Work Text:
Natasha happily relaxed on the bed, absently running her fingers through Yelena’s hair as the blonde rested her full weight on top of her. Yelena’s eyes were closed, and her nose was digging into the collar Natasha’s shirt as she took in deep breaths of the redhead.
The both of them had gotten some time to themselves after training hard that day, and after the both of them had gotten showers, Yelena had, of course, insisted on afternoon cuddles. Natasha had at first playfully resisted, telling her that she already got morning cuddles and that she was going to get bedtime cuddles. But Yelena had pouted so much at the prospect of not getting any additional cuddles that Natasha was quick to cave to her.
Which led them to where they currently were at this moment.
Natasha let out a calm breath, enjoying her baby sister’s closeness and the pressure provided by her weight on top of her.
However, a few dry tendrils of Yelena’s loosened hair kept tickling at Natasha’s nose, so she moved her hands from Yelena’s back and her head to reach up and start to braid her hair gently. Yelena hummed with appreciation, enjoying the feel of Natasha’s fingers carding through her largely damp hair as she started to braid the strands.
Natasha could not help a slight grin as she noted the blonde’s adorable contentment. Natasha deftly wove her hair around itself, enjoying how the beautiful golden strands glinted in the light pouring into their room there at the compound. Yelena’s head was heavy against her as she pressed her face a bit more insistently against Natasha, and Natasha knew that the blonde would probably be asleep within moments.
But as Natasha reached the halfway mark on the braid, Yelena suddenly moved, causing Natasha to mess up on the small yet intricate braid. Natasha let out a noise to gently scold the blonde for her wiggling. Yelena let out a small huff, stilling once again. Natasha smiled softly, taking out the part of the braid that she had messed up. She then proceeded to try to continue.
She only got a little further along with the braid before Yelena suddenly moved again, her head frustratingly shifting its position. Natasha raised an eyebrow, unsure what exactly was making the blonde so terribly fidgety that day since she knew the girl ordinarily would have been almost asleep against her as a result of the ministrations that Natasha was offering her.
“Stop moving so much. You’re messing it up,” Natasha graced the squirm with a verbal response. She could feel an odd smile against her as Yelena shifted her face up ever so slightly so that her nose grazed Natasha’s skin around the hollow of her neck. Natasha let out a light sigh before removing the sloppy parts of the braid and redoing it once again.
However, Yelena wiggled again just before Natasha reached the end of the braid, and Natasha huffed with fond exasperation.
“I’m starting to get the feeling you’re doing that on purpose,” Natasha commented, slight mock irritation in her voice. Yelena raised her head up, scooting so that she could comfortably rest her chin on Natasha’s chest.
“To allegedly be the best spy in the world, you’re surprisingly dense,” Yelena commented with a wicked smirk, and Natasha narrowed her eyes a little.
“How is it that you always manage to compliment and insult me all in one breath?” Natasha questioned.
“Talent. It comes with being the actual best spy in the world,” Yelena shot back with a far too wide grin, and Natasha just put on her own smirk in reply to the blonde, glaring at her playfully.
“Well, best spy in the world, anticipate this with your astute skills of observation,” Natasha teased before plunging her fingers into Yelena’s sides, going for the ribs. Yelena practically squealed with the sudden attack, snorting cackles escaping her as she tried to escape Natasha’s grasp. She rolled off of Natasha swiftly, but the redhead just followed along, pouncing on top of her and doing her best to wrestle the blonde against the bed.
Natasha grappled with her as Yelena fought back, using the only advantage she had— brute strength. While Natasha could best her in technique, Yelena was better than Natasha in terms of plain strength. Yelena was built more stockily and more muscled that Natasha, so if she could break past Natasha’s firm hold, she could throw the redhead off of her. The problem with Natasha was that she was always far too slippery and way too good at clinging onto people like some sort of monkey-koala combo.
