uprightness | ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

[ and with that kiss, the fight leaves her. peggy's lines soften, and she shakes off his grip only so she can cup his cheek with the same right hand that she'd used to punch him. ]

Fine. Consider my white flag waved. This time.

Until next time.

[ he agrees, leans towards her touch. They've come a long way, him and her, since their stolen kisses, brief and secretive. It feels more natural, loving her more openly. ]

That's a deal.

[ it certainly takes the sting from losing. ]

Next time, I think you'll have to give the chance to learn a thing or two.

If you'd like.

[ what an odd way to have a conversation, he finally seems to realize, with them still pressed together like this after she had already waved her white flag. somewhat regretfully, he shifts, offer her a hand. ]

That sounds good.

[ very good, actually. maybe it's been too long for him, too. ]

[ he moves. she exhales -- feeling maybe as though she'd been holding her breath for longer than she had. if pressed, she might even have to admit that her head's feeling a little dizzy.

and when she puts her hand in his, it's warm. ] So long as you're not quite as monstrous as your drill sergeant was.

[ her smile is edged. toying. ]

Not quite sure I can ever live up to her.

[ he pulls her up, smiling all the while. ]

Ruthless, she was.

[ only in the best of ways. Many things that Steve Rogers does when he trains the Avengers are inspired by her. Strict and to the point. No one can expect to turn a group of enhanced individuals into a team with anything less than that. ]

Thank your lucky stars. Look how you've shaped up.

[ a gentle swat on his arm. if she's going to be stuck on this wild ride of christmas cheer, you can be certain she reserves the right to snark at every corner turned. ]

[ it's a battle of wits. At times, she wins and drags him into bickering and bantering and sometimes, he says something right and it softens her a notch.

Seeing an opening, he's quick to respond; keeping her hand in his, he goes for what seems to always work best, honesty. ]

I do that quite often, actually.

[ thank his lucky stars, that is. ]

[ good heavens. he's attractive even when he's denying her the gutter-fight she so sorely wants. peggy huffs, swallows an unbecoming pout, and abides by the results of their scuffle. he wants to be sweet? fine, she'll give him sweet. ]

You're not alone in that.

Peggy.

[ he glances at the door to the cargo bay. He rather likes the sweetness, likes it enough to move a step closer, to brush a thumb over her knuckles but - ]

You know, I'm pretty sure Max told me something about any manner of fraternization near his shuttles.

Fraternization.

[ nice as all this nearness is, she can't help but scoff as he invokes an old army euphemism. peggy's head tilts -- she looks at him over the bridge of her nose. thoroughly prepared to be unimpressed with the answer. ]

What'd he tell you, hm?

Can't really remember - it was my first week but it was very clear. He really cares about those things.

[ and she had asked him to show patience to Max and his oddities and honestly, this is a rather big sacrifice he's making here in th name of patience, thank you very much. ]

[ -- peggy glances across steve's shoulder to one of the shuttles. the she knows max favours. ]

They symbolize escape, I think. [ and that's why he cares. ] Even now, he likes to know he could at least try and bolt at any moment. [ and has certainly attempted to do so, in the past. ] But I have faith he won't.

He seems to be doing well.

[ lost little girls aside. He talks a bit more and though Steve isn't close to understanding, he provides no pressure which seems to work just fine. ]

Better. [ she nods. ] He lets me use his name, which is a leap and a half. And he uses my name in turn. But apparently he's also making up stupid rules about where I can -- fraternize.

[ eyeing steve, and deciding her attempt at battling it's quite over: ] Maybe I should have a chat with him.

I should have just kept that one to myself didn't I.

[ now there will be no stopping her with this and the fraternization thing. Why does this always, always happen somehow? ]

Discretion is the better part of valor, my dear.

[ and that's all she'll say on the matter. ]

ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

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