Chapter Text
Steve knows he’s in trouble when he enters Peggy’s office and sees both her and Natasha waiting for him with matching glares on their faces. The only one missing from this party it seems, is Alexander the Douche.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Steve asks when he sits down at the desk. Neither Peggy nor Natasha reply verbally, but Peggy slides something across the desk. A magazine, whose cover features a snapshot from the Boss party last night, where Steve punched photographer Jasper Sitwell in the face.
“I thought we established that you can’t go around punching people, Steve,” Peggy says tiredly.
The only reason Steve has managed to get anywhere in his career as a model is because of Peggy. A few years ago, she approached him one morning in a coffee shop (apparently those things actually do happen), and told him that if he were interested in modeling, he should call her.
Steve was floundering at the time—he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life at 19—so he figured, what the hell?
As it turns out, Peggy Carter is the best damn modeling agent there is. Male fashion models are typically very tall and decently built, and Steve Rogers is neither of those things. And yet, now 23, he has absolutely no issues finding work.
However, he’s not just a pretty face.
“He was spiking a girl’s drink, Peggy! I wasn’t just going to stand by and let it happen,” Steve defends immediately.
“So you decided to punch him? What did Alexander want you to do?”
“Jasper Sitwell is a snake, if a shiner keeps him from spiking drinks in the future, I think it’s worth it. Alexander told me to ignore it and keep walking,” Steve spits in disgust.
“Antagonizing photographers isn’t the best thing to do in this business, Steve,” Peggy sighs, rubbing at her temples.
Natasha, who’s been quiet thus far, speaks up. “Getting yourself on the front covers of gossip magazines for punching isn’t good for you either. This is why we hired a bodyguard.”
Steve doesn’t bother to hold in his groan. “I don’t need a bodyguard. Do you see Alexander around here? I sure don’t.”
Peggy narrows her eyes. “Alexander quit this morning. Said it was above his pay grade to run after an immature kid who refuses to listen to him.”
“Alexander quit?” Steve perks up immensely. Alexander Pierce was Steve’s fourth bodyguard in three months. He showed up thinking he was the shit, and that guarding Steve was going to be what solidified his reputation as the best in the business.
He was also an entitled dick.
Steve worked extra hard to get him to quit.
“He informed me that I can send the rest of the month’s pay to his forwarding address,” Peggy says. “You’re still going to be getting a new bodyguard.”
Natasha nods firmly in agreement. “You do everything for the right reasons, Steve. You want to keep people from getting hurt, which is great! But we want to keep you from getting hurt.”
“I’m not going to become a quiet model without any opinions, Natasha. I’ve got this fame, this access, I should be using it to make a difference. Or at the very least to change the gross behavior that lives in this business,” Steve declares, though they’ve both heard this before. Pretty much since the bodyguard topic got brought up in the first place.
“We know.”
Steve sighs, slouching back in his chair. “Do what you have to do, I guess. But I’m not going to like whoever you’re going to bring in.”
Natasha’s lips quirk up. “Of course not, you’re a model. So picky.”
“You should see what it’s like managing them,” Peggy says.
“Oh no, I’ll just stick to their publicity.” Natasha picks up her bag and smirks at Steve. “Try to stay away from gossip mag covers? You’d think high-end models would have standards.”
“We’ll see, Nat.”
When she leaves, just Peggy and Steve are left.
“I suppose it’s time for me to make another call to my good friend Nick Fury, then.”
“Can you at least have him pick one that isn’t a dick this time?”
“To be fair, Nick thought that Alexander’s ego would be too big for even you to pop,” Peggy chuckles and picks up her desk phone. “Go. I’ll come by with your new bodyguard soon. He should be around by the time you have the photoshoot with Sam Wilson.”
Steve gives Peggy a two-fingered salute before pulling himself out of the chair and leaving her office.
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