One Night In Brooklyn | Bucky Barnes 1940's

6.05 PM

"Oh, come on Eloise!" Peggy whined. "You promised!" She crossed her arms across her chest and started to pout.

"I did no such thing!" Eloise laughed and walked past her, pulling at the mess of cords across the switchboard.

"It's just dancing. I promise, you'll have fun. Plus, I really want you to meet Steve" Peggy beamed at her friend, her eyes fluttering with excitement.

"Don't give me that face, Peggy. You know how I feel about soldiers. I don't understand why you're all ruffled about this Steve. You've only him met once." Eloise rolled her eyes, still pulling at the cords.

"Twice! Last time was when he was home for Christmas." She corrected.

"Alright...twice" Eloise scoffed.

It was 1944, the streets of Brooklyn were roaring with development, and so was the war overseas. Peggy would bring a copy of the newspaper to work each morning, moaning and reading it out loud to the girls at the switchboard. But Eloise almost always ignored it. She wasn't fond of the war, its reasons or hearing about the awful dread of it each day.

Peggy grabbed hold of Eloise's stool and spun her around, putting them face to face as she bent down, wearing a stern expression.

"Eloise!" She started.

"Peggy, listen-"

"No! You listen to me, miss. You work way too hard to not let loose every once in a while. It's just one night. You don't have to be out for more than three hours, and then you can go home and I won't force you out of your apartment for another... two months. Just do this for me, please?"

Eloise crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at her friend.

"....fine. But make it one hour" She rolled her eyes.

"two and a half?" Peggy bargained.

"...two" Eloise agreed reluctantly.

Peggy jumped up and down, clapping her hands and yelping like a hurt puppy.

"Oh, Elle, it's going to be so much fun!" she squeezed her in a tight hug before returning to her side of the switchboard to help unplug the rest of the cords before closing.

"Don't call me that" Eloise reminded her playfully.

The streets were crowded. It was 6 o'clock in the evening and most people were making their way home from a day of work.

Peggy and Eloise walked down the street side by side, giggling and talking about all ordinary things.

Eloise wore her hair pulled back, the sides neatly woven into swoops that met in a neatly twisted low bun. She had decided not to change, meanwhile Peggy had held them back an extra 30 minutes while changing at work. Eloise had helped do her hair. She had decided to wear it down and rounded at the ends, her bangs neatly pinned to the side in a swoop.

As they were nearing the bar, Peggy stopped and pulled out a small hand mirror from her bag, fixing up her lipstick.

"I think you should put on that red lipstick you wear, Eloise!" She urged her on.

"Why?" Eloise looked at her curiously.

"Because...I think it makes you look dashing" Peggy's voice went up a pitch. Eloise knew she was nervous, but she sensed something else in her tone as well.

"Peggy..." She stared right into her eyes, waiting for her friend to budge.

"Okay, but please don't be mad at me...Steve brought a friend"  She confessed, trying to smile widely to lessen the blow of the news.

"Peggy, you little-" Eloise gasped.

"Oh it's just one night, Eloise! You can still leave after a couple hours. It's just harmless fun, dancing and some conversation. It won't be that terrible. Please, just do this. This once. For me?" She held Eloise's hand in her own, bringing it up to her chest and squeezing it tightly in her grip. Her eyes were gleaming with hope.

Eloise rolled her eyes, unable to say no. "Fine. But Peggy Carter, if you lie to me again-" Eloise started.

"I won't! I promise! "Let's go!" She beamed. "Oh wait! Lipstick!" She pulled it out of her purse and shoved it into Eloise's hand.