Owner	Pose
Natasha Romanoff	It was a beautiful Sunday. The sky was blue with just the perfect amount of fluffy clouds. The temperature was comfortable, allowing people to be out in shorts if they wanted. Not too hot so that they were sweltering but that perfect balance in the mid seventies range with low humidity. In other words, it was a perfect day at the Farmer's Market. In their quest to live a normal life, Natasha and Alexander had opted to try visiting it. It ran one Sunday out of the month and it just happened to be this weekend. Thus they had loaded up in the SUV and headed that direction. Being a bit older, Natasha had seen farmer's selling their wears in her youth. Perhaps she had expected that. She was in for an eye-opening experience as it wasn't just people selling foodstuffs. There was everything under the sun. The rules were it had to be hand made. No big businesses were here, just smaller booths filled with various wares, from home grown vegetables to seafood freshly caught to clothing made by the vendor. She was dressed casually in jeans and a pair of sneakers. Her top was a t-shirt advertising Cobra Kai. She wasn't sure what that was exactly, probably some old dojo that had closed long ago. Yet a few people had commented on liking the shirt while laughing. She didn't get the joke. "Maybe we should setup a garden in the backyard?" she commented to Alex.
Phobos	Natasha likely did draw looks and sometimes they were even for the top, though at the farmer's market they do stand out a bit. Both of them have a casual sort of beauty that they don't try to emphasize save on the rare occasion. Even now, Alexander is out and about in front of one of the booths that display a variety of honeys that look rather tasty all things told. He's wearing a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses as well as a loose hanging white overshirt that obscures his grey t-shirt a little. Somewhat baggy blue jeans are worn but at least with a black leather belt that holds the tucked in t-shirt in place. Yet with the pair of them, Natasha does tend to draw the eye. Which suits him fine.     "What would we grow?" He asks over his shoulder as he holds up one of the containers of honey then sets it down upon the table, smiling to the farmer whose product it is. He rounds and steps up beside her, slipping an arm around her waist and letting her set the pace for their browsing.     As he looks across the way toward one of the other stalls he gestures, "Beer?" And indeed there's a micro brewery selling bottles from their efforts.     "I could get behind that." He grins a little as he pauses to linger over a small stand with some pieces of jewelry made from jade.
Natasha Romanoff	Natasha has to laugh. "I mean I guess we could grow grain but I don't think the output of the garden would support the needs of the micro brewery." She glances back at the honey booth, marking it's location for a stop on the way back through. First one always walked through everything before making purchases, or they would find a booth later with the same thing for a cheaper price. It was a version of Murphy's Law or something. It wasn't a huge market so they had the time for a second, faster circuit which would allow them to hit the booths they marked for purchasing before heading home. "We could look into making our own beer if you wanted to?" She's not sure if he's kidding or not but she's game if he would like to. She did pause with him at the jewelry booth. It wasn't something she wore often. In her line of work, they tended to get lost or damaged. But she did wear them to the occasional fund raiser or party. "That's beautiful," she said pointing to a small silver neckace with a jade pendant dangling from it. It was understated but the color was beautiful.
Phobos	"We could," He offers as he walks with her. He's got that lazy gait, easy going and languid as he keeps his stride relaxed to match with her smaller one. There is something so casual in it, and so normal, that restful hand upon her hip, the occasional hint of body language shared when hip touches hip or he bites his lower lip and purposefully bumps her. Something not seen in any other way than when a couple wanders along together in public.     "Terror Widow Breweries? I can imagine the logo now." His lip twists up as they linger there at that jewelry stall and he looks over her shoulder at where she gestures, eyebrows lifting. "It is pretty, reminds me..."     A slight grin as he crinkles his nose and murmurs, "Reminds me of your eyes. He said trying not to be too cliched." Alexander comments, knowing exactly how cheesy that might sound if someone was being uncharitable.
Natasha Romanoff	Yes, it's cheesy. Yet it is also very sweet and that is how Natasha takes it as she rises on tiptop to give him a brief kiss. Just a chaste moment shared. "Thank you. I think the necklace is prettier than my eyes though." The idea of the brewery has her shaking her head. "Well I thought you might want to do it for yourself. Or just us. I think going commercial may be a bit much. And I am terrified of this logo running through your head now."
