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arlana-likes-to-write · 1 year

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Natasha Romanoff x Fem reader

I don’t really care if it’s a one shot type thing or a story with a couple parts, I will leave that completely up to you but it’s so hard for me to find stories with the reader and Nat dancing together and I love your work so I was wondering if you could please write a story where the reader is a prima ballerina. She lives in the city and during some kind of attack something happens and Natasha ends up saving her. The dancer falls in love with Nat as soon as she sees her and after the attack Natasha wants to see her again so they start dancing together and then fall in love and start dating.

Dance with me

Hope you enjoyed this! I really had fun writhing it and would 100% be done to continue writing in this AU.

Summary: You had the weirdest luck, from being in the city where the Avengers are facing a newest threat, to being saved by the Black Widow, and seeing that same Black Widow entry your dance store. See, the weirdest luck.

Warning; Angst with a happy ending, Fluff, love confession, attempted assault in the beginning, mention of past trauma, Natasha needs the biggest hug, guilt, a form of self harm, mention of the Red Room.

Word Count: 4.4k

“You got to be kidding me,” you mumbled as ran you down the sidewalk as a car exploded next to you. Running down an alley, trying to escape the violence. Your heart was beating against your rib cage as you tried to catch your breath. Sweat pouring down your back. You were in Chicago for three days for a dance convention, and one of your students was performing. It happened to line up with the Avengers creating havoc on the city. You knew it wasn’t their fault but damn you had the worst luck. You flinched as another explosion rocked the streets and a scream echoed in the distance. A man appeared in the face of the alley, wearing all black and holding an assault rifle.

“Well hello beautiful,” he was British, and the smile he wore made your stomach drop. You hated it. “What are you doing here, little bird?” You didn’t answer as you walked backward, your eyes never leaving the man. “Cat got your tongue.” Your back hit the brick wall, you were trapped. “It’s hell out there and I need some stress relief.” When he got closer to you, his gloved hand gripped your chin. “I bet you can help. Won’t you baby?” Your lips began to shake as your eyes closed. Your body froze, unable to scream or fight back or run. Soon the grip on your chin was removed and you heard a pained grunt. You snapped your eyes open and saw a woman, wearing all black and bright red hair. She kicked your attacker once, twice in the stomach before handcuffing him to the dumpster.

“Are you alright?” She asked, looking at you. Your eyes flickered to her and your assailant, who now had blood dripping from the side of his head.

“Yeah,” you whispered, voice and handshaking. “Yeah,” it was steadier as you stared at the Avenger. The Black Widow. Shit, she was prettier in person. “He didn’t get a chance to do anything.” Her green eyes sent daggers to the unconscious man but an explosion rocked the city. You stumbled slightly and she placed her hands on your waist to catch you. You felt your stomach drop as her cold skin could be felt through your thin tank top. But Natasha wasn’t affected by the interaction.

“Look I have to go,” she removed her hold on you. “Can you make it back home safe?” You nodded. You weren’t completely helpless. “Good. Be safe.”

“You too,” you called after her as ran to join the fight. “And thank you.” You noticed the stutter in her steep and she disappeared. You let out a breathless sigh, slumping back against the wall. You had the weirdest luck.

There was a buzzing that formed underneath Natasha’s skin. The buzzing wouldn’t go away no matter how much she worked her body - spending hours in the gun range, sparring with Steve, and punching the sandbag until her knuckles bleed. The buzzing remained. She concluded a new outlet was needed to release this energy. So she walked the surprisingly empty streets of New York City with her hoodie up to cover her face. The last thing she wanted was to be recognized as an Avenger when the media was portraying them as villains. She opened the dance shop, and a soft bell alerted her presence to the owners. “I’ll be right with you,” a voice called out. In Natasha’s muffled mind, the voice sounded familiar. But she didn’t dwell too much on it. The hood covering her face fell as she walked over to the wall of pointe shoes. This was the last store she wanted to be in but she needed to make the buzzing stop. The Red Room used ballet as a punishment rather than a training tool. For hours, she and other girls were forced to endure training, learning different variations, and techniques. Sometimes she could still feel the whip on the back of her calves when her form wasn’t correct. She needed that reminder of the Red Room instructors yelling at her. The way her muscles cramped and twitched because they weren’t allowed breaks. She deserved the pain. She wasn’t good enough, she was failing.

