#bolena

Hey guys! I haven’t written anything in a long while, so I’m a little rusty but I just saw thunderbolts and I ship Bob with Yelena, they are soulmates 😭

Anyway, pls forgive any errors

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Bob x Yelena

No warnings - just soft yearning

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The loss of her sister had been the string that frayed all the stitches that held Yelena’s heart together. Her pseudo family had been the only real thing she had known and now even something that had been make believe did not exist anymore.

What memories could she replay if all of them were fake?

What moments could she take solace in when her life required her to be on the move constantly?

It felt rather grey. Nothing to laugh about or no company to do it together. All she could do was reminisce and that was not a great habit, cause you can’t control it. You reminisce the good and it reminds you of the bad.

She found her way back to the base, or so that’s what everyone called it instead of calling it what it was, their home. This suburban mansion that belonged to Bucky now had become a share house. The Red guardian’s snores could be heard in the living room, Ava and Walker were arguing about something as usual in the backyard as faint snippets of their conversation slipped through. Bucky was away trying to salvage votes for his campaign and she had just finished her shift at the local youth facility.

Purpose.

To reshape the life of young women and in a way slowly, pull away the years she had lost herself in the red room. But whatever said, it was heavy work. And now she held all this weight she had gathered through the stories of the lives of these girls.

She heard the shuffling of pots and plates in the kitchen and then followed by the single beep of a button. Which had gotten the dishwasher started. She didn’t want to startle him, but it was one of her favourite moments, to watch Bob do the dishes. He stood by the sink washing his hands and as though he could sense her, he found her gaze. The soft smile breaking through his rather placid expression, which only Yelena had the power to do. To get him to feel light.

“You’re back early.”, he stated but she could sense the happiness in the tone of his voice.

“Did you miss me?”, she asked sarcastically as she folded her arms, a smile forming on her face, one she couldn’t hide. To which he paused, wiping away his wet hands as he gazed at her. As though he was in awe and in peace at the same time.

“I did.”, he gave her a soft nod followed by a genuine smile.

Yelena drew closer, her weight slowly eroding away. Unable to look at anything else, his soft sweater adding colour to his complexion, the sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms. What if there existed a world they had both met each other when everything was right? Would it have still worked? Would they have still connected?

“It suits you.”, Bob said gently as he looked away. His cheeks flushing pink.

“What suits me?”, Yelena furrowed her brows as he slowly drew close to her, putting away the cloth on the counter top.

“When you smile, your eyes light up.”, he stated as though it was a common fact but it made her feel soft. She never had the luxury to feel soft towards anything in her line of work. But with Bob it was different. It was as though they were the physical form of kindness they had once deserved.

“That’s cause you like looking at me.”, she said playfully to which he averted his gaze but found the courage to look into her eyes again.

How had they managed to close the space between them? She could never tell.

“Maybe I do.”, he said softly, as though it wasn’t for the world to hear, it was only for her.

Yelena wanted to stay in this moment, this softness, nothing in the world could touch it now. So she reached forward and pushed back a strand of hair to stand on her toes and place a soft kiss on his forehead.

“Then do it more often.”, she said quietly.

“I spent a lot of my life learning how to hide.”

The shy demeanour had faded from him as he heard her statement, his hand found her waist as he pulled her into a hug, burying his face into the crook of her neck, breathing her in.

Yelena gripped onto his shirt as she closed her eyes and gave herself the chance to just be. Even without too many words, they understood each other, the weight of their past lives.

“Yelena..”, he hummed as though he had so much to share.

“I know.”, she responded as she held onto him tighter.

“I know you.”, she added and his hold tightened.

“You were the light in my darkness and now I cannot comprehend a life without you in it.”, he spoke as his lips brushed her skin.

Little did he know, that even in his darkest, he helped her see through the light and by doing so, become stronger. She pulled away and he reluctantly let go. Her eyes boring into his features that made his blush turn darker.

“What?”, he questioned as he fiddle with the ends of her hair.

“I’m just glad you’re not blonde anymore.”, she smiled to which he pulled her into his embrace again. But it meant more than that. She was glad he wasn’t controlled by anyone, glad that now he could just exist as he was.

