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There was something wrong with Yelena.
She didn't know exactly when it all began but if she had to trace it back, it would be right after Valentina pronounced her and the pitiful team of mercenaries and castoffs she found herself in, as the New Avengers. Or it was a little after that, when they all settled in on the Watchtower and Yelena had to learn how to live with Walker and her father's constant bickering over what they would have for dinner, Ava's sardonic laugh as Bucky rolled his eyes in exasperation at the childish attitude of his comrades and Bob…well, Bob was just Bob.
He was avoiding her. That was what was wrong with Yelena. He was avoiding her and she didn't have a clue why.
Yelena walked into the foyer, her eyes immediately searching the room for Bob’s familiar silhouette lurking in a corner.
“Lena!” Her father exclaimed happily from behind the kitchen counter. He shook the box of cereal in his hand with a wide smile, making the content of it rumble.
“Wheaties?”
“They still sell those?” Walker asked from his place on the sofa where he was polishing his shield.
“I thought it was a limited edition kind of deal,” Ava questioned, looking up from her book.
“I made sure to buy enough for when they stop selling them,” Alexei extended a bowl full of milk and cereal towards Yelena. “Here! It's good for you.”
Yelena sighed, taking the bowl and setting it down on the counter as she walked further into the room.
“Those are probably expired,” Walker eyed the bowl of cereal with a mix of disgust and concern. “I need you to know that.”
“What? Wheaties don't expire! They are nutrition, good for health!”
“No, I'm pretty sure cereals expire,” Ava added, looking between them.
Walker thought about it. “Do cereals expire?”
Yelena covered her eyes with her hand, sighing heavily. Even after five months of living together she couldn’t get used to her comrades picking fights over the dumbest things imaginable.
“So sorry to interrupt this very interesting conversation, but can someone tell me where Bucky is?”
“He's meeting with Sam,” her father chimed in between bites, his mouth full of cereal. “Ah, the Winter Soldier and Captain America.”
“They have to sort out the Avengers thing,” Ava said, returning to her book, unbothered. “Whatever that means.”
Yelena nodded absentmindedly. This wasn't the only question she had meant to ask.
“And uh,” she folded her arms across her chest in order to appear casual. “Where's Bob?”
“Probably hiding in his room like always,” Walker said with a shrug. “Why?”
She made a faint gesture. “No reason. Just hadn't heard from him all day.”
Walker nodded before returning back to his previous endeavor of cleaning his taco-shaped shield. Ava too was immersed in reading and her father seemed occupied with searching the Wheaties box for an expiration date. Nobody would notice if she left the room.
Without a sound, Yelena slipped out of the room, unnoticed. Her steps were quick as she made her way towards Bob's room. His bedroom was the furthest in the tower, far away from everyone else's. Bob had chosen it himself. He said it would be better to keep his distance from others, fearful of losing control again.
Being distant was in his nature and Yelena knew that, knew him but she had noticed the shift. For the past weeks Bob was actively avoiding her, always sitting as far away from her on the table as he could and barely speaking more than a few words to her without even looking at her direction.
But that wasn't even the worst part. One afternoon Bob had volunteered to help her father make dinner. As the unofficial cook of the team, Alexei was ordering Bob around, barking orders in his direction and Yelena, unable to witness Bob's helplessness, had stepped in. As she handed him a plate, the tips of their fingers brushed against each other. Bob became rigid at the touch, immediately withdrawing his hand while mumbling something inaudible under his breath. He didn't look at her once after that.
It annoyed Yelena more than she thought it would. Because at the end, Bob was just Bob. Nothing to her.
Yelena stopped right outside the door of his room. She took in a shaky breath, pushing her shoulders back with confidence as she knocked on his door.
“Bob?” She called out. There was no response.
Yelena waited for a minute before she spoke again.
“Listen, I'm just checking in on you okay? Just wanted to make sure you're fine.”
Again, there came no answer from inside the room. Yelena’s mind became overflown with a million different possibilities. A terrible fear crawled under her skin. Bob was still battling with his depressive thoughts but he was doing better. He had a therapist (one that Valentina assigned for the whole team) and he was doing better. Still, the fear persisted.
Yelena ran a hand through her short hair. “I'm coming in, okay? You better not be naked or anything.”
