She'd been contemplating not going to the party with her parents. She was 17, had friends of her own, even another party she'd been invited to, but… as she watched her parents excitedly talk about their costumes she thought about it and decided… what the hell. She'd go, and hey, if it was boring, at least there was the promise of good food.
Every year, her dad's friend's business partner's wife threw her husband a party on the Eve of Halloween.
All Howard's Eve, she called it. Apparently Halloween was one of his favorite holidays and it was the biggest party the company threw all year.
Last year was the first year she'd been old enough to attend, but had chosen to not go. This year, she stared at the options at the old retro costume shop downtown and decided that since she was going, she might as well go all out. The theme had been announced and she eyed the clothes in front of her with interest.
—
Her parents led her into the elevator and pushed the top floor. The machine shot upwards, taking them to the 33rd floor and popping them out into a plush hallway. Party goers in all types of costumes mingled, but she could hear the party behind the large doors.
She smoothed her costume down, and stepped forward, her parents stopped to talk to friends and they shooed her forward, encouraging her.
She stepped through the doors and her eyes widened. Two of the huge walls were made entirely of glass, the city skyline visible in all directions. The third wall was the one she'd just stepped through that led to the hallway and other sections of the 33rd floor.
The fourth wall was a large stage, instruments already set up and band members adjusting things.
"You came!" A high voice stated excitedly, arms throwing themselves around her. She looked to see Angie, one of her closest friends.
"I came," she smiled, "just for you."
The girl laughed and waggled her finger, "oh don't say that, you'll change your mind when you try the food!" She felt herself being dragged and plopped in front of a huge array of tables, covered in every type of finger food imaginable, along with heaping bowls of every type of candy.
She eyed Angie in disbelief and the girl laughed, "told you!"
"Wow, the man must love Halloween!"
"Hallow's Eve." A voice said, making them turn around. The sharp eyed kid stared at them, a smirk on his face. "He's more into the day before stuff, you know, the anticipation of something other than the actual event."
Peggy looked him over, she knew who he was. His picture was all over the news. "Tony Stark, I presume?"
"You presume right."
"Nice to meet you." She said with a smile.
"I hope that remains true." He chuckled, "I tend to have different effects on people."
Her lips spoke before she could catch herself, "I'm sure people make up all sorts of assumptions about you before they even get to know you. Easy to disappoint someone who already has an expectation of you in their head."
The stunned expression on his face told her she'd hit the mark.
Angie stepped forward, "Tony, this is Peggy Carter."
"Carter?" He questioned, "I don't recognize that last name, what department does your parent work for?"
"Oh, my parents don't work for SI," she explained, "they're old friends with Phillips. So your dad knows them well."
"Phillips, huh? Man's a curmudgeon."
Peggy laughed, "you're not wrong."
"We'll come on, let's get you some food." He waved them to the nearby table and they started selecting what they wanted.
—
"Your costume is totally rad." Angie expressed, touching the stiff wool fabric.
"Yours is too," Peggy smiled, "I love the American woman worker vibe, they really did the work!"
Angie beamed, "I know right?" She glanced around at the room, filled with balloons and war posters and anything else that fit the 1940's theme. "While the men were fighting, the women were home building the ships and planes! It's amazing!"
Peggy nodded eagerly. She was wearing an old British female officers uniform from 1940. It fit like a charm and her hair had obeyed, rolling into perfect victory curls. Angie was wearing a gray jumpsuit, sleeves rolled up and hair in a bandana. Almost mimicking the Rosie the Riveter poster.
Everyone around them was dressed to the nines in their 1940's best. Peggy was glad she'd gone all out, instead of shying away from a full costume.
Tony joined them at the table a moment later, wearing a 1940's tux and looking dapper. "You mind if I sit here?" He asked, "I don't want to sit at my parents table."
They shrugged, "I'm pretty sure you're allowed to sit anywhere." Angie said pointedly, "you're the son of the party guy, I think you're allowed." Tony huffed but didn't respond, just opened a candy and popped it in his mouth.
"Alright ladies and gents, welcome to our 26th annual All Howard's Eve!" A man called from the stage, "the band will be on in a few, and Mr. Stark will be arriving soon, make sure you grab your food, eat some sugar, and get ready for a swinging time!"
Peggy looked at Tony, "does he always arrive late?"
"Nah, he had a big contract signing with Russia, couldn't miss it, but he refuses to celebrate this any other day than the actual day, so he's still in the air."
"In air?"
Tony's lip twitched, his eyebrow raised, "yeah, he's in the chopper from the airport. He'll be here soon."
Peggy just tried to imagine what his life must be like.
