*Author's Note*
Thank you for the faves, follows, and reviews.
A Nice Girl With A Bad Man From Brooklyn
Gem POV:
Silently, we walked over to Brock's Jeep. Without a word, he unlocked the doors and we got inside. As we buckled our seatbelts, I couldn't help, but feel like Brock was pissed. I mean he looked pissed with that hard, stone look on his face. His stubble covered jaw twitched slightly as he cranked on the engine. I silently studied him as he turned on the radio. I guess I was waiting for him to bring up the inevitable, the fact that he didn't want me undercover with him. Shit, by how he reacted when I told Fury I wanted in, I knew he wanted to continue his mission solo instead of with me.
Too bad, he's stuck with me. I did what I did; no going back now.
"You wanna tell me why you impulsively decided to sign up as my deep undercover partner, baby?" Brock asked, his tone deep and stern, as he turned out of the storage area and onto the main street.
"You need somebody to have your back, honey. Since I'm your girlfriend, I want to help you out." I honestly answered him as he drove into the direction that would take us to his townhouse; not my apartment complex.
"But I don't want to drag you into my triple agent bullshit, baby. It's fucking dangerous; you could get killed or something if shit went sideways."
"You're not dragging me into anything, Brock. I willingly jumped into the deep end to help you." I told him as we got stuck in summer Saturday night traffic. Turning to the man sitting next to me and white knuckling his steering wheel, I continued my train of thought with, "Shit, you could get killed too if your cover gets blown. I mean you're trusted by Pierce and he has your learning to use that new weapon. You're in more danger than me, a young secretary fresh out of school."
"I know that I can get whacked at any moment if Pierce suspects me of being a traitor. That's the result of the choice I made a decade ago when Fury showed up outside of a realtor's office, I had an appointment with wanting to have a recruitment talk with me. It's not something I want for you tho, Gem."
"It's not your choice to make for me. I want to help you take down HYDRA and Pierce. Fuck, Brock, my Gramps has been going on and on for years about HYDRA conspiracy theories; how they're secretly among us in the government cause no way Tinkerbell the Chorus Girl wiped out an entire crazy sect of Nazis cause he got rid of their leader. How can I look the other way; leave you to your own devices and hope Pierce and HYDRA don't win in their plans to take over the world?"
"Tinkerbell the Chorus Girl?" Brock echoed, one of his brows skewed up. Well, I was expecting more of a reaction to my remark then that.
"Steve did a propaganda musical with showgirls to raise money for war bonds. He performed at the front in Italy; Gramps was there with the about 50 or so uncaptured men from the 107th, saw him, and dubbed him a Tinkerbell the Chorus Girl." I explained to my boyfriend, earning me an 'aha' head nod from him.
"So, you saying that Gramps' conspiracy theory rants paired with you giving a shit about me's what made you decided to become an unofficial triple agent." Brock stated, not asked, in a deep rumble.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." I confirmed his remarked. As an afterthought, I quickly added in,, "And of course, I give a shit about you, honey. You're my 'not so casual' boyfriend."
"Great way for us to go from casual to serious. Nothing screams serious couple like being triple agents in SHIELDRA together." Brock half-chuckled as he switched lanes in a vain attempt to get to his house faster. "I still think you should've let me handle shit with Fury and Pierce, but since you're on board now I'm going to have to train you."
"Train me in what, espionage?" I asked as Brock flipped open his middle console; grabbing his pack of Reds.
"Yes, but I was thinking more so fighting skills." He flipped open his pack; taking out a cigarette and slipping it between his lips. "You know, Muay Thai, Mag Krava, and teach you how to throw knives." He explained, taking his lighter out and lighting up his smoke.
"What? Do you want to make me into a mini–Black Widow or something?" I asked, one of my brows arched up curiously.
"Or something." He nodded, his voice a deep rumble while taking the first drag of his smoke. "Baby, I can't be with you all the time and with you being undercover with Pierce everyday- well, I just want you to be a bit self-reliant." Brock explained, taking another drag. He let out a lungful of smoke and passed me over the cigarette, only to tell me, "Plus you already know how to land a good punch; I just want to expand on your fighting instincts so you'll be able to fend for yourself if shit goes sideways and I'm not around."