“Where’re you going so fast?” Natasha questioned, her voice full of that mirth that only Yelena could pull from her, and Yelena’s eyes were sparkling brightly despite the challenge that Natasha was posing. Natasha knew that Yelena loved every minute of their wrestles and their tickle fights. Yelena was always far too pleased with the one-on-one attention that she gained as a result of it. Of course, Natasha was always happy to give that affection to the blonde.
“I was just trying to give you a nice braid, you little turd. And how do you repay me? By being the biggest brat ever,” Natasha scolded playfully. Yelena just giggled breathlessly, trying to fight back against Natasha’s hold, Natasha smirked widely before dropping her head so that she could blow raspberries against Yelena’s cheeks and neck. Yelena tried to fight back, bucking violently against her as she struggled with laughs erupting from her.
Natasha then dove one hand down to tickle underneath Yelena’s arms the best she could reach, still fighting to keep Yelena’s wrists clasped in her other hand. Yelena quickly jerked against her hold, trying to throw her arm back down, and Natasha could not help her laughs that mixed with Yelena’s ridiculous cackles.
“You going to behave now?” Natasha teased, and Yelena just responded with a tired nod, a giant grin across her face. Natasha finally let go of her, releasing her from her relentless hold, and Yelena let out a deep breath, her chest heaving. Natasha smirked at her slightly before starting to move back where she was laying.
However, to her complete surprise, Yelena suddenly launched onto her, trying to tickle her in retaliation. Natasha immediately crumpled, trying to twist around to simultaneously protect herself and to get back at Yelena. Yelena jumped over to her other side, trying to wedge her knees behind Natasha’s back to keep her from getting to her. Natasha kept trying to turn, helpless laughter falling from between her lips as she tried to fight back.
Yelena quickly pushed Natasha over onto her front, straddling her back as she tried to crush her underneath her weight and keep her down so that she could win in this battle of the wills. Natasha, however, swiftly threw her off, and the blonde let out a strangled laugh and yelp combination as Natasha was suddenly on top of her in a flash.
“You are singlehandedly the most stubborn, hardheaded person in the history of ever, aren’t you?” Natasha asked incredulously as she looked down at her crazy baby sister. Yelena just jutted her chin out a little in playful defiance.
“Just trying to keep up with you, poser,” Yelena cheekily declared, and Natasha narrowed her eyes.
She immediately dove her hand down to Yelena’s knees and lower thigh area, digging her fingers in and tickling her mercilessly. Yelena snorted hard, immediately trying to pull her legs away from Natasha’s grasp. However, Natasha remained insistent, tickling her until she could not breathe.
Once the blonde was well and truly out of breath altogether from all the laughter, Natasha got off of her, scooting back to lean against the headboard as she grinned mischievously down at the little goofball that she loved more than life itself.
Yelena gazed up at her adoringly, looking upside down at Natasha as she tilted her head back to look at her. She then rolled onto her stomach and crawled forward before flopping down again and placing her head in Natasha’s lap as she looked up at her as if she had hung the moon and every star in the sky.
Natasha took hold of her face, cradling it in her grasp as she just gazed down at her lovingly. She bent down further, kissing Yelena’s head between her eyebrows. Yelena reached her hand up, grabbing at the back of Natasha’s head as she held her in place.
Yelena finally allowed her to move away, her fingers slipping away gently as Natasha raised up. Yelena then scooted herself up and into Natasha’s lap as she wedged her way between Natasha’s legs. Natasha moved her legs apart to allow Yelena to sit between them, leaning back against her heavily. Natasha smiled just a little, her nose brushing Yelena’s cheekbone gently before she rested her head on Yelena’s shoulder and took a deep breath of her baby sister.
There were a few moments of silence before Yelena reached down and grabbed at Natasha’s hand, playing with her fingers quietly before looking back at the older woman.
“Can you do a bigger braid for my whole head?” Yelena asked gently, and Natasha raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know. Are you going to stay still this time?” Natasha questioned skeptically, pretending as if she were on the fence about doing it. Yelena nodded to her, her nose brushing the underside of Natasha’s chin as she rested her head back against Natasha’s shoulder.
“Yeah,” Yelena replied as if it were the most obvious thing ever. Natasha let out a sigh, shaking her head as she tried to keep her playful smile at bay.
