look after you × winterwidow & oc

XII. just close your eyes

"Natasha, what are you..." Yelena whispered.

"It's the better way" she sniffled, not finding enough courage in herself to look her sister in the eyes, yet brave enough to hold her arm steady, not bothered by the sound of electric crackling right next to her ear.

Hoping that James would understand, she whispered a shaky plea for forgiveness. Someone will one day tell him what happened and that there was no other way. Natasha chose to believe that he would do the same. She knew what he was willing to do for her, how much he already sacrificed for all of them. Why would he expect anything less from Natasha? It was her duty to put her child first. To get that burden off her shoulders. That blame that would follow her for the rest of her life. It won't if Natasha finishes it herself.

"You can let go, baby." she encouraged, the crackling sound next to her ear drowning out her voice. "Just close your eyes."

Katya shook her head and groaned with strain, pushing the gun harder to her head.

Then a whistle reached their ears, somewhere from behind Romanoff. Katya flinched, the glimmer of consciousness disappearing from her eyes before the hand wielding the gun fell to her side. She stood up and turned around, starting to walking away slowly, to the direction of the sound. It took Natasha a while to locate it as she scrambled back to her legs.

It was Melina, coming closer, limping and supported by Alexei. The girl's gaze was fixed on her as she continued approaching them at a steady pace.

Vostokoff smiled softly at her before opening her mouth "Eta slishkom kholodno dlya paukov."

Natasha wasn't fast enough too catch Katya, too shocked and confused with what was going on, as the girl suddenly went limp. It was Yelena who managed to catch her in the nick of the time, before Romanoff even realized she got so close to them. Supporting the girls head, she guided her gently to the ground. Natasha crossed the distance almost crawling, after she tripped, focused only on getting close to her daughter. She lifted her just enough to embrace the unconcious body for a moment and then propped Katya's head on her thighs. She let out a snorting chuckle, almost choking on the dry sobs, before tears returned, streaming down her face faster than ever before.

Just like her father, Katya also had an off switch. And it turned out that Melina still knew the girl better than it seemed at first sight, even eleven years later after she saw her last.

Natasha's whole body shook with cries as she leaned forward, touching her forehead to Katya's chest. She could hear her heartbeat, despite her own weeps. Strong and steady, the opposite of Natasha's own thundering heart. Her daughter was alive. And she was too.

They made it.

Natasha moved slightly, enough to shift Katya’s head and press a kiss to her forehead. Someone behind her gave her shoulder a consoling squeeze. A little while later, she found out it was Yelena. Melina stood in front of them, the gentle smile still on her face.

"Thank you," Romanoff uttered.

"It was the least I could do. She should wake up soon."

"I know." Natasha nodded, earning a knowing huff from Vostokoff.

"Like father, like daughter, huh?" Melina teased. Natasha shook her head with a chuckle and sniffled, brushing a strand of dirty hair away from Katya's face.

"I knew there was a daddy," Yelena muttered to herself. The older woman smacked her on the back of the head with a frown and a silent reprimand in her eyes.

Soon enough, Katya shifted in Natasha's arms. Her eyelids fluttered and she grimaced.

"Hey there, spyashchaya krasavitsa," Romanoff said, hoping her voice will help the girl come around.