No Tears | NR

Chapter 12

Highway in Hungary

The three women had "borrowed" a car, an expensive-looking BMW, and left Budapest. It was dark and Yara was seriously wondering if it was a good idea to let the Avenger drive. Both of them hadn't slept properly for days, as far as Yara remembered. On top of that, her headache hadn't faded, but, on the contrary, even gotten worse.

"You know, this is the first piece of clothing I've ever bought for myself", Yelena showed her vest off proudly.

"That?", Natasha replied while chewing gum and glanced at the blonde in the passenger seat shortly.

"Yeah. You don't like it?", Yelena wanted to know.

"Is that like a... Is it an army surplus, or...", Natasha suggested, trying to tease the blonde.

"Okay, it has a lot of pockets", the latter defended her vest.

Natasha chuckled quietly.

"I like it", Yara joined the conversation.

"Thank you." Yelena sent her quick glance through the front mirror. "See? She likes it too", she repeated Yara's comment and looked at the redhead meaningfully.

Natasha continued chuckling.

"Oh, and just for your information, I use the pockets all the time, and I made some of my own modifications." Yelena scoffed and flipped the Avenger off who was obviously amused by the blonde's reaction. "Shut up. The point is, I've never... I've never had control over my own life before, and now I do. I want to do things."

The atmosphere of comfort which had been in the car moments earlier instantly became a little sad and tense even if it was only for a second.

"Hm, I like your vest", Natasha finally complemented the blonde's piece of clothing with a smirk.

"I knew it. I knew you did. It's so cool, right?", Yelena celebrated Natasha's statement and pumped her fists.

"It's good. Yes. I like it", the redhead replied smiling.

"And you can put so much stuff in there. You wouldn't even know", Yelena boasted proudly.

Natasha continued smiling and chewing her bubblegum. Yara smiled too, but there was a sadness in her eyes that could only be caused by the loss of a close friend. The blonde woman reminded Yara strongly of her sister. Yelena's whole manner and energy were just like her sister's had been.

Yara shook her head lightly, trying to rid her mind of those thoughts, even if it was only temporarily and they would return to haunt her eventually.

"I really don't know where the Red Room is, though", Yelena announced. "I'm sorry."

"I know", the redhead acknowledged the statement. "But I think I know somebody who does."

"Oh, yeah? Who?"

"We're gonna need a jet", Natasha replied mysteriously.

Yara spoke up asking a question that has been on her mind for a while now, "So, I know what you guys are planning on doing. But where am I going?"

Natasha played dumb and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know that you wanted me to come with you earlier, but that was before you decided to find the Red Room and kill Dreykov. I just figured that you were going to drop me off somewhere and then go and be a hero", Yara explained her thought process.

"You're not wrong, but I have nowhere safe to drop you off. The Red Room would still find you so you will stay safest by my side for now."

Yara nodded slowly in understanding and leaned her head back onto the top edge of the seat. She was tired and her head was pounding. She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. The last thing, she remembered, was murmuring from the two women in the front who were keeping their voices down to not wake her up.