off base
Even after Yelena had been dismissed from medical and still not allowed to train because of her weak lungs, Yelena stuck around Maria.
For some reason, the commander seemed willing to put up with her and because the Widows needed someone to escort them around the base, Yelena trails along after Maria as she goes about day-to-day business.
Maria never once told her to go away. She never dismissed Yelena or shooed her away like an annoying fly.
So Yelena follows Maria around because she’s mad at everybody else.
Then Maria had to conduct a meeting so Yelena waits just outside the conference room like a bouncer at a nightclub, eyeing each agent that passes by. Barely anyone gives her a second glance.
Then Nick Fury comes walking up to her but instead of heading inside the meeting room, he clear his throat as he eyes her. “I have a mission for you.”
Yelena glances at him. She hadn’t thought she was cleared for missions. She’s still ‘recovering’ from pneumonia, even though she feels fine. She gives him a curt nod. “I’m ready. Details?”
“You’ll be assisting me with obtaining an object for Danvers,” Fury said, starting to walk. Yelena falls into step behind him. The only Danvers she knew of was the owner of Goose and she hadn’t even met them yet.
Yelena quietly follows as they leave the compound and Yelena takes a moment to soak up the sun. She hadn’t been outside for a while. Fury waits just outside a car for Yelena to climb in.
Yelena finally slides into the passenger seat, glancing over at him. “Am I allowed to know where we’re going?”
“Petco.” Fury replies and Yelena blinks at him in confusion. “You were frightening the agents that passed by you. They think you’re going to be the next Deputy Director with how you follow Hill around like a duckling.”
Yelena can’t stop her cheeks from heating up. “I’m not a duckling.”
Fury lets out a chuckle and it’s not a low, dark chuckle like Dreykov did. It’s lighthearted, like he found genuine amusement at her embarrassment. They pull out of the compound and they descend into quiet for a few moments.
Yelena’s unsettled by being in the car alone with the Director. She hadn’t felt that she could say no to him. Fury reaches out and turns the radio up.
Yelena watches the scenery pass by. “Why did you take me with you.”
“Goose needs a new cat bed,” Fury comments, glancing at her. “You are one of the only people who know about Goose.”
“You couldn’t have gotten her a cat bed without me?” Yelena questioned, avoiding his gaze when he glanced at her.
“I’m taking you off base because you haven’t been off of SHIELD property since being taken in. Your sister has traveled and been on missions but you haven’t,” Fury comments.
Yelena’s surprised at the honesty and thoughtfulness. “Well… thank you…”
“Don’t thank me for not holding a teenager hostage. At this point, you’ll need vitamin D supplements because you don’t see the sun.” Fury retorts.
Yelena observes her surroundings quietly. They eventually pull into the parking lot of the Petco and Yelena follows him inside.
She’s never been inside a pet store. Never had a reason to.
Yelena follows Fury through the aisles until they’re standing in front of the wall of cat beds. “What happened to Goose’s other cat bed?”
“She ate it.” Fury replies and Yelena glances at him with a raised eyebrow because she’s pretty sure that cats don’t eat cat beds.
Then again, she’s not 100% sure about what cats do.
Fury glances at Yelena. “You pick one. You’ve spent the most time with her recently.”
Yelena blinks in surprise, looking up at the wall of beds, and hesitates, clearly unsure of what the right answer is.
What if she picks wrong?
Fury makes a few comments that help her narrow down the choices. Yelena eventually settles on a soft blue bed and pulls one off the shelf, glancing at Fury.
“Nice choice,” Fury praised, taking the bed from her. “Let’s head up to the front.”
On the way to the front, they pass by the section of animals up for adoption.
Yelena pauses in front of the window briefly when she sees them.
She doesn’t mean to linger there but Fury steps up next to her after a few moments. “You like animals, huh?”
Yelena flinches slightly, having been focused on the animals and lost awareness of her surroundings. “Yes.” Yelena stares at one of the puppies playing around with another one. “I wanted a dog when I was little.” She doesn’t know why she shares that information.
“I never wanted a cat and yet Danvers dropped Goose off,” Fury comments.
“Who… who is Danvers?” Yelena glances up at Fury after a few moments, daring to ask her question.
The side of Fury’s mouth lifts up in a half-smile. “My friend.” He comments. “She’ll be back soon to check in and see Goose.”
Yelena stares at the animals for a few moments before realizing Fury was waiting on her and abruptly turns away. “Sorry, sir.”
“Do you know what I just saw?” Fury questioned and Yelena frowns at the abrupt inquiry. She tilts her head to the side and waits for his answer. “I saw a teenager with a soft spot for animals.”
Yelena furrows her brow. “What do you mean?”
“The council thinks you’re dangerous,” Fury said and Yelena’s eyes grow wide slightly at the mention of the world council. “A teenaged assassin with dozens of confirmed kills under her belt.”
“The world council knows about me?” Yelena swallows hard. She doesn’t want to be taken away from her sister. Natalia had a deal with SHIELD but not with the world council.