Phobos	"You keep talking trash about my lady we are gonna have words." Alexander says in a faux deeper voice even as he gives a nod to the jeweler and gestures for the necklace to be purchased. He pulls out his wallet and starts to count out a few bills as he talks amiably with Natasha while buying it.     "The logo and name would be like the /only/ reason to do it." Since really beer doesn't do much of anything for either of them, but a good tasting one can be fun to drink. He grins sidelong at her, and then thanks the merchant for the small paper bag holding the necklace. He offers it to her if she wants to carry it, and if not he'll just pocket it for while they stroll along. Perhaps they might have found a better jewelry stall, but this one had a 'moment' with them and thus... irreplacable!
Natasha Romanoff	She could tell him to wait. She could say that they hadn't walked the whole place and what if they found one cheaper in forty feet. She could. But she didn't. It was them having a sweet moment and she wasn't going to ruin that with logic and such silliness. He did get another kiss on his cheek as she folds the bag up smaller and tucked it into the front pocket of her jeans. That way it wouldn't be interfering with her shopping. Which often involved picking up things and looking at them. She wasn't going to chance setting down the bag and losing it. "Do you really think someone would ever want to drink anything with that name? Terror Widow? Sounds like a haunted house company or the like."
Phobos	"Are you kidding?" Alexander walks along with her, hand slipping from her hip to drift fingers along her arm until they interlace with her own, then hand in hand they stroll through the displays. "If Terror Widow was a brand available I would have had nothing else my entire time in college."     A wry half-grin is given sidelong to her as they stroll, moving past produce of all varieties and someone selling fresh eggs and milk. "I mean," He says as he slows up a little to consider a homespun crafting stall where people have taken driftwood and carved various faces and statues and objects out of them. "Terror Widow is so hard core, every young guy will be all, 'yeah man, I am so tough I drink Terror Widow!'" As Alexander says that he even mimics a traditional stoner vibe voice which... he does entirely too well.     But then he's holding up a sculpture of a wooden parrot and holds it up to his shoulder, "You think anyone would say something if I made this a part of my uniform?"
Natasha Romanoff	There is no stopping the laugh at the stone voice. He does do it entirely too well. Which would make her wonder about his college life if she didn't know about his constitution. Not like the drugs probably would've had much effect. If any at all. "I didn't realize it was so...hard core." The difference between the mind of the young and that of the older more experienced. "I"ll try to remember that in the future. And if it going to be that popular, we'd never keep up with demand." Then he was looking at the driftwood and she considered the parrot while shaking her head. "Yes, I am positive someone would. Probably be a line of people to say something. I'd be at the head of that line. Would fit well with a Mew-tiny shirt though." Another laugh, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Phobos	"Very true, we'd have to hire people and make a whole big brewery and it'd become this big mess and work work work." Alexander says as he sets the parrot back down on the table and smiles his thanks to the merchant who likely carved it or knew the artist.     Once they're back along walking he slips his arm around her and rests his hand on her hip again, taking a deep breath and smiling at the bright sunlight above, then glancing back to her. "You should go back and get it, build a whole pirate kitty theme."     They go past a few more stalls, taking their time and strolling along easily. Alexander tilts his head to the side and lightly murmurs, "Did I ever tell you the time my dad had a garage sale?"     The way he says it, with that smile, she might get the vibe he's teasing. But then again he might not be.
Natasha Romanoff	She leaned in a little to that position, hip bumping his from time to time with their steps. She slid her arm arm around his waist, hooking a finger into the belt loop on the opposite side. "We going decorate the house in a Naval Cat motif then? Pirates and felines in balance?" It sounds horrifying. Which is why it was amusing. But not quite as horrifying as the next question he asked. That got a sharp look as Natasha glanced up at him, trying to determin if this was a joke or not. She could not image John Aaron dealing with some woman haggling over something he was charging a quarter for, wanting to pay ten cents instead. In her mind much yelling happened and an ax appeared. "Are you kidding?"
