I walked out into the corridor, wanting to get a glass of water from the cafeteria when I heard someone groan. I paused, tilting my head and listening intently. Another groan, accompanied by the sound of rustling material and a thump. I wandered over to the room it came from and turned on my heat-vision. There was a figure on the bed, twitching and thrashing like they were fighting something. I blinked, turning off the heat-vision and tilted my head again before knocking on the door. No response, so I tried the knob. The door was unlocked and I peeked inside, instantly recognising the figure in the bed. Steve Rogers groaned again, saying a name this time. "Peggy." I sighed and walked over to the bed.
"Captain?" I tried gently. No response. I sighed again, rougher this time and shook my head.

"Captain America!" I tried again, gripping his shoulder. Steve's eyes flew open and he threw a punch aimed at my head. I held up my hand and his fist connected with my palm. Before my operations, he would have knocked me out cold, but all my muscles and sinews had been reinforced with metal cables to increase my strength more than I would ever have been capable of doing naturally. That being said; it still really hurt my hand. As Steve's eyes adjusted, he blinked at me, panting deeply.
"Ellie!" he breathed out heavily. I nodded, releasing his fist. "Ellie Carter," he said, less out of breath, staring at me. I nodded again, slowly.
"Yes," I stated, frowning curiously. Steve pushed himself into a sitting position, revealing his bare torso. I blinked at him. He was usually like me, modest and reserved. But he was hot, just for the record.

"Carter," Steve repeated. "Are you… are you related to Peggy?" he asked hesitantly. I nodded tentatively. "Can you tell me about her? Can you tell me what happened? What happened after…" he took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "After I crashed?" he finished. I shifted uncomfortably, thinking over this awkward situation.
"Hang on… I'm gonna… I just… Hang on," I told him, holding out my hands before leaving. When I returned, Steve was curled up on his bed in the fetal position facing the wall. I cleared my throat and he sat up, looking at the tray in my hands in confusion. "Chamomile tea," I explained. "Tea helps with everything," I added, sitting on the end of his bed and putting down the tray between us. Steve crossed his legs and I poured him a cup of tea, adding milk and sugar.

"Peggy was my great Aunt," I informed the Captain, handing him the cup before preparing my own.
"Was?" The Captain asked, carefully cradling the delicate china. I nodded.
"I'm sorry, Steve. She died; five years before you were recovered." Steve closed his eyes tightly, lowering his head. I placed one of my tiny hands on his large wrist comfortingly.
"What… What happened to her?" I smiled, retrieving my hand and sipping my tea.
"She slipped away in her sleep; no pain, no hassle. She just didn't wake up again. But she lived a good life after you."
"Did she marry?" Steve asked before taking a large gulp of his tea. I shook my head.

"No. Auntie Peg never did get over you." Steve looked guilty and I smiled at him sweetly. "Don't fret, Captain. She lived a good life, as I said. She stayed in the military until she got too old, and then she ran a little tea shop in London. You can guess where I got my tea fondness from," I laughed quietly. "Auntie Peggy was always a popular lady; she had many friends and many suitors. She was my pen-pal. I only met her twice, because my grandmother moved with my grandfather to Australia, where I was born and raised. But we were always in contact with each other. She told me all about you, and the war, and she gave me great advice. She told me not to settle for anyone; I had to wait for my very own 'Captain.' And if he didn't come, I would still be okay. She said I was very much like her."
"You are," Steve agreed. I smiled. "You've even got the same hair; but yours is longer."
I nodded. "Yeah, I know. But hers didn't have as much red in it, either." Steve nodded.
"That's true… She wasn't unhappy, was she?" he asked sadly.
"A little," I answered truthfully. "She missed you, Steve. She talked about you a lot. That's why I liked you, even before I met you. Auntie Peggy said you were the most wonderful, brave, infuriating man she ever met."
"Infuriating?" Steve echoed. I laughed.
"She said you could hardly string two sentences together when you were with her." Steve smiled slightly, looking down.

