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 pauses, then, ]

Because you could, and you wanted to.

[tothefly]

[She pauses, too. The answer she gives him is slightly more serious than her previous flippancy.] I've kissed people because I could. Because why not. Because it's a party, and it doesn't really mean anything. But your traditional bells and whistles, champagne toast, starting the year with someone special kind of kiss? Not really, no.

Why the sudden curiosity, Captain?

[She still won't call him James. Not since that first argument they'd had. Captain just seemed to stick, even after they'd moved past those first awkward months.]

[redactions]

[ He aches for her unexpectedly. It's the truth of the life she leads, but it seems so unfair, to lack something that normal. Him — he's just been told it's normal, and conforms out of a desire not to stick out. ]

It's New Years — what we decided is New Year's, anyway. It's not a bad tradition to look forward to new beginnings.

[tothefly]

[She doesn't often regret not having that normalcy. Not having the typical traditions. She's made her own, just as she's defined her own normal, defined herself. She is what she is. More and more here, she's realizing just what that means.]

You offering to kiss me for luck?

[Teasing, maybe just a little, but it's...not really a bad thought. She stopped associating him with anyone but himself long ago.]

[redactions]

Maybe.

[ His mouth quirks up at the side, in a crooked smile, but entirely earnest. ]

If you want to.

[tothefly]

Such a gentleman about it. You're gonna destroy my image of you.

[It's not a no. She even stands. To meet him halfway, as they seem to do in most things, here.]

[redactions]

[ Playful, ]

You can keep a secret.

[ They do things together, half and half. Except Jim takes the lead, his hand a gentle pressure at her waist, the other tilting her chin up slightly. He waits til the exhale relaxes her a moment later, and kisses her, slow enough to mean it and not enough to contain any lust, name any secret desire. No targeted strike this, no sniper's shot. Just something sweet and real for her to remember. ]

[tothefly]

[She hasn't always been good at letting other people lead. But some people are easier to accept than others, and this...well, it's actually kind of nice, to let him lead for once. So she follows this time, a hand on his shoulder, relaxing into the kiss. That's all it is, a kiss, and there's a sense of relief in it; they're more than friends and less than anything else, and that's okay.]

[There's a smile on her lips when it finally ends, tip of her tongue darting briefly across them, and she makes no immediate move to separate them. Nice to be close to someone for once, and not have to worry about impending violence or keeping her guard up.]

That's some secret.

[redactions]

[ Nat liked it when he took the lead; Jim's more careful with Natasha. There are echoes, some of the pieces are the same. But until he asks all he has are guesses. That's all they are, just guesses. ]

[ She makes no move to step away, and neither does he. ]

[ Softly, still playful, ] Think you can handle it, Romanoff?

[tothefly]

[She likes it when people can keep up. Leading is something to be traded, when done properly; this seems right, if not proper, and that's good enough. They're both just guessing, here. So she smiles wider, confirms this guess, at least, leaning into him just a little.]

I can handle whatever you throw at me, Captain. That's what makes me so much fun.

[redactions]

Fun is one of your specialties, I think. You oughta make it your middle name.

[ Everything is, when someone you trust to keep you safe is there too. He won't say he takes any joy in the work they do -- but the twinges of pain and doubt have always been less, next to Nat or Steve, they're becoming so with Peggy and Winter, and it could be the same for her too. ]

[tothefly]

[This place especially makes it hard to trust. She's always being watched, theoretically, and anyone she relies on could be gone the next day. For all that she's told Bev this, for all the pragmatic attitude she projects, it still gets lonely sometimes. Just because she understands people are fragile doesn't mean she doesn't come to count on their presence. But it's gotten easier, the past few months. This could all end tomorrow. Or it could not.]

[No point in not enjoying it while it lasts, right?]

Really? I don't know, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?

[redactions]

Depends on the tongue.

[ A wicked little smile. ]

[tothefly]

[The comment or the smile--one of them startles a laugh from her, one of those honest little ones that almost no one ever hears. Impulsively, she leans up and kisses him once more. Just once, briefly, for luck.]

I'll keep it in mind, I ever get tired of the one I have.

[redactions]

[ He thinks about deepening it — doesn't, just smiles wistfully as she pulls away. ]

I should come up with a few backup suggestions, then.

[tothefly]

[There's so much potential between them. More than a few maybes and definitely-in-another-worlds. Hasn't it happened for him before? But then, maybe this time around they both need something different. She's never been very good at making friends, but maybe...]

I'm always ready to hear what you have to say.

Be good practice for your accent, anyway. You still sound like you're fresh from Brighton Beach.

[redactions]

Maybe I need a little extra time with my teacher.

[ He grins. ]

But I say that to all the girls.

[tothefly]

Trying to make me jealous, Captain?

I don't know, your teacher's a busy woman. You know, all this sitting around to do, piloting a ship I can't actually take anywhere meaningful.

[Only a little sarcasm there.]

[redactions]

[ He leans in, to whisper, conspiratorially, ]

Is it working?

[tothefly]

[Only a little. At least, if the look she gives him is any indication, a smile and accusatory eyes. She doesn't get jealous, but it is, occasionally, nice to have some individual attention.]

As if your ego needs that boost. Nice try, soldier.

[redactions]

[ He grins, and takes her hand with his metal one (it's just a hand, now) and kisses the back of it, lightly. ]

One day I'll have you in my sights. Then we'll see.

[ Careful to keep it gentle, playful. Spiders don't like another's web. ]

[tothefly]

Guess you'll have to keep practicing until then, won't you?

[She's been mistaken with him before. For now, it's just a game. Almost familiar, despite how long it's been since she's played it. Actually feels kinda nice.]

[She tugs at his lapel with her free hand, offers him another of those smiles, and dances away. Enough for now, but then, there always seems to be a later, with him.]