#like. i'm on a mission to NOT let it weight me down bc seriously with *gestures vaguely* everything

[bubaboos]

not me joining chan's live just as someone commented smth like "hey i'm 25 and i still haven't found my path and it's kinda weighting me down sometimes" 👁👄👁

[stuckinblack-widows-web]

where she lets go

Soft! Natasha Romanoff x Girlfriend!Reader

wc~ 1.2k

a/n: my first fanfic!! this probably sucks and is definitely not proofread bc it is currency 23:30 and i am so tired. i am so happy that i finished this, and really hope someone out there in this big universe likes it!!

*not proofread*

cw: non really, pure fluff, maybe the smallest bit of angst (sorta?)

Natasha Romanoff stumbled through the door of the apartment she shared with a big sigh, utterly exhausted. The mission was a bitch: endless hours of surveillance, a break-in where everything went wrong, and an edge-of-your-seat escape. She dropped her duffel bag by the door and kicked her boots off with a very audible exhalation, and then the light, lovely smells of lavender and vanilla swirled around her in familiar, comforting embrace.

"Nat?" a soft voice called from the living room.

Natasha couldn't help but smile a little tiredly as she looked over. There was her girlfriend, all snuggled up in this huge sweater that Natasha totally knew was hers. Her hair was a bit messy, and she cradled a hot mug in her hands. Just seeing her like that made Natasha's heart feel all warm and fuzzy.

"Hey," Natasha said, her voice all scratchy from being tired. She propped herself up against the doorframe, looking chill and relaxed in a way she hardly ever did outside of this place. "I'm back."

She sat the mug on the coffee table and hurried across the room. She threw her arms around Natasha's middle, yanking her close with an affectionate hug. Natasha just sort of melted into it, burying her face into her girlfriend's shoulder, breathing in the nice smell of her shampoo.

"You look super tired," her girlfriend said gently, playing with Natasha's hair. "How rough was it?"

Natasha shook her head some, but her nose remained buried in her sweater. "It's done. That's all that counts."

She didn't press for details. She knew better than anyone that Natasha would share when she was ready, and sometimes, she just needed the silence and the proximity to heal from the weight of her missions. She steered Natasha gently to the couch, easing her down onto the cushions.

"Hold on. I'll get you some tea."

Natasha wanted to argue, like seriously insist she didn’t want anything, but the words just kinda got stuck in her throat. The couch looked super comfy, and her girlfriend’s touch felt like pure magic to her tired soul. So, she just nodded and let her head sink back into the cushions as her eyes slowly shut.

When she got back, she saw Natasha all slouched on the couch, half-sprawled out and her head kinda tilted weird. Though she looked super tired, there was this softness about her, a vulnerability her girlfriend totally knew was just for her. She set the tea on the table and knelt beside Natasha, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.

"Come on," her girlfriend coaxed gently. "Let's get you into bed.

Natsha let out a groan but gave in and got pulled up to her feet. Her girlfriend wrapped an arm around her waist to help keep her steady as they headed to the bedroom. Natasha's steps were all slow and heavy, totally lacking her usual cat-like grace because she was just so tired.

So, once they were in the bedroom, her girlfriend helped Natasha out of her jacket and totally winced when she saw some fresh bruises popping up on her skin. She really had to hold back the urge to fuss over it, knowing Natasha wouldn't be into that at the moment. Instead, she just focused on getting her comfy. She tossed Natasha one of her favorite oversized shirts to sleep in and then turned away to give her some space.

"You don't have to." Natasha began, her voice muffling as she pulled the shirt over her head. She swayed a little, and her girlfriend was immediately by her side, steadying her with gentle hands.

"Hey, Nat, let me take care of you," her girlfriend said softly, peering straight into Natasha's eyes. "You always take care of everyone else. Let me do this."

Natasha blinked, her green eyes looking all tired and a bit glassy, maybe from exhaustion or something else—like gratitude or this quiet kind of love that was hard to put into words. She nodded, letting her girlfriend lead her to the bed. With a sigh, she dropped down onto the mattress, her body sinking right into the soft sheets.

Her girlfriend climbed in beside her, pulling the blankets over them both. She opened her arms like, "Come here," and Natasha didn't think twice. She cuddled into her girlfriend's side, her head resting on her chest, clasping the fabric of her sweater like it was the only thing keeping her afloat.

"You're safe," her girlfriend murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Natasha's head. Her fingers traced soothing patterns along Natasha's back, the rhythmic motion lulling her closer to sleep. "I've got you.

Natashas' breathing calmed down, and the tension in her body started to fade away. For the first time in what seemed ages, she finally allowed herself to relax—to be open, to trust that someone else could keep her together when she felt like she was falling apart.

"Thanks," Natasha whispered, her voice barely audible. She gripped her girlfriend's sweater a little tighter, as if she was trying to ground herself in this moment with this person who made her feel whole.

Her girlfriend didn't say a word, and quite honestly, she didn't need to. She just pulled Natasha in tighter, showing her love and comfort with every soft touch and quiet breath. And as the night went on, Natasha slowly fell into a nice, peaceful sleep, wrapped up in the arms of someone who felt like her safe place.

A few hours later, Natasha stirred, her body instinctively seeking the warmth beside her. She blinked slowly, feeling all groggy but still with it enough to notice her girlfriend's chest moving up and down under her cheek. The room was pretty quiet, except for the gentle hum of the heater and the occasional rustle of the sheets.

"Hey, you awake?" her girlfriend asked, sounding all sleepy as she ran her fingers through Natasha's hair.

"Barely," Natasha said, sounding all sleepy. She snuggled in closer, her arm slinging over her girlfriend's waist. "This is nice."

Her girlfriend let out a little laugh. "Totally, it is." She leaned in to give Natasha a kiss on the temple. "How are you holding up?"

Natasha considered the question, her mind flashing back to the mission and the adrenaline-fueled chaos of the last few days. But here, in this moment, none of it seemed to matter.

"Way better," she admitted. "I feel like I just really needed this."

"Good," her girlfriend said, sounding all gentle yet strong. "Because you totally deserve it, Nat. You need to rest and feel safe. You don't have to handle everything by yourself." Natasha's throat tightened at the words, a wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm her. She wasn't used to this—to being cared for so openly and without expectation. It scared her sometimes, the depth of what she felt for her girlfriend, but it also grounded her in a way she hadn't thought possible.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Natasha said softly, her fingers grasping the fabric of her girlfriend's sweater. Her girlfriend smiled, working her fingers through Natasha's hair soothingly.

"Good thing you don't have to find out." Natasha let out a soft giggle, muffled against her girlfriend's chest. She felt just a little bit lighter, as if some invisible weight had finally been lifted off her shoulders. For the first time in ages, she really let herself relax and trust that someone else could help with the load she carried alone.

As sleep took over her again, Natasha's last thought before dozing off was a pretty simple one, but it made her heart feel all warm and happy: Home wasn't just a place; it was a person. And within her girlfriend's arms she, at last found what felt like home.