Phobos	"I am not." Alexander says, pronouncing those three syllables with a solemnity to them. "There is a story to it, however." He says that through a grin as he's walking, not looking at her, but instead still looking at the farmers marker around them. But she can read the amusement in his stride as he walks with her, mirroring her grip and hooking his own hand in that loop of her jeans.     "It starts," Alex says as he sneaks a glance at her, "With Summer time, a while ago. I know I sometimes give this horrible impression of life back then as being all like fighting and training, and to be fair there was a lot of that. But."     Alex half-grins, "He also at times tried to get me to do normal things. He'd be loud about it of course, like blustered at me when I didn't want to go to a friend of mine's birthday party. He was all, 'Is that not normal to celebrate so with your friends? Do this thing then, boy!'" He even goes so far as to imitate his father's tone of voice.     They stroll past a big vegetable stand, but then they get to a watermelon stand and he stops. "Oh we're getting one." He says as he nods to the man there and starts to pay out some dollars for a watermelon as big as his chest and he /hefts/ it up to sling it on his shoulder. Once again breaking the rule of looking through the whole place. Obviously not a frugal shopper.     "So one Summer, I was complaining about these... little army guys that a friend of mine had. And I wanted them. And you'd imagine him being him he'd be all over it? But no, he was more in the mood to teach me a lesson."     He adjusts his grip on the watermelon and then manages to still hold her hand with his free one as they walk. "He told me I needed to earn the money to get them..."
Natasha Romanoff	"One would think he'd have bought you thousands of them already," Natasha does agree. As he purchase the watermelon, she does give him a look. But she says nothing bout it until they are walking again. "We could have waited until we are about to leave so you didn't have to lug it around the whole place," she suggested, not even bringing up the maybe-spend-less-money aspect. Obviously shopping with him was going to be a different sort of experience. She approached it tactically. He was impulsive. "Wait so you needed to earn money. How did this turn into him having a yard sale? Oh no. Tell me you didn't."
Phobos	A burbling wicked chuckle comes bubbling forth like from the depths of hell, such an evil evil chuckle as he shakes his head, "I'm sorry, am I interrupting your story? But also it's not that heavy." But he nudges her with his hip.     His expression is still playful, and entirely amused as he tells her the tale, "But no it's not like what you're thinking. Yet." His grin is infectious as he walks with the watermelon and he says, "I instead... decide to go poking around the house and storage and... the shed."     He strolls along with her and pauses for a moment to steal a small cup full of fresh popcorn that someone was offering samples of, he chomps on a few kernels then tosses the container into the trash bin as he walks by. "Inside I found an old-timey lawnmower, one of those... push things. So I got that and I sharpened it super sharp, took my time and then I went around the neighborhood and... well people thought it was charming. Very folksy, like a Norman Rockwell thing so the old lawnmower worked in my favor."     He takes a deep breath, "Eventually I got the money, and the army men."
Natasha Romanoff	As he complained about her interrupting, she let out a little snort but said no more to allow him to finish his tale. Which had her grinning as she considered the image of him as a child out pushing an old fashioned lawn mower. She'd seen him when he was 10 so she knew what he had looked like. It really was a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. "They probably paid you extra since you had to work so much harder. No self propelled machine doing most of the work. And if they were older, the nostalgia factor weighed in so even more money," she decided. But something wasn't synching up here. "Wait. That doesn't tell me about your father having a yard sale. I thought that was where you were going, that you sold some of his stuff."
Phobos	"Ah you see, I had it all settled right?" Alexander continues to stroll along, one hand holding the watermelon upon his shoulder as he strolls, "Except, one day my dad comes home. He was angry about something, and he saw the elaborate set up I had made. I had recreated what I could of the Somme, including using some of his books and things for the trenches."     He takes a deep breath, "And that made him pretty unhappy for some reason. He asked where I got them, and how I got the money for them, and each time I had an answer he seemed to be angrier. No idea why." A deep breath is taken, "Until he decided that fine, I had too many toys, and I had to get rid of some..."     Alexander points at her a little as if knowing she's likely found how they got around to the garage sale part. "So I was like, how the heck do I do that? And he said he didn't care, just that I had to."
Natasha Romanoff	That had her brow furrowing. He had told the boy that he should buy them himself, earn the money. So why would he be upset that Alexander had succeeded. Then two thoughts came to mind. But she wasn't sure if she should give voice to them right now since that might curtail the rest of the story. It would wait for after. "That's a difficult thing to ask a child to do." Though she knew it was sometimes a necessary one. She just wasn't sure if that was the case in this situation. "How old were you? And what did you do?"