"Okay." I nodded. I had to admit, his logic made sense. Being able to defend myself instead of needing my big strong man to do it was good; very feminist too. Darcy would approve.
"You can unarm somebody with a gun using a blade and the quick flick of your wrist." Brock informed me as the traffic began to slightly ease up. Looking between me and the crowded road, he asked, "How you feel about being one of those secretaries that only wears dresses and skirts?" Before I could even answer, my boyfriend barreled on with, "We can hide a few small knives in some garters under your skirts; you'd be able to have easy access to them if you needed to arm yourself."
"Am I going to need to arm myself with a small knife?" I asked, curious to hear my boyfriend's thoughts on the matter.
"I pray you don't, but you never know. I'd rather you be over prepared then under, baby girl." He answered, rolling down his window and tipping so ashes out of it.
"Guess I need to buy some garters then." I flatly remarked as Brock rolled up his window and passed me over the cigarette.
I waved it away, causing him to shrug and take a drag from it. "We can always hit up the lingerie store tomorrow after Sunday brunch." Brock suggested as smoke wafted out of his mouth and nostrils.
"I'm not wearing gym clothes to a fancy lingerie store, Brock."
"You have some work clothes in my closet from when you stayed with me during the storm. Wear some of them." He told me, offering me the half-smoked cigarette once again.
"You didn't screw up my laundry, did you?" I asked, taking the smoke from him this time.
"No, baby, I didn't screw up your laundry." Brock dryly assured me. Switching lanes, he seriously told me, "We'll need to pack to go bags and make an escape plan in case shit goes sideways too."
"Do you think we'll have to go on the run?" I asked, taking a second drag from our shared smoke.
"Honestly, Gem, I don't know." Brock sighed; his raspy baritone full of truth. I didn't say a word, just nodded back in understanding.
Cap POV:
After Gem went off with Rumlow, which I didn't approve of, the rest of us finished watching the movie. It was a bit too much for my taste and didn't make any sense. Everyone seemed to be laughing at the different scenes or making jokes about the movie, but I didn't see it as funny. Why would anyone view a bunch of poisonous snakes loose on a plane biting and killing people as something comedic?
Once the movie ended, Cameron and Tina left, but I decided to stick around until Brock brought Gem home. That was hours ago and it was getting late. Too late for a decent lady to be out with a roguish man.
"You need to go home now, Schmexy Old Glory. The night's over; been over for a while now." Darcy told me as I sat on the sofa, looking worriedly at the door as I waited for Gem to come home.
"Captain of the America, my Lightning Sister is right. It is time for you to go to your own home so the rest of us may retire for the night." Thor spoke up from his spot in the corner chair with Jane curled up on his lap, backing up Darcy's remark.
"Maybe I could stay for a few more minutes, just to make sure that Gem makes it home alright?" I suggested since I didn't feel right leaving without knowing that Gem made it home safe. She was out with Rumlow, who had a very unsavory reputation. Bucky might've been a big flirt and a big hit with the beautiful dames in our day, but he wasn't anything like Brock, who was rash and didn't treat ladies the way a gentleman should. I haven't been to a bar with STRIKE Alpha in months because I don't want to watch Rumlow pick up some girl with a sleezy line and use her, like I see time and time again when I'm stuck going out with the team after a hard mission.
"Gem's fine, she's with that jacked-boot thug." Jane told me in a tone that was a bit too relaxed for my liking as she stretched her arms and sat up in Thor's lap.
"Well, I'll go, but only because you want me to." I tentatively told everyone in the room.
"Yes, please, go home. You've overdone your stay and I want to have some Skype sexy times with Billy. Hopefully he's not marching somewhere in the desert." Darcy blurted out as she jumped up from the sofa.
"Darcy, you shouldn't be saying such things so freely. It's not very ladylike." I chastised my friend as I stood up.
"Pft, none of us are ladies in this house." Darcy waved me off; scurrying down the hall to her room.
Jane climbed off of Thor's lap, only to say, "Thor can you lock Steve out? I'm going to bed." before walking away from him and their shared corner chair.
"Yes, my dearest Jane. I shall do that." Thor told his best girl as she disappeared down the hall and into their room. I don't think it's appropriate that they're sharing a room together, but when I bring it up Thor misses the reason why it's inappropriate. He claims his intentions are true when it regards Jane and he does sound genuine, so I usually don't get into it too much with him. "Come, Captain of the America, let me show you out." Thor smiled, his voice half-booming, as he stood up from his chair and started to walk across the living room.
