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Peggy was sitting at her table, looking outside from the window. It was quite dark outside, except for the lights. The rain was too slight to be seen, but she could see the raindrops on her window. She was sipping her evening tea, it was not as good as it was back in England.
There was a knock on her door. Not a doorbell, knock. Peggy reached for her gun. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and trouble seemed to be following her.
She opened the door carefully, finding a figure with a hood of a cloak over their head, shielding their face.
”Peg, it’s Dottie.”
Peggy lowered her gun in confusion. What on earth was the woman doing at her door? The last time she had seen her was in Los Angeles, when Peggy had needed her help, and she had escaped. That was maybe three months ago.
“Dot?”
Dottie swiped the slightly wet hood off of her head, and nodded. Her hair was still black- or dark brown, Peggy wasn’t quite sure- and wavy. Nothing like the blond curls when she had met Dottie the first time. Peggy didn’t know which look she preferred, on the other hand; Dottie had looked so innocent when blonde. And pretty, gosh, so pretty. Peggy’s interest had piqued the very first time they had met. And then Dottie had kissed her- with the goddamn narcotized lipstick- and Peggy hadn’t stopped her. On the other hand though, the dark hair made her icy blue eyes the center of attention. And god Dottie looked so deadly. And hot, very hot.
”Not the wisest decision to drop the gun in front of a Soviet assassin.” Dottie raised an eyebrow.
Peggy rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please, I’d be perfectly capable of kicking your ass.”
”Sure.” Dottie smirked. That goddamn smirk. It made Peggy feel things.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Peggy sighed. She hadn’t expected the assassin on her door at 10.36 PM. Or at any time, really.
”Well, I am supposed to kill you,” Dottie said matter of factly. Peggy wasn’t sure how much of a truth it was. Dottie had fought her many times, but never to kill.
“But you’re not going to, I assume?”
”No.”
Peggy relaxed visibly.
“Thank god for that. You should’ve led with that, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”
”So you are scared of me?” Dottie asked with an amused eyebrow. Peggy crossed her arms. Obviously she was scared of Dottie. The woman was a trained Soviet assassin. She had been trained to be a weapon since she was lord knows how young.
“I’d be stupid not to be scared of you.”
”Fair.” Dottie said, a slight smile on her lips. Peggy rolled her eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re enjoying this?”
”Oh I am.” Dottie leaned against a wall. Peggy eyed her suspiciously. She was done beating around the bush.
“Why are you here, exactly?”
”I need your help. Your help specifically, not the SSRs.”
Peggy was pretty sure she would’ve guessed the last part. Dottie hardly seemed the type of person to ask for help from an American intelligence agency.
“And why exactly should I help you?”
“Because otherwise I die.”
Peggy scoffed. “And why do I care?”
“I’m not sure. But for some reason you do.”
Peggy tried not to look annoyed that she was right. For some ridiculous reason, she was fond of the woman before her.
“Continue.”
“I have people after me, because I didn’t complete my mission. I need a safe place where I can hide.”
“And you thought I’d be the best option.” Peggy said bluntly.
“You’re my only option.”
Peggy sighed but it was clear she’d already caved. She couldn’t let Dottie die. And she was aware the woman had nowhere else to go.
“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”
“Probably.”
“Fine, come on then. But if you try anything, I will have absolutely no problem shooting you.”
“Yes ma’am.” Dottie saluted her.
“And quit calling me ma’am,” Peggy said, leading Dottie into her apartment.
“Yes ma’am.”
Peggy smacked the back of her gun on Dottie’s head lightly. Not enough to hurt, but enough to get her attention.
“Stop it or you can sleep outside.”
“Ouch. Why so rough, Agent Carter?”
Peggy put the gun in a drawer and glanced at Dottie.
“You’re a trained Soviet assassin, not some lost puppy I’ve picked up off the street.”
Dottie looked amused at that.
“I prefer cats anyway.”
“Of course you do. I mean, you are like a cat.”
“Thank you.”
“Wasn’t exactly a compliment.”
“What was it then?”
“An observation.”
Dottie hummed, and looked around.
“This is your place? It’s small.”
“I’m a woman living alone- in New York. Of course it’s small. Also someone got me thrown away from Griffith.” Peggy eyed at Dottie, who just grinned. Of course she wouldn’t feel any remorse for it. After being arrested by the SSR, in front of literally everyone, it was pretty much impossible to get back there. Peggy tried, of course.
