Chapter Text
Since getting out of the Red Room you weren’t sure what you wanted to do with your life now you were free. You wanted to be alone despite the former widow that saved you trying to convince you to go with her. You just needed to be alone, find who you were and how to live life as a regular civilian. You were lost and going in and out of jobs until one day in your tiny, crappy apartment you came to the realization you wanted to do something to do with planning. You loved planning events it was your way of keeping control in you life which is something you never had until now, you decided fuck it and looked into getting a degree in publics relations and become a media manager with your own agency and everything.
Normally when working as a manager most tend to go with actors, musicians, different sports players, even influencers…but uh not you, you became –well, got selected– to be the Manger for the Thunderbolts* also known as the New Avengers… You got picked all thanks to Yelena Belova, the widow that got you out of the Red Room, and she decided to get you hired right away; saying “if anyone can be a manager and a leader it’s an Ex-Widow” and that was that. They quickly welcomed you as an honorary member. They invited you to all the many movie nights and mini parties they threw with each other. Another bonus is, this job brought you to your boyfriend who is also technically an honorary member, he’s also considered an indestructible superhuman with severe BPD and caused all of Manhattan to be cast in shadow (...what? Every partner has their quirks.)
~~~
It’s late. But you can’t sleep so you work. You have nothing better to do and you need to prepare/plan in case the lawsuit over the name change to New Avengers goes through as Sam is threatening.
You jump, too entranced in your work, when you hear a familiar knocking knowing there could only be one person at your door this late. “Baby, you know you can enter my room whenever you need.” You call but still set down your computer on the bed and head to open the door.
You aren’t shocked when you open the door and see Bob standing there in his oversized pajamas looking down at the floor. “I know you say I don’t have to but just in case-” he mumbled fidgeting with the brush he had in hands not meeting your eyes.
You gently usher him into your room shutting the door before leading him to sit on your bed “Hi honey, whats up?” you ask softly, noticing his dejected mood.
It isn’t until he’s in the light coming from your room you realize the tips of his fingers are turning black and crawling up his arm. He notices you looking at them and tries to quickly leave “uh…sorry it's nothing I promise! It so stupid, sorry.” You gently grab his shirt in a silent way of asking him to stay. He stays still unsure of what to do. The need to flee and not be a burden is almost as strong as the pull to her knowing she could help as she has done many times before. He moves to sit down back on the bed.
“Umm it was another uhh not so great day I don’t know” he ran his hands through his hair which just upset him more before continuing “I really, really tried! I just can't- it's so stupid!” he rambled, hands picking at the sleeve of his hoodie, still not meeting your eyes.
“Hey hey it’s ok, I know you tried your best and I'm sure it was hard my love but can you tell me what the task was today so I can try to understand more clearly?” You ask, placing your own hands on top of his. He flinched slightly but adjusted and watched the darkness that was consuming his arms start to shrink where you touched him.
“Showering… it’s ugh it just my hair that gives me the- ughhh!” he groaned ashamed to admit this all
“Mmmm I see… so, would you like me to do anything to help you?” You offer, gently lifting his chin so your eyes meet.
Bob looked into your eyes searching *it’s her… she knows you, she won’t judge you, she only wants to help, she just wants the best for you* he thought. “Can… you-” He let out a breath struggling to get the words out. “Can you…help me? with… my hair.” He mumbled dropping the eye contact face red from embarrassment.
“Of course my love,” you say, rubbing a thumb across his cheek. “Full shower or just hair?”
“....what?” he was confused as to what you were asking.
“Would you want to take a full shower? Like we stand in the shower washing our hair and bodies like a full shower, or would you prefer me just to wash your hair? Where I would lean you over the bathtub that way most of you is dry and out but I can still wash your hair.” You clarified giving him the option.
“Ummm…can we do the second one…” he whispered
“Of course love.” You say pressing a kiss to his cheek causing him to slightly blush. You sit up taking his hand in yours and lead him to the small bathroom that was attached to your bedroom. “Can you sit here please?” You asked, pointing to the floor in front of the bathtub facing the facet. As he sat down with a nod you walked around trying to find some supplies. You grab your shampoo and conditioner, some detangler, his brush and a towel but something was missing… “hey hon? Do you have curl cream in your bathroom?”
He looked at you baffled “Curl cream?”
“Yea to help with your… oh, that makes so much sense. At his confused look you explain how curl cream helps maintain his curls and is probably the reason he struggles with his hair so much. As you explain you grab one of the towels and use it to cover him so his clothes don’t get wet.
“Oh…I didn’t know that was something I needed,” he frowned though still confused, but nodded along.
“It’s ok hon, we can go and get some for you at a store.” You tilted his head back as far as it can go before turning the water on and wetting his hair.
He just nodded and closed his eyes allowing you to do the work in peace feeling guilty with how much he was enjoying this when you were doing him a favor for the stupidest of tasks.
You lather your hand in shampoo and work it all through the hair before rinsing it out and repeating with conditioner. As you worked the darkness consuming his skin retreated away almost completely.
You finish rinsing it all out and help him up, pretending not to notice the tears in his eyes. You gently dry his hair with a towel knowing it’s probably not the best method but it was the only option as the loud noise of a blow dryer would be too overstimulating –also it was like 3 in the morning and you’re sure the other thunderbolts wouldn’t be so appreciative of that either–
You brushed out his hair softly with his brush. Your gentleness is what set him off causing him to cry, unable to hold back the weight of everything, all the voices, all the things he's done…yet you- despite everything you are here gently brushing his hair at three in the morning all because he asked. Because you loved him…him of all the people in the world.
You continued to work while mumbling soft encouragement and reminders that he's not alone and how much you love him. You keep doing this until all the tears are gone and the only sound is his soft sniffles.
Once his hair is taken care of and a long hug on the floor you bring him back to your bed and sit on the bed allowing him to sit wherever he likes.
He stood at the base of the bed and before he could overthink it he slowly got on the bed and moved to lay in his usual spot between your legs laying his head on your lap. Taking this as an invitation you toy with the hair at the nape of his neck and trace shapes on his back. He lets out a breath finally feeling somewhat relaxed, the voices quitting themselves –though never fully gone– and the darkness surrounding his fingers fade. He falls asleep for the first time in days right there in your lap.
You lean down kissing the top of his head. “I love you Bob, as long as I’m here you are never truly alone. And I'll…be here forever if you will have me…”
Unlike the softly snoring man in your lap you are unable to sleep still. Stressed out from work, worried about Bob and how he desperately needs a break away from all this hero-y media stuff. In fact all of them do. You grab your computer and do some of the thing you are best at, you plan. You go through planning a whole trip for the two of you finding the perfect air BnB to rent away from the city. Far enough that you are away from everything completely but close enough you can head back in the most dire of emergencies.
Once finished with all the planning you shut off your computer finally feeling tired. You shift the sleeping man in your lap to be under the covers with minimal grumbling until he feels you pressed beside him, arm slung over his side in the bed.
~~~
Bob woke up hours later getting proper sleep for the first time in ages. He stretches reaching behind him and frowns when he realizes he's in your bed alone. Looking at the clock he sees it around 1 in the afternoon. He groaned, still feeling exhausted but made his way to get out of bed, as he stood up he noticed a box on your desk that wasn’t there the night before. He smiles as he lifts up the box and notices it was the product she said he needed the curl cream.
Along with the box there was a note that read:
Hopes this helps my love <3
Also come find me when you wake up I have an idea I want to talk about :D