Natasha's voice brought me to the present. "You will not have a backstory, those are far too confusing, and Stark will simply hack past it. Casca, you will tell them the truth, whatever you are willing to reveal, most likely you will tell them more than you tell me." If she was sad about that statement, she hid it well behind a blank face and a tone of business.
She was right; I did not trust the people knew as much as I trusted strangers. Maybe because I would leave such a fleeting impression on them, that I could tell them something, and wake up the next morning knowing I would not have to face them. But these strangers I would see every day.
We pulled up at the safe house. House being the completely incorrect term. It was a freaking tower. I looked at Natasha, who sighed at the sight, as if it brought terrible memories. She gripped my elbow and brought me through the tower, to an elevator. Clint Barton stood on the other side of me. He was standing exactly where Braydon had stood. I pushed Braydon from my head, silently swearing not to think about him.
The doors opened, revealing couches and several people on them, playing a rather violent video game. Natasha had let go of my arm, and walked ahead of me. I followed obediently, and the people in the room stopped their game. Tony Stark looked up, "Legolas! Natasha! Wonderful timing, we have two more controllers..." He trailed off, his eyes landing on me. He walked sauntered over. I stole a glance to Nova, who gave me an imperceptible nod, knowing what I was thinking.
"And who is this?"
"I am Anastasia."
"Ana, I did not know that you were a Russian, well, you are quite an exquisite creature." He took my hand and brought it to his lips. The second he did so, I gripped his wrist and turned him about so that he was doubled over, wrist up his shoulder blade and shoulder nearly out of its socket.
"Do not call me Ana. Call me that again, and I will remove both of your shoulders from their sockets, break your collarbones, and then leave you drooling on the floor while I sharpen my knives over you. Are we understood, Tony Stark?"
"Understood, Anastasia!" He gasped. I let go, pushing him forward.
"Also, no flirting, you are nearly married after all."
Natasha placed a hand on my arm, silently telling me to shut up before speaking.
"Anastasia will be staying here. This is a safe house for her. She will be monitored at all times. All of her weapons have been removed, so you should not worry about a third of that threat, Stark." With that she walked off, clearly expecting me to follow. I picked up my bags and curtsied before leaving the room.
"Good job with Stark, Casca."
"No problem, I will happily beat him up any day of the week."
"This is your room, make yourself at home. By the way, the disembodied British voice is JARVIS, he runs the house."
"Thank you, Nova, I truly appreciate you doing this."
"I'm Natasha Romanoff here. Don't forget it."
"Well, I'm Anastasia Kirdan Roma. What does it matter?"
"Kirdan?"
"Ask me no questions, I will tell you no lies."
"Understood."
"Thank you, Nova."
"No problem, Casca."
Then she walked out of the room, hair bouncing and hips swinging. That was why she was such a good assassin. She could lure anyone in with a glance. I, on the other hand, had to work for it. I think I did alright, I've killed my share, and maybe now, it is time to retire, at least from slaughtering who I am told to. Maybe then I can raise my child in peace. I think that deep down, I know that will never be true, not with someone like me raising it.
I didn't know what to call him or her. I thought of names as I placed my bags on the ground and pulled out my hair brush, and pulled it through my hair. The dark strands were knotted. I sighed and continued with the comfortable routine. I ran the brush through the thin strands a hundred times. That was what I was used to, taking a few seconds out of my life to do simple, mundane things, such as brushing my hair. No one bothered me. I soon stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I was not showing yet. I was going to have to do research on pregnancy and childbirth, then I can be somewhat prepared for the child. I told myself I would not have cared if it was a girl or a boy, but I knew that I wanted a girl. I had known so many strong women that I had lost faith in most men. Most of them were rather idiotic, such as Tony Stark. But others were not so terrible. I decided that I would name her Kira or Alice, and him Lewis or Alexander. The middle names were a work in progress.
"Ms. Anastasia, Mr. Stark requests your presence in the conference room."
I rolled my eyes and pulled on my shoes, walking through the halls in an old dress that I had pulled from the bottom of my bag, as I was far too lazy to wrestle with my pants at the time of putting on clothes. My hair was still damp, and I had just pulled it into a tail at the bottom of my head. I stepped into the hall and followed the commotion until I found the dining room in question. I stepped in and folded my hands in front of me, as if awaiting instruction from a tutor.
"Glad you could join us Anastasia, please take a seat beside Capsicle!" The indicated man rolled his eyes, but stood, pulled out my chair, then pushed it in after I sat down. A true gentleman.
"Thank you."
"No problem, ma'am."
I raised my eyebrows, but other than that, showed no other surprise at his gallant behavior. I folded my hands in my lap, sitting calmly as I was surveyed. I turned to Tony Stark
"I would like to apologize for my earlier behavior, but my promise still stands."
"Natasha called it a threat."
"She was mistaken in the instance of my sincerity. It was a promise that I will not hesitate to enact."
"Understood, Anastasia."
"Thank you. Now what have you called me for, it is obviously not the time for any meal. That is, unless you all have afternoon tea."
"We don't, none of us are British enough for that. Even JARVIS. If you are going to be living in my tower, I want to know more about you, just for kicks."
"Naturally. But, there is little more you need to know. You know my name, you know I'm from Russia, unless you cannot discern accents, and you know I have a penchant for violence. Is there anything else that must be known?" I moved my folded hands from my lap to the table, gesturing slightly with them.
"Yes, actually, your date of birth."
"A woman never reveals her age."
"Birthplace."
"Now that would be telling, now wouldn't it? You would simply search all hospitals in the area, then hack their records. I am not a simpleton, Tony Stark."
"JARVIS says you do not exist."
"Am I sitting in this room?"
"Yes."
"Then you have tangible proof of my existence. I nearly dislocated your shoulder. I exist."
"No records of you do."
"I know. I erased them all."
"Don't be an idiot. There isn't even a birth certificate."
"I know." I smiled, raising my chin. My smile held no true emotion, it was a mocking smile. One I wore when I knew something another did not.
"You are not going to tell us anything."
"Everything will reveal itself in due time, Tony Stark. If I wished for you to know something, you would know it already. Now, might I be excused from this lovely show of affection?" I stood up, pushing back my chair, making to leave.
"Not quite yet, Ms. Romanova."