"Thor, aren't you concerned about Gem being out so late with Rumlow?" I asked the large blonde while following him across the room and into the kitchen.
"No, I am not concerned and you shouldn't be either, my friend." Thor told me in a casual tone. "Brock of the Rumlows is a fine warrior; he's the Commander of the Alphas of STRIKE so the Jewel of the Realm is perfectly fine with him."
"Oh…" I trailed off, a bit shocked that Thor seemed to think Rumlow was somebody Gem should hang around just because he was a 'warrior'.
"Don't worry, the Captain of America, I'm sure they are just having a bite to eat or drink at the local beer garden after their business with Nick of the Furies."
"Yea…I'll try not to worry since you're not worried." I told Thor, even though I was worried. Very worried. "I'll see you at work on Monday." I patted Thor on the back before walking out of the door he'd open for me.
"Yes, we shall see each other Monday at work." Thor replied before closing the door and locking it behind me.
Sighing, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Gem's number while walking down the hall towards the stairs.
Ring, ring, ring…ring, ring, ring…ring, ring- The ring was suddenly cut off by Gem answering her phone. "Steve? What're you calling for?"
"You never came back to the apartment. I wanted to call; check and see if you were okay." I explained my reason for the call as I walked down the first flight of stairs in my descent to the building's lobby.
"I'm okay, Steve. I'm with my boyfriend." Gem told me as I began to walk down the second flight of stairs.
"Oh, Rumlow brought you over there?" I asked, feeling a bit upset that he'd taken her over to some guy's house instead of bringing her home.
"Yea, he did."
"Gem, you're a nice girl and I'd hate to see your reputation ruined by some casual boyfriend you've been seeing for a few weeks." I told her, walking down the last flight of stairs. Sighing, I added in, "I don't mean to insult you, but staying the night and often with a man isn't proper for a young unmarried dame-err lady."
"Steve, it's really sweet that you're worried about me, but you don't need to worry. My reputation's fine, he's my boyfriend and most people know we're together a lot anyways."
"Gem, are you sure you wouldn't rather go home? I could always pick you up; give you a ride if you needed it."
"Thank for the offer, but I'm going to stay with him."
"Gem, I know you were raised better than this, being from Brooklyn. I think-" I was saying right before the phone went dead. What? Did she just hang up on me? No, she wouldn't do that. I bet it was that no good boyfriend of hers that did. Maybe I'll call her up, just to make sure she's okay since the phone hung up.
!
Gem POV:
"Brock, why'd you do that for?" I asked my boyfriend, as we sat on his overstuffed leather sofa together, right after he took my phone out of my hand and ended the call I was having with Steve.
"Cause, ain't nobody got time for dat." Brock replied in a very drawn-out tone, channeling that one meme, as he tossed my phone onto the coffee table. Stretching his arm over the back of the couch, and in extension slipping it around my shoulder, he leaned back while telling me, "We have more important things to worry about, like coming up with a runaway plan and making some fake IDs and passports incase shit goes sideways. Whether Cap approves of us shacking up a few nights a week isn't high on my priorities right now; shouldn't be high on yours either."
"I know, Brock, but he's my friend and he was just worried. He's just trying to look out for me; it's sweet." I tried to reason with Brock. Truly, Steve didn't mean anything by it. He's just too nice. He's not the type to sleep on the first date, like Brock (or me). He was looking out for me even tho I didn't need him to. I'm hoping that my boyfriend gets that, cause at the moment he's annoyed by his co-working calling me.
"It's annoying as fuck, not sweet, baby." Brock retorted right as my phone started to ring. "I swear, it better not be Cap." Brock grumbled before reaching over and grabbing my phone from the coffee table. "Son of a bitch, it's him." He half-snapped, half-sighed, while showing me my phone. Before I could utter a word, he rejected the call and tossed my phone onto the coffee table.
"Brock, did you have to reject Steve's call?" I asked in a chastising tone. My brown eyes drifted from my phone to my boyfriend, my head tilted slightly.
