Alliances and arrangements
Melina and Robin eventually pull away for air. It’s quiet in the bathroom, something that Robin feels like she hasn’t had much of over the past few days. What she wouldn’t give for a quiet day of just snuggling with her family.
“My love?” Melina pipes up, her head resting onto Robin’s shoulder. “Do you trust Rosalie?”
The question makes Robin pause. “What did she do?” Because Rosalie was crass and a bit of an asshole but she’d done right by Robin so far.
“Robin…” Melina drags out her name and Robin sighs.
“I trust her not to screw us over,” Robin eventually says. “I trust her to keep you safe when I cannot. We have a deal and she’s held up her end so far.” Robin doesn’t fully trust Rosalie, not when she knows that the woman is a double-agent, her reasons still unknown. “What did she do?” Robin repeats.
Rosalie sometimes didn’t think but would back down if push came to shove with Robin.
“She caught Natasha eavesdropping in on a conversation I was having with her,” Melina explains. Natasha didn’t like not knowing things and would constantly be listening in to whatever wherever. “She had Natasha over her knee when I caught them, trying to tug her jeans down.” Melina lets out a sigh. “Natasha had kicked her in the face.”
That explained the bruise Robin had seen on Rosalie’s face earlier. “Was that before or after Rosalie tried to punish her?”
“Before,” Melina lets out a sigh against Robin’s collar. “Rosalie said I had to get control of her.”
Robin knew that Natasha was a bit of a hot-head, easily frustrated and quick to anger. She liked having control in her life when the Red Room had taken it from her and having small choices such as picking what color shirt she wore taken away from her will cause her to meltdown.
“I’ll deal with Rosalie,” Robin reassures Melina, tilting the Widow’s head up to press one more gentle kiss to her lips. “Go lay down with the girls, I’ll join you soon.”
Melina pulls away with a nod, heading back into the bedroom while Robin searches for Rosalie.
Rosalie’s in the kitchen with a coffee that Robin’s pretty sure has more alcohol than coffee beans in it. Maggie’s curled around her feet napping.
Robin approaches the table, pulling out the seat next to Rosalie and sitting. “Thanks.” She grunts out as Rosalie eyes her. “For all of this.”
“Don’t mention it,” Rosalie replies, pulling her mug up to her lips.
“Nose looks like it hurts,” Robin comments and Rosalie scowls.
“Your youngest Widow is a brat,” Rosalie replies, setting her mug down a little too harshly on the table.
“I’m not your boss no matter how many times you joke about it and maybe there was some miscommunication but I’m gonna clear things up,” Robin leans forward in the chair. “You do not get to lay your hands on my kids. If you have a problem then you take it up with me.”
“You’re growing soft with them,” Rosalie warns but Robin knows it’s not a threat. “What your girl needs is a good old fashing bare-bottom blistering.”
“Don’t be a fucking idiot!” Robin hissed out, slamming her hand down onto the table. “What was the biggest job I owed you for? The one I asked you to cover for me?”
“To claim the kill of that soldier,” Rosalie watches Robin’s hand, leaning back in her seat.
“Why did I kill him?” Robin demands and Rosalie stares at her for a few moments.
“Because he touched your kid-- is this a threat?” Rosalie screws her face up angrily.
“No! I’m trying to ask what in the world made you think it was okay to try and drag the pants off of a child that’s been sexually assaulted!” Robin reaches out to shove Rosalie’s shoulder. “She’s nine years old! You are not her mother!”
“Neither are you!” Rosalie stands and Robin doesn’t hesitate to stand as well.
“She’s mine!” Robin snarls at her. “Do not forget your place!”
Rosalie’s nostrils flare in anger as she stares at Robin before she lets out a heavy sigh and falls back into her seat with a thump. Once she backed down, Robin slowly retakes her seat.
“I didn’t think about that,” Rosalie finally admits quietly before picking up her mug and taking a large sip. She then holds the mug out toward Robin as a peace offering. “She’s going to push too far one day with the wrong people and she will end up hurt.”
Robin reaches out to accept the mug with a sigh. “I’m working on it.” She finally grunts before taking a sip of the liquid and screwing her face up. “How much fucking alcohol did you put in this?”
“Enough,” Rosalie reaches for her mug again and takes another long sip. “Told your wife about my status. Hydra. Your young Widow overheard me. If she blows my cover--”
“She won’t,” Robin immediately replies. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”
It was quiet for a few moments, Rosalie drumming her fingers against the mug she cradled in her hands.
“I do need another favor,” Robin eventually says. “And I wouldn’t ask if I could do it myself.”
