" - told you I'll be there."
Quieting her call of Angie's name, Peggy slowed, pausing, even going so far as to halt her removal of her coat. Tilting her head, she shuffled closer to the library door; she knew she shouldn't, but that tone in Angie's voice…
"Mmhm. Right. Yes. Alfie, I'm gonna be there. No, I don't care - Alfie. Alfie. You're my broth - yes, I know what this means - dammit, Alfie, just shut up and accept the fact I'm gonna back ya up!"
Then, with a violent crash of receiver on base, Angie swept into the hall, almost crashing directly into Peggy.
"Peggy!" she squawked, hands raised in front of her face, teetering back on her heels, "Jeez, scare a girl, will ya?"
Peggy dropped her own hands, smoothing down her blouse and skirt in an immediate attempt to seem as if she wasn't ruffled. "I called for you," she offered uselessly.
"Ahuh." Nodding, eyebrows raised, Angie started edging around her. "Well, welcome back. Dinner's in the oven. I'm just… I have to… There's a family thing."
"Family." Turning her head, watching Angie hurry down the hall away from her, Peggy halfheartedly offered the younger woman a raised wave. "Be careful…!" she called to the already closing front door.
Once it shut, confronted with sudden, pressing silence closing in on her, Peggy exhaled. She wasn't sure if she should follow Angie or not.
On one hand, Angie was a grown woman. Someone well equipped with asking for help if she needed it. Someone who seemed intent on proving to Peggy she was capable of taking care of herself.
On the other hand, that phone call Peggy had overheard…
The phone suddenly shrilled. Running into the library, Peggy snatched it up. "Yes?" she snapped.
"Miss Carter," Jarvis' calm voice greeted, "I apologize for the imposition, but I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Stark. He wishes to know if you're satisfied with your accommodations."
Losing herself into a discussion of the apartment and its pros and cons, switching halfway through to the phone in the kitchen so she could serve herself an absolutely delightful cut of roast beef with carrots and potatoes, Peggy begged off an hour before her normal bedtime. As lovely as it was hearing about Mrs. Jarvis' plans for an early Easter luncheon - one she'd be sure to pass on the invitation to Angie - she did have a nightly routine.
One that did not, Peggy stared at the shuffling, limping form of her roommate, twenty minutes after wishing the Jarvises a good night, include a black and blue Angie.
"Angie!" she gasped, surging forward, cupping the waitress' elbows to keep her upright, leading her into the hallway powder room so she could get a better look at her, "Oh, darling, what happened?"
Angie winced at the warm pressure of Peggy's fingers along her split and bleeding eyebrow, continuing to wince as Peggy trailed down an equally knotted cheek and split lip. "'S fine," she managed a smile even as the sink she leaned over ran red with her blood, "I've had worse."
"Worse!" Peggy cupped her chin, pulling her around to look at her, "Angie. Good lord! You look like you've lost ten rounds!"
"You should see the other person," Angie quipped, only to flinch when Peggy glared at her. "Sorry," she muttered.
"You should only be sorry if you mean it," Peggy replied. Continuing to stroke Angie's cheek, she glanced down, trying to see the other woman's hands. "Well," she stated, using her other hand to pull one of Angie's up, "These are some bruises on your knuckles, huh."
Angie tilted her head, glancing at her from under her eyelashes. She sighed. "I had to."
"I see."
"No, really." Twisting, resting her elbow on the sink counter, Angie gazed up at Peggy as best as she could. "Alfie needed me."
Peggy pursed her lips. Dropping Angie's hand, she ran a towel under the water, using it to dab at the blood dripping down Angie's cheek.
Angie sighed again. "Alfie. He's my twin. Got into some trouble." She closed her eyes, letting Peggy stroke over them. "I had to help him." Her free hand found Peggy's waist, curling, tugging at the material of her nightgown. When Peggy moved back, letting Angie open her eyes again, Angie stared at her. "I had to," she repeated.
"I know." Brushing Angie's bruise-free cheek with the back of her knuckles, it was Peggy's turn to sigh. "I just wish I was there." She wrung out the towel, draping it over the faucet. "I almost was. I should have followed you."
But Angie was already shaking her head. "No," she met Peggy's eyes with her own, as swollen as one was; she smirked rakishly, "Wouldn't have been fair then."
"Oh?" Peggy snorted, curling her hands on either side of Angie's face, turning the woman around so she faced her directly.
"Yeah." Angie grinned. "You against the crooks of my old neighborhood? No fun in that!" Allowing the semblance of a laugh to leave her chest, she sobered, dropping her head as best she could against Peggy's hold, shuffling closer. "I mean it, though. Really," she murmured, fingers once again tangled in the fabric of Peggy's nightgown, pushing back so she could loosely hug the older woman's waist with her forearms, lopsided smile directed completely up at her, "This was between me, Alfie, and the mooks."
Peggy wrapped her arms around Angie, pulling her in close. Squeezing her to her for a couple of seconds, she quickly stepped back. "Then, come on. There's still the dinner you prepared."
"Hmm?"
Peggy pressed a fast, fleeting kiss to Angie's forehead. "You need to eat," she expounded, "Eat and rest." She moved back again, curling her hand around Angie's to tug her out of the powder room. "Tomorrow, I can teach you how to better fight against those who would harm you.
"Only if, of course," she turned back, staring at Angie, "You insist on continuing this course for your future."
Angie followed her. "I'd like that," she said, meaning it, her hand tightening around Peggy's, depending on her to lead her as much as she was intent on not acknowledging the probably violent course she'd take in defense of her twin at any moment, "I'd like that. Thank you."