Sorcerer in the Marvel Universe

That was it?

Seriously, that was the whole story?

Evenson stared at Captain America for several seconds after hearing his explanation, then cleared his throat and nervously picked at the arm of the couch.

"Ms. Carter... I think you may have overreacted a little."

He was beginning to think a thorough examination of Peggy Carter was in order. Preferably in the basement, with every possible test available. Maybe the Fel energy had gotten into her system and was making her unusually aggressive.

"You know what kind of man Captain Rogers is. If he sees an innocent person being attacked by a bunch of violent criminals, of course he’s going to intervene. That’s practically hardwired into him."

Evenson was technically defending Steve, but he wisely left himself some room to retreat.

"Granted, he might have handled the situation better beforehand. Since the person he rescued happened to be a young and attractive woman, perhaps it would’ve been more appropriate to call you and let you handle it. But things were probably happening too fast, so he had to step in himself. Right?"

"Exactly!" Steve immediately seized the lifeline. "That’s exactly what happened. Things were moving too quickly. Who knows what those drugged-out maniacs might have done?"

"So, basically, it was a misunderstanding." Evenson smiled carefully. "No reason to turn it into a full-scale domestic war, right?"

"Misunderstanding?" Dottie and Peggy both gave him identical looks of disbelief.

Dottie’s smile was particularly cold.

"Do you know what he did afterward?"

"Afterward?"

Evenson’s smile froze.

He slowly turned toward Steve.

You left out the second half? Seriously?

"Nothing particularly important happened afterward," Steve muttered, looking away. "You know most women are fairly easily frightened. Even if she wasn’t hurt, an incident like that can still leave someone shaken."

Evenson wasn’t entirely convinced.

Most of the women he knew were tougher than half the superheroes he’d met. If someone tried attacking them, Evenson suspected the attackers would be the ones needing emotional support afterward.

"So I just comforted her," Steve said, spreading his hands innocently.

"Comforted her?" Dottie asked sweetly. "With your arm around her waist?"

She practically spat the next words.

"You were practically kissing her!"

"...You can’t be serious."

Evenson gave an awkward laugh.

Dottie’s credibility was questionable at best. She clearly had her own agenda where Peggy was concerned. For all he knew, this entire story was an elaborate attempt to drive a wedge between Peggy and Steve.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Peggy abruptly pulled off her sunglasses.

The flames burning inside her eyes immediately filled the room with a distinctly unhealthy amount of menace.

"You know what these eyes can do, Evenson. I can’t see through a mountain, but I can certainly see what someone is doing on the other side of a wall."

The green Fel fire in her eyes flared.

"And if I hadn’t arrived in time..."

She let the sentence trail off.

Evenson looked at Steve with silent sympathy.

Sorry, Captain. I’ve made things worse.

"Wait." Evenson suddenly slapped both hands together. "So you didn’t actually kiss her?"

Peggy stared at him.

Evenson grinned.

"Then technically, we don’t have a crime scene. Eyewitnesses can be mistaken. Maybe it was just the angle. Maybe they were talking. You have to trust Steve’s character, don’t you? And surely you trust his basic loyalty to your relationship."

As far as Evenson knew, Steve Rogers was a fundamentally decent man. He took love seriously. He didn’t exactly seem like the type to cheat.

"You really think he’s such a saint?"

Peggy’s voice cracked like a whip.

She pointed directly at Steve.

"Years ago, I took him to Howard’s place to pick out his shield. I was only a few minutes late. When I arrived, this man was kissing a female secretary. Properly kissing her."

Steve visibly shrank.

"Her lipstick was still on his mouth."

Peggy’s eyes narrowed.

"So don’t tell me that was an issue with perspective, too."

"That... was also a misunderstanding," Steve said weakly.

His expression had become deeply uncomfortable.

"And she kissed me first."

"But you didn’t exactly pull away, did you?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Evenson’s face fell.

Howard.

The shield.

That had happened decades ago.

Apparently Peggy had an archive of grievances with the filing system of a government bureaucracy.

And Captain America had actually had a scandalous romantic incident in his past?

She kissed you first?

Evenson mentally scoffed.

With Steve’s reflexes, if he genuinely hadn’t wanted it, there was no chance he’d have been unable to dodge.

What a—

Evenson stopped himself.

He had been preparing to switch sides completely and give Steve a proper lecture.

Then he remembered his own situation.

Suddenly, he found himself remarkably unqualified to judge anyone.

So, almost by instinct, he decided he had to stand beside Steve.

"Ms. Carter, what Steve did this time was... admittedly a little questionable."

Steve shot him a betrayed look.

Evenson ignored it.

"But he was asleep for sixty years. There are a few things about modern society he genuinely doesn’t understand."

He started gesturing nervously.

"The world has changed enormously. Social attitudes have changed. This is the twenty-first century, and we’re in America."

He searched desperately for another argument.

"And, well... Steve is an exceptionally handsome man. Tall, charming, heroic, broad shoulders, the whole package."

He paused.

"Almost as good-looking as me."

"Please."

The three people in the room simultaneously rolled their eyes.

Evenson gave an awkward cough.

"Fine. Fine."

He glared at Steve.

I’m trying to save your marriage here. You don’t get to look offended.

"Anyway, you have to admit Captain America is going to be attractive to women. If a beautiful woman is attacked by criminals and then rescued by a handsome superhero, she might react emotionally. Maybe she gives him a thank-you kiss. Maybe she gets... particularly enthusiastic about expressing her gratitude."

Peggy slowly rubbed her chin.

"Why do I get the feeling you’re speaking from personal experience?"

Evenson’s head snapped side to side.

"No. Absolutely not."

His denial came so quickly it almost qualified as a confession.

Peggy snorted.

"I may be roughly the same age as Steve, but technically I’ve lived longer than he has. I haven’t spent the last several decades with my eyes closed. I understand how society has changed."

She rose from the couch.

The Fel flames in her eyes surged brighter.

"And I’m not some sheltered woman who doesn’t understand how people behave."

Peggy stepped forward.

"But there’s one thing you don’t know."

The room went quiet.

She stared directly at Steve.

"Do you know who that woman was?"

Steve and Evenson both instinctively straightened.

"Who?"

Peggy’s voice dropped into something dangerously calm.

"Her name is Sharon Carter."

The demonic wings behind Peggy shimmered into existence.

"That was my niece."

Her eyes burned brighter.

"My actual niece. By blood."

Silence.

Evenson’s face went blank.

Then his expression transformed.

"Oh."

A beat passed.

"Hahahaha! Right! Right, that explains everything!"

He sprang to his feet and immediately headed for the door.

"Well, that’s quite the misunderstanding. Anyway, I’ve just remembered I have some very important things to do at home. I’ll be leaving now."

He reached for the door.

"If Steve ends up dead, just give me a call. And if there’s a funeral, I’ll show up."

He paused.

"Assuming there’s no contribution expected."