Chapter 2
Natasha and Yelena share a room. It’s split down the middle, Natasha’s bed being closest to the door while Yelena’s is tucked in the furthest corner of the room.
Natasha’s used to sharing a room with other girls so having Yelena is comforting.
It’s easier to protect her when they’re sleeping in the same room.
Of course, Natasha is used to sleeping with older girls who have long ago learned that crying only got you hit.
So when Yelena wakes up in the middle of the night, whimpering and whining for someone to comfort her, Natasha immediately slides out of bed and is across the room.
“Shh,” Natasha quickly scales the bars of the crib Yelena was in, kneeling next to her. “Quiet down. Don’t cry.”
Yelena peers up at her through the moonlight that peers through the curtains of their bedroom, her lower lip quivering as her eyes water. “There’s a monster!” She finally cries out.
Natasha immediately clamped her hand over Yelena’s mouth, pulling the toddler against her. “Shh.” Natasha doesn’t know how to make her be quiet. “Don’t cry. There’s no monster. It’s okay.”
Yelena latches onto Natasha, seeking out comfort that Natasha doesn’t know how to give.
Natasha tries to think of any and all movies, books, television shows, and articles of how to comfort young children.
Natasha unsurely pats Yelena’s back. “It’s okay. I won’t let the monsters hurt you but you need to be quiet!” She whispers.
Yelena hadn’t yet learned to muffle her cries into fabric or ball her fist up until she can dig her nails into soft flesh and focus on the pain instead. Yelena hasn’t learned like Natasha has.
“If you wake up mom and dad then they’re gonna be angry,” Natasha warns Yelena, barely managing to remember to refer to their fake parents properly. “Yelena, please.”
Natasha’s unsuccessful in quieting Yelena down. The door to their room opens and Natasha quickly wraps her arms around Yelena to hide her from view.
A sleepy Alexei shuffles into the room, scratching his chin tiredly as his eyes rest onto the crib, a frown on his face when he sees them.
“Aw, what has made my girls so upset?” Alexei approached the crib.
“She doesn’t know--” Natasha blurts out, clutching Yelena close to her, even when the toddler reaches out for Alexei. “She doesn’t know that she’s not supposed to cry. I’ll teach her. We’ll be good and quiet, I promise.”
Alexei’s hands slide under Yelena’s armpits and Natasha’s helpless as he lifts her up and away from her.
Yelena’s cries softly dwindled down as Alexei gently bounced her in his arms.
“What has upset you, my little cub?” Alexei questioned Yelena.
“Monster,” Yelena sniffles, resting her head onto Alexei’s shoulder as she fists his pajama top with her tiny fingers.
“Oh no, a monster?” Alexei gasps and Yelena nods against his shoulder. “Well, I’m gonna let you in on a secret.” He lowers his voice as if telling a whisper. “No monsters can get my girls while I’m here. Your big and strong papa is here to protect you.”
Yelena wipes her nose on his shoulder and Alexei merely chuckles.
“And you have your big sister here to protect you,” Alexei adds on, glancing down at where Natasha had been quietly watching. “She can fight off the monsters too.”
Yelena’s no longer crying when Alexei pries her fingers from his shirt and sets her back down into the crib. In fact, she’s practically asleep, her eyes blinking sleepily as Alexei lays her back down.
Natasha’s breath hitched when Alexei lifts her up out of the crib and sets her down onto the ground.
“Do not think I forgot about you,” Alexei said and Natasha tenses up, waiting to be punished for failing to keep Yelena quiet. “It is also your bedtime, little mouse.”
Natasha peers up at him, frozen in place for a few moments.
“Come on,” Alexei’s large hand clamps on the back of her neck to guide her back toward her bed. “Growing girls need their sleep.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep her quiet,” Natasha tells him, obediently climbing back into bed.
Sher still felt naked sleeping without her handcuffs.
“Bah, she is a wee tiny mite. They cry. It happens,” Alexei shrugs, tossing the covers in the air until they flutter down over Natasha’s body. “She will cry more. It is expected.”
Maybe it was expected but when Natasha was Yelena’s age it was unacceptable for her to still cry. Natasha learned to hurt herself and focus on the pain instead.
Alexei leaves after tucking Natasha in, the door closing with a soft snick as he leaves.
Natasha glances over at where Yelena was fast asleep again, confused and unsettled.
Natasha doesn’t sleep the rest of the night, waiting for Yelena to wake up and cry again or for Alexei to return with something to punish them with.
Alexei doesn’t return and if Natasha listens close enough then she can hear him heavily snoring just down the hall.