aubergines | ( #001 ) LOVE MARKED

[Ward has just the one red mark. And he hates it. A lot.]

Edited 2014-10-19 17:27 (UTC)

Staring at it isn't going to make it go away.

[Garrett? John had laughed. Tenderness replaced by momentary disgust. Ward didn't need to see it to know that it was there. That he judged him for it.]

I know that.

[Why can't they cut it out? Or do some kind of surgery to get rid of it? He buries his head in his hands, trying, Trying to keep his cool.]

[ Natasha always wears long sleeves, and never looks at her wrists, so Ward's reactions are both understandable and not. ]

It doesn't mean more than you make it.

It does if you're trying to maintain a cover. [It does if you have handlers to please] ...ever had to lie to people that observe you?

No. [ Deadpanning. ] Never.

[ Please Ward she's neither stupid, young, nor new to the idea of covers, handlers, and observers. ]

You're worried about being observed or about being known?

Both are possible you have to agree. [He's just going to examine his guns now okay thank you]

Seeing one of these in any capacity shows you have a weakness.

Being observed is a fact of life for people like us. Accept it. Embrace it.

[ And she'll keep staring at him because that's how a black widow do. ]

It shows you have an emotional range.

[eyebrow raise]

...And you of all people think that's a good thing.

[ Natasha tilts her head at him. ]

I think you've confused a lack of emotion with knowing how to manage them.

[He blinks]

...I manage them just fine.

[obviously not]

[ See this smile? It's for you Ward. ]

Sure you do, soldier.

[he just raises an eyebrow at her, before he adjusts his gun.]

....You really don't see this as a weakness do you?

[he points at the mark on his arm]