—-
A kid, well, maybe not a kid, but someone who looked suspiciously close to her age, stepped out onto the stage and took a seat at the piano. His skin was dark and contrasted nicely with his crisp white shirt and wide tie.
He started playing a bouncy tune, and then the other band members started filing out. A tall and wide behemoth of a teenager stepped across the stage, picking up an upright bass and began tuning it. Three smaller guys picked up brass instruments, and then two boys, completely different and yet seeming like brothers stepped out.
A tall, dark hair swept to the side, boy wearing a sergeants uniform, playfully punched the shoulder of the teenager next to him before heading to the mic. But her eyes were immediately drawn to the last band member. His blonde hair was mused, looking like it had been swept back with gel but had had fingers running through it nervously and therefore fell gently onto his forehead. Suspenders hung onto his rigid shoulders, narrow and straight. He took a seat at the drum set and looked out at the crowd.
She heard herself audibly gasp as his electric blue eyes scanned the crowd. His sharp cheekbones caught the light and he practically glowed.
"Pegs?" Angie asked, "you okay?"
Peggy nodded quietly, her eyes still trained on the drummer.
Two girls, both a different style of red-head, stepped out and took a place behind a mic set further back, closer to the drums. They both glanced at the drummer and smiled and he smiled nervously back.
Peggy was about to ask Tony if he knew who they were when the leader of the band spoke.
"Hellllooooo out there all gals and guys, we're the 'Howling Commandos' and we're excited to play for you tonight. If you have a request from the big band era, don't be shy! Come tell our pianist, Jones, and we'd be happy to oblige!" He nodded and made a snapping motion with his fingers and suddenly the band began.
Sharp brass notes, followed by a fast percussion and strong piano had the place abuzz in seconds. Couples and groups scurried to the dance floor and Peggy watched as the room went from calm and lightly entertaining, to a full blown party.
"Wow." Angie commented appreciatively, "these guys are good."
"Starting out with Glenn Miller is a solid choice." Peggy added, agreeing.
"They're an up and coming group from Brooklyn." Tony interjected, his eyes flitted around the room. "My dad just heard a set they did at some party for one of his partner's kids birthday parties and was hooked. I told him it was crazy to book such newbies for a gig this big but apparently he's already booked them for the next 5 years of parties. In sure sees something in them." They gapped at him and he scoffed. "I know. But there's no reasoning with my dad. When he makes a choice, it's hell or high water."
Peggy glanced around as the second song began, smoothly transitioning and keeping the crowd engaged. "Maybe he was onto something." She commented lightly.
—
The songs of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and many more filter through the night. Just when Peggy believed they couldn't possibly know another song, they would start up another tune she'd forgotten existed and whip the crowd into a frenzy.
Tony's dad had arrived soon after the band had started and after a 'welcome to my party' toast, he'd grabbed his wife and son and dragged them onto the dance floor. Peggy watched as his mustache wiggled at his wife and she laughed and laughed and his slicked back hair gleamed in the stage's retro floodlights. Tony looked mortified and also like he was as happy as a clam and Peggy decided that he seemed okay, for being the richest kid in the world.
Angie and she danced to many songs, she danced with her parents and even a boy named James Rhodes who was brave enough to ask. She twirled, her legs restricted by her uniform, but she felt an elation in dancing she hadn't before.
She stumbled off the dance floor, removing her heels as she sat down heavily in her chair. Her eyes trained back on the object of her focus all night. The blonde drummer. His hair was even more mused and she could see the droplets of sweat trickling from his neck down into his shirt, but his beat never wavered and his smile was much more at ease as he played off his band mates.
The lead singer, the dark haired boy, was sharing the mic with one of the girls, and they were singing a crooning version of 'the way you look tonight'. Peggy felt the words carry her and her bare feet back to the dance floor where she and Angie swayed and mouthed the words to each other as they spun in slow circles.
They fell back into their chairs, giggling and laughing, downing water to make up for the amount of sweat they had shed dancing.
As the party started to wind down, she noticed Tony talking to another red-head, a straight-backed girl with a knowing smile and an amused grin.
"That's Virginia Potts." Angie's supplied, "she goes by Pepper though."
"Really?" Peggy asked, "why?"
"Don't know, but she can hold her own against Tony's salt."
Peggy eyed her friend dubiously at her joke and the girl grinned like a wild cat. "Please stop."
They laughed and ate more candy as the party faded into dawn.
—
"You're coming right?" The voice over the phone said, "I heard Tony actually invited you by name this year!"
"Yes, yes," Peggy responded, applying lipstick, "I'll be there."
"Perfect!"
