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He instantly wonders if he should ask rather clarify what it is she's talking about. Curiousity gets the better of him. "What is?"

Her lips curved upwards slightly and she reached up to tug the earbud from her ear, the white plastic having been hidden by her hair. "David Bowie's greatest hits. Sometimes I need to escape."

"I feel you," he nodded, relieved. "Well, maybe not on Bowie but needing to escape. For me, it's between Otis Redding and Sam Cooke."

"Maybe Bowie doesn't have to be your escape, but you can't tell me you don't appreciate his early work. Hard not to move your hips to 'Golden Years'." Natasha reached down to hit pause on the player she had tucked in her pocket before she gave a nod. "But I can see how those would be good choices for an escape. Nice taste."

"Thanks," he replied genuinely to her compliment with a soft grin. His expression turned between sheepish and hesitant. "To be honest, can't say I know much about him other than 'Fame' and 'Under Pressure' when it comes to music. I saw him in Labyrinth when I was little but can't remember much of it." His shoulders gave a slight rise and fall, nearly a sheepish shrug at his lack of David Bowie knowledge. Motown wasn't his generation either but the stuff he grew up on.

"You're welcome," she replied with a hint of a smile before freeing up her earbuds and passing them to him. "There is much that I feel I suddenly need to educate you on, but let's start with 'Golden Years'. I think you'd appreciate the beat. Not quite Motown, but there's a serious rhythm to it."

Her smile only increased as she started to click and clap, even hum quietly. She didn't need to be listening to the song to know every beat. She had listened to it repeatedly. People always seemed to assume she only appreciated classical music, but they were wrong.

He took the offered earbuds and slipped them on. Antoine listened intently, looking pensive for a few seconds before his head started to nod along with the beat. His lips curved into a soft smile. "It does have some funk," he agreed and continued to listen.

Trip had once answered Coulson when asked if he (Triplett) had brought the noise, that he brought the noise and the funk wherever he goes. Antoine was impressed at this side of Romanoff. The woman never ceased to amaze him.

Natasha had been watching him for his reaction and her smile increased when she realised he was liking it. She was hardly on a mission to convert the world but good music did need to be appreciated and shared. "The Thin White Duke knew what he was doing."

She cleared her throat after a moment and stopped with the clapping and little moves of her hips. Once more she was the picture of discipline and no one would suspect this side of her existed. She had taken a chance sharing it with Triplett. "I'm glad you like it. As I said, a guilty pleasure. Not used for training. But an escape. Seems we need it right now."

He had done his own little bit of dance to the song before it was over. "I'll have to ask my mom the next time I see her. She's gotta have heard it before," he shared without hesitation. Antoine noticed her regaining composure but didn't make any mention. He understood wanting to keep up appearances. It was all part of being SHIELD yet when he felt secure around someone else, there was no act on his part. He was still more trusting than most which possibly attributed to him never recognizing his SO was a traitor.

"Yeah, we do." The world had gone to hell in a hand basket but all work and no reprieve would prove more catastrophic in his opinion. Trip appreciated her sharing more than he could put into words. "After this op, we should find a juke joint. Our own undercover mission, if just for an hour. Top secret. I'll take it with me to my grave, if need be." Natasha had to realize he noticed her moves.

She probably also recognized the invite as an offer of friendship, not a flirt (though he did find her attractive). He respected her first and foremost. It wasn't just knowing she could kick his ass. His mom had taught him better.

Her lips had twitched at the dance in quiet amusement. At least she knew she'd chosen correctly in sharing Bowie with Triplett. He did have the moves and a friendly excursion to a juke joint seemed like a good idea. She tilted her head back just a little though when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. They had put themselves in position early which is why they had the time for a little show and tell.

"No need to be quite so dramatic unless you plan on sharing it with Stark. I like that he thinks I have no fibre in my being capable of having fun. It makes messing with him easy." But the smile was back and she tucked her player away into her pocket before meeting his gaze again. Increasing her circle of friends was a new concept, especially given the current climate and the state of SHIELD but he had proven his worth.

They had all been blind to the traitors in their midst. No one agent could shoulder the guilt. And if Coulson trusted Trip, it was good enough for her. "I have to admit I'd enjoy an excuse for a night out."

He smirked at her words to not be so dramatic. If anyone was full of drama, it was Tony Stark. Trip had never officially met the man but there were enough stories and video on him to make that impression a fact. However, Iron Man was one of the Avengers so Antoine maintained respect and didn't utter a word but nodded in agreement with Natasha.

His attention returned to the tablet in hand that was mission essential. He considered sharing his other reason for secrecy but ultimately thought against it. His desire for a night out dancing had no ulterior motive and mentioning any implication of impropriety would probably sound like he did have another agenda. Trip had no idea about her personal life. He hardly understood his own other than something between him and Simmons.

