uprightness | ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

It's not as graphic, I was told. But somehow that makes it even worse.

[ trying to imagine everything that happens, what one can't see. With a tone of mischief and utter humor he adds: ]

Don't worry, if there's ever a killing clown with balloons around, I'd help you fight it.

[ never ' fight it for you', not even in jest. ]

How gallant of you to offer.

[ she leans her head back against the bed's frame -- docile enough, for the time being. she's never been against a bit of affection while they both still stayed on the ship. there's no reason to draw a line. not yet. ]

I'll be certain to keep it in mind. In the meantime, I think I'll keep sleeping with a pistol in reach.

So you could shoot the clown?

[ oh why not, as long as she's not bashing it into his nose he can live with it. ]

That still doesn't solve the waking up problem.

[ being elbowed awake, such manners. ]

Well.

[ she breathes in as though the problem merits some serious consideration. and then she squares her shoulders, although she's lounging back in bed. ]

If it's my responsibility to come up with a solution? I could always try tickling you awake instead. I don't suppose a great many people know that the Steve Rogers is vulnerable along his flanks.

[ -- there's no way she's going to suggest anything kind or sweet or lovely. ]

It's better than hitting me in the face or in the ribs, I'd give you that.

[ he seeks and finds the spot beneath her ear that he so likes to explore, placing his next two kisses there and humming in thought. ]

But that's still not ideal.

[ she drapes an arm over his side -- fingers trailing under the shirt he'd been sleeping in. although peggy doesn't go quite so far as to tickle him, she does chase her fingertips across his side. her eyes flutter shut. ]

What about stealing all the blankets? Is that a bit more ideal?

Nope.

[ but this is turning out to be a rather fun guessing game of a sort. He stats where he is, draped across her body, arms around her and lips once again against her neck. ]

I'm not even sure I would noticed if you will. That's a bit counterproductive.

What would you notice? Go on, give us a hint.

[ -- it's a bit of a desperate move. she's avoiding her recent tendency to be honest, knowing full well the answer she gives all on her own is one that will betray other things. a disregard for certain rules, for one.

better, really, if it seems to come from him. ]

How about a kiss?

[ surely she can't begrudge the man one good morning kiss - all in all, he considers it a rather humble and reasonable request. ]

[ she grabs him by his chin and tilts his head upward. peggy leans in, captures a kiss that she lets linger and settle between them for a heartbeat before withdrawing. but her nose stays nearly pressed to his. ]

Like that, perhaps?

Mmhmm.

[ he's sorely tempted to steal another but seems to know better. If he does she might accuse him ( and rightly so ) of being greedy and refuse the whole thing. ]

That's much better.

[ tilted so near, her eyes shift to keep focus on his -- one at a time, and her attention darts between them. ]

I don't know. [ she hems and haws. ] It seems like a terribly narrow option. What if I'm cross with you, hm, but still have need to jolt you awake? A kiss would send the wrong message straight out the gate.

It would be one hell of a chance for us to get over being cross with one another.

[ he shifts, presses a kiss to the left corner of her mouth with a rather happy grin. It's a rather good explanation if you ask him. ]

[ it's an idealist's explanation. it's sunny and it's sweet and it's a lot of things, but peggy knows it won't be the one she follows through with in the end. should the day arise. and, doubtless, it would.

but that's alright. peggy doesn't fear arguing with him. arguing with steve doesn't make her heartsick the way imagining him gone does. ]

And what about you, eh? [ her words turn casual. warm and familiar, only for him. ] Will you be waking me up, in future, in that same fashion?

Why not?

[ he seems rather charmed by the concept, but of course he does. He stretches above her and sighs, tracing a line across the hem of her shirt. The truth is, he's happy to be awake now, happy to be like this with her no matter how much he complains. ]

Seems fair.

[ does he think he's being sly? she wonders -- and that curiosity garners him a smile, albeit muted and hidden against his temple. gentle-like, she slides a hand down his arm and tangles his fingers in hers. as though, perhaps, she might halt his 'sly' progress. make an obstacle of herself. ]

And if I don't want to be woken with kisses? What then?

[ but if dared to ask directly? well -- she'd have to admit she'd enjoy it. ]

Can't know that in advance, you've never tried.

[ he sounds so cheerful about it all, biting back a chuckle as she halts his advances. he lets it be for now, traces the same line across her knuckles. ]

Give it two weeks, we'll see how you feel then.

[ TWO WEEKS, he says and without an ounce of shame. ]

Two weeks! [ she echoes. ] Planning on doing a great deal of waking, are you?

I hope to.

[ there's no point nor merit in ever denying that part. In fact, he goes and shuffles closer, his lines against hers. Lord, he missed her. Now more than always, he hates that she had to deal with something like this for 3 weeks. ]

This is my favorite part of the day, after all.

[ she forces a roll of her eyes. really, it takes more effort to be annoyed than usual. which is, in itself, annoying. ]

Who knew you were such a teddy bear, Steve Rogers.

You did.

[ he counters at once, not really minding the accusation ( mostly because it's absolutely true as of late ). ]

You've been living with me for months now and you're the sharpest person I know. So you must have known from the get-go

I knew a lot of things from the get-go. [ she answered, a little too quick. a little too honest. ] But that realization? Well. It wasn't quite so instant. It took time.

Probably because it has only become relevant a few months ago.

[ hinting that perhaps everything starts and ends with her. What's become a fact between the two of them might never hold with anyone else. It's simply something that's only true with Peggy. ]

[ and, at that, she wraps her arms around his broad broad shoulders and hugs him close. a few months ago, he says? god, she knows she would have happily cuddled him close before it -- no matter how difficult each step has been. ]

There's still a bit of trouble, I find, in remembering that a few months ago was indeed a few months ago. [ all she remembers in some flashes is home. ]

Time is tricky.

[ he agrees, his tone turning a shade more somber. It's true and is relevant to just about anyone on the fleet but he reckons time has never been their friend even before the fleet.

Steve can't help but resent this situation. It feels as if the atroma are sending tests their way to see if the foundation might crack. ]

But still, it's probably the only thing we can use in this case.

[ give it time, as they say. ]

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