. Besides, can you blame me? I mean, a babysitter –"
"I know, it's ridiculous." Anna rolled her eyes. "You'd think we'd proven ourselves by now but…"
"I know. But, I know you certainly proved yourself to me! I think I might like having you around, Sergeant Brennan."
"Likewise, Agent Carter."
"Please…call me Peggy."
"Only if you'll call me Anna."
XoxoxoxoxoxoX
Oxfordshire, England - 2012
"Penny for your thoughts, darling?"
I jumped, startled by the voice across the table from myself. She sat there, smiling fondly at me whilst idly flipping the pages of the well-worn book in her lap. I often occurred to me that if anyone who didn't know us were to stumble across us, having morning tea in her conservatory in the sun, it would appear we were nothing more than an indulgent grandmother and her American granddaughter, come to visit for the summer.
They couldn't be more wrong.
"Nothing terribly deep, Peggy." I smiled back, reaching for my cup. "Just reminiscing about the good ole days."
"Ah, anything I want to remember?"
I chuckled. "Oh, just the day we first met. I know you remember that one!"
"How can I not? I still have the scar!" she sighed dramatically. I just rolled my eyes.
"Please, you barely have a mark! I was the one with a fat lip for a week!"
"Not like you didn't earn it!"
"Touché," I set my cup back down and reached for a biscuit. "What was it I called you again?"
"A bored society girl if memory serves," Peggy replied, picking up her book again but not before smacking the biscuit out of my hand.
"Hey!"
"You eat too many of those, you'll ruin your teeth."
"Now you're really starting to sound like a grandmother."
"What about your figure, darling?"
"Peg, you read the medical reports and analysis. Hyper metabolic processing, high temperature, needs copious amounts of food to live, sustain energy, strength and be great…sort of."
"What do you mean, 'be great…sort of'?"
"It's just," I sighed sadly. "You know what, never mind."
"You want to get back out into the field, don't you?"
"Can you not read my mind for more than a few moments?"
"I'm sorry darling, but how long have we known each other? Not to mention, you've been living with me for almost two years now."
"God, has it really been that long already?" I marvelled, letting out a long, low whistle.
Since the day I had woken up in SHIELD's New York headquarters (what had been the old Stark Labs), I had become something of a thorn in Director Fury's side. I wasn't meant to have woken up; in fact, it seems that their plan had been for me to remain frozen in the pod, a symbol, a relic of a bygone era and man's hubris to play God with His own creation. That's how Coulson had worded it anyway.
But analysis of my vital signs, as well as the effects of the vita-rays and serum somehow linked me to Steve, or the Captain as everyone preferred to call him. It acted in the same manner telekinesis should. It seems his awakening, only two weeks after my own, somehow triggered my own biological subconscious. SHIELD had never seriously planned on having TWO super soldiers at their disposal. In reality, it was more than they were willing to handle. Even in 1946, the early beginnings of the Agency (which I had somehow been a part of without realising) they had only ever planned for one of three scenarios occurring: I would take the serum and live, I would take the serum and die, or I would take the serum and be frozen forever. None of those accounted for my return into a new and completely foreign century.
Yet Fury still wanted to keep me on side, but at a price. He would allow me to be trained, through SHIELD, to hone my new abilities and strength. Safe to say, my first display impressed him enough to not let them sedate me again. But on the proviso I not try to interfere with Steve, until he was psychologically ready. I tried to argue, get them to see reason that seeing a familiar face would help him, at least he wouldn't be alone, but the shrinks just shook their heads condescendingly, as clearly the 'girl out of time' wouldn't know how to properly handle a delicate matter, such as the reawakening of Captain America.
