What makes us interesting is our secrets ...

[twelve_not_fourteen]

In a galaxy full of space fairing captains who know their ships, Han stands out among them for being obsessive. From the moment he first sat in the pilot seat, before he could even call the ship his own, he’s been studying it.

He remembers what parts he’s replaced over the last two years and when. And he’s got a fair idea of what’s running down on him, though even the best mechanics can’t foresee every breakdown before it happens … especially not on a ship as persnickety as the Falcon. Han knows which of the hidden panels in his ship screech when you remove them. He could even tell which pads on the walls have a crack on them or what square on the holochess board has a chip on it.

He knows his ship.

However, even for a man who knows his ship as well as Han does, it’s hard to pick out some things. In this case, the something in question is an … optic? Some sort of camera? It’s by chance that he even notices it at all, considering the thing is hardly bigger than the size of his thumbnail and tucked into a grove were some power lines are running. He just happened to catch it out of the corner of his eye while walking up the ramp ...

It makes him wonder when did it get there? Who would have placed it there? The location doesn’t suggest they want to find any of the secret compartments of his ship as much as see who is going in and out. Odd. Does he know anyone who would want to watch every single person who came aboard the Falcon and left? He can’t think of anybody who would.

Anyway, he takes the camera over with him to the small section of the ship that he’s allocated to be the lounge and takes out his phone. He shoots a picture of the small camera in his palm and sends it to the only person he can think of that would be able to offer him any thoughts at all on the subject; the spy who has captured much of his attention of late.

The text that accompanies the picture reads:

Do you know what this is?

Comments

[red_room]

Han is learning the ways of the phone quite well. His thumb isn't even in the picture this time. Natasha's phone buzzes from her pile of clothes sitting in the corner of her room.

She's in her underwear doing pushups when he texts, and on the next up she shoves herself harder, popping up to her feet in a single fluid motion. She grabs for the towel on the armrest of her computer chair and wipes herself down as she flicks the phone back on.

The image Han sends makes her frown slightly. She didn't think it would be found near so quickly. She'll have to do a better job of hiding them next time.

Looks like a camera to me. You trying to peep on someone?

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Someone is trying to watch me. Can't blame them.

Yes, Han even takes the time to glad-hand himself through text conversation now. He really is starting to become a natural at this cell phone thing.

Any advice other than find the rest of them?

[red_room]

You want a hand finding 'em?

It's difficult to read Han's actual emotions over just text message, so she's not sure if this is literally not bothering him at all, or it he's actually weirded out and upset about this and just not saying so via chat.

Let me shower quick and put some clothes on before i head over.

Which won't take long at all, but there may be reasons for sharing that mental image with the good captain.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

If you're offering me a hand, the answer is always yes.

Part of the good humor comes from the fact that he doesn't suspect you're behind it, Natasha. Which ... is probably pretty short sighted of him all things considered. It doesn't occur to him that he's rating high enough that you'll want to keep tabs on him. Or why you'd want to besides.

The mental image is completely gratuitous, which, is exactly Han's style. It's not as if the Captain even tries to ignore the suggestion of it.

I'll leave the ramp down. See you soon.

[red_room]

Something rumbles it's way toward the Millennium Falcon, motor kicking every now and again with a sudden shift of gears. It's all well and good to walk to Han's ship but that's a half hour's walk and her bike is so, so much faster.

Not the All-American Harley type bikes Cap prefers, but a sleek black Asian crotch rocket that goes like a bullet and is nearly as loud.

She pulls up right underneath the ship and swivels and hops off of it, standing it up before she trots up the ramp, assuming Han hasn't come out to see what all the hubbub is about.

"Alright, I'm here."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Han knows the sound of an engine when he hears it. Granted, it's the strangest kryffing engine he's ever heard, but he knows what he's hearing is a vehicle of some kind. He can tell by the way he can hear it upshift and downshift. And in the way the sound moves as the vehicle closes in on its destination.

