Chapter 9

Yns pov:
The next morning i startle awake when my dads voice booms. “GET UP YOU LAZY BITCH!” Its 9am and hes drunk. He looms over me and grabs my throat, squeezing tight. “Da- please-…i cant-” he tightens his grip and moves closer to my face. “Get your ass out of bed and go to work. Im out of alcohol.” He lets go and storms out, slammibg the door. I gasp for air and i can feel bruises forming on top of bruises. Eventually peter slinks into my room. He has a knack for moving silently, its really helpful for a kid that doesnt like to confront people. “Hes still got a grudge hasnt he?” “He always has a grudge, your actions hasnt changed that.” He awkwardly stands there hesitant. “Peter just say what you wanna say.” “Im ga-” i smack his arm again and again shushing him. “Ah ah ah what?!” “Are you stupid?! You dont say that whilst in this house. We’ll talk somewhere else. I have to get to work.”
I kick him out and i quickly get ready. I never feel as excited as when im about to leave this trauma ridden dump.

An hour later and im at work. It took me a minute to convince my manager to let me work when he saw the bruises but he knows i need the money. I stalk over to the counter and let out a deep breath when i feel eyes on me. I turn to look at alex. Hes a 6’0 idiot whos annoyingly pretty and has brown hair. He’s gawking at me with shock. “What?” “What? Yn you have bruises everywhere, what the hell. I noticed bruises before but its never this bad, and not to mention the cuts on your face!” “I got in a fight with a window in a bar.” He raises an eyebrow and scoffs. “You dont drink.” I move past him to clean the bar and he holds my arm, i flinch back and he raises his hands in surrender. “Woah sorry. I just want to talk about this. I mean your dad is in here every day, i know what hes like.” “You know nothing, now get to work.” “Theres one customer. Joeys always here and hes passed out.” I shake my head when i hear the door shut. “Ha two customers.” I turn around and i cant stop myself from smiling when i see who it is. “Who is it?” “No one shut your mouth and look after joey.” I head to the other end of the bar where shes waiting. “My manager told me to not let trouble in today, so youre gonna have to leave.” “Wow a few bar fights and now im trouble.” “How did you find where i work yelena?” She smirks and leans against the bar. “I have a few tricks up my-” she stops speaking and stares at me. “What?” “Youre neck. Its even more bruised, what happened?” “It doesnt matter. So what can i do for you?” She doesnt speak for a while, clearly debating whether to push it or not. “Well i texted you but you didnt answer. Theres a movie night tonight at the compound. You and peter are invited, be there for 8.” “Sounds good, i finish work at 6, we have a lot of day drinkers. At least youll be more cultured.” She chuckles but doesnt joke back as she looks me in the eyes. “You look tired detka.” I look away, hoping she doesnt notice the blush colouring my cheeks at the nickname. “I didnt get much sleep.” “Yeah pete told me when i went by your house. I heard there was some shouting randomly through the night.” “So petes your mysterious source of information. Everythings fine, my dad gets more cranky the more he drinks.” “Is that how you got those bruises?” I stop smiling and back up after realising how close we are. “Nope, bar fight.” “You dont drink.” Why does everyone know that? “Ill see you at 8 lena.” She flashes a small frown but walks away.

I walk back over to alex whos smiling his head off. Idiot. “Who was that?” “A friend.” “A special friend?” He wiggles his eyebrows and i smack him playfully in the stomach. “Dont say that round here, my dad doesnt know im gay.” “Oh right yeah, sorry. Still doesnt change my question though.” I sigh but cant stop smiling. “Maybe. I dont know.” “From the way you were blushing i would say she definitely is.” I brush past his words and quietly work through my shift, keeping my head down everytime a regular comes in. Some queerie the injuries, others tend to mind their business. Its 5 minutes til the end of my shift when i see his haunting face. I panic and glance at alex who nods to the back. I quickly run to the staff only rooms behind the bar and alex follows. “Ill deal with him, you take off early.” “You sure?” “Yeah hes his most pleasant when he goes out to drink.” I smile gratefully and quickly grab my stuff, leaving.

