Agent Carter fic: Collateral Damage

[meridian_rose]

Title: Collateral Damage
Fandom: Agent Carter
Pairing/Characters: Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, Edwin Jarvis
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 259
Prompt: For the writerverse quick challenge prompt 'jacket'
Summary: "This is my fault," Howard said and Peggy said nothing.
Content Notes: No standard warnings apply. Angst & hurt/comfort, vigil, guilt, grief, anger, bloodstain
Also at AO3

"This is my fault," Howard said and Peggy said nothing. After all, a "yes" would be too harsh while a "no" wouldn't be entirely truthful.

Howard picked up Jarvis's jacket, fingers tracing the edge of the dried bloodstain. "He'll be angry about this," he said. "He takes pride in his appearance. And mine. More than even I do."

When Peggy didn't comment, Howard said, "Maybe I can invent something to –" and that was the last straw. Peggy got to her feet and grabbed for the jacket, wresting it from Howard's grasp.

"I will take it to the dry cleaners," she said, because the prototype of anything Howard would invent would more likely incinerate the coat than clean it. "I know of a very good service." One that had removed blood from her own clothes on occasion.

Howard opened his mouth to protest but Peggy was already heading for the door and paused only to glare at him, causing him to fall uncharacteristically silent.

"This will be the only time I take a man's clothes to the cleaners," she said with unnecessary vitriol. Maybe Howard hadn't been about to make an inopportune remark but this was a distressed Howard and it was more than likely. Knowing that the anger and the errand she'd given herself were a relief from the helpless monotony of the vigil, she relented somewhat. She softened her tone and said, "You – you should see if Anna needs anything."

Howard nodded, rubbing at his face. Peggy blinked rapidly, regained her equilibrium, and went on her way.

Comments

[riverotter1951.livejournal.com]

A good use of the prompt. I like the interaction especially with Peggy taking charge.

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D I think it's what Peggy does so well, if the men would just let her do so more often things would go smoother!