No Tears | NR

Chapter 34

Dorsington, United Kingdom

"Natasha", Yara stated awkwardly while she turned around to face the Avenger.

"I'm not surprised", Natasha voiced her thoughts, "Just a little disappointed. I thought we had an agreement."

"Well, yeah." Yara's voice trailed off.

"Then why did I catch you trying to ditch me?", Natasha inquired more harshly than she had intended.

Yara felt bad about trying to leave the Avenger, but she didn't regret her actions.

"I know that you want to help me and that you feel like you have an obligation to do so. But I have lost too many people in my life to add anyone else to that list. I can't lose you too."

The confession escaped Yara's mouth before she was able to stop herself.

There was a moment of silence while Natasha processed Yara's words. They had surprised her, not just because she hadn't known that Yara felt like that, but also because nobody had ever said anything like that to her ever before. She had always been an asset that was expected to fight and put herself in danger. She didn't know anything else. Sure, there were people like her family who cared about her, but they had never attempted to protect her like this. And yet here Yara was, sitting in a seat in front of her, trying to keep her safe and away from danger.

It took Natasha a few long seconds to get her thoughts in order before she spoke up.

"I understand that, but you can't go there by yourself. You need me and -"

Natasha took a short break to think her next words through. She wasn't used to being this honest and vulnerable, even after all the time that she had spent around the Avengers.

"- and I can't lose you either. Not if I could have done something about it."

"You can't lose me, 'cause I can't die", Yara reminded Natasha shortly.

"I know", the Avenger replied, "but you know what I mean."

Yara didn't, but she decided not to comment on it and just accept the fact that she wasn't going to get rid of Natasha.

"Fine, what now, then?", Yara wanted to know.

"Well, we're already here so might as well leave now", Natasha suggested.

Yara nodded and switched her seat with the Avenger who started pushing a few buttons in the console in front of her. At the same time, Yara moved to sit in one of the two seats behind her.

Once the quinjet had lifted off the ground, Natasha had turned on cloaking. She had retreated to the back of the plane to get some sleep afterward. Yara remained where she was, not wanting to risk getting any nightmares. Despite that, the dark night sky lulled her to sleep eventually.

Yara woke up with a start barely an hour later. She was breathing heavily and cold sweat was running down her face. A nightmare had woken her up but at least she hadn't screamed this time. Nevertheless, the sound of quiet footsteps behind Yara told her that Natasha was awake. The brunette had no idea how the Avenger could have heard her but, evidently, she had. Yara figured that it probably had to do with the Red Room.

She didn't look up as she heard Natasha slip into the front seat. None of them said anything for a while.

Yara had calmed down from her nightmare by now, but her thoughts were racing. Her dream had been similar to the previous two, but this time, instead of shooting Natasha, she had tortured her first, just like Hydra had done to her, and then she cut her throat. She couldn't control herself or do anything and was forced to watch as life slowly faded from the Avenger's eyes.