It seemed for the best that they (he and Romanoff) keep things under wraps. Even if his date for the night wasn't Black Widow and one of the guys, Antoine just wasn't one to run off at the mouth about things. It was nice to know she didn't mind if he happened to share the outing should they have one. "Bet. I can't even remember the last time I went out. It's probably been a year. So no laughing if I'm out of step," he teased lightly and finally looked up from the tablet with a grin.

She would have never argued his assessment of Stark. He did bring the drama and while had earned a place on the Avengers in spite of Natasha's own report and assessment, she could respect him while needing to ruffle his feathers. It went both ways. He could truly make her life hell when he wanted, but it had been unusually quiet on his side lately.

Natasha went back to watching their surroundings, her eyes on the crowd that weaved around them and paid the two agents little attention. She cocked her head as a flash of green caught her eye but ignored it once she realised it was a kid on a skateboard.

Her personal life was far from simple but she wasn't ready to try and explain it to someone else let alone herself. As much as she hated to admit defeat, even she needed to recognise that she had no idea what was going on. There was a chance she was spoken for, there was just as much a chance that it was simply a deep friendship that was never going to blossom. It wasn't as if she and Barton had made time for a date or broached the subject at all.

She blinked when she realised she'd let her mind drift and had to fight back a grin of her own once she'd processed what Trip had said. "Oh no, you don't get to hold me to that promise. Now I'm just going to be watching to see if you are as rusty as you think."

You should be careful with those. You never know what they may lead you into.

Trouble of only the best kind no doubt. Sometimes there are regrets worth having - but then they're not really regrets.

Is that so? [He seems to consider for a second but the outcome seems inevitable. He chuckles shortly.] Such a philosophy is one that I must approve of. Besides, it's easier when you're not worrying about what others think and so much more can be done without concern for consequences.

Oh, yes. Very much so. [She raised an eyebrow in place of a shrug before the corner of her lip curled upwards in a mischevious expression that the god could be proud of.] All guilty pleasures hold conviction, they just aren't always shared. We're told not to be selfish but why fight it in this instance? No one is so altruistic that they do not keep one morsel of something personal. An indulgence.

"Ha," he released in a chuckle. Although his appearance was casual and grinning, Trip was also checking their surroundings. He slipped the tablet away into his backpack and looked at his watch. "It's probably a good thing you keep watch. It might be the only thing that saves your toes if I can't get my groove back."

His grin finally demurred as they got down to business. "Our mark at two-o'clock. Coulson should be coming around the curb within sixty (seconds)." Antoine kept his gaze casual while out over the people passing by, using his peripheral vision to keep track of the engineer recently noted as an up and coming member of Hydra.

Romanoff might have been easier to spot given the press after everything that happened over the Potomac. It was on Antoine to distract the scientist and Black Widow to covertly...redirect the man into the van approaching with Coulson and company. It was also on Natasha to make sure should the engineer have soldiers hiding in plain sight, she and Trip would manage to escape unscathed while ensuring the van didn't make Hydra's radar.

Natasha shifted her weight, turning her body as she made it look like she was getting ready to follow her companion. She tucked some hair behind her ear and reached into the front pocket of her jacket to get out a pair of sunglasses. She started to clean the lense with a piece of her shirt but her gaze was on their mark before looking past him to see if she could spot any backup he had.

"I never would have picked you for a man that could ever misplace his groove, but getting lost in the kind of lives we lead is easy enough... Sometimes we do forget the basics." Her expression twisted briefly like she had suddenly been deeply offended before she regained composure and rolled her eyes before slipping on the sunglasses. "They aren't even trying to hide. Either they're greener than we thought or it's a trap. Checkout the Pulp Fiction wannabe with his piece showing, and the supposed cowboy who keeps touching his ear."

Regardless of the press she'd gotten recently she did hope that most people still wouldn't quite register if it was her or not depending on how she moved and spoke. On her ability to blend with a crowd when needed. Still, she knew it was a risk to get back out in the field so soon on a covert op. But Coulson had asked, and she wasn't about to say no. "Maybe they don't actually expect anyone to be coming for this guy."

Or a reminder? [Loki's smile was a double-edged dagger in the dark. It was meant to match her mischievous smirk but something in his eyes told another story altogether, perhaps one of the past that no longer held sway over him. It was not a happy thing.] Though perhaps reminders are not for the likes of such beasts and monsters as ...well. [He waved to himself, "us" left unspoken for...her benefit? Maybe.]

[Her smirk faded just a little as she took in the darker meaning of his words, the reminder that he was obviously not so content to receive. Her tongue flicked out against her lips and she glanced down.] Perhaps, though I don't think that stops-- [She faltered just a little as she realised she was in danger of saying 'us'.] The need for something personal is still there. Something to lay claim to. Something to enjoy.

