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[deaddrop]

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[hypoxic]

There's no real support here. No armies and a very present group of Avengers. It's warning enough.

[deaddrop]

[Natasha cocks her head, raising her eyebrows. She's made her stance on this clear.]

Until the Mares come back. Or there's some other blow up that changes our perspective, messes with our heads. Next thing we know the head of Hydra is here and he has a hell of a weapon at his disposal.

[hypoxic]

You genuinely don't trust me to handle this, do you?

[deaddrop]

It's bigger than if I trust you.

[hypoxic]

I know the stakes. Right now, my hands are tied.

[deaddrop]

Also not reassuring.

[Natasha sighs, then takes another drink of water. She's been here long enough to have worked up a significant sweat.]

You're putting me in a very difficult situation.

[hypoxic]

Then let's set the professionalism aside for a moment.

[He leans closer, intent enough that he doesn't notice his towel sliding away from his chest and pooling in his lap.]

As a friend. I need this quiet. Jemma doesn't know. She can't know. He wants her dead, specifically.

[deaddrop]

[He really is not reassuring her.]

I had occurred to me you were protecting her. One way or another.

[hypoxic]

Then you understand why you need to let me handle this alone.

[deaddrop]

I still need something. Some kind of a fail safe.

[hypoxic]

What would possibly satisfy you, short of telling you who not to trust?

[deaddrop]

I just said, a fail safe. I need a way to know if things go wrong.

[hypoxic]

You think you wouldn't be the first one I'd come to?

[deaddrop]

You could be compromised. Killed. You could go home. Coming to me on an as needed basis is too unreliable.

[hypoxic]

[His jaw tightens when she mentions the possibility of being compromised.]

Something of a dead man's switch, then.

[deaddrop]

Hopefully not that dire, but something to that effect.

[hypoxic]

[ it needs to be subtle. Something he won't be able to glean, that already fits seamlessly into his normal routine. ]

Come by for tea more often. I take four sugars.

[ it's enough of a non sequitur that it must be leading somewhere. ]

[deaddrop]

[Natasha can take a hint. She nods slightly.]

I could make room for that in my social calendar.

[hypoxic]

I'm fairly particular about it. I'd imagine that I wouldn't change how much sugar is there unless something went wrong.

[ regular check ins and a fairly innocuous way to signal potential distress without leaving a paper trail? ]

[deaddrop]

[Natasha takes the message easily, nodding. She plays along, signaling she might accept this as an offer for the time being.]

If you didn't, I might assume you were out of sorts. Start looking into ways to make you feel better.

[hypoxic]

The mark of a good friend, I'd think.

[ he sits back and adjusts his towel. It's still sticky and terrible in here. Ugh. ]

[deaddrop]

Maybe not a good friend, but a good friend to have.

[Natasha pulls her towel closer around her body, then finishes her water off and stands. She's satisfied with this for the moment.]

There's a difference.

[hypoxic]

Not a noncommutative one. They're hyponyms at worst.

[Good friends are good to have, even though not all good friends are healthy. He can still consider Natasha both.]

[deaddrop]

Maybe.

[She won't try to convince him otherwise, at least. With a little smile, she says.]

Now that that's settled, I think I'll let you finish your steam in peace.

[hypoxic]

Of course. Looking forward to our next talk.

[ he leans back, making an attempt at looking casual. ]