Whispered in Russian
Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader
Summary: Natasha teaches you how to speak some Russian during your time together on a mission.
A/n: this was inspired from a request. Not sure if it was what you expected but I hope you'll still enjoy it.
Warnings: fluff, suggestive themes, cursing, Russian translations from google (because I unfortunately do not know the language)
Words: 3250
“Bron' dlya Nataliyi Romanovoy.”
Natasha’s Russian accent flows effortlessly, her voice smooth and confident as she speaks to the front desk receptionist. Her tone carries the ease of someone completely at home in the language.
It’s a voice you’ve grown intimately familiar with—not just as her teammate for years but also as her partner.
Which also makes it easier to pick up and piece together some of the words, though you’re still far from being fluent.
Reservation for Natalia Romanova, you translate silently.
The receptionist offers a polite smile, tapping away at her computer until she finds the reservation. With a nod, she retrieves a key card and slides it across the counter to Natasha.
“Dobro pozhalovat, gospazha Romanova. Vot vashi klyuchi ot nomera.”
You listen intently, trying to match the sounds to meaning, but the words come faster than you can process. Your grasp falters after the first few phrases.
Welcome…Romanova…key
You almost have it, but the rest slips through your mental filter, lost in the quick flow of syllables. Before you can catch up, the receptionist continues in a kind but rapid tone.
“Esli vam ili vashey zhene potrebuyetsya pomoshch, pozvonite na resepshn, i my s radostyu vam pomozhem.”
At that, Natasha’s lips quirk up in a small, amused smirk. The expression is subtle but unmistakable, and it draws your curiosity.
You glance at her, silently asking what amused her, but she offers no explanation, only thanking the receptionist with a graceful nod as she takes the key card.
“Spasibo,” Natasha says, her voice as composed as ever.
Thank you.
That part you recognize immediately, the basic phrase standing out like a familiar face in a crowd.
Natasha’s hand finds your waist as she guides you away from the desk, her touch grounding and affectionate.
Still, your mind lingers curiously on the exchange.
Once inside the room, you dive into setting up your equipment for the mission, carefully pulling out the listening gear from your bag.
Meanwhile, Natasha checks the room methodically, her eyes scanning for anything amiss. She ends her sweep at the window, drawing back the shutters slightly to observe the building across the street—the one where the targets work at.
“What did the receptionist say to you at the end?” you ask, your curiosity finally spilling over as you adjust the calibration on the gear.
Natasha glances over her shoulder at you, a glint of amusement in her eyes. She takes her time responding, watching as you work with meticulous focus.
“She said if we needed anything, we could call the front desk,” Natasha replies casually, her tone almost too neutral.
You pause, narrowing your eyes as you turn to face her.
“That’s it?” you ask, skepticism lacing your voice. “Then why did you react like that?”
The smirk you’d noticed earlier reappears, tugging at the corners of her lips. Natasha steps closer to you, wrapping her arms around your waist and leaning in.
“Zhena,” she repeats slowly, enunciating the word with deliberate care. Her breath is warm against your skin as she presses a quick, affectionate kiss to your cheek. “It means ‘wife.’ She called you my wife.”
“Oh,” you reply, your heart fluttering at the thought.
You fall silent for a moment, processing, before quietly repeating the word under your breath.
“Zhena,” you murmur, practicing the pronunciation like a secret you want to keep safe. You say it again, slightly louder, trying to mimic Natasha’s intonation.
Natasha’s expression softens as she watches your reaction, her smirk giving way to a small, genuine smile.
Once satisfied with your attempt, you nod firmly, confidence growing.
Your gaze shifts to the small table in the corner of the room, and something catches your eye. You gesture toward it, brow raised.
“Well,” you say, “that explains the bottle of champagne.”
Natasha follows your gaze, her chuckle warm and rich as she spots the chilled, unopened bottle perched beside two crystal glasses.
“Hill said this was the only room available,” she replies, her fingers tracing soft patterns at your sides. Her voice drops slightly, the edge of a smirk returning to her lips. “Guess that means we’re playing newlyweds.”
You wrap your arms around her shoulders, leaning against her as you ponder the situation.
“Alright,” you nod thoughtfully, “and it won’t look suspicious if we don’t leave our room much since, technically, we’re on our honeymoon.”
Natasha’s smirk deepens, her eyes glinting with mischief. She tilts her head closer, her lips brushing lightly against yours.
“Oh, that sounds fun,” she murmurs, her tone dropping into a suggestive lilt.
You roll your eyes, though the small smile tugging at your lips betrays your amusement.
“I meant it’s a good cover for our mission,” you say pointedly, pulling back just enough to regain your composure. You gesture toward the gear on the table before raising a brow at her. “Or did you already forget the reason why we’re here in the first place?”
