Chapter Text
Yellow.
Red.
Brown.
And gold.
Various shades of those colours floated around on the frosty autumn day before landing in a crunchy heap on the floor.
And those were the lucky ones.
They had narrowly missed the beast snapping its drool-covered jowls at them. Hoping to ensnare them before their remains were inevitably flung to the ground beside their brethren.
An onlooker, watching on, in sick amusement.
That onlooker being you.
Breathy laughs poured from deep in your chest, eyes secure upon your playing dog, trying to catch the falling leaves. Jumping up high into the sky to reach them before they could get closer to her level, pants sounding through the air, light coughs coming from her as she shook the dead leaves from her jaws.
“Your dog’s cute.”
Looking over your shoulder at the new presence coming up beside you.
You inhaled deeply at the sight of her, the shade of her auburn hair rivalling the dark red tones of the falling leaves, it shining mutedly under the cold sun. Leather jacket drawn over her shoulders, the attached belt tied around her waist, with her hands in her pockets.
But you were absolutely captivated by her eyes.
The green reminding you of the trees, in this very same park, during the summer. Sparkling like the frost-covered blades of grass under the autumn sun.
“Thanks.” You smiled at the beautiful stranger. “She’s an idiot.”
“Aren’t all animals at heart?”
“Well, you got me there.”
You then whistled for your dog to come back to you, which she did obediently. Stopping by your feet, butt wiggling with the power of her shaking tail, as she sat looking up at you lovingly.
“She adores you,” You threw the woman another smile before looking back down at your pet, scratching behind her pointed ear. “Can I?” she then asked, gesturing to the dog.
“Of course.”
You watched as the red-headed stranger crouched before your German Shepard, rubbing her cheeks lovingly while cooing cute little praises to the girl.
That may just have been the most adorable thing you have ever been seen.
“What’s her name?”
“Lasher.”
She looked up at you then, bare hands still deep within the animal’s fur, brows furrowed and a curious look within her eyes.
“Lasher? What a unique name.”
“She’s adopted. I didn’t name her,” you explained as you clasped the lead onto her collar.
The woman raised to her feet within an, “Oh.”
“Y/N,” you told her, offering your hand for her to shake.
“Natasha.”
“Well, Natasha,” you began, “Would you like to grab a cup of coffee with Lasher and I?”
“I’d love to.”
It was when you were walking side by side heading towards the nearest, family-run coffee shop when you offered her the lead. Natasha took it with a bright smile.
“What’s this for?”
“I guess I’m just used to it.” You shrugged but happily explained when you spotted her confused look. “Whenever I’m walking Lasher with my friends or family, I always let them walk her.”
“That’s so sweet.”
You smiled brightly. “It always makes them happy, so.”
And that only further solidified Natasha’s point in her mind.
“She’s so well behaved,” the red-head said next, watching as Lasher obediently walked beside her.
“Well, she’s an ex-military dog. She's perfectly trained. She got shot. Nobody expected her to live longer than a year when I adopted her. That was three years ago. She made a full recovery within months.”
Natasha could feel her heart swelling from your acts of care and kindness. The fact that you would adopt a dog that everyone thought would die not long after, but still wanted to give her the best life you could, made her swoon, even if she had only met you just five minutes ago.
It wasn’t long before you arrived at the coffee shop. Telling Natasha to take a seat under the canopy with Lasher, considering you couldn’t take her in with you while you got your drinks.
She had been waiting for only a few minutes, with the dogs head lying upon her lap, looking up at her with adoring eyes, as the red-head brushed her fingers through Lasher’s fur. When a woman at a nearby table called over to her.
“Your dog’s beautiful.”
“Oh, she’s not-” Natasha began to wave her off when you walked over, pulling out the chair across from her.
“They’re gonna bring our drinks out in a few minutes,” you said, sliding a plate of gingerbread cookies between the two of you, waving your hand to them, letting her know she was free to take some if she liked.
“You two are a very cute couple,” the same woman as before said.