So I sat back, and I got to watch them create a film set to 'ease' his transition, sending one of the pretty shrinks in dressed in period clothing. But then, they added the radio. As soon as I heard that broadcast, I knew; Steve had told me about that game, one of the last he'd seen before the Serum, before Bucky enlisted, when he was still scrawny and sick. They wouldn't listen. SHIELD knew best…well look how it had turned out. Steve had naturally panicked, and had run from the building to find himself in the middle of the Times Square of the 21st century. I had pounded at the windows as he ran past, desperate to get to my friend, calm him, help him, do anything but I was kept confined to the room they had given me. With reinforced walls and windows, it was essentially a prison, and all I could do was weep through the bars while they used my friend the same way they had almost 70 years ago. They didn't see Steve...they only saw the soldier.
Still, I kept my end of the bargain. I tried to stay away. I was even given small domestic missions with other SHIELD agents, which was exhilarating after years of literal inactivity. It was meant to keep me occupied, but each mission could only last so long. I felt as though I was finally living up to the potential I had been gifted. Natasha terrified me, but was the best trainer I had had. Clint Barton, Hawkeye, was much more personable, and had improved my marksmanship immensely.
I had the pleasure (or so he told me) of meeting Howard's son, Tony, and his not so secret alias as Iron Man. One of my very first missions was to travel with Natasha to report on his activities as he grew increasingly reckless…like father, like son. He had been less than impressed when he discovered my true identity but seemed to have gotten over it quickly; he still sends me monthly care packages of movies, music and clothes. Doesn't want me trapped in the 40s, or so he says. Maria Hill attempted to introduce me to the world in a much calmer fashion than Tony, while Coulson supplied me with all the necessary, new-fangled technology and gadgets I would need to work as an Agent. I felt alive, strong, useful…but I was lonely. They had not contacted Peggy as they said they would, and Steve and I were forbidden from meeting. Each day became harder not to pick up the phone and call her, or simply knock in Steve's door and get it over with.
But then, the incident happened. I had been awake for six months then, and had just returned from a mission in California. So I was walking through the headquarters, on the way to meet Fury, when I'd heard it. I knew that scream. I'd heard it so many times during the War, during his transformation.
Steve.
I would later learn that the psychiatrist he'd been assigned to (the same damsel who'd like to play dress up and bungled his transition in the first place) had pushed him too hard during counselling, and he'd had a flashback. I was told that was something people called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and was not uncommon. Back in our day, we were told to put up and shut up. He was anguished, alone and afraid. I hadn't thought for myself, only for him, and had taken off back down the hall towards his screams, calling his name. We could finally be reunited…
They had to put six rounds of sedatives in my back before I went down.
Fury lived up to his namesake when he'd found out. Steve had heard me, even called back but had been convinced, once again, that it was all in his head. That he'd heard the long dead call of a friend he'd known during the war in his flashback. Fury threatened to put me on ice again and leave me to rot in a basement of some storage facility. But cause a big enough scene and eventually, everyone from the bottom to the top of SHIELD knew what I'd done…including one Margaret Carter, former Director and founding member. I've heard it said that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and I had lived through enough with that woman to know it to be true. Neither Peggy nor Coulson will divulge the particulars of her conversation with Fury, but the next day, I was being sent to England, to live with Peggy and out of harm's way, until Fury decided when and how I could be of use to him.
Something told me I would be here for a long time to come.
"Do you really wish to be rid of me so?" Peggy asked quietly.
I looked at her incredulously. None of us, not even Sharon or Arthur, wanted to admit that Peggy's mind was starting to slip. We could all see it, we just didn't want to acknowledge the fact that such a brilliant mind may one day be gone. It would be too cruel. Moments like this, I feared she was relapsing, and had to tread lightly.
"Peggy, finally being able to be with you again has been a greater gift than waking up itself! Without you going in to bat for me, like always, I'd still be wallowing away in SHIELDs backlogs, or I could've been frozen. You've reintroduced me to the world, and I've learnt so much! You've taken me across Europe, I feel as though I belong in the world again. But…"
"But you wish there was more that you could do." Phew, the old Peggy is back. "I understand; truly I do! For years after I stepped down as Head of the Agency, I felt lost, without purpose. But you will get your chance again, I'm sure of it. You just need to have some faith."
