Nat walked into the suite and he trailed after her. She tossed her clutch on the neatly made bed and opened the doors to the balcony.
"Help yourself to whatever's in the mini bar."
"Thanks." He opened the refrigerator. "What are you having?"
"Champagne if there is any. Vodka if not."
"Rocks?"
"Please."
He busied himself with fixing their drinks. Nat squeezed the railing of the balcony tightly in her hands. The cool breeze made her shiver. It was a beautiful view and she wished she could just enjoy it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She listened to the quiet sounds of ice hitting glass and the whisper of the wind through the trees. Her ears strained for anything else, anything out of place.
"Here," he said, handing her a glass.
She turned and looked at him for a moment. He wasn't a flashy dresser, but he had a style. His fitted leather jacket was almost certainly vintage. Hell, the man himself was vintage. She looked away, not allowing herself to mentally comment further.
"Cheers." She took her glass and clinked it against his, and they both drank.
He stood with his back to the view below, facing her. "I've made a real mess of everything."
"No you haven't."
"Maybe Tony had a point." He turned and leaned over the railing. "I keep thinking about what Vision said. About our strength inviting challenge."
"Vision's wrong."
He looked back at her, surprised.
She shrugged. "I mean, sure. The first few fights, maybe. But after you win a couple, they stop coming for you."
"Are those intergalactic rules or schoolyard rules?"
She laughed. "Universal truth. The world is lucky to have us."
"It doesn't have us, though, does it." He looked back out over the valley.
She looked down. "Tony will come around. Once he does, the others will too."
"I'm not so sure." He took a sip of his drink. "If we can't fix this, the world's vulnerable."
"Do you ever get tired?" She swallowed. "I get tired."
He waited for her to continue.
She looked up at the sky for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "All we do is fight. Maybe Clint has the right idea."
"Have you seen him lately?"
She shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. "Sometimes it's…"
He stood up straighter.
"I've always been welcome, but I…" she shook her head. "Clint has something I'll never have. I'm grateful. He's let me share it, and I don't begrudge him for it, but…"
"You want something for yourself."
She nodded.
"Have you ever thought about retiring?"
"And do what?" She laughed mirthlessly. "This is all I know how to do."
"Yeah." He let out a long breath. "I can relate."
"You had a girl once."
"Peggy."
"I'm not saying anyone's going to replace her, but have you considered…"
"I have."
"Right." She nodded. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
"You're not going to try and set me up with someone again?" He teased.
"Nope." She shook her head. "I can take a hint. Besides, the dating pool was already pretty small before we found out that half of SHIELD was actually Hydra. There's no one left."
"What about you?"
She glanced at him sharply.
"Have you heard anything from Bruce?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, Nat."
She shrugged. "I'm used to it. This is the life I signed up for."
"Is it the life you want?"
She looked back up at him.