welp.

[debts]

—and we're back.

I don't think anybody's surprised.

Comments

[ex_starks385]

What's that old saying? Curiosity killed the assassin in the catsuit, but — uh, satisfaction brought her back?

[debts]

[ Natasha doesn't as so much blink. Because she's playing up the scary factor. Because. Tony Stark. ]

My satisfactions don't tend to be bloodless.

[ex_starks385]

Okay, was the whole point of that to sound like something straight out of my sexiest nightmare, because — hey, job well done.

[debts]

It's good to know I haven't lost my touch.

[ex_starks385]

Considering your touch comes with both bruises and several years' worth of a finely-honed ass-kicking arsenal? Yeah, gonna go out on a limb here and say you're still gold there, Ponyboy.

[hulk]

Or that unhappy, either. Least as far as I'd think.

[debts]

I think you're a little biased.

[hulk]

Well. Maybe some things are worth losing objectivity over.

[debts]

[ Her smile, slow as it is to come, is at least soft around the edges. ]

Are you enjoying vacation?

[hulk]

[ A shrug, darned and extremely well-worn. ]

Not sure if "enjoy" is the right word. Too much time with too little work, it's never really gone and appealed that much.

[seem]

They always come back.

[ Petyr pauses, the line of his mouth briefly twisting in a resigned sort of expression. ]

Sometimes it takes more time, sometimes it takes less, but the principle holds.

[debts]

So it does.

[ The cut of her mouth isn't a mirror of his own, but it's a close thing. ]

I hope you're doing well, Petyr.

[seem]

You're too kind.

[ Still, he smiles, ducking his head once in something like acknowledgment. ]

As well as one can in relative solitude. This sort of listlessness ill suits me but, as you know, these are matters in which we have precious little say.

And yourself?

[debts]

[ Natasha's not a bodily speaker. But, for Petyr, she tips her chin a little, the expression akin to I'm trying to figure it out. ]

I'm not sure yet. Seeing the world, maybe. [ A beat, then she allows: ] Or saving it.

[seem]

Saving the world, [ he repeats, and one gets the impression that, were he talking to anybody else, the words would sound sarcastic. ]

That's quite magnanimous of you.

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

You're late.

[debts]

[ Chief, pls. ]

Did you miss me?

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

(natasha u missed me.)

Your absence was noted.

[debts]

[ Nobody has big arms like a Spartan, it's true. ]

How's the new city?

[thisisspartaaaaaaaan]

It's fine. (do you really want him to give an opinion?)

[recalibration]

Save me a seat.

[debts]

Not next to me. You'd eat all my popcorn.

[recalibration]

I thought that's why you kept me around?

C'mon, I do a really good 'Baby Come Back'

[debts]

And you're housetrained. That's a plus.

[recalibration]

See? This is win-win, Romanoff.

[ commie bionic boyfriends notwithstanding. ]