Yelena was hiding something.
Being a spy and assassin made her an expert on keeping her enemies close and her secrets closer. Being raised by Red Room had taught Nat how to spot even the best hidden secrets. Yelena was clutching one like it was her lifeline.
It started in Budapest.
Lacking a mission left both of them in limbo. There was no sign of the Avengers uniting nor was there a force that would throw them together – no Loki to string them across New York or Ultron to test their unity. Dreykov was gone – for good this time. The last of the Widows were still being traced, but many had been buried in shadows and left Yelena at a standpoint while she waited for one to fall under her radar. So, the two of them were killing time in Budapest while they awaited their next move.
Nat had gone out for groceries. Yelena had opted to stay in the apartment.
This had been their routine for the past four and a half weeks. Nat went to get the goods while Yelena stayed put on the chance a Widow reappeared. It was the closest the two had to normal since Ohio.
Normally, Nat would text when she was in the building. They had mutually agreed to this in order to prevent an unprompted attack. But of course the charger had broken and left her with twenty percent battery when she left. Now it lay lifeless in her back pocket. As she walked up the stairs, she hoped Yelena didn't assume the worst and empty a chamber into the door before she had chance to announce her arrival.
“Yelena.” Her voice echoed down the corridor. “I'm back. I got your favourite.”
Recently, Nat had learnt that Yelena had a sweet tooth. Technically, she knew this beforehand. As kids, Yelena always wanted ice cream or cake or candy and Melina would tell her it's garbage made to profit dentists. Nat's time in Red Room had made her forget what she liked; her focus was solely the mission. Upon joining SHIELD, Clint had been the one to reintroduce her to the things she had once loved. Now that she was reunited with her sister, she had made it her mission to do the same. Two nights ago, they had indulged in American style pancakes. Clint had made her a hefty stack when they returned to the states. Yelena had practically vibrated in her seat when Nat put the plate in front of her.
Nat had restocked on the ingredients along with chocolate chips.
“Yelena?”
It was unlike her to not respond.
Tensing, Nat reached for her gun, the one she kept hidden, and unclipped the safety lock. She turned to press her back against the wall.
Well, here goes nothing.
Moving swiftly, Nat pushed open the door and slid inside. Faint voices wafted through the apartment. Nat's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. There was nothing threatening in their tones. If anything they sounded...joyful.
“Yelana?”
Abruptly the voices cut off. Footsteps took its place. Then Yelena emerged into view, staring at Nat, then the gun, with a puzzled expression.
“You didn't text?”
“Phone died,” replied Nat.
“No one's here but us.”
Nat tucked her gun back in place. Following Yelena back into the living room, her eyes immediately landed on the television screen. Currently it was paused on Bourne Identity, a guilty pleasure of Nat's. They had watched it a few weeks back and she couldn't help but lift her eyebrow in suspicion.
“You said you hated this movie.” Lowering her voice, Nat did her best Yelena impression, starting with a drawn out groan. “I'm booooored. This garbage hurts my soul.”
Yelena shrugged. “It pissed you off.”
“Was your existence made for that?”
Yelena flashed a shit-eating grin. “It's not a bad existence.”
“No pancakes for you then.” Turning, Nat headed into the kitchen to unload the groceries.
Yelena hurriedly followed. “No, no! Please! I won't talk shit about your movies ever again.”
“That's your stomach talking.”
“No, that's me talking.”
“Through your stomach.”
Yelena huffed. “OK, fine. Maybe. But pancakes are so good. Did we have pancakes in Ohio? I don't remember.”
“On one of our birthdays, I think.”
Yelena followed Nat like a puppy as she emptied her bags and put them away. Upon seeing the chocolate chips, Yelena's eyes lit up.
“For later,” said Nat sternly.
Yelena responded with a pout.
Long after the sun had set, and after pancakes had been consumed, Nat found her mind wandering.
Early on into their living situation, Nat had found Yelena didn't seem to have much fondness for the action flicks that Nat binged in her spare time. Often, she would scroll her phone while James Bond played in the background or would make comments when Mission Impossible or Oceans Eleven was on. Yelena claiming she enjoyed them was something Nat found hard to believe.