She tried to wipe away the hope of seeing certain blue eyes again.
—
Everyone at the party was dressed elegantly, the James Bond theme meant slinky dresses, tuxedos and suits, and interesting outfits fit for a Bond villain.
Peggy waltzed with Tony, who surprised her by knowing a large volume of fancy dances. They eye-rolled about their 'high-class' upbringing and the dance lessons they'd been forced to attend. Then she shimmied with Angie and Pepper to a jazzier number with a heavy beat. She looked up, feeling the intensity of a stare, only to find pink cheeks and eyes pointed a different way. The temperature in the room rose and she smiled, something like anticipation in her stomach.
The leader was dressed in a dark tux, black shirt and black tie against a white suit coat. He looked divine and Angie kept a steady commentary on what she thought of him while Peggy laughed and agreed. But her eyes were on the blonde. Still shorter than those around him, still narrow shoulders, but the way his bow tie was undone and hanging around his neck, and the first two buttons unbuttoned had her gaze locked on him any chance she could get.
She was staring at him when she felt another look. She glanced up to see one of the red heads, the one not singing "Skyfall" at the moment to catch her stare and follow her eyeline to the drummer. Peggy felt her cheeks light up and she looked away, but not before the other girl's eyebrow raised.
—
The next year, an announcer got on stage to inform them the band was running late and would be there shortly. Peggy tried not to show that she was relieved that he- no, they would still be coming.
The theme was the 1950's, (Howard really liked his decades) and she was standing there in a flared skirt with a blouse that she had to admit was probably a bit tight, but Angie had crowed at it and she'd caved.
Maybe half an hour into the party the band walked onstage. She felt excited at their arrival but it turned to trepidation as she immediately noticed something was off. The dark haired, usually a calm, cool, and smooth talking leader seemed stiff and tense. She couldn't fathom why until the drummer walked on. A huge black eye and bruise forming across his face. The blue eyes glowed with annoyance as he sat down, glaring out at the audience and ignoring the stiff shoulders from his band mates.
It only took one song for them to fall into rhythm and relax but she found herself staring at him even more, furious about his face and confused at herself for feelings about someone she'd never met.
She noticed both red-head girls staring at her tonight, and she tried to ignore them. But… she caught their eyes several times and they smiled at her, a kind and almost mischievous smile.
She took that in stride and danced and ate and turned down a newcomer named Jack Thompson who she instantly disliked.
She was dancing with one of Tony's schoolmates, a boy named Fred Wells when she felt the eyes on her again. She turned to catch them, only to have the band leader stepping into her eyesight and blocking him. She turned back to her dance and swallowed down the disappointment.
—-
The next year they were different. Each one had changed. Settling in from teenagers into men, their twentieth year seemed to weigh heavier on their shoulders. She asked Tony about it.
"Apparently one of them enlisted. Dunno which one." He commented, watching her eye line, "my dad told me that one of them stepped into the recruiting office the day after that attack? Wanted to fight for what's right or something like that. And the rest found out and blew a gasket. Then, when they couldn't talk the guy out of it, they all joined up. Together. My dad found out through Phillips and pulled some strings to get them under Phillips' command."
"How?"
Tony eyed her. "Come on, you know what my dad does."
She played dumb. "Technology?"
He glared at her. "A weapons contractor." He said flatly, "biggest weapons contract the government has." He glanced at the band again. "My dad must have some sort of soft spot for the kids because he got them all on leave. In New York. Over this holiday so they could play. Here. At his party." He scrubbed his eyes. "I was mad about it until I found out he paid them really large bonuses for his meddling with their personal time."
"Geez." Peggy griped, "he really likes them."
Tony's face goes a hint dark but then smooths over into knowing annoyance. "Yeah, he's taken a shine to 'em. Don't know the hell why."
She wanted to ask. So she did. "They all enlisted?" Her eyes flicked to the narrow angular frame behind the drums. "You're sure?"
Tony eyed the band, his eyes following hers.
"Oh."
She glanced back at his amused expression.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just—" he shrugged, "you know. Never mind. Well. I was told they all enlisted, and I don't know in what capacity. You want me to ask my dad?"
"No! No." She exclaimed, "no. I'm good."
"Okay."
—-
"You gunna work up the courage to talk to him this year?" Angie asked over the phone. This was her yearly tradition, calling Peggy to ensure her arrival and find out what her costume was in advance.
"Talk to who?" Peggy said blithely, scrubbing at her eyeliner to give it a messy effect. Her phone on speaker on her dresser.
"Um, the waif on the drums. Obviously."