“Uh, we’re no-”
“Thank you,” Natasha interrupted, reaching over to grab the hand you had resting on the table. Shooting you a quick wink that the stranger couldn’t see, mutedly telling you to play along.
“Yeah,” you looked over to her, “Thank you.” She nodded, returning her attention to the friends she was sitting with.
You moved your free arm from the table, clearing the space for the teenage buy placing your steaming mugs in front of you and the red-head. And a metal bowl filled with milk on the ground in front of Lasher.
“Thank you,” you and Natasha said at the same time, your dog showing her thanks by quickly lapping up the milk.
“I’m glad you didn’t try to run off with my dog while I was in there.”
Natasha giggled, sprinkling a pink sugar packet into her spiced drink before stirring it.
“Well, she s perfect, so I won’t say the thought never crossed my mind.”
You laughed this time. Catching the woman looking at you over the cup she held in her hands, blowing softly into her drink before taking a sip out of the corner of your eye. As you prepare your hot drink just the way you like it.
“Good to know I need to watch out for you.” You beamed at her, staring into her green eyes. “So, Natasha. What do you do?”
You had spent the whole day with the woman.
Or so, that’s what it felt like.
When in reality, it was only around five hours.
But with the November sun setting earlier than you were used to, making time feel almost warped.
The air growing colder, biting at your showing skin.
It was only when a small shiver ran through the red-head, one that she tried to hide, did you take pause in your place on the sidewalk. Quickly remove the scarf that sat around your neck, looping it around itself and tying it so that it would contain more heat. Swiftly removing it, then placing it over Natasha’s head, surprising the girl slightly.
Natasha gave you a warm smile as you walked beside her once again, pushing your hand’s into your tan borg-lined corduroy jacket.
“Won’t you be cold?”
You hummed in question. “No, I’ll be fine. I can handle the cold pretty well.”
“Thank you,” she almost whispered.
“You’re very welcome.”
Soon enough, you had reached your destination before. A, mostly lit up, suburban house.
“Thanks for walking me home,” Natasha said, handing you the lead beak, before bending low to be face to face with your dog, speaking in a sweet voice, “And thank you too, sweet girl.”
“It’s no problem,” you replied, watching as she raised to her full height and looked at you intently, “We wouldn’t have done anything else.”
Suddenly, the air was filled with small high-pitched whines, directing both of your attention’s to the sad dog sitting by your side.
“She’s gonna miss you.”
Natasha cooed, her heartbreaking for the crying animal, as she reached down to pet her once more. Hoping to soothe her sadness.
“Here.” you handed her a small card you had just pulled from your pocket, one with your number on.
“What’s this?”
“My number. You can call me and see her anything you want.”
“Only Lasher?” she asked a warm half-smile pulling at the corner of her lips, shoulder’s dancing side to side.
“Well, maybe me, too.”
Natasha smiled, about to rear back and step into her temporary home, when she remembered the garment around her neck.
“Oh!” she called, surprised, reaching to pull it over her head before you stopped her.
“Don’t. You keep it for a while. That way we have more of a solid reason to see each other again.”
She bit her lip for a moment, her voice coming out softly, taking on a slightly deeper tone, “Thank you for a lovely day.”
“And thank you.”
“I’ll see you around, Y/N.”
You gave her a single nod, expecting her to begin walking to the house behind her. But instead were surprised when she grabbed the collar of your warm jacket, pulling you down for a soft, care filled kiss. Pulling back with a small pop, Natasha looked you up and down as you stared at her with slightly parted lips, uttering a single husky “bye”, then walked away.
You stayed there, watching her enter her house, then starting to make your own way home. But not before you leaned down, hooking your palm under Lasher’s muzzle, rubbing your thumb into her soft fur, speaking to her in a praising tone, “Thank you for being such a good wingman.”
Little did you know Natasha had her back pressed up against the metal, blissful smile pulling at her lips. Images of you and the day you had shared together along with your adorable dog, flashing through her mind.
However, she was interrupted soon enough.
By none other than her blonde-haired sister.
“What’s up with you, beamy?”
The red-head sighed dreamily, meeting Yelena’s eyes.
“I met someone.”