He had noticed the guy with a handgun showing but didn't catch the cowboy until she mentioned. His eyes continued to search and he smiled, pretending to talk about something that wasn't the mission they were up to. "Yeah...about a hundred feet back, one at six and nine. I mean, seriously? A trench in this weather."

Coulson turned the corner as expected and Trip started taking his longer strides, cutting off their target. The engineer didn't get the opportunity to step around and crashed into a very solid Antoine. Instead of bouncing off, he was being hurled into the van. The two were on their own in an instant. Triplett reached back into a zippered pocket in his backpack and pulled out an automatic rifle as Romanoff headed him off from behind.

There wasn't any time to stand in awe at her speed. "You could leave me one," he quipped through a smirk. They were far from clear with two cars approaching quickly. Trip immediately shot and disabled them, catching through his peripheral that Natasha had covered his six. They needed to get out of dodge quickly and their initial route was taken.

Reminders are not always joyful. [He cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes for a moment.] The rest... the rest I can and will take at my leisure. Nothing to be guilty about in taking a little pleasure where one can.

[He reopened his eyes and stared at her.] No regrets. Just a bit of fun.

[No, reminders were not and she could sympathise with him. She watched him quietly as he seemed to reconcile the negative reminders with the idea of pursuing something pleasurable.

And then her eyebrow crept up.] Why does it suddenly sound as if you have something particular in mind?

"I'm sorry, I thought this was a ladies first situation," Natasha returned as she slipped past him and immediately went for the cowboy's ear piece before he had a chance to make any calls. Her hand found its way around his throat and she used all of her strength to flip him and then she straightened out her leg to get the other man and make sure they both hit the deck. Natasha didn't even consider the pain she would inflict as she walked over the cowboy, heeled boots and all and tilted her head for Antoine to follow down an alley.

"You did take the cars. I'm fairly certain that's leaving you something. Besides they didn't put up much of a fight, you only would have been disappointed." Natasha threw him a smirk over her shoulder before she picked up the pace and pulled her jacket sleeves up to reveal her Widow's sting. "We can argue more about who will take out who if we get followed."

And then she stopped, jumping up onto the ladder of a fire escape so they could make their way up to the rooftop. Their planned route had indeed been blocked but they had both spent enough time studying the map that it was possible to come up with an alternative. It just meant taking the scenic route. "Let's just hope they don't have air support."

Just an amusing thought. [He smiled "sweetly" at her.]

Oh yes, that makes me feel so much better. Nothing to regret at all.

That depends upon what you would consider a regret. A good time does not seem like something regret, now does it? And I assure you, I do mean for the both of us, not one over the other. Well... metaphorically speaking.

[She continued to study him with a slightly unsure expression but finally she just had to smile.] Well, as long as it is metaphorically speaking. You wouldn't want me to get the wrong idea. No, a good time does not seem like anything to regret. They seem so few and far between these days.

[His smile grew as he explained further.] I would like to point out that as far as literally speaking, it could very well be an option.

Are you suddenly channeling Stark? Just what kind of 'good time' are we talking about, Trickster? Literal meanings from you are always cause for concern.

[Loki made a face at the mention of the Iron Avenger.] I should like to believe I am more charming, sophisticated, and brilliant than that philanthropist. Not to mention better at showing someone a good time.

[At that she smiled. Of course mentioning Tony would ruffle the god's feathers. She held out a hand, counting down on her fingers.] Charming? Yes. Sophisticated? Well, that's not very hard to beat Stark in that. Brilliant? To a degree. More fun? Without a doubt. I will never tell you he's superior. It's more the sudden innuendo.

[He frowned and narrowed his eyes at her.] Somehow that did not seem all that reassuring. A simple yes in all categories would have sufficed.

[He took a moment to shrug it off so he could offer her another one of his charming smiles.] Is it too much? Too little? Don't forget who I am...

[Natasha feigned ignorance as to why he would be so offended by her list but then she just smiled. It wasn't a smile of amusement, or kindness. It was a knowing. Like the one she had once given him while he'd been in a cell and she had played him.] And give you complete control of the conversation? You know me better than that, surely. You're talking to the wrong mortal if you're looking for passive submission.

[She ran her fingers through her hair before giving a shake of her head. That smile of his was dangerous.] No, just surprising. I suppose I'm waiting to hear what you want in return for a 'good time' and that's because I haven't forgotten who you are.

[He took a step closer as he replied.] Oh, any type of submission would work here, my little spider.

[But he did stop short of invading her personal space or touching her with his out-stretched hand so that he could finalize the deal. He still looked menacing, but truth be told it was all for show.]

It is a compromise on both sides enough as is, is it not? To lay down one's guard long enough for a tryst with the enemy. Though if it makes you feel better, there is always danger in going too far... and what I want may be something else entirely. But, you will simply have to participate to find out if you dare.

