ic inbox

[redrooms]

"You've reached Natasha Romanov. Please leave a message."

Comments

[redrooms]

I'll give you a discount. Promise you'll ytake good care of him, and I'll just ask for the nickel. He's very sensitive.

[armoured]

That I can promise.

[He sounds sincere too.]

I'd protect him with my life.

[redrooms]

[Oh, Al.]

Don't worry. He can take care of himself. Don't put yourself into unnecessary danger for him.

[Because you're a kid!!!]

Is everything going alright?

[armoured]

Yeah, it's kind of been a hectic few days, but I'm on track for where I need to be.

[No worries, honestly. It's all great. Not.]

I'm sorry to have bothered you, I guess it must have been weird to get this kind of call from a relative stranger.

[redrooms]

No, there's no need to apologize. I'm guessing Clint put you up to it? I don't mind.

[armoured]

Yeah, he kind of did.

[Sorry, Clint, dropping him in it.]

It is nice to talk to you again, though! I've seen what you've been doing, it's so great to have more people to help.

[redrooms]

Well, you and Stephanie have done most of the work. I'm just adding onto it. If either of you need anything at all, you can always contact us.

[armoured]

Thanks, you know you can call me for anything too. I might not be a, uh, superhero where I'm from, but I'll do my best to help.

[redrooms]

You've done more than enough already, from what I can tell. Don't burn yourself out.

[armoured]

I don't think it can ever be called enough until we find the way out of here.

[He sounds as if he means that as simple fact, because he does.]

We all have to keep going, all the time, we can't afford to stop.

[redrooms]

We have to keep going, but we need to rely on each other, too. We can't run ourselves into the ground.

[armoured]

Of course we have to rely on each other, that's how we keep going. It's the support of the people around you, the ones who care, that can help keep you strong.

[redrooms]

Exactly. Which means you don't have to take all of this on by yourself. If you need a break, you can tell us.

[armoured]

Really, I'm not taking on anything all by myself.

[This is a total lie.]

You don't have to worry about me, ma'am.

[redrooms]

I know you can take care of yourself. Just don't be afraid to let other people take care of you, too.

[armoured]

I'm not, I know the value of having people stood at your side. Before-- it was always Brother and I, I understand how to rely on someone else.

[redrooms]

Okay. I'm just making sure. If you need anything at all, we're here for you, alright?

[armoured]

Thank you, ma'am.

[She seems like a ma'am.]

Is it true that you're superheroes where you come from?

[redrooms]

[Natasha smiles a little.]

Something like that, although Clint and I don't have any powers.

[armoured]

What do powers have to do with it?

[He sounds genuinely confused.]

What makes someone a hero is who they are, not what they can do.

[redrooms]

[Natasha laughs a little. He's so cute.]

Super implies we can breathe fire or turn invisible, that's all.

[armoured]

[He snorts, though he doesn't mean to be rude.]

I've met a lot of people with powers who I wouldn't call super, let alone heroes.

[redrooms]

I have, too. That's likely a constant.

[armoured]

I think people are people, no matter what world they come from. It's kind of comforting, don't you think?

[redrooms]

Comforting. [That's one way to look at it.] I suppose it is. At least we know what to expect.