It Happened One Night In 1945
Loki captured Sylvie’s lips, his head tilting just so to deepen the kiss. Humming softly, Sylvie brought her hands up to rest on his chest as Loki kissed her in a torturously slow drag of heat and desire.
It seemed the longer they went without making love the more intense the barest touch became. Loki forgot where they were for a moment and pulled her roughly against his front. Sylvie gasped into his mouth with delight at the feel of him and let out a soft moan.
Suddenly the front door opened and Steve coughed awkwardly at the sight of the two making out in his living room.
“I uh—I dropped off the letters,” Steve averted his eyes as he closed the door behind him.
Loki made a frustrated growling noise and Sylvie swatted him before turning to walk across the room to Steve.
“All set then,” Sylvie cleared her throat to cover the huskiness as she tamped down her arousal, “Loki—the captain will need proper clothes for the time period, it was 1945 correct?”
“Uh, yeah—yes ma’am, and if it’s not too much trouble… maybe my uniform?” He asked a little nervously.
Steve felt strangely uncomfortable having interrupted them—especially with Loki looking so put out—despite it being his own living room.
The God in question heaved a sigh, looking for all the world like a bored, moody teenager, and flicked his wrist at Steve. Green light shimmered over his body and transformed the button down shirt and slacks into the captain’s army uniform.
Steve moved to look at the mirror in the bathroom and his breath caught. It had technically been eighty years since he’d seen it and he was flooded with a wave of memories.
When he walked back out looking a little shaken, Sylvie was smiling and straightened his collar needlessly. Loki had conjured a charcoal herringbone tweed suit for himself with a crisp white shirt and dark tie. He looked at Sylvie appraisingly and made a gesture with his hand as if caressing her figure from across the room.
Her attire was replaced with a navy blue cap-sleeved dress which fell just below the knee, back seam stockings and a pair of black t-strap heels. Steve stared at the transformation in astonishment as the green light cascaded down her body while Sylvie didn’t seem to bat an eye.
She glanced over her shoulder at Loki and smirked before crossing to stand in front of him.
“Don’t forget your hair, darling,” she said softly and tucked a stray unruly lock behind his ear.
“Of course, my love, how careless of me,” he rolled his shoulders and his hair suddenly appeared shorter and neatly parted on one side.
Steve whistled, “Not bad, Loki—all you need’s the cleft chin and you could be Cary Grant.”
Sylvie smirked and touched his cheek affectionately making Loki quirk a fond smile back. He brushed Sylvie’s hair back and sent magic rippling to coif her hair into side-swept pin curls.
Thinking for a moment Loki then snapped his fingers and did her makeup just to be cheeky. She kissed his cheek to see the red lipstick mark his skin prettily and smirked before turning back to Steve.
“What do you think Captain? Who do I look like?”
Steve thought for a moment then snapped his own fingers in realization, “Lauren Bacall—knew a guy who’s little sister was always going on about her.”
Loki rolled his eyes and stepped close behind Sylvie. He rested his hands on her hips and kissed the side of her head gently, “Sylvie is far more attractive than Lauren Bacall.”
Steve chuckled silently and shook his head in amusement as Sylvie beamed smugly under the attention.
Seeing Loki endlessly dote on Sylvie warmed Steve’s heart, and for the first time that little tinge of pain at the love he’d lost didn’t hurt quite so much.
“Well my love I’ll leave this to you,” Loki murmured into her ear as he produced the TemPad and offered it to her.
“Probably for the best,” she smirked and entered the date, “and you said eight o’clock?”
“Yes ma’am, though I’d like to get there early—just in case,” Steve said feeling a mix of exhilaration, trepidation, and giddy disbelief.
Sylvie opened a portal to the exact date and address Steve had given her the night before, allowing them an extra 30 minutes for safety.
“And I uh, just walk through?” Steve looked a little uncertain how faced with a magical glowing portal.
“Yes, but I can go first if it makes you feel safer, Captain,” Sylvie teased good naturedly.
Steve laughed a little nervously and shook his head, “Here goes nothin’…”
Stepping through Steve couldn’t help but close his eyes. When his foot met solid ground on the other side he thought for a moment he hadn’t gone anywhere at all. He thought briefly it might all be some elaborate trick to get his hopes up—then he opened his eyes slowly and his mouth fell open in amazement.
It was the city just as he’d left it eighty years previous, and luckily no one seemed to have noticed the glowing orange portal behind him. Sylvie came through next, followed by Loki who for his part didn’t seem remotely surprised or impressed.
“Hm, so this is Earth in the middle of the twentieth century,” Sylvie said with mild curiosity as she looked around, “it’s… charming.”
“It is rather quaint, I’ll give you that—” Loki said sounding bored.
“It’s just the way I remember it,” Steve murmured softly, “Like I never left...”
“Come on, Captain—enough dallying,” Sylvie smirked, “you’ve got a date to get to.”
