Work Text:
Ava loves physical touch. she loves to lean up against the people she’s comfortable with, she likes occupying other’s space if they’ll let her. Yelena has compared her behavior to a cat, because if someone else pointed out her touchy nature her hackles rise up and she tenses up, she retreats but not without throwing a pout her way.
Bob likes to think she’s more avian instead, touchy, cuddly when she wants, sometimes humming softly to herself and shifting around like a happily roosting bird, but quick to flee or squawk her displeasure if moved or disrupted.
The two are good to spend time with, even if they tease light heartedly, but by far Ava’s favorite person’s space to occupy is Antonia. Toni.
See, with Toni theres no teasing. The two will stand with each other in silence, Ava will lean against her, and she’ll just rest her head on top of Ava’s without so much of a fuss. Ava will sigh a certain way when the two sit with each other and Toni will simply shift and open herself up to becoming Ava’s temporary pillow.
Toni is good at reading body language, to a frankly scary degree, but nowadays, outside of missions, she just uses it to provide comfort. Taking something that only used to cause pain and turning it into something more, something better. Ava appreciates how Toni always seems to know when Ava needs something, doesn’t make her have to ask for it.
They both know Ava doesn’t really know how to anyway.
The thunderbolts were having a movie night at Bob’s suggestion, everyone was settled into their own spots and Ava was next to Toni.
They both started off in their own spaces but as the movie went on, Ava caught a chill, and Toni ran rather warm, so Ava found herself leaning closer and closer and closer until she was laid against the other woman. Toni simply adjusted to make her more comfortable, eyes not leaving the screen, and after Ava got comfortable Toni sank her fingers into her hair.
Its a guilty pleasure of Ava’s, really, and Toni found this out one random day and kept the secret held close to her heart. Ava could only melt further into Toni, huffing out a relaxed breath as her eyes began to struggle to stay open..But then she heard Antonia’s quiet voice hum out a sigh, and when she turned to glance up at her Ava was met with a soft and reserved smile, her face so close to Ava’s own, and she has to look away before her brain got a chance to fluster.
It was a good give and take the two had, they both loved the quiet comfort and companionship, Ava got a gentle reminder that she if safe, solid, and healthy.
Toni got the reminder that her hands can be used for more than just harming people now. That her observational skills arent just good for mimicking in battle, but for comforting her friends.
By the time the movie was over, half the team was dozing away, but Toni and Ava had fallen asleep on each other, Ava’s head resting on her shoulder, and Toni’s on top of Ava’s with her hand now limp by the back of Ava’s head by her nape. Ava looked cozy, snuggled up under a blanket and leaned up against Antonia, and Antonia seemed just as happy to doze away next to her friend after providing the closeness and comfort that she sought out.