It was just another day: Natalia had been trained once again. But like always, she had been more beaten up than being able to protect herself. The higher-ups called her useless, and she had overheard a conversation about her past progress. It hadn't been in her favor. Natalia had known that she wasn't the best recruit. But apparently, she was one of the worst recruits ever. They wanted to finally make use of her to become a target. Someone needed to be the victim, after all. But Natalia didn't intend to stay at the facility. She might not be perfect at assassinating people, but she knew how to fight, regardless of what everyone thought.

As soon as she was locked in her room, she started to quickly pack a few clothes into a light-colored backpack. If Natalia had learned anything at this school was that the best thing to camouflage with one's surroundings. Given the fact that there was snow outside, she dressed in lighter colors. Her hair color would stand out, but she had no idea how to tame the radiant red. But who cared. She only needed to get over the fence alive, and she was gone from this hell forever. It became dark, and she took deep breaths. She opened her window and jumped out of her window. She rolled behind a nearby bush and counted to three silently as she closed her eyes. A bit of smoke came from her mouth because of her warm breath. But luckily it was not seen due to the dark scenery. She listened to the steps of the guard on the pavement. Guards were everywhere on the facility grounds, so the girls couldn't leave.

She opened her eyes and determination was in them. If she had to die, she would die fighting. She reached up and quickly pulled the man down. Her elbow found the man's stomach, which made him bow forward breathless. Her elbow went down on his neck and the man fell unconscious or dead - she didn't care. Natalia grabbed the gun and started running.

Once people spotted her, she was being shot. The girl jumped behind a car and started firing at a truck. To her own surprise, it exploded. She wasn't able to believe her luck. Perhaps some kind of higher power wanted her free after all. She stood up and watched the fire.

"чудесный! [beautiful!]" she whispered regarding the fire. Once they started firing again, she flinched and felt warm blood trickling down her arm. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, but it didn't hurt at all. Natalia started running again and firing toward an approaching vehicle. The man at the steering wheel fell lifeless forward and crashed the car into a wall. But this wasn't the time for her to stop running. Soon she was at the fence. She managed to get over it.

"ограда! я сделал это! [The fence! I made it!]" she exclaimed, happy and looking over her shoulder. She grabbed a red cloak from her bag while hurrying away. But not even a mile away, she tripped over a small wire on the ground, hidden underneath the snow. Her body spasmed as the wire was filled with electricity and it ran through her body. She fell down unconscious and smashed her head against a stone.

The men who had been after her with dogs found her quickly now. "Мало брат находится в бессознательном состоянии. Но я думаю, что она в порядке. Попытка побега, должно быть, было слишком много для нее. Должны ли мы избавиться от нее? [The little brat is unconscious. But I think she's okay. The escape attempt must have been too much for her. Shall we dispose of her?]" a man asked as they checked for her pulse. Natalia was still breathing and seemed alright. Except for the shot wound in her right shoulder or the electric shock.

"Нет, я думаю, что нет. Я не видел это много обещание студента в течение длительного времени. Верни ее внутрь! [No. I think not. I haven't seen this much promise from a student in a long time. Bring her back inside!]" the boss said and went back inside. The men picked Natalia up and brought her to the grounds and into the hospital wing of the facility. She was lying down on a bed and fettered her to the bed as someone tended her wounds.

The boss walked up to one specific room. The American or Winter Soldier, as some called him, needed to hear about the girl. Of course, the guy had heard about the man and the legend of the Soviet assassin. He was one of the best trainers of those girls and had to hear about what had happened. "Sir! You've got to see this!" he said after going inside the man's rooms.


One of the girls who trained here was strapped to a table. His eyes closed for a moment, and he wondered if she was being debriefed as he was. But after another moment and sharp phantom pain, the Soldier decided it did not look similar to him. Besides, she was merely training, not graduated, nor on missions. So the Soldier straightened and was informed.

"Она пыталась бежать." (She attempted to escape,) The officer explained.

"Тогда почему она здесь?" (Then why is she here?" ) He questioned, his voice a low pitch and toneless. Any such act was usually punished promptly, and their training here terminated. They were taken in the night or simply never returned, eliminated from the program. There was no disloyalty.

"Потому что она бежать, Cолдат." (Because she did escape, Soldier.) A well-worn voice, that of the head scientist, entered the conversation. " Это наиболее обещание, мы видели еще. »" (It is the most promise we have seen yet.")

"Правда" (True,") The strict and cold female voice spoke. "Но у неё нет дисциплины, ее навыки были подпаритета в последнее время." ("But she has no discipline, her skills have been subpar recently.")

"Нелояльности к программе нелояльности к стране является нетерпимой. Предполагая, свое собственное место в мире — против программы. »

("Disloyalty to the program, disloyalty to the country is intolerable. Assuming her own place in the world is against the program."

The woman stepped forwards slightly. "Она провела обратно последовательно. Нет никакой допуск слабости или невозможности совершить." (She has held back consistently. There is no tolerance for weakness or failure to commit.)

