Chapter 11

Yelenas pov:
I walk into tonys lab and he sighs, “Wow you could pretend to like me.” He rolls his eyes and turns on his chair, “Sorry im a little preoccupied by your girlfriend.” “Shes not my girlfriend.” He furrows his eyebrows. “Yeah right, i saw you two together cuddled on the mattress yesterday. You never choose to be that close to anyone.” “Whatever, why are you preoccupied by her?” “Im worried about her. Pete should be okay because his dad apparently only goes after yn.” I take a deep breath and start playing around with something when he smacks my hand. “Dont touch.” “Im working on a case against him, we’ll help them somehow.” He gives me a weird look, i think it might be worry. “Shes like your closest ‘friend’ right?” “Yeah so?” “So maybe we should get someone else to snitch on her. This friendship is good for both of you.” “Im the best way to build a case though.” “Well how about you just bring her around here more often and we will document what we can see, that way we have evidence from the cameras too.” I raise my eyebrows as confusion coils in. “You want someone to be here? What happened to antisocial stark?” “Me? Antisocial? Most people literally hadnt heard you speak until yesterday.” “Yeah whatever stark, are the avengers doing anything today?” His mouth falls open and he puts his hand on his chest. “Whats happening? Are you having a heart attack?” His features quickly turn annoyed. “How old do you think i am?!” “Trust me you do not want me to answer that.” He rolls his eyes, he does that a lot when im about. “I was just shocked that you wanted to spend time with us.” “Okay forget it then, i mean if you dont want me there, ill just-” “okay, okay, we arent doing anything today, but tomorrow, we are going to watch petes maths competition at school.” I laugh out loud, “HA what a dork!” He gives me a funny look and i remember that its yns brother. And that she probably did the same sort of thing. “Maybe that was the wrong thing to say.” “My point is, yn will be there, you both can spend time together then.” I think about it and then just walk out of his lab without a word. “Goodbye? Your welcome? Honestly no one appreciates what i do anymore.”

I walk until i reach a bar, but when i look in, i see shes not here. David, her father is though. I take a deeo breath to keep calm and walk up to the bar. Yns ‘friend’ alex comes over to me and smiles. “Hey, yn isnt here right now, she messaged asking for a later shift.” David comes over and pipes up. “That lazy shit probably went back to bed, cant get her to do anything.” What a prick. I could punch him, but that would work against the case. I order a shot and down it in preparation for what im guessing im about to see. My anger is bubbling as i see that idiot brag about how hes working on getting his kids in order. Im assuming alex knows what hes actually doing to her because i have never seen someones face actually turn red from anger before. I quickly leave and head to her apartment. Its a small apartment, thats cute and notably clean. When i first went there, i knew i could smell bleach but i wasnt sure why. I knock on the door and she answers with a similar paleness as before. “What did he do?” She furrows her eyebrows, “How did you know he-” “i went to the bar to say hi and he was there bragging about his ‘discipline’.” She looks away ashamed and invites me in. I look around the pristine apartment and see various cleaning products out. “I thought you were meant to be resting before work.” She sighs, clearly exhausted from something, maybe life in general. “Well someone has to clean this pig sty.” I flash her a cinfused look and she mirrors it. “What are you talking about? This place is cleaner than the compound and we have maids. You wouldnt even tell a drunk lived here.” “Lena you dont have to be nice, i know its not great, i can still smell the alcohol”, she shudders before speaking, “and him.” I blush at the nickname before painful realisation finds its way in, “Yn its in your head. You know hes been here, so youre trying to get rid of every trace of him.” “What no, im just cleaning.” I soften my eyes and tilt my head. “This place is cleaner than a hospital. Please take a break and sit down.”

I make us both a drink, after arguing with her, to get her to sit and rest. Im still distraught that they dont have marshmallows, so i make us both coffee. I sit down with her and stare at her. “What?” I look at her lips as she speaks, remembering what happened the last time i was here. Nope i cant, friends. “So…uh what was this for?” She looks away, seeming uncomfortable. “I mean you dont have to tell me if you dont want to, but it might help to share the weight.”

