Jealousy
“Oh stop pouting, both of you. You’re behaving like children.”
In the chair across from Peggy’s desk, Steve at least made an effort to school his features. Angie just scowled and paced.
Rolling her eyes, Peggy set down her pen, placing it over an open file. “Will you please sit down? I can’t concentrate with you wearing a trench in my floor.”
Looking quite put upon, Angie turned on her heel. There was another chair next to Steve, which he pulled out for her. Passing it, Angie shoved some papers to the side, clearing a space on the edge of Peggy’s desk. “And what? You don’t have trouble concentrating with that slutty Russian flouncing around this place?”
“Angie—”
“Oh, quit it, Steve. We were both thinkin it, you’re just too nice to say it.”
Steve didn’t contradict her.
Reclaiming her pen and gripping it quite tightly, Peggy kept her voice carefully modulated. “Dottie is on our side now. The deal’s been made, she’s part of SHIELD, she’s provided us with valuable intel.”
“Doesn’t mean she’s not a slut. All she does is flirt with you, Peg.”
“She flirts with everyone, Angie.”
“Wrong. Everyone flirts with her. She only flirts with you And you let her!”
“Because it doesn’t bother me, nor should it bother you.”
Steve raised his eyebrows. “So when you shot at me after Lorraine, that was you not being bothered?”
Gritting her teeth, Peggy yanked a folder from beneath Angie’s right leg. “I was merely testing out Howard’s latest design. The two of you should’ve thanked me for saving you time with that.”
“I think we were too busy picking up bullet shells.”
The exchange was interrupted by a knock at the door. Without waiting to be invited, Dottie Underwood breezed in, a stack of folders in her hand megawatt grin on her face. “Sorry to interrupt. I have those field reports for you, Peg. Angie. Steve.”
“Ruskie traitor,” Angie said without missing a beat.”
“Angie,” Peggy warned. “Thank you, Dottie. I’ll take them now.”
Dottie’s grin widened. Angie made a face. “Why do you even bother keeping that name? We all know it’s fake, just like the rest of you.”
“I like it, it’s part of my new life. And trust me, the rest is of me is very real. Ask Peg. We’ve spent lots of time in the changing room together, before ops.”
Steve tightened his fist around the armrest of the chair. It broke off.
“Oh my! Would you like some help with that?”
“Yeah,” Angie growled. “Why don’t you help get rid of it? I know the perfect place you can stick it.”
“Angie. Files please, Dottie.”
“Sure thing, Peg. I mean, Director Carter. Anything you need. And I mean anything.”
Angie made a disgusted noise.
“Oh, Ang. I’m just trying to thank Peg for the second chance she’s given me. I want to show my gratitude. In any way possible.”
“Yeah,” Steve said, jaw clenched. “I think we get it.”
Smiling away, Dottie crossed to Peggy’s desk, making a show of ignoring Angie as she handed over the files, getting closer to Peggy than was strictly necessary. “You’re sure there’s nothing else you need?” she asked, stroking Peggy’s fingers as they gripped the pen.
The other armrest broke off under Steve’s hold.
“If you touch me again, I will murder you,” Peggy said calmly. “There’s a clause in our agreement allowing me to do that if the mood strikes. Now please, Dottie, if you would.” Peggy pulled her hand away and indicated the door.
“Sure thing, Director.” Dottie backed away, had her hand on the doorknob before turning around. “That’s a real nice shade of lipstick by the way. Almost as pretty as the one you wore that time we kissed.”
Dottie made her exit, leaving Peggy to face down Steve and Angie. Steve spoke first. “You…kissed her?”
“Oh bloody hell.”
Angie’s voice was much louder. “You kissed her?”
“No! I…she kissed me. Years ago.”
“And you didn’t think to mention that little tidbit?”
“I’m afraid I had this silly notion that you might overreact. Steve, stop with the bloody clenching, I’ll not pay to have this desk repaired!”
“He can clench if he wants to clench, let him clench!” Words aside, Angie stood up, backing away from the desk. “And what about you and Dottie? You two do any clenching we should know about?”
“She drugged me and attempted to murder me. In the hallway, the day the SSR showed up.”
“She what?”
“She drugged me and—”
“She was necking all over you right outside my door? My room?”
“I’m afraid you may be missing the bigger point, darling.”
“Like hell I am! What is it with you, Peg, never tellin me the important things?” Angie was moving before Peggy could answer, retracing Dottie’s path out the door. “Hey Iowa! You and I got things to talk about!”
As Angie caused a scene in front of the entire office, Steve stood up, forcing a tight-lipped smile. “I’ll go calm her down.”
Angie had slammed the door behind her. As Steve went to open it, he pulled too hard. The knob came off in his hand, somehow managing to hit the wall behind Peggy’s desk and leave a giant dent in its wake.
Sighing, Peggy gave up on her work and put her head in her hands. She could hear the familiar sounds of Italian cursing in the distance.