They finished their shift in relative silence as they typed up the report and submitted everything to the evidence locker. She grabbed her coat when Barnes stopped her.
"You want to meet us there? Or do you prefer going together?"
Peggy considered this. "Could I meet you at the subway to go?"
He nodded. "Yeah, for sure. Then we'll walk you there."
She nodded. Unsure who the 'we' was.
—
She studied her closet. Bowling. She'd seen it before so she knows a dress or skirt is probably not the right choice. She'd be meeting old war buddies, which probably meant casual. It was a bit chilly on that September night. So… Her eyes fall onto her favorite sweater and she smiled.
—-
She stepped off the train, the rushing of the train on the next platform blows her curls around her face as she searched for his familiar face.
"Carter!" She turned towards the voice and smiled. Barnes was there, leather jacket tight around his frame and a red head on his arm.
She waved hello and stepped closer, bridging the gap.
"Hello." She said cheerily, "I'm Peggy Carter."
The redhead's eyes were appreciative and a bit surprised as she accepted Peggy's hand. "I'm Natasha Romanoff. Bucky here didn't tell me you were gorgeous as hell."
Peggy laughed and Barnes looked affronted. "Oh, you want me to be describing other girls to you? Hmm?" He laughed and Peggy watched as they scrunched noses at each other that made them look 12 and 85 all at the same time. It was very endearing.
"Anyways." Natasha said, smiling at her, "I'm Nat, I'm Bucky's girlfriend and I'm very curious as to why he came home grinning like a Cheshire Cat saying he was bringing someone to our bowling night."
Peggy watched as Barnes rolled his eyes. They started walking and he fell into step behind them.
"Oh." Peggy said, suddenly unsure of how she was supposed to approach this.
"Nat," Bucky started, a tone of warning in his voice.
"James, shush." She snapped back playfully. "Let the lady speak for herself."
And the detective in Peggy felt suddenly alert. Why was she here? To get to know her partner more? Yes, but also… Blue eyes and sharp cheekbones flashed in her vision and Natasha's endgame became clear in her mind. This was another test.
"I have to admit," Peggy started, looking straight ahead as she spoke, "it was rather me being very forward."
"Oh?" Natasha asked, and Peggy knew she already knew. But two could play this game.
"I was quite taken by one of Barnes' friends. And I wanted to get to know him a bit more. James offered for me to join you all and I accepted."
The way Natasha's eyes flitted back to Barnes' and Barnes gave an 'I told you so' look that had Peggy smug on the inside. She pretended not to notice the exchange as they stepped around a corner.
"And what was it about this friend?" Natasha pressed. And Peggy was surprised to find a hint— no, quite a bit of protectiveness laced in the question.
Peggy wasn't stupid. She knew where this was going. She'd been protective of people before. So she told the truth.
"Well, I hope it doesn't make me sound shallow," she said with a sheepish smile, "but he was just such a lovely sight to look at." She felt the surprise radiate off the two and she knew she'd hit the right chord. "And watching him work with the mom and teenager was enough to intrigue me about the man on the inside too. I don't like to be hasty, but I knew he seemed special. So I was rather forward asking James about him."
Their footsteps were the only thing that could be heard for a bit before Natasha spoke again. "He's the best guy there is."
"Hey!"
"Beside you." Natasha said, rolling her eyes. "When Bucky came home saying his partner was interested in Steve… I was suspicious. I always am about girls and Steve, they're horrible to him."
Peggy stopped, and they did as well, "I cannot fathom why." Peggy said honestly, "he's handsome and the way I saw him interact with that teen, encouraging her art, I knew immediately he had a good character."
Natasha practically beamed, "you're a rare breed Peggy Carter. Most women don't even glance his way for his height alone."
Peggy scoffed at the statement. Then, feeling emboldened, she looked at them and said cheekily, "those women don't understand the many, many benefits to a man who is shorter. Who fits into their arms. They'd be surprised how well they "make up" for it in other ways." Their gaped mouths were all she saw for a second.
Peggy grinned saucily at them while she watched Bucky practically choke and go red. Natasha just stared at her flabbergasted until she barked out a laugh, hauling Peggy down the street. "Oh, I like you. This is going to be so much fun."
—-
They entered the establishment and Peggy spotted the group immediately. 5 guys and 2 girls crowded around two lanes, laughing and talking.
They made their way over and the group welcomed them heartily. Introductions were made and Peggy felt her arm might fall off from all the heavy shaking.
But he wasn't there.
She glanced at Barnes who looked at the girl who'd been introduced as Maria. "Where's Steve?"
"Said he'd be here soon, something came up at work today and he had to take off. So he said he's making up the time. He'll be here before too long."