Natasha doesn’t answer immediately.
Instead, her smirk shifts into something a little more daring as she tightens her hold on your waist before pulling you flush against her. Her lips ghost over yours again as she leans in, just close enough for her voice to drop to a whisper.
“I’m multitasking,” she teases, the husky tone sending a shiver down your spine before she closes the small distance between you two.
~~~~~~~ ⧗ ~~~~~~~
Some time later, after you two manage to refocus on the mission, you settle in to monitor the listening equipment.
The two of you wait patiently, earpieces in place, scanning for the key information you need.
But after a few hours of static-filled recordings, indistinct conversations, and absolutely nothing useful, Natasha notices your shoulders beginning to tense with exhaustion.
She rests a hand on your arm.
“Take a break,” she offers softly. “I’ll keep watch for now.”
You hesitate, but the encouraging smile on her lips convinces you.
“Alright,” you relent, stretching out your stiff shoulders before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Once inside, the hot water works wonders, the steam easing the tension in your muscles.
You feel the stress of the mission starts to melt away, but as you finish, you realize you’ve made a small mistake.
You forgot to grab your change of clothes for the night.
With a sigh, you wrap the towel around yourself, water still clinging to your skin, and step out of the bathroom.
The cool air sends a shiver through you as you pad quietly toward your bag.
Natasha’s back is to you as she speaks on the hotel phone.
Her voice flows smoothly in Russian, soft but clear, and you catch a few familiar words—borscht, pelmeni, blini—dishes you’ve heard her name before.
As you rummage through your belongings, it hits you: she’s ordering dinner. You smile to yourself, amused by the domesticity of the moment, even in the middle of a mission.
Not wanting to take any longer, you quickly grab what you need, tossing your bag back in its original position as you hear Natasha finish up.
“Da, prosto ostav’te—blyat…”
The abrupt edge in Natasha’s voice pulls your attention, her sudden exclamation making you look up in curiosity.
Her words have stopped mid-sentence, her lips parted slightly as her eyes roam over you. Her gaze lingers on the droplets of water still glistening on your skin, the curve of your shoulders, and the towel that clings just a little too loosely to your body.
It takes her a moment to catch herself. Natasha clears her throat, her voice steadier as she quickly finishes her conversation.
“Prostite,” she mutters into the phone. “Ostav’te yedu u dveri. Spasibo.”
You pause where you stand as you attempt to piece together what she just said. Your limited Russian skills manage to translate fragments: leave…food…door.
It’s enough to guess that she told them to leave your dinners outside the room so they won’t come in and see all your equipment set up.
But you also notice that there’s one word missing from the sentence—the one she exclaimed earlier.
It lingers in your mind, unaccounted for, and you try remembering how Natasha said it.
“Blyat…” you repeat, testing the word carefully, sounding it out until you nod in satisfaction, confident you’ve got it.
A low groan comes from Natasha, prompting you to look back at her. Her eyes are noticeably darker now.
“Bozhe moy…” Natasha mutters under her breath, shaking her head lightly in exasperation.
Your brow quirks in amusement at her tone, a small smile tugging at your lips. “What does it mean?”
“It’s a curse word—just something someone would say when they’re surprised or frustrated,” Natasha says stiffly, her voice a little strained, though she manages to seem mostly composed.
Her eyes eventually betray her, though, drifting back to the droplets of water sliding down your skin.
“So what’s the translation?” you press, crossing your arms at her vague response. The motion inadvertently shifts the towel, loosening it further.
Natasha’s jaw tightens. Her gaze flickers to the towel, and she exhales sharply through her nose, her control clearly fraying.
Even though she looks like she’s about to close the distance between you, it’s clear she won’t answer your question, which makes your expression fall lightly into a mock disappointed pout.
“You said you’d help me improve my Russian during this mission,” you remind her, your tone innocently light as you step closer to stand in front of her.
The memory of her promise lingers in your mind—how she’d caught you practicing in secret and insisted you ask her for help whenever you needed it.
Her lips twist in hesitation, probably also remembering her promise, and for a moment, it seems like she might resist.
But then she relents with a sigh.
“It’s basically like saying ‘fuck,’” Natasha explains, her voice low and even. She fixes you with a pointed look, her gaze burning as she adds, “As in, you surprised me, standing half-naked in the middle of the room like this.”
A laugh escapes you, though your cheeks warm at the intensity of her gaze. You move to hover a hand above her chest, tracing a finger lightly against the edge of her tank top.
“Were you surprised…or frustrated?” you ask, your tone full of mischief.
Natasha shoots you a warning look, one that says you already know the answer.
“I don’t think learning Russian curse words was part of your original goal here,” she counters, her voice tight.