Slowly she pushed the door open, walking inside the room. All the rooms of the Watchtower were unnecessarily big so it took a little longer for Yelena to spot Bob. He was facing the wall, his back turned to her. His shoulders were slumped forward but it wasn't his stance that made Yelena's pulse quicken. Pitch darkness engulfed Bob's entire body, leaving nothing but his frame visible.
Slowly, it turned its head.
Yelena’s breath hitched, her hand reaching for the nonexistent gun on her hip. She knew better than to walk unarmed, even in the comfort of her own home.
“You,” the shadow said, taking a menacing step closer to her.
The two glowing dots that had replaced Bob's gentle blue eyes were staring right at her. Yelena took a step back, her body immediately jumping into fighting mode. She knew she had to alert the others but Yelena knew they would only make things worse by attacking Bob. She had helped him escape the Void once and she was confident she would do it again.
Yelena gritted her teeth. How had that thing taken over Bob again? She shouldn't have ever left Bob alone, even when he was avoiding her.
“Bob,” she said, voice as steady as she could master. “I know you can hear me.”
“Bob isn't here,” it said, tilting its head as if to observe her better. “It's just me and you now.”
Before Yelena could react, a hand was wrapped around her neck, pushing her against the wall behind her. Immediately, she struggled to free herself from the Void's grip. The cold hand, so unlike Bob's always warm palms, flexed around her neck making her lose her breath.
“You,” it spoke again, slowly. “What have you done to me?”
Yelena's legs kicked his but he stopped her, pressing himself against her body and trapping her firmer against the wall. The outline of Bob's features didn't budge even as she scratched the arm that was wrapped around her neck, his superhuman strength making him immune to pain.
“You weaken us. Turn us meak.”
The voice he shared with Bob was hoarse, an echo of what usually passed his lips. Yelena felt a shudder run through her body as she looked into the pure darkness that was him.
“And yet I can't seem to turn away from you.”
“Please,” she managed to mutter, despite his rough hold on her. “Bob, I know–”
“He won't hear your pleas,” the shadow rasped out. “But I will.”
Yelena let out a small noise when the mass of darkness that had taken over her closest friend, brought its face closer to hers. One of his legs nestled in between her own, his thigh pressing in between hers. A low, embarrassing moan crept up her throat that she managed to fight back.
What was she doing? She had to bring Bob back to her again, not get distracted by the proximity of their bodies. This wasn't Bob. It was something else.
“He wants you,” the Void spoke lowly, making the fine hair on the back of Yelena's neck stand in attention.
For a split second, Yelena went perfectly still.
“With each passing day he wants you more. Craves you. It's driving me crazy.”
Yelena’s breathing came out in shallow gasps. She furrowed her brow, beyond confused at the Void's sayings. Surely he couldn't mean…
The hand around her throat seemed to ease out its bruising hold, somehow turning softer.
“If he lost you, he would gladly let me take over,” the Void shook his head as if he was trying to banish the dreadful scenario out of his mind. “But I can't… I can't.”
“Bob,” Yelena spoke, her tone pleading. “I know you can hear me. You can fight this.”
“It was always just us. But now… if we lose you there won't be anything left.”
Yelena took a deep breath, steadying her voice. “Bob please. I need you with me.”
Her words made him pause. Her words had reached a deeper part within him, a part that Yelena knew Bob could hear.
On instinct the Void's grip became tighter, trying to block out Yelena's voice of reason. Groaning, she grabbed his wrist. His dark body was freezing to the touch but Yelena kept holding on to him, praying her touch could reach Bob.
“You're not alone.”
The Void growled. “Stop talking!”
“I'm here!” Yelena's voice was rough from the pressure that was applied to her vocal cords.
Something changed behind the glowing eyes of the Void. Slowly, involuntarily almost, his grip loosened while the darkness washed off of Bob's form like water dripping down his body. Brown hair and blue eyes came into view as the darkness gave way. Yelena let out a breath of immense relief.
“Yelena?”
Bob blinked confused, trying to grasp the situation that he found himself in. After those episodes he was always left in a confused trance, not remembering anything his other self had done.
His eyes moved from Yelena's face to her neck, where his hand was still tightly pinning her to the wall.
All the color drained from his face as he immediately drew back, releasing his hold on her. Yelena dropped to the floor, coughing hard and clutching her bruised neck.
Bob looked at her in horror.
“Wh–what have I done?”
“It's okay,” Yelena said between coughs, massaging the sore skin of her neck. “It's okay now, Bob.”
She reached out to him, wanting to comfort him as best as she could. She just wanted to reassure him all was well.
