Chapter Text
Bob wasn’t smiling at Yelena.
He was smiling at the team’s new pr manager.
He wasn’t smiling at the short, grumpy, roguishly beautiful, stubborn assassin who couldn’t take a compliment.
No.
He was smiling at the tall, runway model of a woman who seemed like flowers grew when she walked and never smelt of old smoke and eye rolls, but smelt like crisp perfume and handshakes.
Yelena grit her teeth as they huddled in the corner of the kitchen together, his hand slightly brushing hers when he talked.
She despised the way she looked at him. She was disgusted by how close they were. How she fluttered her wispy lashes when listening to him. How her lips pursed. How she smiled with such pure grace.
And especially how Bob liked it. How he leaned into it Soaked in it.
Yelena sucked her anger in with a sharp inhale and braced the tense air of the kitchen. Bob sent a glance her way as she entered the room. Just a look of acknowledgement. Then he went back into getting lost in that stupid girl’s eyes. She hated it.
She wanted him to look at her with more than just a glance. She wanted his eyes pinned on her. She wanted to be drenched in his glare. She wanted him to look her up and down with fire in his eyes. She shook it off. This is so stupid, she thought. She was acting like a goddamn high school girl with a dumb crush on the popular jock who was taken by hundreds of girls.
Yelena leaned against the kitchen island, sipping her freshly made coffee, pretending to be looking at her phone as she was studying the two in the corner of her eye. Yelena watched as the girl said goodbye to Bob patting him softly on the shoulder before waltzing out of the room, so perfectly put together that Yelena wanted to smash her mug onto the kitchen counter. Bob watched her leave with a smile plastered across his face. He walked over to Yelena slumping down against the counter next to her.
“She’s really nice isn’t she?” He grinned, looking dazed like a lovesick puppy.
“Mm.” Yelena hummed, not paying any mind to Bob beside her.
“You two should talk, I think you would really like her!” He chirped, being too stupid to realise the anger and frustration bubbling inside her.
“Well she only gives her attention to you.”
“No she doesn’t!” He playfully said, nudging Yelena’s shoulder.
She loved when their hands brushed or shoulders when walking by and when his fingers played with hers at the dinner table. But this touch made her blood boil. He was being so nice and carefree, he didn’t notice how she wanted to punch a hole in the wall. She heavily sighed, almost a grunt, and stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Bob looking confused and dumbfounded.
The next morning, Bob emerged into the kitchen. His expression drowsy, hair tussled, bruises dotted around his neck, a slight limp in his step.
Yelena instantly knew.
She sunk her teeth into her tongue, biting down on the jealous frustration. All the team members looked up at Bob as he entered, not saying a word, all knowing what he and that manager did the night before.
John snickered when he saw the bruises on his collarbone. Bucky rolled his eyes as everyone studied him when he sat down.
“Had a rough night?” John jeered, a laugh brewing on his words. Ava groaned and elbowed him, a small smile creeping on her face too.
“No, I’m just tired.” He yawned, pouring milk into his cereal.
“Did anyone else hear all that screaming last night?” John added and the team all snickered, covering their mouths and biting their lips. Bob finally realised their mocking and groaned.
“I don’t judge your personal lives.” He suspired.
“Yeah but we heard yours loud and clear last night.” Ava smirked and Alexei followed with too many crude comments that made Bucky leave the room.
“I thought you were gonna sleep with Yelena first.” John joked between all the overlapping, bellowing laughs. Suddenly the room fell silent with a sharp air filling the room as Yelena choked, her eyes wide, staring at the table after the comment.
“Don’t you guys already do that?” Alexei added. The room grew more tense as nobody laughed after noticing Bob and Yelena’s stern, anxious looks. Yelena abruptly stood up, clearing her plates and mug and leaving the room. Bob shortly followed silently. As soon as they were gone, the team broke out into gossiping and whispering, trying and struggling to decipher what the hell was going on between the two.
Yelena sank into her bed after slamming her door. She rubbed her nose bridge, trying to cure the headache forming from her annoying team members. Suddenly, a knock came from the door.
“Come in.” She groaned and Bob stood in the doorway, tense with a worried expression on his face. His brow furrowed and lip bunched up, biting the inside of his cheek
“What?”
“Are you mad at me?” He asked, tugging on the sleeve of his hoodie.
“No.” She lied. She avoided his stare as she sat down on the bed next to her, planting his hand behind her back on the mattress, to be as close to her as possible without encroaching on her personal space.
She hated how thoughtful he was. How careful he was with her. He treated her like glass, like she could easily shatter.
And she could.
“You sure? I feel like you’ve been avoiding me lately?”
And with that Yelena huffed, pushing herself up off the bed and walking past him, out of her room.
“See! More avoiding me!” He jumped up and ran after her, catching up to her in the middle of the hallway.
“Yelena, please! I don’t wanna upset you!” He begged, still struggling to catch up with her as she trudged down the hall.
“Please!” he grabbed her arm, fingers lacing between hers, and pulling her back around to face him.
“Please.” His voice settled.
“Are you okay?” He asked, his breath soft and shaky.
“I’m fine.” Yelena groaned, moving away but his grip on her hand remained firm.
“I can tell you’re not.” He smiled, a laugh softly grazing his voice. Yelena sighed, rolling her eyes and gritting her teeth, she exhaled once more and her eyes met his. Bob studied Yelena’s expressions as the cogs turned in her head trying to find the best way to express her frustrations without sounding like a whiny little kid.
“The new pr manager,” She started and Bob could already tell how this was going, a smirk grew on his face.
“She just gets on my nerves a lot, especially how you are with her.” Yelena looked down embarrassed, she pulled her hand away from his and scratched at her nail beds nervously, a tick that bob had started to pick up on.
“I’m sorry,” He said and Yelena looked up at him. He paused, a rising line of tears bubbled in her eyes and his smile instantly fell, he stepped closer and she wrapped her arms around her chest tightly, another tick Bob noticed she did whenever she was nervous or scared. His body language softened.
“We aren’t anything, don’t worry.” He smiled and held his palm around her elbow. She stepped closer and sank into his grasp. She softly chuckled and wiped her tears away.
“I feel so stupid, sorry.” She bit her lip.
“No don’t apologise, she’s quitting anyway.” Yelena’s head instantly darted up.
“Really?”
“You’re excited?”
Yelena dropped her expression.
“No, I just-“
“It’s fine,” He chuckled.
“It apparently wasn’t the right job for her, and she’s not as cool as you anyway.” Yelena smiled and Bob wrapped his arms around her. She was so small compared to him that she was swallowed up by him, her head against his chest, his warmth encompassing her. She let go of herself and wrapped her arm around his waist, holding him tightly.
“You never have to say sorry to me.” He whispered into her hair and she smiled against his shirt, closing her eyes.
“I just get jealous so easily.” She muttered and he tilted his head down to look at her.
“It’s okay.” He softly replied and leaned his head on top of hers, his chin against her forehead.
“I can’t lose you.” She sniffled, her voice shaking and Bob felt tears soak into his shirt. He picked up his head and placed a hand on top of her’s, slowly stroking his fingers against her hair.
“You won’t, you won’t.” He murmured
And she wouldn’t.