I spent 20 minutes deciding what to wear when peter comes in and sees the mess of clothes everywhere. “How do yiu have this many clothes?!” “I have my resources.” “The avengers movie nights are casual, wear whatever.” I look him up and down, seeing his tracksuit and go with a hoodie and baggy jeans. Theyre nosy people and its best to cover as many bruises as possible. Though thats hard with the black bruise spread across my throat. We head over and get there exactly at 8. Tony answers the door and doesnt really notice me. He takes peter in a random direction, leaving me on my own. I whisper to myself annoyed, “Yeah dont worry about me, ive been here one whole time, i know my way round.” Someone speaks, startling me. “We’re just setting up in the living room, everyone likes to bring in the spare matresses.” I look at the stunning red head from the police station and nearly forget to speak. “Thank you, sorry who are you again?” “Oh right sorry, theres a lot more of us than you, im nat.” “Oh youre lenas sister.” She smirks. “Lena? Its good to know shes finally got friends.” “Yeah well shes a little mean at first.” I hear the footsteps creak and i see lena staring at us. “Nat what are you doing?” “Oh come on yel, im just getting to know your friend.” She gives her a funny look. “Yn if you need help blink twice.” I accidentally snort and immediately cover my mouth with my hand. Yelena makes eye contact with me and we both burst out laughing. Nat just looks between us confused. “Wow okay suddenly your friendship makes so much sense, well aside from the joint arrest.” “Come on lets go to my room, theres a lot less boring people who dont get arrested.” “Thats because im too good, do you know how many times ive been on the run?” Yelena grabs my hand and leads me upstairs to her room. I look around and its a little cold and bare. “Hm.” “What?” “Your room is just…not what i imagined.” She feigns offence. “What do you mean?!” I look around and smile. “Well i guess its as bare as your cultural knowledge, but i expected something a little more you.” “Uhh excuse you, i just dont spend much time in here.” “This should be your safe space, we need to spend a weekend decorating.” She raises an eyebrow and glances at my neck. Normally i would be turned on, but considering the bruise on my neck, im a little bummed out. “Are you saying that your bedroom is your safe space?” I roll my eyes and sit on her bed. “Oh. My. God. You are rich, rich! This bed is amazing!” “Yeah i suppose we’re pretty lucky.” My mouth falls open. “Thats what privelleged people say.” “Im getting used to the luxuries.” You lay down and shut your eyes, reveling in the peace. “Im never leaving.” I let out a loud gasp and sit up dramatically. “YOU NEED CANDLES!” “Woah okay hold on, you say that im comfortable at peoples houses, but youre literally laying in my bed, decorating my room.” I ignore her remark and continue seeing the endless possibilities for this beautiful room. “You need music too, ooooo and posters. A record player would be soooo cool.” “You know if you wanted to get in my bed, you just have to ask.” I nearly get whiplash. I open my mouth to respond but we hear a knock on the door. Lena answers, revealing nat. Nat takes in the sight of me on lenas bed and smirks at lena. “Making yourself at home yn?” “Can you blame me with this place? God i could save for a lifetime and never afford a night in this place.” “What do you do for work yn?” “I bartend at a 24 hour bar. Its pretty interesting actually.” Yelena makes a snide remark, “Yeah you definitely seemed interested in that colleague of yours.” Me and nat stare at her for a moment. “Alex is a….friend. God i cant believe i just said that, gross. He was concerned because i havent been to work in a little while and i showed up with injuries.” Nat chimes in, “And its not like shes dating anyone.” I feel disappointment set in my stomach. And nat shakes her head. “I forgot why i was here, everythings set up, come down we have snacks and blankets.”

I follow closely behind yelena and when we enter the room my heart grows a little lighter. Theyre stretched out all over the sofa and on matresses on the floor, all chatting and laughing. Hope fights its way in as i see a family in front of me. Petes family. Hes there too, fits in seamlessly. He didnt need me, because he had them, and now things suddenly makes sense. My home was his nightmare, the thing he could escape when he woke up. I wish i had that, i need that so desperately. Yelena pulls me from my thoughts when she squeezes my hand. “You okay? You look a little lost in thought.” “Yeah its just a little different to what im used to.” She flashes that heartbreaking frown and pulls me onto one of the matresses, grabbing a blanket and pillows. They put on a star wars film thanks to pete, im so sick of these films, but watching it with the sound on and with nice people makes it bareable.

I look over at peter and pietro (i think thats his name) in the middle of the film and see them cuddled up sharing snacks. “Is peter dating pietro?” Yelena looks at me confused, “Whos pietro?” I burst out laughing, getting a few confused looks from the team. “The guy cuddled up to my brother?” “Ohhh yeah, i think theyve been dating for a while. Theyre cute together.” “Yeah they are.” I get up and head to the hallway, taking out my phone. 10 missed calls from that monster. Lena comes out and runs her hand down my arm. “Whats up?” “Nothing i was going to leave my dad a voicemail that we were here but i already missed 10 calls, so ill just leave that.” “Are you guys staying here tonight?” I raise my eyebrows in shock. “Really any excuse to get me in your bed huh? I would love to stay but i dont have anything here.” “We have spare toothbrushes and you can borrow some clothes.” “Really? Thats so nice, i dont want to intrude-” “its not intruding if i offered.” “Thank you.” She smiles and peter comes out looking at me nervously. “Ill leave you guys to talk.” I watch her walk back in and turn to him, concern evident on my face. “Whats up?” “Im gay.” I see his nervousness and nearly laugh in his face. “I know. Me too.” Ive never seen someones eyes widen so much. “What?!” “Pete who did you think my ex bestie was?” He pulls a disgusted face. “You dated a girl?” “Youre dating a boy!” “You know about me and pietro?” “Yeah it was kinda obvious.” “Hold on, wait lets back this up a moment. You dated a girl and didnt tell me?” “I thought you would figure it out, its not my fault your dense.” I walk off leaving him stunned and when i walk through the door everyone is awkwardly staring at me with the film paused. “You know normal people who pretend not to have heard the whole thing.” I sit down next to lena who doesnt stop looking at me. “So what was your ex like?” I half laugh half scoff. “Thats a story for a different time.” Everyone looks at me and i pull the blankets back over us. “Well that sounds interesting.” “Hm i guess so. Tom can you press play?” “It- its tony.” “Yeah whatever.” Yelena smiles, beaming with pride.