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Yelena found herself on the porch of the Barton house, looking out towards the yard. Sam was on the grill arguing with Bucky about who knows, Yelena did like to watch as Sam got under Bucky’s skin. They were cute together. Wanda was helping Laurie set up a picnic table, using her magic to put the table cloth on and the plates with silverware. The red of her magic still amazed Yelena and it kept the younger children entertained for hours. Kate and Cooper were messing with a box of fireworks a little to close to a bomb fire while Sarah and Lila were in the house, preparing the rest of the food. Yelena was a little hesitant to accept the invitation to spend 4th of July with the Bartons. It took Kate, Wanda, and finally Natasha to convince her to come. Natasha slipped that you would be there, spending time with your family after school was done. You were who Yelena was watching. You were entertaining Nathaniel, AJ, and Cass with your powers to keep them out of the way of the adults and away from the fire. You could change into any animal and could use those animal’s abilities as your own. Right now you were a squirrel, climbing up and down the three boys making Lucky and Fanny bark and chase after you. Fanny got you pinned to the ground and you changed back, you laughed at the dog’s confused expression. The sound of your laugh caused Yelena to smile.
‘Your starring sestra.’ Natasha said, sitting on the railing. Yelena scuffed, rolling her eyes.
‘Like you haven’t been undressing Wanda all day.’ Natasha shrugged looking at her girlfriend.
‘She looks good.’ Natasha waved at Wanda. The young witch waved back, her cheeks blushing, no doubt reading Natasha’s mind.
‘Disgusting.’ Yelena mumbled, her attention was brought back to you. You were a German Shepard puppy. Nathaniel was holding you as you attacked his face with kisses. He was shirking, moving his head from side to side trying to dodge you. Finally, he put you down on the ground and changed back, whipping the dirt on your hands on your ripped jeans. ‘Am I allowed to look at her like this? After everything I’ve done. She’s just so nice to look at.’ Natasha smiled at her younger sister.
‘Why don’t you tell her how you feel?’ Yelena looked at Natasha with wide eyes.
‘No I’d never say a word.’ You were sitting on the grass with Nathaniel, AJ, and Cass in front of you. You were telling them a story. Yelena couldn’t hear what you were saying but you were energetically talking with your hands. A tightness built in Yelena’s chest. It was a feeling that was constant every time she was around you and it was something she’s never felt before. She never imagined a family of her own one day. For a large part of her life, she believed she would never be able to leave the Red Room. But after she was given the red dust, she was reunited with her sister, and together they took down the Red Room for good -anything is possible. Yelena pointed to her chest. ‘There is an ache but it feels oddly good.’
‘Love, sestra . You found love for the first time of your own free will.’
‘She means everything to me.’ Yelena confessed. She was shocked by the words that so easily left her lips. She looked at her sister, waiting for a rejection. But Natasha had a smile on her face.
‘Tell her,’ Natasha said simply. ‘She is a Barton. She will understand what we’ve been through better than anyone.’ Natasha placed a comforting hand on Yelena’s shoulder and joined her girlfriend at the table.
Just tell her , Yelena thought, shaking her head. As if it was that easy. Yelena believed that every time you stood next to her you could not be more far apart. It was as if Yelena froze when you were close. She was afraid to say the wrong thing, afraid to push you away. She was still learning how to be a ‘normal’ person. It was why she spent so much of her time with Widows that she freed - they understood the struggle of trying to find their footing in a world that they were deprived off.
‘She likes you.’ Yelena jumped from the sound. She spun around seeing Lila, who had her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
‘It is not good to sneak up on an assassin.’
‘Ex-assassin,’ Lila clarified. ‘Besides, Aunty Nat taught me a lot.’ Lila shrugged like it was no big deal. Yelena cruised in Russian as Lila ran down the steps to join her siblings. She felt someone staring at her, the hairs on her neck were standing up. She glanced around the yard, everyone was busy doing their own thing. Until her eyes landed on you. You were sitting next to Kate, who was talking but your attention wasn’t on the burnette as she was speaking. Yelena’s eyes locked onto yours. You gave her a smile, blushing slightly at being caught, and returned your attention back to Kate. Yelena chuckled, shaking her head.
Yeah, she means everything to me.
