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1986
“I give up! This is bullshit.” She says (maybe a little bit too loudly) on her way from the kitchen to the couch- which nearly gets broken when she throws her entire body weight onto it way too dramatically.
“It’s 1986 for god’s sake, how can they not see that it doesn’t matter if I’m a woman? I have the same degrees, the same knowledge, and the same experiences. It’s been six months and all the guys from class already have great jobs, but guess what? The three girls? None of us have had anything substantial. All I’ve got is four rejection calls under my belt. I can’t take another.” Looking up towards the wall at her newly-framed diplomas, the words Bachelor of Science written twice; once above Chemical Engineering and once above Mechanical Engineering, she can’t help but start to sniffle and bury her face into the cushions.
Louise had worked her ass off for the last five years to get those degrees. Even managed to get into some college classes as soon as she turned eighteen her senior year of high school in order to get ahead, and packed her schedule in college to the point where she had virtually no free time. The lack of time hadn’t even phased her- she loved every single thing she learned.
It was important to her that whatever she ended up doing with her life was meaningful, that she’d be doing something impactful. Science seemed to be changing every day, and so was the future of technology now that Howard Stark’s brilliant ideas were becoming more and more mainstream. She’d gone to a lecture of Stark’s when she was sixteen, and immediately fell in love with science- immediately knew that she wanted to be the next Stark.
And now? Having to sit back and watch the world advance without her? It feels like a knife right to her heart.
“Lou, babe, stop sulking, you just have to have to give it some time. Everything will work out how it is supposed to, you know that. Take a breath, hon.” Hannah, her roommate, came out of the bathroom with her hair still soaking wet, and poked at Louise’s shoulder until she lifted her head so she could place it in her lap. Hannah always knew that the best (and only) way to calm Louise was by playing with her hair until she was able to focus on anything other than what she was stressing about that day.
The two stay like that, humming along to the radio and chatting mindlessly for about an hour until the phone rings, bringing them out of their peaceful little retreat. Louise looks up from her spot in Hannah’s lap, giving her her best ‘please do not make me get up off this couch unless it is a life-or-death situation, or you’re getting me ice cream’ eyes, to which Hannah sighs and makes her way across the living room, into the kitchen, around the wall, and fatefully picking up the screeching landline.
“Lou, honey, it’s for you,” she says a few moments later, popping her head out from around the corner.
Louise huffs and moans before finally pulling herself off the blue denim couch and crosses over to her, giving her a miserable look the entire way there. She takes a beat to compose herself before picking up the line, preparing herself for the second glorious crushing of all her dreams in one day.
Putting on the friendliest voice she can muster, she grabs the phone and takes a deep breath.
“Hello, Louise speaking!”
“Hi, Louise Anderson?”
British?
“Yes ma’am, this is her.”
“Wonderful, dear. This is Peggy Carter, of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. I have been given your resumé and am interested in bringing you on as an engineer for a new project we are working on. Would you be able to come in for an interview at two pm?”
Okay, is she actually seeing spots? Maybe she’s just dreaming? Nope, nope, most definitely seeing spots and losing her balance. This is real life. Breathe. Breathe. Is she just going to stand here and think to herself? Answer the nice British lady, don’t just leave her here in silence, come on. Breathe.
“Wow? Really? Um, absolutely! I’ll be there!”
The next few minutes pass in a complete blur, not only because the lady on the phone’s voice is completely mesmerizing, but because this is Louise’s first serious job offer. Thank goodness for Hannah being able to simultaneously hold her up while also working out with Ms. Carter where the office is and what exactly the job would be. From what Louise can gather through the slight ringing in her ears, it seems like the place is a government agency and she wouldn’t know the exact details of the work she’d be doing until she was hired and briefed on all the security protocols. It seemed high-profile. Top-secret. Meaningful. Important. A dream come true. She’d be there.