“No!” Bob said, backing away from her. “Don't touch me. I'll hurt you.”
“Bob–”
“No!”
Bob shook his head, playing with the sleeve of his baggy shirt in an attempt to calm himself down. There were tears in his eyes as he turned his face away from Yelena in shame of what he had done without his knowledge.
“I'm sorry,” he muttered, stepping away from Yelena. “I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Yelena, really.”
Before Yelena could say anything, Bob had walked out of his room, leaving her more alone and confused than she had ever been.
⧗
Yelena shifted in bed, the texture of her bed sheets feeling rough against the naked skin of her legs. With an annoyed groan she pushed the covers away from her body. She had given up on sleep hours ago but now it seemed she had to give up on enjoying the comfort of her bed as well.
No matter how hard she tried to cast the memories away, they were persistently creeping back into her mind to remind her of what took place just a few hours ago. His hand around her neck. His deep voice whispering those sinful promises that still left Yelena in utter confusion. His thigh between hers, his knee pressing right against…
Yelena shot out of bed. To hell with sleeping. She needed to clear her head.
Her steps echoed in the empty hallway as she walked the now familiar route to Bob's room. It was too late, or rather too early in the morning for anyone in the tower to be awake now.
Yelena stood right outside his door, her heartbeat the only sound that existed in the silence of the hallway. Bob would surely be sleeping and she just wanted to check if he was okay after everything that happened. She had sought him out after he bolted away from her but hadn't been able to find him anywhere. Bob was avoiding her again. But this time she wouldn't let him slip away from her.
Ever so quietly, she turned the handle and opened the door. The room was dark, the only sliver of light coming from a lamp on the bedside table that shed enough light for Yelena to spot Bob. He was awake, sitting on his bed with his back against the headboard, bed covers discarded on the feet of the bed. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, gazing at a spot in the distance.
“Still awake?”
Yelena’s rough russian accent made Bob jolt out of his daydreaming. His head whiplashed around, searching in the dim lighting if she was really there.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“Why not?” She asked, fearlessly moving towards him.
On instinct, Bob scooted away from her, pulling his legs towards his chest and hugging them tightly. It was a little comical to see someone so tall, so much bigger than herself, curled up like that. A part of Yelena wanted to reach out and hug Bob but she managed to shove that impulse out of her mind.
“Is it okay if I sit here for a minute?”
Bob's gaze remained away from her. “Sure.”
Yelena did so, the mattress dipping under her weight. They were close and yet so far away. She tilted her head, trying to get a better look at his face.
“Are you okay?”
Bob choked out a bitter laugh. “Except for the fact that the other me choked you because I couldn't control my emotions, then yeah, I'm okay.”
Yelena closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions.
“How did you lose control? I thought you were learning how to control it.”
Bob seemed agitated by the question, avoiding looking at her direction. Yelena bent her body closer to his, needing to know more.
“It… well, he said some things,” Yelena said, calculating her every word. “About me.”
With each passing day he wants you more. Craves you. It's driving me crazy.
The Void's words echoed in Yelena’s ears and she had to fight back the heat that rose to her cheeks. Bob was still not looking at her, avoiding her even now. So he must have remembered. Must have recalled what the Void had said and done.
Yelena scooted closer to him on the bed.
“I'm a dangerous person,” Bob muttered, pushing his legs away from his chest. “You should stay away from me, Yelena. For your own good.”
“I don't believe that,” she said, reaching her hand to lightly touch his.
Bob pulled his hand away, making Yelena's heart drop.
“Don't,” he said, clutching his hands together, his thumb rubbing where Yelena’s skin touched him.
“If you touch me I might send you to one of those rooms again.”
Bob shook his head, biting his bottom lip hard to stop it from trembling. He was so useless. Momentarily, his gaze traveled to Yelena’s neck, the bruises the Void inflicted on her visible even in the near darkness of the room. At that moment Bob hated himself more than he had ever before.
“Is that why you've been avoiding me all this time?” Yelena asked softer this time. “So I don't get stuck in the Void?”
For the first time Bob turned to look at her. All the air was knocked out of Yelena's lungs when his blue irises bore into hers, making her forget everything except how bright his eyes shined.
“I can't help it,” Bob confessed, his tone pitiful. “My feelings seep into his. And he wants you to fill the void.”
