IC Voicemail, Driftfleet:

[tothefly]

[There is no recording, just a few clicks and a beep.]

[Leave any IC voice messages or texts for Natasha here.]

Comments

[redactions]

[ He cracks a crooked smile. ]

You gonna stand there all day or come here and have some a'Aunt Sarah's pie?

[tothefly]

[It's not an answer, but it's close enough. She sits, the bag between them smelling a little like heaven.]

Invitation like that, how could a girl say no? What's the occasion?

[redactions]

[ Sorry for barging into your brain? He's not sure, and he shrugs. It's an ulterior motive, definitely. ]

They don't make cards for it.

[tothefly]

[She's a dancer. She'll dance circles around any topic, dance around the subject for days. But she's also Natasha, which means sometimes, she goes straight for the heart.]

You know, to apologize, you need to have done something wrong first. Not just think you did.

[redactions]

[ They are the same, sometimes. He prefers the throat. ]

I had no right. It's that simple.

[tothefly]

You didn't ask to be crammed into my head. And you didn't see anything I didn't want you to see.

[And she'd returned the favor, hadn't she?]

Besides, if we're apologizing, I'm already behind. No pie.

[redactions]

[ He holds her gaze for a long time, searching for something in it, and doesn't find what he's looking for. He sighs. ]

What're you sorry for?

[tothefly]

[She doesn't know what it is he's looking for and not finding. Blame, maybe? She can't blame him. Anger would be useless, too. But she lets him look, and doesn't blink, looking right back.]

You weren't the only one climbing around in people's heads. I shouldn't have looked.

[redactions]

[ Anger. Perhaps. Something other than this maddening patience she seems to have with him. He's tired of it in Nat, and from her it stings. ]

[ The Black Widow, always with her venom. Jim wishes there was something in his hands. ]

We're a sorry pair, ain't we?

[tothefly]

Only when we try to be.

You want me to get mad at you, I can. But what's the point, really? You aren't the one who set all of this up.

[He's seen her when her patience runs out. It doesn't happen frequently. A few months back, in her office on the Windrose, it had. But since then...well, she should have expected those memories to stir more than a few things up. This isn't patience, it's practicality.]

[redactions]

[ He shakes his head, expression wry. ]

Sometimes I wish you'd just yell.

[ Sighing, ]

Still want pie? Different reason now, promise.

[tothefly]

Yeah, well. Sometimes I wish you'd just tell me what's bothering you, but I think we both know better.

[An echo of that wryness in her voice. It isn't easy for either one of them, but god knows they're trying.]

I won't say no to a decent apple pie, even if it's a bribe. Won't even ask what it is you're selling. Promise.

[Course, she might wonder a little.]

[redactions]

[ He smiles at her, at the joke too, a little shy, and holds it out. ]

Friends?

[tothefly]

[Think you're in the wrong business for that, she thinks, suddenly reminded of Steve. An almost involuntary smile curls her lips, a quiet huff of laughter as she reaches for the bag, fingers brushing his.]

I'm not really good at that. But I guess I can give it a shot.

[redactions]

[ The smile warms. ]

Neither do I. Only ever had one.