talk
Yelena wakes up curled against something warm but it takes only a few seconds to realize that it is not her sister.
She jolts away, tumbling out of their lap and she quickly scrambles and puts as much distance between them as she can, ready to fight.
Yelena is left staring at Maria, who had been sitting on with ground leaning against the wall. Yelena blinks a few times, the previous night hazy. She barely remembers falling asleep or waking up. She barely remembers a conversation about consent with Maria and she can’t remember falling back asleep once more.
“Hey,” Maria greets her, stretching her legs out in front of her now that Yelena was no longer in her lap. “Good morning.”
Yelena can’t remember how she ended up in Maria’s lap and she wasn’t going to take any chances. “Why are you here?”
“You had a night terror. Pinned Skye down,” Maria replies honestly, and Yelena curls in on herself. “She’s fine.” Maria adds at Yelena’s reaction. “Just a little shaken. What do you remember?”
“Not a lot. Why was I in your lap?” Yelena demands and Maria leans her head back to rest it against the wall.
“I had to grab the back of your neck before you hurt me or yourself,” Maria admits and Yelena reaches up to touch the nape of her neck. Her skin isn’t bruised or tender which meant that Maria had been careful and gentle about it. “I think we need to talk about last night.”
Yelena wrinkles her nose. “Don’t want to.” Maria never really forced her to talk. Yelena didn’t often play the ‘I don’t wanna talk about it’ card but when she did then Maria would drop the subject.
Unfortunately, Maria doesn’t let it go this time. “I know. But I think we need to. Would you like to talk before or after we eat?”
Yelena wraps her arms around herself. “Am I in trouble?” She can see a bruise forming on Maria’s jaw that she didn’t have last night. “Did I hurt you?”
“You’re not in trouble,” Maria reassures her and Yelena notices that she didn’t answer her second question. “Before or after breakfast, Yelena?”
“Before.” Yelena’s not sure she could keep her food down if they have this talk.
Maria gestures to the spot next to her. “Do you want to sit next to me?”
It’s not an order. Yelena stares at the spot before moving forward and taking a seat at the foot of the bed instead so that she’s facing Maria.
“I know you’re not sleeping well, Yelena,” Maria starts and Yelena tries not to avert her eyes in shame. “I only want to help you. Is there something I can give you to help you sleep better?”
Yelena needs a pair of handcuffs. Not that she’d tell Maria that, Natalia was so upset with her Yelena let someone find out about it.
“Yelena?” Maria prompts and Yelena realizes Maria knew she wasn’t going to tell her. “What can I do to help? What can I give you?”
Quick to try and divert the focus, Yelena blurts out. “I woke up last night with somebody in my bed and I got scared.”
Maria blinks, obviously not expecting that answer. “I’m sorry. I should have realized--”
“I know that Skye’s a teenage girl and that she’s not going to hurt me,” Yelena interrupts before Maria apologizes. “And I can sleep just fine in a bed with Natalia.” It’s not a full lie. “Natalia… she holds me a certain way. I know it’s her. But your bed… it’s too big.”
“Thank you,” Maria said. “I’m proud of you for telling me.”
Yelena’s face twists. “Why do you keep telling me that?”
“What?” Maria frowns before recognition flitters behind her eyes. “That I’m proud of you?”
“You’re saying it all the time. I don’t even do anything to earn it,” Yelena folds her arms.
“Does it bother you?” Maria asked, genuine curiosity in her tone. She doesn’t offer to stop it.
“It… makes me feel weird,” Yelena ducks her head down. “You say it a lot, especially now that we’re here. You say it when I don’t do anything earn it.”
“And when do you earn it?” Maria asked and Yelena winces as she realized she backed herself into a corner. “When you hurt somebody? When you complete orders? When you’re a good girl?”
Yelena can’t help the flinch that wracks her at the phrase and Maria instantly realizes she overstepped.
“I’m sorry.” Maria apologizes. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset,” Yelena instantly retorts, her fingers curling into the sleeves of her pajama shirt. “I earn it when I go above and beyond what is expected of me…” She then realizes that Maria was right. “When… when I am a good girl.”
