Chapter: 4
That first night that Clint had brought her in Natasha, was assigned a cell in which she would be staying in until her observation days were over. She didn't mind much, she hadn't expected anything else. He came down to the holding cells to visit her once they had finished explaining that she would be released in about a week if the Council saw fit to allow her to stay. He didn't say so but Natasha knew that he was worried for her. She almost laughed at that, his organization wasn't what she was worried about.
"Furry's going to talk with the council in the morning." He said and she nodded in reply. "They're gonna want to talk to you again tomorrow."
"They've already told me," she said and it was his turn to nod. Silence fell over the two of them until he smiled and reached his hand out.
"Clint Barton. It's nice to meet you Ms. Romanoff." She stared at his hand for a moment with a blank face and he almost pulled it back awkwardly but at the last second she reached out and took his hand in her own.
"Nice to meet you Agent Barton." They shook hands and Clint stood to leave.
"Get some rest," he said as the guard unlocked the door to let him out. "Goodnight." He walked through the door and the guard immediately shut and locked it, leaving her alone in the darkened room. She laid down on the not-so-soft bed that was in the room but didn't get much sleep. Early the next morning two guards stepped into the cell, weapons ready, and led her back to the same interrogation room she had been in the night before. The only difference is the man who sat there was not Director Furry, it was the man who had met them when they had first arrived. He motioned for her to take a seat and she did without taking her eyes off of the man. He then excused the guards and the two of them were left alone. She noted that they had not handcuffed her.
"So, I heard that it was Ms. Romanoff now." He said and she just looked at him with that blank face she had perfected over the years. He inwardly sighed at the woman before him, she was going to be difficult. "My name is Phil Coulson. I'm Agent Barton's handler and, if everything works out, I will be yours as well." She nodded at that and he continued. "You know that Director Furry has talked to the Council on your behalf," again she nodded, "Well they weren't happy about it but they've decided to see how it goes." Inwardly something deep inside her was relieved but she didn't let it show. She motioned for him to keep talking. "Now, I suspect you're aware of your...unique recruitment to our agency. We have some things that must be discussed and to do that I'm going to need more than a nod." He said to her with a look. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down for just a second longer. He felt like she was searching for something and wondered briefly what that was.
Something to trust in? If I'm manipulating her or not? Whether I'm about to attack? What are you searching for? He didn't have long to ponder that thought though because finally her voice broke through the silence.
"What things?"
"Things that concern your past." At those words he thought he saw something close to fear or pain flash through her eyes but it was gone almost as fast as it had appeared. e thought that maybe he had caught a glimpse at what everyone else was seeing in this woman. He shook his head slightly to get those thoughts out, he had to focus on the task at hand. "Only the basics Ms. Romanoff." With just the slightest bit of reluctance she nodded again.
"What do you want to know?" He was a bit surprised at that response, he hadn't expected her to be ready to just talk. He had thought it would be a lot more difficult to get her to cooperate. Coulson looked down at the folder that laid before him and opened it up, also taking out a pen from his jacket pocket.
"The only hard facts that we know about you is that you were born in Russia and for quite a few years you've been one of the best, if not the best, assassin around," He said to her. "So, let's get some basics down. What is your Russian name?" She didn't answer and he looked up at her. "I know you told Director Furry it doesn't matter but we need it for your file.
"I don't think it's wise to keep files on your agents." She replied with a level voice.
"We keep all files on our best Agents locked up so that only the most highest authorization can see them."
"They can still be stolen," she pointed out and he gave her a look that said to stop plating around the subject.
"Only by the best. Will you answer the question Ms. Romanoff?" She looked away from him then and turned to the two-way mirror in the room.
"Is he watching?" Coulson didn't need to ask who she was referring to.
"No, no one was authorized to look in on this interview," He replied calmly and she looked back to him.
"Why were you sent to do this," She asked suddenly.
"I'm one of those highest authorization figures," was all he said.
"The Director must place a lot of trust in you," She said back to him.
"Yes he does, and with good reason." Silence once again fell upon the room for just a moment before she spoke again.