“Who says I haven’t learned some phrases already?” you reply with a playful shrug.
Her eyebrows lift, intrigued. “Like what?”
You shake your head, refusing to elaborate. “I’m still practicing my pronunciation.”
Natasha smirks, leaning closer. “I can help.”
The listening equipment chooses that moment to beep suddenly, interrupting your conversation, as it signals incoming noises.
“Too bad we’re still on the clock,” you quip with a teasing smile.
Natasha’s attention flickers reluctantly to the gear, her expression briefly clouded with disappointment.
You take the opportunity to head back to the bathroom and finish up.
As you go, a smirk tugs at your lips, the Russian phrase you’ve been practicing simmering in your mind.
Just as you step through the doorway, you hum thoughtfully, your voice low and deliberate as you mutter under your breath—just loud enough for Natasha to hear.
“How did it go again...trak-hni…menya…trakhni menya…”
You don’t need to turn around to know the effect your words have. Natasha’s sharp intake of breath is unmistakable, and your smirk widens in satisfaction.
Behind you, Natasha freezes, her lips parting slightly, her entire body going still as she processes what you just said. The weight of your casual tone and the boldness of your phrasing leave her momentarily stunned.
By the time she regains her composure, you’ve already disappeared into the bathroom, the door closing with a soft click.
A low, disbelieving chuckle escapes her after a moment, followed by a quiet grumble as she mutters to herself, “Of all the times to be on a mission…”
Natasha shakes her head and exhales, grabbing the earpiece with a resigned sigh.
Sliding it back on, she tries to focus on the task at hand, her eyes scanning the equipment as if sheer willpower could drown out her thoughts.
But her gaze betrays her, drifting back toward the bathroom door.
It lingers there, her resolve wavering as the temptation to follow you creeps in, tugging at her self-control.
Her mind conjures an image of you inside—water still clinging to your skin and your voice low and teasing as you repeat the Russian phrase for “fuck me” over and over again.
The imagination is enough to make her swallow hard, her grip tightening on the table’s edge.
With a sharp, frustrated exhale, Natasha forces her attention back to the mission, her eyes narrowing as if determination alone could block the distractions.
And she does succeed in regaining her composure eventually, though, every now and again, your voice echoes in her mind—soft, playful, and full of mischief.
Each syllable you murmured is as clear as if you were still standing there, taunting her with that dangerous smirk.
The corners of her lips twitch despite herself.
You’ve always told her how much you love hearing her speak in Russian—how the sound of it stirs something in you.
Natasha had always found your words amusing, but hearing you just now, with your hesitant yet deliberate tone, she’s beginning to understand exactly what you meant.
~~~~~~~ ⧗ ~~~~~~~
After dinner, Natasha takes it upon herself to continue monitoring the listening gear, insisting that you rest up first after the long trip here and the exhausting setup.
Her tone left little room for argument, so you relented, knowing how stubborn she could be about these things and the fact that she is more than capable of staying concentrated on the task for longer than you can.
Hours pass, the rhythmic static and indistinct chatter from the equipment blending into the quiet of the room.
Natasha barely notices how late it’s gotten until she feels your arms wrap gently around her shoulders from behind.
You lean in close, your warm breath brushing against the side of her head as you carefully remove her earpieces.
“Poydem so mnoy spat’,” you whisper softly.
Natasha’s lips curve into a small, pleased smile at your perfect pronunciation. Turning to face you, she raises a brow, her expression amused.
“Did you learn that specifically for moments like this?” she teases.
You smirk back at her.
“With how often you lose yourself in work, I figured learning how to call you to bed should be one of the first things I perfect.”
Natasha shakes her head fondly, a quiet laugh escaping her lips.
“Of course you would,” she murmurs, but there’s no mistaking the affection in her voice.
Obliging you, she removes the rest of the gear and allows you to pull her gently from the chair toward the large bed.
As she moves, her gaze flickers to the nightstand, catching sight of your tablet screen. The familiar display of the language-learning app you’ve been using to practice Russian glows faintly in the dim light.
Settling in beside her, you lie back against the pillows while Natasha props herself up on one elbow, her head resting on her hand. Her green eyes glimmer with a soft light as she looks at you, a small smile playing on her lips.
“You know,” she says, tilting her head slightly, “I’m sure I can teach you Russian better than that app.”
Her comment makes you laugh lightly.
“I know, but our free time doesn’t always line up for me to get a lesson from Ms. Romanoff,” you tease, smirking.
“It’s Mrs.,” Natasha corrects, her playful smirk matching yours. “Don’t forget, we’re technically married right now.”
You smile, your gaze softening as you look at her.
“Right. How could I forget that you’re my ‘zhena?’”
