Peggy's eyes widened for a moment before she closed them and leaned forward to turn his peck into more of a kiss for the both of them. "Thank you, Steve...", she whispered as they broke the kiss for a second before going right back into another one.
"You're welcome, Peggy... and I think we'll be alright on the battlefield... I can't make any promises when we're off the line though.", Steve gave a small smirk as she started to laugh.
With that settled, Peggy and Steve became a power couple, partly keeping it secret from Phillips and most people for the time being, with Erskine the only one knowing as it was so obvious to him.
They built up a schedule of a training regime, showers, meals, and even a language class where Peggy is to teach German, working together with Erskine, to Steve who would need the advantage to understand their enemy.
The only issue sometimes was sharing the cot, much to Steve's embarrassment as for the next morning, he found out for the first time that he now has morning wood mode. Being sick so much and all through his past, he never had this problem before.
It certainly was an annoying issue for him to deal with as he tried to get rid of it as quickly as possible, especially before Peggy could see. He didn't want to embarrass her again with his bodily issues so he quickly decided to get up as gently as possible not to wake her up and then get towards the latrine where it might be better for him to at least wait it out.
Peggy, having grew up an agent and soldier, is not a deep sleeper, for she's a habitual woman of sorts, and now since having changed and grown, she has gotten more sensitive to things including sound, and of course, it didn't help when a cot is more sensitive to the skin than a bed.
Peggy rolled over to where she could see Steve walking away as she assumed that perhaps he just needed to use the bathroom, "Steve?".
Steve frozen and silently cursed to himself that he probably woke her up. "Yeah?", he asked. "Is everything alright?", Peggy wondered as Steve looked back to her, though keeping his back to her and making sure she didn't see his hard-on.
Steve smiled back at her, "Just fine. Going to the bathroom, that's all.", trying to keep his voice normal as possible, and Peggy raised an eyebrow, hearing the slight crack in his voice, recognizing that he's embarrassed...Of what? Of waking her up?
"It's barely five. It's still too early yet. Do you really need to go to the bathroom?", Peggy asked tiredly.
Steve honestly wondered what he should say, he didn't want to lie to her, but he certainly didn't want to be bold and forward with the truth, just to spare of her of the embarrassment. "Not exactly...", he finally said. She looked at him for a few moments before it finally clicked to her that he obviously was meaning something else there.
"Oh, I see...", Peggy slowly nodded as she rolled back over to have her back to him. "It's alright, Steve... like you said last night, it's natural, right? Our bodies are just being human?".
Steve smiled, hearing Peggy's last comment, "Yeah. I won't take long, I promise.", before heading straight for the latrine, closing the door, muffling the sounds this time as Steve was relieved, going to work himself down.
Peggy smiled to herself, realizing that Steve is finally trusting her, and now she's trusting him...She glanced at the clock, and then sighed as she closed her eyes, slowly relaxing, waiting for Steve to rejoin back to sleep.
After some minutes, Steve finished up, and used the facilities as well, cleaning himself up, and then left the bathroom, settling down on the cot, and relaxed as he rested on his side, falling asleep when Peggy rolled over to face him with sleepy eyes, "About time, Steve.", kissing him on the jaw before snuggling up to him, curling up like a baby.
Steve was a bit surprised by the action before smiling, and kissed Peggy's forehead, "I keep my promises, Peggy.", before closing his eyes, his arm curling around Peggy's shoulders, and Peggy smiled as they fell asleep instantly, content and happy.
And so, the week went well, with Peggy and Steve noting their limits during the training regimes, sharing conversations and meals, and of course, affection almost all the time, with the couple carefully dissipating the sexual tension in moments where it got almost non-manageable.
They honestly were both impressed with themselves on the sheer fact that they didn't start going at it like animals in heat at any moment. It came close a few times, but they managed to just back away from the edge before they would do something they might both regret since now certainly wasn't a good time, nor did both of them felt that it was the right time. After all, despite everything, they still had only known each other almost, at most, a few weeks.
It was close to the final day of their crash course giant/giantess training when Colonel Phillips had the two of them in the training area and rolling on top of what looked like a mockup of the infamous Panzerkampfwagen VI tank... or as the enemies of Germany knew it as the Tiger. It clearly wasn't the actual tank that Peggy recognized from photos but rather something cobbled together.
"I know that look, Agent Carter... and this isn't the Tiger... any real ones we have are still needed by the Army to figure out what makes them tick... We call this tank, 'the kitten', it's pretty much the closest we can make a Tiger without making a Tiger since this tank's only purpose is to be destroyed.", Phillips explained.
