"You are not the only Red Room graduate who has left the employ of the organisation, Natalia, you were simply the first," the dark-haired girl spat, her posture tight and wary. She wasn't looking to start a fight with the taller red-head, but she would be willing to try and finish it if she was attacked. "Do you even know how many of us you gave heart to? Ow many of us wished to follow you? If the Widow, the Room's most prolific killer, could do it, then maybe – just maybe – there was hope for the rest of us. You think I'm out here in the back of beyond for my health? I was laying low, trying to hide. And now it's all ruined."
Natasha blanched slightly but did not relax the ready stance she had adopted upon walking in and recognising the younger girl. "What do you expect me to think, Daciana? I find you here, in the heart of the action, when the last time I saw you we were setting charges at the military outpost in Senaki during the Georgian offensive. I thought you'd died that night when they went off early, and that was when I knew it was time to leave. SHIELD offered and I took it the chance. So what should I think, Dace? You were better than even me at deep-cover infiltration and you're here. So tell me, what do you want?"
"Before this, I just wanted to live. I like the life I have here, the person I've become. My friends are – were – people I can actually trust, I don't have to make an act or follow orders. You have no idea what I have done and will continue to do to stay out the hands of the organisation. After you left, it became unbearable. They started wiping us. Those that it succeeded on were programmable blank slates, and they're being used to hunt those of us who resisted. I've out down three this year, and now that you're here they will be as well, soon. You're Priority One for them. Open contract through all the Rooms and the reward is instant retirement to anywhere in the world. Did you know that? Do you care, hidden away in your nice, safe little job with people looking after you?"
That did shock her. Retirement was unheard of – once you were taken into the Rooms you were never released. Seeing her surprise, the other woman loosened her pose and turned her back to pour herself a cup of tea from a freshly boiled kettle. She waved an empty mug at Natasha, who nodded briefly and straightened. They drank their tea black without sugar, their eyes never straying from the others face, never fully relaxing their guard.
"You've told me what you wanted once. What do you want now?" Natasha asked whilst they sipped their drinks. There was a moment of silence as the girl contemplated.
"Security. A job, if SHIELD'll have me. A sense of purpose, a reason to live rather than just survive". A hint of vulnerability that came through in the words, despite the fact that she attempted to keep them emotionless and matter-of-fact. Only a trained operative could have picked up on it. Natasha sympathised internally.
"I'll see what I can do. You'll be asked for information and it's unlikely to be comfortable." The other burst into a hollow laugh and Natasha gave a rueful grin. "Yes, I know. I mean don't expect five-star treatment. They'll need to learn they can trust you. And if you screw them over, screw me or my team, I will find you and I will hurt you." The girl nodded, and Natasha sent a quick message on her mobile. It beeped almost immediately and she nodded at the contents. "OK, they want to meet you. Now." The cups were rinsed in the sink and the dark-haired girl grabbed her backpack. "One more thing – Natalia doesn't exist any more. I'm Natasha now."
The girl carefully locked the door behind her and turned. "Daciana died two years ago," she said as she stuck out her hand. "Call me Darcy."