His arms wrapped around her with fondness, sighing with content as he tucked his face into her neck.

His world was so much more bigger now, wasn’t just a little room he was confined in anymore, for the first time there was soft afternoon light flooding around him. He placed his forehead on hers and all he could feel was that void in him not exisiting anymore. Now he felt full. He felt light, maybe if he believed it thoroughly, he could become it.

But for now, he was here, not in a lab, not in a maze but with her. Where everything felt soft and real

The sentry was not there anymore. In its place was the love he had always craved, only now, he didn’t have to fight for it. She gave it to him freely.

———

According to fanfiction.net

Disclaimer: these may not be accurate as these characters can be in the same fic and not shipped together in it, but for entertainment purposes if they're tagged together they're shipped together. This is in no way a reflection of actual ship popularity.

10. Bonlijah

9. Bonenzo

8. Beremy

7. Bolena

6. Kennett

5. Bonkai

4. Baroline

Tied at number 2, but placement based on the numbers when narrowed by "pairing" filter.

3. Stefonnie (73)

2. Klonnie (91)

1. Bamon

This series might just just be a compilation of Bob x Yelena one shots

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Bob x Yelena

No warnings

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Bob looked a little distant than usual, even if the others couldn’t, Yelena could tell.

The recent articles were a bit harsher than they always were, most of them belittling Bob for being the strongest of them all and yet never being seen in action.

She watched him, open cabinets in the kitchen with a little frustration, reach for the box of sugar as he winced, make a cup of tea half heartedly and walk away.

The watch tower was quieter today, everyone else had been given their tasks and were away doing it.

So she followed him and it led her to the training room.

His empty cup was placed on the floor while he stood a few feet away from a large target board. Everything fell into place, the news, the frustration, the distance. She pieced it all together.

He planted his stance and threw the knives in his hand against the target board. The first fell short, the second skimmed the edge of the board. The third landed on the rim.

He ran his hands through his hair as he kicked the empty tea cup, which in turn spilt remnant traces of liquid onto the training mat. He sighed.

But before he could move away, Yelena approached him, with tissues in hand, already having a solution to his problem.

“You doing okay?”, she asked.

The moment he spotted her, his demeanour changed, the weight around him shifted, the shadows dissipated. His eyes turned lighter and he smiled.

“Yelena!”, he said excitedly, fixing his hair and shirt.

“Why…why wouldn’t I be?”, he looked at her and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“That might work on everyone else. Not on me.”, she pulled out the tissues and cleared away the tea stain from the training mat. When she looked up at him, his expression had turned neutral.

“What is it?”, she faced him, concern knitting her eyebrows together.

“It’s nothing. I don’t want to worry you.”, he looked at her, like she was the glimmer of daylight in his life. He didn’t want to push her away, the more she got to know him, there could be a day she could decide she had had enough.

“Too bad, I always worry about you.”, she planted her hands on her hips as a way to tell him she wasn’t going anywhere but it only angered him.

“I don’t want you to worry!”, there was an edge in his voice.

“I should be making you happy, instead all I do is cause you to fret.”, he huffed, the space around him starting to feel tight.

“I’m the weak link, what am I fit for? I can’t land my punches, I can’t throw knives, I can’t lift a hundred pounds, I can’t even make you smile.”, he seethed and she let him.

He needed to get it off his chest.

“Do you pity me? Is that why you’re here?”, he turned to her as he edged closer and the very second those words left his mouth, he took a step back.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Yelena. That was mean of me.”, he stuttered.

She smiled at him softly and drew nearer instead, which caused him to be surprised.

“Bob.”, she said his name and there it was, that feeling of comfort.

“You’re being hard on yourself.”, she reached for his hand.

His knuckles were bruised, his fingers were calloused. He inhaled sharply.

“You are the strongest out of us all. You’re full of heart.”, she spoke as he drew her closer, gently, selfishly, wanting to replace his coldness with her warmth.

“How will that help in the battlefield?”, he whispered as though it was his nightmare, of the day he would have to protect her and he wouldn’t be able to.

