Chapter Text
Bob had faced his worst nightmares, but nothing compared to the terror of what was to come.
He stood in the spacious bathroom of his new room at the fully revamped Avengers headquarters, gripping the marble of the sink as he stared at himself in the mirror.
It’s okay. You can do this! You’ve hunted bad guys, you’ve saved lives. This shouldn’t be difficult, he reasoned with himself.
And yet, his heart was thundering like he was about to charge into battle against someone like Thor. His palms were clammy. His stomach was doing backflips.
But, he straightened up, squared his shoulders, and gave himself what he hoped was a charming smile.
… It came out more haunted than heroic.
He cleared his throat and tried again, reading off another line he’d found in a book called Dating in the Modern World.
“Hello, doll… I was wondering if I could take you out for a night on the town!”
Even he cringed.
No. God. When was this book written, the 1950s?
He picked it up and flipped to the publication page.
Oh… yeah. 1954.
Okay, well, that wouldn’t work. Back to the drawing board.
He grabbed his phone and began typing.
How to ask out your best friend, he searched, clicking on the first result.
It gave a few questions to help figure things out.
Question One: Does she find reasons to touch you when you're together?
Bob laughed, thinking about the last six months. He and Yelena had become practically inseparable. Sometimes he wondered if he was even a whole person without her, because when she wasn’t around, the Void felt louder… heavier. But with her around? She lit up all the dark places inside him, filling in all the cracks. She was his sunshine on a cloudy day, if he allowed himself to be a little poetic about it.
And as for touching…
We hug a lot. And sometimes, we snuggle on the couch while watching a movie. And I hold her hand when I’m scared, or when she’s upset…. So, Yes!
He continued with the quiz.
Question Two: Does she look at you intensely?
He thought about it for a moment.
She looked at everyone intensely.
We’ll give that one a Maybe.
Question Three: Does she talk to you about deep personal things like fears, dreams, or future plans?
Bob nodded.
All the time! But, that’s what all friends do… right?
He paused, thinking about the others on the team.
Aside from Yelena… and Alexei… he guessed he didn’t really know much about the rest, except what scathing tabloids had written about them. But he was never one to believe in gossip. Especially when everything they speculated about him had been wrong.
Well, except for the bit about his childhood. That part, unfortunately, they’d nailed.
He felt the familiar brush of darkness clawing at the edges of his mind at the thought.
Nope. He pushed it down, deep down, like Yelena had told him to.
The Void would not ruin this day for him.
Feeling encouraged that the quiz seemed to think he might have a chance, Bob scrolled down to the next section: How to start a dialogue.
Number One: Be relaxed and casual about it.
He highly doubted he could do that.
Number Two: Ask honest and open questions.
Okay… maybe he could manage that part.
Number Three: No matter the answer, promise to stay friends.
That was non-negotiable. Yelena would always be in his life, no matter what.
He began to practise again, this time with renewed determination.
Running a hand through his hair, he tried to squint seductively and said to his mirror self, “Hi Yelena, we’ve been friends for a while now… but I think it’s time we took our relationship to the next level.”
Ughhh.
Somehow, that felt worse than the 1950s advice book. He needed it to sound more natural… and way cooler.
What would Bucky do?
He leaned in close to the mirror, narrowing his eyes with brooding intensity. Then he pouted slightly and drawled, “Hey. You and me. Date. Friday. 8pm. Don’t be late.”
Bob immediately barked out a laugh, shaking his head.
“That’s one way to get punched in the face!”
“Why are you talking to yourself in the mirror, bratishka?” came a gruff voice behind him.
Bob jumped, nearly knocking over the various lotions and potions scattered around the sink.
“Oh—I… uh. I was just practising."
The Red Guardian never seemed to understand, or possibly just didn’t respect, personal boundaries. And for a man his size, he was alarmingly light on his feet. It wasn’t uncommon for him to show up unannounced for a drink or an impromptu heart-to-heart, but this, walking right into the bathroom, was definitely a first.
