"well, i think you're really cool."
Penny shuffled nervously as she stood outside the door to Natasha's room in the Avengers Tower. Mr. Stark had asked Natasha to keep an eye on Penny while he was away for the weekend on a mission, but Penny couldn't help feeling intimidated by the deadly assassin.
After gathering her courage, Penny knocked softly. "Ms. Romanoff?"
The door opened, revealing Natasha dressed casually in a tank top and sweatpants, her red hair flowing loosely around her shoulders. Her face was expressionless.
"Oh, uh, Mr. Stark wanted me to stay here this weekend while he's gone," Penny explained nervously. "I can just hang out in my room if I'm bothering you though-"
"It's fine," Natasha interrupted, stepping aside to let Penny in.
Penny glanced around the sparse room as she entered. Everything was neat and efficient, just like Natasha herself.
An awkward silence descended. Penny fidgeted with her hands. "So...what do you wanna do?"
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "I don't babysit, kid. Just stay out of trouble."
Penny flushed. Of course the infamous Black Widow had better things to do than entertain a teenager all weekend.
"Right, yeah, sure thing," Penny mumbled. She plopped onto the couch, pulling out her phone. Natasha disappeared into the next room.
Sneaking a glance up, Penny gazed curiously at the closed door. She knew Natasha was a master assassin and one of the most dangerous women in the world. But she couldn't help wondering what else lay beneath that cold exterior.
Penny spent the next few hours on her phone, occasionally wandering to the kitchen for snacks. Natasha was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, boredom and curiosity got the better of her. She tiptoed to Natasha's door and knocked gently.
"Ms. Romanoff?" she called nervously. No response. She cracked open the door.
Natasha was sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed. Her breathing was slow and steady.
Penny's eyes widened. "Oh geez, I'm so sorry!" she squeaked. "I didn't mean to interrupt your meditation!"
Natasha's eyes snapped open. For a second, Penny was afraid she had angered the deadly assassin. But to her surprise, Natasha's face softened slightly.
"It's alright, Penny. Did you need something?"
Penny shook her head quickly. "No no, I'll just-"
"Come," Natasha said, gesturing to the spot across from her. "Have you ever meditated before?"
"No, never," Penny said. She tentatively sat down, crossing her legs and straightening her back mimicking Natasha.
"Just focus on your breathing," Natasha instructed. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Clear your mind of any thoughts."
Penny tried her best, taking long slow breaths. But after a few minutes, she peeked one eye open. "How do you get so good at this? I can't stop thinking about stuff."
Natasha's mouth quirked up slightly. "It takes practice. But it helps me stay centered."
Penny furrowed her brow. "Is it hard? Staying centered, I mean, with everything you've had to do..." She trailed off, reddening. "Sorry, that was rude."
But Natasha didn't look offended. She gazed thoughtfully into the distance.
"It's not easy," she admitted. "I've done things I'm not proud of. But being an Avenger now, trying to make amends...it helps. Focuses me."
Penny nodded. She hesitated, then quietly said, "Mr. Stark told me your story. I know it wasn't your fault, what they made you do."
Natasha twitched slightly but didn't reply. Penny immediately backtracked. "Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up-"
"No, it's alright," Natasha said slowly. She looked at Penny appraisingly. "Not many people see it that way. That I was...forced. Brainwashed."
"Well, I think you're really cool," Penny said with a smile. "Way cooler than the other Avengers. And...really nice for teaching me to meditate and stuff."
The corner of Natasha's mouth quirked up again. "Thanks, маленький паук."
Penny spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Natasha, telling her stories about school and her neighborhood in Queens. She was fascinated to catch glimpses of Natasha's dry humor as they talked.
Eventually Penny's stomach started grumbling loudly.
Natasha smirked. "Someone's hungry."
"Yeah, I should order some pizza or something," Penny said, pulling out her phone.
"Nonsense. I'll make us dinner." Natasha headed to the kitchen.
Penny blinked in surprise, then bounced after her excitedly. "You can cook?"
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Of course. A spy has to be self-sufficient."
Penny watched eagerly as Natasha efficiently chopped vegetables and stirred aromatic spices into a sauce. She even let Penny help stir the pasta.
Soon they were sitting down to bowls of cacio e pepe. Penny took a bite, eyes widening. "Oh man, this is delicious! I had no idea you could cook gourmet food!"
Natasha looked amused. "When you've been around the world as much as I have, you pick up a few culinary skills."