“We’re not at war, Bob. When it does happen, I believe you will be ready.”, she found his soft gaze, why couldn’t he understand that it hurt her more when he crushed himself under the weight of his expectations.

“I may not know what it feels like to wake up one day with powers but I know how it feels like to punish yourself when you don’t meet the standards you’ve set for yourself.”, she held onto him like he was an anchor, in her own loneliness, it felt like she knew him for ages.

“I don’t ever want to hear this nonsense, about you not making me happy.”, she told him, the edges of her eyes glistening.

“Your mere existence makes me happy.”, she stated and he caved, reeling her into his arms.

She hugged him tightly as she placed her head on his chest, his heart beating rapid and wild.

He rested his chin on the top of her head and held her tightly, his gloom had been wiped away and in its place he felt the soft comfort of love.

“I’m sorry.”, he apologised again.

“Don’t be.”, he heard her, her words muffled as she buried her face into his chest.

“I want you to know you can trust me with anything.”, she continued.

He hummed.

“I do.”, he heaved a sigh of content.

“I know a trick that might help you to throw knives though.”’ she looked up at him.

“Show me.”, he said softly as he smiled.

Yelena positioned him, fixed his stance and placed the blade in his hand. He never hindered her, let her into his space to reorganise it however she liked. The nearness, the heat emanating from his body, his solid form, she drew herself away before her emotions could give way.

“Now, try again.”, she beamed with pride averting her eyes to the target.

He didn’t believe this could do much but he loved seeing her in her element, so he obliged. Took a deep breathe in, focused on the target and let the blade go.

The second felt longer but he watched it hit the center of the board and he couldn’t quite believe himself. He turned to her with sheer joy. The moment was a blur, he had reached for her just as she had done and now he had carried her while she had her legs wrapped around his waist.

She froze, she had never been this close. To see the specks of gold in his eyes, the trace of the sentry in him, the smooth texture of his skin, the slight colour on his cheeks. He was mesmerising.

Her eyes fell to his lips, the inches between them felt electric, like the time she had seen him in her mind when they met in Val’s incinerator.

He nudged closer but his arm gave way as he winced and the moment was lost. He muttered a curse under his breath as he held on to his shoulder.

“I may have a fix for that too.”, she said.

How did she seem to have a fix for all his problems? He looked at her and couldn’t help but be mesmerised.

“Show me.”, he said again.

—————

Bob x Yelena

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The flicker of the neon sign, the faint buzz of the city clung to the air as Yelena sat by the large window looking out to the street. The smell of baked dough and melted cheese swirled around her.

Sal’s was often empty around this time of the night, which made it the perfect time to come around. No paparazzi, no Val, no one to perform for, it was just them. A Russian girl and an American boy, taking comfort in the ordinary things for the first time.

It felt meaningful cause everything was real.

She turned to see him, his back facing her as he stood near the counter looking at the menu placing the order.

It was simple, no complications, fate had tried to make them twisted and yet somehow here they were, wounded but unchanged. There was beauty in that, the effects of the war they walked through could not be seen on them.

But the past comes around to haunt, like always, it’s there in the corner, she feared the loss of these moments even before they could be history.

What if Val was right? What if she did hurt him.

She heard his nervous laugh as he bargained to get a meal combo, it made a smile. The first time they were here, he stood behind her.

It tightened her throat, what if she was never made for the ordinary?

Would all this be her lying to herself? She could be called to fight at any moment, Val could set off the alarm and the world could be engulfed in chaos and ..

“So apparently they are out of our regular chocolate dipped vanilla bars, I got us the raspberry swirl instead.”, Bob approached as she regained her composure.

When she turned to see him as she faked a smile, she knew. It wasn’t going to get past him.

He had paused, his hand outstretched with the ice cream bar in his hand, his eyes focusing on her, reading her face to understand she was upset.

She took the bar and thought of something to say, something to not make him worry but it never worked.

He took a seat beside her in the booth.

“What is it, Yelena?”, he posed the question so effortlessly, his tone so gentle as always that she couldn’t help but tell him all her secrets.