"I find it hard to have faith some days…for all the good it's done me." I muttered bitterly.
"Now listen here, Anna." Peggy said with a sharp snap of her book. "Faith is more powerful than you could ever imagine! Why, if I'd have given up believing….I…I'd have never had you returned to me…or would have found Steve alive. Sometimes faith is all we have, but it is so powerful, and you mustn't ever lose it!"
I stood out of my seat and moved to give her a hug. I had to be mindful of squeezing too hard, given my strength and her ageing fragility. But I clung to her as my anchor, knowing she was right. Peggy was always right.
"But that's not all that's bothering you, is it?" she asked, pulling away and tenderly wiping the tears I hadn't known I shed.
"No," I sniffed. "It's Steve too. I just don't get it! Why do they want to keep us apart? Do they think I'll slow him down? That he doesn't need friends in this new world? It makes no sense at all! If they really wanted to help him, they'd give him someone to talk to! From his time!"
"I wish I had an answer to give you, but sadly, they won't even let me contact him." Peggy replied sadly. "It seems to me that they want to test where his true loyalty lies. I suppose they've only just had their investment returned to them. They don't want the likes of an old woman and another soldier taking him away."
"You're probably right."
"Like always."
"Like always." I repeated vaguely. My mind was foggy again, help in no way by my refusal to see a psychiatrist. I couldn't think straight on a single matter, and I needed to clear my head again before I decided on any course of action…whatever that action would be. "I think I'm going to go for a run. Care to join me?" I asked cheekily.
Peggy only laughed and squeezed my hand. "Only if you'll carry me?"
"You know I would do it, don't tempt me woman."
"No, no darling. I'm fine. Sharon will be here soon, you enjoy yourself."
I nodded, stooping to give her a brief kiss on her forehead before heading to my room to get changed.
XoxoxoxoxoxoX
I returned to the house almost three hours later, having barely broken a sweat but with a much clearer mind and happier disposition. I was starving as I jogged up the driveway, not taking notice of the car parked next to mine, walking straight through the house towards the kitchen and the delicious smell of food.
"Peggy, I'm back!"
"Welcome back, Ms. Brennan."
I froze in my tracks as I saw the guest sitting at the table.
"Coulson! This is unexpected, how are you?" I asked, holding out my hand to him.
He shook it warmly. "I'm fine, thanks. Have you got a minute?"
"Uh, can I get changed first? I probably look a little funky right now."
"You should sit darling, I think you'll like what Phillip has to say." Peggy chimed from the table, looking torn between happiness and worry. Oh boy…
"Um, okay, sure," I replied uncertainly, taking a seat at the table next. "So, what's happening? You never usually stop by for a social visit."
"You're right, this isn't social," Coulson handed me a large folder full of documents and reports. My eyes immediately found a familiar picture and a sickening name.
"The Tesseract?!" I exclaimed harshly. "What the hell does this have to do with the Tesseract?"
"It was recovered from the ocean as SHIELD were attempting to locate Captain Rogers. We'd held it in a secret facility in New Mexico which, as of two days ago, was breached. The Tesseract has been stolen."
"My God! Was anyone hurt?" Peggy asked frantically.
"Too many, I'm afraid." Coulson shook his head sadly. "On top of that, Barton has been compromised, as well as the scientist studying the Tesseract, Dr Selvig."
"Do you know who did it? Took the Tesseract I mean?" I asked, trying to analyse the reports in front of me, ignoring the sinking feeling that a colleague and a friend was now in danger.
"Calls himself Loki," Coulson indicated to a blurred CCTV photo of a tall, slender man with long dark hair, wearing what appeared to be magnificent medieval robes. If not for the evil smirk on his face, he could be considered classically attractive. "A being from another realm that we know better as Asgard."
