welcome, my friends!

this is Leo, the person who owns nothing.

enjoy!

Natalia stared at herself in the mirror, tugging at her red hair with one hand.
She didn't understand it.
Why did she still feel like she belonged to the Red Room?
Despite the new S.H.I.E.L.D catsuit, the new haircut, and the new weapons, she still felt... Owned.
Tainted.
What was it about her that made her feel like this?
She definitely looked different.
So why didn't she feel different?
Her clothes were different.
Her demeanor was.
Her attitude was... Nearing different.
But she just didn't feel it.
Sighing, she gave up.
What difference did wondering about it make, anyways?
She stepped away from the mirror and headed towards the stairs.
Maybe she could ask Barton to spar with her.
Yes.
She'd definitely go do that.
Take her mind off things.
If only she could figure out what those things were...
No!
She shook that thought from her head strongly.
No dwelling on that any longer, she told herself, firm.
Well the, she supposed she'd better go and get Barton.
Without pausing, she turned and walked out the door.

"Come in!"
Clint had been rummaging through his kitchen cabinets when he heard the knock.
Coffee, coffee..
Where'd he put the stuff?
Coffee, coffee...
Oh, there it was.
Without turning, he tried to place the footsteps.
They were too light to be Fury...
Too girlish and not business-like to be Coulson...
Too wary to be Hill...
Really, it could only be one other person.
Too easy.
He didn't need to turn.
"Can I help you, Natalia?"

She couldn't help it.
Just the mention of her name, the way he said it...
It brought up old, forgotten memories.
Igor Petrovitch*, the Red Room, watching those other girls die...
And then, that final day.
Before she'd escaped.
'Могу ли я помочь вам, Наталья?'
'Can I help you, Natalia?'
She flinched and stumbled back, walls broken for a mili-second.
Then she cleared her face and stood up straight.
Posture perfect, as always.
As if nothing had happened.
But he had seen it.
She saw it in his eyes.
But she pretended she didn't.
Even shrugged her shoulders, for emphasis.
"Spar with me?"
He thought for a moment, then grinned.
The smile made his 5"12 body seem lit up.
There was an inner child in him.
She liked that, especially since she'd given up her own.
She liked his answer, too.
"Sure."

Clint may not have understood Natalia, but he had to admire her skill.
Her fighting was like nothing he'd ever seen before- a combination of gymnastics and martial arts, a deadly dance.
Like her.
Beautiful, and yet so deadly.
She was a master.
And yet, he suspected she was still holding back.
She'd fought harder in Budapest, that's for sure.
Finally, he skidded to a stop, panting.
"Wait."
She stopped and stood from the crouched position she'd been in, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes?"
He felt stupid, but...
"You're holding back, aren't you."
It wasn't a question, but she nodded a little.
"What are you afraid of?"
She paused, considering the question.
She looked as if she was about to throw up her guards, and yet... She seemed to tell the truth when she answered.
"I don't know. Killing the man who vouched for getting me in here might cause a slight problem. Not to mention the fact that it would get me kicked out."
She smirked at him then.
Sarcasm... Man's (or woman's) defense against idiots.
Did she think he was stupid?
He couldn't have that.
"Oh, it might be a problem, 'Talia. Not only would it get you into deep, deep, deep trouble, you'd also be killed. Wouldn't want to risk a pretty face like yours, would we? Plus, if I got demoted for nothing..."
He let that hang in the air, but she seemed as if she hadn't heard it.
"What did you call me?"
He thought for a second.
"Talia. Why?"
She flinched, again.
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"Don't call me that. Or else."
Now it was his turn to flinch.
"Fine, fine... Nat."
"Not that, either."
He considered her for a moment. Did she really hate her name that much?
"You know, if you really don't like your name, you could always change it."
She stared at him.
"What?"
He shrugged.
"Sure. Why not? Do really think Director Fury was born with such a fitting name? Everyone does it around here."
She continued to stare at him, considering it.
It might not help, but... Maybe it was a start.
"Did you?"
"Me?"
He shrugged.
"Nah. My name is perfecto, thank you very much."
He struck such a hysterical pose, her walls faded slightly, and she giggled.
He beamed in triumph.
"Did I just get Natalia Romanova to laugh?"
She smiled, and turned.
"No. You just got Natasha Romanoff to laugh."
She walked away, a smile on her face.
"Natasha Romanoff. Yes, I like that."

Btw, I totally made this all up. Sorry!

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