Chapter Text
Natasha sighed as she pulled up the private voice channel on her laptop, making a point to patch in both Steve and Tony. After taking down The Red Room, she was a globally wanted fugitive and as much as she didn’t want to ask for them, with Yelena on the line, she wasn’t going to risk anything.
She waited a moment, making sure they could both hear her before she spoke. “You both need to cut the shit, this is ridiculous.”
Tony scoffed, “And here I thought you were calling to apologize. I don’t have time for this, Romanoff.”
“Tony, I wouldn’t have called if It wasn’t important. I need you guys.”
“And I need you to stop calling me, it’s giving me allergies.”
Steve cut through, interrupting Tony. “What’s going on, Nat?”
“Oh, of course, he wants to help. Can’t give up those American values unless it’s me, right?”
“Stop, this isn’t about me right now, Tony.”
“Isn’t it? Isn’t everything? Last I checked it was. ‘My Bucky’ this, ‘my Bucky’ that, just go put a ring on it already, you can be murderer-in law.”
“Will you both shut up?” She half-heartedly yelled into the phone. “You guys were all I had for years. You are my family-”
“Talia, can you make me toast? You do it better, I always burn it.” Yelena walked into the room, oblivious to her conversation over the phone.
“Give me a second, you’re like a puppy.” Natasha paused for a moment and then laughed, happy to have a distraction, even if only for a moment. “Look, I have to go. Stop acting like children, please. Friday, eleven, at the compound.”
She hung up before they could take the time to respond, turning her attention back to the woman in the room. She walked past Yelena and into the kitchen, eliciting a reaction that was practically giddy, something only Natasha, Toast, and Miss American pie could do to her.
They were temporarily staying in the trailer that Rick had gotten for Natasha, but they wouldn’t be able to stay much longer. It was only a matter of time before Ross or a number of other government officials came looking for her. Natasha knew that the only place they’d really be protected is with The Avengers, it was only a matter of convincing them to get remarried, or un-divorced, depending on how you want to look at it. She had to admit, she would miss cuddling up to Yelena in the single full-size bed, but it was a sacrifice she’d have to make.
Brought out of her daze by the sound of the toaster popping up, she buttered it and passed it to the woman sitting on the couch, taking a seat next to her. Natasha kept her distance, careful not to get too close. They didn’t say much as Yelena ate, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
“What is going to happen?” Yelena asked softly, placing her empty plate on the coffee table. “I didn’t need toast, I heard you arguing.”
Natasha sighed, playing with her fingers. “I’m going to take you to The Avengers compound and we’re just going to have to hope that Tony doesn’t think id look better in a prison cell.”
“I don’t think you would look too bad, plus, if that family does not work out, you have your real one. You don’t give us enough attention anyway.”
“I literally just made you toast because you asked me to.”
“Yes, well, maybe. Listen, you have to make up for lost time.”
“Do I, now? You could do a little too, what if I wanted attention?”
Yelena took her statement as an invitation and wordlessly leaned it, resting her forehead against Natasha’s cheek, and cupping the other side of her face with her hand. Natasha leaned into the touch, letting out a deep sigh.
”You are so tense, Natalia. Relax, I have no plans to kill you yet.” Yelena smiled.
“Shut up,” Natasha pulled her closer, resting her hand on Yelena’s side. “Maybe I’m the one that’s thinking up some of those plans.”
“For you or me?”
“Whichever will get me away from you, you’re so annoying.”
“You like it.” She motioned to their current position on the couch, Natasha only hummed in response.
“Can you just lay with me here? I don’t want to get up,” Natasha muttered.
“Awe, The Avengers made you soft, hm?” Yelena moved to face her, poking the cheeks of the now protesting woman with her index fingers. “What? It is cute.”
“I hate you.”