Disclaimer: I do not own Black Widow or anything to do with Marvel. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
*****
"So, are you going to point a gun at me again?"
"That depends..."
"On what?"
"If you're going to point one at me."
Natasha Romanoff had detected someone inside her hideout almost immediately, and then smiled when she realized who it was. Her 'sister' Yelena Belova was normally better about covering her tracks, given that she was one of the best graduates of The Black Widow program. Which meant that she wanted Natasha to know she was there, and therefore was unlikely there to fight.
Something which was more or less confirmed with that little exchange. And even though it went against her training, she holstered her weapon and came out of the shadows. Which was breaking the rules, but it wouldn't be the first time she had done that for her sister. Or the last.
It had been a long day... or more accurately, it had been a long life, with the last few years seeming particularly long. But seeing Yelena sitting on one of the chairs inside her safe house put her at ease, and almost forced a smile out of her. At least until she saw the little bitch was holding a glass of her favourite scotch, with a half empty bottle on the table in front of her.
Natasha had been planning to drink that herself when she got back, now it was practically gone. A fact which had Yelena smirking like the annoying little sister she was. Or at least, the role she had perfected. Certainly the safest way Natasha could look at her, the redhead thought dismissively, before collapsing down on the couch beside the chair and taking the glass which was waiting for her.
"You could have saved me more than this." Natasha grumbled, before taking a sip of the scotch.
"You're always such a baby." Yelena grumbled, although a smirk shone through again, "You have plenty left. And I even bought you some vodka. I can't believe you didn't have any vodka."
"I do not enjoy leaning into stereotypes, as you do." Natasha quipped light-heartedly.
"Is that why you got rid of your accent?" Yelena questioned with a raised eyebrow, her own Russian accent seeming particularly thick in that moment.
Natasha took another sip of her drink, and then pointed out, "We're assassins. We're supposed to be able to infiltrate, without giving ourselves away."
"No, I'm an assassin." Yelena countered bitterly. taking a sip of her own drink, "You? You're an Avenger. The World's Greatest Heroes, ha. The role model of little girls everywhere."
"So I should proudly represent the country which brain-washed me, and turned me into a killer?" Natasha questioned bitterly.
Yelena shrugged, and then pointed out, "The Red Room did that, not mother Russia."
"The Red Room had the full support of the Russian government, regardless of what they claim." Natasha said softly, taking another sip of her drink, before adding, "And I disagree with some of their policies."
"Unlike you, I try not to get involved in politics. Unless I'm ordered too." Yelena shrugged, finishing her drink before admitting, "Although I do see your point. Of course, I didn't come here to argue about politics."
"So, why are you here?" Natasha questioned.
"I can't just visit my sister, and drink her alcohol?" Yelena asked with a teasing smile, and then after a few long seconds of Natasha just looking at her, she looked away and softly admitted, "I have a job offer."
"To kill me?" Natasha guessed with a raised eyebrow.
"No." Yelena laughed, then after a few long seconds questioned with obvious hurt in her voice, "Natasha, do you really think I would do that to you?"
"If the last time we saw each other should teach us anything, it's that in this world, we don't always have a choice." Natasha said bitterly, finishing her drink and then pouring herself and the other Widow another.
"Perhaps." Yelena admitted bitterly, before quickly adding, "But I cannot imagine allowing myself to do that to you."
"Perhaps you just lack imagination." Natasha said bitterly, taking a sip of her new drink.
"Could you kill me?" Yelena questioned, taking a sip of the new drink afterwards, afraid of the answer, but having to know it.
"Only if I had too." Natasha said softly.
There was a brief pause, and then Yelena admitted, "If it was you or me, I'd want it to be you."
"I wouldn't..." Natasha said sadly, before asking after another brief pause, "So, what's this job offer?"
Yelena finished her glass, poured herself another, and then explained, "From what I can tell, it is like SHIELD used to be. Except for the Hydra infiltration. At least, as far as I can tell. After what happened to you, I was careful to research it. It's called SWORD, because apparently Americans love their ridiculous names. But it seems like an ideal place for us."
"Us?" Natasha questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Us." Yelena confirmed, taking a big sip of her drink as she turned to her 'sister' and gave her the 'hard sell', "An organization like that is always looking for people with our skill set to do their dirty work. But I'm not naΓ―ve. I know things can go south very quickly, which is why I would like someone to watch my back."
There was a brief pause, and then Natasha asked with a raised eyebrow, "Alexi? Melina?"
"They joined before I did." Yelena admitted, before pointing out, "But we never truly trusted them. Not when they were pretending to be our parents, and certainly not during our last mission together. No, we need someone we can both truly trust to have our backs. We need each other, as it always should've been. Please... Natasha, do not leave me on my own again."
Yelena's voice sounded so soft and vulnerable, but Natasha couldn't afford to trust it, "Are you really trying to try that with a Black Widow?"
"No." Yelena shook her head, "You're supposed to be the best of us, so you should know the difference between fact and fiction."
"Perhaps." Natasha grumbled, "But you are very good."
Yelena glared at her sister for a few long seconds, the woman definitely feeling like a sibling in that moment, before she huffed, "Fine. If you won't do it for me, do it for you. I know you said you were happier in The Avengers, but I truly struggle to see what you add to the team.
Even now they're fractured, they're filled with a billionaire, a mind reader, a couple of superhumans, and a God. And if you continue fighting alongside them, you will get hurt. We both know it. It's only a matter of time before something comes for them, that you will not be able to fight. Everyone knows it, but no one has the guts to say it to your face. No one but me. You need to leave The Avengers, Nat. Even if it isn't for me. Hell, take the retirement you wanted for me so badly."
"I can't do that, and you know it..." Natasha admitted softly.
"So you're an Avenger, until it kills you?" Yelena questioned in disbelief, and then when there was a telling silence she finished her drink in one go, and grumbled, "Fine, then we do this the hard way."
With that, Yelena abruptly straddled Natasha and kissed her. It happened so fast that most people wouldn't be able to counter it, but the most famous of The Black Widows was not most people. There was a nanosecond where she could have done something, but she was a little taken aback by Yelena's choice of positions.
Besides, given the previous conversation, she was expecting them to fight, and she was willing to let the other assassin land the first strike, to help get this out of her system. What she could have never anticipated, was for her little sister to kiss her right on the lips. Something which stunned the redhead so much, it was several long seconds, or maybe even a full minute, before she pushed the blonde off of her.