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On paper, Yelena did not seem like a good roommate. Her work history was spotty, and much of what was there was contract work, but Peggy had needed a good roommate who didn’t ask questions. Off paper, she learned that Yelena was not only a good roommate, but someone she related to. They were both former spies.
A few weeks after moving in, Yelena received her Private Investigator’s licence in the mail. That meant she could officially start working as a P I.
“And why do you want to do that?” Peggy asked.
Yelena shrugged. “Government work is boring. With this, you get to deal with all sorts of fun things. Cheating husbands, runaway children. It’s like a soap opera without ad breaks. And I’m not going to be on my own. My sister will be helping me.”
“Sister?”
“Wow, Carter, they give you a medal for that level of detective work?” Yelena stuck out her tongue. “Yeah, I have a sister. Natasha. She’ll like you.”
“I’ll be happy to meet her.” Peggy smiled.
“And if you like her maybe you can get over Steve from, like, eight years ago.”
Yelena was blunt, but Peggy had to admit that she was right. She had thought that she’d gotten over her high school sweetheart, who had died in a plane crash. She hadn’t bothered dating since then. It was something she had missed, but she hadn’t made time.
“People make time for things they like,” Yelena said as if reading Peggy’s thoughts. “Which is why I make time for weekly macaroni night.”
“Are you trying to set me up with your sister?” Peggy held back a shocked laugh.
Yelena shoved her hands in her pockets. “What? No. That would be childish. I just think you might have similar hobbies and interests.”
“I’ve never dated a woman before.”
“How is that a problem?”
“It’s different.”
“Peggy, you worry too much. She’s my sister, not a superhero.”
“She isn’t a spy?”
“When did I say that?”
A few days later, Peggy answered the door to find a tall, athletic redhead standing in the doorway, smirking. She was dressed in a casual striped hoodie and jeans. Peggy felt outclassed in a red dress.
“You must be Peggy,” she said smoothly, with only slight hints of a Russian accent.
Peggy’s heart was already racing. “And you must be Natasha. I’ll let your sister know–”
“She already texted me.” Yelena waved her phone.
Peggy stepped aside to let Natasha in. The woman looked like she belonged on a billboard advertising luxury perfume. She had a casual way of smiling that made Peggy want to get to know her.
Yelena said that she had a few things to prepare before they could leave. While Peggy was pretty certain that Yelena was making that up, she didn’t question it. Peggy got them both water. Natasha made herself comfortable on the couch.
“Is that Hertfordshire I hear?” Natasha asked.
“It is. Did you receive pronunciation training in Moscow?”
“Close to it, as well as some immersion in small-town Ohio. We both did. This one trained back into a Russian accent.” Natasha shook her head. “But that’s a long story.”
“Did you ever work with Dorothy Underwood?”
“Can’t say I did.”
“She was a Russian spy. I pushed her out a window of a warehouse.”
“Wait, I’ve heard this story! I thought it was exaggerated.” In Russian, she asked, “Hey, Yelena, why didn’t you tell me you lived with the British Bombshell?”
“They call me what?”
Natasha blushed. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s an appropriate nickname. You’re good at your job.”
“And you will hopefully be very good at this Private Investigation business. You two have more than enough training.”
“You are still selling the government’s lies.” Cracking a smile, Natasha dropped the serious facade.
“Oof, we were so close to being friends.”
Natasha stretched, brushing against Peggy’s shoulder. “I’ll win you over.”
Yelena spoke quickly in Russian. “See, she’s got a heart under all that stuffy British exterior. I told you so.”
“I still understand you,” Peggy teased as Natasha blushed. “Let me guess, it’s an old habit so nobody knows what you’re saying?”
“Yeah…”
Peggy smirked. “Which one of us is the bad spy now?”
“Yelena! You really think that?”
Peggy stretched out too. “I know my value. Her opinion doesn’t matter.”
“Keep talking like that and I am going to start swooning.”
Natasha gave Peggy that half-smile that made Peggy want to pounce on her. Natasha raised an eyebrow. At that moment, Yelena interrupted. They had to go.
“Later, Carter,” Natasha said, throwing her jacket over her shoulder.
Peggy's heart pounded as she watched the door close behind the sisters. This might just be physical affection, but she wanted to get to know Natasha more.