“Hi, how can I-” the voice trailed off. Natasha knew why the voice sounded familiar. It was you, the girl she saved in Chicago from that pig of a man. She made sure to throw him a little harder against the metal van that arrested him. “Sorry, can I help you find anything? Or are you just looking?” She blinked once, twice at you. That was different. She was used to the fan-girls crushing over her or the hateful glares she received on the streets but you acted like she was a normal customer.

“Pointe shoes,” Natasha said simply. “I need a new pair.” You smiled.

“I’m guessing you’ve been fitted for shoes before,” the redhead wasn’t sure how to tell you that she was forced to endure a fitting.

“It’s been a while,” your smile didn’t change.

“That’s fine! Just tell me what size you think you are and I’ll grab some options. There is a studio through that door and we’ll try them on in there,” Natasha did just that. She told you her shoe size and walked into the dance studio. It was as if the air was sucked out of her lungs as she stood in the familiar space. The studio was small but it had a wall of mirrors and a ballet bar. Posters were hung on the walls. Natasha couldn’t help but feel that fear as she sat down and waited for you. That fear made her stomach twist and her heart beat against her ribs. A part of her enjoyed it, the anticipation of when she was going to be hit. She knew it was sick and twisted but she deserved it.

You were freaking out. The Black Widow. The Natasha Romanoff was in your little hole-in-the-wall dance store buying pointe shoes. What the fuck was going on? But you had a job to do so you let out a shaky breath and grabbed a few options for her to try on. When you entered the small dance studio, she was sitting on the floor with her leggings rolled up to her knees. “So I brought a few pairs and we’ll find your perfect pair of shoes,” she didn’t return your smile. She looked lost in thought.

“Right,” she took the first box that you handed her. “Thank you,” a small smile formed on her lips. It was tight, strained as it took everything in her to smile. You wondered what was bothering her. She began the process of putting on the shoes, slipping her sneakers and socks off, and tying the ribbon. She did it like a pro. Natasha stood up as you remained sitting. “I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she broke the silence.

“You didn’t think I’d get home safe,” you teased. “I’m not that helpless.” Natasha frowned.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know, Natasha, I’m just joking,” you didn’t mean to offend her. “Can you go up on pointe for me?” She did. Her legs shook a little but it was to be expected since she wasn’t training every day. You didn’t like the way they looked. “How do they feel?” You asked

“A little loose,” she came back down. “Sorry,” you were startled by her apology.

“It’s alright,” you said. “My job is to find the right shoe for you, no matter how long it takes.”

You found a pair that Natasha was happy with. Well…you hopped she was happy with the pair. It was hard to read her expression when she didn’t show any real emotion. While you rang her out, she was looking at the pictures you had displayed behind the counter. It was the students that you gave private lessons to when you weren’t running the store or at your rehearsal. “I wasn’t aware this store was a dance company.” She said, taking the bag from you.

“We aren’t,” you said. “I give private lessons.”

“Do you dance professionally?” You nodded.

“I dance for the New York City Ballet,” it was the first time you saw a flicker of emotion across her face. She was impressed. “In my downtime, I help run the store and teach. It’s not easy to live in the city on a dancer’s salary,” Natasha chuckled.

“Do you rent out the space for private use?” You normally didn’t but you were curious.

“Does the Avenger Tower not have a dance studio?” You questioned.

“It does,” the redhead slowly. “But I don’t dance in front of them.” You understood that. Dancing could be a vulnerable act, pouring so much of yourself into it. You had an idea. Opening the top drawer, you pulled out an extra key to the back door. It leads right into the dance studio. You put your hand on the counter, covering it.

“I have a proposition,” you said. She raised a curious eyebrow. “I’m going to give you an extra key to the dance studio and you can come to use it whenever you like,” you removed your hand showing her the key. “And if you ever need a dance partner you’ll give me a call.” Natasha frowned.

“You don’t have to do that. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

“I know I don’t but I want to,” you slide the key over to her. “I’ll clear it with the owners so don’t worry about it. Besides, you saved my life it’s the least I can do.” Natasha hesitated but took the key.

“Thank you,” she smiled. It was the first real one she gave you.

