The Younger Agent - Natasha Romanoff x OC

Chapter 6 - Natasha

Over the next 3 nights, the two women carried on with their evening routine. Eleanor bringing drinks and UNO, and Nat getting better at the game, somehow. She was even starting to talk more, which both of them were secretly proud of.

Natalia had made her first proper friend, and she loved it. Someone spending time with her because they wanted to, and who genuinely liked her company, and not just assigned to be with her for various jobs. Each evening she would look forward to Eleanor visiting, this even helped her sleep better, the warm feeling she got from the younger woman made her feel safe, and so she was not as tormented by nightmares as she usually was. 

However, this had to end, temporarily. 

Both women were informed that whilst the process of finalising Nat's case was being finished, Nat could not have visitors. With Eleanor's role in the case being officially completed, she was no longer authorised to go and see her. They knew it was temporary, but it still hurt. Having gotten used to each other's company it would be a jolt to their systems to suddenly go to zero contact, but it wasn't like they had any other choice. 

The next 4 nights were not nice for Nat, waking up every few hours in a panic, visions of her past tormenting her mind. She just wanted to see her, even for a few seconds. She was fully aware that she had become reliant on the younger Agent, and that scared her, but she was determined not to put her walls up, wanting to keep her friend; she made her feel grounded. 

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Eleanor wasn't having nightmares like Nat was, but she still felt a bit lost in the evenings. She had a movie night with Maria which she loved, and it helped. But she felt guilty that Nat didn't have that, she was just stuck in her cell. This ate her up inside that she had no choice but to let her friend sit there alone. Her mind often drifted to the Russian, wondering what she was up to at the time, because well, there wasn't anything for her to be doing at all really. 

Zoning out with these thoughts during work didn't go unnoticed. Clint would usually just tease her, but he was genuinely concerned with how low his friend had looked over the past few days. 
"What's wrong El?", this immediately snapped her out of her trance, he usually just called her by her last name, unless he was concerned with her, or just wanted something badly, like food or something. 
"Nothin'".
"You can't lie to me, I know you too well".
She just stared at him for a few seconds before thinking of what to say, he was right, she was like an open book to him, "Just worried about her, she's all alone down there, you know?". She turned away from Clint before taking a sip of water.

"I know, but her final interview is this afternoon, if it goes well she can beco-".
In shock, her whole body tensed up, and she ended up spitting her water all over her desk and laptop.
"SHIT", she quickly dabbed her laptop with her sleeves hoping that it was not broken, luckily it didn't seem to be. Thank God, she did not want to go and request a new laptop because of some water damage.

"What the hell was that", Clint looked at her unamused.
"I forgot that was today!".
Rolling his eyes, "You're attentive".
"Shut it Barton, well you've been more involved than I have these last few days, do you think it will go okay??". Everything over the last week had been leading up to this and hearing that the decision was being made today, well, she could have passed out. 

Hearing the panic in Eleanor's voice he responded with "Hey hey, calm yourself, she's done a good job so far, unless she royally screws up today I think she has a good chance".

Eleanor slowly nodded at him before turning back to her work. 

---

It was now 3:30 pm, Eleanor was sitting in a chair in the hallway by the room Nat, Barton, Fury, Hill, and some important people she honestly couldn't remember the name of, were in, they weren't her main priority. Her leg bounced up and down with nervous energy. She was honestly terrified.