[She stood her ground as he moved closer, her head tilted back so that she could maintain his gaze. She would not look away, she would not move back. She would not bow her head.] I am sure you'd love nothing more, Trickster, but you will not see me submit to you just yet. Not without resistance.

[Natasha cocked her head as she regarded him with narrowed eyes. Her hands still hung at her sides, not yet fists but her fingers did flinch in case the act was genuine. Finally she exhaled through her nose and simply gave a single nod.] Laying down one's guard in any company is compromise enough. It's supposed to me that constructs the web, and draws their victim in. I may have to steal one of your tricks... However, it's hard to ignore that I would like to see just exactly what you have in mind.

[He waited till her words came to a stop before granting her another one of his smiles.] Oh, I have a few ideas in mind. You're welcome to chose the easiest for you're mortal body and mind to handle. My gift to you. Don't worry, this one doesn't come with a price. And as for what comes after... well, it's for my benefit as much as yours... consider that the bargain. A guilty pleasure in exchange for a guilty pleasure.

Now there's the silver tongue you're so famous for. [Natasha may have even had a little colour creep into her cheeks as she considered what he could possibly want that her body would not be able to handle but cleared her throat and regained composure.] a most generous gift indeed! I'm sure. You will always pique my curiosity and that will always be my undoing.

Is that an accord I hear being struck? Do let me know when the games can truly begin.

Are we supposed to seal it with a shake of hands, or perhaps a kiss?

If you believe it necessary... or would that simply be desire calling for it? [He took a step forward, closing the small gap between them.]

Another one of those guilty pleasures making themselves known. [There was a small shrug of her shoulders as if she were washing all responsibility for her actions away.] No regrets.

No regrets. Indeed. [He reached out to touch her...]

[This time there was a hint if a genuine smile that played across her lips before she stretched up and brought her face closer to his.]

This is the point of no return... [Softly spoken, a last chance to turn down the deal, he offered before their lips could meet.]

"Good thing I'm an equal opportunity type of guy," he returned when she quipped about arguing more should they get followed. Trip couldn't remember the last he was so amused on a field op. They were quickly scrambling to flee the scene after ensuring no one followed the van which expediently and efficiently collected the Hydra engineer.

He quickly slung the rifle in hand over an arm to keep it within easy access while freeing his hands to follow Natasha up the fire escape. "You think they had time to call in anything? They didn't look like they knew what hit 'em to me," he hollered up to her. Antoine marveled at how quickly she moved that he actually had a workout trying to keep up with her.

In addition to hoping Hydra hadn't called in for reinforcements, he had to wonder what her plan was once they made it to the roof. "I have enough fire power to take out a chopper. More than that, we might need to call in for reinforcements."

And you thought I was going to prolong the agreement. [She smiled again, but did genuinely appreciate his willingness to give her one last chance to escape. Her mind was made up though, and the last of the gap between them was gone as she pressed her lips to his.]

Natasha threw another glance over her shoulder at him as she strode towards the opposite end of the roof. "If I'm going to fast just let me know." It wasn't like she was intentionally moving more quickly, but she did have take into account that he wasn't her usual partner. She needed to find a pace that worked for both of them.

Finally she stopped and knelt down, looking down into the street they'd just left as she assessed whether or not any of them had had time to call in backup. "It doesn't look like there's anyone coming, but we can't be too careful. They might be monitoring local surveillance which means if one of those civilians call the police--" she stopped and gave him a meaningful look. He'd be able to fill in the blanks.

Natasha rocked back onto her heels and turned to look past Trip as she took a moment to plot their escape route. "How do you feel about taking the high road for a little while? If we keep heading back that way we'll be able to drop down close to the original rendezvous point. Assuming they don't have something bigger than a chopper as hypothetical backup."

She was heard though never given an acknowledgment. It wasn't part of protocol to hold up a team member though it was part of protocol to have your people's backs if it didn't detriment the mission. ...At least, those were the protocols learned during SHIELD field operations training.

However, he wasn't too far behind her that either had any need to worry. Trip had size over Romanoff which could be the cause for being a little less quick up the escape. That and his carrying supplies. Nonetheless, it only took a few seconds to catch his breath when they were rooftop. He kept fit. There wasn't any option in their line of work and current circumstances.

His hands unconsciously adjusted the straps to the backpack he wore. "Let's hope Coulson and May used that body EMP to short any tracker Hydra might've had on him." The engineer wasn't top ranking from what they knew but their intel could wrong. Being part of SHIELD meant never taking anything at face value. "If I know Skye, she scrambled any public sector surveillance equipment for the past hour and counting."

Trip spoke while also scanning the streets below. "Better safe than sorry. Lead the way," he answered on her suggestion to remain above the city for their return to the rendezvous point. They had been given a generous twenty minutes in the initial briefing which now didn't seem like such a gift with the route they were about to take.