“ DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF ” A Rasp — Dry And Sharp. Something Close To A Smile Ghosts Along Her

“ DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF ” A rasp — dry and sharp. Something close to a smile ghosts along her mouth, but it doesn’t reach the eyes. Hasn’t in a while. Shoulders stiffen, back pressed into the wall behind her as if distance might soften the weight of everything said ( and unsaid ).

“ You always were better at cleaning things up. ” Tone isn't bitter, but there's a tired edge that frays each word like worn cloth. “ I just made sure the kid didn’t fucking die and somehow I am the villain in Fury's narrative. ”

Tension anchoring between shoulder blades. The kind that doesn't go away with retirement or therapy or whatever bullshit word they try to package normal with these days.

“ You think I wanted to get involved ?? ” A scoff, barely breath. “ I left them for a reason ” No names. No need. Not with Natalia. They both did — left that behind. The locked rooms. The orders barked in cold languages. The kind of freedom you only earn by bleeding for it. Something flickers across pallid features — something tight and momentary, she doesn’t look at nat, but the silence between them stretches long enough to say i know you remember it too.

“ but you see a man raise a gun at a kid and you tell me what you do.” A breath pushes out, sharp through her nose, hand twitching near the untouched glass at her side. “ Fury's going to come for me anyway. Doesn’t matter if you’re first through the door or the last. You and I both know how this plays out. ”

The hand finally moves — not to pour, not yet, but to slide the glass just slightly across the kitchen surface. A soft clink, delicate despite everything in her posture saying don’t push me.

“And you're stopping it ?? Means I owe you again. ” A beat. Then, quieter “ And I fucking hate owing you. ”

❛ sounds familiar. ❜ breathy snort flares nostrils though its lined with a tinge of amusement over annoyance. SHE'S NOT HERE TO JUDGE ; no. natalia romanovna is a lot of things , but a hypocrite isn't one of them. hence why she chose to show up first on her own accord before anyone else caught wind of the situation. head tilts off to one side , digits drumming along table surface as widow follows eliza's every move.

❛ and so you stepped in and intervened. ❜ less of a question and more reverberating the FACTS. ❛ kid's lucky you were around then. ❜ there's also that distinct lack of performance in her tone as natalia watches on. a sigh parting lips before she'd removed the sunglasses looming over the bridge of her nose. she means the words that fall from the tip of her tongue. that kid ? he was lucky.

❛ and you know that i hate it when you're listening to my heartbeat. ❜ head now tipping off in the opposite direction. ❛ ------- WELL. since you're listening to it. tell me , does it seem like i'm lying so far ? fury is going to want to rain hell down on you if ... no , WHEN he finds out. i , on the other hand , intend on stopping that before it happens , against his better judgement. ❜

the drumming comes to a halt as all tips of fingers press down against surface at the same time. this game ? this ACT they're forced to put up with for the sake of " diplomacy " ( its exhausting. draining even. ) ❛ NO. ❜ the initial response , single brow now rising up.

❛ no , i don't think you did. i think you were put in a situation where something needed to be done and no one else was willing to do it. that you were dealt a hand and you simply played the cards given to you. i think this entire situation could have been dealt with a lot cleaner than it was , but it was dealt with. and that's all that's important. .... still think i'm lying, or are you finally going to pour a glass ? ❜