"Come on, one more round." I panted, putting up my fists in a fighting stance. Peggy panted and brushed stary hair from her short pony tail out of her face.
"Its two to two, Maggie." she smirked. We were both skilled in fighting. Howard put that stuff into my head and it was like fighting came naturally to me. I nodded and and cocked my head, cracking my neck. I was in sweatpants and a tan army t-shirt and she was in similar attire, our hair in ponytails and fists wrapped in bandages to prevent damage.
I waited for Peggy to come at me first, and when she went for a punch I dodged to the side and threw my fist into her ribs with a left hook. She stumbled over, but didnt fall, and swung her arm back into my jaw. A throb of pain shot into the side of my face and a deep growl emerged from my chest. I narrowed my eyes at her and swung my leg around, kicking her in the side and causing her to cough, giving me just enough time to grab her shoulders so I could send my knee into her gut. She gasped for air again and I hooked my arm around her torso, throwing her to the side while sweeping her feet out from under her. She hit the mat with a thud. I pinned her down with a victorious smile.
"I win." I panted. Peggy narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips.
"So you do." she pouted. Suddenly, the floor spun and I was looking at the ceiling while Peggy pinned me to the mat. "Or I do." she laughed. I scoffed and smiled as I started to laugh. Her lips spread into a grin and she chuckled along with me, standing up and holding out her hand for me. I took it and she helped pull me up.
"You ladies seem to be handling training well." Howard Stark spoke up from the entrance to the training room.
"Whatever you put inside her seems to be working quite well. She is tough even for me to fight." Peggy panted and put her hands on her hips.
"I see that. Im glad it works. Colonel Phillips is asking for you Peggy. Maggie, you have the day off. Yesterday was hard on your body with that procedure. You need to rest up before the recruits come in." Howard said.
Peggy and I simultaneously nodded. "Thanks Boss." I smiled.
"I will go change." Peggy said. Howard tipped his head to us and made his exit.
"You should get going before Colonel Phillips loses his temper." I warned my new found friend.
"Definitely. See you later." she smiled and skipped along to the exit. I sighed and began unwrapping my fists. What should I do on my day off? I shuffled out to the exit and toward my bunk in my building on the base. I opened up the door and wandered over to the bed, flopping down onto the thin mattress. I got right back up, deciding to change my clothes and put on an army green skirt and cream colored blouse that I tucked in and put on a thin black belt to match. It was early enough in the day to do something sorta fun. I picked up my locket and clipped it around my neck before slipping into my black heels to match my outfit and leaving my room, going outside to the dirt road.
The gravel crunched under my feet and dust kicked up with each of my steps. A loud whistle sounded from a nearby tent and I turned quickly to see two soldiers peeking out of the canvas shelter making googly eyes at me. Pigs. I turned my nose at them and strutted away down the road, walking nowhere specific.
"Miss Dornwall!" I loud gruff voice called out from a tent to my left. I jumped at its sudden sound and looked to see Colonel Phillips storming toward me. "Get out of the goddamn road." He growled and stormed by me, grabbing onto my arm and dragging me back to the tent he was in. "What the hell are you doing out here?" he snapped. I stood awkwardly, catching Peggy out of the corner of my eye. Now that I knew the secret, maybe I could tell him too.
"I am the female test sub-"
"I know damn well what you are! I almost slipped up when I met you." he interrupted me. I closed my mouth unknowing how to react to his sudden outburst. "What are you doing not in your building?" he asked.
"I was given the day off, Sir. I got bored." I stated clearly. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Peggy, step forward." the Colonel instructed without taking his eyes off of me. Peggy quickly made her way to my side and stood at attention. "At ease." he ordered. Her body rekaxed, but she still held herself tall and professional. "See to it that our new recruit gets the entertainment she needs. She isnt supposed to be seen by the others until the new recruits come in tomorrow." he said.
"Yes, Sir." Peggy nodded. He waved a hand at us to dismiss her and I. She shifted her eyes to me and curtly smiled. "Come on. I have an idea." she said. I smiled and followed her quick steps outside. She walked with a mission, and I did my best to keep up.
Her hair bounced with each step, and I could feel mine doing the same. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Have you ever riden in a military issued vehicle?" she asked in her slick accent.
"No, I haven't." I smirked, getting excited in the belief I would get to ride in one now.
"Well, would you like to?" She smirked back at me as we approached the lot of cars. I nodded furiously and quickened my pace. "I have to ask the guard if we can. Sometimes its allowed and other times its not. It depends on many variables." she said, trying to keep me from getting my hopes too high. I slouched my shoulders amd my demeaner dropped.