She busied herself to open the wrapper but it didn’t budge, “It’s nothing too serious.”, she tried, the wrapped slipping her fingers again

“Just thoughts.”, she dismissed her feelings and grew impatient as the plastic end didn’t budge. She really wanted to try this new flavour and every small thing had some hindrance to it. Everything had a struggle to it.

She just want to eat the dang ice cream bar!

She felt his fingers take the bar out of her hands, rip open the wrapper and hold out the ice cream bar to her. The anger faded, she caught sight of his eyes again.

There was a stillness as she took it from his hands and settled into the rhythm.

“I want to know your thoughts, even if it’s not important.”, she heard him and it rooted her, to the now.

Not what she had to lose or what she had lost, the right now, which had him in it, which afforded her the peace of a lifetime.

“I worry. That’s all.”, she shrugged her shoulders.

“Me too!”, he smiled as though even in their thoughts they were synced.

“Fine, you tell me what worries you first.”, she tried to turn it around to back out of it.

“But I asked you first.”, he raised his brows smiling, pointing his half bitten ice cream bar at her.

She gave in, the worry had all but disappeared now.

“Fine. I worry all these ordinary moment we are afforded now could be lost. That I will run out of time.”, she was trying to put down her feelings into words, a hard task when you’ve never had to communicate them.

It made her feel like a fish in a fishbowl, everyone could see what she was feeling and that felt dangerous.

“Run out of time for what?”, he dug further as he disposed of the wooden stick and it made her feel squeamish.

What if she admits it? Then it would be too real.

What if she doesn’t? He’ll never know.

What if she did neither? She could just enjoy it as it was, on the brink of loss and the fantasy of something more.

“Run out of time doing things with you, being near you, not having you with me anymore.”, she spoke as she tried to chew on chunks of ice cream, which in turn made it difficult to think and she got sick of it, sick of this bottled emotion in her soul.

He watched her intently with a softness that can never be replaced, a baffled expression painted across his face as though he was certain there could never be a time like that.

The thoughts kept building, the questions kept piling, she lost control.

“What if I run out of time and I never get to finally tell you?”, she blurted and her eyes turned into alarm signs.

He leaned forward and her world felt like it was on the brink of collapse.

“Tell me what?”, he proded and her throat tightened again but she fought against it.

“Val said I could break your heart.”, she said, it had upset her, this entire time she had thought of herself as someone who protected him.

He hummed.

“You can’t break it, Yelena.”, he said confidently, as if he never doubted it.

“You were the first one to find it.”, he looked at her and it made her heart skip a beat.

She didn’t feel fear anymore, she found courage instead.

“And what if I’m never able to let myself fall?”, she asked.

“What if I’m always on edge and always on guard?”, she continued.

“Wouldn’t that wear you down?”, she spoke the words and found his gaze, life with her wasn’t going to be easy. She was giving him the choice, to back down, to tell her otherwise, she was unravelling and feeling alive all at the same time.

“Never.”, he said with confidence and surety, nothing was going to change his mind.

“What did you want to tell me?”, he looped back, now his eyes glimmering with hope.

“This isn’t the right setting.”, Yelena flailed her hand as her cheeks blushed.

“I think anywhere with you is the perfect setting.”, he edged closer as though he was immensely happy.

“You want me to say it here? At Sal’s?”, she huffed a laugh as she tried to control her racing heart.

“Yes.”, he nodded.

“Fine.”, she responded holding her hands together.

“Fine.”, he bit back a smile as he got closer to her in the booth.

“What did you want to tell me?”, he asked quietly but it held a sense of safety.

“Stop it.”, Yelena fought back a laugh as she looked at him, he sat by her like a giddy high school boy.

Suddenly they felt like teenagers at a pizza shop.

“I’m not doing anything.”, he laughed as he looked at her and the world looked a little warmer in colour.

“No you’re smiling like you’ve been waiting for this.”, she looked away.

“I’ve been waiting forever.”, he said it quickly as though it was beyond his control, it brought her attention back to him, the pause, the weight. It was important, not saying it would be denying him of his feelings when she felt every bit of it.