Peggy's hand froze for a mere second before she regained her composer, glad her friend wasn't in the room. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Pegs. You're subtle, but it's been 4 years of me watching you devour that boy with your eyes. Hell, I don't know how you can look past the lead singer, but hey, everyone's got a type. You'd snap that boy in half and he'd probably thank you."
"ANGELA MARTINELLI!" Peggy growled into the phone. "You're on speaker if you don't mind." She tapped the button and held it to her ear, glad her roommate wasn't present. "I'm not devouring or snapping anyone in half. Thank you very much."
"Your loss. It's their last year."
Peggy's throat caught. "Last year?"
Angie's voice sounded sly, "yeah, don't you remember? Tony said his dad booked them for 5 years. This is the fifth."
Oh.
"Oh."
"Time's running out, English." Angie teased.
"Can it, Queens."
"Ohhhohoohhoooo." Angie laughed, "someone's feisty tonight." Peggy eyed her wild 80's hair, tight jean shorts, back band shirt and intense makeup.
"Damn straight."
—-
Her parents weren't able to make it that year so she took the subway directly from her college instead. She and Angie agreed to walk in together and Peggy laughed at her 80's aerobics outfit.
"Wow." Angie stared appreciatively, "you look like a hot groupie."
Peggy shoved her and they both laughed, walking towards Tony and his group of friends.
—
She actually felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him this time. The band was all there, dressed in 80's band gear and looking fantastic. The leader had tousled hair and leather pants and a white tank top. The rest had any variation of what an 80's band might wear, but her eyes were glued to him.
A red bandana held his hair back, ripped jeans hovered on his hips and a shirt that had its sides missing hung from his shoulders. Each rib was visible, but as she watched his arms beat heavily on the drum set, she noticed how different his body was. It was still too thin, shoulders and jaw sharp, but now, corded muscles accompanied them, wrapping around his arms and chest, filling him out and making him seem… the only word she could think of was… dangerous. Especially with his deep eyes focused entirely on the set in front of him. His hands moved across the drums with a wicked speed, perfectly recreating 80's rock anthems to synthetic ballads and everything in between.
It was after a particularly taxing song, as she watched him swipe at the back of his hair and crack his neck back and forth that her eyes took in the glistening of his torso from the exertion as it was on display out of the sides of his shirt.
"Get a ROOM, English." Angie crowed, slightly tipsy. Peggy glared at her as the girl shoved her towards the stage from their dance circle.
"Stop." Peggy commanded, shoving her way back to the table. Tony was there, a content and slightly inebriated smile on his face as Pepper leaned on his shoulder and they laughed about something.
"Sorry to interrupt." Peggy murmured, grabbing a glass of water and downing it, trying to calm her heartbeat.
"We're taking a 10 minute break!" The band leader called, "we'll be back to rocking soon." The band filed off, disappearing behind the curtains.
"I found out." Tony said suspiciously.
Both Pepper and Peggy looked at him confused.
"About the kid."
Their confusion deepened. "Kid?" Pepper asked, "what are you on about, you have a kid?"
Tony choked on his drink, coughing and leaning forward, resting his hand on his chest, face red.
Jack and Fred wandered over during the chaos and Angie joined. "You okay, Stark?" Jack asked, a grin on his face as he watched Tony wipe his face.
"I'm fine, Thompson."
No love lost there either, Peggy realized.
"What kid are we talking about?" Pepper tried again.
"The kid." Stark rasped, clearing his throat again, "The drummer."
Peggy stilled, "oh."
"I found out about his enlistment."
Jack's eyebrows furrowed, "enlistment? Who enlisted?"
"Clean out your ears," Angie hissed, "the drummer from the band enlisted. In fact the whole band's in the army."
Fred pointed back towards the stage. "You mean stick boy's in the army? How the hell did that happen? Don't you have to be a certain height or hell, a certain weight?"
Jack laughed and it goaded Fred on, "don't you have to be over the age of 12?" Fred guffawed at his own joke, the alcohol pushing his humor standards lower.
But Jack was laughing too, ignoring the glares from the rest of the table. He joined in, "what do they use him in the army for? You must not look like this to join?" They both were laughing and Peggy felt herself bristle, as he continued. "Didn't know they made army gear that small, maybe he's their gerbil. Fetches their coffee." Peggy turned to Tony but was surprised to see him just smile, a smile Peggy didn't quite get but then her eyes followed his and noticed a few of the band members headed their way.
She stilled. Her heart was beating rapidly. She glanced at Tony who winked at her and announced to the group, "I invited them out, they don't usually take breaks but I felt as it is their last year they deserved to enjoy the party a bit. Get some food. Mingle."