Now that he's listening to it ... it sounds like the Falcon is the destination. It couldn't be Nat already, could it?

Han leaves the camera, which he has begun taking apart, on the holochess board and starts heading toward the ramp to see who his visitor is. His hand drifts toward his holster more out of habit than anything else and he gets just close enough to see that familiar shade of red hair, which makes his lips twist into a slight smile out of reflex.

"Well." He murmurs. "That was fast."

[red_room]

"Fast is pretty much all this thing is good for aside from looking cool." Natasha pats the seat of her bike as she talks, giving Han a shrug for good measure.

She heads up the ramp of the ship to meet him.

"What's the damage? Anything missing? "

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Not that I've noticed."

Burning skies he feels like he has to try so hard to impress her. Even now he's wondering if being pleased to see her was somehow an overreaction. A lot of things feel that way, though, with her being so ... closed off. He clears his throat and reaches a hand to rub at the scruffy waves of his hair.

"Sorry if I took you away from something pressing." He says as he gives her room to climb up the ramp. Since he found the camera by the ramp and they are both by the ramp right now, it seems logical to point out where he found the little device. "I actually found it right around here."

And he takes the time to point out where it was tucked away.

[red_room]

He's nervous. It's a cute look on him. Natasha's eyebrows quirk, glad a kiss so small could have had lasting impacts on Solo. This is better. Safer. When she knows what to expect nothing can shake her or get too close.

She isn't giving Han Solo enough credit. But neither of them is perfect.

"Morning workout. I was nearly finished anyway." Natasha shrugs as she slips around Han, hovering just briefly enough for him to notice her being all upons his personal space before she continues on up the ramp and into the ship proper. Now that he points it out Natasha admits she could have done a much better job of hiding the damn thing, if she'd only had a little more time to work with.

She'll have to be more careful next time. Doesn't stop her from being a little bit impressed he found the thing so soon though.

"So...someone's eager to learn who's coming and going from here. Or what you're bringing in for freight."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

She is the first woman he's ever met that makes him feel completely outclassed. It might have something to do with the fact that he hasn't really had the opportunity to show her what he's good at. Apart from shooting ... and she's better at it than he is. The fact that he can't get a read on her the way he'd like to makes it that much harder.

How are you supposed to know if you're getting somewhere or falling on your face when the look you get is the same? He's trying to figure that part out.

She'll get an eye-grope from him when she gets close. They were supposed to be ... supposed to ...

It's not all that long that she's that close, but it's long enough to completely derail him from being able to concentrate on whatever she just said. "I ... uh." He clears his throat. "Yes. I agree with that thing you said."

[red_room]

He's good at looking adorable. Natasha laughs, bright and clear and echoing in the ship's metal hull walls. He smile lights up her face and she shakes her head slightly.

This is the man who found her tap so easily?

It's almost insulting it's so funny to her. There's a lot of Barton in this man. Enough to get Natasha to be herself, however brief the moment is.

"The camera? You found?" Now she pointedly raises one eyebrow and watched him.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He figures getting her to laugh is a good thing. Certainly seeing her lips into something other than that assertive line that is usually is feels like a win to him. That crinkle of amusement touching her eyes is something he might hang on to when he's getting the hard look from her later.

"Yeah." He says with a nod. "I figure the placement suggests that someone wants to see who's coming and going, you know?"

Sorry Natasha. He doesn't realize that's more or less what you said.

"So, since this is kind of your thing ... I figure that if there were any more, I can just ask where you'd put them and that would point me in the right direction."

[red_room]

"Or what you're hauling for cargo." Natasha points out again, still smiling around her repeated point because he just looks so lost. And really, he should suspect her even a little but he doesn't seem to be.

Which is also quite funny to her.

"That seems more likely to me just because your crew consists of pretty much just you. So knowing when you were or weren't at your ship would be a fine time to steal anything they'd want to take."

Of course she's going to lead him to think they'd be after something else why would she tell him where she's going to put the other taps. Not to say she won't play along...

