There was a light chill to the evening as the two sisters sat side by side on the porch of Melina’s ranch house.
Both were enjoying a quiet moment together after a busy family evening.
It was the first night in months were both Natasha and Yelena had been free at the same time. They had such hectic schedules now a days it was difficult to pin them down on the same date.
Given such rare circumstances, Melina had jumped on the opportunity to invite her girls back home for dinner, which just so happened to also be the perfect opportunity for Natasha to introduce Wanda as her girlfriend to the family.
The evening had gone really well and now the two sisters were just taking the time to themselves in order to enjoy the sunset and talk.
“So what do you think of Wanda?” Natasha asked.
“I think that… she is a really nice person and that I am happy for you.”
“Yeah?” Natasha sat grinning. The two weren’t always as affectionate as some other families, given their upbringing, which often meant fewer words held more meaning.
“Ugh,” Yelena rolled her eyes playfully, “but don’t get the wrong idea, you’re always sitting in each other’s laps and sharing spit, it is disgusting. I don’t want to think about what you do when you are alone.”
“Just wait until you find a boyfriend, I expect I’ll be the one complaining then.”
Natasha suddenly found herself regretting her choice of words as it was like a switch had been flipped. Yelena had become spacey, lost in her head.
The redhead moved closer so their shoulders were touching.
“Or… a girlfriend?” She tried, “I’m sure you’ll find your person one day.”
A few moments passed before the blonde broke from her clouded thoughts and she shuffled further away, “No it’s not that, I’m sorry it’s nothing.”
“Ah no get back here, I’m listening,” Natasha scolded teasingly but softened her voice anyway, “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable but I want you to talk to me if something is bothering you. What are sisters for?”
Yelena seemed to contemplate for a second, “Well mom and dad have each other and you have Wanda now but I- I don’t like- I don’t like anybody in that way.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been thinking about it for ages,” the blonde continued, “at first I thought I was just really lazy because everyone else puts up with it and has a person and they do not complain. But seeing you together, you don’t just put up with it do you? You do it because you feel different together. You love each other.”
“Yeah we do love each other, when you love someone like that it’s not supposed to feel like a chore,” Natasha smiled to herself.
“I realise that now,’ Yelena shrugged, “It is not fair, why can’t this just be easy?”
“You’ve never felt like that about anyone? And you don’t think you ever will?”
“Well it would’ve happened by now, no?”
“There’s a name for that,” the redhead spoke up, “Peter’s been trying to catch Steve up on all the inclusive stuff that’s changed since the 1900’s and I’ve been listening in a little. It’s called ’aromantic’. ”
“Aromantic?”
“Yep, it’s a word people use when they don’t feel attracted to anyone romantically.”
Natasha watched as her sister thought this all over.
“So like to no one? Because it is not just the guys, I did consider girls as well.”
“Well it can vary per person but simply speaking, yeah it means absolutely no one.”
The pure moment of clarity on her sister’s face was enough to make Natasha smile, “You could also be asexual as well but I’m not getting into that with my sister so you should look it up some time. It’s not a knew thing which means there’s loads of information online.”
Yelena moved closer to rest her head on Natasha’s shoulder. Her own sign of appreciation. They both knew it.
“And hey, you don’t even have to label yourself but labels can help people feel more accepted, knowing that it’s normal to feel how they do.”
“Yeah? I think I’d be ok on my own, I have you and Melina and Alexei.”
“You’ll always have us,” the redhead reassured, “and if you do find in the future someone who you maybe do feel that way about, that’s ok too. Whatever works for you.”
“Yeah I don’t think so,” Yelena physically shivered, “disgusting.”
“And she’s back,” Natasha teased.
“Shut up.”
They shared an awkward sideways hug and then continued to watch the remainder of the sun disappear behind the line of trees in the distance.
Basking in their short moment of undisturbed peace, sitting a little closer together and now truly appreciating the company of one another.