Was she really watching Bourne Identity or was that just a cover up? And if so, what is she hiding?
Nat tried to brush it aside. It wasn't a big deal. She was probably looking at porn or having some self love. As a newly freed woman, she's had time to explore herself. She couldn't fault Yelena for that. But she didn't show signs of being flustered. And the voices were joyful, light. She had seen Bourne Identity enough to know when it was on.
She tried to ignore it for the night but by morning her curiosity gnawed at her. What had Yelena been watching?
“What do you do when I'm gone?” Nat asked the following morning over breakfast.
Yelena popped the spoon in her mouth and nibbled at the edges. Then she said, “Just hang around. Nothing particular.”
“And watch all those movies you claim to hate?”
“Exactly.”
Nat tried the more blunt tactic. “Were you watching porn yesterday?”
Yelena's face screwed up in disgust. “Eugh! What the fuck, Nat? God, no. You know it's all fake and -” Dropping the spoon, she pointed to her mouth and made a retched sound. “I'm not even interested in all that -” she shuddered. “Sex is gross.”
“So, if you weren't watching porn what were you watching?”
“That Jason movie.”
“No, you weren't.”
“I was!”
“I'm gonna assume you were watching something raunchy then.”
Yelena gagged. “You're disgusting.”
Seeing as they weren't getting anywhere, Nat decided to drop it.
The truth revealed itself accidentally.
Nat found herself unexpectedly out of Budapest for a few days. Melina had called her, asking for a favour. She needed some files disposed of and some documents required. As a spy, Nat was able to acquire new identities as easily as a new outfit. To avoid being traced back to Budapest, Nat had first headed to London and then met Melina in Moscow. Nat had planned to return Sunday but was able to catch a plane on Friday.
Entering the apartment, she was greeted by a dark hallway and a dim glow coming from the living room. Curious, Nat approached silently.
Peering through, Nat was surprised to find Yelena sprawled on the couch, her eyes glued to the screen in front of her.
“Yelena?”
Immediately, Yelena jerked into an upright position. Her mouth gaped, staring at Nat, mortified.
The TV was still on, playing what appeared to be a children's cartoon. A green-haired girl with pointy ears was shaking another girl who was covered in purple goo.
Yelena's face turned beet red. “I – it was on and I -”
Nat burst out laughing. “This is what you were hiding from me?”
Yelena ducked to hide her face. “I like it,” she murmured.
“No, no.” Nat hastily came forward. “I'm not laughing at you. I'm just surprised. It's nothing to be ashamed of.”
Yelena lifted her head. “But it's a kid show.”
Nat rested her hand over Yelena's hairline. “I'm not judging you. I like action movies. You like this -” she gestured to the TV. “You don't have to hide that.”
“We weren't allowed to watch TV in Red Room.”
Joining SHIELD, Clint had not only introduced her to food, he had shown her all his favourite movies. Beforehand, Nat only had memories of watching cartoons on Saturday morning. Being younger, Nat supposed Yelena had been deprived from it even in memory.
“You're free to be the person you want, Yelena, and that includes enjoying everything, even children's cartoons.”
“Even though I'm nearly twenty eight?” The redness had faded, leaving a slight pink blotch on her cheeks. Her eyes focused on a spot behind Nat.
“Even when you're over a hundred years old.”
After that, it had become a common occurrence for Nat to find Yelena watching one of her cartoons. Sometimes Nat would sit with her. Some she liked, others she was indifferent about. But Yelena loved them. Her eyes sparkled with joy whenever a new episode aired.
A month later, Nat had a surprise for Yelena.
“Are we there yet?”
“You asked me that five minutes ago.”
“We could have been five minutes away.”
“We're ten minutes away.”
Ten minutes later, Yelena gasped. Parking the car, Nat lead Yelena through the front doors and approached the ticket booth. “Two tickets for Coco please.”
Once they paid, got their popcorn and found their screen room, Yelena walked ahead with a bounce in her step.