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Cheating would be taking advantage of your current condition.

[He could find her by her voice now, so she threw a pair of socks in one direction and a shoe in another to throw him off her path. Nat then circled around and playfully jumped on his back. She gleefully whispered:] Like I just did.

[Two kisses were dropped just under Clint's ear.]

[An elbow jammed back and up into her gut as the weight settled, though soft enough not to really do any damage, mostly just to make a point, but he was grinning ruefully.]

Well we'll have to figure out a way around that I guess, won't we?

[Light teasing and hard seriousness all rolled into one; this whole thing had become one big test of adapting, figuring out all over again how he fit, and he was having a hell of a time of it.]

[She played the hit up, yelping with false pain and then moaning about for a few before dissolving into a purr-like chuckle.]

Give yourself some credit; you've come along extremely well, Clint. We got this.

[Nat dropped down and came in front of him, grabbing his hands and lacing them together. She held them up between their chests, giving a reassuring squeeze.]

You'll adapt, you already are. [Shrug.] We all are. If Murdock can do it, you sure as hell can.

Don't let him fool you, he can see. It's just not the same way everybody else does.

[But there wasn't any malice or jealousy there, just an observation. He was past all that, for the most part. He squeezed back; he's good, really.]

So what'd Stark say, he got any fancy gadgets in the works yet?

[So he can, you know. Pretend he doesn't need them until it bites him in the ass.]

[She dropped her head back in exasperation briefly.] You're doing it again. Just swallow the compliment, bird brain.

[Natasha dipped her head once.] Of course. Even got the doctor on at least one of the gadgets. Says a prototype should be usable within the month, so. Soon. And you had better use them, Barton, I called in favors for the rush.

[It hadn't been much of an issue to get Tony in on making Clint's life easier, he was a fellow Avenger and friend. But Natasha saw to it that it was his priority amongst the numerous other projects he continuously had going.

I'm just making sure all the information's accurate, that's all.

[Lips twisted, not quite distaste but close. It was really more akin to a child stamping his feet in protest.]

Depends on what we end up with. The more I gotta fight with it the less inclined I'm gonna be to actually want to use it, I don't care how much help he claims it'll be.

[She found it within herself to dramatically roll her eyes, partly still playing off the silly attitude the morning had taken. Partly because he was just that damn irksome.]

Whatever. Bridge. Cross when reached.

You lost again, you know. The whole hide and seek game? Which means you're still it. If your feelings can handle losing again, that is.

[Tasha winked, crossing her arms in challenge.]

[...you do know your dramatics are lost on him, Natasha, right?]

I don't hear you running yet.

[Habit. And it makes her feel better. Or something.

She bumps her hip against his before silently padding down the hallway, closing the closet door with the faintest of clicks, when in actuality she had slipped into the bathroom and perched on the tub.]

[Well then.

Fingers tap against the walls as he makes his way after her, and...that's the door. Keeping one hand on the wall opposite for a beat longer, he pushes off with fingertips and turns the knob, and...it doesn't take long for him to figure out she's not there.

Okay, new plan. He reaches up as high as he can, feeling for the shelves he knows are there, and pulls himself up, feet up and out of the way, out of sight, before knocking something off the shelf, sending it out into the hallway beyond.

He can do misdirection too.]

[She meant to wait it out in the tub, but as it seemed he was headed in the wrong direction, Nat decided to try and creep up on him once more. Hide and Seek her way, obviously, because who could seek when the hider kept revealing themselves in unorthodox ways?

She silently opened the door and did not detect the hawk as she slithered past the bookshelf, eyes swiveling non-stop in a search for someone who wasn't ground level.]

[...that was the only problem with his plan; it relied on being able to pinpoint where she was, to gauge where he needed to be. When to move.

But he was focusing all his energy on listening, on being able to make that determination. She was quiet, sure, but it was impossible for anyone to ever be completely soundless. To stop your breathing, to step without making a noise. And for someone making a point to hear it, he had the advantage, even with his setback.

It helped that the darkness of the room didn't hinder him any.

A shift of weight, a last minute intuitive calculation, and he dropped, leaving his perch to make the attack from above.]

[It was one of those crazy slow motion moments people talked about and too late, Natasha felt the additional presence and caught a flash of black in her peripheral.

She crumbled like a dead baby bird under him, again acting as though his weight was too much to bear with grunts and 'oofs' and eventually something between snicker and chuckle.]

Using my tricks on me, nice work, agent.

Alright, so one-one. We should make this a challenge and try it outside some time. I'd dominate you. [A beat as she recalled Rio and added with an impish grin:] Again.

[A beat, then a second, just to make his point, and then he rolls off, moving to a sitting position nearby.]

I'd argue you had the advantage there. Namely being that I wasn't fighting back too hard.

Uh huh.

[She softly kicked out at him just to push him along faster.

Sitting next to him, shoulder to shoulder, Tasha asked:] Are we still playing this game or are we opting for something else?

Got any ideas? I'd call it a tie at this point.

[She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his temple.]

I can read to you...

[Not everything had been replaced with braille or audio-enhancements, and since she had already done away with her outer, protective shell, why not continue with the good-natured attitude? He needed it.]

What am I, five?

[A smirk, but any annoyance that might have creeped in was far from sincere. He reached around to snake an arm around her waist, keeping her close, for now at least.]

[She playfully pouted those pillow lips.] If you want detached and serious Natasha back, I can easily give you that. I was just thinking it might be nice and relaxing.

Hey, I'm not complaining. Just saying.

[Yup, he's just going to...lean into her a little more. See? Not complaining. Not even a little bit; nice and relaxing is good too.]

[She didn't retreat and even shifted so that she could rest her head on his shoulder, eyes closing with a gentle sigh slipping past her lips. Some days, this was enough.]

I'm not like Harry Potter, you know. I can't Accio the book to us.

Like I know where I'm going.

[But after shifting to press a kiss to her temple, he extricates himself. Fine. You tell him how to get there, he'll get the book.]

Please, and let me miss another opportunity to watch you fall? I'll be accompanying you, thank you very much.

[She stood and gently poked his ribs.]

Besides, do you really want to read on the hallway floor?

Oh, thanks. You're so reassuring.

[Fine. You poke his ribs, he'll cop a feel "accidentally," and then move up to her shoulder so she can actually lead the way.

Jerk.]

I dunno, it could be really comfortable.

I try extra hard for you.

[It was no fun rolling your eyes when the receiver couldn't see it, so instead, Tasha announced that she had done so for his sake.

She behaved at first, leading properly, but then she took a detour, seeing how well he'd mentally mapped this place out, testing him.]