never mess with spies

[redactions]

Who: Jim, Peggy, and Natasha
Broadcast: none.
Action: On the Heron.
When: right about now.



She only makes the call when he's well out of earshot, which should make him suspicious ordinarily but he's whistling on the shuttle ride back. Lunch is planned to be a chicken dish he can try with the oven, it's all marinated already. Might taste well with some lemon on the side.

Only when Peggy hangs back instead of command the space on the docking bay does something sort of prickle on his neck.

'Well? Would you like to eat first?'

Comments

[mucked]

"Don't be ridiculous, Natasha."

Her tone was theatrical -- and although it harbours a scolding, her words are directed far more pointedly at Jim instead of Romanoff. Indeed, she wouldn't normally go so far as the refer the other agent so casually. But they entered into this game together, and by God they will play it well.

"I can't imagine Captain Barnes being anything other than hospitable. How rude it would be if he tossed you out on your ear."

[redactions]

'Oh I'll show you tossed out on your ear,' he mutters, more to himself, still scowling at them both. He runs a hand through his hair, and rubs the back of his neck. Being on the opposite side to them both, even as a prank, isn't somewhere he cares to be for long.

'Well, I s'pose I walked right into this. C'mon, let's get lunch.'

[tothefly]

"S'pose you're right," she agrees, this time turning that smile on Peggy. His reaction had been just about what she'd been hoping for. Disregarding any complications in their own interlocked histories, she was really beginning to like the other woman.

"Well, if he's not kicking me out--shall we?"

[mucked]

It was poetic, really. Jim Barnes had (seemingly) wanted the two women to grow friendlier. To matchmake them, it appeared, through the set-up of a shooting range. And while his heart was undoubtedly in the right place, Peggy and Natasha had their own way to play at the idea of being better pals. Although they clearly had a great deal in common, too much of it wasn't the sort of common ground that made for friendship. The two professionals were not about to lounge around and gab about the intelligence community.

Thankfully, they also has Jim in common. It made him a natural target. But only a well-intended one, and Peggy was smiling as she breezed by him. She knew the way to the kitchen.

"Really, I would say this is Jim's fault for not having arranged something like this sooner. Leaving it to us two to pick up all the slack."

[redactions]

It's poetic. He grumbles, but in the end they did work together to do this, and all things considered he's getting off easy.

(Just think. They could have told Steve, and Steve would never let him live it down.)

'This is still my ship,' he calls to them both walking in front of him, 'I can change my mind.'