"She was… quite an intimidating woman," he said. I smiled.
"You're not the most approachable person yourself," I replied. Steve looked up at me, wide-eyed. "I mean to strangers," I clarified. "You're Captain America; you kick asses for a living!" I exclaimed. Steve coughed shyly, a blush staining his high-boned cheeks. I giggled. "Sorry, Sweetie, but that's how we talk nowadays." Steve nodded.
"I know." I drained the last of my tea and stood.
"I should go," I sighed. I picked up the tray and held my hand out for the Captain's empty cup. He gave it to me and I headed to the door.
"Thank you, Miss Carter. I knew you were still in there." I turned back to Steve blankly.
"I did it for Auntie Peggy," I stated smoothly, leaving.

There was a loud crash as I sent a Shield agent sailing into the wall of the training arena. He used to kick my skinny ass every time we fought. It was extremely satisfying to be the one doing the ass-kicking now. I turned back to face the two directors and my partner, carefully keeping my smugness hidden. Director Fury stared at me hardly while my boss looked smug himself. Agent Phillips was just like me; poker-faced as usual. "Agent Romanoff; your turn," Fury instructed. Natasha approached me calmly. She was faster than I was, but I was stronger. And more aggressive, which could be a good or bad thing.

I didn't have much time to think when Natasha launched a kick at me. Her foot crunched into my jaw, knocking me back. I caught myself on my hands and sprang back into a standing position in time to see her come at me again. I caught her punch and twisted her arm, popping her elbow. Natasha hardly reacted, kicking at my legs. I let the kick knock out one of my knees and pulled on her arm. My increased strength sent her pitching over my head and I pulled forward so she landed hard on her shoulders instead of displacing the impact across her back. Natasha shouted and I flipped backwards to land on top of her, pulling my arm back and driving towards her throat with my metal-tipped-gloved hand. I stopped just before I made contact with her, but it was clear that I would have torn her throat open if I had continued. Natasha stared into my eyes and I lifted my hand to rub at my jaw, rising languidly to my feet and returning my attention to my superiors.

"That's enough, Agent Carter. Hit the showers," Director Johnston ordered. I bowed my head and thumped my chest before leaving without a second glance. As soon as I'd had a shower, I stalked through the corridors, hoping my boss or partner wouldn't call before I'd reached my goal. Luckily for me, I managed to make it through the halls and up the ramp without being summoned. I stood at the glass door silently and waited, watching the pallid, unkempt figure behind it. Loki turned to face me and looked surprised to see me there.
"Miss Carter?" he wondered, taking in my new appearance.
"Agent Carter now," I corrected emotionlessly, observing his slight limp and the dark rings around his sunken eyes. He was ill; Shield was still torturing him. Loki looked confused.

"I didn't know you had returned to Shield," he commented.
"I have not," I replied. "I'm with a different agency now. The International Defence Elite Squad. Also known as The Ides." Loki stepped closer to me.
"Lift your face," he ordered. I remained expressionless as I did as he asked. "What have they done to your eye?" he asked curiously.
"Improved it," I responded evenly.
"Your footsteps don't sound the way they used to. You sound heavier now."

"I am heavier," I informed the prince. "I have metal cables throughout my body to make me stronger."
"Why?" Loki asked, shaking his head, kneading at his neck uncomfortably.
"To improve my combat abilities," I explained. "I just took down Agent Romanoff in a sparring match."
"You sound different," Loki stated, frowning at me.
"I sound like an Agent of The Ides," I replied.

"Why are you here?" Loki wondered.
"My boss asked me to come." Loki shook his head.
"No, why are you here with me?"
"Because I wanted to see you again. And now I shall leave once more." I gave Loki a sharp nod and turned to go.
"What have they done to you, Miss Carter? What did they change in you?" Loki called after me. I looked back at him, but didn't approach.
"They gave me power," I answered. "They changed everything." I walked away again, keeping my forceful emotions pinned firmly under my collected exterior.

What are you doing, Agent Carter? Agent Phillips asked. I activated my communication device.
I am returning to my room, I replied.
Where were you? I hesitated.
Visiting Loki.
And what did he tell you? I sighed, glancing back over my shoulder.
Nothing of importance.
Did you ask him for the information?
… Yes. I lied.