Rosalie lets out a sharp sigh. “Alright. Let’s hear it.”
Robin takes a few minutes to get the words out of her mouth. “I need a morning-after pill.”
Rosalie stares at her for a few moments before a rare seriousness crossed her face. “I was only making fun of you earlier. I smelled sweat.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t change the fact,” Robin leans back in her chair. “I can’t get it myself. The General would know.” She knew that waking up naked and alone was probably his way of messing with her. She doesn’t even know for sure if she needs the pill but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Rosalie reaches out, gripping Robin’s hand for a moment. “I got you, boss.” She says before draining the rest of the contents of her mug and standing. “Go sleep it off with that little family of yours.”
“I owe you, Rosalie,” Robin stands as well as Rosalie flaps a hand in dismissal.
“Just don’t die,” She tells Robin. “And we’ll be square. Didn’t come this far for you to give up.”
Rosalie moves toward the sink as Robin heads back upstairs to the guest bedroom.
Melina and Yelena were curled up on the bed but Robin notices the distinct lack of red hair. A quick scan of the room shows Robin that Natasha was sitting just under the windowsill with her knees tucked up to her chin as she grips the pocket knife in her hand. She’s staring at it with such concentration that Robin doesn’t think she realizes that Robin arrived.
Robin approached her slowly, lowering herself down beside her. Natasha stiffens at the movement but tilts her head up to look at Robin. Robin reached a hand out and Natasha reluctantly sets the pocket knife down into her hand.
The piece of equipment is warm, signaling that Natasha had been gripping onto it for quite a while. Robin sets the knife aside and reaches out toward Natasha. “Come here, baby girl.”
Natasha doesn’t hesitate to scoot into Robin’s lap and curl up in her arms. Robin holds her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Mama?” Natasha finally questioned, tilting her head up to look at Robin
“Yes, baby?” Robin sways them from side to side.
“I… I kicked Rosalie in the face,” Natasha confesses quietly. “I don’t like her. Rosalie-- she’s-- she’s--” Natasha fumbles for the right words. “She’s Hydra.” She finally whispers in Russian.
“I know,” Robin says, tightening her grip so Natasha can’t squirm out of her lap. “No-- Natasha listen to me. Look at me.”
“You knew?” Natasha wiggles in Robin’s arms. If she had truly wanted out then she would have bitten Robin and injured her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you’re nine, Natasha,” Robin winces when Natasha’s elbow digs into a sensitive part of her torso. “Calm down and listen to me.”
“She’s Hydra and you keep sending Yelena here!” Natasha protests, lurching forward to make a swipe toward her knife.
Robin kicks it out of the way with her foot before trapping Natasha between her legs so she can grab her arms. “That’s enough, Natasha.” She says firmly. “Are you going to let me explain and talk it out or do you need a time out to calm down?”
Robin knows that Natasha is just stressed out and doesn’t know how to deal with the overwhelming feelings she’s dealing with. Natasha lets out a frustrated grunt before the anger quickly dissolves into tears. Natasha goes limp in Robin’s arms as she finally lets herself cry.
“I’ve got you, little one,” Robin soothes as Natasha pushes her face into Robin’s collar. “You can cry, I don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry,” Natasha whimpers out into Robin’s shirt.
“I know you are,” Robin adjusts Natasha in her grip now that she no longer had to keep her from bolting. “You’re scared and you’re sad and you’re worried, right?”
Natasha nods her head, reaching her hands up to hide her face.
“Me and you will sit down in my office when we go home and we’ll talk, okay? You can ask me whatever you want and we can figure out how to make you feel better. Does that sound okay?” Robin proposes. Natasha was quiet for a few moments before slowly nodding her head once again. “Good. What can I do to help you right now?”
“Don’t leave me,” Natasha hiccups out, her voice muffled by her hands.
“I’m right here, sweetheart. I’m not leaving,” Robin reassures her, smoothing back wild strands of red hair. “Do you want to go lay down with mommy and Yelena?”
Natasha nods her head again, pulling her head out of her hands long enough to wrap her arm around Robin’s neck. Robin carefully balanced as she hoists herself to her feet, Natasha clinging to her like a koala.
Melina’s eyes are closed but Robin knows she’s not sleeping, merely giving them the appearance of privacy. Yelena, however, is still fast asleep, her thumb having wormed its way into her mouth.
The bed isn’t very big but Robin makes do, sliding next to Yelena under the sheets. Natasha lays on top of her, tucking her head just under Robin’s chin.
Robin adjusts the blanket over them before settling down. She reaches one hand out to gently stroke one of Yelena’s cheeks.
They are safe.
That’s all Robin wants.