Phobos	"I was eight," Alexander gestures with a hand, "So what did I do? I got angry." Alex smirks a little as he walks, "I got up and I walked over to him and said, that fine that I would get rid of my old toys, but that he had way more old toys than I did, and that he /never/ used it while I at least still used some of my stuff. And I told him it was only fair."     He flares his free hand a little, "And for some reason, he started laughing. Just outright laughing. Until a few minutes passed and he was wiping his eyes and he agreed that find we would get rid of our old toys together." The young Olympian smirks a little, "He told me he'd match me piece for piece and it was up to me to decide how we would do it. So I went across the street to Mrs. Krebbs' house and asked her and..."     At that he lets Natasha finish his story since she likely has already guessed it.
Natasha Romanoff	"And she told you about yard sales and how to get some money for the stuff you were getting rid of? Or did you get some old toys from her so you could keep yours? Probably not devious enough at eight to think of the latter," Natasha decided as she grinned. "He probably was amused you stood up to him and that you made a sound argument. I'm sure he has a lot of junk after all that time." She paused at a booth with some sundresses. Sliding the hangers along the rack and pulling out one that was a lovely deep forest green. She held it in front of herself then looked at him questioningly. Even if he approved, she'd hang it back up for their second circuit. She eased back out into the walking path and took his free hand in hers, twining fingers. "Did you ever figure out why he was mad about the army men? I have two theories on it and am curious if I'm right."
Phobos	"She told me about garage sales, yup." Though when she suggests old toys he laughs and shakes his head, "See, you are much more subtle than I am. I never would have thought of that." The whole getting some distraction toys, brilliant.     A deep breath is taken as he thinks back to that past while he stands there in that stall watching her push along this dress and that dress. She chooses a deep forest green one and he smiles, giving her a nod. Then his eyebrows lift as he leans forward to push a few more long the rack as he considers just a pure white dress that he holds up in front of her with a quirk to his eyebrow. It looks rather frilly, rather comfortable, like something from a movie with young women dancing across meadows.     "I still have no idea why he was mad about them. Back then so many of the things he did didn't make sense to my little mortal mind."
Natasha Romanoff	As he enters the booth instead of continuing, she arches a brow at the dress he chooses. She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "A little pure for the likes of me, don't you think?" She was grinning as she stepped back, letting her heels touch the ground again as she took the dress from him and held it on front of herself. Honestly, it was probably even the right size. It would look good on her despite her paler complexion. "First thought is he was mad because you set up the battle wrong. Since he probably knew the actual details that might differ from books." She held out the dress to the vendor, preparing to buy the white one. And breaking her own rules about waiting! Damn him. "Or he was annoyed because it was war stuff. He didn't want you to follow in his footsteps. At all. Wanted to keep you far from it. Despite preparing you, I think he wanted you to have an average, boring life."
Phobos	"That could be it, but I think... it might have also been whatever had him angry in the first place." Alexander says as he slips the white dress onto the rack. He crinkles his nose at her and her comment about pure when he then says, "You would look grand in it. Floofy even." Because floofy is a word.     "But I don't know, maybe some day I'll ask but usually..." Alexander gets back into the rhythm of walking together again, his footsteps leisurely as he strolls. "When he'd get mad at me it was that I did something he asked incorrectly. Or when I showed some form of... weakness."     A small shrug is given, "But again how much of that is true and how much was just my skewed child perception?"
Natasha Romanoff	"Impossible to tell really at this point." The floofy dress was put into a bag and she thanked the vendor after paying for it. Now he was carrying a watermelon and she was carrying a bag. With another bag in her pocket. So much for that whole agreement at the beginning. "I know he was hard on you. But he did the best he could. All in all, you came out well-adjusted, moreso than I might have though considering who your father actually is. At least you didn't have the family influence really so that probably helped to lower insanity potential." She winked at him playfully. They were almost done with their first circuit when they came across another honey booth. Which was actually the same farm as the last booth but this was closer to the exit. Location was everything. "We going to do another round or shall we get the honey now? I'm thinking a couple of different kinds to sample?"
Phobos	"I don't resent him for it," Alexander says as he slips his arm back around her waist and pulls her closer while he walks, that watermelon balanced perfectly. "Or at least I try not to. He did his best, and I..." There's a pause as a cloud drifts over Alex's features as he takes a deep breath.     Then he shakes his head and looks to her, "Because of everything he did, and everything I am, I am... god this is going to sound so conceited. But I feel... unique. That even with all the trials and tribulations, I owe who I am and where I am to being his son. Not just from a biological standpoint."     Then there's a pause as they reach that stall with the honey near the exit and he tilts his head at her. His brow furrows and he says quietly, "Natasha..." A pause as he looks around, as if not sure if this was the place to ask such a thing. Yet he does so anyways.     "If I was... just what I pretended to be. Just some mortal guy. Do you think we'd still be together?"