“For job interview? You are not happy with us?” Alexei grunted, frowning deeply.
“No, not that! I’m happy. Very happy. I was… practising asking out a girl.”
Alexei’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas, the rough lines of his face softening with delight.
“Ahhh! This is wonderful news! Come! I have… well… little experience. But I never failed in my quests. I will help!”
Bob’s stomach dropped. Full panic mode activated.
“No, really! It’s fine! I’ll just—”
“No, no, no. Come! Alexei will teach you all the moves to attract the beautiful ladies. I might be a bit rusty, but don’t let my wisdom go to waste. Come, bratishka!”
God. Okay. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad.
The Red Guardian had instructed Bob to follow him to his room, for reasons still unclear. But this was Yelena’s father… he had to make a good impression. He went, without question.
“So,” Alexei said, clapping his hands as they walked, “who is the lucky lady, hmm?”
Bob swallowed hard. Should he tell him? He was basically indestructible, sure, but he had no doubt Yelena’s dad would at least try to break his face if he disapproved of him panting after his daughter.
Maybe he didn’t have to say it straight away. Just plant the idea first.
“She… she’s just a friend.”
The Red Guardian stopped immediately, whirling around to face him. Bob nearly crashed into his front.
“You have friends outside of us?”
Fuck.
No. Of course not. When would he even have time to make friends? All they ever did was train or work. Socialising was rare, and practically non-existent outside of the six of them.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Bob swallowed again.
Honesty. He should just be honest, right? Alexei wasn’t blind. He had to know that Bob and Yelena spent most of their free time together. And it wasn’t like John didn’t make snide comments and tease them about it daily.
Not that he could talk, with the way he never stopped staring at Ava.
Tell him, his mind whispered, and he wondered if this sudden boldness was actually just the Void trying to sabotage him.
Only one way to find out.
“…It’s Yelena.”
Alexei’s expression shifted from Santa Claus to a Siberian storm cloud in a heartbeat.
“You want to ask out my daughter?”
Bob trembled under the weight of the Red Guardian’s voice. His eyes widened in terror, but he managed to mumble, “Y–Y–Yes. Sir.”
Alexei stepped closer, towering over him now. “You think you can make her happy?”
Bob’s throat went dry. His first instinct was to bolt and hide in the safety of his room, but he stood his ground. Just about.
“I know I could,” Bob said, his voice a little surer, “or at least I’ll spend the rest of our lives trying.”
Alexei squinted at him. A long moment passed before he spoke again.
“She has told you her feelings?”
“No…”
Alexei let out a grunt-laced laugh.
“My family are not as strong as they pretend. Their walls are high and dangerous, designed to hold you back at all costs. But they are not as strong as they think. If you climb them, prepare to love them with everything you have. Because there’s no getting back over the wall once you’re inside.”
Bob smiled faintly, eyes downcast. It was true, how high Yelena had built her walls. And Bob knew about the demons that lived behind them with her, ones far too much like his own. But he wanted to help her fight them, the way she helped him keep the Void away. Maybe even be a light for her, the way she was for him.
He wanted to be better for her. A better man, a better hero. Just… better.
And although he might never be perfect, neither was she, and that was why he loved her so much... why he wanted to be with her.
It's us against the world.
“I’d climb any wall for Yelena,” Bob said quietly, but with a steadiness that surprised even him. “And if she let me in, I’d never walk away.”
Alexei remained stern for a beat longer… before grinning widely, showing far too many teeth.
“Good. Then we begin. First, do not wear this.”
Bob looked down at his slate grey Henley and black jeans. He practically wore the same outfit every day. “What’s wrong with this?”
“You look like a depressed librarian. You must wear red. It is the colour of passion!”
He mentally flipped through the contents of his wardrobe, all in varying shades of grey or black. Colour had never really applied to him. Not with what he was. Not with what lived inside him.
“I don’t have any red!”
Alexei let out a booming laugh. “But you do have me!”
Bob grimaced a smile, unsure what exactly that was supposed to mean.