（ she is still wary around him, you know? she used to be, around steve. maybe especially steve. she knew she could control thor, or tony, or even banner. she didn't have to control clint. but she grew up on tales of captain america, for good or ill, and men like him are hard to manipulate by all the methods she'd learned.
he scared her. once upon a time.
so does barnes, but for a different reason. she's used to fear. it makes her sharp, like pain. usually, she buries it.
but she's only human.
she breathes out, resisting the urge to put a hand over the scar. i chose not to. sometimes it's all about what you can claw back for yourself. she used to steal food. ）
Well.
（ her voice is pitched wrong. there's emotion in it, the sort she doesn't like. it's a vulnerability. she's used to weaponizing it, not laying it out and trusting it will be acknowledged, respected, left alone. so after a moment, she clears her throat. ）
For what it's worth, I'm glad you did.
（ it gave her time. to know steve, and sam, to find yelena. little things. human moments, that even now seem to scatter like stars in the black horizon of her memory. ）
You do owe me, though. Ruined two of my favourite shirts.
（ the first at odessa. the second at the overpass. blood washes out, but she doesn't care for sewing up fabric. ）
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he scared her. once upon a time.
so does barnes, but for a different reason. she's used to fear. it makes her sharp, like pain. usually, she buries it.
but she's only human.
she breathes out, resisting the urge to put a hand over the scar. i chose not to. sometimes it's all about what you can claw back for yourself. she used to steal food. ）
Well.
（ her voice is pitched wrong. there's emotion in it, the sort she doesn't like. it's a vulnerability. she's used to weaponizing it, not laying it out and trusting it will be acknowledged, respected, left alone. so after a moment, she clears her throat. ）
For what it's worth, I'm glad you did.
（ it gave her time. to know steve, and sam, to find yelena. little things. human moments, that even now seem to scatter like stars in the black horizon of her memory. ）
You do owe me, though. Ruined two of my favourite shirts.
（ the first at odessa. the second at the overpass. blood washes out, but she doesn't care for sewing up fabric. ）