“No need to thank me. I hope to see you around,” she nodded and pulled her hoodie up before leaving the store. You couldn’t help but watch the way left. It was strange, stupid really to worry about someone you barely knew. Especially an Avenger but you worried about Natasha. She just seemed sad and upset. You desperately wanted to help.

You weren’t always around when Natasha used the key to the dance studio and she was grateful for that. You had a presence about you that scared Natasha. It made the buzzing underneath her skin increase and no amount of hours dancing would stop it. But there were days Natasha wished you were there. On the days you happened to be in the studio when she came around, you offered her a kind smile and that was it. You didn’t hound her with questions or force her to talk, you just let her be. It was oddly nice.

A trend was forming, you weren’t a detective or a police officer, even though you had a guilty pleasure for true crime TV shows but you noticed it right away. When Natasha would slip into the dance studio, you saw the horrific words spewed by the media, politicians, and the general public about the Avengers. They were called monsters, villains, and killers. Unfortunately, Natasha received more hate compared to her male teammates.

At the end of you the day, you were a dancer and a choreographer. You saw the story and emotion behind each dance the Black Widow did. You felt the anger, the pain, and the guilt she carried. It was so unfair and you wanted to take it all away.

According to a news article you read, you saw the Avengers were returning from DC. The meeting went well better than most but you saw that once again Natasha was left to defend her character and her allegiance to this country. It made your blood boil.

So you were ready when the Black Widow opened the back door. A scowl was on her face but it lessened slightly when she saw you. You tried not to read too much into that. “Hi,” you said. “Do you want to dance with me?” She barely had time to close the door before she asked your question. “We don’t have to,” you gave her an out. “We’ve seen each other dance individually so I thought it would be fun to dance together,” she continued to stare at you. “Sorry, it’s stupid-”

“Yes,” Natasha cringed at her placement. “Sorry no it’s not stupid, yes we can dance,” she chuckled, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. “You took me by surprise. I just got back from a trip.”

“I know,” it was your turn to cringe. “That sounded like I was stalking you,” she smiled and sat down to warm up. “What I meant was I saw on the news,” she frowned at your statement. “Do you know the pas de deux from Alice in Wonderland between Alice and the Knave of Hearts.?” She smiled, nodding her head.

“Yeah, I do. Let me warm up and we can do it. A pas de deux translated into a step of two. It was a dance in which two dancers formed ballet together. Some of the most popular duets were Swan Lake, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty. It required a great deal of trust between the two dancers. When you jumped, you needed Natasha to catch you. If you needed to spin she would be there to guide you. But it was the same with her as she moved and danced across the room she trusted that you would follow her. You preferred dancing with a partner rather than a solo. You were able to tell a different story and play off with one another.

You had to admit it was had to dance with Natasha. Her hands holding onto your waist. You could feel her breath on your skin. All of your senses were consumed by the Black Widow and it was overwhelming.

When the dance was done, you were slightly out of breath as you stared at the redhead. You were sloppy and made a few mistakes but it was worth it to see Natasha’s smile. It was wild, unreserved, and free. Also so beautiful.

So you made it your mission to be there after every time Natasha. No matter her mood, you would ask her to dance. Sometimes you picked popular variations and other times you two would make up your own, sticking to ballet and contemporary style. When Natasha asked you to dance for the first time, you had to stop yourself from spitting your water out. But the shy smile and the light blush on her face made you say yes without hesitation. You learned no matter what she asked you to do you’d do it. Anything to see her smile.

“I won’t be around much this week,” you told her as you rested your back on the mirror and nursed a bottle of water. “I have tech rehearsal,” you answered her unasked question. She didn’t need to ask. With all the hours spent with the Black Widow, it was easier to read her. You noticed her walls were coming down.

“What ballet are you performing?” She asked, taking her ballet shoes off.

“Swan Lake,” you bite your lip. “I have an extra ticket for the opening night if you want to come.”

“Me?” Natasha questioned. “I’m sure you have other people you want to invite.” You shook your head. You already got the tickets for the husband and wife that owned this store and allowed you to stay in the above apartment.

“My family didn’t like the idea of me being a dancer,” you told her. “They wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer,” you remembered the day your father kicked you out. “So I have an extra ticket and I’d like you to come. Opening night is this Friday.” It wasn’t much of a notice but you were working up the courage to ask her.

