No, she has to reveal herself on her own terms, and if Steve doesn't want to do anything with her anymore besides just following her orders if she's out on the army training grounds here and there, she'd understand...At least she got a memorable date with the best man she'd ever known...Far better than the crushes she had as a girl back in Britain.
Perhaps, she'd have the chance to give him a peck on the cheek to thank him for the wonderful date before it becomes awkward when they're alone in the small meeting room Peggy has in mind...She hopes that it's empty.
"Eva?", Steve raised an eyebrow before he nodded and she smiled before the two of them walked: she knew that she was going to have to get Steve and Erskine to meet soon, Phillips informed her that the doctor would very much like to meet their 'candidates' in a more relaxed atmosphere.
They walked into the building that is sort of public while government-issued, and Peggy led Steve from the hallway to the sign-up area and line of a few stragglers, looking very carefully at every corner, her agent abilities on full speed before seeing with relief that the small meeting room, with tinted windows and doors is empty, in the other hallway.
Peggy took Steve in, locking the doors by the turn-knob, and looked at Steve, "Everything tonight, I promise, was absolutely real for me, Steve, except the bit of the job for the army...I technically had orders about keeping an eye on you, and that includes being undercover in disguise...Eva is one of my aliases as I'm an agent...", slowly taking off the wig, finally freeing her long copper-brown lush, and well-cared hair, "I'm Margaret Carter, and friends, along with family, calls me Peggy.", with her heart beating anxiously fast, waiting for Steve to react, seeing his eyes widen and his jaw drop.
Steve honestly didn't know what to say; he was just stunned by the whole well of information that was given to him all at once. There were orders that he was to be looked out; Eva was not who she said she was... but, her tone and the look in her eyes: she was telling the truth about what was happening between them.
Peggy held her breath, letting Steve have all the time he needs to understand, and finally, after two minutes, Steve whispered, "I was wrong...I originally thought that you'd be beautiful when you finally find your true passion, but being an agent...I see why you said that men underestimate you...You're not just beautiful, you're brilliant...".
Peggy blushed, brushing a strand over her ear, "Thank you, Steve.", and Steve replied, "The orders for keeping an eye on me, was it because of my five attempts to sign up in the other districts? I'm not a spy, I promise! I just...I just wanted a chance to fight for the Allies, to stop those Nazi bullies who think they'd hurt innocent people...Bucky was right...Am I in trouble?", with a worried look at Peggy.
Even with his jacket on her shoulders, Peggy is even more beautiful than she was as Eva. Steve realized that he was right...She looked even more right in her natural state...He wished he had his drawing pad for a moment.
Peggy chuckled as she shook her head, "Quite the opposite. You're not in trouble, but there's some here in attendance that wants to talk to you about something special. For what, I'm not fully sure: haven't gotten the clearance and all.".
Steve nodded as he took a deep breath. "Well... I'm glad to hear that at least.", he said. "Listen, let me escort you to the person that wants to talk to you, and then after that, we can finish this date; with no more secrets between us, alright? If you'll give me that chance at least.", Peggy suggested warmly.
Steve widened his eyes, "Really? But I'm a normal citizen!", and Peggy smirked softly, "I'm sure Erskine will give me the order that I'm off for the night. He's a romantic from what I hear.".
"Well, if you're sure...And the wig? Are you going to wear it again? Not that the wig suits you good, but-", Steve stammered, blushing as Peggy giggled softly at Steve's compliment, "Thank you, Steve. And don't worry, the wig will come off when it's time to resume our date. After all, you're not a soldier or anything, and it's just us...Speaking of which, can I spare a moment of affection before we get back out to the person, Erskine, I was talking about?".
Steve nodded, "Yeah, sure...", wondering what Peggy meant...Golly, even her true name suits her much better. Peggy came closer and landed a soft, warm peck on the palm of his hand she grabbed gently, "I'd kiss you on the cheek, but I think it's a bit too fast there, as I'm respecting your personal opinion...and well, even with my low-quality lipstick, you'd not probably want anyone to stare at you, hmm?".
Steve chuckled as he nodded, "Yeah... especially if I run into Bucky again tonight; he'll probably ask a lot of question if it was that obvious.".
"Something tells me that your friend might go to some crazy conclusions.", Peggy teased. Steve wryly laughed, "Sounds like Bucky, alright...So, umm, if the Stark Expo is a bit much after the meeting with your Erskine person, could you like to stroll a bit in Central Park, unless you want me to take you home?".
Peggy smiled brightly, "Steve, strolling in Central Park sounds perfect.", before kissing Steve's other palm in a peck, and Steve blushed, his heart beating as her lips felt so soft against his skin, and he's amazed that Peggy is bold yet not very forward, and strangely, he likes it.