“Ok.”, she said softly.

“Ready.”, he responded as he sat up taller.

“Shush!”, she mouthed and he mimed locking his mouth and throwing away the key.

She turned to face him, in one hand she held his and with the other she tucked a stray stand of hair behind his ear.

Her beautiful lover boy. No one else could fill his shoes.

“If all our ordinary moments is what being in love feels like. Then I’m in love with you, Bob. And I never want it to end.”, she said it slowly, the world had stopped spinning.

All her secrets were out in the open now. No secret files were needed.

“Thank you, for trusting me this secret.”, he said earnestly, as though he knew what it felt like to get it off his chest.

“Now you can know mine.”, he said as he reached forward to caress her cheek.

“I’ve been in love with you since the moment we met.”, he said so quietly that it had been the very thing that had kept him awake at night.

Yelena parted her lips in surprise to what he had said and it felt beautiful, their meeting, their bond, it was all meant to be.

He leaned forward but still hesitated, unsure if she wanted this, if she wanted him.

She let the worries of the future stay there, right now he was here. So she pulled him close and that was the sign he needed.

At the corner booth like some cliched teenage love story, Bob kissed her, the neo sign flickered as though there was a glitch in time, somehow intertwining their complex lives together at the pizza shop.

It felt like her thirsty soul had plunged into the glacier pools, she kissed him back as though her life depended on it. Her hands tangled into his brown hair, his little muffled sigh ignited a spark as if he had encountered the bliss of satisfaction, some strong force that was needed to set their worlds up right, it was felt in his touch that had a feverish zap to it.

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Bob x Yelena

All previous chapters are in A03

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She took a hold of his knuckles with an anger that felt misplaced. He got into a fight, he was provoked but he took the bait nonetheless. He bit the inside of his cheek, his eyes following her like a hawk. The softness always prevalent, constantly caring for her in unseen ways.

The grocery store run was a weekly errand, it was the most mundane activity they indulged in. It was supposed to be quick and easy but somehow had turned into an ambush.

Bob was sought after, Val’s many enemies had their eyes set on him and it put Yelena on edge. This constant fear that she could lose him the moment he set foot out of the boundary of their home. Her nightmares in most cases were about him, she couldn’t quite understand what this was, this overwhelming urge to make sure he survives. She held his gaze for a brief second and it was enough to change his expression, from worry into relief.

His knuckles had not bruised, a sign that it wasn’t his strength that he relied on. He had been getting comfortable slowly with the sentry’s power. Drawing from the serum when needed, she placed her hand on his cheek, checking his eyes for any signs of the void till she lost track. His eyes tracking hers and she felt the tug again. To give in and kiss him. She stepped away, clearing her throat and dropped his hand.

“I’ve angered you.”, he observed her mannerisms.

Many would assume he was attached to her rib, which in a way he was. It was because she was his friend. She looked at him.

Wasn’t it?

There was a small voice within her begging to think otherwise but she smothered it into silence. That was her longing for companionship clawing at her, nudging her towards what she slowly was beginning to feel strongly. He saw her as a friend, she mulled the thought in her head and turned away.

“You haven’t.”, she said half heartedly and he hopped off the kitchen stool.

Her thoughts found their way back to the ambush. The autumn leaves drizzling down them one second to it becoming a sudden fist fight. Yelena was the target to be taken out and he was marked for retrieval. The anger stemmed from the fact that he put himself in harm’s way. He knew well she could handle herself, he knew how quick she was in combat and yet, he took it upon himself to protect her when he was what they wanted. He used himself as bait to draw them away from her. They could have gotten to him because of his foolishness.

Yelena had blocked the first assassin but she saw the shift within Bob, she felt it, the instant shimmer of action. He had only just been by her side, innocent as ever, his hair tucked under the beanie she had knit for him, his oversized sweater making him look defenceless to then instantly reaching out and gripping the attackers hand with a crushing weight.

“Don’t touch her.”, his voice carried authority even as he said it calmly. There was an heavily implied threat in his tone if they were going to attempt to continue and target her. She knew he had been working on his combat skills but it took her by surprise how advanced he had gotten.

