The admission that she'd spent time thinking about the two of them, what it would be like to be more than they currently were, brought a pleased flush to Steve's face. It was nice to have proof that he hadn't been alone in this, that he hadn't been the only one daydreaming about what they might be.
Except maybe this was one of those things that was supposed to stay a daydream, instead of crossing over into reality.
"I've just... been thinking," Steve said, but then he sighed, knowing it wasn't fair to give Peggy a vague, half-truthful answer.
"I've seen a couple people over the last few days," he said. "Bucky, Stark, Natasha Romanoff... and they've all reminded me that what I'm planning on doing... it's dangerous. And if I make it obvious how special you are to me, how dangerous that is for you. I'm outta second chances here, Peggy, and I don't want to drag you down with me. Like I did for Erskine. Like I did for the people in Eight."
He closed his eyes, swallowed, and his voice dropped into a softer, lower register. "I care about you too much to let that happen."