𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐊'𝐒 𝐄𝐘𝐄.

❝ temporary, ❞ she says, because if she doesn’t say it first, he will. they keep walking. that’s the point. walking keeps the world normal, keeps the lie intact. she feels him adjust their pace without being told, feels the shift ripple through them like muscle memory waking up. she hates how easy it is. hates how much harder it would be with anyone else. she tilts her head just enough to catch their reflection in a shop window, still there, still interested. ❝ don’t look, ❞ she murmurs lightly, like she’s commenting on the weather. ❝ but we’ve got company. ❞

she tightens her arm a fraction, not for show, not really, and guides them toward a narrower street, one with warmer lights and less space to linger. it’s subtle, the way she leans in, shoulder brushing his, the way she lets the moment read as familiarity instead of surveillance. anyone watching would see a couple comfortable enough not to perform. that’s always been the danger of them. they don’t have to fake it. they stop at a gelato stand, bright and ridiculous against the night. bobbi keeps her arm linked as she turns them both, angling their bodies just right so the watcher has to choose between waiting or losing interest. ❝ two cones, ❞ she tells the vendor easily. ❝ surprise him. ❞ she feels clint glance at her but doesn’t look back. she doesn’t need to. she already knows the expression, that half-amused, half-something-else look that used to undo her on worse days. the man across the street hesitates. then moves on. threat neutralized.

it's slightly disappointing when she finally does.

❝ since when am i the one getting ideas? ❞ clint teases, fully aware he's probably gotten himself a scowl worth every penny. he lazily tosses the empty cone into the trashbin behind them. doesn't need to look to recognize a perfect shot. it always is. a smirk curves beneath his sunglasses. ❝ last i checked, this little performance was your suggestion. could've just pretended we were friends. maybe office colleagues if you were feelin' inspired. ❞

do you remember what i told you last time?

have you been doing well since i saw you?

that's not what you told me back then.

when was the last time i saw you?

you were shorter then.

i'm picking the restaurant this time.

we've known each other since we were children.

always knew i could count on you.

that time was different. this is worse.

you're not going to let me live that down, are you?

i seem to remember a conversation we had back then.

so you changed your mind about it?

do you remember our encounter in paris?

you should know me by now.

am i the only one that knows the truth?

we had a lot of help back then.

your mom told me to look out for you.

you just love bringing that back up to annoy me.

maybe don't mention my past indescretions?

this was never going to work out between us.

i told you not to get attached.

i know more about you than you think.

i was there, remember?

i'm not about to forget all the shit you put me through.

you told me you were going to try and make this work.

remember what i said to you?

the last time i saw you, things were good between us.

you never mentioned this before.

that was the longest flight of my life, and you made it worse.

can i still trust you after all that?

at least we tried to make something work.

we never discussed what happened between us.

okay, but i'm driving the car this time.

i haven't forgotten what you said last week.

i'm still thinking about your comment.

i didn't realize it was you when i first saw you.

you seem to make a lot of enemies around here.

there's not much for us to talk about.

we worked it out last time.

i know you far better than you know yourself.

we have a long history.

is that the shirt you were wearing last time?

what don't i know about you?

i haven't told them about us.

you were the only person i could go to.

you know me.

this is bigger than both of us.

i can't stand your driving.

are you taking me to the place we had dinner last time?

that's not at all what you said.

didn't we agree on that?

i thought i made it very clear where i stand.

are these the same people that came after you last time?

are you still going on about it?

can we talk about it?

staying silent about it won't help.

you're the only person who knows the real me.