"Now, let's not wait any longer.", Peggy nodded as she tucked her hair under the wig, putting it back on, and unlocked the doors, glancing both ways to see that the hallway is clear, and smiled at Steve who followed her, politely offering his arm again as she took it warmly.
Much to Steve's relief, he didn't see Bucky anywhere, figuring that he's hooked up fast by the girls with him as he's the type of the smooth-talking, flirting, and quick on the move guy, and Steve doesn't blame him especially if there's an assigned letter for him to ship out by a few days to training in case the letter comes tomorrow.
They headed out of the building, heading to the Stark Expo, as Peggy searched for Erskine, and found him talking with one of the scientists, "There he is. Now, Steve, don't be too surprised if he knows you by name. He is one of the few who noticed the irregularities of your documents when you attempted to sign up the last five times.".
"Again, are you sure I'm not in trouble?", Steve asked as she nodded, "Trust me, you'll be fine.". She walked over to Erskine and whispered in his ear before he looked over to Steve and motioned him to follow him to a less crowded area of the expo, though not before quickly thanking the other man he was talking to.
"Apologies for that.", Erskine said as he and Steve finally were 'alone'. "Was chatting with Dr. Oppenheimer there. Thought maybe someone with theoretical physics knowledge could give a hand with my work but he sadly admitted it probably wouldn't.", Erskine sighed; not having the best of luck with some of the folks he was meeting with this evening.
Steve cleared his throat, "Agent Carter said you wanted to talk to me.", and Erskine blinked, "Oh, yes, I apologize for that, sometimes it takes a minute to switch from science talk to normal talk. I'm Dr. Abraham Erskine, and you are Steven Grant Rogers.".
"Yes, sir...", Steve gulped, and Erskine replied, "Relax, I'm not a general or anything of importance, through being an army scientist has its perks once in a while.", with a reassuring smile, "Now, I have seen that you attempted five times today, and I suspect you were intent to try again within the last sign-up, hmm?".
Steve blushed in shame, "I did...I'm sorry for the change of address on every document, but it's just that...every single time I get rejected because of...well, this.", gesturing to himself.
"You just gestured to all of yourself.", Erskine remarked, "Are you sure of that?", with an eyebrow, and Steve was about to reply when he paused, remembering what Peggy said to him...He exhaled, "Well, I have a strong heart, a kind personality, and a stubborn will to get up every time I fall.".
"Which is something the recruiters and the medical observers will always overlook. But even you must admit that you can't blame them for thinking you might not be cut out for active duty.", Erskine said as Steve reluctantly nodded as the doctor was right there. Physically, Steve wouldn't probably make it a week through basic training.
Erskine then replied, "But who says that you cannot try? Listen here, Steven. You are made for something bigger than all of us, even the war, and I'm hoping you are the right person for it.".
"Me?", Steve looked at him in surprise, and Erskine nodded, "That's right. So, what do you say? Would you give a shot for basic training and prove people wrong? And if you're still in by the time I convince my comrades including Agent Carter's boss, do you want to see all the good you can do?".
Steve inhaled and exhaled, shocked at the trust and confidence someone else is showing him besides Bucky and Peggy, and didn't even hesitate after a moment later, "I want to try, sir. I am not one for giving up until I need to, and I want to help stop the war somehow.".
Erskine held out a hand, "Welcome to the army, Steven Grant Rogers. And oh, you cannot tell family or friends of this. The project to involve you is top secret. Is that understood?".
Steve took his hand, shook it, "Crystal clear, sir.", and Erskine smiled, "Good. Agent Carter?", calling out, and Peggy returned from the spot she's standing beside the exit door, keeping an eye out for anything funny.
"Yes, Dr. Erskine?", Peggy asked, and Erskine smiled warmly, "You've done well, Agent Carter. Don't worry about Phillips. You're off duty as of this minute.".
Peggy smiled widely, "Thank you, Dr. Erskine. I'll be right back, Steve. Need to change and freshen up.", and Erskine smiled warmly, "There's a VIP bathroom back there.", with a gesture.
"Much appreciated.", Peggy nodded, and winked at Steve, walking on to the VIP bathroom, and Steve exhaled as Erskine chuckled, "Love can surprise us at every corner, especially when you least expect it.".
Steve blushed, "She said that you're one for romance.", and Erskine laughed warmly, "She's not wrong there! Believe me, you'd want to preciously hold every moment with her. I'm not blind.", as Steve blushed even more.
Erskine knew he's going to have a story to tell Thaddeus, drawing out his pocket watch, tracing it lovingly, with the inside of the face hidden away in Steve's view, and Steve replied, "That's a really nice pocket watch. Somebody special, huh?".
"Oh, yes...Thalia changed my life after I suffered a great loss in my beloved first wife.", Erskine exhaled softly, "I'd never thought I would find love again in my old age, but like I said, it's worth everything to hold every memory preciously to heart and beyond, even on our belief that our remaining decades of life if not shorter, would be sweet and peaceful.", using a feminine version similar to Thaddeus's name and meaning of his name.