Peggy glanced at Bucky who winced. "I thought he wasn't working there today?"
A guy, who's hair was a very dashing silver and had been introduced as Pietro, sat down next to Peggy and started tugging on bowling shoes. "He picked up a shift today when someone called in sick. I heard the call."
Peggy watched as Bucky's face flashed dark. Then he sighed and looked at Natasha who shrugged in a 'what can you do?' motion.
"He left his job to come help us at the precinct?" Peggy asked quietly, eyeing barnes.
He scowled, "I guess so, I should have known. Kid can't say no to anything."
Peggy thought about that as she tied her own shoes.
—-
A large man, by the name of Dugan brought over a large quantity of pizza and set on the tables. "Feast!" He crowed as he handed out plates.
A smaller guy, introduced as Denier, with blonde hair and an accent she recognized as French, sidled up to her. "So, is it true?"
She glanced at him, he had an impish grin on. "You'll have to be more specific."
"You're here for our heart?"
Her brow furrowed, "your what?"
Denier laughed, "you'll see."
—-
She did see. The minute Steve entered the establishment there were hoots and hollers and pats on the back that he rolled his eyes at, but greeted them all fondly.
His eyes met hers and she smiled, he froze. For one adorable second he looked young and fragile, before he smiled back and nodded at her, extending his hand. "Hey, good to see you again." He said calmly before dragging his hand back, all too soon for her liking.
"You too."
"How did Bucky convince you to join this group of yahoos?" He asked with a wry grin on his face. But he didn't let her answer, "he's good at convincing people of stuff. Sorry you got roped in." He ducked his head in a laugh and stepped away, engaging in a conversation with the girl named Wanda and the one who'd been introduced as Gabe.
The night continued. They taught her how to bowl, she wasn't terrible, but she knew it would take practice to have any sort of decent skill. She and Steve spoke on multiple occasions, and she asked questions that required in depth answers, but he would answer and smile and then step away, as if he was doing her a favor by stepping back. It almost was painful how much he acted like he was not interesting enough to be talked to.
But she didn't give in. She talked to everyone, getting to know the group and hearing stories about their days in the war, and their days since. She learned that Steve had been the one to bring Maria, Wanda, Natasha and Pietro, into the group. He'd become friends with them while Barnes had been deployed.
"There's Steve." Maria said with a laugh, "blood covering his face, wouldn't take no for an answer when I insisted I was fine."
Steve leaned back in his chair, his fingers gripped the plate in his hands. "What was I supposed to do?" He said huffily.
The group laughed at the story, but Peggy was intrigued. Apparently Maria, who had her own service record with the military, had had a flashback outside a restaurant when a car backfired. Steve, a total stranger, had tried to help, receiving a broken nose for his effort. But had still stayed, calming her down until he could help her to the nearest hospital because she'd broken two fingers punching him.
"That's not even the half of it!" Maria said laughing, nudging Steve's shoulder who just rolled his eyes and continued to stare at his plate.
"Your turn Steve." Natasha called. He stood up, grabbed his bowling ball and stood at the end of the lane. He moved swiftly and with a crash all 10 pins came down. Cheers and boos and jeers about cheating erupted and Steve gave them the middle finger as he sat back down.
"You really are quite good." Peggy commented, leaning towards him. She watched as his eyes looked briefly at her lips and sweater, which matched perfectly if she did say so herself, before they came to meet her eyes. The blush on his cheeks was lovely.
"Thanks. Not that it's much of a skill." He said self-deprecatingly.
"It's still a sight to watch." Peggy said firmly, "impressive. Just like your work today."
His chin tucked down. "I'm just glad I could help."
"You did."
"Carter!" Bucky called, "your turn!"
She stood and she could feel his eyes on her back, which made her smile.
—
Monty, a man whom she shared a lot in common with, sat and attempted to flirt with her. She laughed, and he took that as a positive sign. Engaging her in a in-depth conversation about their homeland. What she remembered, what she liked better about America. It took her awhile before she caught the glare aimed at Monty from Wanda and Natasha.
"MOnty!" Wanda called, "you're up for the soda. Go get more."
Monty scowled good naturedly, and bid her adieu as he grabbed the empty pitchers and walked to the counter.
The two girls stepped over and sat down next to her. 'Sorry about him, he hears his own accent and goes wild."
Peggy laughed, "Oh I don't mind. He reminds me of my brother."
The statement has the desired effect. They relax and start asking her more about herself.
—
She can tell the night is coming to a close and she hadn't gotten to know enough about Steve. Not nearly enough. Every snippet about him made her more intrigued. Every story told at his expense made her laugh and it endeared him to her more.
But he was elusive. Never staying too long in a conversation with her. They finished their last game and were still talking and laughing, finishing up the pizza and soda.
