Alchemy Jones → Bucky Barnes [1]

13|BROOKLYN BABE

The streets of Brooklyn hadn't changed at all since Ally had been gone. As she sat in her SSR uniform in the back of a yellow taxi, she watched as shoppers swarmed the boutiques and vendors. It was mainly women who shopped to the streets, their wide-brimmed hats catching the attention of the young men who hadn't be recruited for the war. They flashed their well earned money in exchange for designer goods. The homeless still wandered the street, often in noisy exchanges with others or kind nods to those they passed by.

She did not miss the noise of Brooklyn but she did miss the liveliness.

Jojo squeezed her hand, her skirt too tight for her to sit in. "Happy to be home?"

Ally shrugged, resting her cheek against the car window. "I suppose."

"It isn't much of a glamorous return but we aren't done working it, mama and father don't know we've come home," Jojo explained, using her other hand to lace her hands with William's. "We'll be back in that noisy house soon enough."

Ally didn't respond, she simply clutched her small pocketbook to her chest and watched the city pass before her eyes in a visual blur. The rattle of the engines soothed her nerves as they reached their designated meeting spot. William paid the taxi driver and gave him a generous tip while Jojo attempted to climb out of the car in her tight skirt. Ally helped unload the minimal luggage and adjusted her eyes to the light.

"Welcome back Agent Jones and Agent Dansworth," an amused British accent said from behind Ally. "Doctor Jones, your work has been incredible, it's an honour to finally meet you."

Ally squinted her eyes, offering her hand to the tall brunette with her lips stained red. "Thank you–"

"Agent Carter, I see your sister hasn't told you a thing about your nephew's godmother."

Jojo came over from the car and quickly embraced Agent Carter, kissing either side of her cheeks. "Ally, this is Peggy Carter."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sorry that I had no idea you existed."

"A con of a double life," Peggy explained. "I have a car waiting for us, are we all ready?"

"I believe so," William declared, picking up all the luggage and juggling it towards the car. "Ladies first."

"Erskine believes that you are to be fully protected while we take you to headquarters. You must be more special than I initially had thought, welcome to the game Doctor Jones."

Ally smiled slightly, she hadn't smiled much since she left England. Her cunning and witty remarks seemed to be muted and nothing in her system felt right. "I'm just happy I can do something to help."

"I hear you are rather acquainted with our chosen candidate?"

"Peggy–" Jojo warned, stopping to see Ally's confused reaction. "I haven't told her yet."

Ally waited a moment, thinking over the way Jojo had warned Peggy. "Erskine chose Steve, didn't he?" she waited for a response but received none. "Didn't he?"

"We didn't think it would be wise to tell you after you had to leave so quickly."

"Is he stupid?" Ally groaned. "Doesn't that idiot know that it's risky?"

"Of course he does," Peggy confirmed. "I do believe he knew all along."

Ally put a hand through her hair and balled some of it into a fist. "I didn't actually think he'd get picked."

Ally caught Peggy frowning slightly, which she quickly dismissed. She took a deep breath before calmly flipping through her pocketbook. "Where is Rogers now?"