“I’d love to go,” she said. “What part are you playing?”

“Just a background character,” you shrugged. “Nothing major.”

“Nonsense, any part is important. I know you’ll do amazing,” your body felt warm from her compliment. So when Natasha was done and headed back to the tower, her ticket was held tightly in her hand.

Natasha was running late. She had a meeting with Fury on how to save her public image that went longer than she expected. However, she didn’t care about the public image at the moment all she cared about was you. A stranger that opened up a space for her to exist, without question and no strings attached. A safe place where she could let down her walls and learn to fall in with dancing. To fall in love with you.

She parked her bike on the side of the road and jumped off, arriving at the theater with enough time to grab a pamphlet and find her seat. She had a quick thought to send you a quick text, telling you that she was here, and turned off her phone. As the lights dimmed, she flipped through the pamphlet to find your name. Her jaw dropped. You weren’t some background character, you were Odette and Odile. The main character. The White and Black Swan. Natasha chuckled. She wasn’t surprised you were given the lead, you were a talented and strong dancer. Also beautiful. Sometimes Natasha lost herself as she watched you dance. You were graceful, and elegant, and danced with such a passion for what you did. She envied your love for dancing, it wasn’t tainted by those who believed they could control the minds and bodies of little girls. But your love of it broke down every negative feeling she had associated with dancing. These new feelings scared her. She worried you would run away if she ever told you. How could a person like herself ever deserve love?

“Amazing performance,” someone congratulated you giving you a quick hug. It was a little overwhelming as you walked out into the lobby after the performance. Everyone, rather you knew them or not, came up to congratulate you on a job well done. You were grateful, each praise gave you more confidence in your dancing ability. However, you were looking for her. It was easy to spot the redhead while you were on stage because you knew the seat and row she was in. Now, in a sea of people, you were lost.

Finally, you found her, dressed in black jeans and a leather jacket. She was leaning against the wall as she played on her phone. With a smile on your face, you closed the distance between you and the Black Widow. “Hi,” you said as you got closer. She looked up.

“You were incredible,” she said, slipping her phone into her pocket. “And some background character, you were the main dancer,” you giggled, pushing a piece of hair behind your ear. “Dorogoy (sweetheart), you were amazing,” you weren’t expecting the Black Widow to take you in her arms and lift you in the air. You laughed, drawing some looks but you didn’t care. Soon she placed you back on the ground, a little surprised at her sudden action. “I’m sorry,” she said. She tried to pull away from you but you kept your arms around her neck. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m just really proud of you.”

“It’s okay, Nat,” you smiled. You were sweaty, probably smelt horrible but that didn’t matter with you being so close to Natasha. Her green eyes flickered to your lips and back to your eyes. But your name was called out and broke whatever trance you both were in. You groaned.

“You’re the woman of the hour,” Natasha chuckled. “It would be wrong of me to keep you all to myself,” you bite your lip, looking towards the direction your name was called.

“15 minutes,” you told her. “Meet in the theater, okay?” The redhead smiled.

“Okay, 15 minutes.”

“15 minutes,” you repeated, kissing her cheek before heading back into the crowd of people. Butterflies danced in your stomach. You just performed one of the hardest technical pieces of your career but you were more nervous to tell Natasha you loved her.

As Natasha walked into the quiet theater, the lights turned on and soft music began to play. You walked out from the curtains with a smile. “Come dance with me,” you said, holding out your hand. Natasha smiled, took her jacket off, and jumped onto the stage.

“How do you have the energy to dance?” She asked. “I am tired from watching you,” you giggled as she took your hand in hers.

“I will always have the energy to dance with you,” it was a different type of dancing than Natasha was used to. She wouldn’t call it dancing, just gentle swaying to the music with her around your waist. Sometimes Natasha would spin you and bring you back into her arms. “Can I ask you something?”

“You just did,” she teased. “Of course, ask away.”

“Why do you dance?” You asked. “What made you walk into a dance store and buy a new pair of pointe shoes?” The question took Natasha by surprise. It was a dark and complicated answer. She wasn’t here to dump her messy history but to celebrate you and all your hard work. But the look in your eyes told Natasha it was okay. That all those hours spent together she could trust you.