"Do you have any other storage aside from this anyone would know about?" She appears to turn thoughtful now that he's asked for her opinion as a spy.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"That's a good point." He says with a thoughtful nod. See, he knew there was a good reason to consult the self-admitted spy on the hidden cameras. She offers him a certain view that he wouldn't have without her ... oh and she can talk about spy things too.

"Most of the space of the ship, as it's configured right now, is in the stern." He murmurs. "Not far from where we were hanging out in the lounge last time. Think we should go check it out?"

[red_room]

Natasha folds her arms, jutting a hip out to one side as she studies the doorway leading up to the ship carefully from all angles, as though she half expects another device to be hidden around here.

"Any idea how long that thing was here? Where'd you put it?"

Natasha tilts her head rather than turning around to peer at Han out of the corner of her eye.

"Yes. Show me." She needs ideas after all.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

The difference between looking for another device and potentially looking for a point to place another device is so subtle that Han would never know the difference. She looks as if she's doing what he's asked her to help him do.

"Ah." He says with a thoughtful nod. "Funny that you brought that up. I've been wracking my brain trying to think of that till you got here."

Since they were heading toward the stern anyway, might as well make that brief stop in the lounge to show her the camera all partially disassembled on the holochess board, eh? It will only take a second or two.

"I started taking it apart, and I was pretty sure just looking at the outside that I wasn't dealing with something from my galaxy. Then I opened it up and I realized it's from Earth originally. Some of the really fine print on the components are in your characters."

He picks up one of the parts to show her. Combinations of letters and numbers on a tiny transistor is what she's looking at. How closely she cares to look is, of course, up to her.

"Got me thinking, since I've never been to earth ... who in the Nexus would want to spy on me, Natasha?"

[red_room]

Oh.

Oh, shit. It's not something Natasha had even considered. She thought he might take it apart but what are a few numbers going to mean to him?

Except, well. They're written in--how did he put it? Earth Characters.

Well, well, well. Han Solo's a brighter bulb than he lets on. Natasha is impressed and rightly so. He's managed to find something she hadn't considered all that carefully.

"Yeah, these sorts of things are Terran in origin." Natasha takes the transistor and turns it over between her fingers. Unlocks her phone and takes a photo or two of it. One from each side. "Betting we could find stuff like this in the Nexus pretty easily though. This place is a haven for black market goods."

Natasha sets the transistor down, raises an eyebrow toward Han. He must suspect just a little, right?

"Took any jobs while you were here? Who for? Were any of them working in competition? Against each other? Did you piss anyone off? Turn down a gal? There's plenty of reason to spy on anyone, Han. Intel, revenge, blackmail, stalking--Start with the easy questions. Do you have any enemies here?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Ain't no reason to take any smuggling jobs right now on account of my ship being more or less grounded."

That's a fact he hasn't been all that shy about hiding thus far. Mainly because he's been here for a couple weeks already and his ship hasn't moved. Even if he hadn't said as much to people, eventually they'd figure that the reason he hasn't left is because he can't.

"Mainly I've been playing cards." He says with a faint smirk. It doesn't sound like a job, but the way Han can hustle, it can be. It's just been a little slow going and, of course, you can't count on winning big every time. The fact that yes, gambling can make you enemies ... need not be said.

It's possible that it's one of them. Sure. It's possible that it could be a lot of different people though. Including the Black Widow.

"I'm not saying that you're behind the camera, Nat, but I sure would be curious to know what you might be trying to find out about me if you were."

[red_room]

Oho, so he's smart and he has guts. Because it takes a lot of that to call her out on anything. Natahsa's eyebrow raises even further, a smirk playing itself out on her face that is neither telling nor denying.

It's amused.

"So that's why you called me out here? And here I thought you might have gotten yourself into some trouble." Natasha's voice has taken a sultry tone to it just barely, teasing him and challenging him. What does he think she wants to know about him? How far is he willing to go to prove it? And does he really think he can make her give up her reasons for doing anything if she did have anything to do with it?