"As…Asgar…Are you kidding me, Coulson?" I snapped angrily. "Asgard, as the home of the Norse Gods?! And you're telling me the damn God of Lies and Tricks has somehow broken into SHIELDs most secret facility and stolen an object of inconceivable power?"
"Well, you did some it up quite well just then."
"I'm being serious! You can't expect me to believe this nonsense!"
"You were frozen for almost seventy years after being injected with a serum that gives you unlimited strength…are we really going to discuss the semantics of possibility now?"
I started at him, dumbfounded, mind reeling. "Okay, fine, point taken."
"You always were my favourite, Phillip." Peggy smiled sweetly at the Agent, which made his usual mask of professionalism flush just the slightest bit pink.
"Really Peg? Now?"
"Sorry dear, do go on."
"He's the brother of another Asgardian, Thor –"
"God of Thunder, Son of Odin." I murmured, more to myself.
"- right. He landed in New Mexico about a year ago, damn near levelled a whole town."
"I do remember reading something about that," I replied, nodding. "Paper's said it was a military accident."
"Anyway, from what Loki practically bragged to us, it seems he's come to steal the Tesseract so that he can use it against us. He wants to be king, and he wants to enslave us all."
"My word," Peggy breathed. "But how can you stop him? He's a God! Can gods even be killed?"
"I don't know," Coulson answered honestly. "But our main focus is capture him and take the Tesseract back before he can fulfil whatever it is that he's planning."
"So why are you showing me all this?" I asked, still not completely comprehending the situation.
"Isn't it obvious?" Coulson replied coolly. "We're bringing you in. We need you as part of the Avengers Initiative."
"So, you want me to fight?" I asked seriously doubtful. "What exactly does Fury expect me to do for you?"
"That's something he'll tell you himself when you get there. My only instructions were to bring you in. You can read the dossier on the plane there."
"But…I…I don't know, Coulson," I muttered frantically. How was I supposed to fight a God? A maniacal God who had already taken down an entire SHIELD facility?
"Oh stop procrastinating!" Peggy snapped, suddenly irritable from across the table. Both Coulson and I jumped. "You were saying to me not a few hours ago that you wanted to get back into the field, to live up to your potential!" She grasped my hand tightly. "This is your chance Anna; to finally be the Super Soldier you were born to be! Save the world, be the hero I've always known you to be!"
I stared at Peggy desperately, knowing full well that she was right but there was still something holding me back. "Peg, I'm not battle tested. I fought when we were in the War, sure, but things have changed! I've never used my abilities like this before, what if they were wrong about them taking? What if I fail?"
Peggy sighed, in an exasperated sort of way. She hadn't let go of my hand. "I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Phillip, tell her what you told me."
I swung me gaze back to Coulson expectantly. I highly doubted what he said would change my mind in an instant, but I wouldn't be rude to him or Peggy by dismissing it immediately…not yet, anyway.
"They've call him in as well…Captain America."
The name alone had me sitting up straighter in my chair, looking back between Peggy and Coulson, hoping this wasn't just some cruel joke to make me compliant. "Steve…Steve is going too? Are you sure?"
"Director Fury asked him himself," Coulson replied with a small smile. It looked a lot like victory to me.
"So…so they'll let us work together? He'll finally let me see him!"
I ignored the hesitation in his eyes as he nodded. "Yes, you'll be working with Captain Rogers during this mission."
I looked at Peggy, excitement, happiness, anticipation all longing to be spoken but all I could do was smile like an idiot. She just smiled back. "I told you, a little faith goes a long way."
"So when do we leave?" I asked Coulson eagerly.
"All depends on how fast you can pack a bag, I suppose."
Within an hour, after Sharon had arrived to help watch over Peggy until I returned, I was driving to the nearby airfield with Coulson, feeling less and less like a girl out of time with every passing moment…
I'm coming, Steve….I'll see your sweet face again soon…you'd better wait for me!