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[brushpass]

"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."

[leftcold]

"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."

[brushpass]

"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."

[leftcold]

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

"What's the bad news?"

[brushpass]

"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.

[leftcold]

"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?"

[brushpass]

"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."

[leftcold]

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?"

[brushpass]

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."

[leftcold]

"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."

[brushpass]

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?"

[leftcold]

"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."

[brushpass]

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.

[leftcold]

"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.

[brushpass]

"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."

[leftcold]

"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."

[brushpass]

"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."

[leftcold]

"Roger that." He glances over his shoulder, scanning the street for empty spots. The traffic isn't exactly forgiving, but that's the city for you.

He thinks he spots one a little ahead, if no one snipes it first.

"How much time before our reservation?"

[brushpass]

"15 minutes. They let everyone in to sit at the same time, but we can go inside." Thankfully. It's a little too cold to hang out on the sidewalk.

She can see the spot that she's pretty sure he's aiming for up ahead. It looks tight, but it'll be doable.

[leftcold]

Bucky is a super soldier. He should be able to parallel park.

Do those things have anything to do with one another? Probably not, really, but he has more than enough experience with tactical driving that it would be embarrassing if he couldn't manage it.

"Fifteen minutes isn't bad. More time to argue."

[brushpass]

It only seems fair that he can use it as a reason. Because she'll absolutely tease him with a good job, super soldier if he doesn't get in the spot easily.

"Oh yeah? Got any topics in mind, or should I riff?" She takes a moment to pick her phone up and turn it off as she talks. "Maybe the Dodgers."

[leftcold]

"Can't be the Dodgers. They're dead to me." Which kind of doesn't sound like they're a bad topic for an argument when he puts it that way.

He does, in fact, pull into the spot without so much as an adjustment.

He's pretty sure he wouldn't have lived it down if he hadn't.

[brushpass]

"Wow, that's a shame. They're my favorite team." The statement was made in that playful, sarcastic tone she uses to make it clear that she's lying. She's never had an opinion on a sports team in her life. She doesn't dislike sports - for example, she's always happy to watch a game or go to a game. It's just not something she spends time on when left to her own devices.

She looks over at him with a smile once he's got the car parked. "Ready?"

[leftcold]

"Yeah," he says with half a smile himself, and he means it. Natasha has a way of making this easy. Or, at least easier than it's been on his past when he's tried and failed to flirt with women.

Maybe because he doesn't have to explain why he is the way he is.

"How about you?"

[brushpass]

Natasha hums thoughtfully, her eyes on him with a serious face. She lets the moment stretch just long enough to make it seem like she might be thinking about her answer. And then she lets the smile return. "Looking forward to it. Come on, old man. I'll let you open my door just this once."

There is something easy about it, and not just because she likes to flirt. It's rare that she goes out with someone that knows who she really is. He's glad to not have to make an explanation, and she enjoys not having to wear a mask.