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Yns pov:
Share the weight? My eyes find their way back to hers and its like im finding my way home. A true home. Not a fear ridden, filthy apartment. I dont understand how she just understands whats going on with me. This crushing weight has gotten even more unbearable the last few months, since petes been going to the compound more – i always thought it was an internship for his college application. “Do you remember me telling you about the missed calls yestersay off of david?” He would kill me if he knew i called him david. “Yeah, what about it?” I bite my lip as nerves creeps up my throat in the form of sick. I swallow it down and just rush to get out the words. “He beat me because i forgot to restock his alcohol and i didnt answer so i couldnt get it.” Her eyes grow dark. I thought i had issues with anger. She stands up abruptly and heads to the door. I follow her, grabbing her arm and stepping in front of her. “Lena, its fine, leave it alone.” “No, enough is enough!” “Please dont!” Im practically shaking as i think about all the possible outcomes of me being too weak to hold it in. “Why not? Hes a horrible excuse for a human being!” “Even after all the abuse, and after what happened with my mom, he still got us through school and made sure food was in the house.” She holds on to my arm, showing that shes there for me. “Yn…thats basic things. It doesnt make him a good person. Or a good father. And he got you kicked out of school. And you pay for everything around here.” I look away, i guess i had never thought about it like that before. Maybe it was stupid hope. Hope that he actually still cared about us. “Lena please just dont.” She lets out a deep breath. “Give me one reason.” I think for a moment my mind coming up blank except for one thing.

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Yelenas pov:
What she says next breaks my heart. Completwly obliterates it. Im not even sure how im still alive. “What happens after? You hurt him or go to the police and he gets more angry and directs that towards me.” I immediately remember my dream where he is stood over yn about to kill her and peter was already dead on the floor. Thats a pretty good reason not to. I move closer to her and just hug her. She tries to push me away, but i dont let go. Eventually she just melts into the hug but she doesnt cry. I dont understand why, she has every right to cry.

After a while she pulls out the hug and moves to the kitchen like nothing happened. “Do you want food?” I stand behind her and take everything out of her hands. I hold her hand and lead her out of her apartment. “Lena what are you doing? I have to get ready for work.”  I grin at her, “Call in sick.” She stops walking and folds her arms. “I cant afford to skip work. Our rents due.” I flash her a small frown before my eyes light up. “Oh no. Whats that look? What are you planning?” “Go to work, ill see you later, oh and dont eat.” I leave her there looking perplexed and basically run to the compound. I go straight to nats office and barge in. “You know people are working when their in an office, quiet and people not barging in would be appreciated.” “Wheres a good place to eat?” She gives me a confused look. “Is this for you or a normal person?” “Its for yn.” She smirks and my face grows red. “Uhh i dont know, our chinese food place is pretty good.” “Great thanks!” I swiftly leave her office and head to the garage, putting on my motorbike helmet and grabbing a spare. I head to the place and get a bunch of food before heading to yns work.

I walk in with a bag on my back and go up to the bar. I see yns eyes practically light up the closer i get. “Hey stranger, been a long time.” I laugh and she flashes me a confused look. “Seriously though, what are you doing here?” I smile at her and see her nervously look around, probably for her dad. “Come with me.” Her eyes snap to mine. “Lena i cant just leave at the start of my shift.” Thats when alex comes over. “Hey if you want to go, i can have a friend of mine come in to cover.” She looks between us both, clearly torn between responsibility and actually having fun. “What about my rent, i need the money.” “Tony offered to cover it.” She looks again between us both and lets out a defeated sigh before gesturing between me and alex. “I dont like this alliance, its gonna lead to triuble.” “So….?” “Fine.” Alex smiles and puts his hand on her shoulder. “Wow look at you living and not being your usual doom and gloom.” She shrugs off his hand and comes out from behind the bar. I look her up and down, not having realised before what she was wearing. Shes wearing a shirt that fits her perfectly and the buttons are buttoned as low as possible, leaving little to the imagination. Her trousers are slightly baggy, in the right way and show. This outfit shows off everything in the best way.

Im still picking my jaw up off the floor when she clears her throat. “Lena?” I look at her face that has a playful smirk and i immediately blush. “Sorry, got a little lost in thought there.” Alex fakes coughs, saying “bet you did.” Yn grabs my hand and leads me out of the bar, my brain no longer working. “So where are we going?” I take her to my motorbike and pass her the second helmet. “Its a surprise.” She smiles and an unfamiliar flame lights in her eyes. She smiles, her dimples showing, putting on the helmet before she gets on, holding on to me. I can barely breath when i think about how close she is. Friends. Thats all. I take a deep breath so i dont pass out and kill us both and then i drive off.

