[For what it's worth, he would try not to simply side with B. He would try to be objective.
But Steve Rogers is, admittedly, bad at objectivity.
He did mean it when he asked for advice, though, and he nods slowly, considering what she's saying.]
Well, if anyone has anything here, it's generally time.
[Generally.]
And if you want someone who won't push? B is your man.
[Steve pushes. He can't ever leave well enough alone. He knows it, and he knows that even when he's trying to be patient, he can come off as overbearing. He's been told as much.
But he does sincerely believe that B will sit back and wait for as long as it takes. No matter how much it hurts him.
And Steve will try too, then, if that's what Natasha suggests.]
You know patience isn't my strong suit, but if that's what it's gonna take, then I'll try to follow - [He almost says his lead, B's lead, but decides, instead, on a similar truth:] your lead.
I don't know how to deprogram somebody. Other than just... butting up against their worldview, whether you mean to or not, until they have to change it.
[ or her, for that matter. not when the both of them have far too much experience with orders and expectations and handlers who do and have both. a warden is exactly what her sister doesn't need, right now and while it's easier to simply state the truth -- that B will be no different than a handler in the broad scope of things -- natasha hopes she won't have to. not with Steve.
even still, her tone isn't convinced this is any kind of good situation. ]
If I know her at all, she's going to oppose the entire system. Not just B.
[ god, she wishes Clint were here to help with this conversation.
[Steve would say he's trying not to take sides in this conversation - he's not - but when she says that when she suggests -]
He's not. Nat - he would never. Ever.
Trust me.
If you can't trust him.
[Yes, he's biased. He knows he's biased. And yet he truly believes what he's saying, too. Inmates are not pet projects. Not to Steve. And not to B.]
She's a person. Everyone here is. No one here is a project. Or payment.
And I hate that the Admiral has a system where it can even seem that way. Where some people act like it is. But he won't. I wouldn't allow it, either, but he won't.
[ They're both biased, which makes this conversation harder than it should be. Neither wants the person they care about to be seen as the problem. But, there's an elephant in the room where it comes to the pairing and it isn't an easy thing to think about, let alone discuss.
She looks long and hard at Steve and she trusts him implicitly. More than she ever has with anyone else, apart from Clint.
Nodding, it occurs to her to ask: ]
Do you know why I'm so concerned? Beyond the fact Yelena is my sister?
[That's a good thing to ask, honestly, because:] No, [he says, quietly.] I don't.
[It's not dismissive. It's open. If she has concerns, he wants to hear them. He can't promise he will side with her, but he wants to hear what she thinks. Always.]
He was there, as the Winter Soldier. In the Red Room. He trained the both of us.
[ she nods. ]
I know he's made progress here to shed that identity and heal because what they did to him was no different than what happened to us. SHIELD deprogrammed me, but Yelena?
[ a weighted pause. ]
He's a link to a past she hasn't had enough time to work through.
[Okay, Steve knows that much at least. Although admittedly, he'd learned a lot of it from a different Natasha, so he can't ever be sure what's the same and what's not.]
Well - there's nothing but time, here, [he says, quietly.] At least, in between the chaos.
He can be patient. We both can. We'll be here as long as she needs.
[Even if Steve never talks to Yelena, he will be here for B, and he won't rush him.]
This place may not give her space. But it will give her time.
Nat, it's a closed system. Trust me - even when you want to avoid people, you can't.
[He takes a breath, holds it for a long moment. Lets it out.]
I - know this is going to sound patronizing and hypocritical. But - the fact that I think B will give her time and space aside - how is she going to get out of here if she just sits around and does nothing about the way she feels about him?
If nothing else, the Barge makes you fucking face your demons. It's cruel, but it has its merits.
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Re: audio
But Steve Rogers is, admittedly, bad at objectivity.
He did mean it when he asked for advice, though, and he nods slowly, considering what she's saying.]
Well, if anyone has anything here, it's generally time.
[Generally.]
And if you want someone who won't push? B is your man.
[Steve pushes. He can't ever leave well enough alone. He knows it, and he knows that even when he's trying to be patient, he can come off as overbearing. He's been told as much.
But he does sincerely believe that B will sit back and wait for as long as it takes. No matter how much it hurts him.
And Steve will try too, then, if that's what Natasha suggests.]
You know patience isn't my strong suit, but if that's what it's gonna take, then I'll try to follow - [He almost says his lead, B's lead, but decides, instead, on a similar truth:] your lead.
I don't know how to deprogram somebody. Other than just... butting up against their worldview, whether you mean to or not, until they have to change it.
Re: audio
[ or her, for that matter. not when the both of them have far too much experience with orders and expectations and handlers who do and have both. a warden is exactly what her sister doesn't need, right now and while it's easier to simply state the truth -- that B will be no different than a handler in the broad scope of things -- natasha hopes she won't have to. not with Steve.
even still, her tone isn't convinced this is any kind of good situation. ]
If I know her at all, she's going to oppose the entire system. Not just B.
[ god, she wishes Clint were here to help with this conversation.
after a moment: ]
He can't treat her like a pet project.
[ another pause. ]
I won't allow it.
Re: audio
He's not. Nat - he would never. Ever.
Trust me.
If you can't trust him.
[Yes, he's biased. He knows he's biased. And yet he truly believes what he's saying, too. Inmates are not pet projects. Not to Steve. And not to B.]
She's a person. Everyone here is. No one here is a project. Or payment.
And I hate that the Admiral has a system where it can even seem that way. Where some people act like it is. But he won't. I wouldn't allow it, either, but he won't.
Re: audio
She looks long and hard at Steve and she trusts him implicitly. More than she ever has with anyone else, apart from Clint.
Nodding, it occurs to her to ask: ]
Do you know why I'm so concerned? Beyond the fact Yelena is my sister?
Re: audio
[It's not dismissive. It's open. If she has concerns, he wants to hear them. He can't promise he will side with her, but he wants to hear what she thinks. Always.]
Re: audio
[ she nods. ]
I know he's made progress here to shed that identity and heal because what they did to him was no different than what happened to us. SHIELD deprogrammed me, but Yelena?
[ a weighted pause. ]
He's a link to a past she hasn't had enough time to work through.
Re: audio
Well - there's nothing but time, here, [he says, quietly.] At least, in between the chaos.
He can be patient. We both can. We'll be here as long as she needs.
[Even if Steve never talks to Yelena, he will be here for B, and he won't rush him.]
This place may not give her space. But it will give her time.
Re: audio
[ the question comes quicker than she expected it to. ]
Re: audio
[He takes a breath, holds it for a long moment. Lets it out.]
I - know this is going to sound patronizing and hypocritical. But - the fact that I think B will give her time and space aside - how is she going to get out of here if she just sits around and does nothing about the way she feels about him?
If nothing else, the Barge makes you fucking face your demons. It's cruel, but it has its merits.