The Hustle (An Agent Carter Fanfic)

The Sting

Janice won't let Angie take her for three thousand dollars. Angie should have known better than to hope it would be so easy as all that. Her mind is racing as she accepts the drink some pretty bird shoves into her hand. Her eyes slide from the smiling face of the girl over to where Peggy stands on the outskirts of the gathered crowd. Peggy's lips are pursed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and worry.

The girl leans up and whispers that she's staying at some hotel Angie barely recognizes with an address on the Lower West Side into Angie's ear. Her cheeks are burning, but she shakes her head in the negative and steps aside. "Sorry, doll," she says. "Already got a friend." She won't call Peggy more than that. Even if this is a game, it isn't right to be puttin' her into that role in such company.

Face falling, the girl glances at Peggy and her eyebrows shoot up. "You could do better, Brooklyn."

"Don't want to," Angie replies shortly. She's tryin' to figure out how to inch away before Peggy's hands, now clenched into fists, wrap around this girl's neck. Or at least, in Angie's mind that's how it goes. She knows better than to want it in real life.

Janice saves her. She claps Angie on the shoulder and pulls her away from the interloper, holding her close and smelling of expensive cigars and whiskey. "Good match, Ang, good match." There's a victorious gleam in her eyes despite having lost so much money. This is the revenge Janice wanted, a big hit to her husband's bankroll. Angie's stomach twists into knots, looking down at the money. It is not enough to keep Tito safe.

Angie is startin' to think no amount of money is gonna keep Tito safe.

She tilts the glass back and drains the liquid quickly.

The crowd is already starting to disperse.  They're heading back to the bar and their tables and dancing. Soon it's just Angie and Peggy, Janice loping off with the girl who gave Angie a drink, laughing and chewing on a cigar that belches blue smoke over the room at large.  Angie wrinkles her nose. Betty has rules about smoking for a reason.  That cigar smells foul.

Something warm brushes against Angie's fingers, and she looks down to see Peggy's hand just sitting there all pretty with red painted nails.  Angie stares down at the crumpled mess of bills on the pool table and feels empty. This isn't like before, when it was just a few bucks or nickel trick shots with Tito when they were young. This is more money than she's ever held at one time, all going to a mobster and a conman who probably wouldn't even miss what Tito'd lost. 

"You're staring at it." Peggy starts to gather it up. She folds the bills and tucks them one by one into her bra, not her purse, when no one's looking their way.  Angie smiles. Peggy's smart. The streets aren't exactly safe for a woman this late at night, but no one's gonna make a grab for the goods over a purse. A purse is far more accessible.  "I thought that this is what you wanted, save your cousin and not dirty your hands too much."

Angie unscrews her cue and slides the two pieces back into its case. Her fingers play out over the zipper and she sighs. "I should feel different, ya know? I just walked off more than thousand bucks richer, so why do I feel sick to my stomach?"

"It isn't enough."  Peggy looks away.  "You don't have enough to be sure this will go away.  I could call Howard an—"

"No." Angie says forcefully.  She zips up her case. She doesn't want any more of Howard Stark's charity. The strings that come attached cost more than she will ever be able to repay. "I'll figure it out, alright? Don't go getting involved in this."

"I'm here aren't I?"  Her tone is hot, almost resentful. Acid wells up in Angie's stomach. Stupid, stupid. She's gotta do better if she's going to get Peggy to just leave it be. "I'm already involved."