Only four of the band members approached the table, the leader, the really really large guy, the pianist, and one of the girls.
"Hey guys," Tony greeted, "take a seat, we'll get some food brought over." He waved at one of the waiters.
"Hey," the band leader smiled at him, "it's weird, I've seen you guys from the stage every year, weird to finally meet you."
Angie smiled, extending her hand and blinking innocently, "you've been watching us from stage?"
The boy laughed, not embarrassed at all, "you're a hard one to miss." Angie flushed with pleasure and Peggy heard her giggle.
"Oh for heaven's sake," Peggy groaned, "I'm Peggy Carter, nice to meet you."
He smiled at her, he was incredibly handsome, she noted. He stuck out his hand, "Bucky Barnes. This here is Gabe Jones, Natasha Romanov, and Tim Dugan."
The chorus of greetings and names lasted for a minute.
"So." Tony asked, "My friend here was just mentioning something. You wanna share that with us Jack?"
Jack looked genuinely confused. "Huh?"
"You know, about the drummer?"
Peggy watched as all four band members' eyes instantly locked on Thompson. But it was the girl who spoke, her voice light but Peggy never felt such a threat in an innocuous question, "what about our drummer?"
"Oh." Jack huffed, "it was nothing."
Peggy rolled her eyes, coward. But also… she looked at the glare Natasha was now giving him, maybe that was the smart move if he wanted to keep his limbs.
But Tony wasn't done. His inhibitions lowered and his dislike for Thompson clear. "Now, now, Thompson. Don't be shy, tell them what you think of the drummer trying to enlist?"
You could cut the tension with a knife.
Jack hemmed and hawed before finally rolling his eyes and shoving his hands into his leather jacket, "all I said was—-" But Fred was much drunker than Jack, not catching the cues and he slapped Jack on the back, face red with drink.
"Tell 'em, Jackie. Tell him how he's the gerbil who fetches their coffees."
Jack instantly paled at the deadly stares coming from the four and Peggy felt herself be jostled back, the table in front of them pushed as the big guy stood up, grasping Jack's leather jacket and yanking it forward.
"You wanna say that again?"
"Dugan." Came Bucky's icy voice, "we're working."
"You gunna let him talk about—"
"I'm not going to let him do anything. Let him go."
Dugan drops Jack's collar, yanking his hands away with a disbelieving scoff. But Peggy only blinks before Jack is howling on the floor, clutching at his nose as Bucky stands over him, fist clenched from the bone-cracking punch he'd just thrown. "You have anymore thoughts you wanna share with the room?"
Peggy stared in shock as Jack whimpered and shook his head. Grasping Fred and hauling himself up, leaving the room, a napkin pressed under his bloody nose.
Bucky turned back to the table, straightening his shirt and eyeing them. "Sorry about that."
"Sorry?" Tony crowed, "Please don't apologize, I was hoping that would happen. Guy deserved it."
They nodded, grabbing some food and settling back down. Peggy stiffened as Howard Stark approached the table, his eyebrow raised. He landed behind Tony and rested a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Anything I need to know about, kids?"
Tony looked up, grinning, "nah, dad. Thompson got a fistful of knuckle. Well-deserved."
"Barnes?" Howard asked, and it hit Peggy that they really did know each other. "Everything okay?"
"Thompson was mouthing off—" He huffed, obviously pushing the anger down. "He was talking about things he knows nothing about."
"That's Thompson." Angie agreed.
"Okay." Howard said, satisfied, "let me know if you need anything."
"It's really your last year playing?" Peggy heard herself ask.
Bucky turned to her, a grin back on his face, "weeellllll…." He drew out. "I dunno. We thought we'd be done, maybe the party needed something new, something fresh, but your dad," he motioned at Tony, "he's asking us to consider taking engagements year by year, so maybe not."
Something like hope kindled in her stomach, "I hope you do come back." She said honestly, "You always do a fantastic job."
"Yeah, and she'd like a—" Peggy doesn't even want to know where that stamens is headed before she cuts Angie off.
"I'd love to hear you guys again. I always look forward to this party."
Something knowing crossed over Natasha's face and she nudged Bucky. Bucky glanced at her, and then gave the tiniest nods. "Hey, uh, a group of us are gunna go trick-or-treating down at the college later tonight. They're doing a costume contest and all this corny stuff but it's meant for our age group so it won't be super lame. You guys should join us. Sans Dumb and Dumber over there." He thumbed towards where Jack and Fred were standing in the corner.
"I'm in." Tony shrugged, "Pep?"
Pepper nodded, "I'm not missing this."
"Come on, English." Angie pleaded, "it will be fun!"