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Alexs pov:
Damn gays. They get everything. Its good though, its not too long ago i had to cover for yn because she attempted suicide. Her brother still doesnt know, she asked me to have him with me for the night whilst she got sorted out, the kid thought i just wanted a movie marathon. I whisper underneath my breath, “Damn gays, why cant i get whisked away on a motorbike by a beatiful woman.” “Did you just say gays?” I feel my stomach drop as i turn to see him stood there. My eyes widen and my eyebrows raise along with the pitch of my voice. “David, no i like to make up reasons why yn wont date me thats all.” He cuts his eyes, clearly seeing through my obvious lie. “If i find out shes gay and you lied, im coming for you next.” Next?! Oh god what have i done?! I frantically phone yn but it goes to voicemail, yelena mustve told her to turn her phone off. What do i do? I phone peter but he doesnt answer. I phone him again and again, but nothing. Im gonna have to find her after my shift, theres no one else to cover and its starting to get busy. Lunchtimes usually are. Should i phone the police? No, they wouldnt do anything and yn will just get more hurt. DAMMIT! Ill just keep an eye on him, see when he leaves. I look around the bar. Oh. Shit. Hes gone and a few of his buddies are gone too. If she survives this, shes gonna kill me.

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Yns pov:
Butterflies flutter in my stomach when i think about how close to her i am. A few minutes later we’re outside a record shop. “What are we doing here?” “Well im guessing nothing you cherish is safe at yiur apartment and thats why you dont have a record player?” “Yeah its a surprise my percy jackson series has made it this far.” “Okayyy, well im buying you a record player and you can keep it in my room. Pick out your favourite records too.” I could kiss her. I smile from ear to ear and basically drag her inside. I havent felt this alive in years. I go to look at something before she grans my hand, pulling me back. Maybe a little too close. Our faces are inches from each other. I step back as she speaks. “Uh i have chinese food and this place has a cute little spot on the roof.” Chinese food is. My. Favourite. “Youre a bit of a softy really arent you?” She scoffs but blushes slightly. “Im just trying to make sure my only friend doesnt die of boredom and hunger.” Friend. I feel disappointment ache in my chest. Right yeah thats all we are. She grabs my hand, leading me to the roof which overlooks the busy city. Its a 5 story record shop, its tall but the rooms are small and sorted into music genres. I sit on the wall with one of legs dangling off the building. “What are you doing?!” I hear the extreme panic in her voice. “Come on lena, its fun, we can people watch.” She hesitantly sits down and puts the chinese food between us. “Look you see that person with the blue jacket?” She looks down and spots them with a perplexed look. “Yeah?” “Thats my ex. She was miserable. And she made me miserable too.” She looks at me and speaks softly. “So why were you with her?” “She was my bestfriend. My only friend. I needed an escape from my dad and she would get me out the house every now and then.” “That sounds awful.” “Things were complicated.” “Why did you break up?” “She didnt want to date someone who has previously been arrested. Honestly though she did me a favour. Getting out of that relationship is the second best thing that has ever happened to me.” “And whats the best thing?” I blush and look away. “It doesnt matter. Do you have any exes?” “Ha no i am too busy. No one really caught my eye before anyway.” “What do you mean you were too busy?” She shoves a bunch of food in her mouth and pretends to answer. “Wow very mature. I feel like i know barely anything about you.” She sighs and swallows her food. “Fine. I was taken as a child to be trained into a child assassin.” “Huh. Thats really cool but also really horrible, im sorry that happened to you. How long were you there.” “I was 6 when i was taken there and i was 20 when i got out.” “Wait so how old are you now?” “21.” “But youre so well adjusted?” She cackles, catching me off guard. “What?” “Im only just getting to know the people i live with, before i met you, i had no desire to know anyone.” “Im sorry for bringing up that place, i didnt realise it was going to be so dark.” She smiles at me gently, “I have never told anyone before, but telling you about it, and you not running for a more stable friend, it makes it a more bearable weight to carry. Thanks.” She looks me in the eyes for a moment before looking down at the street. “Woah that is an outfit!” I look down to see the most uncoordinated outfit ever. “Thats men for you. I dont understand how women could be attracted to them.” We talk, laugh and eat for a while, before we head downstairs. I help yelena pick out a quality record player and some of my favourite music. We head over to the till to pay. “So does this mean i get to decorate your room?” She groans and looks at me after paying. “Dont make me return this!” “Seriously? You cant just have a record player on its own.” “Strange because i will.” “Thursday i have a day off. Im coming over to help you decorate.” She scoffs, “What so i have no choice in the matter?” “Nope.” I put the stuff in her bag and i have to tie the record player to the back of her bike.  She drives me back and we both get off, i take off my helmet, looking at her confused. “What are you doing?” She takes off her helmet and looks confused. “Im walking you in.” “Thank you, but my dad or pete might be back so im gonna have to say no.” She frowns a little and i can feel my answer changing before she speaks up. “Okay, but i will see you thursday, you already promised me that.” “I didnt actually promise you, but i will be there.” She sticks out her pinkie. “Promise?” I chuckle, amused by her childish charm and i pinkie promise her. “Fine i promise.” I head back inside and i hear her motorbike roar to life and drive off.