She didn’t sleep. How could she have? In less than four hours, she had an interview that could change everything. She’s jittery. From the four cups of coffee she’d drank already to keep her awake, or just the nerves, she’d never know. Shit. Clothes . What the hell was she going to wear? Blazer, right? Definitely, right? Make a statement with it and stand out or keep it subtle? Blue is nice, let’s go with blue. A little brighter than navy, but nothing crazy- just enough for a lasting impression. She tucks a loose white blouse into the knee-length matching blue pencil skirt, and adds white flats to finish the outfit. She pulls her hair back into a low, loose bun, securing it with her favorite pin that had a small pearl on the end, which had been passed on from her grandmother. She’d worn it on her wedding day before passing it onto Louise’s mother, who did the same, but Louise herself wore it whenever she took exams. She’d found that whenever she didn’t, she got less than an A, so the tradition of wearing it for good luck had stuck. Topping the look off with a light layer of mascara, blush, and a bit of her signature lipstick later, she was headed out the door.
After a nerve wracking drive and a brief moment of panic in the car, Louise successfully manages to walk into the towering gray complex with “SHIELD” emblazoned above the entry doors. All the while her legs still feel like complete jelly. Per usual, she ends up at the front desk twenty minutes early. The kind girl there, with jet black, perfectly curled hair gives her a smile while looking over her cherry-red glasses and motions Louise over to the empty waiting area (that happens to have the most comfortable chairs she’d ever sat in).
An agonizing five minutes later, the girl in the red glasses approaches her, saying smoothly “Director Carter is ready for you, follow me and I’ll take you on up!” Director Carter? The kindest smile is still across the girl’s face as Louise stands up and follows her through the lobby and into the elevator, where she presses the button for what seems to be the top level of the tower.
A short ride and a few hallways later, Louise finds herself standing outside two large double-doors with the nameplate “PEGGY CARTER, Director” to the left. The receptionist gives her one last smile and a reassuring shoulder squeeze, mouthing a quick ‘good luck’ before making her way back down the hallway.
Louise knocks.
Seconds pass before she hears the click of heels approaching the door. A pause, and then the right door is swung open. Louise manages to close her jaw quickly, after taking in the woman in front of her, dressed in nearly the exact thing; with the white flats traded for red heels and muted lipstick traded for a stunning red there too. Her shoulder-length brunette hair framed her face with waves that look like they are straight out of the 1950s- wait.
Is this?
No, no way.
She’d known the name sounded familiar. God , how did she not place it before? Louise had seen her on the screens when she was dragged to the museums with her older brother, dragged along into the Captain America exhibits. She was never one for history, so she’d just wander along and not read anything, just briefly watch the videos that caught her eye. That’s how she knew the name. She was that Peggy Carter- perfectly placed hair and red lipstick to prove it.
“Louise, welcome.” The perky British voice that she now recognized from the museum videos brought her quickly out of her memories. Louise took the outstretched hand that had been offered and returned a firm handshake before being led into the large office. Brilliant would be an understatement. Floor-to-ceiling windows made the room glow, and the view of the surrounding city was breathtaking. She led Louise to the desk and motioned for her to have a seat before offering something to drink. She commanded the room, but her voice was kind.
Ten minutes into the meeting, Louise had completely relaxed and the two fell easily into conversation.
Then, it hit her. She had never applied to SHIELD, or any government jobs that she was aware of, how did the Director get her resumé?
When a break naturally opens in the chat, she musters the courage to ask; “Director, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you get my resumé? I don’t remember submitting anything to SHIELD in any of my rounds of applications?”
Louise couldn’t quite read the thoughts running through Carter’s mind, although she should have expected that from the secrecy that surrounded government work.
Though, with a light smirk on her lips, she offers; “Well Ms. Anderson, a dear friend of mine, is heavily invested in the engineering and science programs at the university you attended. He always asks the professors there about potential mentees he may be able to take under his wing. A professor of yours had mentioned, sorry, raved, about you over a dinner with him and even gave him a copy of your final paper along with a resumé as you had asked him to be a reference. Told him that you were one to watch, had a twinkle in your eye that was refreshing and promising. Stark handed me those papers and when I realized this was a young woman he had been going on about, I had to take the chance to bring you onto our team. As the first female director of this organization, I would like to have more powerful women that I can trust behind the scenes as well. Just from our short conversation so far, I can see that you have insurmountable potential, and I would adore having you as a powerful asset on my team.”
Did she just imagine that? Did the Director just say Stark?
“I’m sorry, Director, did you just say Stark? As in Howard Stark, ma’am?”
“Yes, Louise, I did.” Another smirk crosses her face as she confirms. “And please, call me Peggy.”
A pause. A breath.
“When would you like me to start, Peggy?”