"Yes." Was Brock's one word answer as he flopped back against the couch. Wrapping his arm over me and pulling me close, so that we could watch the Nationals ball game that was on. Brock had converted to being a Nats fan and had turned his back on the Yankees after years of living in Norfolk on base as a Navy SEAL. Since his team was playing some team out west it was on tv, in one of the early innings, and we were watching it. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders; pulling me into his side, he looked at me and said, "He knows we're here together and there isn't a reason for him to call right after the other one was cut short." Turning his attention to the game on tv, he ranted on with, "Cap just wants to lecture you about us; maybe guilt you into going back to your apartment, and you don't need that tonight. What we need is to relax and discuss plans for going off the grid."
"Yea…" I sighed, snuggling closer into Brock's side. Suddenly, a very important question popped into my head. Looking up at my boyfriend, I curiously asked, "What would happen if we went on the run? Would Fury know; come after us with help?"
Brock shook his head and let out a sigh. Looking down at me, he revealed, "Fury's already told me that if shit goes sideways then I'm out on my own for a bit. I'll be able to contact Coulson if I need to, but I'd have to go off the grid; start taking out HYDRA bases and targets one by one."
"What?" I blinked, taken aback by the answer I just heard.
"Yea." Was Brock's simple answer. "Fury thinks I'd be able to slip into the HYDRA bases undetected or that the dumb fucks'll let me in the front door; I'd be able to take them out covertly." Brock expanded on his answer with watching the Nats strike out.
Suddenly, a heavy realization hit me like a tidal wave. "Holy shit, if something goes wrong and we go on the run then I'm going to be helping you take out HYDRA operatives."
"More or less, since you volunteered to be my partner in this undercover mission, which is why I need to train you in some fighting styles."
"I signed up for more than slipping you some files on a flashdrive, didn't I?" I asked, even tho I already knew the answer. I guess I just wanted to hear him say it. I needed that concrete yes from Brock so I'd know that I'm now involved in something so big that its life changing, whether we have to go on the run or not.
"Yea, baby girl, you did." Brock nodded, lightly running his hand up and down my upper arm. "I didn't want you to get messed up in this shit, but you're in it now. We just need to plan accordingly incase the worst-case scenario happens."
"You want to start planning our escape route?" I asked Brock since I had a feeling that's what he was hinting at with his remark.
"Yea, but let's watch the game first." He told me, pushing back the inevitable just a little while longer.
"Okay, honey." I snuggled closer into him. I was fine with waiting til the game was over to come up with an off the grid game plan.
I pray we never have to use it. I don't know how I'd deal with being on the run for God knows how long with Brock; taking out HYDRA whenever we came across them. I hope the information we uncover for Fury's enough to stop Pierce and end HYDRA for good.
Cap POV:
My second attempt to call Gem last night, to make try and talk her out of tarnishing her reputation with that 'casual' feller of her, ended with her voicemail picking up instead of her. I'm sure that man she's seeing must've prevented her from answering. I don't know who he is, but I don't like how he's treating Gem. She's a nice girl and deserves better. It bothers me that she's settling with somebody because she got set up with them by a mutual contact back home. There's two types of men from Brooklyn, good and bad, and unfortunately she's gotten with a bad apple.
At least I'd be able to take my mind off of my worried thoughts about Gem since I'm visiting Peggy, my best girl. Peggy's been in the VA nursing home here in DC for a while (ever since she was diagnosed with dementia and got too hard for her kids to handle). I visit her often and we talk for a spell before she seems to forget me and revert back to 'Steve, you came back?', which is the very first thing she said to me when I first saw her after being taken out of the ice and woken up. I always visited her a few times a week. Usually, mid-morning on Sundays and a few days after work during the week. I also visited some of the old 107th that were at the VA nursing home too, but Peggy was the one that I frequently visited.
It was around 10 in the morning and I was walking down the hall of the VA nursing home. I counted the doors, as I always did, until coming across Peggy's room: 129. I did a quick knuckled knock on the door before opening it, walking in, and announcing my presence with, "Good Morning, Peggy. How's my best girl doing today?"
"Oh, Steve, it's so good of you to come visit me." Peggy, beautiful still despite her wrinkles, frail frame, and gray tinted hair, as she laid in bed with Face the Nation lowly playing on the tv. Ah, by her greeting I knew she had her wits about her this morning.
