For Natasha

[jetpacking]

[The idea of missions is different now since they've all had to go off the grid, but none of them are exactly content sitting idle. Today's mission however had gone sideways very quickly. Somehow they'd all gotten out with their lives, a small favor, and eked out a win. If you can call it that. The thing with being fugitives from -- well, is it even the law so much as the world at this point -- the law is that they don't have a home to return to at the end of the day. Sometimes the best they can do is a rundown safe house.

And honestly Sam has never seen a better place in his life. He's exhausted, bruised and aching from the fight, but alive. He'll take it.

They'd wound up scattered, and it's only him and Natasha that have taken refuge in this particular location.] You want the shower first? I'll see what options we have for dinner. Might have to get creative. No guarantees on anything gourmet.

[It'll be whatever dry goods and canned goods that are stashed away in the cupboards. Sam will do his best.]

Comments

[expionage]

[What Sam doesn't know is that this is pretty much how Natasha worked before S.H.I.E.L.D. Life as a Russian spy wasn't as glamourous as Bond movies made it seem. It was a lot of sleeping in dirty places, trying to sneak into government buildings, lying, stealing, and hiding from everyone. Sometimes everyone was even your handler.

As she steps into the safe house, she looks around. It's definitely better than some of the places she lived before the KGB took her in for training. And she doesn't see any cameras or microphones that are obvious, which is always a bonus.

As he talks about a shower, she can feel the dirt and grime on her skin and hair and the pull of sore, bruised muscles.]

I don't expect gourmet. I'm fine with "edible". I'm not a prima donna.

[If she had been, her life would have been much worse. She's heard and seen the horrors that the Russian ballet has always been.]

I'll be quick.

[She heads to where she thinks there's a bag of stashed clothes and rummages through it for something to wear after a shower. The fact that this place has working plumbing at all is a miracle.]

Try not to burn anything while I'm gone.