*
The problem with it being a holiday and this being your first time home in a while, everyone wanted your attention. Kate took you to the makeshift archery range that Clint built earlier this year. Lila talked your ear off about all the plans she had this summer and a boy she liked in her class. When everyone was eating, your mom nagged you about your plans when the summer was over which caused the entire table to get involved in the conversation. Yelena watched as you tried to disappear into your chair. The sun finally set on the Barton farm and Yelena sat on a blanket, watching Kate, Clint, and Cooper get the firework show ready. You were standing next to Nathaniel, helping him make a s’more. Once the s’more was constructed, you took a bite of it, and handed the rest to your brother. Yelena couldn’t help but wonder what the taste of your lips or how they would feel against hers. Would they taste like a birthday cake from your chapstick? Or storytime? Or fall? Yelena almost laughed at how soft she felt because she knew to you she tasted like nothing at all.
You walked over to her, pointing to the empty spot next to her, asking for permission to sit down. Yelena nodded. You sighed as you sat down and handed her a sparkler. You lit yours with a lighter and used yours to light hers.
‘How was your first time celebrating the 4th of July?’ You asked her. All the reasons why her day was great died on her lips.
It was amazing because you were here.
You are the only reason I came.
Please see me how I see you.
‘It’s a weird holiday.’ Yelena said. ‘Was Steve Rogers actually born on July 4th or did they change it when he became Captain America?’ You laughed.
‘No I think he was born on the 4th. His birth certificate is on display at the museum.’ Yelena rolled her eyes. She found that hard to believe.
‘Birth certificates are easy to forge.’
‘That was such a spy thing to say.’ The sparklers had long since gone out but Yelena kept it in her hand, twirling it between her fingers. You watched with fascination.
‘Now without the audience of the entire party, what are your plans once the summer is over?’ Yelena found herself asking. You sighed, leaned your head back, and looked at the stars. Yelena followed your gaze up to the stars. It was an amazing view. The air wasn’t as polluted as major cities and there weren't as many lights to obstruct the view of the stars.
‘I don’t know.’ You finally responded. Yelena almost forgot she asked a question, she became so focused on looking at the stars and listening to the sounds around her. ‘May go back to the city or travel the world. What about you? Any more Widows to save?’ Yelena shook her head.
‘Natasha suggested I take a break and live my life. So I guess I’m listening to her.’
‘What are you going to do?’ You asked. It was Yelena’s turn to sigh as she moved her fingers through the grass. It was wet from the dew but the feeling helped ground her.
‘I’m not sure. I’ve always had a mission, a job, or an order to follow. I don’t know what to do with my life.’ A stretch of silence passed between the both of you. It wasn’t awkward, it was comfortable. Yelena could see that you were biting the inside of your cheek
‘Well,’ you said softly. ‘I could use a travel buddy and my dad may feel better if I was with a trained Black Widow when backpacking around the world.’ For a split second, Yelena wasn’t sure if she heard you correctly.
‘You want me to come with you?’ You nodded, biting your lip
‘Unless you don’t want to’ You stuttered out. ‘I mean you seemed like you weren’t sure what to do. And I like hanging out with you even though we don’t do it often. I think it could be fun. Unless you don’t think it would. So please don’t-
‘I would love to join you.’ Yelena said, cutting you off. Your eyes went wide but you relaxed at her response.
‘Cool.’ You watched the fireworks exploding in the sky but felt Yelena looking at you. ‘Do I have something on my face?’ You asked, laughing. Yelena didn’t say anything right away. She was trying to memorize the way the color from the fireworks lit up your face. The way the fire created shadows. You did have something on your face, a little bit of chocolate from that s’more you helped Nathaniel. But Yelena didn’t care.
‘You are just so nice to look at.’ You looked at Yelena.
‘Lena.’ You say softly.
‘You mean everything to me.’ Yelena said quickly, before losing her nerve. ‘You smell like lemongrass and sleep which makes me feel safe and reminds me of home. It scares me that I could feel that way about someone. And.’ Before she could finish you surged forward connecting your lips with hers. The sudden impact stunned Yelena. As her brain started to register what was going on, she kissed you back, putting her hands on your waist pulling you closer. You tasted like apple juice and peach with a hint of chocolate from the smore. It was a taste that Yelena knew she was going to be addicted to. Yelena ended the kiss as she needed to breathe and didn’t want to start making out with you in front of your family. She kept your lips inches from hers and she felt your breath on them. Your lips were a little red as you smiled. ‘What’s got you smiling like that?’ Yelena asked. Your smile only grew bigger.
‘Just excited to see the world with you and kiss you while we see it.’ Yelena pulled you under her arm, kissing the top of your head. Oh she was excited too.