Declining crossed her mind, but then her eyes were drawn to the stage where the few band members that hadn't walked over were walking back on stage. He was running a hand through his hair, bandana hanging out of his back pocket and she felt herself nod her head in agreement. "Yeah, I'll go."
Bucky and Natasha smiled as Dugan chuckled, but Jones just leaned back in his chair, "you know who ain't gunna go." He said with a knowing tease to his voice.
"He'll go." Natasha growled. "I'll drag him."
"Who's he?" Tony asked.
Bucky just smiled, "our most fun-sucking band member." He laughed and his group joined him, "but I think we can convince him to go. He'll have a good reason." Peggy swore his eyes landed on her before they were getting up and heading back to the stage.
It only took Tony two minutes after they'd gone to lean forward eyes alight. "So, can I tell the story now?"
They just stared at him and he started, "Okay, so about 6 months ago—"
"Tony!" A voice cut through and Peggy looked up to see Rhodey standing behind her. Tony grinned and leaned back in his chair, "Rhodey, my man."
"You're not talking about the thing we specifically discussed not talking about right?"
"Oh…" Tony pretended to be confused, "what was that again? Can't remember."
Rhodey deadpanned, "the thing when you went digging through and hacking into government military files."
"Ohhh, ohhh…. Yeah. I remember. Yeah, no… Course I am, they wanna hear the story."
"No, Tony—"
"Actually, you tell it! You're in with the army crowd, you told it better!" Tony puts his hands under his chin, blinking up at Rhodey who looks offended.
"I shouldn't have told you at all! I was drunk."
"Which made it that much more entertaining. And you better tell these guys unless you want me to tell good ol' Phillips who took his prized scot—"
"Tony." Rhodey grumbled, "Shut it!"
Tony just grabbed his phone and started clicking through things.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to hack in and pull up the official report, complete with your audio and everything."
"What! No— Tony, don't."
"Too late." Tony clicked a button and Rhodey's voice spoke out, "On May 25th, at 0650–"
"Stop!" Rhodey groaned, sitting down, "fine, but I'm giving you the undetailed version." He glared at Tony, "why are you always trying to get me fired." He shifted and looked at the group and then back at the band who were playing a slower 80's number.
"So… Rogers tried to enlist first." He pointed towards the drummer and Peggy felt a thrill at finally knowing his—- she paused. Was that his first name? No, Rhodey said 'Rogers' if it was his first it would be Roger. So, it must be his last. "The others were furious with him because he's got a weak heart from tons of childhood illness, asthma, and a bunch of other issues. But he wouldn't be deterred, so they all went together, signed up, but like they'd tried to warn him, the big guys said 'no' to Rogers. Too many health issues. But the guy persisted, wouldn't take no for an answer and eventually wormed his way into the offices. From what I heard, he wowed one of the doctor's with his resilience. Later, Phillips put him through the wringer to try to get him to fail out but the kid wowed even Phillips with his strategizing and code-breaking skills. So, they decided to take him on a trial basis."
Tony was nodding along, clearly waiting for another part of the story.
"So over a year goes by and his pals get deployed near his base. Things go south and he learns that his buddies are being held hostage by a group of local mercenaries." His eyes found the drummer again and he shook his head in disbelief. "Guy did everything he could to find them, worked backwards from maps and mission briefings and finally cracked a coded message in a language he doesn't even speak. All for the higher ups to tell him that they weren't sending in a rescue squad. That they were waiting for specific intel and couldn't risk the firefight."
Tony rubbed his hands together, "this is where it gets gooood."
Rhodey rolled his eyes, but he grinned, "Well, if you know Rogers, then you know that wasn't an option. This guy… stole a motorcycle off the base, and took off, following his own lead to his friends. He ended up finding them and 40 more soldiers hostage. He freed his buddies and blew the place up behind him for good measure, he and his buddies took out the mercenary group, which the local village was so grateful for that they gave them trucks to cart all the guys back 236 miles back to base." Rhodey's face grew serious, "then…" he huffs, "the kid rolls up to his commanding officer, and says, 'I'd like to submit myself for disciplinary action'."
Pepper gaped, "no, he didn't!"
"He did!" Rhodey laughed, finally relaxing, "the higher ups were so pissed, but the 50+ men he saved would have revolted if they'd punished him!"
Peggy stared at him. His eyes were flashing as they opened and closed with the beat of the music, the rhythm of his arms setting the pace for all the dancing on the floor. She believed it. Every word. She'd never even met him and just by looking at him she could see that that's exactly what he'd do.
