He blinks, genuinely a little surprised by her words. He thought she knew.
"Peggy," he says, taking a small step forward (ignoring the way his heel wobbles). "It is to me. You stood beside me in basic. You taught me how to fight. When the project was shelved, you're the one who came to me; you're the one who convinced Howard to fly us when no one else would give me the time of day. I could have spent the whole war selling bonds if it wasn't for you. And you--"
He hesitates. He ducks his head, swallowing hard, and rubs the back of his neck to give his hands something to do. With a little shake of his head, like he's steeling himself to take that next step, he continues. "You inspired me to do better."
He frowns at his feet. Walking through minefields and parachuting out of planes doesn't make him break a sweat, but telling the gal he left behind that he loves her? His tongue feels like wet cotton.
He'd like to think that no matter what, he would have made it. Say Erskine had never see him that day, he would try and try and try again until he got someplace to give him better than a 4F. It would have been an honor to die for his country, whether it was out on the front lines or in some field hospital with gangrene. It didn't matter. It was the right thing to do. But he knows better than to believe he'd be half the soldier he was without the guidance he was given. Things could have worked out differently, but he's glad they didn't.
"That's what Captain America is," he says, finally flicking his eyes up to meet hers. She was important. She is important. And she always will be. He swallows again, and forces the corner of his mouth to uptick in a smile. "And I promise not to step on your toes."
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"Peggy," he says, taking a small step forward (ignoring the way his heel wobbles). "It is to me. You stood beside me in basic. You taught me how to fight. When the project was shelved, you're the one who came to me; you're the one who convinced Howard to fly us when no one else would give me the time of day. I could have spent the whole war selling bonds if it wasn't for you. And you--"
He hesitates. He ducks his head, swallowing hard, and rubs the back of his neck to give his hands something to do. With a little shake of his head, like he's steeling himself to take that next step, he continues. "You inspired me to do better."
He frowns at his feet. Walking through minefields and parachuting out of planes doesn't make him break a sweat, but telling the gal he left behind that he loves her? His tongue feels like wet cotton.
He'd like to think that no matter what, he would have made it. Say Erskine had never see him that day, he would try and try and try again until he got someplace to give him better than a 4F. It would have been an honor to die for his country, whether it was out on the front lines or in some field hospital with gangrene. It didn't matter. It was the right thing to do. But he knows better than to believe he'd be half the soldier he was without the guidance he was given. Things could have worked out differently, but he's glad they didn't.
"That's what Captain America is," he says, finally flicking his eyes up to meet hers. She was important. She is important. And she always will be. He swallows again, and forces the corner of his mouth to uptick in a smile. "And I promise not to step on your toes."
He makes no promises about the skirt, though.