This started out as routine monitoring. It may just have turned into a game.

"You think I'd put something someplace where any kryffing drifter could find it?" She's using your lingo now, taking a slow, purposeful step closer to the Captain. "Though I'd be disappointed if you didn't consider me at least a little bit."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

"Oh believe me, I'm good at finding trouble." He says with that lopsided smirk of his. Someone who is as smug as Han is should really come off a lot more annoying than he often does. The fact that he's pretty easy on the eyes helps with that. "I found you, didn't I?"

Though a little bit of that self-satisfied amusement fades from his face when she starts picking on him. Wow and with the gall to use the insults of his people, too. He's not the only one with nerve in the room. He can feel his pulse start to race a little bit at the challenge.

"A kryffing drifter?" He says jerking a thumb up to his chest. "Me? You must have me confused with someone else, sweetheart. What I am is the best damn pilot you'll ever meet and a little more clever than most will give me credit for."

[red_room]

"Oh no, loverboy. I'm not trouble." Natasha stops right in front of Han, leans in far too close into his personal space. And whispers.

"I'm the goddamned end of the world."

Her smile is mischievous, eyes glinting with promise and stories untold. She's a predator, poised to strike. Is Han the prey? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on what day it is. But it sure must feel like being cornered by a swaying cobra right now.

"I've yet to see that proven, though I could see the latter being true."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Anyone who knows Han knows that he's a man of ideas. Sometimes ... they're not very good ones. Like leaning in to kiss the Black Widow when she's looking at him like that. He knows very well that it could get him knocked around, but as previously established, the man is gutsy.

He also likes to take his chances once in a while.

And his heart is racing in a way that feels so good that he just can't help himself. This is a man who flys too close to black holes to shave parsecs off the kessel run. A man who doesn't mind exchanging gunfire with people who deserve it. His life in the Nexus, all things considered, has been a little tame. He could use a little taste of danger again.

[red_room]

He's an adrenaline junkie is what he is. And moves like this are akin to showering next to a live wire. The potential for danger is pretty high. Touching Natasha without her express permission is a risky move indeed.

SLAM.

Han is shoved against the hull of the ship before he can even identify the taste of Natasha's lips. Natasha is unreadably dangerous for a moment, gaze hard. She closes the distance between them, grabs onto Han Solo's collar and yanks him down hard enough to make him question whether he can breathe comfortably or at all. For about a second.

She presses her lips to his again, anything but gentle. And if he tries to take the lead too roughly, he'll get his lower lip bit for the trouble, though not hard enough to draw blood. She's crowded against the captain, pressing him against the wall and still holding onto his collar tightly. But she's also kissing him--sucking at his lip and returning anything he gives with fervor.

She keeps him like that for a good half a minute before she lets go and takes a step back. Natasha is remarkably put together for what just happened here. That was her attack.

"You were saying?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

It's not that she slammed him against the wall that surprises him. Nor is it the strength that she shoves his body into it. It's the speed that it happens that he finds stunning. One minute he was leaning in for a kiss and the next moment, there's a pain shooting through his back and he's listening to the sound of a human body clattering against durasteel.

His own body.

Still, even with aggressive showing, Han seems perfectly content to kiss her deeply. Not roughly, per se, but greedily. He's swimming through the exchange with nearly every sense - the way she tastes, the way she feels while close to him, the way they breathe and stop, the way his heart drums in his chest and the ache of pain that seems to tie everything together in just the right way ...

"Last thing I remember was best pilot." He says trying not to smile too much. "Did you still want to see the stern?"

[red_room]

That.

She.

Natasha isn't sure how to respond to that.

At first. Punching him in the stomach (lightly) and laughing both seem like equally good choices here. She takes a moment to look him up and down and then rolls her eyes.

"Of course you would." She takes another step back, giving him room to pick himself up from where he's shoved up against the wall. Gestures down the hall with one hand. "After you."