#imxthexhandler

This is my very belated @steggyfanevents Steggy Secret Santa 2022 gift for @imxthexhandler (although, this year I am not technically late because I also made (unrelated) fanart!)

The story is complete, and a new chapter will be posted every Wednesday.

Story summary: Five times Peggy and Steve carved out small moments of happiness, and one time they didn’t have to.

Chapter summary: In which there is an apology that goes even better than Steve had hoped.

Rating: R

Read it on A03

Excerpt:

London, December 1943

“Well, you’re brave, I’ll give you that,” Howard Stark told him, both amused and a little impressed, judging by his voice and the quirk of his mustache. “But it might have been less risky to parachute solo into Krausberg, pal. I can get you the stockings, but even if you bring your new shield with you, I can’t guarantee you’ll deliver them alive.”

“She isn't going to kill me,” Steve said in what he was starting to think of as his Captain America voice - a tone that often radiated considerably more conviction than he actually felt. Now that he actually was a captain, using his stage voice seemed to give people the impression that he knew what he was doing. It was undeniably useful, but - it was also at least partly how he'd gotten into this mess in the first place. “I’m too useful to the war effort.” 

Howard guffawed at that. “Look, kid, I’ve made a lot of women angry in my day, and my first piece of advice is whatever you say to her, definitely don't lead with that.” He shook his head, turning slightly more serious. “And my second piece of advice is - why bother trying so hard to fix things with her? Just be glad she’s forgiven you enough to work with you without trying to shoot you.” He shrugged easily. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, and you, my friend, are prime bait. Peggy’s a bombshell, there's no denying that, but there are a hell of a lot of pretty girls who it’s a hell of a lot safer to try to kiss. And look at you. Handsome mug, supersoldier muscles, and a hero to boot - the dames must be all over you.”

"Yeah, that’s the trouble,” Steve said glumly. “Well, that, and you and your sudden craving for fondue.” He buried his face in his hands. “God, I can’t believe I accused her of fonduing with you.” It was awful on two levels - the worst, of course, was the accusation itself, but spectacularly misunderstanding the meaning of the word fondue was right up there too.

Howard laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Oh, you have got it bad, pal.” He nodded thoughtfully. “All right, if you’re going to do this, you’re going to have to go big. My usual weapon of choice is diamonds - necklace for apology, bracelet for ‘it's over’, earrings for - well, it doesn't matter. Now, I stay far away from the rings, myself, but - ”

“I think I’ll just stick with the stockings, thanks,” said Steve firmly. “How much?” The Army not only fed and housed him, it paid him too, and from what he’d gathered from Bucky and the guys, he was pretty sure he could cover a pair of stockings from his savings, even at black market prices.

Howard waved his hand. “For you, kid, they’re on the house. Let me talk to my butler. How long are you in London?”

Steve blinked. Of course Howard Stark had a butler. Steve had never even seen a butler, unless you counted on the silver screen at Sunday matinees. “We ship out Tuesday,” he said. “But - if you could get them a bit earlier, I’d like to - ”

Howard smirked at him. “All right, pal, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” said Steve, sincerely. He was planning to apologize one way or another, but he felt better bringing a peace offering when he did.

Howard grinned. “I like your spirit, kid. And, I’ve seen the way Peg can’t keep her eyes off you. You just might have a chance of coming out of this alive.”

+ @imxthexhandler liked for a starter !

Hi!

Amelia simply raised one eyebrow at his defensive comment about not getting jealous. Clearly, even though he insisted otherwise, this struck a nerve with him, which was something that both surprised and honestly amused her a little. Especially given the nature of their relationship, she just honestly hadn’t expected a reaction from him. Although she did not know the identity of the sender yet, she felt confident it was from one of her friends from the office more than any secret admirer, and she debated on telling him that in order to let him relax before her eyes lit up at the file he dropped on her desk.

Immediately, she reached for it, murmuring a ‘thank you’ before she pulling it back closer to her, leafing through some of his research when he remarked about checking in, and she looked up, surprised- pleasantly so. A faint, warm smile graced her lips. “I’m alright,” she told him. It’d been a couple of months since they were on assignment and things got a touch hairy, leaving her injured and a little shaken, but overall, Amelia thought she took it in stride and…not to mention, she had been very touched by Indy’s tenderness that night…

“You okay?” she asked, clearly not still teasing about his reaction to her mysterious gift of flowers or her being a hopeless romantic at heart. Rather, Amelia was trying to still ascertain if this was purely a work call or possibly also a social call and how he was doing overall.

Yeah, it was a knee jerk reaction and he couldn’t take it back before he said it, but Indy was also prone to being very protective of himself when it involved caring for others. Especially those he was so close to, and in more than one way. Like Amelia. He just personally wasn’t much of a romantic.

“Yeah, perfectly fine,” he replied casually. Nothing was really bothering him at the moment. Sure, Amelia’s injury from protecting him still weighed on his mind when he wasn’t distracting himself, but Indy liked to tell himself that his friend had recovered, was healing, and was just fine. 

He was good at denial.

@imxthexhandler asked:

“ sorry— i don’t mean to stare. you just look…radiant. ” [Orion]