"Of course, you know I can't stay away from my best girl for too long." I smiled, making my way over to the chair by her bedside. Taking a seat, I asked her. "How're you feeling this morning, Peggy?"
"Oh, I'm well, Steve." Peggy replied with a small smiled. She reached for the button of her bed that would lift it up so she could sit up better, but her hands were frail and shaky so I reached over and pressed the button for her. "Oh, thank you so much." She gratefully smiled as her bed rose a fraction; helping her into a better sitting position.
"You're welcome, Peggy." I grinned at her. Looking between the framed photos of her with her kids and husband that lined her bedside table and her, I asked, "How's your family doing, Peggy?"
"Oh, Steve, they're doing so well." Peggy smiled. "Little Daniel's gotten a promotion. He's an Admiral now." She bragged on her son, who was named after his late father, in a proud motherly way.
"I'm surprised he joined the Navy instead of the Army, like his parents."
"So am I, Steve. But Daniel always said that it didn't matter what branch our son served in; that serving our county was the most important thing." Peggy told me, her tone going a bit wistful as she said the name of her late husband. She blinked a few times before smiling and telling me, "My daughter, Stephanie and her husband are off in Europe visiting their youngest daughter, who's working for a large tourist villa in Greece."
"That sounds nice, Peggy. I bet they're having a great time." I smiled kindly at the woman that I was supposed to have a date with in 1945.
"Oh, they are. They sent me some new pictures that my aide kindly helped me place in my album." Peggy informed me as she looked over at her bedside table. "Could you get the album out for me? It's in the drawer; I'd like to show you the pictures."
"Of course." I softly smiled, knowing she was missing her family and wanted an excuse to look at the pictures of them. Quickly, I reached over to the table that was between the bed and chair and grabbed the large leather-bound album from the bottom drawer. "Here you go, Peggy." I handed her over the album.
She sat up straighter, her long salt and pepper hair tumbling in curly waves around her shoulder, and brightly smiled. "Oh, Steve, my entire life's in this book. Would you like to see it?"
"Yea…" I nodded, feeling a tight feeling in my chest. I knew that Peggy got married and had children, but I guess seeing all of her photos and hearing about her life memories would make everything all the more real. All I knew about her husband was that his name was Daniel Sousa and was her partner at SHIELD.
I'm not sure if I want to know more about him, but I guess I'm going to learn.
The first few pages of the album were pictures of Peggy and Daniel when they first started dating and during their wedding. To my surprise Howard Stark was the best man. I knew that they co-founded SHIELD, but I didn't know that they stayed friends. Tony never mentioned knowing Peggy, but then again, he barely speaks about Howard either.
Next most of the pictures were of Peggy's children. Various pictures of the children growing up with Peggy and Daniel littered the pages. Little Daniel and Stephanie Sousa wee cute babies; they were cute children too. When they hit their teenaged years, it was clear who their parents were since they looked like the spitting images of Peggy and Daniel. Peggy and Daniel looked like proud parents in the pictures of their children's graduations. I was a it surprised to see that their son had graduated from the Naval Academy.
Looking up from Little Daniel's Naval Academy graduation pictures, he informed me, "My grandson graduated from Annapolis too. Class of '94. Then he went straight into SEAL classes."
"You must be proud of him."
"I am." Peggy proudly smiled. I assumed she'd tell me about how he was running a SEALS team or something similar, but instead she revealed the hard truth of, "We lost him a few years ago on a SEALS mission."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Your son must've been both heartbroken and proud that his son laid is life down on the line for our country's freedom's." I told Peggy since I knew roughly the time frame her grandson would've fallen in. Thanks to the internet I knew about the war and conflict over in the Middle East; how bad it was, well still is.
"Oh, Little Daniel was proud and heartbroken, but Rhett was his nephew. He was Stephanie's son." Peggy corrected my assumption.
"Oh…" I nodded, surprised to hear that Little Daniel's nephew and not one of his sons followed in his footsteps; joined the Navy.
Peggy blinked her eyes, holding back tears at the memory of her late grandson (a memory that hadn't been affected by her condition yet). I didn't want her to be upset, so I closed her book and placed my hand over her only to softly assure her, "You lived a wonderful life; got married to a good man and raised beautiful children. You're even a great-grandma, Peggy. You have lots to be happy about."