"So, the gun is just for show?" Steve asked. "The whole thing, the turret doesn't even rotate. It can only move, and it's barely able to do that with how heavy the damn thing is. This mock-up is almost 53 tons which is about how much the Tiger weighs... and I think you two are smart enough to know what why it's here with you two.", Phillips replied.
Peggy smiled, "53 tons, eh? Care for some kickball, Steve?", and Steve chuckled, "Will be the first time I'd play kickball without coughing and stopping to breath every 10 seconds.".
"If that's how you want to deal with it... certainly was thinking more of just seeing how much weight you could put on it and see if despite the size, you can still crush something this big.", Phillips said.
"If we can kick this thing around like the football, it won't make any difference.", Peggy smirked. Phillips was about to open his mouth before taking upon a thoughtful look, and spoke, "Actually, you may have a point there, Agent Carter. Alright, have at it.".
Peggy grinned, "Bucky taught you a few pointers, eh?", and Steve nodded, "He managed to show me a couple, yeah. Let's go for it.", and walked to the tank, and then side-kicked it, rolling it over to Peggy who sprinted, kicking it back to him. The tank was becoming a box-like ball as the turret came loose, the mock wheels reeling here and there.
"Sheesh, Colonel, did they not add much armor to it?", Steve chuckled at just how easy they were moving that tank.
"Armor is fairly similar all over compared to the Tiger, we may have added more in a few places to make up for the lack of true internals such as the electrical systems to move the turret or radio.", Phillips said.
Peggy nodded, "Makes sense. Still, this is not top-heavy to our feet. It's almost like light-heavy.", with Steve replying, "So, it's actually like kickball.", stopping the roll of the almost destroyed tank, and picked it up in his hands, and squeezed as he molded it into a crude version of a baseball in a giant sense.
Peggy whistled lightly, "Well, that would probably hit a watchtower.", and Steve blinked, "Yeah, with enough pitch, that would probably hit enemy planes too.".
Phillips blinked in surprise, "Well, looks like you've clearly proved to be ready. Oh, boy, I can't wait to see the looks on those Nazi bastards.".
"And this is the largest vehicle the Axis can deploy on the field... if it's that easy... you're right about that, sir.", Peggy chuckled.
"Only issue to us would be that giantess... and with how the fighting in the east is going, she might be less likely to fight our troops.", Steve said.
"If we do have to fight her, Steve, we'll beat her... I'm British, remember? We've faced the odds. The Romans, the Armada, even recently, we stood alone against the Axis for a year.", Peggy reminded.
Steve grinned, "That's right. America is all in. Right, Colonel?", with a glance at the colonel who nodded with a fond smile, "You have said it, son. America is all in.", checking his watch. "Lunch is coming on. Let's get you two down to your place. The war outfits will arrive by 3 this afternoon, and you do some training to get used and give the uniforms a bit of wear, so you don't have to be uncomfortable tomorrow on our ride overseas.".
Peggy chuckled, "You're still keeping a tight lid on the surprise ride, huh?", and Phillips smirked, "You both will be surprised, I guarantee it. You must be ready by 0800 in the morning, is that understood?"
The couple nodded, affirmed, "Sir, yes, sir!", and Phillips nodded approvingly, and then replied, "Dismissed.". The couple then left the training ground aboveground and headed back down to their underground place. They alternated between the aboveground training and the underground training for the past week, for they needed Vitamin D like anyone else.
It was late at night as Peggy and Steve were back on the surface, dipping their toes into the Atlantic as they sat and enjoyed the night together.
"It really seems a shame when you think about it... London and New York, so many lights in the city, you can't see the stars above; yet go countryside outside those cities and you see all what heaven is like above us.", Peggy said as they looked to the sky.
Steve exhaled, "I sure wish I had a drawing pad to sketch the stars...I bet it would be even more stars in the deep countryside over in Europe...", with a soft smile as he touched her hand gingerly between them.
They are done wearing the war outfits for the late afternoon as now they're wearing their casual clothes. After all, they would need to air them out once in a while...Steve got a medium blue, medium red, and medium cream outfit that's reminiscent of the American flag in a way, and Peggy got a dark blue, dark red, and dark cream outfit that's reminiscent of the British flag in a way.
"It's not too much different in England... going up north... but you'll certainly see so many in the quieter corners of the continent. It's absolutely breathtaking. Makes you feel so small in a lot of ways... which is pretty funny considering us now.", Peggy chuckled.
Steve laughed warmly, "Indeed. After all, if Dr. Erskine's right about the fact that the stars are only like suns for other planets while our sun is probably a star to other galaxies, we're pretty small to the universe, yet we're big here in our world...".
Peggy smiled wryly, "Yet I don't feel big or small with you, I just feel right.", leaning her head on his chest. "Right...", Steve huffed at that word. "For the first time in my life now, I can feel the same way... that I'm... right. Not that I hated what I was before... it just... was difficult... day by day, dealing with everything.", Steve said.