Natasha Romanoff	That draws her up short. The world continues on around them as she looks at him, brow furrowed a bit. "I think so. I'm with you because I enjoy spending time with you. Your personality. Your humor. The fact you enjoy a good fight as much as me. Which I'm going assume would be the same even if you were raised by three fairies in a shack in the woods. It's just part of who you and I are and isn't just because of the events that happened to us." After all, even those neck deep in violence didn't necessarily have to like it. "Remember I've been in love before. I just accepted that those relationships would end someday." She lowered her voice. "That I would live on and my partner wouldn't. I feel it would have been something I would have had to accept and then choose to stay or not. I would've chosen to stay but you may have changed your mind as you grew older and I stayed...like this." She smiled softly and squeezed his hand. "So, the fact that you are you just makes that last part easier since we don't have to worry about it."
Phobos	"Yeah..." Alexander says as he lets that word linger there for a time, then he says quietly. "I wasn't meaning like... I thought you were into me just because of... the whole Olympus thing." A small smile is seen there, but as she continues on with her thoughts and observations she can see him swallowing a little, and smiling more. Perhaps even a hint of color to his ears as he looks down and then sidelong at her from the corner of his gaze.     And then the tone shifts a little as he grins and squeezes her hand then continues to walk along slowly, watermelon held on his shoulder like some trophy from a vegan hunting trip. "What if..."     He looks a her sideways again and asks, "Was super ugly? Like I had a unibrow, and buck teeth, and... one giant nose hair?" But she can tell he's not expecting a serious answer, and more likely expecting a good thumping in reply.
Natasha Romanoff	He gets exactly what he deserved. A punch to the arm that was not holding the watermelon. First, she wouldn't be the one causing him to drop his prize if she hit him the wrong way on the arm holding the watermelon. Second, he couldn't block or he'd drop his prize. It's just a light playful slap at least. Not anything like what she could have done. She does enter the honey booth, picking out a sampler pack they had setup with three different flavored honeys. That added another bag to her first with the dress and she paid the man. Then back out to join him though she played mock annoyed. "I would've ignored you completely. A girl must have standards and a single nose hair? Just isn't manly enough."
Phobos	"That's so rude," Alexander says as he walks with her, reclaiming his hand on her hip and pausing only long enough to kiss the top of her head gently, "Hating on my failings when I ignore yours. Though, to be fair, it's a short list. Just a small number of them. Tiny amount of shortcomings. Not a tall order at all really. So miniscule as to best be ignored lest they get too much underfoot."     And as he says that he can't help but grin rather happily as they make their way toward the gate that leads back out toward the parking lot.
Natasha Romanoff	That earns him an elbow in the ribs. Again not too hard but sound enough he should feel it rather than it just being a nudge. "Keep it up. I'll show you that just because I'm short doesn't mean I can't take you. Oh wait, I've done that. Repeatedly." But she's grinning herself and slips her arm around his waist, leaning her head against him briefly before continuing out further into the parking lot. She'd parked a good way out, for ease of exiting when the time came. Course that meant people were getting more scarce the further they went. "So thoughts on the whole Farmer's Market experience? Yea or Nay?"
Phobos	"Oh it's a definite Yea," Alexander offers as he walks along nudging her with his hip now and again as he strolls along, still carrying that watermelon with his own brand of casual aplomb. "I mean, not like every weekend, for sure. But maybe every other other weekend? When it's going?"     As he says that he finally drops the watermelon under his arm and continues that casual stroll out into the parking lot and around the corner from the wooden fence and entrance to the farmers market. He interlaces the fingers of his free hand with hers as they walk and he seems to be giving the matter some thought. "Sort of makes me wonder what it'd be like to live in a more rural area? Unfortunately I don't think our jobs are really ones we can telecommute to."     Which is saying something.     As they stroll, however, a handful of people had been walking behind them. A few had stopped to start working on their cars and loading their purchases. There's a faint noise from back as a voice is heard, a little gruff and maybe angry railing about something. Natasha might hear it easier than Alexander.     "What, you people don't fuckin' believe in tipping? Fuck you." As a man in ragged clothes and with severe features flips off the people who were walking behind them and then moves to try and catch up with Nat and Alex.
