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The sun was warm on their backs as they walked along the beach, soft sand shifting under their feet each time the sea grazed the shore. Natasha lifted her cell ready to try for the fourth, or was it fifth, time to contact Yelena.
They’d received the signal from the tracker she’d hidden in Yelana’s favorite vest showing she was at the graveside in Ohio, meaning she’d probably be alone. Especially on this, the one year anniversary of her ‘death’.
When she’d left for Vormir, she’d left a message for Maria asking her to trust her, that she knew what she was doing and that this was the best option to return the world to ‘normal’.
Maria said, when she’d left to track her down vowing to bring Natasha back no matter where she’d gone, she’d asked Yelena to trust her.
But a year was a long time to hold onto a sliver of hope.
Maria stopped and pulled her in for a hug, seeming to sense her insecurity.
“She’ll be fine Tasha. Call again.”
Natasha looked up into sparkling blue eyes that outshone both the cerulean sky and the azure sea, taking strength from the steadfast support she could see there. She pulled Maria down for a swift kiss, revelling in the pull of their connection that felt even stronger after the cruelly enforced break.
Threading her fingers through Maria’s again, they continued walking down the beach. This time when the call rang out, it was answered.
She heard Yelena breathe in and before she could say anything, Natasha whistled.
Seconds dragged by, enough for her to pull the cell away from her ear to check it was still connected, before a shaky whistle came from the device.
She could feel a smile stretching her cheeks as she activated the display, ensuring the phone was pointing down the beach. She knew they had to avoid triggering any of the automated systems that were constantly watching and listening for key phrases and images. They trusted Yelena, still they had to reduce any significant information from being revealed to prevent exposure.
She could hear Yelena breathing and wondered what she was thinking, when Maria leant over saying “She needs more.”
Natasha handed Maria the cell and, bending down, she dragged her finger through the sand.
They’d agreed “Trust Me” would probably be sufficient to confirm to Yelena that Maria’s mission had been successful, but she couldn’t resist adding a drawing of a firefly with light rays emitting from its abdomen.
Standing up Natasha looked at the image realising that wet sand possibly wasn’t the best medium for this, but it was too late and Maria had already turned to display the words to Yelena.
Natasha had expected some acknowledgement from her, but there was only silence. Then her sister’s voice, that she hadn’t heard for over 5 years, said, in a puzzled tone, “What’s with the bee?”
Maria laughed and she heard herself explain, “Bee? That’s a firefly, little one.”