Getting his bearings Steve found that he’d only been one block off in remembering the address. They walked the short distance there and Steve looked in the window feeling his heart hammer in his chest. He couldn’t see Peggy anywhere but he was still a little early so he decided he could wait.
“Okay, this is it—I don’t even know where to begin to thank you,” Steve was breathing faster than usual as his nerves were a bit rattled.
“No need, it was our pleasure to get you home, right Loki?” Sylvie turned to him expectantly and the God froze for a moment.
“Er—yes, quite,” Loki cleared his throat and collected his thoughts, “I believe you were an integral part of your team’s acceptance of Sylvie and myself, and for that I am most grateful. To that end, I am pleased we had the means to reunite you with your own true love. I wish you both luck and the fondest farewell, please take this as a final token of my appreciation.”
Loki conjured a soft brown leather wallet and handed it to Steve who opened it curiously.
“You’ll find monetary compensation in addition to the U.S. military identification from S.H.I.E.L.D.’s personnel file—which I may have had occasion to see not so long ago…”
Steve furrowed his brow slightly at Loki who waved off the look of confusion, “Time is… complicated.”
The former Avenger nodded absently and smiled at the contents of the wallet before looking gratefully up at the God.
“Thank you, truly, for everything you’ve done over the last year—and Sylvie, thank you for pushing me to be happy. I love all the friends I made in the future, but there would always have been something missing if I’d stayed there. So from the bottom of this old man’s heart, thank you.”
Sylvie smiled softly looking touched and reached her arms out to hug the man briefly.
“You’re welcome Steve… I know from experience how it feels to be separated by time from the other half of your heart, and I’m glad I could help bring you back to her.”
Steve pulled back slowly and cleared his throat attempting to stave off any tears. He gave Loki a quick nod before standing up straight to give Sylvie a quick salute. Then he smiled a little nervously, crossed his fingers, and with a deep breath headed inside.
As the doors closed behind him Steve was suddenly transported to the last time he’d seen her. Everything was just as he remembered; couples were dancing to the band, people were talking and laughing at the bar, yet Peggy was nowhere to be found.
“Rogers?! You’re—you can’t be—!”
Steve spun around to see Howard Stark sputtering in confusion between two beautiful women.
“Howard… I can explain—”
“Ladies, will you give us a minute?”
Stark smiled at the two women but his face turned deadly serious as they left and he stepped close into Steve’s personal space.
“How is this possible? They told me you went into the ice—” Stark hissed under his breath.
“And you pulled me out…” Steve murmured without thinking. Howard’s face paled slightly, “Look, it’s a long story, one I’ll glad tell you, but right now I need to find Agent Carter—have you seen her? Is she here?
Stark still looked a little dazed but he nodded all the same.
“Uh, no… I mean yeah I saw her but she isn’t here—she was down the street at the old Landmark Tavern, tried to get her to join me but she just wanted to drink alone with all those micks…”
Steve’s face lit up, “Thanks Stark—I gotta run or I’m gonna be late, but u promise I’ll explain it all later!”
“I’m gonna hold you to that!” Howard called after him as Steve hurried off. Stark watched the man go and smiled fondly thinking how Steve was still just that scrawny kid from Brooklyn, always just trying to play catch up.
Steve ran down the street, avoiding pedestrians and mumbling excuses as he headed for the Irish pub. Finally coming to a stop outside, he took a moment to collect himself. After straightening his jacket and rubbing a hand over his hair he took hold of the door handle and went inside.
At the end of the bar, looking utterly morose Peggy Carter was nursing a scotch and staring at an army medal in her hand. They’d wanted to give it to Steve for his heroism, so she’d accepted it for him and planned to give it to Sergeant Barnes. She tucked it away in her clutch and wiped an unbidden tear from the corner of her eye.
“You know I could’ve sworn you said The Stork Club…”
Peggy’s heart stopped, her breath caught in her lungs and she turned slowly, afraid her ears were playing tricks on her.
There, leaning against the bar not ten feet away was Steve Rogers—the man she thought she’d never see again.
“Is this it? Have I gone completely barmy?”
“I’m no doctor, but you seem well enough to me—can I ask, miss, what’s got you so down?”
Peggy choked a laugh, eyes welling, “I thought my date wasn’t going to show, you know we Brits hate tardiness.”
Steve looked at his watch, “I am a few minutes late, you’ll have to forgive me—would you prefer to reschedule? I can come back another time?” He deadpanned playfully as he began to back up toward the door.
“—Don’t. You. Dare!” She slid from the bar stool and advanced on him slowly.
A warm smile lit up Steve’s handsome features and he met her halfway, extending a hand to her.
“You know I believe you promised me a dance?”
“Here? This place isn’t for dancing—”
“Anywhere you want, Peg, you name the time and place and I’m there. I promise, I’ll never be late again.”
Peggy inhaled a shaky breath and smiled tearfully before ignoring his hand all together and kissing him instead.
Taken by surprise, Steve moved his hand to her back slowly. He allowed himself to get lost in her kiss and for the first time in a very, very long time, he felt like he was home.