Chapter Text
There are certain things Peggy Carter knows. She knows that battles have been won but the war is far from over. She knows that evil cannot be wiped entirely from this world as long as free will exists, and it is her God given duty to wake up every day and fight for all that is good. She knows that Captain America, the man that had gotten quite close to taking her heart is gone, for good. And she knows that there will never be another man quite like him.
Then there are the things Peggy Carter has come to learn. She has learned that despite the title of Agent and credentials longer than some novels, the absolute apes at the SSR will never award her the respect she deserves. She has learned that being underestimated may just be the greatest weapon she has. Most importantly though, Peggy Carter has learned that those she holds dear usually face an untimely and unfair death, for which she is to blame.
It is equipped with this knowledge that she only allows herself to love a small part of someone new every day. Only yesterday a man had held the door for her, said hello, and he had the gentlest voice she had ever heard. For one simple second she loved him for that and the next moment he was gone, and he was safe.
In her rush the day before she walked right into a young man crossing the street and nearly gave the poor thing a heart attack. When they both looked up to apologize she saw coal black hair with delicate curls that framed the gentleman’s face and that was all it took for her heart to give just the slightest bit. Before she knew it he had brushed himself off, apologized far too profusely, and excused himself.
She sat quietly at the counter in the L&L Automat thinking over the concept she had adopted. It was perfect really. There was no safe way, no right way for her to love. And so she fell in love just a little bit every day with someone new, a stranger, and the stranger the person the better, for the both of them. Today it was getting late and she wondered if it would be the day where no stranger would have one little thing that sent her heart racing.
“Now what can I get for ya miss?” The voice was far too bubbly for this time of night, far too bubbly for such a wearying city and worrisome world.
“Coffee, black, would be perfect. Thank you.” The order was second nature to her, no matter where she went she was sure to get a cup. Its warmth allowed her some level of comfort at the end of the day and the caffeine kept her sane. She didn’t even look up from her papers as the words fell from her mouth.
“Sure thing English, I’ll be right back to take care of ya.” Peggy Carter wasn’t certain what it was that made her look up. Perhaps it was the amount of affection a perfect stranger was able to inject into the cheeky nickname. Perhaps it was the spirit, the strength, the bravado behind the words that forced her to see the one who spoke them so brazenly. Perhaps, somewhere far too deep down, the idea of being taken care of struck a chord.
It may have been the biggest mistake of her life to date. It was hard to tell, she had made many after all. It only took a moment to soak in the mischievous smile on the young woman in front of her, the electric eyes, and the unshakable air of pride. Peggy knew that one day she might just find a stranger with more than simply one little thing to love, but she dearly hoped that day would never come. Today could not be that day and, a young woman could never be that stranger. It had to be a rough day and lack of sleep playing tricks on her heart. “Dear Lord”
It was quiet, strangled almost, but the dynamic waitress must have heard it all the same because she spun right around. “What was that English?”
“Oh, it was nothing, nothing at all-“
“Angela Martinelli, but call me Angie.” With that hopeful introduction and a gentle smile she stuck out an eager hand.
“Peggy Carter. It is a pleasure to meet you Angie.” She took the surprisingly tender hand in her own calloused one and just like that they weren’t quite strangers any more. They were Peggy Carter and Angie Martinelli, God help them both.