The car is going slow for once. They surely can spare a few minutes to clear their minds from all the mess.
Yelena stares at her sister, she's so...stoic. But at the same time her face shows so much. She realizes her sister must be letting her guard down around her.
"just ask"
"what?" oh, she wasn't expecting for her to talk. Yeah she knew the redhead sensed her staring but she wasn't prepared to voice her inner questions
"whatever you're thinking, just ask."
Breath out. Breath in. Here we go. Yelena was ready. ".. So.. I noticed all your... Jelewry"
Natsha laughed. Innocent, right from her chest. " A bunch of crappy and cheap piercing can't be called jewelry."
"it doesn't matter. You own them. And, they're cool"
"sure. I like them too" natasha finally admired. "it's that all?" oh she knows there's more.
"I saw-.... You have a pair. One is red and-"
"the other is green" natasha stated simply.
"yes. Why?"
"why? Why two? Why, what?" avoiding as always.
"why those colors, do they have a meaning, do you like Christmas that much? " No natasha doesn't like Christmas enough to be festive all year long. Yelena asked the right question.
As for her sister's reaction. She stayed quiet. Her face still concentrated on the road at front of her.
Natasha decided quickly. She's gonna tell the story. There was no point in hiding it. It wasnt like the blonde had anyone to gossip with.
Taking a deep breath she began "there's a reason, yes. We.. We..had to accept and realize something. It was easier doing it together" yelena was genuinely intrigued her sister revealed so little about her life. But when she did, it was about the most meaningful things.
"one night, I.. Don't know, I guess it was way past midnight, I hadn't slept but it wasn't like I was going to..."
FLASHBACK
Walking quietly as always natasha made her way to the common room.
Usually someone was there. Reading a book, watching something on the TV, brown heavy and tired eyes casually looking out the window or brown silky curls rested on the couch's arm and with a working mind stared at the ceiling.
But.
There was no one.
With a bit of disappointment she continued her way to the kitchen, only stopping when she caught sight of a familiar dark siluette out in the field.
There in the middle of the big grassy field the person was seating looking the other way.
She made two cups of tea, knowing how the rest of the night could possibly go. Then made her way out.
Still with her simple pajamas and her light robe she made her way out... Barefeet.
The sensation of semi humid grass below her feet was comforting. Something about the coldness of the wind and the smell of wet soil. It wasn't new. But it would never get old.
She sat next to the person and handed the hot cup.
"I like it out here"
"its.. Calm"
".. Am I disturbing?" she didn't sound the least sorry.
"no! No, no. You know you aren't" he was fast to reassure. He wanted her there.
"yeah.. I know" yes she knew. . He smiled softly. Of course she would play him.
He was wearing his yellow t-shirt and Grey sweats, what he usually wore to sleep.
She took a sip of her tea.
"Bruce"
"Nat"
"what's your favorite color?" he whipped his head to look at her intently.
"yellow... And red"
She hummed. It was quite obvious actually, at least the first one. A million clothes of that color.
"I like green"
He made a face. Not exactly an approving one. It was time the conversation took a turn.
"you can't avoid it forever, you know. You are in field of green grass."
"this green... It's.. Natural. He's.. Not."
"he's still a part of you"
"physically."
She gulped down half of the resting tea.. Which was turning cold. That's when she noticed the light chills surrounding her. Even though she was Russian.
She stood.
Bruce looked up at her.
" it's your color. Red."
"cause of the blood I've spilled. Right?" she stated. There wasn't venom in her voice. Or rage. She was just saying what for her was true.
"no."he didn't give an explanation. But she needed to know.
"then?"
"it does not only represent your passion, not-not that type" he said when she smirked ".. It goes well with your skin. And.. Love. It represents love"
"I've said it before. Love is for children"
"you and I both now it's not"
She looked at him. Not surprised at finding him standing beside her.
Her face was raw as his. She was an open book in that moment. With him.
"you know.." her voice soft "red and green make a good pair"
He kept quiet. But she could swear she saw his eyes sparkle for a second.
"my eyes are green" she.. Wasn't the best at this.
"I know. And they're a beautiful green"
"I bet you'd look great in green"
"how 'bout, we agree to disagree"
"oh come on."
"... They do look great together"
"I know"
She set the cup on the grass besides his.
Bruce was watching her, her dance like movements, bent down.. Then up.. Turn. She was looking at him now. Deep green eyes.
He's staring straight at her eyes.
She's staring right back.
He's forced to look down when he felt something in his hand.
A water drop.
Another.
"it's just rain"
He looked up startled.
"for such a smart guy you're a little slow" she laughed soflty. "come on"
She took his hand and at the connection a fluttery sensation bubbled in his stomach. By the look on her eyes.. She had felt the same. Not the first time they had hold hands.. But it was always the same.
"wait" before she could take another step and start dragging him for safety he pulled on her hand and pushed her for a hug. "I'm liking green more now that is accompanied by red"
She smiled into his shoulder. It wasn't a thigh hug. But a soft, close, reassuring hug. She briefly closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling. He was blushing. Bruce knew there was an opportunity.. He wasnt going to let it go.
The next morning the cups were still in the middle on the field.
Bruce had got out of bed with the right foot.
And Natasha had gone training as if the hours before hadn't been full of thinking about the beautiful moment.
FLASHBACK
"there wasn't much I could do. But I'm sure that night we both embraced our colors."
"wow. You really had movie romance"
"please don't ruin the moment" natasha laughed in spite of herself.
"it's a beautiful memory"
"it is."
"and... For the record. I like red and green together too"
Natasha smiled a pained but soft smile.