Winter's Widow

Chapter 15: Nowhere Else I'd Rather Be

"There are worse ways to go. Besides, where else am I going to get a view like that." I smirked as Natasha's voice came crackling through my earpiece as we rose into range.

"Glad you like the view, Romanoff. It's about to get better." Fury's voice made me chuckle.

"Saving your ass as usual, Natasha," I chimed in. I swear I heard fury laughing.

"That desperate to see me already, принцесса?"

"We could leave you here, you know." Natasha's giggle over coms was the most welcome sound possible.

"Knock it off, kids. We've got a job to do." Steve, business as usual.

"Aye aye, Captain," I muttered under my breath. I manned one of the ship's guns while the civilians were being loaded. A lot of commotion was coming from the church in the middle of town, and it was hard to tell what was happening. Tony and Rhodes were outside keeping the robots away from the helicarrier, and I wasn't about to let one of those creeps sneak up on an unsuspecting, innocent civilian. When Ultron had taken Natasha, I couldn't rest until we were doing something to get her back. Now that we found her, however, I was furious at her for – once more – putting herself in danger. It was the nature of the job, though, and I couldn't really talk. I wasn't exactly living the quiet life either. I spun the barrel of the gun around as I heard a metallic clang off to the side, opening fire on one of Ultron's smaller drones. The next few minutes both lasted an eternity and were over before I could process what was happening. A quinjet, heading right through the center of town. It opened fire, scattering Natasha and the Hulk, then raking a line of fire right towards Clint, who was cradling a child in his arms. No, this couldn't be happening. Then the blue blur moved Barton behind a car for cover, taking the bullets himself. I took a deep breath, shocked at what I had just witnessed. Then I heard the supernatural scream. But I didn't just hear it in my ears. I heard it in my head, too. My entire body ached as it rocked through me. Glancing around, it was easy to tell that it wasn't just happening to me. I took a shaky breath that turned into an urgent yell as the city began falling below us. The next thing I knew, the Hulk was laying a semi-conscious Natasha on the deck in front of me before leaping away. I ran to the redhead, crouching down beside her as medical approached.

"What did you do, idiot" I asked, smirking down at her, grabbing her hand. Her green eyes stared up at me, twinkling.

"Maybe saved the world?" Her voice was rougher than normal, but at least her sense of humor was intact.

"If you scare me like that again, I'll kill you myself." I grinned at her, and her smile let me know she was going to be just fine.

"Anything you say, принцесса." I rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop myself from laughing.

"I'm glad you're here, Romanoff." She grinned up at me stupidly.

"Nowhere else I'd rather be."

...

The rest of our journey through the former capital city of a now-fallen state was much calmer. Yelena looked around curiously, and I could easily remember the feeling that I had the last time I was here. If I closed my eyes and stopped walking, a part of me could hear the metallic clang of Ultron's drones as they swarmed the city. I could hear the rapid firing of guns. I could hear people screaming. I could hear Wanda screaming. I sighed. Yelena looked back at me, interestedly

"Are you okay?" She asked. I smiled.

"Just memories," I said softly. She nodded, eyes still on me.

"Tell me." I relayed the story as we walked. As we approached the area where the memorial had been set up, I paused. Yelena waited patiently as I took a few deep breaths. I wasn't ready.

"Can we come back tomorrow?" I gasped, feeling like I was on the verge of a panic attack. Natasha told me once that anyone who lives through the kind of stuff that we live through is bound to have some form of PTSD, but I never thought it would hit me like this. Yelena frowned, walking up to me, touching my cheek lightly with her fingertips.

"Anything you say, принцесса." I turned crimson red, staring at her as evening mist began to fall and the sky darkened. I guided her out of town through the side areas, finally breaking through to the woods beyond. Several minutes later, I could see the trail. It started to sprinkle as we walked, the trees offering a slight cover. I couldn't help but laugh. Yelena glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes. "What?" I shrugged my shoulders playfully.

"Don't you ever like just playing in the rain?" She frowned, looking at me like I was crazy.

"Why would you do that?" I looked at her in shock.

"You're kidding me." Yelena shook her head slowly.

"We didn't really do a lot of playing." I inhaled sharply. Of course.

"Come with me," I offered my hand to her. She hesitated, but placed her fingers in mine. I led her deeper into the woods towards the clearing that I knew was nearby. By the time we reached it, the rain had intensified. We broke through the trees and I ran forward, spinning, staring up at the sky. Yelena watched me skeptically.

"What are you doing?" She asked, smirking at me. I grinned and crooked my finger at her.

"Come here." Yelena laughed and shook her head.

"You're crazy," she giggled. I loved the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed.

"You may be right, but it's fun. And you like it." I liked watching her blush. She started walking towards me and I gulped. Teasing her may have been an error in judgement. Like Natasha, Yelena's walk was distinctive and predatory. I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

"I do?" She stopped inches from me, tilting her face up and letting the rain hit her. I bit my lip and grabbed her damp shirt around her waist. I pushed my forehead against hers and I heard her catch her breath.

"You do." I nodded, staring down at her lips. She leaned forward slowly, crashing her lips into mine, and I clenched her shirt more tightly. She slid her tongue into my mouth easily, and I mumbled into her mouth. "Don't you?"

She tilted her head slightly, breaking the kiss, staring into my eyes. "I do." Our lips smashed together again, and I could feel her trembling. I pulled back slightly.

"Are you okay?" She nodded, catching her breath. I grabbed her chin forcing her to look at me. She did for a minute before looking down again.

"I've never..." she didn't have to finish her sentence. I understood. I smiled at her and pulled her into me, kissing her forehead.

"It's okay, I've got you." I grinned and pulled her into my side as we began walking towards the cabin. "We can go as slow as you want." She tried to hide the smile on her face, but I caught it anyway.

"Thank you for doing this with me." I squeezed her shoulder.

"Nowhere else I'd rather be."