[ she huffs a sigh the moment he undoes her buffer and braces a hand against her side. peggy slides her fingertips along his wrist, but doesn't deflect him just yet. ]
'Has' to go, does it? [ he speaks with considerable conviction. but, then again, steve always does. ] I don't suppose you've got a well-plotted plan B in mind to replace it.
[ it's a soft murmur as he tries to tug her closer, to resume the trail his fingers have been following up and down her spine, to touch her properly. ]
but you didn't seem to think it's a solid one.
[ but apparently, he does think he could convince her otherwise. she had to go and remind him of last time, of her sleeping in his shirt, of the way he pulled that shirt away from her. it wasn't a very good idea. ]
'Do the opposite of the rule' is not, in fact, a viable alternative to the rule.
[ that much is true. but it's also true that she's easily tugged, fitting wonderfully against the front of him as she drapes an arm over his waist. her fingers find the small of his back, anchoring her there with a steady pressure. ]
There's our professionalism to consider, Steve. [ again, no argument she makes suggests she's pro-rule. only that she feels some duty-bound responsibility to it. ]
what about it? no one is pressing their ear to our door. you're the most professional person I know, Peggy. Tossing the rule out the airlock isn't going to change. it's nobody's business
[ except, well, natasha's but he doesn't know about that yet. ]
if someone makes it their business they'll have another thing coming.
[ indicating that he's more than willing to introduce said someone to his fist but he does doubt it'll get to that. ]
[ she's never lived in a situation where claiming a space -- living in it -- was quite as allowed as it is here. before now, spaces haven't been her own. they've been shared or rented or assigned or else they were howard stark's charitable offerings.
but steve's not wrong. it's not anyone's business; no one polices what happens behind these doors except for themselves. beyond that, he takes the chivalrous route -- and although she offers him a look she knows there's no need to remind him that she can do her own fist-based introductions. ]
Perhaps -- [ she hums, considering the middle ground ] -- perhaps only during weeks we're drifting.
[ but if they're stopped in a system, there's nothing stopping them from getting a place of their own for the afternoon, the day, the week-end. it's the beginning edge of a compromise. ]
Based on who's definition of 'awful,' Steve? [ sometimes -- sometimes! -- being honest with him is shockingly easy. ] Because I would have slept with you on the water planet. Happily.
[ happily.
and she's so matter-of-fact about that admission. ]
[ he smiles, tugs on her chin until the angle is good enough for him to kiss her, short and sweet. he's getting somewhere, he doesn't want to ruin his chances. ]
alright, next time, we'll do that. but if it's poisonous or made up of lava then we can call it an exception to the rule, yes?
[ damn him. he's trying to pin her down to specifics -- and he knows he can, so long as she's speaking the truth. peggy sidles a touch closer and enjoys his kiss. ]
-- I can agree to it. Alright. [ a huff of breath. ] You have yourself a tentative deal.
[ it feels like a victory. a much-needed one. steve has his sight set on higher goals, on an engagement ring and a small ceremony and seeing the set of necklace and ring finally complete but that can wait a while longer. ]
[ he takes it for an invitation, pressing close, stealing a longer, deeper kiss, humming happily at the familiar trace of strong tea and the scent of her soap. He clutches her close and his sigh is a happy sound. ]
[ she wants to wave off his sentiment -- tell him, perhaps, that it's been a week and (in theory) she's been here the whole time. but she also feels it: this preponderance of missing one another. it drives her forward, leaning into his kiss and accepting the break it causes in their conversation.
such as it is. ]
Now you're simply trying to sweet-talk me. [ ... ] It won't work.
What if it's both a bit of a sweet-talk but also absolutely true?
[ if at first you don't succeed, after all. Having gotten his way, he seems okay with taking his time, now. All in all, this is an important note he's trying to make. ]
I suppose that rather depends on what you're after, in the end.
[ why he's telling sweet sweet truths and inching his fingers along her skin. oh, she knows. it's been the subject of their little spirited debate for a few minutes now -- but just because she's honest doesn't mean she's nice, and maybe she wants to make him say it. ]
[ oh he's after something but as determined as she is for him to say it, he's equally determined to avoid it. in general, he found that it's healthier for peggy not to get her way too easily - she never seems to enjoy things as much if they fall into her lap without a struggle and so. ]
[ after something and up to no good both. but the question is asked like a sigh, trailing into a happy sound as she locks her fingers against the nape of his neck, urging him to keep up with his kisses and his ministrations. ]
In this, I trust you about as far as I can throw you.
[ and in all else, she trusts him to the ends of the earth. ]
[ but he does sound so very happy, so pleased with her skepticism. or maybe it's simply the slight pressure on his neck that encourages him to press a kiss as well as his next words against the line of neck. ]
how did I ever get a reputation of being untrustworthy?
[ he knows exactly how, he does think of that night rather fondly. ]
You earned it the very night you woke up. [ she huffs, tangling a leg with his and easing dangerously close to comfortable beneath him. ] Don't tell me you've forgotten. I certainly haven't.
[ which is saying more than enough, but the glitch compels her to say more. ]
Don't think I could forget it even if I wanted to.