“Hey, can you look at me?” Maria questioned, leaning forward slightly. Yelena pulls her eyes up to peer at Maria. “I give you praise when I think you’ve earned it. I didn’t do it enough on the Helicarrier but I also didn’t know how much you needed it.”
“I don’t need it,” Yelena immediately retorts and Maria holds up a hand which causes Yelena’s mouth to click shut.
“You do. You’ve been really good and you’ve been adjusting well. I’m proud of the progress you’ve made,” Maria said and Yelena tugs on the sleeve of her shirt.
“I didn’t make any progress,” Yelena protests in confusion. “If anything I lost it. You took me out of the helicarrier.”
“I’ve already told you that it’s not your fault. That place wasn’t safe for you and Skye to be until we get more protocols put into place. What has happened up there with that woman from the Red Room shouldn’t have happened. You should never have gone in there in the first place,” Maria said firmly, reaching out to set a hand onto Yelena’s knee. “Yesterday you had some problem that you wanted to talk with Bobbi about. I don’t know what it was but I recognize how much trust it took in her to approach her and admit there was some problem to begin with.”
Yelena looks down at the hand on her knee. “I trust Bobbi.” She said quietly.
“I know,” Maria pulls her hand away and Yelena finds herself missing the touch. “I don’t give out praise lightly, Yelena. Even if it feels like it. Remember that.”
Yelena stares at Maria for a few seconds before reaching out to grip Maria’s hand. She doesn’t know why she does it but Maria lets Yelena guide her fingers to her scarred wrist.
Maria frowns, peering down as she reaches her other hand to gently push Yelena’s sleeve up. Yelena looks away as Maria’s fingers gently rub over the scarring.
It was a spur of the moment decision but Yelena did it because she does want Maria to know so she can help but she also doesn’t want Natalia mad at her for telling.
“Thank you for trusting me with this,” Maria said softly, her brow furrowed in concentration as she inspects the scarring. “Is this why you can’t sleep at night?”
“I need it,” Yelena whispers. “And I forgot them back at my room…” She quickly corrects herself. “My bunk.”
“Are they zipties?” Maria guessed and Yelena shakes her head. “Handcuffs?”
“Bobbi knows,” Yelena said and Maria understands that Yelena’s not gonna flat out tell her.
“Okay.” Maria’s hand moves down to take Yelena’s, giving it a soft squeeze. “I’m going to help you.”
Maria said it with such conviction that Yelena couldn’t help but believe her. “Okay.”
“Melinda showed up last night. She’s here with Skye,” Maria finally warns Yelena a few minutes later. “I originally called Phil but he couldn’t come.”
Yelena swallows down her embarrassment at the words, knowing that she was the reason Maria called for help in the first place. “Is she staying for breakfast?”
“Do you want her to stay?” Maria counters. “For the time being, this place is your home too. You can say you’re not comfortable with her being here and she can leave.”
Yelena thinks it over for a few moments before shaking her head. “No, it’s okay.” She said. “Breakfast now?” She wanted to know if their conversation was over.”
“Breakfast now,” Maria agrees and pulls herself up to her feet, reaching out to offer a hand to Yelena. Yelena reaches up to accept the hand and the two head out of the bedroom.
Skye’s sitting on the couch a few feet away from May, some action-adventure movie playing on the television. Skye perks up when she sees Yelena.
Yelena moves in front of Skye. “I’m sorry.” She said quietly. “For last night. I didn’t mean to hurt you or scare you.”
Yelena doesn’t expect Skye to launch off the couch and wrap her arms around her. Yelena slowly wraps her arms around her in return.
“Are you okay, Tiny Dancer?” Skye murmurs into Yelena’s shoulder.
“I’m okay, Skynet,” Yelena said back quietly.
“Good,” Skye tightens her grip before letting her go. “May was trying to insist that Pop-tarts weren’t good for breakfast and that they’re empty calories.”
Yelena’s eyes slide over to peer at May who was talking with Maria quietly. “But it tastes good.”
Skye lets out a laugh, nodding her head. “It does!” She agrees before hesitantly continuing. “Are we good?”
Yelena smiles slightly, bumping her shoulder against Skye’s. “Yeah, we good.”