There were a few hums of agreement.

"Но сырье талант." (But the raw talent.)

"Существует не использовать в талант без преданности." (There is no use in talent without dedication.") The woman spoke in a short, clipped tone. Her fate seemingly decided.

His eyes roamed over the girl. He knew her from training, her dark yet colorful head of hair, and had disregarded her. She was restrained, yet... when her eyes opened, it was nothing but the sheer determination that shone back at him. The Soldier was intrigued. She was caught, her fate being decided for her, and she was smart enough to understand the consequences of such actions. Yet her failure had not curbed the determination or resolve as she stared back evenly.

Hm.

"Я могу научить ее дисциплине," (I can teach her discipline,) The Soldier finally decided to speak, and broke the sea of voices with his own rough, unused one. "Я буду учить ее и искать только Слава России." (I will teach her to comply and to seek only glory for Russia.) He continued, his stance firm and his tone left no room for argument. These were facts; although not his decision, these were things he would do. They worried about her loyalty to her discipline. These things could be taught.

"Она может быть большой вдова" (She could be a grand Widow) The scientist besought them. "Кто лучше, чемзимний Cолдат, чтобы научить ее, тот, кто принес много славы для нашей страны." (Who better than the Winter Soldier to teach her, one who has brought much glory for our country?!)

It was decided from there, they continued to talk, but the conversation leaned towards the Soldier's stance. He did not take part from there, only studied the vibrant red-haired girl and pondered her determination.


The nurse walked over to the girl who was strapped to the table. She was still unconscious - luckily. They were instructed to help the girl but without drugging the girl. The pain was her punishment for now. As long as it wasn't clear whether they kept her alive, the nurses restricted themselves from taking care of the wound on the girl's head. The stone on which Natalia had fallen left a nasty wound on her forehead. As soon as steps were heard outside the hospital wing, everyone looked to the door. They were waiting for the Winter Soldier, after all. The nurse stepped fearfully away and went over to some other girls, away from the redheaded girl.

Natalia opened her eyes just shortly after she heard voices around her. Yet they seemed far away, and her vision went blurry than black again. This time she was only unconscious for about five minutes. She kept her eyes closed and her body still, though. If anything, she didn't want to draw attention. She listened closely to what everyone had to say. Apparently, they finally saw some potential in her. But was it enough to allow her to stay alive? Natalia didn't know, but she didn't want to die. Of course, she had known the punishment to be death. But she didn't want it to end this way after being so close to her freedom.

"Быть по сему! Зимний Солдат будет тренировать ее. [So be it! The Winter Soldier will train her.]" the head of the scientists said and looked at the American serious. He took some steps closer to the assassin without showing signs of fear and threatened: "Если вам не удастся, вы будете накажут с ней. Меня не волнует, что другие думают, что вы. Я уверен, что вы не хотите, та же участь, как и ее! [If you won't succeed, you'll get punished with her. I don't care what others think you are. I'm sure you don't want the same fate as her!]" With those words, the man left the hospital wing, having some follow him out the door.

Finally, Natalia dared to open her eyes and looked the man in front of her dead in the eyes. She didn't show fear or regret. In fact, she still seemed determined, perhaps even at peace with what had happened. She was staying alive for now. But she needed to face training again with a legend.

Nonetheless training. "Why me?" The girl finally spoke. Her voice was hoarse, but there could be no pain detected. Even though the shot wound and her head must hurt her a lot. In fact, only a Russian accent could be heard in her voice.


They came to a decision, and the Soldier returned his watchful gaze to him. This would be an extension of his mission, then. Which meant he would not fail. The Winter Soldier did not return or rest until he had satisfied the parameters of his mission. They told him to follow the orders of those in regards to the training, and this fell within that.

There would be no failure to comply. There never was.

Yet he found a need to work to maintain his stoic expression as the scientist threatened him. What do others think? Their fear of him, he meant? He found it... also humorous. If he could describe the cold yet laughable thought. The Soldier did not fear pain or punishment. When he was to be punished or debriefed, he did as he was told and complied with it. Something in him, something he couldn't remember, told him this scientist could not possibly find the correct pain. The sort he felt dread for, despite his compliance. He was also confident that this trainee's fate would be death, and the Soldier did not fear death. Though the Soldier wondered if he had the power to do so. Would that be interesting?

In either case, something of his fate and his mission's success now rested on Natalia Romanova's training.

The Soldier looked down as they all left to his sudden charge's question.

"You are strong," He replied, strong to get past those guards and strong in the face of death and torture, strong in the face of pain. These were desired traits. So was that determination. "So perhaps you will find out," He answered her.

"Now," He said, undoing the straps she had on her. "Get up, Natalia Romanova," He ordered, and undid the lastBELT. "We have much to do. Are you willing to comply, or do you seek something else?"


Natalia snorted, unladylike at his answer. "Ask those men. They say I'm only good for disposal or as a target for those other girls.", she answered simply. She had no idea why she was trying to persuade this man to think he had made the wrong decision by helping her. Yet here she was doing so. Perhaps it was her last exit strategy. She knew that whatever followed this death might be the better and more peaceful option. There was absolutely no way she managed to pull off a second escape.