Dottie took a few steps and looked around. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“On the bed. And I’ll be keeping a very close eye on you, just so we’re clear.”
”The bed? You have only one bed?”
“I told you, I live alone, I have no need for a big apartment. Now do you want to keep complaining or would you rather get some sleep?”
”Sleep sounds good, ma’am”
“Stop calling me ma’am.” Peggy said as she headed into the bedroom, expecting Dottie to follow her.
“It’s just so fun to annoy you.”
Peggy turned back around to look at Dottie, with annoyance. Dottie seemed to have succeeded, then.
“Seriously? What are you, twelve?”
”About twenty, actually. However, I know you’re 26.”
“How do you know that?”
”Peggy, don’t be an idiot, I know everything about you.”
Peggy crossed her arms, slightly annoyed. She didn’t like the fact that Dottie knew everything about her without her knowing anything about Dottie.
“What do you know?”
”You were born to Harrison and Amanda Carter on Saturday, April 9, 1921, in Hampstead, England. Your brother's name is Michael. You received your education from St Martin-In-The-Fields High School For Girls, and gained your PHD from Trinity College, Cambridge.”
Peggy was impressed, she had to admit. Not only Dottie knew that, she also remembered it.
“I see you’ve done your research. Anything else you know about me? Since you said you know everything about me, there must be more, right?”
“You like both men and women.”
Dottie tilted her head to the side, and smirked. She knew that would get a rise out of her. Peggy went completely still, her face going slightly red.
“How do you know.. about that?”
”It’s okay Peggy, personally I think it’s a surprise you like men at all. They’re so… boring.”
“I take it you like only women, then?”
Peggy said, trying to move the subject away from her own sexual orientation. However she was surprised, Dottie flirted with anything that just moved. Of course that could just be her way of getting under peoples’ skin. It sure got under Peggy’s. And not in a bad way.
”Yes.”
“And what do your employers think of that?” Peggy asked curiously.
”I don’t think they care who I fuck, if I can get my job done.”
Peggy scoffed.
“It’s 1947, you know. People still aren’t too fond of people like us.”
”Maybe you should switch sides. The Soviet Union isn’t the most accepting, but if you do your job, you can live in peace.”
“You’re crazy if you expect me to switch sides. My job is catching spies like you, not joining them.”
“Yet you’re helping me.”
Dottie brushed past Peggy, their shoulders touching. She had a scent Peggy couldn’t place. Something sweet. Peggy shook her head.
“I’m temporarily helping you. I’m not about to become a Soviet spy. Besides, the US needs people like me. We’d be completely screwed for intelligence if everyone just switched to the Soviets.”
Dottie turned back to Peggy, crossing her arms delicately.
“The US this, the US that. You’re English. Why do you care?”
Peggy resisted the urge to punch Dottie, and instead just rolled her eyes. Was the woman just trying to get a rise out of her or was she actually that foolish.
“Why do you care? Does the Red Room train its assassins to be annoying as hell?”
“No, actually we’re trained to be soulless, I just still have a spark in me.”
Dottie gave her a smile, but Peggy could’ve sworn she saw a bit melancholy in her eyes. Peggy looked at her, thinking that what she said sounded a lot like a cry for help.
“Oh, really? A spark, huh?”
“Yep.”
“You’re not like…completely emotionless, then?”
Peggy asked curiously. She didn’t exactly want to interrogate Dottie right now, but it was a bit hard to resist asking questions.
“Do I seem like it?” Dottie raised an amused eyebrow. It was weird, how Dottie could just speak about these traumatic experiences, and seem so… positive.
Peggy narrowed her eyes.
“No, that’s what I’m asking. How could you possibly have emotions after everything you’ve been through?”
“You say it like it's hell. I was trained and I had a roof over my head.”
Peggy looked at her in disbelief.
“You were stripped of your identity, forced to be a weapon, and you think that’s not bad??”
Dottie shrugged.
“That's all I’ve ever known.”
Peggy couldn’t help but feel bad for Dottie, she suddenly wanted to reach out, pull her into her arms and hold her. Peggy quickly shook that thought away. She needed to be careful with Dottie, that’s all.
“I have a question.”
“Do ask,” Dottie said, as she jumped on the bed, to be on her knees.
Peggy swallowed, watching Dottie bounce on the bed and resisted the urge to imagine other things- Focus, focus, focus. She pushed those thoughts away and focused instead on asking her question.