She tried one more time. Walking up to Steve as he talked to Jim Morita and they shared stories about having to. Wait a year longer than everyone else to be allowed to ride the Cyclone at Coney Island.
"Those bastards held me back on purpose." Morita groused. "I was totally tall enough that time."
Steve laughed, patting him on the back, "I sure wasn't. I barely made it the next year."
They talked for a bit more, and Peggy stood, laughing at the right time and interjecting comments when she felt she could.
"We have to go back and eat at that little Italian place." Morita said, tapping on his phone, "you remember? Geez, what was it called?"
"Fenerio's." Steve said with a laugh, "you ate your weight in bread that night."
Morita's eyes glazed over, "that bread was so good."
Natasha took the opportunity to step in. "Peggy, I'm sure you'd love this place, you'll have to try it."
Peggy nodded, looking at Steve, "I'd like that."
Steve smiled easily and scrubbed at the back of his neck, "yeah, we should do another night like this. It was fun. Less greasy pizza and more drunk idiots." He laughed and then stepped back from the group to go place his bowling ball back on the shelves.
She felt a bit stunned as she returned her own ball and stood in line to return her shoes. Barnes appeared innocently at her side. His eyes trained on her. "What do your detective skills tell you?"
Peggy looked at him, and the slightly sad look in them confirmed what she'd already guessed. "He doesn't know I'm here for him. Has no idea."
Barnes doesn't answer right away, his eyes glancing at the back of Steve's head. "Never had a girl pursue him before. Wouldn't know what it looked like if it slapped him."
Peggy pursed her lips. "That's unacceptable."
Barnes looked at her. "I agree."
She glanced at Steve before meeting Barnes' eyes. "How forward do I need to be for him to catch on?"
He laughed, "beats me. Other than you straight up telling him? It would probably just take time and consistency. He's definitely been shy of you tonight."
"Of me? Why?"
Barnes stared at her, "You're kidding me?"
She looked at him, "kidding you about what?"
"Carter. You came dressed like that—" he gestured to her jeans and sweater.
"This is a perfectly reasonable outfit!" She huffed.
He laughed, holding his hands up in surrender, "hell yeah it is. You look fantastic,and I don't even mean that in a creepy way. But the kid is not exactly an expert at this, and when you show up like that, he's not going to think you're after him."
Peggy glared, slamming her shoes on the counter and scaring the teenage attendant, "and why the hell not?"
Barnes sighed, "Carter, I already told you this. Because no one else ever has."
"Never what?"
"Dressed up for him. Showed interest."
"I find that perfectly unbelievable that no one has ever shown him interest."
The grimace that Barnes gives her, makes her think she's not going to like what he's about to say.
"No one else who had his best interests at heart. Only those who wanted something out of him."
Her head whips towards him, and he looks at her straight on. "I thought you said he'd never asked another girl out?"
"He hasn't."
"You're being cryptic."
"No. I'm telling you that girls have used Steve for their own gain. And he's too freaking nice to see it."
Their conversation got cut off as Dugan and Jones interrupted, saying their goodbyes.
They walked out onto the street into the crisp fall night. Peggy maneuvered herself next to Steve and caught his arm. He looked at the hand in surprise and then up at her, a question on his face.
"Steve?"
"Yes?"
She paused, what would she even say? But the genuine confusion in his eyes spurred her on. He deserved to know that he was perfectly desirable. "I had a lovely time tonight. And not that I don't appreciate your friends, because they are lovely, I was hoping in the future I could get to know you a bit more, if you were agreeable to that."
She was acutely aware of the group pretending they were not watching their exchange.
Steve's eyebrows pulled down. "You.. want to get to know… me?" The way he phrased that question made her heart twinge.
"Yes, Steve. I would. Is that okay?"
He looked at her, shoulders ducking. "I mean, sure, I guess, if you want."
"I do want." She said firmly. She leaned down and kissed his cheek, seeing the faint ghost of the charcoal smudge on his skin. Which was soft and cold against her warm lips.
His eyes were wide and mouth parted open slightly in a deer in the headlights look that was simply adorable. She smiled at him and pointed at Barnes. "He has my number. And I assume he has yours. Would you like me to call you to set up a date?"
His voice is quiet as he repeated her words, "a date?"
"Yes," she laughed softly, "I'd like to go on a date with you, if you want to."
The lipstick mark on his cheek had her smiling as he nodded his head up and down.
"Okay, it's settled then. Shall I call you or will you call me?"
He met her eyes and something must have given him courage because he straightened up, and spoke more firmly, "I'll call you."
"Lovely." She said with a smile. "See you soon, I hope." She waved and walked towards her subway stop.
—