Well that's what people like to think they are good at: talking and listening. Most of the time it's not true. Words are just another form of power. [However, he knew that words also could make the difference when it came to the perception of trying to do something. People willing to come to a table to talk or argue still was seen as doing something over doing nothing and in the short term, it was all they had.

She was something that had some danger about her, like people wouldn't quite know how to take her in a fight or otherwise. She had Romanoff's skills after all, and even without knowing that, Ava had grown up making it clear that she could and would take someone on if they stepped in her field for a fight. He wanted to see that go down, but she made it a bit obvious, which was a shame. It was always better when the surprise set in.

Of course, he knew her as a small skinny kid chewing on a hotdog in an oversized ballcap, so he had an edge that others didn't. He knew, deep down, she wanted someone who cared for her and didn't just treat her as a kid all the time.] You could have suitors, but you might be too dense to notice. I mean, we weren't exactly that great about teaching you about boys, except they all are thinking of you naked at some point. [He had tried the sex talk once. She didn't seem too scarred by it.

And this whole conversation took a sudden turn. He raised his eyebrow at her, as if seeing her for real for the first time.] Is that what that drink was actually about? Working on your own personal agenda, huh? I'm not a big dancer, but if you really want, I guess I could accommodate.