“How many people have you killed?”
“I don’t really count. A lot.”
Peggy couldn’t help but shudder, the woman sitting innocently on her bed was the same woman who had killed god knows how many. Peggy’s mind and heart were at war with each other: her mind knew Dottie was dangerous. Her heart however wanted to care for her.
“What age were you when you first killed someone?”
“Preteen, maybe.”
“How?”
“There was this girl, Anya. We had, well not exactly friendship, but a bond of some kind. They figured it out, and made us fight until the end.”
“End meaning…?”
“Death, yes.”
“That’s horrible!”
“That’s past, Peggy.”
Peggy tried to look at Dottie, really look at her. Not her striking blue eyes, or her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. But her posture, the way she held herself. The way she smiled a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“You have any clothes? It’d be uncomfortable to sleep in this.” Dottie gestured to her black dress, interrupting Peggy’s staring. Peggy nodded and opened the drawer beside her bed to get Dottie a nightgown.
“You can borrow this. It might be a bit big on you since it’s a little big for me too, but it’ll have to do.”
Dortie took the gown. “Turn around, would ya.”
Peggy hesitated for a moment, for all she knew, Dottie could stab her in the neck from behind. She then nodded and turned her back to Dottie, taking the risk.
“Done!”
Peggy turned towards Dottie, looking her up and down. The gown was just a tad oversized on her, and seeing Dottie in Peggy’s clothes did weird things to her heart. The light pink silk dress was to Dottie's knees, and almost showed her chest. Peggy stood awkwardly, as the woman in front of her tightened the straps of the gown. Dottie climbed back to the bed. This time she leaned on her hands and crossed her legs.
”Do you have handcuffs?”
”Oh right. Do you actually still sleep like that?”
“Yes.”
Peggy opened another drawer, and let her hand wander around for a moment. Finally she found her handcuffs. Dottie had gotten under the covers.
“Hold out your wrist.”
Dottie obeyed, and Peggy couldn’t help but to feel something. The normally so bratty woman seemed so…amenable. It was hot. Peggy closed the handcuff around Dottie’s wrist and made sure it was firmly locked, before putting the key on the nightstand, where Dottie could reach it.
Peggy glanced at Dottie.
“Don’t you ever think ‘hey, this handcuffs thing is a bit weird’?”
“Don’t you ever think ‘hey, liking women is a bit weird’?”
“Touché.”
Peggy thought for a while.
“You know, just because something is normal to you doesn’t mean it’s normal. Especially when that thing is being handcuffed to the bed every night.”
”If you don’t shut up about it, I have no other choice than to kill you.”
Peggy was tempted to just smack Dottie. Or kiss her. Both. Both would be ideal.
“You’re not going to kill me.”
”Why do you think that?”
”I’m your only chance at staying alive.”
”Touché”
Peggy rolled her eyes at the fact that Dottie said that word with such a heavy accent. Usually Dottie hid her accent quite well. It sounded adorable, dammit. Peggy shouldn’t be having these thoughts about an assassin.
Peggy turned around, to change her own clothes. She was quite sure Dottie was shamelessly staring at her from the bed. When she had her own nightgown on, she turned around, and of course. Dottie was, indeed, curled on her right side, staring at her. Peggy tried to cover a shiver.
She got in the bed, laying on her back, not daring to be on her side. If she was turned away from Dottie, god knows what Dottie would do to her, unsupervised. Then again, if she was face to face with Dottie, she couldn’t trust herself to not do anything stupid.
”Good night, Peg.”
“Sweet dreams, Dot.”
Peggy said, trying her best not to think about the young woman next to her. It was going to be a long night.
Peggy laid awake, unable to sleep. She kept thinking about Dottie, she was so close and Peggy couldn’t decide whether she should grab her and hold her, or run away. For both of their sakes. Peggy watched the way Dottie’s chest rose and fell as she slept, how beautiful and peaceful she looked. Peggy finally allowed herself to reach out and gently brush a strand of hair out of Dottie’s face. Peggy pulled her hand away quickly, worried that Dottie would wake up. Instead, she moved closer to Peggy and she could feel her head against her shoulder. Peggy tried not to think too much about the way her heart beat faster. It was just because Dottie was an attractive assassin. Not because Peggy was falling for her or anything. Definitely not.