[ -- press her and she might even use the word remarkable. ]
One very notable time -- [ she corrects him, fingernails dragging light lines against the top of his spine. ] And I'd argue it was about seventy-bloody-percent your doing.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:43 pm (UTC)[ and steve doesn't do well with this distance between them. he shuffles closer, rests an arm around her middle. ]
we have to come up with something else. call it plan B, but the rule has to go.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 05:59 pm (UTC)'Has' to go, does it? [ he speaks with considerable conviction. but, then again, steve always does. ] I don't suppose you've got a well-plotted plan B in mind to replace it.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:03 pm (UTC)[ it's a soft murmur as he tries to tug her closer, to resume the trail his fingers have been following up and down her spine, to touch her properly. ]
but you didn't seem to think it's a solid one.
[ but apparently, he does think he could convince her otherwise. she had to go and remind him of last time, of her sleeping in his shirt, of the way he pulled that shirt away from her. it wasn't a very good idea. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:07 pm (UTC)[ that much is true. but it's also true that she's easily tugged, fitting wonderfully against the front of him as she drapes an arm over his waist. her fingers find the small of his back, anchoring her there with a steady pressure. ]
There's our professionalism to consider, Steve. [ again, no argument she makes suggests she's pro-rule. only that she feels some duty-bound responsibility to it. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:12 pm (UTC)[ except, well, natasha's but he doesn't know about that yet. ]
if someone makes it their business they'll have another thing coming.
[ indicating that he's more than willing to introduce said someone to his fist but he does doubt it'll get to that. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:28 pm (UTC)but steve's not wrong. it's not anyone's business; no one polices what happens behind these doors except for themselves. beyond that, he takes the chivalrous route -- and although she offers him a look she knows there's no need to remind him that she can do her own fist-based introductions. ]
Perhaps -- [ she hums, considering the middle ground ] -- perhaps only during weeks we're drifting.
[ but if they're stopped in a system, there's nothing stopping them from getting a place of their own for the afternoon, the day, the week-end. it's the beginning edge of a compromise. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:35 pm (UTC)[ he never forgave those people for the nerve to offer waterbeds of all things. ]
that can be an exception.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:37 pm (UTC)[ happily.
and she's so matter-of-fact about that admission. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:39 pm (UTC)[ he runs a hand up and down her arm, humming in thought. ]
if you think it's awful, then it's awful. likewise if it's for. those were the only two I'd call awful.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:42 pm (UTC)[ again, without a hint of emotion in one direction or another. casual; careless. she might have played it more coy in another conversation. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:45 pm (UTC)alright, next time, we'll do that. but if it's poisonous or made up of lava then we can call it an exception to the rule, yes?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 06:57 pm (UTC)-- I can agree to it. Alright. [ a huff of breath. ] You have yourself a tentative deal.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 07:05 pm (UTC)[ it feels like a victory. a much-needed one. steve has his sight set on higher goals, on an engagement ring and a small ceremony and seeing the set of necklace and ring finally complete but that can wait a while longer. ]
feels like a deal.
[ and a damn good one. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 07:07 pm (UTC)[ she insists -- where he needs a victory, she does do. ]
As deals go, it's left rather unsealed.
[ -- which isn't exactly an invitation. but it's not exactly not an invitation either. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 07:28 pm (UTC)[ he takes it for an invitation, pressing close, stealing a longer, deeper kiss, humming happily at the familiar trace of strong tea and the scent of her soap. He clutches her close and his sigh is a happy sound. ]
I've missed you.
[ this, them. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-09 08:37 pm (UTC)such as it is. ]
Now you're simply trying to sweet-talk me. [ ... ] It won't work.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 04:31 am (UTC)[ if at first you don't succeed, after all. Having gotten his way, he seems okay with taking his time, now. All in all, this is an important note he's trying to make. ]
Will it work then?
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 02:05 pm (UTC)[ why he's telling sweet sweet truths and inching his fingers along her skin. oh, she knows. it's been the subject of their little spirited debate for a few minutes now -- but just because she's honest doesn't mean she's nice, and maybe she wants to make him say it. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 07:10 pm (UTC)[ oh he's after something but as determined as she is for him to say it, he's equally determined to avoid it. in general, he found that it's healthier for peggy not to get her way too easily - she never seems to enjoy things as much if they fall into her lap without a struggle and so. ]
you make it sound as if I'm to no good.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-10 07:15 pm (UTC)[ after something and up to no good both. but the question is asked like a sigh, trailing into a happy sound as she locks her fingers against the nape of his neck, urging him to keep up with his kisses and his ministrations. ]
In this, I trust you about as far as I can throw you.
[ and in all else, she trusts him to the ends of the earth. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-13 03:42 pm (UTC)[ but he does sound so very happy, so pleased with her skepticism. or maybe it's simply the slight pressure on his neck that encourages him to press a kiss as well as his next words against the line of neck. ]
how did I ever get a reputation of being untrustworthy?
[ he knows exactly how, he does think of that night rather fondly. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-13 04:45 pm (UTC)[ which is saying more than enough, but the glitch compels her to say more. ]
Don't think I could forget it even if I wanted to.
[ -- press her and she might even use the word remarkable. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-09-13 06:00 pm (UTC)[ he says, brushes a near-kiss against her throat and lifts his head to look at her. ]
One time a person acts out and it earns him a reputation. Besides.
[ he shrugs, his smile is positively boyish. ]
that wasn't my doing.
no subject
Date: 2017-09-13 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-09-13 07:31 pm (UTC)[ but the next sound is a sigh, deep and content. he fidgets above her,a direct response to her touch, arching a bit against it. ]
if that's the case, I'd argue it's eighty-percent your doing. Ninety, even.
[ the very nerve, indeed. ]
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