"Natalia," she said "Natalia Romanova." He studied her for a second before scribbling the name on the form.
"Thank you," he said but noticed she seemed a bit zoned out.
She found herself in a dark room in line with about twelve other girls.
"Natalia!" A man's voice snapped at her. A silhouette of that man suddenly towered over her and she could barely make out the man's hard and angry eyes before he was reaching for her.
"Ms. Romanoff," the new voice snapped her back into reality and she looked at Agent Coulson. "Still with me?" She nodded and he gave her a look before continuing. "Ok, now can you tell me your age?" Another vision pushed itself inside her head.
Someone stood before her in a white coat, coming up to examine her.
"It doesn't matter Natalia, age is just a number best forgot." He placed a hand on her shoulder then placed the end of his stethoscope on her back. "So are birthdays."
Coulson was about to call out to her again but she spoke up right before.
"No." He rubbed his eyes and looked at her again.
"Ms. Romanoff I thought we just discussed this. If you don;t want people to know this information..."
"I don't know Agent Coulson." She almost snapped at him. He hid the shock he felt and examined her eyes again. Something was wrong but he couldn't tell what. Damn that blank mask of hers.
"How can you not know Ms. Romanoff?" He asked as calmly as he could.
"I was a child when I was taken to the organisation I worked for." She said "they never told me and eventually I just...forgot." There was other things, deeper things, that he knew she was leaving out but he didn't push her.
"And what organization was that Ms. Romanoff?" He watched as her eyes got that far away look in them again and knew that she was reliving something he didn't necessarily want to know about.
How the hell could someone just completely forget hoe old they were?
Her arms and legs were strapped down and another man in a white lab coat was standing over her.
"who do you work for Natalia?" The man asked.
"Red Room," she replied and the man nodded.
"Who are you loyal to?"
"Red Room," she repeated.
"Where do you belong?"
"Red Room."
"Who are the only people who will accept you?" "Ms. Romanoff," the other voice seemed so far away that it was unimportant.
"Red Room."
"Who is your only family?"
"Red Room." "Ms. Romanoff?"
"Will you ever betray your family?" "Ms. Romanoff," the voice sounded concerned but still too far away.
"No." The man smiled down at her before placing a mask over her nose and mouth and pressing a button on the machine. The gas instantly made her feel sleepy.
"And we'll be sure to make sure of that." She heard before the darkness took over the world around her. "Ms. Romanoff!" The voice was frantic now but it soon faded away altogether as well.
Coulson was out of his chair the moment her eyes had closed. He rushed to her side and pressed the button on his earpiece. He managed to stop her from falling out of the chair and possibly smashing her head on the ground. "I need some help in here!" he shouted through his comm. "The Black Widow collapsed! I need medical in here right now something isn't right!" He lowered her to the ground and her body started shaking. He had no idea what was going on but he knew it wasn't good and he was no doctor. "Ms. Romanoff can you hear me?" He patted the side of her face lightly but there was no response, she continued to shake. Outside the door he heard rushed footsteps and was relieved at the sound. The medical team along with three armed guard burst into the room. The medics quickly rushed to her side and the guards stood back and observed. "What the hell is she gonna do? Kill us all while unconscious?" Coulson said to the guards. One shrugged and lowered his weapon.
"Didn't know if she was faking." He said and Coulson looked back down at Natasha who was shaking worse.
"Yeah I seriously doubt it," he said giving the guard a look.
"What happened?" One of the medics asked and Coulson shook his head.
"I don't know we were talking and she just collapsed," he said as they checked her vitals.
"Shit!" One shouted after taking her pulse. "I think she's shutting down! We've gotta move!" A stretcher was brought in and they quickly loaded her up and wheeled her away towards the medical unit. Coulson stared after them untill he could no longer see them. That was one of the most interesting things that had ever happened to him while just giving an interview. He looked around and saw that a small crowd had gathered. He was about to tell them to go back to their own business when he spotted a certain archer standing there staring at him.
Well there's the new chapter. I hope you enjoyed and would love to hear what you guys thought.