brushpass | threads

"Don't worry about that, I set my own curfew." She throws him a quick, mischievous look as she takes his hand so she can slide into the passenger side of the car. It is extremely old fashioned, but there's something nice about the simplicity of the gesture.

As he climbs into the driver's seat, she's pulling the GPS back up on her phone so she can set it up in the cup holder to give him directions again.

"Oh, I'm sure," he says as he closes the door for her. He can't imagine anyone telling Natasha when she can or cannot come and go.

He settles into the driver's seat and pulls into traffic easily, glancing at her phone, then up at the road.

"So where to now, navigator?"

"Hall des Lumières," she answers. Natasha hasn't been herself, but she remembers other people talking about it. The gorgeous architecture and the immersive artscapes projected larger than life. It'll be interesting to see it at night, in a dinner setting.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what will be on the menu tonight." An easy, idle comment. She's not sure how often either of them have the opportunity for small talk. Its a nice change of pace.

It's like using a muscle that he hasn't been allowed to move in too long, the skill atrophied. At the same time, as awkward and weak as Bucky feels, it's also nice to do it again.

"Anything you're hoping for?" It's not exactly a strong gambit, but it's still something. "I figure they're not going to have hotdogs."

"Been a while since I've had French cuisine," she muses thoughtfully. Glancing over at him, the corner of her mouth tugs up in a smile. "They might, though. Korean corn dogs have been a fad lately. They're elevated hot dogs."

Everything she's heard about this dinner club sounds like they do a fairly good job. But it can't hurt to have a back up plan. "Tell you what, though. If the food sucks we can sneak out and get hot dogs."

"Always good to have a back up," he says, echoing her thoughts. "I'm sure it'll be fine though. Better than fine. Pretty sure it's impossible to have a bad meal if you're out with the right person."

Bucky doesn't dare look at her as he says that, eyes fixed on the road in front of them.

One of her brows arches, and she studies the side of his face as he stares out the windshield with absolute determination. Which somehow just makes the sentiment sweeter. Maybe a little sad, too, that he clearly thinks there's still a possibility she might just suddenly decide going out with him was a mistake and jump out of the car.

"Getting sappy on me, huh?" she asks, low and warm. "You're right, though. So what are you nervous about?"

"Sappy isn't what I was hoping for, but kind of comes out that way, doesn't it?" The corner of his mouth twitches a little, flashing a brief, self-deprecating smile.

"I don't know that nervous is the word I'd use either. Just seems like a lot of things have changed since the last time I took a girl out. It used to be simple."

"I'm just teasing you. It was a good line." Her tone makes it clear that she's being genuine. Even if she can't help but grin a little as she takes in that quick self-deprecating smile.

She shifts in her seat a bit, watching him for a moment before she looks out the windshield. "I don't know. Drinks, dinner, and a kiss at the door when you drop me off. Still seems pretty simple."

"Yeah, but getting there? It's all dating apps and... I don't even know what people do anymore. You're doing me a favor, you know, letting me skip that part." He's looked at that part. Studied it the way he'd case a building with a target inside.

It's baffling.

"And you don't have to impress the dads anymore. Used to be I was good at impressing dads."

"Depends on where you look and what you're looking for. Apps are a nightmare unless you want something...very casual." The phrasing is carefully chosen, though non-judgmental. For a good portion of her life, very casual was pretty much the only thing that worked for her. It can still be hard to let herself be vulnerable with others.

And she can't help but laugh a little at his comment about dads. "Well, I've got good news and bad news on that front."

"Yeah?" That gets her a curious glance because he wasn't expecting a reaction to his offhand joke.

"What's the bad news?"

"Alexei will absolutely hound you until you agree to arm wrestle him."

There's no doubt in her mind about that one. There's even a strong possibility that he'll want to wrestle both right and left handed.

"Alexei?"

Bucky's known a few Alexei's in his time, and none of them are clicking in the context.

"Okay, what's the good news?"

"Shostakov. The Red Guardian." Her nose scrunches as she tries to think of the best way to summarize it. "Part of my adopted spy family." She usually doesn't talk about him, Melina or Yelena.

"I don't see him often enough for it to be an immediate concern."

Bucky might be an idiot and he might be out of touch, but he's not stupid. He also does know who the Red Guardian is, which gives some context.

He puts it together.

"So what you're saying is that you do have a dad, and he happens to be a super soldier?"

There is a piece of Natasha that's concerned that Bucky would have been pitted against Alexei at some point during his time under HYDRA's fist. Though she does think the chances are pretty slim, given Alexei's...predisposition to bragging.

"It's a little more complicated than that. He is a super soldier, though." Her mouth twitches into a small smile. "Always seem to have at least one of you in my life in some way."

"Have you considered you could be getting away?" It's easier to laugh it off now. Bucky doesn't know Alexei personally, but he does know that she's put up with him and she put up with Steve, and anyone who can do that is stronger than any super soldier.

"You still have time."

Natasha chuckles a little at his question, tipping her head so she can shoot him a look that's both fond and mischievous. "You think I spend time with anyone I don't want to?"

"When you put it that way..." He doesn't think Natasha spends time with anyone she doesn't want to, not for fun. Not coming out like this.

She could have said no at any point, but she's still choosing to be here with him.

"Maybe I should just be grateful and not question it."

Natasha leans her head back against the headrest, still smiling a little as he answers her. "You don't have to be grateful. You're very worth my time. Even if you don't realize it yet."

She can hope that one day he will. But she's prepared to hold on to that knowledge herself until he's ready.

"That's where you're wrong. A fella should always be grateful when a woman agrees to go out with him. That's just common sense." Especially when the woman is a knockout, and a redhead.

He always did like redheads.

"Yeah? Is that some of that old fashioned wisdom that people these days don't know about?" It's obvious from her tone that she's just playfully teasing him a bit, in a way that it's flirtatious from an angle.

"I suppose I shouldn't argue with my elders."

"Why don't I think you've ever been good at that." He smiles as he says it; it's not really a question. He's not worried about Natasha not standing up for herself.

"I like the arguing."

"I'm great at pretending," she answers, a hint of hidden laughter in her voice as she says it. When he says he likes the arguing, she gives him a look that seems to say 'obviously.' "I had a hunch."

Glancing down at her phone screen, she can see their destination isn't too far. "We should start looking for parking."

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