reconnecting
 Steve didn’t want to get overly nostalgic — it still hurt to think about the people he’d lost for too long, and he wanted this meeting with Peggy to end on a happy note, not a bitter one. “I’d like to hear that story, some day,” he said with a chuckle, trying to imagine Howard and Peggy and the rest after the crash, fighting the good fight with their usual good humor and effectiveness. He wished he could have seen it. Helped. But again, thinking that way lay madness. There were a thousand things Steve wished he could have seen, been a part of — but if he’d been around then, chances were he wouldn’t be around now. And now was good. Most of the time. Steve stiffened a little when Peggy seemed to be worried about Howard, of all people, worried about what he got into.
"Howard Stark has never given me orders, and he never will," he said acidly, eyes going flinty at the prospect. "If you’d like to have me along, I’d be happy to join you. I think we both know I can handle myself." In fact, Steve wasn’t sure what all a — vampire — could do, but he’d fought worse in his lifetime. The Red Skull. Other super soldiers. Highly trained assassins, radioactive monsters — the list went on and on. Vampires would just be another creature to add to the list.
"Oh, remind me next time and I will. I'm sure you'll scold me or something of that sort and I'll remind you that I'm occasionally responsible." Peggy chuckled and gave him a sweet smile, happy to be sitting across from him again. Seventy years and she'd honestly believed the only time she'd ever get to see his face was in pictures or her memories.Â
Peggy's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, then you'll take them from me. That shouldn't be so difficult to swallow I hope." She leaned back somewhat, looking him over. "Perhaps we should spar at some point. If you're going to be going up against others like me, it'd be good to see how long you can hold out. Because if you're serious about coming with me, then I need to know you can handle yourself."