The word slips out in a playful, teasing tone, but it has an unexpected effect.
Natasha’s heart flutters so much at hearing you call her your wife in Russian that she has to look away for a moment to regain her composure.
Her expression is tender when she looks back at you, her other arm moving around your midsection and pulling you closer.
“I have time now,” she offers, her voice low. “Anything you want to learn?”
You hum thoughtfully, tapping your chin as you consider.
“Alright, how do you say…‘you look beautiful?’”
Natasha’s smile widens slightly.
“Ty vyglyadish’ prekrasno,” she replies smoothly.
You repeat the phrase under your breath, scrunching your face slightly in concentration as you practice. Once you’re confident enough, you turn to her with a gentle smile.
“Ty vy-glya-dish’ prekrasno,” you say, your pronunciation close but not perfect.
Natasha chuckles softly in amusement when she realizes you just wanted to say the phrase back to her.
“Are you trying to make me fall for you even more by complimenting me in Russian?”
You smirk playfully. “Depends. Is it working?”
Huffing lightly, Natasha rolls her eyes, though there’s a clear fondness in her exasperation. She looks away briefly, but you catch her cheek gently, turning her gaze back to yours.
“How do you say…‘I love you?’” you ask softly, your voice tinged with both curiosity and affection.
Natasha’s expression softens further, her features open and vulnerable as she answers.
“Ya tebya lyublyu,” she says, enunciating each syllable carefully for you.
“Ya tebya lyu…blyu,” you repeat slowly, trying to mimic how her lips move, but the last syllable doesn’t quite land how it should.
Natasha chuckles lightly, her hand moving to cup your chin.
“When you say ‘lyublyu,’” she explains gently, “you have to purse your lips more.”
You try again, adjusting your pronunciation, and then glance at her for confirmation.
“Like that?” you ask innocently, unaware that you had said it perfectly, making Natasha’s heart beat a little faster at the sound of your voice saying those words to her in her native language.
“Say it again,” Natasha murmurs, her voice soft.
Focusing intently, you follow her previous instructions.
“Ya tebya lyublyu.”
Just as you say the last sound, Natasha leans in suddenly, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.
Your smile grows against her mouth as realization dawns that she made you repeat it for her benefit.
“Mmm, you’re teasing me when you're supposed to be teaching me,” you murmur lightly in reprimand.
Natasha pulls back slightly, her green eyes glinting with playful mischief.
“Maybe I just love the way you say it,” she counters, her tone low and warm.
You huff lightly, rolling your eyes in mock exasperation before scooting closer.
Natasha relaxes fully into the bed, letting you rest your head on her shoulder and tuck your face into the curve of her neck. Her arms wrap around you, holding you in a soft embrace.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Natasha’s voice breaks through, gentle and curious.
“What made you decide to learn Russian?”
There’s a brief pause as you consider her question, and then you tilt your head to look up at her, your eyes filled with affection.
“Russian is a part of who you are, Natasha,” you say earnestly. “Where you came from. To learn another way to connect with you…” You trail off, your soft smile widening. “Who wouldn’t want to do that?”
Natasha’s heart swells at your words, and for a moment, all she can do is hold you closer, her fingers brushing lightly over your back.
“Ya tebya lyublyu,” she whispers, her voice barely audible but still filled with the depth of her feelings for you.
You settle back against her, smiling into her shoulder, your voice gentle as you reply.
“Ya tebya lyublyu, too.”
~~~~~~~ ⧗ ~~~~~~~
a/n: got distracted by a cute request and made another little fluff fic. thank you for reading! Now I'll get back to working on my series. 😅
Also here are the translations below:
“Bron' dlya Nataliyi Romanovoy.” - Reservation for Natalia Romanova.
“Dobro pozhalovat, gospazha Romanova. Vot vashi klyuchi ot nomera.” - Welcome, Mrs. Romanova. Here are your room keys.
“Esli vam ili vashey zhene potrebuyetsya pomoshch, pozvonite na resepshn, i my s radostyu vam pomozhem.” - If you or your wife need assistance, please call the front desk and we will be happy to assist you.
“Spasibo,” - Thank you
“Zhena,” - Wife
“Da, prosto ostav’te—blyat…” - Yes, just leave it—fuck...
“Prostite, Ostav’te yedu u dveri. Spasibo.” - Sorry, leave the food at the door. Thank you.
“Blyat” - fuck
“Bozhe moy…” - My god...
“...trak-hni…menya…trakhni menya…” - ..fuck...me...fuck me...
“Poydem so mnoy spat’,” - Come to bed with me
“Ty vyglyadish’ prekrasno,” - You look beautiful
“Ya tebya lyublyu,” - I love you
I love this so much! It is so sweet!
