ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

[uprightness]

STEVE ROGERS;

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[uprightness]

we really aren't.

[ what is this easy agreement? ]

you really owe me, I think.

[mucked]

I think otherwise. [ simple; direct; honest. ] Which leaves the two of us at something of an impasse, darling.

[uprightness]

Seems like.

[ but he nudges her backwards, his head against her middle. ]

we're not really meant to discuss any of this with the glitch going on.

[ he reminds her, again. ]

not a lot of ways out of an impasse, anyway.

[mucked]

I suppose you'd rather I shut it and let you go back to sleep. [ she doesn't sound prepared to -- there's an argument to be picked at, here, and peggy doesn't seem done with it. ]

[uprightness]

I never want you to shut it. I just don't want you to say things you don't want to say either.

[ he pillows his head just above her rib cage, arms wrapped around her again. ]

-- what is it?

[ there's something. he senses it in her tone. ]

[mucked]

[ he asks a question. direct, and unmistakable. something he said he wouldn't do. but maybe a slip can be forgiven. it's late, after all.

and she has been nudging him awake with wild accusations. even so, she frowns. ]

You realize, I hope, that I don't need any 'wow' factor. As you put it. It won't make a difference.

[uprightness]

I know.

[ he smiles and moves to press a kiss just beneath her collarbone. ]

I do. thank you.

[ good lord, he should think of another subject to distract her with but it's late and she's pleasantly warm ]

[mucked]

[ and as he kisses her collarbone, she leans in to kiss the crown of his head. her face stays there, nose nuzzled against his scalp. her arms tighten around him, loose and disengaged until now. it should have been terrifying -- the thought of crossing the boundaries into any important conversation with him while under this influence. but peggy finds him only a constant source of comfort, even when the source of discomfort is also centered on him.

he's a marvel. he's a wonder. and it's an uncharitable thought, but she's left thinking that all other options back home -- although kind and good and capable in their own right -- pale when held against the standard that is him. it's nothing to do with the serum and everything to do with the substance of his character. she pulls him close. ]

For God's sake, don't thank me, that was just another way of saying no.

[ her grip is warm and loving; her words are sharp and argumentative. so it always seems to go. ]

[uprightness]

I realize that, too.

[ but heaven, he's smiling, coaxed by her proximity and her affection and all in all, with this glitch, he's rather glad she said no. he'll get her 'yes' one day and it won't be because of atroma, he's rather stubborn about that. ]

I'll thank you if I want to.

[ stubborn to a fault. ]

[mucked]

Is that so?

[ she prompts -- mildly entertained, and quite awake. she watches his smile from the above-angle. peggy's not certain she's known anyone who could be quite so cheered and endeared by a refusal as him. ]

[uprightness]

That's definitely so.

[ he's an attentive listener to both her words and her heartbeats, tracing shapes above the cotton of her shirt with one thumb. ]

nothing to do about it.

[mucked]

[ a quiet hum, sourced in the back of her throat. thoughtful and biding while she enjoys the weight of him cuddled above her. every touch is a gift. ]

Then I suppose there's nothing left for me to do but say you're welcome. [ ... ] For the time being.

[uprightness]

[ something about her tone makes his smile soften. one day there might yet be a yes and on that day, steve would know his stubbornness regarding the whole thing had paid off. ]

you really need to start waking me up gently, you know. at ninety-nine, elbowing me like this might give me a heart attack.

[ and after a moment - ]

--- better than the gun to my nose, but still.

[mucked]

[ a snort of laughter. she ruffles her fingers through his hair. ]

And what, pray tell, would be 'gentle enough' for your poor aging heart?

[uprightness]

I trust you to come up with something.

[ he seals his trust with a kiss pressed against her neck, lingering there for another moment. ]

Maybe stop reading horror novels before bed.

[ It, huh? ]

[mucked]

[ she's not insensate. she's certainly not blind. she knows he's been creeping higher, closer, sweeter -- suddenly finding him pressing a kiss against her throat is no surprise, then, although she still sighs out a low contented note at the touch. ]

It was a gift, [ she defends herself on two fronts -- arguing and also palming the base of his spine with a warm hand. ] I didn't know what I was getting into.

[ sam winchester had warned her about the clowns, yes, but not about...all the rest. ]

[uprightness]

Killing clown, huh?

[ what a thing to talk about when he is otherwise busy with a mindless, lazy trail of kisses from her throat to her jawline. ]

You know, I don't think I've read that one. I've definitely seen the movie, though

[mucked]

There's a movie? [ good god. her shiver, this time, is one of chill and horror. ] I didn't think they allowed that sort of stuff on film. Good God.

[uprightness]

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. ]

[mucked]

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.

[uprightness]

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. ]

[mucked]

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. ]

[uprightness]

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.

[mucked]

[ 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?

[uprightness]

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.