Erskine doesn't know why, but somehow, he feels that it's easier to talk about Thaddeus in a mostly-truth way, in front of a respectable, great of heart, and strong-willed man like Steve, compared to the story he had to make up on Thaddeus's suggestion he told to Colonel Phillips.
"Still, I think maybe it's a bit too early with me and Carter there; after all, we just met.", Steve chuckled as Erskine nodded, "Not so fast to rush into love like fools; sometimes that ends up being a smart decision if you would believe it.".
Steve blinked, "Really?", and Erskine smiled gently, "Yes...Thalia has suffered a similar loss like me, and it brought us together...You might think that we old people would want to rush, considering our age of mortality, but we seize every opportunity we can, at our pace, and it makes those moments even sweeter.".
"I actually haven't thought of it like that...", Steve murmured, thinking of his mother. If she had been more careful, healthier, she would have lived to old age... Would she remarry if she wanted to?
He never was brave enough to ask her as she seemed happy raising him and Bucky, and there were moments he saw her reminiscing about his father, yet society was finicky earlier as it is now.
Erskine chuckled, "Ah, young people. That's okay, Steven. It's not every day I meet someone who listens to the elderly rather than bragging off to their friends and all.", and Steve gave a small smile before the sound of a feminine voice was heard, "Ready, Steve?".
Steve turned around, "Yeah, I'm rea-", his eyes widening in awe as Peggy is now in a modest yet beautiful plum purple dress with a bow at the waist, her natural copper-brown hair flawlessly gorgeous, showing off the red highlights to accompany her lips that is now rose-red, and thankfully wearing her flats still, with Steve's jacket on her shoulders like before.
Peggy giggled, "Good thing I got a backup in the purse.", having thrown the wig in the purse along with the blue dress earlier, with the army id, pocket gun, and the small tools for escaping a locked room in lined secret pockets again.
"I think you've stunned him once more, Peggy.", Erskine chuckled as he bowed his head. "Have a good night, you two... you'll hear from me soon, Steven.".
Steve nodded, and Erskine left the pair, smiling to himself as he whispered to Thaddeus, imagining him, tracing his pocket watch, "Love transcends through the ages, indeed...", with a soft click of closing it, and kissing it before tucking it back in his pocket.
Steve stammered, "P-Peggy, you're a classy dame...", and Peggy blushed, smiling, "Why, thank you, Steve...And just you know, I'll allow you to call me a dame, but don't forget that I ain't a damsel in distress, clear?".
"Crystal.", Steve nodded. "I obviously would be the one who would need some rescuing if need be...", he said as she smirked.
"Well, hopefully it won't come to that tonight. Come on, night's still young and we should try to get some fun in before curfew and rationing take hold. Not really great times to have fun, I can tell you.", Peggy advised.
Steve smiled, nodding, and offered his arm once more, and Peggy happily took it, and so, they strolled through the far edges of the Stark Expo, commenting occasionally upon any interesting invention on show, and got to Central Park, by strolling to the Great Lawn and the Turtle Pond, or rather Belvedere Pond it was called now in the 1940s.
Peggy replied, "It's really beautiful with the lights shimmering on the reflection...", as she sat on a bench with Steve. He smiled, "It sure is...I come here often to draw. It's strange...It's so chaotic and noisy with families during the day, but it's quiet and peaceful at night..".
"I bet...Oh, look!", Peggy replied, seeing a pair of swans swimming in the pond, and Steve chuckled, "Of course, there's the occasional surprise after dark.".
Peggy smiled, "Oh, look at them, they're dancing in their own way...Did you know that swans mate for life?". Steve nodded. "Yep, I've heard of that. "I've actually sketched a few couples in the past.", he told her as she chuckled.
"I wouldn't mind actually seeing that some time if I got the chance.", Peggy said as Steve smiled, "Well, they're only sketches; nothing too elaborate or, special...".
Peggy replied, "Oh, I doubt it. You're one of the few good men, so I believe your sketches are really good.", and Steve blushed at the compliment, and said, "I'll take your word when you see them one day.".
"Smart man.", Peggy smirked lightly before whispering softly, "Do you mind if I snuggle by you? It's one of those rare times we're on equal height somewhat...".
Steve was stunned for a moment before stammering, "Uh, yes, sure...", and Peggy smiled as she scooted closer, relaxing her body lower as she moved Steve's jacket to cover both of them over their back of the shoulders, her head resting on the edge of his shoulder, and Steve's heart skipped a beat as he hesitantly took a deep breath, and wrapped an arm around her.
Peggy spoke softly, "You can tell me if it bothers you...You don't have to do that if you don't want to...", taking into Steve's subtle aftershave, feeling content yet she can feel his heart beating so fast. Is she being too forward?