Yelena took in a breath through her nostrils, filling her lungs with much needed oxygen. Hearing the Void speak those things was one thing but having Bob, sweet, kind, honest Bob say them to her had her head spinning.
Bob smiled without humor, his eyes leaving hers.
“I'm such a fucking idiot.”
“You're not.”
“Yes, I am,” Bob insisted. “I can't control my own emotions. I can't do anything right.”
“Bob–”
“I can't even protect what is most important to me from my own self.”
Bob regretted uttering the words the moment they left his mouth. Yelena's lips parted in shock at Bob's accidental confession. Her heart fluttered in her chest and it was so stupid that a trained assassin was acting like that but Yelena couldn't control it. And she was tired of avoiding this feeling that had plagued her for so long.
“I just want you to be safe. And I can't keep you safe because I'm just so useless.”
She scooted even closer, her knee grazing Bob's side. Bob looked down, his ears red in embarrassment. Carefully, Yelena took both his hands in hers.
“Yelena–” He tried to protest but she shushed him quietly. As expected his palms were warm against hers, nothing like the coldness of the Void. Yelena brought his hands to her face, making him cup her cheeks.
“I am not scared.”
Bob’s heart leaped in his chest. He held his breath, waiting for the worst to happen. Yelena turning into a shadow right in front of his eyes, the Void claiming her forever as his. But nothing happened. She was right there, so close to him that Bob could hear her heartbeat, fast but steady like a drum in his ears.
“See?” She whispered, only for him to hear. “Nothing is happening. I'm safe.”
Yelena’s eyelashes fluttered closed as she leaned into Bob’s touch. His palms flexed, hesitantly letting his thumbs rub the soft skin of her cheeks. Bob was still in disbelief at the reality of the situation but he wasn't going to let the opportunity to be closer to the woman that had occupied his every thought every day for those five months pass so easily.
“Bob,” Yelena spoke his name softly and a part of him melted at the intimacy of it. Brown eyes opened, staring right into his very soul and Bob was sure even the Void would be able to see them as well.
Without breaking eye contact, Yelena shifted on the bed, climbing on Bob's lap. He didn't stop her, too mesmerized by her eyes to do anything else but look at Yelena in absolute adoration.
The new angle had their faces only inches away from each other. Yelena’s body felt hot against Bob’s, her weight just right on top of him. His hands were still clutching her face softly, unable to let go.
Yelena swallowed with difficulty. “I think I want you to do more than just touch me.”
Something darkened in Bob's gaze. He was battling with his emotions, wanting so desperately to give in to her that it pained him. The rational part of him screamed at Bob to think of the consequences. What would the team say, what would happen if this didn't work out, if he wasn't enough for Yelena?
“Why me?” He whispered against her lips. “I'm nothing.”
“You're everything.”
Yelena's hands reached out, cupping his face. She was still straddling his lap. They couldn't get any closer than this.
“You see me. The real me, despite every fucked up thing I've ever done. And you understand. You're the only one that can understand.”
Bob let out a shaky breath when Yelena pulled his face even closer to hers. Her eyes were burning with a fiery need to eliminate the space between them.
“We'll fight this together,” she whispered, her eyes glued to Bob’s lips. “But I can't do this with you if you're not honest with me.”
Bob swallowed, his Addam's apple bobbing on his throat. His hands slipped from Yelena's face, coming to rest on her hips as he pulled her closer to his body.
“I couldn't help loving you,” Bob said in a quiet voice, his gaze escaping hers, shyly.
A bright smile spread across Yelena's face. Without hesitation she narrowed the limited space left between them, sealing their lips together in a long awaited kiss. The sudden kiss took Bob by surprise but he instantly responded to it, wrapping his arms around Yelena's waist.
Their mouths explored each other hungrily, kissing like their life depended on it. The kisses deepened and finally after long, they were both at complete and utter peace, finally being held the way they craved for so long.
When Yelena pulled away, both their breathings were rugged and a string of saliva connected their lips. She quickly licked her bruised from the kisses lips, looking at Bob's glazed out eyes. They were chest to chest, their heartbeats synching.
“I can control it,” Bob said, his voice raspy from his barely controlled need. “So please don't stop.”
Yelena's chest heaved. “Are you sure? We don't have to move so quickly.”
“Please. I need you, Yelena.”
Yelena's heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she bent down to catch Bob's lips again. This kiss was full of passion but there was something else hidden behind it. Something raw, something deeper.