Tony rapped on the table. "Apparently someone else on his base made fun of him for not having had to complete basic, and his team tore that man to shreds. So when Thompson mouthed off, well, I saw an opportunity, and I took it."
Rhodey took a bite of something, and chewed it before speaking again, "you know… He didn't take well to that comment. He requested that he be required to go through basic."
"He what?" Tony gaped, "I didn't read that!"
"It wasn't in the report." Rhodey clarified. "After that altercation with his team, he said it wasn't fair that he hadn't had to go through it. So he put in his request and they denied him, citing his health and that he'd already been cleared for duty in the offices. He actually threatened to quit unless they let him go through basic." They gaped at him and he nodded, his face in amused disbelief, "They didn't want to lose his skills on the base so they obliged. Phillips threw that kid through the wringer so hard that Barnes almost lost his damn mind. But the kid never gave up, always so determined, you should have seen him in training, people made bets whether he would make it, but eventually, he passed. His team howled so loud the walls shook." Rhodey laughed at the memory, "And his dad," he pointed to Tony, "did something about his heart and asthma, so he's in the best shape he could hope to be in."
Tony laughed, "when I mentioned it to Phillips he looked like he either wanted to strangle the kid or adopt him. I couldn't tell."
They all sat there, processing that story and staring at the band. "No wonder they're protective of him." Angie stated softly, barely heard above the music.
"I think the feeling is mutual." Peggy added, her eyes once again on him.
—-
They left the party as it was winding down. Peggy couldn't decide whether to keep her costume or change but Angie convinced her to keep it on. They headed towards the meet up location and Peggy felt her nerves aflame.
—-
They approached the group and made introductions to the rest of the band. But he wasn't there. She learned Jacques Denier, James Morita, and James Falsworth and made a comment about the amount of James' variations which made Bucky laugh and tell her that technically his name was James too but he went by Bucky, Falsworth went by Monty, Morita went by Jim and Jacques just went by his last name.
She laughed as did the others and Tony introduced them to Pepper, Angie, herself, and Rhodey. Peggy tried not to pay attention as Bucky and Natasha were pulled aside by Dugan.
"Where are they?" Dugan asked, scrubbing at his mustache, "I want candy."
"Wanda's trying." Natasha huffed, "he was being stubborn."
"What! Does he know?" Bucky asked, their voices shift and turn quiet, Peggy had to strain to hear them.
"He didn't when I left but she was going to tell him if he continued to refuse."
"That punk." Bucky groaned, "he's a punk!"
"He'll be here. Wanda's good at guilting him into things."
Peggy tried not to let the familiarity in which they mention this 'Wanda's' name alongside who she assumed was the drummer.
A phone beeped and Natasha opened it quickly. "They're coming!" The mood of the band instantly lifted and everyone started to chat and talk about what candy they hoped to get.
It took only 10 minutes for the last two people to arrive. Peggy stood back nervously, and watched as the man who she'd now been enamored with for 5 years appeared, still in his 80's costume. Her breath caught as he approached the group, a grumpy expression on his face, before the others ribbed and joked at him, shoving their elbows into his sides to get him to laugh, which worked pretty quickly. Glasses. He was wearing glasses! She watched as the lamplight reflected off the lenses and she couldn't help but think of how it added another layer to his charm. The bandana stil wrapped around his head and she noticed how even in the night he wasn't weraring a jacket.
"Here!" Bucky said, abnormally loudly, "let me introduce you two to the rest of the newbies here." Bucky grabbed his elbow and pulled him forward toward Tony. The girl, who Peggy assumed was Wanda, followed.
"This," Bucky waved emphatically, "is Tony Stark, but you knew that." Tony laughed and they shook hands. "No introductions needed for Rhodey," Rhodey and the guy shook hands and Peggy watched in surprise as they nodded at each other, a surprisingly familiar gesture. "This is Pepper, Angie, and Peggy." Bucky made a show of pointing each girl out, making sure the guy's eyes followed. Peggy waited with bated breath as his eyes caught hers. She ignored the fact that it was almost now completely silent around them as she reached out her hand to do the only thing she could think of.
"Hello, I'm Peggy."
He stared at her for two seconds before extending his own hand. "Steve, Steve Rogers."
She felt something unwind at the deep tone of his voice. Steve. A fitting name.
"You play the drums fantastically." She heard her own voice say, "I've admired your talent each year."
Even in the dark she could see the color rise from his chest and up to his neck, he cleared his throat and scrubbed at the back of his neck, "oh, thanks, yeah, I enjoy playing."
Peggy turned to Angie who was staring at them with excited eyes. Peggy rolled her own and motioned to the group. "Are we ready to begin?"
