Chapter 14
Yelena glances up at Tony sporting his own cherry-red suit before looking down at her own bright yellow. “What color is Pepper’s suit?”
“Blue. I named it Rescue,” Tony tells her. “And Rhodey’s is grey. Named War Machine.”
“What did you name this one?” Yelena asked, following Tony outside to the roof of the tower.
“Iron Spider,” Tony grins widely. “Like it?”
“Wow, you must have thought long and hard about that one,” Yelena teased, enjoying as Tony let out an offended gasp and swatted her shoulder.
“Excuse you! See if I buy you Barbie dolls for Christmas,” Tony retorts.
Yelena wrinkles her nose. “Why would you buy me Barbie dolls for Christmas?”
“Because I’m your godfather?” Tony laughs as they step out onto the roof.
“No, why would you buy me things for Christmas?” Yelena clarifies, glancing up at the clear skies.
“Because I have sixteen years of missed Christmas’s to make up for,” Tony tells her. “You’re going to get spoiled rotten this Christmas.”
“Why would you buy me things for Christmas?” Yelena repeats and Tony paused to look at her. “I don’t celebrate Christmas. Well… I did for a few years when I was a toddler. I don’t really remember it.”
Tony’s eyes grew wide. “What?” He shakes his head. “I’m going to spoil you rotten this Christmas. We are gonna do all the stereotypical shit. We’ll be like a Disney movie.”
“You don’t have to,” Yelena said, glancing away uncomfortably. “Forget I said anything. How do I fly?”
Tony shows her how to fly, gripping her hands to keep her steady as they hover a few feet above the roof. Yelena catches on quickly, learning to shift her balance.
Yelena is still afraid of falling. She’s terrified of losing control. She has nightmares about it all the time.
But she trusts Tony to not let her fall. She trusts that his equipment won’t be faulty and that she’ll stay in the air.
Tony slowly tugs her toward the ledge. “Come on. Let’s keep going.”
Yelena hesitates. If Natasha was there then she’d put an immediate stop to this. She knew just how much Yelena hates heights.
But Yelena finds herself unable to resist Tony’s coaxing, slowly moving toward the ledge.
“I’ve got you,” Tony keeps repeating. “Eyes on me. I won’t let you fall.”
Yelena believes him. He hadn’t lied to her so far. He was one of her people. She trusted him.
Tony goes over the ledge first and although Yelena can’t see his face, she knows that he’s giving her an encouraging smile.
Yelena hesitantly sets one foot over the ledge and doesn’t look down. She grips onto Tony’s suit and Tony holds her close. She finally steps over the ledge completely and can’t help but squeeze her eyes shut briefly.
She’s not falling.
“Okay. You’re doing great,” Tony said. “Lean forward until you’re vertical, we’re gonna fly.”
“Don’t let go of me--” Yelena manages to get out.
“I won’t,” Tony leans back, pulling Yelena with him as she starts to fly. Yelena leans forward slightly and is reminded of when she’d walk down walls with a harness on.
Yelena finally manages to open her eyes. She’s looking down at the Iron Man suit and lets out a slow breath.
“You good?” Tony asked his voice coming out modulated.
“I’m fine,” Yelena said. “Don’t let go.” She repeats quickly.
Tony doesn’t let her go but does eventually drift from her slowly until he’s only holding her hands. “I love flying.”
“I like flying too. It’s the falling that scares me,” Yelena said as Tony guides them to go higher.
“Everybody falls sometimes. It’s a matter of if you pick yourself back up or not,” Tony said as they reach the clouds. The higher the climb the colder Yelena feels.
They fly through a cloud and Yelena can’t help the laughter that escapes her as water droplets cling to their suits.
Tony grins and picks up the speed. Yelena follows and they keep flying through clouds, leaving behind vague human shapes cut out in the clouds.
Yelena laughs and Tony lets go of one of her hands to fly next to her. They make ‘snow angels’ in the clouds as they spread their limbs as they fly through clouds.
Yelena has fun. She feels free.
She’s not falling.
It was totally worth the yelling she got at from Natasha who had no idea that Tony built her sister a suit.
Yelena finally cries on her fourth therapy session.
She talks about Melina and a little bit about Ohio at further prompting.
Frankie has a box of tissues at the ready when Yelena’s face finally crumples as she buries her face into her hands. Frankie lets Natasha into the room when Yelena asks for her.
Natasha wraps Yelena up in her arms, whispering reassurances to her as Yelena cries. Natasha sits in on the rest of the session.
The whole session leaves Yelena tired and in a bad mood.
Natasha holds her in their bedroom once they arrive back at the tower. Yelena curls up, her mind fuzzy and her thoughts slightly scrambled.
“How about we do a girl's night tonight, hmm?” Natasha suggests, running her fingers over Yelena’s hair. “We’ll order your favorite from the pizzeria and watch movies.”
Yelena hums. “Can MJ come?”
“Even if I said no, MJ lives her half the time anyway. You and she are connected at the hip,” Natasha chuckles softly, pressing a kiss to Yelena’s head. “Of course she can come. We’ll invite Wanda and Antonia too.”
“And Ria?” Yelena murmurs and Natasha paused.
“Are you comfortable with Maria coming?” Natasha asked in surprise and Yelena nods.
“She probably needs a girl's night,” Yelena rests her head against Natasha’s shoulder. “Pepper’s busy.”
“She is,” Natasha agrees, sliding her fingers through Yelena’s hair. “So? What do you think?”
“Okay… but I just wanna take a nap right now,” Yelena said and Natasha laughs.
Yelena pouts at her for laughing and Natasha kissed her forehead again, moving to nuzzle her nose against hers. “I’m always on your side, no need to pout.”
“I know,” Yelena leans against her. “But I’ll pout anyway.”
Natasha flicker her nose in response. “Let’s take a nap.”
Yelena hums in agreement, flopping to lay down on the bed with her.