Self-proclaimed Nerd

https://archiveofourown.org/works/75935171/chapters/234509951

Chapter 14 is up on AO3!

Ballet, one of the world's most beautiful professions, equal in both discipline and grace. Even Val had to give ballerinas credit, the sheer amount of dedication to their craft was almost unparalleled. Beside her Mel watched, her eyes wide as the principal leapt into the air, her russet hair glowing under the stage lights. Val smirked, mentally reminding herself to give Yelena a raise for the idea to take Mel here. Apparently her sister was the principal and Yelena had admitted through gritted teeth that she was pretty good. Mel had confessed through a whisper before the show started that she had never been to a ballet before and Val had said that she was honoured to take her to her first and if she liked it they’d be sure to come again. From the twinkle in Mel’s eyes she was sure they’d be coming back to see more than just Cinderella. God knows her sweet girl deserved all the nice things in the world. 

It had been a month since her father’s attack and luckily for him, he had kept his word. Last Val had heard from Bucky, he’d left the state and was currently making his way South towards Florida. She’d smirked at that, hopefully he'd get eaten by an alligator. As long as her Mel was safe she was happy. 

Mel had been training with Ava and Yelena, just some basic self defence classes but it had done wonders for her self confidence. Val had also put her in touch with a therapist, she was seeing her once a week which had done her the world of good. Val herself had even said she’d consider seeing one herself, she knew she had shit to sort out, she just needed to find the right person to try and unpack all that crap with. Mel was beyond wonderful but she didn’t want to put it all on her. But Sue had done wonders for Mel, she was kind, gentle, patient, exactly what Mel needed in a therapist. Mel walked around the building with her head high now, eyes not checking every corner as if afraid her own shadow may jump out at her. Not that Val was seeing all too much of her at work nowadays. 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/71097431/chapters/231799286

The next few days passed in a blur of recovery and gentle touches. Val had given her the next few days off and had elected to take some days herself, a feat never seen before in the company, in order to keep an eye on her, something Mel appreciated. She didn’t exactly crave her own company right now. When she was alone all she remembered was his hands on her her, his crushing weight on top of her, his fist slamming into her face-

“Mel…” Mel shook her head, coming back to reality. She was in the car, in front of OXE and Val was sitting next to her, looking at her with those beautiful crestfallen eyes, “Are you sure you want to do this? If you wanna take some more time-”

“Val-” Mel began, knowing where this conversation was going. 

“I’ll give you as much time off as you need, I’ll take it off with you-” Mel held up her hand which made her stop, mouth pressed in a thin line. 

Chapter 12 of Professional Boundaries: You hurt me but you didn't break me, is up on AO3!

Chapter 11 of mine and @vidarkness8675309 's fic is out on AO3!

Mel couldn’t breathe. 

The world around her seemed to shrink, blackness teasing the edge of her vision, narrowing down her world view until all there was was her, her phone and the letters on her screen. 

Dad. 

What did he want? Why was he calling her? What did he want with her? More and more questions rushed through her, going so fast they slipped through her fingers. 

“Hey baby, look at me, look at me baby,” gentle fingers guided her chin up to make her meet Val’s worried eyes. Mel tried to speak but all that came out was a low, pained whine. Val’s face creased in concern as she pulled Mel into a hug. Mel nuzzled into Val’s neck, her breaths puffing against Val’s skin. 

“You don’t need to answer that, you don’t owe him anything,” Val whispered in her ear, her words, her presence the only anchor for Mel, the only thing keeping her upright. Mel clung to her shirt so tight she started to lose feeling in her fingers. In her other hand she tightly held onto her phone. She wanted to believe Val, she really did but she knew if she didn’t answer he’d just call her again and again until she finally picked up, then he’d give her even more shit for not picking up. 

So, she regretfully pulled away from the safety of Val’s warm embrace and held the phone up to her ear, “Hello?” She tried her best to keep her voice steady. 

Hey everybody, happy pride month!

“You’re terrible.”

Her gaze flickered towards the door. Mel leant against it, a cup of coffee already in hand. Her smile was teasing but her cheeks were dusted faintly pink. Val saw her eyes flick to her hands briefly. Val smirked, jerking her head towards the spare chair in front of her, “You love it,” she teased and Mel took a seat, her smile widening and uttering a cute little giggle. God Val adored this woman. 

“I do,” Mel murmured. Her eyes flickered down, “I especially love it when you call me your girl,” she admitted quietly. Val felt her heart tighten at Mel’s confession. She loved that she felt safe enough to admit that to her but it also made a surge of protectiveness rise up in her. She knew at that moment that punching Stern was the right thing to do. 

“Well then I guess I need to call you that more often,” she delicately picked up Mel's hand, pressing a light kiss to it, her lipstick leaving a crimson imprint on her knuckles. Val smirked, she liked marking her girl up a little, liked leaving little reminders that she was hers. 

Mel giggled, “How’s the fire fighting going?”

Hey everybody!

Chapter 11 of Professional Boundaries will be released on Saturday 30th May! The last four chapters have been written and edited so they'll be coming out every two weeks. Tahnk you so much for your patience thus far with me and for all the reads, kudos and comments.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/75935171/chapters/222066541

https://archiveofourown.org/works/75935171/chapters/219417646

https://archiveofourown.org/works/71097431/chapters/215798006

Hi everyone! Chapter 10 is up on AO3!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/75935171/chapters/215343936

Those words had barely left his mouth when Val dropped Mel’s hand and rushed him, fist coming up and hitting him square in the bridge of his nose. She smiled when she felt it crack. Stern went down, clutching his bloody nose, squealing like a stuck pig.

Val wiped her hands on her dress, barely caring about the blood stains. If anything it blended nicely with the colour. She glanced back at Mel who was staring in disbelief, “Always go for the nose darling, it's the easiest thing to break,” she said with a wink, all the while Stern continued to writhe on the floor. 

People were already staring to look, the whispers were starting but Val didn’t fucking care. She squatted down, eyes locked with Stern’s, “If you ever say anything like that about my girl again I will cut your balls off, understand?” Val hissed, her tone venomous. Stern nodded so fast Val was surprised his head didn’t detach from his body. Val felt something inside her rejoice at finally getting him to take her seriously, to be afraid of her but she quickly shoved it down, she had a bigger priority right now besides her own ego.