Later that night, Penny crawled into the massive, plush bed in the guest room Tony had provided. She was exhausted from the day, but also buzzing with newfound respect and admiration for the Black Widow. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
The next morning, Penny wandered blearily to the kitchen, only to find Natasha was already up, sipping a cup of tea.
"Good morning, маленький паук," she greeted. "There's waffles on the counter if you're hungry."
"Wow, thanks!" Penny said through a mouthful of waffle.
Natasha smiled slightly. "I figured a growing superhero needs a good breakfast. We can do some training after if you want."
Penny's eyes lit up. "Training? With you? That would be awesome!"
Soon they were down in the Tower's state-of-the-art gym. Natasha ran Penny through various exercises, assessing her skills.
"Not bad, паук," Natasha commented as Penny executed a series of back handsprings. "But your form needs some work. Watch me."
Penny watched carefully as Natasha demonstrated a flip. "Whoa," she breathed in awe.
"Now you try."
Penny took a deep breath and tried to copy Natasha's smooth motions. But halfway through she lost her balance, tumbling to the mat with a squeak.
Natasha was at her side instantly, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"
Penny sat up, biting her lip. "Yeah, I'm fine, just bruised my ego a little." She tried to laugh it off, but winced as she put weight on her wrist.
Natasha noticed immediately. "Here, let me see." She took Penny's arm gently, probing the tender joint.
Penny hissed in pain. "Oww! Careful..." Tears pricked at her eyes, though she tried to blink them away.
Natasha's face softened. "Oh малышка, I'm so sorry. I pushed you too hard."
She helped Penny up and guided her to a bench, grabbing an ice pack and bandage to wrap her wrist.
"It's okay, really," Penny said bravely, though a few tears escaped down her cheeks.
Natasha wiped them away gently. "No, it was my fault. I should have realized you weren't ready yet for advanced moves." She looked genuinely regretful.
Penny gave her a watery smile. "How about we watch a movie and order more of that amazing pasta for dinner instead?"
Natasha smiled back, relieved. "That sounds perfect."
Later, as Penny rested comfortably on the couch, wrist propped up with an ice pack, Natasha appeared with two heaping bowls of carbonara.
Penny took an appreciative sniff. "Mmm, smells amazing!"
They ate companionably as 'The Princess Bride' played on the TV, one of Penny's favorites. Natasha even chuckled at a few of the funnier scenes, a sound that made Penny strangely proud.
When the Grandpa was reading the story to his sick grandson, Penny yawned, full and cozy, and snuggled into Natasha's side without thinking. Realizing what she'd done, she stiffened nervously, but Natasha simply lifted her arm to accommodate her, still focused on the movie. Reassured, Penny relaxed again, resting her head on Natasha's shoulder.
Soon her eyes drifted shut, lulled by the steady rise and fall of Natasha's breathing. Just before she slipped into sleep, she murmured drowsily, "G'night...Mom."
Penny didn't see how Natasha's eyes widened in surprise, then softened, her expression unguarded in a way it seldom was. Natasha gazed down at the sleeping girl nestled against her, feeling an unfamiliar swell of protectiveness and warmth. Brushing a stray curl from Penny's face, Natasha settled her more comfortably and held her a little closer.
"Sweet dreams, little spider," she whispered.
A few hours later, Tony Stark strode onto his floor after an exhausting mission, desperate for a shower and his comfortable bed. "Fri, where's the kid?" he asked absently.
"Ms. Parker is currently asleep on the couch in Ms. Romanoff's quarters," his AI responded promptly.
Tony stopped short. "She's where now?"
Striding to Natasha's suite, he punched in his override code and went inside. There on the couch lay Penny, sound asleep with her head in Natasha's lap. The imposing Black Widow was also dozing, her normally stern face relaxed and untroubled. One hand rested lightly atop Penny's curls in an almost maternal gesture.
Tony paused, astonishment washing over him. In all his years of knowing Natasha, he had never seen her let down her guard like this. But something about this chatty, innocent kid had slipped past her usual aloofness and touched something soft within the hardened assassin.
Shaking his head wonderingly, Tony slipped off his shoes and jacket, draping a blanket over the pair on the couch. "Sweet dreams, you two," he whispered with a smile.
He tiptoed away, making a mental note to tease Natasha about her newly discovered maternal instincts later. Though after the verbal lashing he'd get, he might come to regret that decision. Still, the image of Natasha cuddling sweet little Penny Parker was one he would tuck away and treasure forever.