Natasha Romanoff	That got a little chuckle and she shook her head. "No, not for our career choices. Perhaps if we opted to work in I.T. Or to the computer crimes section. Then we might be lucky." She considered the idea of living somewhere rural and gave a little smile. "Away from the city is nice. I've lived that way before." A century is a long time, after all. "Though I'm a bit attached to our current residence. Though, might be nice to have something out and about. It's complicated." She grins and nudges his hip with her own. "I'm sure we could get a company vehicle for the commute." Translation: She's high enough ranked she could probably get them a Quijet, since she already had an SUV so obviously didn't need another land-vehicle. Hearing the sounds behind her, she shifted the bag she was carrying to the inside, between their bodies as she took a little step away from him. Not obviously so to an onlooker. But to Alex, it should be like warning bells going off. She didn't need to say anything to him to put him on alert.
Phobos	A slight laugh comes from him at the idea of a suitable 'vehicle' as he shakes his head, "Yah, maybe in the future. But right now the cape works pretty well for us..." Considering all the work they've done to it and the time spent there shared together.     Though it's the sound of a raised voice that causes Alexander to frown as he turns and looks over his shoulder. The man in the tattered overcoat and ragged sneakers is picking up the pace and walking after them. When Alexander looks eye contact is made and the man raises his voice.     "Hey man, hey you." A few faster strides and he's closer, coming near enough to catch up and be heard though he keeps his voice fairly loud as he snaps qiuckly, "I watched your car while you all were in there, kept it safe, nothin' happened to it. That deserves a tip, right? C'mon man. You told me you'd give me a tip."     Which has Alexander looking sidelong toward Natasha as he says, "I uh, don't think that was us. I don't remember saying anything to you or seeing you before."     "That's bullshit, man. You're just sayin' that cuz to you we're all invisible, people without a house and an SUV and 2.5 kids, don't mean shit to you. But you told me." He opens his hands arms spread, "So fuck, gimme what you promised."
Natasha Romanoff	"You have us mistaken for someone else," Natasha says, somewhat sympathetically to the man. "I'm very sorry. Hopefully the people you spoke to will come out soon and give you what they promised." He had made no such deal with anyone. He might've yelled it at some people as they rushed away from him, but she had no doubt he was ignored. And yes, because he was one of the invisible multitudes that lived on the streets. It was a sad statement but it was a fact in this world. The fact he had moved on from the other couple to approach them meant he would hopefully move on after perhaps a bit more verbal abuse. She could hope.
Phobos	"Yeah? You so damn sure about that?" Says the man toward Natasha, then shooting a glare at Alexander. "Maybe you both just cut the shit and give me a fuckin' tip. Be thankful I didn't cut your fuckin' car's tires. Didn't scratch the shit out of the paint." He produces a rusty looking shard of metal, a knife that he switches from his pocket hand to his other hand and holds it loose and open, not quite menacing but showing that he has it.     "Maybe you give me some money and nothin' else happens? Easy right? Walk off and forget about this, what's some money to you and your weekend city-ass watermelon having motherfuckers." He lifts his chin, scowling with partially rotted teeth, "What do you think of that, huh?"     Which finally has Alexander saying, "Sure man," He looks over at Natasha and shakes his head a little, then reaches a hand for his jeans pocket and pulls out the thin sliver of a leather wallet he uses. "Here, there's eighty bucks in there and all and a few credit cards. I'll call the company in the morning, cool?"
Natasha Romanoff	Did he just give her the no head shake? He did not give her the no headshake! Natasha watched and waited. As the man reached out to snatch the wallet, she was shoving the two bags she was holding into Alexander's hand. "Hold these for me, honey?" She wasn't really asking and hopefully he grabbed them as she let go. The dress would survive but the honey jars likely would break on impact with the ground. Then she was stepping forward toward the robber in front of them. It wasn't difficult. She snatched the wallet back before he even knew she was moving toward him. It was dropped to the ground between them. Her other arm came up to block, in case he did swing with that knife hand. The open hand moved forward, fingers aimed and going for a pressure point that would make him loose his grip. Then the blocked hand coming down, grabbing his wrist and twisting it up behind him, wrist held at an awkward and painful angle to maintain control. Total time: Less than three seconds. Yet she didn't seem to care about the man in her grasp. Her eyes were on Alexander. "Honey, we need to talk."
