She hates how slowly she wakes up. But she's just too cold. Every fiber of her being is freezing cold. Frankly, she hadn't even realized she was sleeping at first… and then suddenly she was aware, but only on the most minute level. After that first spark of awareness, it took who knew how long for her to properly fully awaken.
When she does, the first thing Captain Peggy Carter notices is that she's restrained. Her hands curl into fists and she pulls against the cuffs on her wrists… but to no avail. That's pretty shocking, that she can't even break free of her bindings. Her deceptively lithe appearance hid a world of hurt that had caused many an enemy to completely misjudge just how strong she really was. Usually, they fucked up by not bothering with restraints that could contain her. She must still be weakened from whatever happened to her, she supposes. Finally opening her eyes, Peggy looks around and takes in her surroundings, her lips thinning out immediately. She's in an examination room from the look of things, but the place looks like it was built by aliens. It's like nothing she's ever seen before. Makes her think that maybe she was captured by HYDRA, but even their stuff didn't look THIS advanced.
"Ms. Carter, welcome back to the world of the living."
Jolting, Captain Carter looks up at the ceiling, her eyes widening and then narrowing. That was Edwin Jarvis' voice. Howard Stark's butler, if she remembered correctly. The two of them had bonded over how utterly American their favorite people were. Steve for her, Howard for him.
Except… she can tell instantly that something is off. This isn' t Edwin. It's his voice, but it's not him. Growing a little incensed now, Peggy grits her teeth as she struggles against her restraints a bit harder. They still don't give way for even a second, but strangely enough the man pretending to be Edwin isn't asking her to stop.
Finally, with a huff, Peggy glares up at the ceiling.
"I don't know who you are, but misusing the voice of a friend is a great way to get on my shit list."
There's a brief pause at that, before the voice comes back.
"Ah yes, Edwin Jarvis. Apologies Ms. Carter, it was not my intention to impersonate him. I know my voice is similar, as it was designed based off of recordings of him speaking. However, I assure you I was made as an homage to Edwin Jarvis, not to replace him. My voice is my own, the only one I' ve ever known."
Peggy blinks as she processes all of that. The voice was claiming he was MADE? More than that, an homage implied that Edwin was no longer among the living. Last Peggy had known, Howard's butler was still very much alive. Of course, last Peggy had known… ugh, it's starting to come back to her now. Everything that led up to this point. It honestly feels like a fever dream, the events were so surreal. But… she also knows with bone-deep clarity that it all happened exactly as she remembers it.
"Ms. Carter, I-!"
"Captain. It's Captain Peggy Carter. I'm not at liberty to say anymore than that, whoever you might be."
"… Of course, Captain Carter. Do not worry. Sir will be with you shortly."
That doesn't really do much to set Peggy at ease, truth be told. Who is 'Sir'? Just what sort of mess as she found herself in? Heh, out of the frying pan, into the fire it would seem… Still, at least the voice in the ceiling doesn't lie. She barely has time to get her bearings and put her thoughts in order before the door to the room suddenly opens with a hiss, admitting a man that's strangely familiar to her.
"Hello Captain Carter."
She hesitates, because his accent is distinctly American and his face… but there's no way, right? It could still be a trick.
" I understand you ' re probably more than a little apprehensive. Waking up restrained is never a happy time for anyone. If it helps, the cuffs are for your own good, so you don't hurt yourself or others in your confusion."
Then, with a wave of his hands, he disengages the cuffs. Peggy's eyes narrow at the casual display of power, even as she immediately sits up and rubs at her wrists. He'd just gotten done telling her she might be a danger to herself and others, only to free her from her restraints while he was in the room. Did that mean he didn't consider her a threat? Was he underestimating her because her muscle was hidden under the curves of a woman?
"Who are you supposed to be, exactly?"
That brings a smile to the man's face.
"I was born Anthony Edward Stark in 1970, to my father Howard Stark and my mother Maria Stark. You can call me Tony or Stark. Pretty interchangeable really."
Peggy lays back down at that. Because as much as she wishes she could say he's lying… fuck, it's practically screaming at her. He looks just like Howard. But what he just said… 1970. He was BORN in 1970. "Sorry Captain Carter. But in my experience it's easier to just rip the tape off rather than try to take it slowly. You've been in the ice for seventy years."
The ice … in the ice. Peggy ' s breath hitches as she remembers more of her last moments. Her eyes shut for a moment, a single tear making its way down her cheek. But Tony isn't done.
"Only, there's something wrong with that, isn't there Captain? Because it's more than you just being a woman out of time. You're also a woman not of this world… aren't you?"
Peggy's eyes snap back open. She can see the knowledge in his eyes and knows there's no point in trying to deny it.
"… No. Is the other… was anyone else found with me?" Tony nods.
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