Chapter 8
Peggy Carter met Steve Rogers when he first attempted to join the army.
She was surprised to see a skinny boy who couldn't even breathe right wanting to fight for his nation.
The determination in his eyes was something Peggy was mesmerized with.
Steve was pure by heart, determined, stubborn, intelligent and hardworking.
But these weren't the qualities that urged Peggy to become friends with him.
When she first joined the army, men around her saw her as nothing but a piece of meat.
They always wanted to be around her so they could either flirt with her or touch her.
Steve was nothing like them. He saw her as his superior, his mentor and respected her more so even than he did to other officers.
And that's why she suggested Howard Stark to give Steve the serum and make him Captain America.
She soon also became friends with Bucky too.
He was just like Steve but they were mirror images of each other.
Steve was somewhat shy and reserved and Bucky was more outspoken.
If Steve was like an overprotective mother, Bucky was like a strict father.
They were the pieces of a puzzle that fit well and made a beautiful picture.
The more she started hanging out with them the more she respected and loved them.
So when she first saw them kissing, her heart melted with adoration.
Deep down in her heart, she knew they were more than just friends but never questioned whatever it was.
Steve and Bucky were embarrassed and scared just as they were when Sarah had seen them kissing for the first time.
But this time, the fear was a lot different.
What if she reported them?
What if she felt disgusted and never wanted to see them again?
A million questions ran in their mind and in that dread Bucky was first to speak,
"Please understand us, if you don't want to hang out with us it's okay, we get that.
But please don't report us. We love each other. We have no one of our own to call if they separate us".
By the time Bucky was done speaking, tears made their way down to Peggy's cheeks, in that moment she felt all alone.
She felt like she was a stranger.
Steve and Bucky were both looking at each other in complete confusion.
Steve was first to make a move in an attempt to wipe her tears away. But she flinched and moved back.
Steve thought she was disgusted by them pain and hurt evident on both his and Bucky's face.
"We... We will go now. We're sorry. We can understand you don't want to be friends with us anymore".
Steve said in rather defeated more than sad or hurt.
Just as they were about to open their door, Peggy spoke,
“Is...is that what you think of me?
That I... I'd be disgusted?
I wouldn't want to be friends with you?
That I would not understand you? I'm your friend.
It feels like you don't know me at all.”
Steve and Bucky stood there shocked by this confession.
This time it was Bucky who hugged her and let her cry in his arms.
He kissed her crown.
“We're so sorry, we love you.
We're just too protective towards one another because half our lives we had no one by our side,” Bucky spoke while he drew circles on Peggy's back soothing her.
“And now we have you too, as our family,” Steve said as he came from behind Peggy and hugged them both.
This was the first time Peggy had cried and shown her vulnerability.
In this vulnerability the trio became each other's strength.
They were inseparable now.
From fighting side by side to watching movies.
From star gazing to baking, they were always together.
After Bucky's accident and him too becoming a supersoldier, things changed a little though.
They had now became become too strong for her.
If they held her hand, even though for them it was a normal hold for Peggy, bruises would make their way on her skin.
Both guilt-ridden convinced Howard to make her a supersoldier as well. Things were completely different now.
They became supreme.
But this secret was only between them and Howard.
The world didn't have any business with their matters.
Given this beautiful history between them, Peggy wasn't sold with the idea of Steve marrying a girl.
If there were infinite alternate universes, even in them Steve would marry Bucky.
Maybe in one or two universes, Steve would marry a girl, but she'd have to be Peggy.
She didn't want to brag but that was the truth.
As much as she wanted to ask questions and find answers to them.
She thought it's wise to wait.
Both Steve and Bucky will come around eventually and tell the truth.