She placed her small, wrinkle covered hand over mine, only to tell me, "Oh, Steve, I'm happy that I got to live my life, but it's not fair that you were frozen in time and lost out on yours."
Patting her hand assuring with my other one, I gave her a half-hearted smile only to tell her, "Oh, Peggy, I'm fine. Truly, you know that I live to serve and protect the world's freedoms."
She pulled her hand off of mine, only to ask, "Steve, may I ask if you've met anyone? Perhaps a nice girl?"
"Oh, um, well…" I stumbled, not knowing what to say since I didn't want to hurt Peggy. I did mean to meet her at that dance hall for our date all those years ago, but I had to put the Valkyrie into the water. I didn't want her to think that she was forgettable.
"Oh, Steve, you know that you deserve to be happy with someone. I know you might think you're abandoning me, but you're not. I'm an old widow that lived her life and you're an old man that's still young and has a second chance to live his life." Peggy told me in a very poetic speech. Her words soothed me; reminded me that she did live and I needed to do that same. That I didn't need to be afraid of hurting her feelings; that she understood the circumstances. With a smirk, she pried, "Now, tell me who this young lady is that's caught your eye?"
"Peggy, I could never hide anything form you." I lightly chuckled. Peggy nodded, a small encouraging smile on her lips, which caused me to answer her inquiry with, "Her name's Gem and she's from Brooklyn. She works as Pierce's secretary and her best friend's my friend Darcy, who's the assistant of Thor's scientist girlfriend, Jane."
"Oh, so there's both mutual friends and shared work between you and Gem." Peggy stated knowingly in her British accent, which was both sophisticated and frank.
"Yes, but unlike you Peggy she's not agent material. She's very dainty and sweet."
"Oh, so she's a true lady?" Peggy asked, a smile small on her face.
"Yes." I nodded. "Yes, she is."
"Steve, have you talked with her at all about your crush? Perhaps you could take her on a date?" Peggy inquired in the tone that I heard her use as an agent in the SSR years ago.
"Um, I took her to an arcade bar a few weeks ago. I also took her out to lunch, but she's been casually seeing somebody she was set up with."
"Oh Steve…" Peggy sighed sympathetically.
"He's no good for her, Peggy. His intentions are bad; he's unhonorable and doesn't treat her like a lady." I honestly ranted, since I needed to get how I felt off of my chest. Letting my shoulders sag slightly, I added in a long sigh, "And SHIELD gossips about her at work." A sympathetic look appeared on Peggy's face, most likely because she knew how it felt to be gossiped about as a woman. Her look made me explain Gem's work gossiping situation with, "People know about her bad relationship since the casual man picks her up for lunch a lot. It's such a shame how her reputation's being tarnished by somebody who's supposedly a family friend of some kind."
"Perhaps you could let her know she's got you; that she doesn't have to settle for this bad man." She suggested as the twinkle in her eyes began to fade. Sadly, I knew she'd be forgetting soon and falling into her forgetful disease.
"Yea." I nodded. Peggy was right, I should make more of an effort to pursue Gem and let her know that I wanted to see her. I know that I suggested us going to the Smithsonian before, but tomorrow I need to discuss a set day and time to do it. I need to take her out and show her a good time, like Peggy said so she'll be able to see that she's not 'stuck' in a bad relationship with a bad man.
Suddenly, a blank look fell over Peggy's beautifully wrinkled face. She furrowed her brows in confusion before her eyes widened. "Oh, Steve! You came back? Oh, it's been so long. So so long." She sobbed, just like she did the day I first visited her. Oh no, her condition had gotten the better, or worse, of her. My time of having a deep conversation with her was over.
"I couldn't forget about my best girl." I softly smiled at the amazing woman who, sadly, was suffering from dementia in the VA nursing home.
AN:
I hope you guys liked this new chapter. And for all the Agent Carter fans, yea I went there. I backed up Peggysous (Peggy/Daniel Sousa). Anyways, now Cap got a slight push from Peggy (who lived her life) to go after Gem. How do you guys think that'll go? Brock and Gem are serious now. The casual stuff is gone since they're an undercover agent couple now. Can't be casual doing that, especially if there's a chance you'll have to go on the run and hunt down HYDRA off the grid if something goes wrong. But what go ever go wrong in SHIELD?