interruptions
It takes four months before Yelena cries and it’s the simple act of spilling her carton of juice that just causes her to break.
Coulson was with her and quickly tried to reassure her that it was okay and that they can always get some more. Yelena knows that, she’s not just crying about juice. She doesn’t even really know why she’s crying, just that there are hot tears rolling down her cheeks and she can’t make the shuddering gasps stop escaping her mouth.
Coulson reaches out toward her and Yelena bolts. She doesn’t even really realize where she’s going until her fingers are twisting the knob of Maria’s office. She wasn’t supposed to disturb her, she was in an important meeting which was why Coulson was watching her, but Yelena just really needed her.
“Yelena--” Maria starts but then stops and immediately stands. Yelena tries not to show the relief that falls over her when Maria scoops her up instead of getting mad and kicking her out. “What happened?”
Yelena buries her face into Maria’s shoulder and sobs.
One hand cups the back of Yelena’s neck while the other supports her on Maria’s hip and it makes Yelena feel safe and protected. Yelena forgets all about the other people in the room and the meeting that was going on, she just wanted Maria.
What Yelena doesn’t know is that Maria is shooting helpless looks to her superiors that she was in a meeting with, apologetic and bewildered. One of the others, a father himself, takes pity and moves his arms to mimic how to soothe her.
Maria rocks Yelena in her arms, unsure of what set her off but knows that she surely needs the comfort now.
By the time Yelena has finished, she’s embarrassed and ashamed of her actions and can’t take her face out of Maria’s neck because then she’ll be face to face with the very important people in the meeting that Maria told her not to interrupt.
Instead of setting her down and sending her off, Maria retakes her seat and settles Yelena in her lap. “I apologize for the interruption.”
“I get it, Commander. I’ve got two little ones of my own,” One says with an air of indifference. “Shall we continue?”
Maria pulls out one of the drawers in her desk and produces a pair of army green noise-canceling headphones before sliding them over Yelena’s ears.
Yelena knew that usually meant that Maria might do some yelling. It still startled her every time that Maria raised her voice but she was getting used to standing or sitting with the headphones on and watching as Maria dresses down one of her agents for them making a stupid mistake.
Yelena can feel the vibrations in Maria’s chest when she does eventually raise her voice at those in the room but the yelling is muffled by her headphones.
When the room is finally empty, Maria peels Yelena away from where she tucked herself against her chest. Yelena doesn’t mean for the whine to slip through her lips and she clenches her jaw as soon as she realizes it.
Maria pulls the headphones off and grips Yelena’s chin to tilt her head up. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Yelena’s eyes flicker to peer at the wall just behind Maria’s head. “No.”
“Well, I do,” Maria replies and Yelena slumps in on herself in shame. “Hey, none of that now. Look at me, Yelena.”
Yelena forces herself to look at Maria’s face.
“I am not upset with you that you came here,” Maria says and Yelena frowns.
“But you said not to interrupt your meeting… I did. I’m sorry,” Yelena’s eyes start to drift again and Maria’s fingers tap against her jaw which makes her eyes snap back to her face.
“Yelena, sweet girl, you needed me,” Maria says, the term of endearment rolling off her tongue before she thought better of it. “You come first. I will always put you first.”
Yelena wrinkles her nose. “But I cried on you.” She points out. “You said not to bother you but I interrupted and got your shirt all wet.”
“Yelena, it’s just a shirt. I was getting tired of all those men telling me that they thought they were better than me,” Maria finally lets Yelena nuzzle back against her. “What caused you to be so upset?”
Embarrassment and shame floods through Yelena. “I spilled my juice.” She said quietly. “And then I ran…”
When Yelena runs, she runs until she finds somewhere safe.
This time Yelena ran right toward Maria.
Maria tries not to think about it too much, dropping a kiss to the top of Yelena’s head as she leans back in her chair to cuddle the child in her lap closer.
Yelena absorbs the affection like a sponge, letting out a soft sigh of content.
Maria figures she must be doing something right.