Peggy looked up slightly, "Yet you did it. You surpassed your mother's wishes, your pseudo brother's wishes, and now you have reached up to my wishes which is being the right man for me, to be there for me, to listen to me when I am ranting or simply wondering out loud, or in between, and to...love me.", touching his cheek softly as she finally knew that she can say it, "Steven Grant Rogers, I love you.", the fateful three words making her heart swell and pound with strong heartbeats.
Steve looked at her in surprise, hearing her say those words. He was honestly surprised, especially considering how little time they spent together. But then again, the fact that they were in this predicament together, and at the end of the day, they really were the only ones suitable for each other...
Of course, it greatly helped that there was a spark that was shared between them, that they were connecting and that this wasn't just something of convivence or settling for one another.
After a few moments, Steve took a deep breath and leaned close to her before whispering in her ear, "I love you too, Margaret Elizabeth Carter.".
Peggy's heart pounded even harder, and she smiled widely with a wide blush that is making her eyes gleam, moving her hand up from his cheek into his hair, as she leaned up to kiss him passionately.
Steve blinked for a half-second before closing his eyes as he moved closer, his hands moving to hold her, tangling one hand into her hair, with his other hand resting on her back, and kissed her just as passionately as Peggy's other hand moved to rest on the back of his shoulder.
The two of them held in that loving embrace for a few minutes, only briefly pausing their kissing to get some air back into their lungs. Their kisses were nothing less than soft passion; nothing messy or aggressive, just a simple loving kiss.
As they slowed down and stopped their kissing, Steve leaned his forehead on hers, "You don't know how lucky I am to have a witty, spunky, firecracker, amazing, beautiful dame in you, Peggy.", breathing softly as he looked into her gorgeous dark brown eyes, lost in them.
Peggy smiled warmly, "I think I do, Steve, and I am way luckier to have a brave-hearted, honest, smart, incredible, strong-willed, beautiful man in you.".
Steve shook his head in amusement and awe. "Isn't it usually the guy's job to be the flatterer?", he asked her as she tapped his nose.
"Well, I'm one for role reversing quite a number of norms if you don't mind.", Peggy teased as he gave a small chuckle, "I've got no problem with that as long as I have your love.".
Peggy sighed contentedly, smiling happily as she heard that, and glanced at the moon, "It's getting late. We better get to bed and get some sleep. You heard the Colonel. We're to set out at 8 in the morning.".
Steve nodded, "Right.", getting up as he helped Peggy to her feet, and smiled lightly, "Do you still think it's gonna be one of the cargo ships?".
Peggy shrugged, "It's my suspicion. I mean, cargo ships carry thousands of steel boxes, and we can fit in a cargo ship, I believe.".
"Perhaps...", Steve bit his lip. "But there is the U-boat threat out there still, I mean, I heard the Kriegsmarine has certainly taken its blows from our navies these past months.".
"That's true. I almost forgot about those dreadful ships. Nearly starved us on the island with how much they sank. Of course, what else can get us to Europe from New York? There's not some railroad to carry us safely...". Both of them had the same realization. "You don't think?", Peggy spoke in surprise.
"Could it even take off?", Steve wondered. Peggy hummed, "I've heard rumors that Stark worked together with Hughes a couple of times...If it's true about his Hercules plane, it would possibly fit us.".
"Hercules?", Steve asked. "Oh, right, I guess you didn't have as many conversations with Stark as I had... Howard Hughes came up with the idea for a massive plane to carry large quantities of equipment, troops, vehicles, all to fly over to Europe and avoid the Atlantic and the U-boats.", Peggy explained.
"Well, sounds like that would be perfect for us then... but the sheer size of it...", Steve frowned in concern. "It might be a one-way trip for all we know... the logistics of that beast alone, and if the Luftwaffe comes sniffing... well, I hope you know how to swim, Steve.", Peggy replied.
Steve chuckled, "Oh, don't worry, I know how to swim. Mom and Bucky taught me when we went to the beach a few times.", and squeezed her hand reassuringly, "But I doubt we don't need to swim. After all, we know Stark somewhat, and his technology was part of how the Quantonium and the Super Soldier Serum's in us. So, I am sure this Hercules plane could carry us.".
Peggy smiled, "You are quite optimistic, Steve.", and Steve smiled, "It was one of the things that kept me going in the past. And you are an idealist, and I love it coming from you.", with a peck on her nose.
Peggy giggled, "Touche. Well, we will have to see in the morning.", squeezing his hand warmly, and Steve nodded, and they both headed down below to their place to get some sleep and such.