Peggy looked at Dottie, studying her face as she slept. She was so tempted to rest her head against hers but she restrained herself. Dottie was a Soviet assassin who had been trained to kill, that’s it. Peggy was not getting attached to her, that was a bad idea. Peggy finally, finally fell asleep. Her head ended up on Dottie’s, her arm wrapped protectively around her waist. Dottie was so soft in Peggy’s arms, despite being a deadly assassin.
Peggy woke up with her face nuzzled against the crook of Dottie’s neck. She was still holding Dottie close to her, and Dottie must’ve been moving around in her sleep, because her legs were intertwined with Peggy’s. Peggy could feel her heartbeat racing as she realized the situation she was in. Dottie hummed, and god it was adorable. It took all of Peggy’s willpower not to kiss the top of her head. Peggy was in deep, she had a trained Soviet assassin in her bed and she was absolutely head over heels for her. She was an absolute idiot.
Peggy carefully untangled herself from Dottie before getting out of bed. She felt like she needed to get some air, and maybe do some pacing to try and get her feelings in order. Peggy glanced back at Dottie, she looked so sweet and soft asleep like that, it was hard to remember that she was a dangerous killer. Peggy let out a sigh as she walked out into the living room, plopping down on the couch. She buried her face in her hands, desperately trying to push away the feelings she had developing for Dottie. Maybe she was just lonely, she was sure the feelings would fade. Eventually…
Peggy sat there for what felt like forever, thoughts of Dottie swirling around in her head. She was so wrapped up in them that she didn’t even notice Dottie walking into the living room until she spoke.
”Good morning, Peg,” She said, yawning.
Peggy looked up quickly, Dottie still wearing her nightgown, which was a bit too big on her, her hair messy and her voice tired. It was too adorable, and Peggy resisted the urge to walk over and pull Dottie into her lap.
”Good morning, Dot.”
Peggy replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. She wasn’t sure when exactly she had started to call Dottie by a nickname. Dottie probably did it to annoy her. She supposed, anyway.
”Do you have any coffee?”
Peggy tried not to focus on the slight accent. She nodded and stood up. “Sure, I think I have some in the kitchen. Do you like it with cream and sugar?”
”I’ll take it as black as my soul,” Dottie joked.
Peggy rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen, preparing the coffee.
“I think your soul is a lot less black than you think it is, sunshine.”
”Well thank you, I suppose.”
Dottie sat on the couch, on the very right side of it.
Peggy poured the coffee into a mug- her favorite mug- and walked back into the living room, handing it to Dottie.
“Here you go, love.”
”Love?” Dottie raised an eyebrow. ”At least you haven’t been americanized, I guess,” She shrugged.
Peggy tried to act nonchalant, and let out a small huff. In reality, the term of endearment had just slipped out. And she knew exactly why.
“Don’t push it, Miss Red Room.” She replied in a slightly mocking tone, trying to sound convincing.
Peggy sat down beside Dottie, trying to keep enough distance between them so she would not be not tempted to do something stupid.
“How’d you sleep?”
”Well, I suppose. You?”
Peggy nodded, trying not to blush as she remembered sleeping with her arm around Dottie’s waist, her head buried in the crook of her neck.
“Well enough.”
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while. Dottie was sipping her black coffee, her eyes wandering around the apartment. Peggy hesitantly reached a hand out and ran her fingers through Dottie’s messy hair. She didn’t even know what she was doing anymore, she had lost all reason when it came to Dottie.
Dottie stayed quiet, but glanced at Peggy curiously.
Peggy stopped her hand for a moment, looking at Dottie. She was not sure if she was actually comfortable with touching her or if she was just tolerating it because she had to.
“Is this okay, or should I stop?”
”It’s okay.”
Peggy nodded and went back to running her fingers through Dottie’s hair. It was soft, almost silky, she had to resist the urge to bury her face in it.
”Why haven’t you turned me in?” Dottie asked softly.
Peggy paused for a moment as she continued to run her fingers through Dottie’s hair. She didn’t even know the exact reason herself, there were a lot of things she should be doing but she wasn’t. Telling the SSR, reporting Dottie, handcuffing her, kissing her senseless for god’s sake.
“I don’t know,” Peggy finally said, softly. “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
”Probably” Dottie shrugged.
“Thanks a lot.”
