And again, Natasha didn't ask, didn't even give him the feeling, he had to say something if he didn't want to. And as usual, that freedom had him much more in the mood to answer than every tiresome session with a whitecoat or his superiors.

It wasn't fair, brooding all day when they should be having fun, and not even trying to put an end to it. He had promised Natasha, he would be with her in all this and he meant to. He had to get his own shit together if he wanted to gather the strength he would need for that.

"Been thinking a little out there", he murmured, tracing her cheek and that light frown on her forehead with one fingertip. "Remind me not to do that again. Or you might have to put on a red swimsuit and pull my stupid ass out of there next time.
I'm just not getting anywhere. The blockade around the memories from this mission here won't move and I'm getting tired of peering through its holes. Guess I'll call headquarters when we get home and try to get them to send me the files.
The shrinks will have mental orgasms. Good old nutcase Barton proofs once again he can't let go of the past."

He pulled his face and sighed, shrugging. Oh well. He hadn't expected to be let out of evaluations any time soon anyway.

"Whatever. Who knows if they even give it to me. Probably easier if you used your stunning charm on Maria to get into that database."