Chapter 13
Yelena’s first therapy appointment goes so much differently than she originally thought.
Natasha waits just outside the room for her and Yelena is reminded time and time again that she can leave whenever she wants.
Yelena’s doctor is young and wore a bright mustard yellow sweater and at least two rings on each finger that clinked together when they moved their hands. They had stripes of electric green in their hair that made Yelena think of that one Batman villain.
“Hi. You must be my newest patient,” The doctor holds out their hand. “I’m Doctor Frankie Kirby. You can call me Frankie if you’d like. I go by they/them pronouns.”
Yelena takes the outstretched hand, the rings cold against her hand. “I’m Yelena Belova… I don’t know what to say for the next part.”
Frankie takes the first five minutes of their session to explain pronouns to Yelena and mentions how their office was a safe space.
Frankie tells Yelena a little bit about themselves and then asked Yelena a little bit about her.
Yelena’s expectations are much different but she’s pleasantly surprised. Frankie lets her set the pace and choose whether to speak on specific topics or not.
Yelena speaks about her sister and MJ. She tells Frankie about her people.
Frankie lets her speak, occasionally asking Yelena to elaborate on something.
The session is over before Yelena knows it. A little timer shaped like a duck on Frankie’s desk dings and the doctor clasped their hands together.
“That’s all the time we have for today,” Frankie said. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you. Mr. Stark has you penciled in twice a week so I’ll see you on Friday.”
Yelena walks out of the office and Natasha immediately looks her over for distress. “How was it?”
“Fine…” Yelena said quietly. She doesn’t quite know what she expected. Perhaps something similar to the doctors in the Red Room. “I like them.”
Tony calls her down to the lab that night. As he secures and sizes boots to her feet, he inquires about her first session.
“I learned about pronouns and told them about Natasha and MJ.” Yelena said, watching him as he kneels to perfect the boots. “They’re different.”
“That’s why I picked them out,” Tony tells her. “How do you feel about going back?”
“I’m not… I’m not opposed to it,” Yelena said as she watched him. “Today seemed too easy.”
“Therapy isn’t always going to be easy. There will be times when it gets hard and you’ll feel really bad about it,” Tony leans back to admire his work and ensure that everything was straight. “It’s not a straight path to recovery. There will be ups and downs.”
“Then why am I going to therapy? That seems like a lot of work if I’m never gonna get better,” Yelena folds her arms, watching him adjust a screw.
“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life,” Tony said and Yelena frowns.
“I want to be better,” She says.
“I have a lot of trust that you can do this,” Tony said and Yelena froze in surprise.
“What if I break your trust?” Yelena asked quietly.
“Well, trusting you is my decision. It’s up to you whether you prove me wrong,” Tony stands up. “Put your weight on the boot.”
Yelena stands and shifts her foot and watches the material flex. “Do you think my relationship with Natasha is weird?”
“Did somebody tell you that?” Tony asked, watching her move her foot.
“No… I told you that Natasha is Natasha but I lied because I don’t think many people will understand,” Yelena leans against the workbench and lifts her foot to inspect the sunshine yellow material on her foot.
“Well, your relationship with her is no one's business but your own,” Tony grips her ankle to flex it. “Feel okay?”
Yelena nods. “A little tight.”
Tony hums and makes an adjustment. “I want to ask you something and I need you to be truthful.”
Yelena froze at his words because they couldn’t possibly mean anything good. “I can try.”
“When the whole Ross situation is dealt with, the Rogue Avengers will be leaving the tower,” Tony tells her. “I know that you like them and that they’re your friends but I can’t… I’m having a hard time with them around.”
Yelena frowns slightly as she watches him. “This is your tower. I have no say in who lives here.”
“You won’t be upset if they leave back to where they came from after this?” Tony asked her.
“That’s not what you asked. Of course I’ll be sad but this is your tower. You have a say in things,” Yelena’s foot is finally freed and Tony picks the boot up.
“Steve lied to my face for years and Bucky murdered my parents,” Tony comments quietly. “And they sleep in the same tower that I do. They left me for dead in Siberia and now they eat my food and sleep in my rooms.”
Yelena frowns. “I didn’t realize that them being here was causing this much distress on you.”
Tony lets out a weary sigh. “You were the one who told me that I don’t have to forgive anyone I don’t want to. They still haven’t even apologized for any of it.”
“Is Toni okay here still?” Yelena asked quietly. “I know that I didn’t ask you before offering her a place here…”
“I don’t mind Toni here. She can stay,” Tony quickly reassures her. “But when Ross is put behind bars then the others have to go. You’re welcome here. Nat is welcome. Your friend with the helmet and JJ.”
“You know that her name is MJ,” Yelena rolls her eyes before looking at him. “I really appreciate everything that you’ve done for me.”
“Kid, I would do pretty much anything for you,” Tony declares as he sets down a screwdriver.
“I would do the same for you,” Yelena said and she truly means it. Anthony Edward Stark was one of her people and she would kill hundreds of people just to get him back.
Tony gestures to the suit laying on the table. “There. I think we’re ready for the first test run.” The conversation about the Rogue Avengers is dropped.
Yelena grins. “Really?”
Tony nods and passed her a bracelet that would call the suit to her. “It’ll be heavy and a little uncomfortable but it won’t hurt. Metal pieces flying at your head and face might seem scary but I won’t let you lose a finger.”
Yelena presses the button on the bracelet and the suit moves. Pieces wrap around her limbs and slowly built up her torso until the helmet encases her head.
The helmet reminds Yelena of Toni’s Taskmaster helmet.
“Well? What do you think?” Tony asked her with a grin, his hands on his hips as he observed his work.
“It’s heavy,” Yelena lifts her hands up to inspect the metal encasing them. “But… I like it? It makes me feel safe.”
Tony’s grin grows. “That’s why I build them.”
Yelena tilts her head up to look at him, the faceplate lifting so he can see her face. “Thank you, Tony.”
“Of course, kiddo,” Tony lets out a hum. “Let me get my suit and we’ll take yours for a test flight.”