“Hmm. I don’t think so. I saw what happened last time I tried to do something nice for you,” Natasha declared, and Yelena let out a small whine of disappointment, looking up at Natasha with those big puppy dog eyes that she so loved to take advantage of when she was not getting her way. Natasha avoided looking down at her, trying to hold out at least a little longer.
“Don’t be mean… I’ll behave,” Yelena pleaded with her, and Natasha just huffed.
“When have you ever behaved in your life?” Natasha questioned, part of her legitimately asking the question as she glanced barely down at the blonde. Yelena offendedly gasped at Natasha’s words.
“What are you talking about?! I behave all the time!”
“Yeah. Just like a few minutes ago, right?” Natasha teased in reply, and Yelena let out an impatient breath of air.
“Just braid my hair,” Yelena demanded, pushing her head back against Natasha’s shoulder, and Natasha pretended as if she were contemplating it as a grin started to spread across her face.
Yelena kept her head tilted crazily as she moved it a little to the side to get a good look at Natasha’s face. Natasha tried quickly to cover the smile that Yelena had not been able to spot when her face was closer to Natasha’s head. Yelena’s eyes widened and she gaped at her with mock betrayal.
“You enjoy my suffering?!” Yelena declared indignantly, and Natasha could not help but laugh. Yelena narrowed her eyes, leaning over and biting at Natasha’s chin playfully. Natasha placed her hand on the side of Yelena’s face, shoving her sideways. Yelena dramatically moved with the push, and Natasha rolled her eyes affectionately before finally giving in.
“Okay. Just stay still this time,” Natasha finally declared as if it were some sort of giant chore. However, she knew her baby sister could hear the joking tone in her voice as the blonde tilted her head back to look at her upside down.
Yelena raised her head back up, and Natasha nuzzled into the back of her neck gently before offering the back of her neck covered with baby hairs a gentle scratch. Yelena let out a deep breath of contentment, leaning into the attention as a grin came onto her face. Natasha then pulled her head away, taking her blunt nails and running them through Yelena’s hair, going down towards the tips of her locks. Yelena almost shivered with the feeling of the nails combing through and scraping her scalp ever so gently.
Natasha then got to work, pulling Yelena’s hair deftly into a braid as she worked quickly and carefully. Yelena let out a low hum of happiness, enjoying the feeling of Natasha’s hands working through her hair.
At some point, her head started to bob forward a little, the sensations feeling so good that she was almost lulled to sleep.
“Lapochka… Little one, you’ve got to stay awake for me to do this,” Natasha whispered to her gently, and Yelena stirred just barely, straightening a bit as Natasha gave her braid a gentle tug to gain her attention. Yelena tried her best to remain upright, but Natasha could see that it was a struggle.
Once Natasha finally finished the braid, Natasha let her hands drop as she looked at her handiwork. Yelena was immediately more conscious as she looked behind her expectantly. Natasha almost laughed at the slightly annoyed look on her face. It was obvious that the blonde was impatiently awaiting Natasha’s affections to return.
Natasha then guided Yelena back against the bed, pushing her shoulders gently. Yelena fell back on the bed, protests immediately rising up in her throat. Natasha then scooted down, laying down where she had been when she first started braiding before Yelena decided to be a little turd. Yelena’s eyes immediately lit up, and she clambered over and on top of Natasha as she let her weight flop heavily down on the redhead, her braid cascading down her back beautifully.
The older woman could not help her smile, and she kissed Yelena’s nose before running her hands underneath Yelena’s shirt. Yelena immediately melted into her as she nuzzled her nose into Natasha’s neck, pushing to get closer. Natasha ran her fingers along Yelena’s back, the fingernails gently scratching at her back.
Yelena sighed deeply with contentment, and Natasha could feel more of her weight relaxing against her and pushing harder on her.
Natasha pressed a kiss to her head, her fingers tracing words along her back affectionately as Yelena started to lose consciousness in favor of snoozing in pure bliss.
“I love you.”
“Mm… Love you, too.”