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The dinner had been lovely, conversation good, work done. Peggy, while still completely exhausted, is looking a bit more put together than she's felt in days. She's just stepping out of Fury's apartment door and into the heat of the hallway, her jacket in her hands. She was about to tug her suit coat back on, but the moment she feels the lingering humidity, she thinks better of it and just drapes the thing over her shoulder. She's still giving the hallway a long look, paranoia ever high, especially when meeting with Fury, but not seeing anything to worry of, she does carry on.
*
After the day's events, Kurt needed to clear his mind. He didn't want to go back and confront Nick yet…after all, he did snicker when the blonde boy called Fury a 'pirate'. He's here on the man's generosity and he was hoping maybe he calmed down. Or Kurt calmed down.
However, he was getting hungry and it was getting a bit late and he didn't want Fury to worry. Since he knew that the Sergeant didn't like the Brimstone smell that accompanied a teleport, he decided to enter the building on foot. It means climbing the stairs towards the Tenement apartment and possibly running into people.
Most in the building have been warned of him. It might not be the case for visitors.
He's dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, no shoes and no jacket on such a warm, humid night. He's not even really paying attention to who might also be out and about.
*
Of course, those who don't live in the building and shouldn't have been warned of him probably should have a bigger reaction than Peggy Carter does the moment she sees the blue-skinned young man coming around the corner. She blinks, arching a brow and studying him head to toe for a moment before stepping out of the way of the door. It's like she simply knows where he is going. But then, she has one of those smiles, a smile that says this is a woman who knows a lot of secrets. Dangerous ones.
"Excuse me, young man. I do suspect you're late for dinner. Hopefully there are left overs." She states to him in her clipped British accent, words teasing and a bit enigmatic as she moves towards the rest of the hall and eventually the stairs.
*
Nightcrawler sort of freezes and then looks behind him to see if she's talking to someone else. But he's the only one there. And she's not freaking out. Well, she is British and that might explain it. Kurt blinks a couple of times but keeps his distance still, "Ah…ja, I needed to…" he starts, his German accent quite present. "Do I know you?" Should he? Those yellow eyes flick to the door to Fury's apartment before he looks back at the older woman.
*
Peggy is in a mood. Maybe it's what Fury does to her, the good, old fashioned bantering, or maybe she's just been cooped up in the office too long as of late. So, hearing his thick accent, and not having had a chance to practice her German in a long time, she switches to speaking in German instead of English. Her smile is genuine, meant to be a touch disarming and warm. There is something *almost* motherly about it, but just a touch too hard around the edges. "No, no… but I know your… I guess roommate would be a good term? Sponsor, perhaps?" She nods towards Fury's door. Her German is almost perfect.
*
There's another touch of surprise there which has wariness replaced more with curiosity. He also switches to German, "Sponsor, I guess. He's Herr Nick…how do you know him? And he told you about me?" That brings a little wariness back. Kurt trusts Fury with his life, mostly because he already saved it once. It's almost as if a lightbulb goes off though and his eyes widen before he holds up a finger of his three-fingered hand, "Oh! Are you his girlfriend?" It's a good thing he was out then! That could have been awkward.
*
The three fingered hand is enough to actually catch Peggy off guard for a moment and fascinate her. She blinks, tilting her head and studying, but not in a way that is accusatory. Just simply fascinated. The comment about being his girlfriend makes Peggy LAUGH, though, full out, her free hand resting against her chest where, if he's observant at all, he might catch the glimmer of her wedding and engagement rings nestled together.
"Girlfriend?! Goodness no. I'm his boss." Peggy laughs again, completely tickled at the thought of Fury settling down with anyone. Though, it might be one of htose laughs that says if life had gone a little bit differently a long time ago, he might not be wrong. But it didn't.
*
The laughter actually gets a smile out of him. Laughter is, of course, contagious. "His boss?" Fury works for a woman? Now, he didn't say that. In fact, he doesn't even know what Fury does for work. "You…are with the police? Or the Army then?" The kids call him 'Sergeant Nick' so Kurt is really just jumping to conclusions. "Truly?" Maybe he's never seen a woman police officer or army officer. Maybe he's never known a female boss?
*
Unaware that Kurt had no clue what Fury did for a living, Peggy's smile quirks a bit as Kurt asks about her affiliations. A quieter chuckle escapes her lips an she turns her frame fully to face him. She might as well not escape quite so quickly. "…Army, originally… I guess you could say. Now the government." She offers her hand in his direction, no fear or judgment from her, just that smoothly spoken German and a friendly smile, "Margaret Carter, but any friend of Nick's can call me Peggy. And yes, truly, I am his boss now, but we served together, back in the day."
