Natasha's Doorstep
Natasha was awakened by a thunderous knock at her apartment door. Her hand automatically found her gun on her nightstand as she slowly made her way to her front door. Her thoughts raced, the only people who knew about the location of her apartment were Fury, Barton, and Charlie. Natasha lowered her gun as she saw the girl in question through her peephole. She could see the tear stains and the sadness from behind the door. Without another thought, Natasha whipped the door open.
“N-Nat.”
Natasha had no time to respond before Charlie threw herself into her arms. The younger woman had wrapped her arms tightly around Natasha’s waist and was sobbing into her chest. Slowly, Natasha returned the hug with one arm. With her free arm, she maneuvered Charlie’s suitcase into her apartment and shut the door.
Charlie felt safe in Natasha’s arms, she couldn’t explain why, and if anyone asked, she would deny it. After a few good minutes of crying, Charlie slowly stepped away, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I, uh, I’m sorry. I, uh, had nowhere else to, um, go. Tony, he’s, I can’t deal with him.”
Natasha ran her hands down Charlie’s arms to calm her, “Hey, it’s okay,” she said calmly, “take a deep breath. When you’re ready, you can tell me what happened.”
Charlie squeezed her eyes shut as she nodded slowly. She allowed Natasha to maneuver her towards the couch in the middle of the living room.
Natasha gave Charlie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, “Do you want something to drink? I don’t have much. I have water and maybe some coffee.”
Charlie gave a watery laugh, “water please,” she sniffed.
“Okay,” Natasha let her fingers trail off Charlie’s arm as she wandered over to the little kitchen.
Charlie watched as Natasha moved around the kitchen with grace. There were about two and a half feet that separated them. “I told Tony,” she admitted.
“And he didn’t take it well.” It wasn't a question.
Charlie looked at her hands as she fiddled with her fingers. “Worse,” she said with a shrug, “He forbade me from going actually. I’m twenty-five years old, you know? For twenty-five years I wanted a father and he chose now to start acting like it. I needed him when Grayson….”
Once the water was secured, Natasha made her way back over to Charlie. She placed the half-filled glass into the other woman’s hands and sat beside her. “I’m sorry, Charlie,” Natasha spoke softly. She didn’t question Charlie on Grayson, she didn’t feel like it was her place.
“I can’t go back there,” Charlie said, “Not before I leave for New York and definitely not after.”
Natasha listened silently. She placed her hand on Charlie’s lower back and gently rubbed circles with her thumb.
“I have stuck by him through all of his immature rendezvous and childish behaviour. He can’t even support me this once. I just don’t understand,” Charlie shook her head to rid her eyes of any unshed tears.
Natasha let out a heavy breath, “You can stay here until you have to leave,” she offered, “I’ll drive you to the airport on Friday.”
Charlie nodded slowly as she bit back a yawn, “Thank you.”
“Any time, любить.”
Charlie slowly leaned into Natasha and lowered her head onto the other woman’s shoulder. She didn’t have much fight left to stay awake and her eyes slowly drooped.
“We should go to bed,” Natasha whispered into Charlie’s hair, she brushed the stray strands of hair out of Charlie’s faces with her free hand.
Charlie nodded but made no effort to move.
Natasha smiled softly. She gently tucked her arm under Charlie’s leg and pulled the younger woman to her chest before standing up. Other than tucking her head under Natasha’s chin, Charlie made no other move which made it easier for Natasha to carry her into her bedroom.
After Charlie was safely, deposited onto her bed, Natasha grabbed a spare pillow and turned to leave.
“Nat.”
Natasha turned around to see Charlie looking at her with hooded eyes.
“Don’t leave.”
Natasha looked torn between joining Charlie on the comfortable bed or leaving to sleep in solitude on the lumpy couch.
“Nat.”
Natasha closed her eyes as her resolve crumbled. She slowly replaced her pillow and climbed into her bed. She froze when Charlie rolled over, placing her head on Natasha’s chest. She laid stiffly until she was sure Charlie had fallen asleep, it was then that she wrapped an arm around Charlie’s waist and ran her fingers through Charlie’s hair with the other.
“Goodnight, Charlotte.”