“I dance to punish myself,” she admitted but your expression didn’t change. “In the Red Room, ballet was a form of punishment. We were forced to spend hours at the bar with perfect form; no breaks, no food or water, and we were beaten if our form faltered.” She felt your play with the hair that didn’t make it in her ponytail. “So when I fail I dance so I can remember that pain.” You hummed.

“And now?” You questioned. “Why do you dance with me if dancing brings you pain?” Natasha let out a breathless laugh. She was thankful she took off her jacket because, under the lights and the intensity of your eyes, she was feeling a little warm.

“Because,” she licked her lips. “You made me fall in love with dancing,” Natasha whispered. “Because I fell in love with you.” A small squeak left your throat at her confession. Natasha laughed, picking you up and spinning you around.

“I love you too,” she set you down. “I think I fell in love with you when you saved me in Chicago,” the Black Widow smiled. You brushed your nose against hers. “Kiss me,” you whispered. Natasha didn’t hesitate as she connected her lips with yours. The kiss was messy, desperate, and she tightened the hold she had on you as if she was afraid you were going to disappear. You pulled away but Natasha chased after your lips as she became addicted to the feeling of your lips. Luckily, you didn’t fight her. This kiss was gentle, slow, and soft. Natasha sighed against your lips and rested her head on your shoulder.

“Your so beautiful malen’kaya tantsovschitsa (little dancer),” she mumbled against your shin. She felt you shiver.

“Nat,” she hummed. “Sit with me,” you pulled away and Natasha stopped the whine from leaving her lips. She didn’t want to be away from you but you got her to sit down on the stage. You pulled out your phone, turned the music, and placed your phone down. You grabbed her hands. Natasha loved the feeling of your hands. They were soft and smooth, warm which was a stark contrast to her cold hands. When she danced with you, she didn’t allow herself the luxury to enjoy it. “I want you to listen to me. Can you do that for me, baby?” She felt her cheeks burn at the term of endearment but she nodded. “You are a hero,” she scuffed. According to the government, she was a sleeper agent ready to be activated She was a threat. “You are. Unfortunately, you were subjected to pain and torture at a young age,” Natasha couldn’t look at you so she stared at your connected hands. “You were forced to do horrible things because of that you think saving the world is strictly on your shoulders.�� With a gentle hand, you used a finger to lift her chin.

“That is not your weight to bear, sweetheart,” you smiled. “I can’t imagine the guilt but your past shouldn’t limit your future. You deserve happiness and love.” It was getting harder for Natasha to hold back tears.

“I don’t,” she whimpered. You didn’t know the blood that covered her hands or how many lives she ended.

“Oh, baby, yes you do and I promise I will remind you every single day if you let me,” she nodded and you stood up on your knees, bringing her into a hug. Her body shook against you and she was grateful you didn’t draw attention to her tears. It felt good to cry, therapeutic. She couldn’t recall the last time she allowed herself to cry. In hindsight, it was such a basic human emotion but she never allowed herself to feel it. But as she cried in your arms, feeling a weight being lifted off her chest she felt safe. And loved.

When Natasha felt the buzzing, when the guilt began to feel all-consuming, and she was drowning from the bloodshed and screams, she didn’t turn to dance. Because dancing didn’t remind her of pain, of instructors yelling at her and other young girls to be perfect. Natasha would pull you closer to her chest and bask in the morning sunlight in your studio apartment. The faint smell of the lavender that you claimed helped you fall asleep, calmed her racing heart. She felt you stir, feeling slightly bad about waking you up. You moved onto your back, eyes blinking open slowly. Natasha smiled. “Hi baby,” your voice was slurred. The redhead traced the lines of your forehead, down to your nose, and lips. “A nightmare?” Sleep was clearing from your eyes. Natasha hummed in agreement. “What do you need?” Instead of answering, she kissed you slowly.

“I have everything I need right here,” Natasha whispered. “I love you, malen’kaya tantsovschitsa (little dancer).” You smiled.

“I love you, Natty.” Oh, Natasha was never going to get tired of hearing it. _

As a reminder my requests are open, it may take me some time to write them! I'll write for pretty much any character and not just Marvel!

Also, this AU was really cute. Like I said in the beginning if people want to see more, let know me! Especially if you have any ideas.

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