Phobos	The man's eyes were on the wallet and he was stepping forward the moment that Widow made her move. It was a quick thing, something any number of martial artists could accomplish and with her it was done with a clean precision. The man likely, even as he was twisted around and his wrist bent back on itself, had no idea how close to death he had come with the casual movement the Avenger applied.     He scowled, "What the fuck, man, let me go! I wasn't gonna do nothin'!" Though that didn't stop him from struggling and trying to break free, though it only took her a few sharp tightening twists of his wrist to dissuade him from that.     Luckily, in that time, Alexander had managed to catch the bags under his arm with the wallet even as she stepped in and moved. She could see his expression being a little pained even as he steps back to give her the room she'd need to work. "We do?" He asks about the need to talk.     "I told you, man. Wasn't us."     "Fuck you, think I don't know that, fuck!"
Natasha Romanoff	There is a sharp twist of the would be thief's wrist. "Language." Then Natasha made a face and muttered to herself. "Great. He has me doing it now." She focused back on Alexander. "Yes, we do. Why were you giving him your wallet? I mean, obviously the situation could have been resolved in a different manner." Another twist of his wrist to punctuate exactly how it could have been resolved. "I could have held the watermelon while you did it. If you even needed the second hand free," she adds. Her look isn't accusatory. She's honestly very confused here. "So why would you give him your money and credit cards, with an almost 24 hour window to use those cards?"
Phobos	A deep breath is taken as Alexander shifts his grip, getting situated with the bags, the watermelon, and his wallet which he puts away. "Well," The young Olympian says, "Eighty dollars isn't a high price to pay for not having to kill or beat the shit out of someone. The cards are all expired, it's my 'I'm being mugged' wallet." Which apparently has happened to him before.     Though the man with his arm twisted up rather painfully says, "What the fuck man, don't kill me?! I didn't do shit!?" But when he gets a glare from Natasha again he falls silent and perhaps remembers the whole language thing.     "If we bust him, and deal with him, then there's all the paperwork. And if he flips out... who knows what might have happened?"     A small shrug is given, "So yeah."
Natasha Romanoff	"You have an 'I'm being mugged' wallet?" Natasha stares at him like he grew a second head. Maybe if she thinks about it a bit it will make more sense. But at the moment, she doesn't understand it at all. "How often do you get mugged?" she has to ask, that he took the time to prep something like this. At the concept of it being so much paperwork, she shakes her head. "It's a witness statement to the police. That's it." She doesn't go into all the other things that might be involved such as her having to account for her use of force but her Avengers and SHIELD status generally help on those areas.
Phobos	"Once before," Alexander says even as he sets the packages and watermelon down, then steps forward and braces a hand on the man's shoulder while Nat holds him. For now the would be mugger is struggling but his expression is confused and frightened when they start talking about the police, "I wasn't gonna do anythin', c'mon man. Fuck."     He tries to pull back but the pair hold him there rather easily. A frown marks Alexander's features as he murmurs, "But you start getting repeat calls for dealing with muggings and weird crimes law enforcement starts to profile you."     Which might make sense when one is trying to keep out of the attention of such agencies.
Natasha Romanoff	"I'm only going to say this one more time." Natasha gives a twist of the wrist. "Language. There is a lady present." Though he might not be thinking she's much of a lady considering how easily she disarmed him and is holding him there despite his struggles. "Now pipe down. We are trying to have a conversation." As though she isn't holding a mugger. Natasha's attention shifts back to Alexander. "But if you let him have your wallet, he will then do this again in the future. And next time the person might try to stop him and get hurt in the process. Or he will go too far and hurt them accidentally." Because she knew the man didn't want to stab people. It had been in his body language.
Phobos	For a time Alexander looks at her with those curious eyes and for one of those rare moments she might get some hint or insight into the 'otherness' of the young Olympian she's taken up with. She can read the expression in that gaze as he weighs matters, considers the situation, then looks upon the man again.     First his eyes narrow slightly, then his brow raises as he makes a small 'hrm' sound, then a deep breath is taken and let loose with a slow exhale that seems to come from deep inside him. She can then see him come to a decision as his expression sharpens.     And then suddenly he pulls the mugger to him, features set in a grim manner as his eyes glow with silvery fire. An odd reverberation enters into his voice as he growls, "No, he won't do anything of the sort will he?"     Alex speaks straight into the face of the man, even as the fellow's eyes widen frantically. The Olympian deity scowls, "He's never going to pull this trick again, from now on he has no idea what might happen to him if he does. Isn't that right?"     The man's face seems to pull back and back as he strains and struggles to get away from Alexander's words, then he groans out, "Won't do anything, nothing like this man, never. I promise. I swear. Never. I'll be good! I promise!"
