[This again. Questions, caretaking. She doesn't bother to hide the brief flash of irritation on her face, since it's there and gone in a moment--and it serves as warning, as much as it does answer.]
I always land on my feet.
[She's always fine. Always got a backup plan. Always knows that any organization larger than three people is prone to corruption, to weakness. Fury wasn't part of the corruption, and that's enough for her--for her, the relevant power tree ended there.
And she was never really a part of it, to begin with. Always an outside agent. Always one foot out the door.]
Okay, [ he says, quietly, stepping back. This isn't his until it's earned, and the selfish thought that it might be nice to have a friend is just that: selfish. The fingers of his left hand twitch. ] that's — all, I guess.
[It would be nice to have a friend. Have just one person in this place she can count on, someone who recognizes who and what she is and doesn't think her a monster for it. But she hadn't earned that. Can't and won't just step into someone else's shoes.
I care about you.
She can't think about that, not now. Not about the fact that they were almost something like friends, or getting there. She doesn't have the luxury, right now. Has to be practical. Instead, she collects herself, puts the mask on, though there's something to her eyes that speaks to everything going on behind it.]
Captain.
[The briefest hesitation. An unspoken thank you, maybe.]
[ Only a guess as to the depth of it. The reassuring smile he wants to give her in return becomes a grimace. He straightens up, mirroring Steve's usual Cap posture. ]
[It's not a smile, not really, and that means she doesn't have to offer one in return. It'd be a lie, anyway, and she'd rather not lie to him. There have been no lies in what she's said already, not really. So instead, she acknowledges him with a flicker of her eyes, watches as he heads for the door. And just before he leaves:]
...Be careful.
[She may not need looking after, but she gets the feeling he might. That comment about death isn't sitting right.]
[ He stops at the door, and half-turns to her. Speaking of things that don't sit right, this smile doesn't. It's crooked, like some dark shade has taken amusement and is dancing with it. ]
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action;
Date: 2015-08-03 05:53 am (UTC)From:I always land on my feet.
[She's always fine. Always got a backup plan. Always knows that any organization larger than three people is prone to corruption, to weakness. Fury wasn't part of the corruption, and that's enough for her--for her, the relevant power tree ended there.
And she was never really a part of it, to begin with. Always an outside agent. Always one foot out the door.]
action;
Date: 2015-08-03 06:04 am (UTC)From:action;
Date: 2015-08-03 06:14 am (UTC)From:I care about you.
She can't think about that, not now. Not about the fact that they were almost something like friends, or getting there. She doesn't have the luxury, right now. Has to be practical. Instead, she collects herself, puts the mask on, though there's something to her eyes that speaks to everything going on behind it.]
Captain.
[The briefest hesitation. An unspoken thank you, maybe.]
Let me know what happens with the Soldier.
action;
Date: 2015-08-03 06:16 am (UTC)From:I will.
action;
Date: 2015-08-03 06:19 am (UTC)From:...Be careful.
[She may not need looking after, but she gets the feeling he might. That comment about death isn't sitting right.]
action;
Date: 2015-08-03 06:24 am (UTC)From:I'm always careful, Romanoff.
[ He shuts the door quietly behind him. ]