Agent Carter: Something That I Can't Reach

Now is not the End(of Fonduing)

"I knew your fondue partner was up to no good."

Peggy turned her head. Steve was standing next to her at the back of the dark briefing room. The projector flashed the newsreel documenting the allegations against Howard. "Seems like death hasn't improved your sense of humour," she whispered, "You and I both know damn well he's innocent."

Steve shrugged his shoulders as he replied, "Then, tell them that."

"This place is a bit different from the SSR base underneath London," she said, "For starters, back there they respected me."

"From what I've noticed, it looks like he does." He smirked looking at the congregation of men, the back of their heads casting dark silhouettes against the grainy white light. All stared blankly at the screen. Peggy followed Steve's gaze towards a certain agent with dark curls of hair, a strong chin and a knit sweater vest. The agent passed a quick glance back at Peggy, and then turned nervously to glue his soft, dark eyes back on the screen. "Perhaps a little bit more than respect," Steve added playfully.

"Agent Sousa?"

"I remember him saying he'd preferred you to call him Daniel."

Peggy sighed, "Getting jealous now, Steve? Agent Sousa has it rough. They all treat him like a liability."

"Like I how people used to treat me before. Well, in that way we're alike. But unlike me: He made it back." Peggy's eyes fell to the floor. "He seems like a good man, Peggy. If he asks you out for drinks, do yourselves a favour by saying yes."

"I don't think now's the right time for me to take any chances with any of my co-workers. What else do you think of everybody in the office?"

"Well, for starters, your chief sounds like a grumpier, sexist version of Colonel Philips. And don't get me started on him." Steve pointed at a blond agent, hair slicked to the side, louging on his chair like a mafioso. He seemed to reek of chauvinism.

"Jack Thompson?" Peggy chuckled quietly, "There's a reason he's Dooley's favourite and it's not because of his charming personality."

Howard's trial in Congress flashed up on the screen. Steve and Peggy watched it in silence. Despite all his snarky comments, Peggy could see a faint glint of genuine honesty in his eyes, something she saw during the war when they worked together in London.

"So, Agent Carter, what are you going to do about this mess?"

"I don't know, Steve." The newsreel stopped. The blinds were pulled back up. Steve evaporated into the light.