Loopholes

3

"You feel up for going to the apartment now?" Natasha asked, handing Ella crutches and helping her up. 

Ella nodded, and after a few falls, she got used to using the crutches.

They drove through the city for about twenty minutes silently.

Natasha's apartment was a loft studio with large industrial windows and a beautiful view.

"Wow" Ella said under her breath, admiring the view.

"It's not cheap for this view, let me tell you." Natasha said, walking over to where Ella was standing. "But it's worth it. These windows face west so the sunsets are incredible."

Ella stayed silent, and just smiled, looking out the window.

"So... I have a bed set up for you over here. I made you a corner. If you don't feel like you have enough privacy I can switch with you-"

"No no this is great! Thank you Ms. Romanoff" Ella said, hobbling over to the little nook that Natasha was pointing at. Because she couldn't feel her leg, it gave out part way through Ella's journey to get her bag. She had ditched the crutches because they were too frustrating, but hobbling wasn't a good plan either. Natasha had to run over to her and catch her before her head hit the corner of the kitchen island.

"Woah!" Ella said, in shock "Thank you" She smiled at Natasha gratefully.

"You should be more careful." She said, getting Ella's bag for her and helping her back over to her corner.

"I have to get a job!" Ella said, the second she sat down. "I haven't worked since I was sixteen. What do you think I'd be good at? Do you think if I made jewelry it would sell? No, I need like a stable job. But then I'm gonna be training with you and Mr. Barton.-"

"Ella- Ms. Stevenson- Slow down. You can stay here as long as you need. I can help you look for jobs if you'd like, once you're recovered fully, that is."

"You can call me Ella, Ms. Romanoff" Ella said, a bit jokingly. "Thank you. I don't even know what I can do anymore. For all I know I forgot how to dial a phone number. Which didn't happen but that was just a metaphor."

Natasha, who Ella thought seemed annoyed, said, "We can go shopping for clothes tomorrow if you'd like. For now you definitely need to practice using crutches."

"Ok" Ella said, trying not to be as energetic. After all, she was staying at Natasha's house. Annoying her was out of the question. She spent an hour and a half going up and down the hallway, teaching herself all sorts of crutches tricks out of boredom. Every once in a while, Natasha would come out to make sure she didn't wipe out, and by the time Ella lost all of her energy, Natasha told her she made dinner.

"What? I could've made dinner, Ms. Romanoff. Seriously. No more making dinner. Or helping me. I can make dinner for both of us, and I can do everything on my own." Ella said, upset and guilty.

"No." Natasha said with a straight face. "And don't call me Ms. Romanoff. Makes me feel like we're in court for something."

"Natasha?" Ella asked, shoveling food into her mouth.

Natasha nodded and smiled, holding in a chuckle.

In the morning, Ella woke up slowly.

"Good morning," Natasha said, chopping something on the counter.

"What time is it?" Ella asked, feeling like she slept a long time.

"Two," Natasha looked up.

"Shit- I'm sorry" Ella said guiltily.

"Don't be. I let you sleep in. Plus you had nightmares all night. I figured you would need the extra sleep."

"I did?" Ella asked.

Natasha nodded. "I came down to calm you down a few times. You were really upset."

"Fuck. I'm sorry Ms. Romanoff." Ella buried her head into her pillow.

"Again, don't be." She checked her watch, "We still have the time to go shopping if you'd like."

"But I don't have money. I need a job for money."

"Don't worry about it, I'll pay." Natasha said as Ella hobbled over to the counter, rubbing her eyes.

"Not happening." Ella said, sternly.

"How else do you want to get the clothes?"

"I- I won't. I'll just wear this." Ella swept her body with her hands, smiling.

"No. We're going shopping, and I'm paying. If you really want to you can pay me back once you can. But you don't have to."

"I'll pay you back. I also like don't have a sense of style."

Natasha smiled, "Neither do I. You're out of luck."

Ella frowned, "Guess we'll have to figure it out."

"I'm sure you will."

Ella smiled and put on some clothes that Natasha let her borrow and they were off. They started with Target, then went to Walmart, then Natasha said she didn't want Ella to walk around in Walmart clothes, so they went to real clothing stores. Ella would try things on, then look at the price, then put them away, then Natasha would buy them without Ella noticing.

"Stop doing that." Ella said, frowning at Natasha walking out the store, as she held up a pair of pants she had liked from Levis.

"I don't want you to feel like you only need bad things. I have plenty of money." Natasha put it back in the bag.

"So? It's not clothes for you, it's clothes for me."

"I know that. But you still deserve good quality things."

"Thank you," Ella said, reluctantly. "I think I'm shopped out"

"Alright. I'm feeling pizza for dinner. Yeah?

"Pizza sounds good!" Ella smiled.

"Is just a margarita fine for you?" Natasha said, pulling out her phone.

"Yeah. Thank you."

Natasha nodded and put the phone to her ear, then pointed to the left, where the front door to her apartment was.

Ella was surprised that they had been so close, then tried to open the door for Natasha, and they silently walked through, waiting for the pizza place to pick up.

That night, Ella wore her brand new pajamas to bed, fresh out of the laundry, and said goodnight to Natasha happily. She had never noticed herself having nightmares, but that was probably because she was asleep during them. Hoping she wouldn't have more tonight, Ella fell asleep.

She woke up to a throbbing pain in her leg in the middle of the night. "Ahhhh fuck" She whispered to herself, trying not to wake Natasha. She threw off the covers and looked at her leg, which had swollen up and then the cut was definitely not the right color. 

"Natasha?" She whispered, both trying to wake her and trying not to.

"Ella?" Natasha whispered back.

"My leg is gonna explode man." Ella tried not to sound in too much pain.

"What?" Natasha said at normal volume. "Why what happened?" She asked, coming down the stairs right away.

"I don't know. But look at this shit it's gross."

"Jesus" Natasha said, walking over.

Oh no! Ella's leg is not in good condition! What will we do!?

I promise I'll stop doing these note things eventually it's just so much fun.