*
"The Government?" Fury works for the government? Kurt looks sharply to the door but then looks back to the woman. It's Nick. He wouldn't turn him in…if there was any reason to. Then the hand is offered and he takes it in his own, giving a gentle but firm shake. His hands aren't particularly soft — callouses have to be built up for the trapeze, tightrope, and other circus acts he performed. Howver, there are also only two large fingers and a thumb yet he seems completely comfortable with the physiology.
"Kurt Wagner. It is nice to meet you Frau Peggy." When she mentions that they served together, he cants his head again, "Before or after he became a…" oh no, the giggles are starting again, "Pirate…" and he presses his hand to his mouth to try and stop.
*
There is no fear in Peggy's grip, her own hand calloused in a few particular areas, mainly from the grip of a gun and daily shooting practice. Her shake is firm and professional, not lingering overly long. Everything about her is ship shape, so to speak. However, she's also quite keen and she catches the momentary fear in his eyes. "Don't worry. He's… not going to turn you in, or even keep tabs on you. We're a… special program. The worst thing he might do, some day, is offer you a job." Peggy gives a wry smile, almost apologetic. "It's not worth the pay. Trust me." That even comes with a teasing little wink.
Then he's almost chuckling himself silly and the pirate comment is made. That gets a lofted brow from Peggy. "Pirate, hmm..? During, actually. But I will make certain that gets around the office. I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
*
Nightcrawler manages to calm himself down but he's still grinning, showing sharp, white teeth. "A job? Any pay is better than what I'm getting now. But he told me to get one, so I don't know that he'll be offering me anything." It's easier to converse in German than in English.
"During…so that was after me, maybe?" It must have been. "Oh, maybe you shouldn't call him that around work. A…very stupid boy called him that today," along with another slur, "And he might not think it's very funny."
*
"Ahh… Guess it depends how much he annoys me." Peggy does actually seem to be enjoying conversing in the language she hasn't gotten to use in some time, and will probably be using again too soon. The news about him not offering anything, however, gets an arched brow from Peggy. Was Fury protecting this young man by keeping him out of such work? Distinctly possible. She studies Kurt a bit closer and gives a simple nod.
"… Well, tell him you spoke with me. While there might not be full time work, that I'd like you on a special project or two. The money isn't bad. If you don't mind working with your roommate, that is. He'll know what I'm talking about. If he doesn't…" Peggy pauses, shifting her jacket in her arms so she can reach into the interior pocket and pull out a card. "This is how you can find me." SHIELD's logo is on the card. Peggy Carter, Director, SHIELD. A phone number. Nothing else.
*
Nightcrawler is also enjoying speaking German with someone who isn't telling him to go back to Germany and scaring him half to death. His eyebrows lift, however, "What? You're offering me work?" The government? They need Circus performers? The card is taken and looked at for a moment, but it doesn't ease his confusion. "I would like to help Herr Nick…I owe him and the others my life and would like to be able to pay him back some for it." Not that he ever really could. The card is looked at again, "Director Carter?" She's the head of the whole thing?
Oh, he's going to be in so much trouble. Maybe he -should- have teleported into the apartment and risked the wrath of Fury. "Thank you…"
*
"Of course, young man. It was a pleasure to meet you. And yes… some special projects, that's it. Not a full time job, not yet. But we could use smart, unique people like yourself. I'm not one to let the color of someone's skin hold them back." Peggy looks at Nick's door again. After all, she was the one who insisted they get him on the team in the first place. Black, blue or white, Peggy knows people she wants when she sees them. "I shouldn't keep you longer, though. He'll be worried I was giving you an interview already."
*
"Maybe he is more worried that I would have scared you," Kurt admits, but the card is pocketed. "It was nice to meet you too, Frau Direktor. I'll talk to him about these special projects…" as long as they don't need him to be a freak show, he'll probably agree. There's another glance to the door from him as well before he asks, "Are you all right to get home?" He would kick himself if he didn't ask and make sure that she was safe. She may be the head of a government organization and he may be an uneducated Circus performer, but someone taught him manners along the way.
*
The comment of having scared her actually makes Peggy laugh, but not as much as the question of her being okay to get home. Peggy full out chuckles, shaking her head gently,
*
"Oh, young man… I am… Quite capable of getting home on my own, I promise you. If I got home from the war, I can make it back from Harlem. You go, get your dinner, and I look forward to meeting you again." With those reassuring words, Peggy turns on the ball of her foot and heads down the stairs, her high heels echoing on the hard floor without fear or hesitation, even in a neighborhood where she doesn't belong.
*