KEEPER [N. Romanoff × Female Reader]

Chapter 19: Leave your door open

On an early morning, Yelena found you in the training room, alone with your music plugged into your ears. She smiled at the sight before approaching you. The rhythmic thud of your punches against the training bag matched the beat of whatever song you were listening to.

Yelena waited a moment, watching your form, admiring the intensity and focus in your movements. Finally, she stepped closer, tapping you lightly on the shoulder.

You jumped slightly, pulling out one of your earbuds and turning to face her. "Oh, Yelena. Morning."

"Morning," she replied with a grin. "You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep," you admitted, wiping the sweat from your forehead. "Figured I'd get some training in."

Yelena nodded, understanding. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," you said, stepping back to give her space.

She slipped off her jacket and joined you at the training bag. For a few moments, the two of you trained in silence, the only sounds being the rhythmic hits and the faint music still playing in your other ear.

After a while, Yelena spoke up. "You know, you and Nat should talk."

You sighed, not surprised by her comment but still not entirely ready for it. "I know. It's just...complicated."

Yelena landed a particularly hard punch on the bag before turning to you. "Complicated is just another word for things we're scared to face."

You stopped, looking at her. "Since when did you become so wise?"

She laughed, a genuine sound that made you smile. "I've had my moments."

You both returned to training, but Yelena's words stuck with you. She was right. Avoiding the issue with Natasha wasn't helping anyone, least of all you. Maybe it was time to face it, to have that difficult conversation and see where it led.

As the session ended, Yelena gave you a supportive pat on the back. "Whatever happens, you've got people who care about you. Don't forget that."

"Thanks, Yelena," you said, feeling a bit more resolved.

After some time, and later that day, you spent mostly of your time in your office, agents come and go to give their reports, you give some of them missions to do and some you just ignore.

"So you're not okay?" Laura was on the phone.

Taking your time to reply, you were sitting on your office chair, spinning it idly. Your phone lay on the desk, set to speaker.

"Oh, I'm fine," you replied, and you heard her sigh.

"I'm not asking about you-you," she clarified, pausing for a moment. "What I meant is you and Nat."

You took a deep breath. "I honestly don't know what to do about her."

"Well, like you said, she didn't know it was your dada," she replied, and you chuckled lightly at how she put it.

"Dada?" You rolled your eyes, hearing her laugh in response.

"You used to call him that, dada," she mimicked your kid voice, making you chuckle again.

Sighing, you admitted, "It's not that. I'm okay with that now. It's just that I'm... scared." Your voice was only a whisper, and Laura sensed the seriousness.

She looked at Nathaniel at the kitchen table before stepping outside to the porch. "Of what?" she asked quietly.

"Of trusting. You know I've never trusted many people in my life," you admitted. Words had always been easy with Laura. You could always depend on her, no matter what you were going through. To her, you were like a daughter. You were family. Whatever and whenever, she'd be there.

"I feel like it's not only about trust," she spoke out, and you hummed. She was right. Deep down, you knew that what you were going to do would get people hurt.

Shrugging, you said, "I don't know, Lau. I can't explain it. I don't want to let people in. I want to do this on my own, you know."

Laura was silent for a moment, letting your words sink in. "I get that," she finally said. "But pushing people away isn't going to make it any easier. You're stronger with support, even if it's just a little."

You sighed again, the weight of your thoughts pressing down on you. "I just don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."

"It's not your fault if something happens," Laura said firmly. "You can't control everything. All you can do is your best. And your best is a lot better than you think."

A silence fell between you two, the only sound being the faint rustling of leaves in the background through Laura's phone. "Maybe you're right," you conceded, though doubt still lingered in your mind.

"I am always right," she insisted with a soft laugh. "And don't be so hard on Natasha. She cares about you a lot. Sometimes people make mistakes, but that doesn't mean they're not worth forgiving."

You nodded, even though she couldn't see you. "I'll think about it."

"Good," she said warmly. "And remember, I'm always here for you. No matter what."

"Thanks, Laura," you said, feeling a bit lighter.

"Anytime, kiddo," she replied. "Take care of yourself." You rolled your eyes at the nickname, but you didn't say anything about it.

You ended the call, staring at the phone for a moment. Laura's words echoed in your mind. Trust was hard, but maybe she was right. Maybe you needed to let people in, even if it scared you. You couldn't do everything on your own, and that was okay.

You stood up, taking a deep breath, and decided to find Natasha. Maybe it was time to start mending the bridge you had burned. As you walked through the compound, you couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and hope. It was a long road ahead, but perhaps you didn't have to walk it alone.