New York City moved around them without slowing.
Natasha Romanoff stepped forward first.
Lord followed.
Not out of habit—
Just interest.
They walked side by side, easing into the flow of the street.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"You do that naturally," Lord said.
Natasha glanced at him. "Do what?"
"Move through people like they're already part of your path."
A small smile formed.
"Most people just call that walking."
"…Not like that," he said, a little more relaxed now. "You're already adjusting before anything happens."
That earned a look.
"…You pay attention."
"Enough to notice patterns," he said.
They crossed the street.
"So," Natasha said, casual, "you're trying to understand the city."
"I guess you could call it that."
"And how's that going so far?"
He glanced around briefly.
"…It's not what I expected."
"Good or bad?"
He thought about it for a second.
"…Different."
Natasha smiled faintly.
"Yeah. That sounds about right."
They walked a little further.
"You stand out, you know that?" she said.
He looked down at himself, then back at her.
"…I've noticed."
"Most people would change that."
"Most people probably know what they're doing," he replied lightly.
That got a small reaction out of her.
"…Fair enough."
A few steps passed.
Then—
"You've got a name?" Natasha asked.
Lord looked at her.
There was a brief pause.
Not hesitation—
Consideration.
"…Yeah," he said.
"Want to share it?" she asked.
He held her gaze for a moment.
"…Lord."
Natasha didn't react right away.
"…That a nickname?"
"You could call it that."
A small smile touched her expression.
"Alright… Lord."
She let it sit.
Then—
"Natasha."
He nodded once.
"…Natasha."
They kept walking.
"So," Natasha said, "what have you figured out so far?"
Lord glanced ahead.
"…People move like they've somewhere to be. Even when they don't."
She smiled slightly.
"That's New York."
"They also don't seem to notice much," he added. "Unless it matters."
"That part's true."
They passed a group laughing loudly.
Lord watched them for a moment.
"…They look like nothing else exists right now."
"Probably doesn't," Natasha said.
He glanced at her.
"…That must make things simpler."
She shook her head lightly.
"Sometimes."
A pause.
"Other times it makes things worse."
That answer lingered.
"…Yeah," he said quietly. "I can see that."
They reached another corner.
Some people waited.
Others crossed early.
Lord noticed both.
"…No one really agrees on the same rules."
"Nope."
"…And somehow it still works."
"Most of the time."
He nodded slightly.
"…That's interesting."
They crossed.
After a few steps, Natasha spoke again.
"So what about you?"
He glanced at her.
"What about me?"
"You're here," she said. "Walking around, figuring things out."
A small pause.
"What are you actually looking for?"
He didn't answer right away.
He looked out at the city again.
At the movement.
At the noise.
"…I don't know yet," he admitted.
Natasha caught that.
"…That's rare."
"What is?"
"People usually think they know what they want."
He gave a faint breath.
"…That seems like a good way to be wrong."
That got a real reaction.
"…You're not wrong," she said.
They walked a little further.
"You're not what I expected either," Natasha added.
Lord glanced at her.
"…That seems to be happening a lot today."
She smiled slightly.
"Yeah. It does."
A few steps passed in silence.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… quiet.
Then—
"…So what do you usually do, Natasha?" he asked.
She noticed that immediately.
He wasn't just answering anymore.
He was asking.
"…A little bit of everything," she said.
"That doesn't sound specific."
"It's not supposed to be."
He glanced at her briefly.
"…I figured."
Another small smile.
They kept walking.
And somewhere along the way—
The conversation shifted.
It wasn't just her leading anymore.