The chatter picked up and they began their walk around the Fraternity and Sorority row.
—-
Even though she did her best to not pay attention, she couldn't help but notice how often the others would push her and Steve to walk next to each other. Steve sure noticed and would send glares at anyone who just so 'happened' to plant him next to her as they walked through drunken crowds. But she pretended not to notice and would start up a conversation.
"So, Steve, tell me about yourself." She said one such time.
"What do you wanna know?" He asked back, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Well…" she glanced at him and her eyes caught the glasses again. "You don't wear the glasses when you play, why?"
He looked up, surprised at the question, but just huffed a laugh, "I don't need them. The drums are natural to me now. And i don't read off the music."
"You play by ear?"
"Well," He looked up as Dugan and Denier started pushing and shoving each other, Denier holding his own for such a short stature compared to Dugan. "I can read music, my mom insisted I learn. But once I knew how to play, I just kind of picked it up. It's natural now." He froze and looked at her, a panicked look on his face, he began speaking rapidly, his arms now out of his pockets and emphasizing his words, "not that I'm saying it's easy, or that I'm really good, I'm not, I'm not saying that at all! I'm just saying I can do it without music, although tough I should probably keep up the habit of having music, I just didn't want you to thin—"
"Steve!" She cut him off, laughing lightly. "I understand. And you are truly an amazing drummer."
He blushed and she had to hold her hands tightly across her chest to keep from running a finger over the color on his cheek.
"What about you?" He asked, giving her a sideways glance, "what's something I should know about you?"
"Well, I was born in England, but moved here when I was 12 for my father's job. I love New York," she watched his eyes light up at that comment, and she smiled at him, "I've lived here for almost 10 years and I feel like I've only seen a tiny part of the city!"
"You ever been to Brooklyn?" He asked, his hands back in his pockets.
"Only briefly, is that we're you're from?"
"Yeah, born and raised."
"What do you do, Steve?"
He glanced up, slowing his pace and she followed suit, but she wondered why. "I, uh, I do map work, cartography and stuff, kind of like someone who sifts through information to find hidden details." She waited for him to explain further and tell her he's in the military but he didn't, instead, picked up his pace and they rejoined the back of the group.
"That sounds fascinating," she added, he smiled and she could see the pride on his face.
Something about his humility, downplaying his role made her downright insatiable. She wanted to grab his hand and pull him to her, but she took a deep breath and kept a straight face. She may have been watching him for 5 years but he hadn't been. She needed to compose herself.
"Steve!" Someone from the front called, "this place only has Reese's steer clear!"
Peggy and the group she came for eyed Steve curiously for a moment before he shrugged and ducked his head. "Peanut allergy."
Peggy chuckled and walked with him past the Reese's house.
—
At the end of the night, Peggy felt like there was a precipice. He seemed shy, and kind, and unlikely to press his luck with her. But she didn't want the night to end without at least trying.
The group was lingering at the subway station, Wanda was chatting with some tall, kind of gangly man who she'd met trick or treating. And the rest we're talking about their holiday plans.
"Do you have any plans for the holidays?" She asked him, not wanting the evening to end.
"I'll be around till Thanksgiving but sadly I'll be gone for a while after that for my job."
"Ah, I see. And… until Thanksgiving?"
He looked at her in surprise, and just that, surprise that she'd be interested made something in her stomach flutter. She wanted to kiss him so bloody badly.
"I'll be in Brooklyn. I think we have another gig or two… I, uh, I'm sure if it's a public event you could— if you wanted, I mean, there's no pressure."
He clammed up and she reached out, gently putting her hand on her shoulder, "could I give you my number? That way if you do have a 'gig'" she said the word carefully as if unsure of it, "that you would let me know?"
"He'd love to have your number!" Bucky said, suddenly appearing and hanging off Steve's shoulders, who grimaced and shoved Bucky off.
"Here." She extended her hand and waited, he froze for one second before Bucky was reaching into his pocket. Steve yelped and shoved him off again, making the others double over with laughter. His face was very red, as he reached into his own pocket and grabbed his phone, handing it to her, his eyes in the ground.
She typed her name and number into the contacts and then handed it back. "I hope you call me." She said confidently, throwing caution to the wind. "And not just for gigs."
He gaped at her, and Bucky once again hung off his shoulders, almost knocking Steve over. "He will, he will for sure."
She laughed, and let her eyes land back on Steve's, smiling at him and making it clear she was serious.
"I'll be waiting." She stepped onto her train, Angie and Pepper followed with wide eyes and Tony straight up laughed as the train started to pull away.
Her eyes caught his blue electric ones one more time and he smiled at her as he faded from sight.
—-