She cracks a smile, because it's nice to think that there are people already supporting him in his attempt to break himself out of this misplaced loyalty.
"That's the smarter way to live. Alone. I should have done that. The friends thing never worked out for me before. I don't know why I thought this time would be different." There's a little huff of displeasure and a hard swallow to stop the urge to keep going. She's also a little surprised, herself. She still has Clint. She came out of this with her connection to the Bartons intact. Yet she said never, that friendship never worked out for her.
It's a slower realization than it possibly should be, that Clint is not a friend. He hasn't been for a long time. He's family, the only family she can remember, and the urge to cry comes over her in a wave. Years before she'll see him again, before she'll see any of them. Years before she can keep them safe again.
"Anyway, you're not alone here. You've got me now." She thumps the back of her hand against his chest, as though he needs a reminder she's here. "Like you said, I know you better than most people in this place. Is it most people, or all people?" Natasha has a suspicion that it's possible she knows him better than most people in his life, full stop. Of course, she has no way of knowing how close he is with Gabby and Solo, how long he's known them, but they've gone fairly deep today. For spies, anyway.
no subject
"That's the smarter way to live. Alone. I should have done that. The friends thing never worked out for me before. I don't know why I thought this time would be different." There's a little huff of displeasure and a hard swallow to stop the urge to keep going. She's also a little surprised, herself. She still has Clint. She came out of this with her connection to the Bartons intact. Yet she said never, that friendship never worked out for her.
It's a slower realization than it possibly should be, that Clint is not a friend. He hasn't been for a long time. He's family, the only family she can remember, and the urge to cry comes over her in a wave. Years before she'll see him again, before she'll see any of them. Years before she can keep them safe again.
"Anyway, you're not alone here. You've got me now." She thumps the back of her hand against his chest, as though he needs a reminder she's here. "Like you said, I know you better than most people in this place. Is it most people, or all people?" Natasha has a suspicion that it's possible she knows him better than most people in his life, full stop. Of course, she has no way of knowing how close he is with Gabby and Solo, how long he's known them, but they've gone fairly deep today. For spies, anyway.