A helpful eye?
Training that Saturday was subdued. Natasha still had extensive bruising on her back and Robin was willing to let her skip but Natasha shows up in her tank top and shorts to train.
Melina had been teaching Robin some defense. Robin knew how to fight but Melina had been showing her how to keep them down.
This time, Yelena peers over the top of her playpen to watch as Melina and Natasha move through ballet routines.
Robin keeps her eyes trained on Natasha, ready to stop her if she was trying to push herself too far.
They’re only twenty minutes into training when Robin stops them. “Natasha, that’s enough.”
Natasha paused from where she had tried to reach her arms up above her head for a spin but winced. “I’m okay.” She insists. “I can do it.”
“I know you can,” Robin tells her before beckoning her over. “But as your doctor, I’m stopping you.”
“I can do it!” Natasha insists once again but shuffles toward where Robin was sitting with her clipboard. “I’m useful…”
“Of course you are,” Robin reaches out when Natasha was in reach. “But you’re still hurt.”
Natasha ducks her head down in shame and Robin pulls Natasha close, the child not resisting as the tall woman pulls her into her arms.
“Yelena can dance with Melina instead,” Robin said and Natasha goes stiff in her arms.
Melina paused from where she had continued going through her set.
“Ballet!” Yelena nods her head in agreement, starting to try and climb over the wall of the playpen once again.
“But--” Natasha starts before shaking her head. “She’s only three.”
“And I’m not holding her to a standard,” Robin cards her fingers through Natasha’s hair. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart.”
Melina moves toward Yelena and lifts her out of the playpen before setting her down on the mat. Yelena waits, looking up at Melina with a grin.
Natasha lets Robin pull her up into her lap, hesitantly leaning against her sideways.
Melina crouches down and adjusts Yelena’s limbs into the correct position as she softly explained what each one was called.
While Yelena was absolutely awful at it, her giggles at her attempts cause Melina to smile. She moves through a set and Yelena does her best to shadow her without falling over.
Natasha watches them quietly. “That’s not how I learned.” She mumbles to Robin.
Robin cannot begin to imagine how they taught four-year-old Natasha how to do ballet. “I know.”
“I’m sorry I got hurt. I’m missing training…” Natasha looks up at Robin.
“You protected your little sister,” Robin pulls her gaze away from Melina and Yelena on the mats to look down at the copper-haired child. “You were brave and strong and I’m so incredibly proud of you.”
“Proud?” Natasha echoes, her nose wrinkled in confusion. “But I--”
“You protected her. I don’t care if you didn’t listen to those soldiers when they told you to move, I’m proud that you stood strong until it was safe,” Robin cups the back of Natasha’s head and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry that you got hurt but the fault isn’t with you.”
Natasha looks conflicted at the information, glancing at where Yelena was attempting to spin herself in circles as she giggled madly as she tripped and fell.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to protect you,” Robin finally spoke the thoughts that had lingered on her mind.
“You won’t be here forever,” Natasha said quietly as she leaned against Robin. “We’re going back one day and I probably won’t ever see you again.”
Robin hates the reminder. She hates the fact that she might not see her girls again unless they’re on death’s door and Robin is the only doctor there. “But I’m here now.”
Natasha nods her head, resting her cheek against Robin’s shoulder. “Yeah. You’re here now.”
Robin’s surprised when she gets a letter in the mail from Rosalie inviting her over for a cup of coffee.
Robin’s suspicious of Rosalie and her intentions but the woman had made no move to hurt or scare them. Robin needs more information about the plants in the neighborhood and General Dreykov’s plans. She needs to know what Rosalie knows about SHIELD.
Robin accepts and Rosalie leaves another note in her mailbox with a time and her house number.
The kids were at school and daycare and Melina was at work when Robin goes. Robin heads to her office and grabs one of the guns, sliding it into the back of her waistband before walking toward the address that had been provided.
Rosalie lived at the end of the block by a busy street. Robin walks up to the front door and knocks briskly.
Rosalie opens the door with a grin, stepping aside to let Robin enter. Maggie was there, letting out a bark when Robin enters.
“You brought a weapon. Good.” Rosalie closed the door behind her. “You should be cautious.”
“Your dog can sniff out weapons?” Robin questioned and Rosalie lets out a high-pitched laugh.
“Maggie’s a bomb-sniffing dog. I’m a soldier. It’s obvious that you should bring a weapon,” She comments, leading Robin further into the house. “Take a seat.” She gestures at the table.
Robin positions herself so that her back is to the wall and she has a clear view of the entrance. The house appears normal but Robin’s house did too.
“How do you like your coffee?” Rosalie inquired, pouring two mugs.
“Black,” Robin never had time to mix sugar and cream into hers. She had been and doctor and drank her coffee straight out of the pot sometimes.