Fury inclines her head. “Yes… let’s go.”
Yelena glances back at the puppies one last time before following Fury up to the checkout. The man in front of them checking out has a big german shepherd that sniffed at Yelena’s hand.
A small smile crosses Yelena’s face when she runs her hand over the soft fur on the dog’s head. The dog licks at her hand, wagging its tail excitedly when Yelena cooed to it softly.
Yelena refuses to be embarrassed about it when she walks out back to the car with Fury who was giving her an amused smile.
It felt weird to Yelena. Goose made Fury trust her. The Director of SHIELD put his faith in people in a cat. Fury trusted the cat greater than any lie detector.
They leave the bed in the trunk of the car when they arrive back. “I’ll get it later.” Fury tells Yelena as he swipes his badge to enter the building.
Yelena paused when she sees Maria and Natalia obviously waiting for them.
“Yelena!” Natalia closes the distance between them, grabbing the teenager’s face and frisking her for injuries.
Yelena lets her because no matter how mad she was at Natalia, the woman practically had uncertainty and fear bleeding into her frame.
“Where did you go? You can’t just leave base. Nobody knew where you were. I thought you were with Bobbi!” Natalia shoots off in rapid Russian.
Yelena shrugs. “I’m sorry.” She said. And she is, she never meant to make Natalia worry about her.
“Where did you go?” Maria demands from Fury and Yelena’s eyes flicker to her in surprise.
“Shopping for Danvers.” Fury comments and Maria’s lips thin at his answer. “Relax, Hill.”
“Yelena!” Bobbi rounds the corner with Hunter. “There you are!”
Yelena tolerates Bobbi’s hands grabbing her arms as she looks her over.
“Were you on a mission?” Hunter eyes the Director. “I didn’t think you were field ready.”
“She’s not,” Maria confirms, glancing at Fury. “How could you take her and leave base?”
“I brought her back in one piece. Honestly, Hill,” Fury shakes his head.
“That’s not the point!” Maria argues, folding her arms. “You took an underaged asset of SHIELD and disappeared without another word! Nobody knew where she was!”
Natalia glances at Yelena. “What happened?” She demanded in English and Maria pauses long enough to hear the answer.
Yelena doesn’t tell them about Goose nor does she mention where they went. Instead, she said, “I got to pet a dog.”
Yelena’s innocent comment seems to drain the anger from the group of agents.
“He was really big and very fluffy,” Yelena adds on. “He licked my hand.”
“Jesus fuck,” Hunter pinches the bridge of his nose. “Of course you got to pet a dog.”
Yelena glances at him and watches as Bobbi whacks his shoulder.
Yelena lets Natalia pull her close and wrap her up in her arms. Yelena glances at Fury because she doesn’t want him in trouble.
He was nice to her. Yelena doesn’t really understand why the others are angry. They’re not in charge of where she was. Maria was busy. Yelena was unable to train like normal. Hunter was with Bobbi.
Fury offered her something to do so Yelena went with him.
Maria turns to look at Yelena. “If Fury tries to take you off base again, you can say no.”
“What if she wants to go?” Hunter tilts his head to the side.
“Regardless of whether she wanted to go,” Maria looks at Yelena. “Yes or no, Yelena. You went with the Director today because you felt like you couldn’t say no.”
Yelena squirms slightly under the sets of eyes on her waiting for her answer. She appreciates the way Maria phrased the question before giving a tiny nod.
Maria turns toward Fury while Bobbi steps forward.
“I’m tired.” Yelena lies, not wanting to deal with so many upset people all at once. Bobbi’s face softens and she nods.
Natalia takes Yelena back to their room and Yelena can hear Maria scolding Fury.
Had anyone tried that with General Dreykov then they’d be dead.
“You worried me.” Natalia admits as soon as the door closed behind them and they were in the safety of their room. “Don’t do that again.”
Yelena’s not really mad at Natalia anymore. She’s more sore about how Natalia used a trigger against her. But still, Yelena doesn’t want Natalia sad or upset. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Natalia replies immediately before sighing. “I’m sorry as well… for everything.”
“You and other people held me down,” Yelena said and Natalia lets out a small flinch.
“I know.” Natalia squeezed her eyes shut. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Yelena. I was given an ultimatum.”
“What could have possibly been offered to you that would make you do that?” Yelena demanded.
“You--” Natalia chokes out before shaking her head. “They threatened to take you away from me. Send you away.”
Yelena’s heart skips a beat. “What?” She whispers. “No. No, that’s not true. They wouldn’t do that--”
Then Fury’s comment about the world council stops her and Yelena swallows hard.
She was mad at Natalia for making an impossible choice. “Oh…”
“I’m sorry,” Natalia repeats again. “Yelena, I never wanted--” She’s cut off by Yelena wrapping her arms around her waist tightly.
Natalia inhales sharply before wrapping her arms around Yelena in return.