62 and 73 for the mash-up?
62. Love Confessor (Character A confessing their love for Character B to Character C) & 73. Stranded Due to Inclement Weather
This became a mini fic because I can’t follow directions apparently.
(Side note: I love me some stranded due to weather trope... there may or may not be some of it in a fic I should be trying to write)
Steve is not know for being subtle or discreet when it comes to his interest in Peggy Carter. But there’s a war between them half the time, and it’s not like he’s exactly said anything to anyone. Though he suspects the boys all have their own assumptions. It would be kind of dumb of them if they didn’t given that they see his compass on a daily basis. But then there’s a short reprieve in London, another chance to see Peggy, maybe even to catch a few moments alone with her. He’ll offer help with her paperwork. Or bring her a freshly brewed cup of tea. That’s the plan. Until Howard, who he hasn’t seen in a while, grabs him the moment he steps foot into Headquarters. First it’s a review of his Stark-made gear. Then it’s a fitting. Then he’s strong-armed Steve into coming out to the pub with him and Phillips where some bigwig is meeting with them about some funding. Howard plies him with beers even though he knows well enough Steve can’t get drunk. The talk seems good until Howard elbows Steve hard and gestures to a woman who flutters her eyelashes at him before looking away.
“Go over there,” Howard says, elbowing him again. “That’s practically a siren call.”
But Howard’s too stubborn and too drunk to let him off the hook. Not five minutes later he’s trying to use physical force to drag Steve over to the woman. Again seeming to forget basic facts like how nobody can force him around anymore, literally.
“Howard knock it off. I’m not interested.”
“Whaddya mean you’re not interested. Of course you’re interested. I’m interested. Except I’m all about the new experiment right now. Which makes you the best second option.”
“And again I’m not really interested.”
Howard snorts. “She’s petite, blonde and eyeing you like a giant steak in these days of ration. Make a move!”
Steve likes to think he’s patient, but he doesn’t have any patience about this. Sure the woman is beautiful but he hasn’t had any other though about her.
When Howard grabs him again, Steve’s had enough and knocks his hand away. He’s going to just remind Stark that he knows what he wants and what he doesn’t. Only before his brain and heart can catch up with him, the response is less eloquent and more of a blurted confession.
Of course the pub happens to be in an odd moment of quiet which makes the woman avert her gaze and blush. Phillips is cackling. And Steve feels like an idiot. Howard surprisingly says nothing.
“Forget I said anything,” Steve says in a rush, dropping money on the bar for the beers he didn’t drink and high-tails it out of there.
Two days later he and Peggy are in route through Southern France alone, on a Stark-led mission. Something about a recovery but Howard didn’t give much details and Phillips just shrugged when Steve asked for more. It’s barely evening and the day grows dark, clouds obscuring the sun until suddenly they’re in a snowstorm. A blizzard. They walk on another mile before Peggy’s fingers start to freeze and even Steve can’t see far in front of them. Luckily they find a barn. It seems mostly abandoned. They go about setting up the space so that they can try to stay comfortable until the snow passes. Peggy fiddles with the radio until she gets a static filled station with news. His French is improving but he doesn’t know what makes her gasp so loud.
She purses her lips in a way he’s noticed she does a lot when frustrated.
“You didn’t need me as a French translator. Dernier knows this area and language better than anyone on the team.”
Peggy rolls her eyes. “What I mean to say Steve is that we’ve been set up.”
“You and me handling a mission alone? That alone is unusual. And then to head straight into a blizzard? The radio says the warning for this kind of unseasonable snow fall was forewarned all week. Why would Stark then knowingly send us here in this inclement weather.”
“Because we work well together?”
“Because we’ve been set up Steve,” she says and then after a beat adds, “though admittedly we have a strong professional relationship.”
He hesitates and looks at his shoes. “And our personal relationship?” he mumbles and then regrets it. “I—not… What I mean to say—well…” He can’t form a coherent thought, not when she’s staring at him with a raised eyebrow and a closed off expression. He can’t tell if she’s furious at him or just annoyed. There’s no time to discuss it further because the harsh wind kicks open the barn door and they work the next half hour rigging it shut again. Still with the door sh again, the cold seeps in. Peggy sighs and rubs her hands together.
“This doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon,” she says. “Which means you’re going to have to share your impressive body heat.” When he doesn’t say anything, only stares at her wide-eyed, she smirks a little before pulling him close to her. “You’re going to have to get used to holding me close.”
He nods, throat thick with the burst of hope. “Yes.”
She smiles. “It will help us further our personal relationship I suspect.”
When she snuggles her head against his chest, and pulls his arm tighter around her he can’t help but squeeze her close. Content and much warmer than just a moment before, he kisses her, as close to her cheek as he can reach in this position. When she hums a little sound of pleasure, he thanks Howard in his head.