He wasn’t the man she strapped to herself anymore. He was an Avenger. He moved with a speed that was inhuman, he hugged her as he took the impact of bullets on his back, he grabbed for the gun and bent in half, the attackers were no match to his ability. He held out his hand and manipulated the cement on the pavement to trap their feet in it, immobilising them all.

She took care of the strays that still attempted to try and capture him. Even before he could call in for reinforcements to clear the scene, the rest of the team had arrived to contain the area. His immediate reaction was to turn to her. It was almost as if she was in the center of this all.

Her directive was to take him to safety but it felt like the other way around. He reached for her hand and drew her close to his side. Protective over her as his figure towered by her side. This was new. Being taken care of. It made her feel seen and weak at the same time.

“Something that I did has disturbed you and that very thought disturbs me, Yelena.”, he said with fervent devotion.

Friends, he cares for everyone, she thought.

“What is it?”, he voice softens, the distance between them grew smaller.

“You put yourself in danger.”, she turned to face him. Her brows furrowed with concern.

“They could have taken you away.”, she spoke and bit her tongue at the end of it to stop herself from finishing the sentence.

From me.

“They can only try and you know it.”, he looked at her quizzically. Reading through her defences easily.

“There’s more to this that you’re not telling me.”, he prodded her. She couldn’t escape his knowing gaze. She couldn’t lie to him.

“I can’t protect you anymore, Bob.”, she looked away. The root of shame was discovered which was now beginning to fester.

“And it frightens me.”, her voice turned into a whisper.

“Didn’t you think it frightened me?”, he said calmly but there was power behind it. A thunderous weight.

“To wield immense power and yet fear someone hurting you.”, the heat in his gaze was addicting. He traced his finger down her cheek.

“I was terrified today, Yelena.”, he admitted softly.

A mutant and an assassin seemingly carried the same fear for each other. She searched his eyes, what was the plot behind this, what were these feelings that took a hold of her actions?

“Why can’t you see it?”, he asked, a desperation hidden within the words he spoke.

“Why don’t you feel it?”, he asked, his eyes flitting to her lips, the question she knew the answer to that she couldn’t keep hidden anymore.

“I do, Bob.”, she reached for the edge of his sweater. The pull that existed between them, a connection she had never felt before.

“Friends forged through difficulty are precious.”, she stated holding his hand to which he held her gaze as though he was trying to read her thoughts.

“Friends.”, he mumbled the word again as though it offended him.

“Why won’t you let me care for you?”, he tugged her closer and unlike everything else in her life, she could never resist him.

“Why do you hold me at a distance?”, he continued, his questions all valid and yet she couldn’t give him an answer.

“What are you scared of?”, he asked and her eyes shot straight to his, as though he had hit the target, he had found the truth within all this.

She couldn’t escape this time, she could weave her way out of this. He deserved the truth but there was no easy way to do it. To say it.

“Anyone who has cared for me”, she paused, his gaze intently fixed on her.

“At some point, have been taken away from me.”, she found the courage to finish that sentence.

There was silence, as though he was digesting what she had shared. But when he spoke, he spoke with a sense of hope.

“Fate can only try, Yelena.”, he smiled softly.

“It cannot separate me from you.”

“But it appears you don’t seem to trust me about it.”, he pursed his lips as he looked heartbroken.

Had she pushed him away?

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her temple. He lingered there for a second.

“Trust me with your heart, Yelena.”, he spoke against her skin and the chains that were wound around her heart for years, rattled loose.

—————

Bob x Yelena

No warnings

—————

She shuffled through her drawer to find a roll of tape but soon realised, she still needed to learn how to organise. She grabbed the item she was looking for from within the mess and closed the drawer as she fought a melancholic smile.

Natasha was the opposite, her room was always well kept. You could tell there was a set order that ruled her life, whereas Yelena’s was touched by chaos.

She fidgeted with the edge of the tape, lost for a couple of seconds, not sure why she was looking for tape in the first place.

“Is this your sister?”, she heard Bob and it brought her back to reality.