Rosalie lets out a hum, mixing some sugar into her own before setting the mugs on the table. “I expected them to send a soldier, not a doctor.” She comments, taking a seat across from Robin.
“They sent me instead,” Robin leans forward, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug. “I appreciate the information you’ve given me.”
Robin wants to know what Rosalie wants in return.
Rosalie lets out a grin. “No problemo, songbird.”
Robin suppresses a flinch at the name. “Only the General calls me that.”
Rosalie tilts her head to the side, observing Robin for a few moments as she takes a sip of her coffee before finally nodding. “You got a nice voice or something?”
“Or something,” Robin brings the mug up to her own lips. She locks eyes with Rosalie as she takes a sip that scalds her mouth. It’s the good type of coffee, expensive and rich. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-four,” Rosalie comments, leaning back in her chair. “You?”
“Twenty-six,” Robin watched as Rosalie raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“You’re just a baby,” Rosalie frowns slightly. “How long have you been with them?”
“Since I was seventeen, nearly eighteen,” Robin taps her fingers against the table. “You?”
“Twenty-one,” Rosalie eyes her. “What made you join?”
“I was sold, I didn’t join,” Robin immediately replies, watching the flicker of emotion behind Rosalie’s eyes that didn’t reach her face. “Why did you?”
“I was kicked out of the army and needed money for my father’s cancer treatment,” Rosalie knits her brows together. “Sold…” She murmurs.
“My father had a debt he couldn’t pay so he sold me,” Robin thinks Rosalie had been truthful so far. She had no reason to lie. “I didn’t realize there were plants on the street. I was under the impression that it was just my little… family.”
“That’s the whole point of plants. Nobody knows they’re there,” Rosalie lets out a wide grin before taking another long sip of her coffee, smacking her lips together with a pleased hum.
“Except you.” Robin frowns slightly.
“Except me,” Rosalie nods her head. “I’m the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. I know your red-headed Widow broke some boys arm at the park when he yanked her pants down. I know you used to disappear back once a week.”
“Then you know what happened a few days ago,” The grip on Robin’s mug tightens. “When I wasn’t home.”
Rosalie dips her head in a nod. “I do.” She eyes Robin. “The little one wailed until she suddenly went quiet. Thought they killed her until I ran into you.”
“She’s fine,” Robin eyes Rosalie right back. “What do you want with me?” She finally decides to cut straight to the point.
“You fascinate me,” Rosalie said and Maggie trots over to rest her head onto Rosalie’s thigh. Rosalie pats Maggie’s head. “Not many interesting things go on here.”
“Your fascination doesn’t mean that you should give me advice. Why? Why help me?” Robin pressed and Rosalie leans back in her chair before she shrugs.
“I like collecting favors. Having a doctor in my pocket would come in handy,” Rosalie finally lays her cards out on the table.
“That’s it?” Robin asked. Coffee sloshes over the side of the mugs as Rosalie lunges across the table at Robin. Robin pulls the gun out and has it pressed against Rosalie’s forehead as the woman grabs holds Robin by the front of her shirt, their faces inches apart.
“You want to protect the girls in that house?” Rosalie whispers and Robin eyes her, the gun trained on the woman’s forehead not wavering.
“Of course I do. They’re mine.” Robin tells her. “I’m responsible for them.”
Rosalie pats Robin’s cheek before letting her go and flopping back into her chair. “Good.” She picks up her mug of coffee and takes another slurp before flapping her hand at Robin. “Put the gun away.”
“Are you gonna grab me again?” Robin raised an eyebrow but lowers the gun, not tucking it away yet.
“No promises,” Rosalie gives her a wide grin. “You come to me and I’ll teach you how to protect yourself and your fake little family.”
“I’m not letting you dangle a favor over my head,” Robin shakes her head, folding her arms.
“Fine,” Rosalie takes a moment to drain the rest of her mug before setting it down with a loud clink on the table. “Maggie needs to get used to being around children. You bring your littlest around.”
“Maggie seemed fine with Yelena the other day,” Robin said, her voice betraying nothing as she takes another sip of coffee. Maggie laps at the puddle of coffee that had been spilled and was dripping off the side of the table.
Rosalie, noticing that Robin hadn’t said no, grins. “Not real little ones. Older kids, sure. Babies? She needs some work.”
Robin thinks it over. “You teach me and in exchange, I’ll patch you up when you need it and let Maggie and Yelena play?”
Rosalie nods her head. “Yup.” She stretched her hand out and Robin vaguely notices the thin scars crisscrossing along the back of her hand and fingers. “We got a deal?”
Robin reaches out and takes the hand. “We got a deal.”
Robin can only hope that Melina will understand.