”You’re welcome.” Dottie glanced at her, a smile on her lips. Peggy’s hand was still on her hair, combing it. Peggy laughed softly and shook her head. A wave of protectiveness washed over her as she looked at Dottie, and she could feel herself falling into a dangerous pit of feelings she knew she shouldn’t have.
”What was your mission?”
”What?”
“The mission that you decided to risk your life to defy. What was it?”
”Killing you.”
Peggy was a bit surprised by Dottie’s bluntness, but then again she couldn’t say she was all that shocked. She looked at Dottie, trying to read her expression.
“… why didn’t you?”
”I don’t know. Maybe I’m an idiot,” Dottie repeated.
Peggy couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“That’s a strong possibility,” Peggy said, ruffling Dottie’s hair.
“You’re way too comfortable with me,” Dottie grumbled.
Peggy couldn’t help but smile at Dottie’s behavior. It was just so goddamn cute.
”Maybe I am,” she said softly, continuing to run her fingers through Dottie’s hair. Peggy really was far too comfortable with her, it was ridiculous.
Dottie shoved her hand off.
Peggy let out a surprised sound.
“Hey, what was that for?” Peggy asked, giving Dottie a slight glare.
“I don’t understand why you’re acting so… domestic.”
A part of Peggy wanted to smack Dottie, because she seemed completely clueless. She could kill a man with nothing but a paper clip but she couldn’t even recognize when someone is starting to care for her. Peggy also couldn’t help the urge to grab her and kiss her till neither of them couldn’t breathe
"Maybe I just want to be nice to you, ever thought about that?"
“But why?”
Peggy let out a frustrated sigh, Dottie was driving her insane. She had Peggy completely falling for her and she didn’t even realize it.
"Because I like you, you oblivious idiot!"
“Well I know that, I just don’t know why you’re entertaining that feeling.”
Peggy scoffed and shook her head. She scooted a bit closer, almost right up against Dottie so they were sitting shoulder to shoulder.
"What do you mean you know?”
“You’re pretty transparent with it.”
Peggy wanted to roll her eyes because of course, Dottie had seen through her. She couldn’t even deny it, the way she looked at her was so obvious even a blind man could see it. Peggy looked at Dottie again, her eyes roaming over her face, her soft features, her pretty eyes, down to her pretty lips.
"...So, you noticed,” Peggy mumbled in defeat.
“It’s pretty hard not to.”
Dottie was killing her. She let out a huff.
"And it doesn’t... bother you?" Peggy asked softly.
“Why would it?”
Peggy couldn’t understand how Dottie could just sit there and act so nonchalant about the situation, as if they were talking about the weather. Peggy looked at her in surprise, her eyes wide. Dottie’s indifference was driving her insane.
"I just.. expected you to reject it. To get angry or.. something. Not just accept it so easily."
Dottie laughed.
“Now who’s oblivious?”
Peggy raised an eyebrow, she was a bit annoyed by how amused Dottie seemed to be by all this.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said, trying not to snap at Dottie.
“I like you too, Margaret.”
Peggy froze, the use of her full name, Dottie’s words. No one called her Margaret. No one. Her given name, said by Dottie, with the heavy accent, surely not by accident this time… it made her feel weak, just in the right way. Peggy could barely speak as she looked at Dottie, almost not believing what she was saying.
"You.. you're serious?" She managed to get out.
“Yes.”
Peggy looked at Dottie, her eyes searching for any signs of deception. There wasn’t any.
"Prove it,” Peggy said, her voice a mixture of nervousness and hope. Dottie just hummed, as if she was thinking. Then she pressed her lips on Peggy’s.
Peggy was so stunned by the kiss that she froze for a moment, then her mind catched up, and she kissed Dottie back. She grabbed Dottie, pulling her on her lap so Dottie was straddling her. Dottie let out a soft sigh at the action, but complied. Both of them wore only nightgowns, and underwear, which, just as a thought, made Peggy blush. She had Dorothy Underwood on her lap, just in nightclothes. Peggy wrapped her arms around Dottie’s waist, bringing her body as close to hers as physically possible. The kiss quickly deepened, and all Peggy could think about was how goddamn soft Dottie’s lips were.
Peggy felt her heart racing, she almost couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Her hands were roaming up and down Dottie’s back, slipping under the nightgown and tracing little patterns on her soft skin. Peggy’s lips were moving against Dottie’s desperately, trying to get her fill of her. Dottie was addictive, and Peggy was hooked