ℳ𝒶𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓁 𝒮𝓃𝒾𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓉𝓈

Chapter 1

Snippet #1 [Warning : Alternate Universe, Peggy Carter x Daniel Sousa]

Finally, finally Steve was in the clear for Project Rebirth. Dr. Erskine led him through the countless medical tests they did on him, assuring him at every step that "Good will become great, Steven. Have patience". He also told him that there was another candidate, something Sousa, he didn't bother to remember his name. He was told that the two of them were the chosen candidates for the Project, and that, if the experiment were to succeed, they would be of great help to the Allies.

He couldn't suppress the boyish grin that spread across his face when they entered the experimentation room. Steve took a long look around the room, noticing several people sitting in the upper rooms, and even more people flitting around the two vita-ray chambers which the two candidates would be put into.

Finally, he noticed that Agent Carter, who was the one escorting him, was no longer by his side and was instead chatting with a tall man whose name he did not know, or did not remember. Grin still ever-present, he walked over to the pair, though his focus was mostly on Peggy. He stood next to the two, but Peggy did not notice him. He coughed, nothing. He coughed louder, and although some of the doctors were looking at him with concern, no doubt worried about his long list of medical problems, Peggy still did not pay him any mind and continued with her conversation with the mystery man.

"Hey, Peggy, everything alright?" he questioned, taking in the way she looked at him, as though she was annoyed to have her conversation interrupted. "Yes, Steve, everything's fine. I was just talking to Daniel to see if he's feeling alright." she answered, her voice was sharp and her tone signalled that the conversation had ended there.

Steve didn't notice that.

He seemed puzzled, looking towards the man, taking note of how he used a walking stick, and had some people talking to him about the procedure. "Daniel? Why would he not be okay?" he voiced his thoughts, although he remembered someone named Sousa being connected to the project in some way. "Steve, this is Daniel Sousa, the candidate for Project Rebirth alongside you." Peggy sounded genuinely annoyed, but when Daniel rested a soft hand on her shoulder, she relaxed. Steve was about to say something, but at that moment, Howard Stark's voice rang out.

"Rogers! Sousa! We're ready!"

Immediately, Steve was ushered toward the chamber by Dr. Erskine and a few others, while Daniel reassured Peggy that he would be fine, and that she should head up to the seats. A few moments of hesitation, and she gave in.

The Project was initiated, everything went off without a hitch. The chambers opened, revealing the Super Soldier Serum to be a success, as a very modified Steve Rogers and Daniel Sousa stepped out. Peggy rushed to the latter, panting because of how long she had been holding her breath, but also because Daniel was, to put it lightly, buff and glorious. She unconsciously reached out for his toned chest, but immediately pulled back as soon as she made contact and realised what she was doing. Embarrassed, she looked away, before she heard him chuckle.

Slowly working up the courage to not look at his body, for he is not a piece of meat, and instead looking at his face, she felt a smile tug at her lips when she saw that his ears had turned red from embarrassment as well. She grabbed a t-shirt from one of the assistants and held it out to him, realising how he was having trouble handling all the attention and the extra exposed muscles.

And then it all went to hell.

He was dead. Dr. Erskine was dead. His last words would forever ring in Daniel's ears, as he raced after the Hydra bastard.

Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.

The streets were chaos, women shielding their children and people running for cover as two newly-modified super soldiers and one Agent Carter ran through the mayhem. Their newly enhanced speed meant nothing if they couldn't run in a straight line, and so it was up to Agent Carter to take down the man who shot their best scientist.

The car was hurtling towards her at full speed, and so was Steve. Daniel took note of this, and put his feet into action as he aimed to throw Steve of Peggy's way. He succeeded, and apparently, so did Peggy, as he heard the loud bang of a gunshot followed by what sounded like a loud crash.

Both men shakily stood up, searching for any signs of bloodshed aside from the smeared remains of what used to be a Hydra Agent. When assures that everything was okay, that no one was hurt, Daniel turned to Steve.

"What the hell was that, Rogers? You could've messed up Peggy's shot!" he snapped, not bothering to lower his voice. The blonde in question looked taken aback, before he squared his shoulders in a show of intimidation. "I was trying to protect her, she was going to get run over by that car."

"Except, that I did not, and do not need protection." came Peggy's voice as she walked up to them. "I am a trained agent, Steve. You, on the other hand, have barely finished basic military training. If anyone had a chance of getting hurt, it was you." she finished.

"Now, if you'll excuse us." She grabbed ahold of Daniel's forearm, much to his shock, and started in the direction of the laboratory. Steve couldn't understand what had happened, but he knew he didn't like it.