Natasha Romanoff	That caught Natasha's attention as well. She had expected him to continue the conversation but now he was stepping in. She had to actually brace her feet and put some effort in as the man did his best to back away from the deity. Then Alex had him by the shirt and she didn't have to push anymore. She kept the arm only because she didn't want him to try and hit Alexander. Honestly? He probably couldn't if he wanted to with that voice and the glow to Alex's eyes. And she knew he wasn't lying. After this, he wasn't going to be mugging someone else. She released his arm, then steps back froward, taking up a spot by Alexander again although a step or two off to the side.
Phobos	It's a wild manic thing, the look in the man's eyes as he is let free and then suddenly he's /running/ full tilt into the street. A car honks its horn as it skids to a halt, the man still looking over his shoulder and trying to put as much distance between them as possible. Enough to get to the other side, still looking to make sure they aren't chasing him... and once he's around the corner... he's gone.     Which leaves them there and with Alexander frowning to himself as the glow fades from his eyes, his breath drawing in again, then out as he sighs a little. A crinkle of his nose is seen as he shakes his head, "I had been thinking it's selfish of me to pretend to sorta not be me. For a variety of reasons."
Natasha Romanoff	"I wouldn't call it selfish," Natasha said as she watched the man run off. She didn't immediately retrieve her bags. Instead she was focused on him. "At a different time in my life, when I was trying to keep a low profile, I'd do the same thing. But now, after the Avengers being created and my face being out there, I try to do more. Not because it's expected. But because it feels right." She reached for his hand, giving it a soft squeeze. "I should've talked to you first. Or just followed your lead. You shouldn't have to act in a way you don't want to."
Phobos	A small smile is given back to her, "No it's ok, it really is something I've been thinking about." He kneels down and starts to pick up their packages, then hefts the watermelon under his arm. Rising back to his full height he leans forward to kiss the top of her head affectionately before he turns and starts to move back to their car.     "Like what Agent Barnes was saying. If people knew who I was, knew what I could do, they could handle situations better. Like what if I'm in a situation with Kelso and I could solve it instantly... and he somehow gets hurt or killed in it... I'm sacrificing him for my secrecy, my selfishness."     A shake of his head is given, "Just things that have been bothering me."
Natasha Romanoff	"You wouldn't let it go that far," Natasha said, knowing in her heart it was true. "If faced with Kelso being hurt or killed, you would do what you had to do. Be it put yourself in harm's way instead, or having to reveal your powers." She offered to take the two bags she had originally, that way they both would have a free hand again. So they could hold hands. She kind of felt they really needed too right now. "You hadn't mentioned this was bothering you before. Has it been since the incident with Hermes?"
Phobos	"A little," Alexander says as he walks, and once they get up to that black SUV he thumps the watermelon onto the roof and then digs around for his key fob, hitting it and causing the trunk door to rise up with a faint mechanical whir.     "Was thinking that something could happen without my knowing, or happen faster than I can react. Or also... just the whole thing like Hermes was saying. By my being around them it draws more attention to them, more risk." Which has him making a face after he gets the packages inside, as well as the watermelon. Then he leans back against the vehicle and folds his arms over his chest.     "Did I tell you about the Threads of the Fates?"
Natasha Romanoff	As they reach the vehicle, she waits for him to fish out the fob and unlock the doors. She opens the front passenger door, letting the hotter air that was trapped inside. Then she stepped back near the rear to watch him stowing their few things. If she could beat Hermes right now, she really would. The gods had taken something away from Alexander with their little stunt. And she really wasn't one to let sleeping dogs lie on such things. Time to read that mythology she'd been holding off on. Maybe visit some folks with magic ties. "You mentioned the Fates and how they like to mess with people."
Phobos	"It's what they were reminding us I think." Alexander stands beside the door and tells her. "It's an old saying that the threads of fate that are woven for gods and heroes are often thicker and stronger than those of mortals. And when two lines cross it is inevitably the weaker strand that frays."     A breath is taken, "It's how many of the gods justify it when people die in their wake. It's just Fate. Just how it is. But it's also... I always thought it was a self-fulfilling prophecy."     That said he makes a face, "C'mon, let's head home."