He stood in front of her desk, a photo frame in his hand. If it had been anyone else, Yelena’s immediate reaction would have been to grab the picture out of their hands and tell them off for touching things that wasn’t theirs. But to her surprise, she stood by his side to view the photo together.

“That was the last time I saw her.”, she reminisced. She smiled as she recollected a moment but held herself back.

“Tell me.”, he nudged her softly. But she never did this. She never spoke of her, if she continued to share pieces of her, soon she’d be left with nothing to remember.

“Let’s look at that shoulder.”, she quietly pulled away the frame to place it in its place and guided Bob to take a seat on her arm chair.

She felt the heat of his gaze, never leaving her face, boring into her. He didn’t want to push her and yet he wanted to know, to understand and get to know her.

He settled into the seat and she drew closer, this closeness between them had become normal. He held onto the edge of his shirt and pulled it over his shoulder when he winced again. Yelena huffed a laugh as she saw him stuck mid way, his arm over his head, his face lost in his shirt.

She helped him pull it away as it tousled his hair across his face. He smiled looking up at her, his torso in full view as he set his hair in place. Suddenly what felt normal, felt new again. She averted her eyes in the hopes the blush on her cheeks would stop.

“Hold still.”, she instructed him, he pursed his lips and nodded.

She leaned closer, sticking the muscle tape in such a way it would ease his strain. She did it all the time after a fight, it fastened the healing process. But the softness of his skin distracted her, the smell of clean linen, she felt off balance. Making matters worse, almost as if he could read her mind, she felt his hands on her waist as he steadied her.

“How it is that you survived a whole barrage of bullets and have somehow managed to mess up your shoulder?”, she asked as she looked at the bruises.

“If I drew strength from the sentry, I would heal sooner.”, he responded.

“But with everything that happened the last time I was him, I thought it would be better to stay away from it all.”, he continued.

“Have you ever tried since then?”, she asked, her eyes briefly looking at him to find his gaze already set on her. He looked away as though he had been caught. She stepped away, his shoulder was all taped up, his gentle hold still in place as she stood in between his legs.

“I didn’t want to be alone.”, he said with a sheepish grin. “When I tried to get into that headspace again.”

His fear was valid, it was quite intense last time.

“Your shoulder should be alright now.”, she gestured and he shook his head in agreement, removing his hands from her hesitantly. She bit back her smile, he never disputed anything she said. Always was in agreement, in tune. It was absurd how this connection had found her when she most needed it.

“It feels better already.”, he said as he searched her eyes. Somehow both of them still stuck in this threshold of each other’s worlds.

“Do you wish to see her?”, he asked, averting his eyes as he gulped as though he was unsure, as though he had overstepped his bounds.

It took Yelena by surprise, the good and bad resurfacing, the control over her emotions were lost. She wanted to and then held back. She looked at him. His soft spirit elevated the unease.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”, she said knowing well what he was willing to do for her.

He grew more confident, for her he would risk it. With her, he believed he was stronger, that he was good. The least he could do after everything she had done, was confront his past that lingered around him like an electric fence. Maybe together, he could break free from it.

“I won’t.”, he assured her as he took her hand in his and stood up.

Her heart was racing, gentleness was not part of her life. She grew up devoid of it. For all the kindness in her spirit, the world never treated her with softness. But Bob made up for it, his gentle hold on her always making her crave for more.

He closed his eyes and she followed suit, some part of her still yearning for closure. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a shiver down her spine, like the very first time she saw Bob in her mind.

She could tell the air had changed around them, a vacuum sealed them in, she began to breathe heavily. A part of her was afraid and another part of her was excited. She didn’t want to open her eyes, she took a step closer to him, her body instinctively craving his protection. She felt him take a hold of her hand and place it over his chest, the steady rhythm of his heart easing her.

“I’m here, you’re not alone in this.”, he said quietly. She opened her eyes, he still stood in front of her but the world around them had changed.

“Bob.”, she said his name as she held onto his hand tightly. She sensed her.

“You have someone waiting for you.”, he smiled and gestured behind her.