Bob's palms rubbed the naked skin of Yelena’s thighs that the pair of shorts she wore left uncovered, travelling to her ass and pushing her forward. Under the confinement of their clothes, Yelena could feel the pressure of his hardening dick against her inner thigh.
She shuddered in want.
Grabbing the edge of her night shirt, she pulled it off of her body, interrupting the kiss only to let the garment pass her neck before throwing it behind her back. Bob pulled away, looking at her with awe. His eyes travelled across her littered with scars skin and Yelena felt vulnerable under his intense gaze.
“Yelena,” he moaned, burying his face in between her breasts. His lips kissed her skin softly as if he was worshiping her. Yelena clasped her hand across her mouth when Bob began kissing her scars, remnants of a bitter past as a Red Room assassin. Even the smallest cut and wound didn't go unnoticed from Bob's insatiable eyes, his lips and tongue working her skin as his palms squeezed her breasts.
“I want more.”
“God,” Yelena moaned softly, her hips rolling against Bob's involuntarily, earning a low groan from him.
Bob's breath was scorching hot on her skin as he moved to her neck, gently nipping at the bruises the Void left on her while whispering soft sorries with each apologetic kiss on the damaged skin.
Yelena's pulse was threatening to go out of control. She sought more friction and if she didn't get closer to Bob immediately she knew she would get mad.
“Off,” she ordered, grabbing Bob's shirt but her tone was anything but commanding, so soft Yelena surprised even herself.
Obediently, Bob pulled away from her neck, tugging at his oversized shirt and peeling it off his body. Yelena’s mouth dried up when Bob's torso came into view. The subtle but strong muscles of his abdomen were visible and Yelena wanted, no needed, to run her fingers across his abs. A vein disappeared into the band of his sweatpants and Yelena lost all track of thought.
“Why have you been hiding under those baggy clothes?” She scolded him lightly, her eyes raking over him, shamelessly.
Bob shrugged, obviously shy. He was pretty self conscious about everything related to himself and his body was no exception. But somehow, having Yelena look at him with such blatant admiration fueled his neglected ego.
“They are comfortable,” he admitted.
Yelena laughed and the sound made Bob smile wide. His smile faltered when the tips of Yelena's fingers brushed against his skin. Bob's head tilted back, hitting the headboard as he let out a low moan at her soft touch. Her fingers travelled across his broad shoulders, down to his biceps and forearms and then down his pectorals and abs until they stopped at the beginning of his sweatpants.
“Yelena,” Bob groaned in need, his long fingers curling around Yelena’s wrist, guiding her to touch him lower.
She quickly got off his lap, her hand slipping under the waistband of his pants and pulling them down in one go with his boxers. Yelena pressed her thighs together in anticipation as she discarded his clothes aside, leaving him entirely naked.
Hesitantly, she peaked at his dick. Her breathing hitched in her throat.
“It's bigger than I imagined,” she muttered to herself under her breath.
“Than you imagined?” Bob asked, lightly nipping at Yelena's neck.
Yelena's cheeks darkened, looking away and avoiding answering. Bob let out a small laugh, his hand was still around Yelena's wrist, gently holding her like she was the most fragile thing in the world. He pulled her closer, kissing her lips as he let her touch him.
A low moan escaped Bob's lips when Yelena's rough from combat fingers encircled his girth. His dick pulsated at the contact, bucking his hips upwards. Yelena swallowed, trying to even out her breathing as she pumped her fist up and down his shaft. Each low moan and breath that passed Bob's lips was making slick drip down Yelena's panties.
Bob's fingers played with the hem of her shorts.
“Let me make you feel good too,” he whispered, waiting for Yelena's confirmation.
She nodded curtly, sitting up on the bed to assist Bob in pulling her shorts down her thighs and then completely off of her. Bob's teeth dug into his lower lip as he admired Yelena's naked body without an ounce of shame.
“Get on top of me.”
Yelena's heart thuddered as she settled in on Bob's lap once again, only now their naked bodies touched. His warm palms ran down her body, appreciating every curve she had to offer. Bob hugged her by the waist, burying his face on the crook of Yelena's neck.
“God, you're so pretty,” he praised, voice deadly deep. “I don't deserve any of it.”
Yelena’s fingers threaded through Bob's brown hair, making him look at her.
“You deserve it all,” she promised.
“I've never…” Bob trailed off, looking at her with uncertainty. “I've never been like this with someone I care so much about. It’s a little scary.”
