Chapter 4
Yelena’s five when Alexei has a bad day at work.
It’s not his first bad day at work but this time Alexei came home and barely uttered a word to anyone before pulling a beer from the fridge and collapsing onto the couch to take over the television.
Yelena, who wasn’t even watching the cartoons on the television and much too engrossed in playing with her dolls, complains when he changes the channel.
Alexei snaps at her lightly that she wasn’t even watching it and that it was his turn and he had a long day at work.
Yelena obviously doesn’t understand the concept of adults having bad days at work. Natasha knew all too well what having bad days meant.
Natasha practically carries Yelena out of the living room and makes themselves scarce quickly. Yelena complains and whines and wiggles in Natasha’s arms but Natasha doesn’t let her go until they’re upstairs and in their room.
Natasha bribes Yelena with her favorite game and the two play Candy Land three times before Yelena gets bored and wants to watch a movie.
Natasha does her best to keep her busy. She offers to play games and play in the backyard and do anything but watch television or be in the living room.
At dinner that night, the four sit around the table, and Natasha eyes Alexei as the man silently saws into his pork chop with vigor, glaring as if the piece of meat personally offended him.
Yelena keeps trying to get his attention. Melina keeps telling her to settle down and eat her dinner but Yelena wants Alexei’s attention.
Natasha watches as the grip on his silverware tightens until his strength leaves the fork warped slightly.
She had to do something before he hurt Yelena. She eyes her glass on the table before swiping it off the table with one sweep of her hand.
The glass shatters on the floor and Yelena lets out a soft gasp as it breaks apart.
Alexei’s and Melina’s eyes lock onto Natasha, both having witnessed her purposefully shove the glass off the table.
“What is the meaning of this?” Alexei demands in a deep rumble.
Natasha clenches her jaw, tilting her head up stubbornly, and refuses to answer.
Alexei slams his hand onto the table. “Go to your room.” He tells Natasha.
“Go fuck yourself.” Natasha replies sharply in her mother tongue, her heart pounding dangerously in her chest.
Alexei goggles at her, as if he can’t believe the audacity that she had. He stands and grabs her arm. Natasha glances briefly at Yelena as Melina hissed something quickly to Alexei, too fast and low for Natasha to hear.
Alexei marches her from the dining room and into the kitchen. The grip on her arm is tight but it doesn’t hurt. Alexei pushes her against one of the walls. “Do a wall sit until I come back for you.” He orders and then disappears before Natasha gets into position.
Natasha slides into position against the wall, listening closely for any hint of Yelena crying out or whimpering.
She doesn’t know how long she listens for but her thighs start to burn as she wavers in her position sitting against the wall.
Melina’s the one to come and get her but Natasha doesn’t move from her place against the wall.
“He hasn’t come back yet. He told me to stay until he came back,” Natasha replies quietly when Melina questioned.
Melina has to physically tug Natasha from the wall, murmuring reassurances that he wouldn’t be angry with her for leaving and that it was over. Melina crouches in front of her, her hands steadying Natasha when the girl’s legs shake from the strain put on them.
“Why would you do that?” Melina questioned, the grip on Natasha’s arms firm but not bruising.
“Because he had a bad day,” Natasha said softly and she’s glad that Melina understands instantly and that she didn’t have to explain further.
“He’s not going to hurt us when he has a bad day. He will not use us to relieve his stress. That will not happen here,” Melina’s voice was firm but quiet. “Do you understand me?”
Natasha doesn’t really. Why is this different? Why is he different? Why is the mission an exception to the rules. “Yelena’s too little.” She finally said instead.
Melina’s hands shift from gripping Natasha’s arms before she stands and scoops Natasha up, settling onto her hip like Natasha had seen her do with Yelena.
The aching in her legs fade but she feels like a foolish child. Their faces are closer now and Melina reaches her free hand up to cup Natasha’s face. “He will never touch any of you like that.” Melina tells Natasha seriously.
Natasha opens her mouth to protest, not understanding why this time was so different from all the other times in the Red Room. “Yelena was upsetting him.”
“No matter how upset he is, he won’t hit her. He won’t touch her. He will not violate her. This is not the Red Room, Natasha,” Melina’s voice softens. “Do you understand that? I am not the Red Room. He is not the Red Room. As far as anyone can tell, we’re just your average family in Ohio.”
“But it’s not real,” Natasha shakes her head slightly. “We’re still Widows and soldiers.”
“I just saw you smash a glass onto the ground because you thought that Alexei would hurt you instead of Yelena,” Melina states and Natasha tries to glances away in shame but Melina’s hand on her face won’t let her. “That was your protective big sister instincts. Is Yelena not your little sister because it’s not real?”
Natasha opens her mouth to reply before hesitating and pausing to think over her answer.
Because Yelena may not actually be her little sister biologically, she was still Natasha’s baby sister in all the ways that mattered.
“She’s my sister,” Natasha finally sighed out and Melina smiles softly, gently knocking her forehead against Natasha’s.
“She’s your sister and you’re my girls and this place is safe,” Melina promised. “Do you understand?”
Natasha tries her best not to sink into the kind hold Melina has on her. “Yes.”
Melina kisses her forehead and Natasha fails as she wraps her arms around Melina’s neck and clings to the only mother she ever knew, even if it might be fake.