Clint considered that for a moment, surprised at how negative his gut reaction to that idea was.

"I think you should meet her, first," he finally said, watching Phil for a reaction. "You might like her."

Victoria crept a bit closer to him, making a soft, querying sound to try to get his attention without startling him. She recognized the game he was playing, and couldn't help a small smile at it.

Phil blinked. "I might," he agreed carefully. "But she is a civilian still. We would just be putting her in danger if she stays."

And that was enough. Jasmine stepped into the room, glowering at them both. "Excuse me, but screw you both. I have had more than enough of my life dictated and decided by someone else, and I don't care if you two are bonded, I'm not going to let you decide what to do with me like I'm some stray cat."

Bucky glanced back at her and grinned. "Come sit," he invited. "Least til I finish up this level."

Clint blinked when she came in suddenly, not expecting it. He grinned a bit, though.

"Hey," he said. "Good to see you up and about. How're you feeling?"

Victoria couldn't help but grin a bit as she plopped down next to him.

"How long have you been on this level?" she asked.

"Better," Jasmine said after a moment, looking off to the side. "Mostly." She shrugged a bit.

"...Few minutes," Bucky muttered evasively.

"Mostly?" Clint asked, gaze sharpening a bit as he tried to study her and see what was still wrong.

"That bad?" Victoria asked as she watched him play.

"Well I'd be better if people weren't trying to ship me back off to London at the first opportunity," Jasmine muttered.

"It's a hard level," Bucky said with a little pout. "I'll get it. Eventually."

"It's okay," Clint soothed. "Nothing's being decided yet." He glanced at Phil, just to make sure the Beta didn't outright object.

Victoria just grinned a bit, unconsciously leaning against him.

"Doesn't every level have a backdoor victory built in?" she asked. "Some sort of instant-win or shortcut?"

Phil nodded a bit, and Jasmine relaxed slightly. But she didn't move over to him like she rather wanted to.

"Alright. I was going to go explore a bit, just thought you ought to know."

Bucky shrugged. "Prob'ly, but that's cheating," he said. "Gotta beat it the right way first."

Clint nodded.

"Jarvis'll keep you out of anywhere you're not supposed to be," he said. He waved a hand. "Explore all you want."

Victoria snorted.

"I played a video game once where I had to guide a ball around this platform-maze thing. Instead of going the long way around, I vaulted it sideways across two floating platforms and onto the little victory square in less than ten seconds." She grinned. "The level gave me a whole three and a half minutes to use."

"Alright." Jasmine slipped out again, although she wasn't sure she was up to exploring now. Not after she'd just yelled at her Alpha and his Beta, because she was an idiot.

Phil sighed faintly, gave Clint a look that told him he was being an idiot, and then flicked his gaze after Jasmine.

Bucky snickered. "Yeah, but did you do it on purpose because you knew about it beforehand, or was it a fun accident?"

Clint saw the look Phil was giving him.

"What?" he said. "I'm giving her space, letting her do what she wants."

"It was an accident," Victoria replied. "The goal was to make it to the victory spot before the ball ran out of momentum, because it was spinning. I kept getting about two thirds there, and then I noticed when I got to the second platform that it was right between the start and the end, so after that I just vaulted sideways and tried not to overshoot it."

Phil sighed and shook his head. "If you say so," he said, voice mild. "We'll table this discussion until later." Because anyone who yelled at him and Clint both deserved input.

Bucky snickered. "Yeah, sounds like fun," he said, grinning. "Fun accidents like that are the best."

"Oh come on, Phil, what else do you expect me to do?" Clint asked. "It's not like I'm going to keep her locked up anywhere. If she wants to explore, she can."

"No kidding," Victoria agreed.

"Maybe she was hoping for some company while she explored," Phil said pointedly. "You are both still settling into the bond, after all."

Bucky grinned as he finally beat the level. "Better," he murmured. "So, now that I've bored you with my games, now what?"

Clint raised an eyebrow.

"Weren't you just telling me you wanted the bond dissolved?" he pointed out. He smirked a bit. "Ha, I knew it, you do like her."

"I guess that's up to you," Victoria replied, a bit cautiously. "I mean, aren't I just a guest, essentially?"

Phil gave him a Look. "I don't dislike her," he corrected. "There is a difference. Besides, she made it clear that she's not going to go along with something we decide for her."

Bucky looked at her. "Do you want to be?" he asked. "Because you could be a guest, or you could be a resident. Up to you."

"Same difference~" Clint replied, grinning. He headed for the door. "But fine, if you insist, I'll catch up to her."

"A resident?" Victoria asked. That hadn't even occurred to her. "You mean like move in with you?"

Phil waved him out without giving him a verbal reply, instead going back to his paperwork. But he was turning over new ideas now.

"If you wanted to," Bucky said. "You don't have to. And we'll have to talk with Steve, too, but... yeah."

Clint headed down the hall, glancing around for Jasmine. He knew she couldn't have gotten far yet.

Victoria bit her lip a little.

"I... didn't know if you still wanted me around or not," she said after a moment, looking at him.

Jasmine hadn't gone far. Just to the door of her temporary room. She was focusing on her breathing, calming herself down from the edge of a panic attack.

Bucky was quiet for a moment, looking at her, wanting to make sure he didn't screw this up.

"Just because this wasn't... planned doesn't mean I'm not..." He huffed. "What I mean is, I don't... I like having you here." He rumbled a little at himself. "I used to be good with words, y'know."

Clint found here there a few moments later.

"Hey," he said quietly. "You afraid of heights at all?" He really had no idea what he was doing; he was sort of making it up as he went.

"I... thought you might not want me around, now that things have... settled," Victoria said quietly, looking at him.

"No," Jasmine said carefully. "Not that I'm aware. Why?" She blinked at him, curious.

Bucky sighed. "Steve and I still have to talk about it," he said, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "But I don't... I want you to stay."

"Come on with me, then," Clint said, holding out a hand to her. "I want to show you a few places."

"I don't want to get between you two," Victoria said cautiously. "I know this was... sudden."

Jasmine hesitated a bare moment before she took his hand, letting him lead. She felt a little more at ease close to him and holding his hand like this.

Bucky shook his head. "Just give Steve a bit of time," he said. "Sudden, yes, but not entirely unwelcome. I'll talk to him 'bout it. You two should talk too, sometime."

Clint grinned and gently tugged her with him, leading her up the floors and to the roof.

Victoria looked down at her lap.

"Are you sure he even wants to talk to me?" she asked. "I mean, I don't know of a lot of people who can be okay with someone else moving in on their partner..."