“I know right?” Yelena laughed and it immediately managed to ease Bob's doubts. “I feel so nervous I feel like I'm going to mess everything up.”
Joining her in laughing, Bob bent forward, leaving a small kiss of reassurance on Yelena’s shoulders. Her hands were still in his hair, caressing his hair affectionately.
“I want you, Bob. I really do.”
“You want me?” He asked in genuine disbelief.
She nodded. “If we mess up, let's do it together. Okay?”
Bob pushed his lips together, nodding at Yelena.
Months of stolen glances and featherlight ‘accidental’ touches had led up to this. Yelena lifted herself off of Bob's lap, positioning her opening against the tip of his dick. Bob rushed to help her, gripping the base of his shaft and lining it against her entrance. Slowly, Yelena sank down into him, a loud moan leaving her lips at the stretch.
“Fuck–”
Bob threw his head back when Yelena took all of him inside of her, his chest rising and falling with each breath. His hands were clutching her waist, not putting more pressure in fear of hurting her.
“Are you okay?” Yelena asked, breathlessly. She rubbed herself against the base of him, the friction against her clit making her toes curl.
“Yes, yes, yes. B–but are you? Does it hurt? Should I pull out?”
Yelena couldn't help but give him a teasing smirk. Even now, as desperate as he was, he was still too considerate of her. And Yelena was far too wet and ready to care about preparing herself before literally climbing Bob like a tree.
To her credit, she had been waiting for that very moment for months now.
Bob's hips involuntarily buckled upwards, needing to move inside of her.
“Please,” he begged and it came in the form of a guttural moan that Yelena could never deny.
Placing her hands on Bob's shoulders she lifted her hips and then slowly pushed herself down again.
“Yelena–”
Yelena's body trembled from the shock of being filled so thoroughly as Bob grabbed her waist more roughly than before and began moving his hips, fucking up to her with slow, steady thrusts. Bob's name spilled from Yelena's lips like a prayer and the only thing she could do was hold on to him.
“He can't have you,” Bob muttered as he fucked up to her, the bed creaking under them with each movement.
“He can't,” he said again, looking at Yelena with dilated pupils.
“Bob–”
“I want him to see.”
Through the haze of pleasure Yelena realized Bob was referring to the Void. Her walls clenched down on him on instinct, emitting a rough jerk of Bob’s hips that made Yelena see stars. Fuck, he was good.
“Want him to see us like this, want him to know you're mine.”
“Yes!”
Yelena threw her head back in ecstasy. With everything that had been going on in her life, it had been a long time since she had last touched herself and now she felt already on the verge. Bob's girth reached places inside her that were previously unknown to Yelena and the friction of their bodies together was a deadly combination.
Suddenly, Yelena found herself lying on her back against the mattress. Bob had flipped her around, pinning her under him as he began thrusting deeper inside of her.
“Ah, fuck!”
“I love you,” he said through rugged breaths, his eyes turning bright gold for a split moment before they returned back to their usual color.
“Bob, please.”
He groaned, leaning his forehead against Yelena's. Her nails dug on the skin of his back, tears of pleasure sparkling on the edges of her eyes. As if sensing how close she was, one of Bob's hands left her waist, going lower where their bodies met. His thumb pressed right against Yelena's clit and that was all it took for her orgasm to overtake her.
Yelena's back arched, her fingers pulling Bob's hair roughly as she came. With a loud curse, that seemed unfit for Bob to say, he emptied himself with a final thrust inside of Yelena. His body fell on top of hers, both of them completely spent.
After a moment, Bob rolled to the side, taking his body heat with him, almost making Yelena whine. She turned around to face him, her thighs and waist feeling sore from riding him.
They simply stared at each other, still catching their breaths. Bob reach out, his fingers tucking a sweaty strand of hair away from Yelena's face to look at her better. His hand lingered on her cheek, softly cupping her skin as they laid next to each other, naked and exposed but somehow more safe than ever before.
None of them spoke as Yelena scooted closer to him until she was nestled by his side. As soon as their sweaty skins came into contact, Bob wrapped his arms around her fram, hugging her close to him, afraid she might dissappear by morning. Both of them were too tired to speak but then they could understand each other without uttering a single word.
They held on to each other, for once pushing aside their worries of the future and staying in that moment.
Before she drifted off to the first soundless sleep Yelena had in months she heard Bob mumbled 'I love yous' in her hair. In the morning she would say it back.