The guard beside the lot stared at us with a blank expression as we neared him. "May we borrow a car?" Peggy spoke and halted in front of him. I stopped in front of him as well and waited by Peggy's side for his answer.
"Not today. Sorry, Miss Carter. They need refueling." he spoke in a deep voice. His helmet shaded is brown eyes and his gear looked heavy on him. My face fell and Peggy glanced at me apologetically.
"No worries. We will just have to find something else to do." she curtly smiled at the man and he adjusted his rifle in his hands. Peggy turned on her heel and I did the same. Together we walked away with disappointment and trailed slowly down the dirt and gravel road. "So, whats the plan?" she asked with a sigh as we wandered.
"Im not sure. I cant be out near the soldiers until the recruits come in I guess." I shrugged. A breeze passed by and ruffled our hair as we walked side by side.
A sly grin developed on her dark red lips and she grabbed my hand. "Come on!" she urged and pulled me along at a jog. I scoffed and jogged down the road without questioning my friend. A smile stayed plastered on her face as she ran, the wind whipping our faces and streaking through our hair. In the distance a small building grew with a big sign on the front. In large white letters it said PUB and I began to chuckle.
Peggy slowed and released the iron grip she had on my hand and we shuffled into the pub. Inside, a few soldiers were sitting at tables chatting with tall glasses of bubbling golden fluid. Peggy went straight to the barside and sat in a tall stool. I hopped onto the one beside her and leaned on the counter. The bartender approached, his thick white mustache was curled at its edges and it hid his upper lip. "Ladies, what can I do for you today?" he raised his matching thick eyebrows.
"Two Bloody Mary's please." Peggy ordered, lifting only two fingers to him before laying her hand on the counter top. The man nodded and went to mixing our drinks. I watched closely as he worked. "I am terribly sorry Colonel Phillips snapped at you earlier. He is just... A little stressed. He is a good man. He respects women, so he is a little afraid that the syrum may cause harm... I trust Howard to take care of you however." she smiled.
I glanced over and giggled, flashing her a kind grin. "You dont have to apologize. It wasnt your fault." I shrugged.
"Well, I did sort of rile him up a bit before he saw you outside. I would tell you, but its classified information." she laughed. "It seems that you and Howard are getting along well. How is he treating you?" she arched her brow.
"Pretty well actually." I nodded.
"Thats fantastic! I always thought Howard would just hook girls in and then leave them in the dust." She shrugged as the bartender placed our drinks on the counter and went back to polishing shot glasses.
I tried, amd failed, to hold in a laugh. All that came out was a small snort and my face flushed red in embarrassment. "No, Howard didn't hook me." I chuckled, and took a small sip of the red drink put in front of me. The alcohol was warm in my throat and I licked my lips. "I have a boyfriend." I said.
"Really? I am sorry. I just thought... Nevermind." she shook her head. "Your boyfriend, is he back home?" she asked curiously.
I shook my head. "No, he's uh... 107th. Sergeant James Barnes." I smiled proudly, like I was showing him off in some sort.
"James Barnes." she repeated, staring into space as she thought. "I dont think I know him. What is he like?" she asked me.
I smiled and took another drink of my Bloody Mary. "He is the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life. He has these beautiful blue eyes that-that I could get lost in forever. And his smile, oh my, his smile is stunning." I rambled. Peggy smiled and waited for me to continue talking. "He goes by Bucky. He used to be a womanizer in his teenage years before he met me. We have been together for eight years now, and I love him more than life." I smiled. My heart beat quickly in my chest and I felt light as a feather while talking about him.
"He sounds like a wonderful fellow. Perhaps, when this is all over, I could get the chance to meet him and thank him for taking care of my new best friend." she winked, raising her glass and taking a little sip of her drink. I giggled and drank as well. Her brow furrowed and she pointed at my locket I was wearing, which I rarely took off. "Did he give that to you?" she asked.
I glanced down at it and smiled. "Yes. Here, there's a picture of him inside of it." I said, setting down my drink and opening up the two sides of the necklace to show her the picture of Bucky it held. She smiled at it and admired the photo.
"He is very handsome. You are a lucky woman." she winked. I nodded, thinking the very same thing, and closed the locket. "Cheers, to becoming best friends and to your Bucky." she smiled, raising her glass. I smiled and raised mine, clinking them together before taking a long swig of the alcohol rich fluid.