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Natasha wasn't exactly sure when the library became a permanent part of her and Bruce's routine.
When she and Bruce moved into their apartment, there was the natural learning curve of figuring out how to live in such close parameters with someone. Natasha had lived in uncomfortably close conditions before, in her young years and on missions, but not with someone she loved like she she loved Bruce. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, had never lived with anyone aside from a roommate in college, and even then the rarely saw each other with the course load.
Somewhere between writing down weekly chore lists and figuring out how to not be in each other's way for the bathroom, Bruce started going to the library down the street, coming home with a stack of books that he'd read in a matter of days. One day, he asked her if she wanted to go with him. She'd said yes.
It was hard to let her guard down, even after months of essentially living what people would call a fairly normal life. She still worked for SHIELD, but didn't go on many missions. She mainly assisted Director Fury with further rebuilding the organization without HYDRA's influence. It could almost be considered a regular job, except she could adjust her hours with a smile and no pushback.
Still, years of being an assassin meant always being wary, always watching. The only time she could truly relax was when she was home with Bruce or with the rest of her Avenging family.
She hadn't expected to relax the second she entered the library. The warmth, the smell, the cozy atmosphere - it brought her guard down in a way she couldn't understand. She followed Bruce down aisles, mind torn between the feelings she was having and reading book titles she passed.
Eventually, Bruce stopped in the science fiction aisle, a genre he'd recently mixed into his nonfiction and research. She loved hearing him compliment or rant (to the extent that his complaining could be 'rants') about the scientific accuracy in the books.
As he gathered what he wanted, she found herself moving down aisles by herself. The quiet should have made her nervous. It didn't.
She found an aisle with books on teaching. Her fingers grazed the spines, feeling the rough leather of old books and the smooth covers of new. She wasn't sure what brought her there. She wasn't a teacher, especially not to children.
Her finger stopped on a book with a ballerina at the top of the spine. It tugged on her heart, begging to be looked at, so she did. It was a book on how to teach dance, specifically that of the ballerina. She flipped through it, recognizing the movement in the still pictures. She moved her finger over the words, a small smile forming. Thinking about it used to bring her such pain, but now...
"Do you want to get that one?" Bruce asked. She didn't startle, having recognized his presence long before he spoke.
"I do." She replied, turning to find him with five books stacked in his arms. "Are you sure that's enough books for the week?" She joked.
His mouth quirked up. "It'll be enough for three days."
They headed to the desk where a librarian made Natasha her own library card - with her actual name - and allowed her to check out her first book. As soon as they got home, she started to read, Bruce only a step behind her.
It became one of their things after that, a daily occurrence. They would sit in the living room or lay in bed, reading together in silence. Sometimes Natasha would sit sideways and lean against him. Other times would find Bruce laying his head on her leg, book propped on his stomach while she read her own, one hand carding through his hair. They didn't need to talk. They just read. Once a week, they would go back to the library for more.
Currently, night had descended over the city, and they were curled in bed with her resting against him, head on his shoulder as she read at an angle. Bruce wasn't bothered by her hair getting his way, only moving enough where he could see the words on a biography of a famous scientist.
It was when she knew he'd reached a chapter break that she spoke, not taking her eyes off the pages. "I'm thinking about teaching dance."
"Oh?" He asked curiously. She felt his attention shift onto her.
She hummed, flipping another page. "It would be nice to teach kids, I think. Teenagers, more likely. Maybe combine the dancing with self-defense."
"I think that's a great idea, Nat."
She leaned her head back where she could look him in the eyes, finding him smiling softly. "Really?" She couldn't keep the uncertainty out of her voice. There were no need for masks, not with him. He had learned to read her better than most could.
"Really. If that's something you want to do, I say go for it."
"But with SHIELD, I don't know if I can."
"You're allowed to let go of SHIELD." He said softly. "I know you're attached to it, and I don't blame you, but we're living our lives now. We're still Avengers, yes, but more... part-time. I'd like to believe there aren't any world ending threats left. We can allow ourselves to live."
She let out a slow breath, closing the book. "You're right." She put the book on the nightstand, then curled further against him, head resting on his chest. "Read to me about this scientist."
He needed no more prompting. As he read a chapter on the man's first discoveries, she fell into the comfort of their new life together, her eyelids growing heavy in return. Bruce was right. They were Avengers, but that wasn't their whole identity. They were allowed to do other things, allowed to find new passions and jobs while still being ready to save the planet if needed.
It was a few minutes after her eyes shut when Bruce stopped reading. He shifted a bit, likely tucking his book safely away into the drawer, before he cut out the lamp light. Carefully, he shifted her to lay down with him, arms wrapped around her, and she buried her face in his night shirt.
This was her life now - and she wouldn't have it any other way.