Once the man removed all straps, she slowly sat up. Her shirt was drenched in her own blood. No one had bothered to remove the bullet from her shoulder and bandage it. Yet she didn't complain but simply looked at the man in front of her. She ignored the surging pain and went to stand up as ordered.

His second question caught her off guard. Her gaze went to the still-open door of the hospital wing. All she wanted to do was walk out of it as a free human being. But that was not her fate. She either capitulated now or would die today or another time. Perhaps she could try to do something like this once again. When she was more robust and older. But not today. "What I seek is none of your business, American.", she answered calmly. Natalia was aware that she sounded like an unthankful brat. But she didn't intend on giving in just like that. She looked at him, awaiting her orders as she still decided what to do.


"If I wanted or needed their opinion on the matter, I would not have prompted a change in their decisions of your fate." He informed her. "Furthermore, you should not be bothered by what they think. You will not need to care once you're sure of your capabilities.

Her eyes glanced over the door and lingered there. A strange understanding etched onto his face, but it passed in mere seconds, replaced with the Soldier's stoic mask. He couldn't comprehend the fleeting feeling, so he let it disappear.

American? Was he? The Soldier was fluent in many languages, but he remembered learning none. Was that important to her, a sense of where she or he was from? It did not affect that they were tools for Russia's glory. The Soldier decided this may be the route of her problem, and she would need to adjust these thoughts. Natalia's eyes had narrowed, and that same fiery gaze pierced him. But it bordered too close to lack of discipline, and she needed to understand now.

He reached out and grabbed her by the chin with his metal hand and was careful to dig his fingers in enough that it would pain her but not enough to leave a bruise or hurt her. Our fates are now intertwined, so it has become my business.

A cold, dark look befell the Soldier's features, and his grip on her chin released and he grabbed her around the neck instead. The Soldier's other flesh hand pushed her by her shoulder into the wall just by them and hit her into it hard. Her head bounced into it, but he steadied her head by his grip on her neck.

Do you wish to die, Natalia? That is the only other option. His voice was surprisingly filled with unusual emotion, a wave of low anger. If she wanted to give up, he would only waste his time and his mission on training her. I will do it for you now," The cold metal squeezed tighter around her throat, a low whirl coming from the wrist with the motion. He raised her up the wall, so her feet were easily off the ground. To give her a taste of death. He slid her back down after a moment and released some pressure to give her room for a breath. But his grip was firm. If I misjudged your determination to become more than the stepping stone for another of your group's accession to greatness instead of you, then we will go no further.

Even with this attitude, he did not believe she wanted that. She was too angry when she mentioned them wanting to use her as a target. She did not try to leave until they decided to throw her. Yet she let herself come to this position, but perhaps her potential was not being tested enough, not enough challenge. Maybe she didn't see the goal at the end to reach. He could challenge her, but he would not fail his mission, wasting time on someone with no ambition.

He had no wish to fool her into compliance, either; that would be a mistake used by more foolish. Natalia was smart. He'd seen this in her training here and in her escape. In this situation, the truth was of more use. If she could not come to terms with it... there was no point in going on. It was the only truth she had, and she should not be disillusioned. If she wanted it, instead of fairy tales of escape and another life, that would be the only way to the top for her. Otherwise, she would fail sooner or later.

Understand now, Natalia Romanova, for us, freedom does not come from disobedience. There is only death... death or painful compliance." The stern look of Russia's assassin drained slowly from his face now as he spoke. Finally, he released his grip on her. "Freedom, for us," He stressed again while he released his right hand's grip on her wounded shoulder. For some reason he wanted her to understand, he wanted to see that determined look to flourish, and become something more. He wanted her success. Perhaps that was the way he saw his mission completed? The Soldier was uncharacteristically unsure. "Comes with success. It comes with never being beaten. It comes with being the best option for Russia," When they became so valuable, there was no longer a fear of death. When you became so proficient, no one could question your decisions while on your mission... it was there she would find the personal freedom... the control, he believed she sought. "It is not the doorway out that you should seek, but the option to be let to use the door whenever you please."


"I should not care? As far as I know I should care because they and not you will decide whether I die or not.", she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The motion of her arms made her flinch and her face was shortly covered in pain.

His grip on her chin made her automatically step backwards. She tried to escape, but fear filled her eyes as his metal hand went to her neck. Natalia stood very still but flinched even more once his normal hand found the bullet wound. She didn't even feel her head hitting the concrete wall. Still, her vision seemed to get a black frame. The lack slight lack of oxygen and pain was causing her slowly to lose consciousness once again. Once he lifted her up, her hands found his metal fingers to remove him from her throat. She wasn't able to breathe now and just made a sound. The girl looked at him in fear.

Once he released his grip on her neck for a few seconds, Natalia almost panted for air. Her vision became more precise, and fear was replaced by anger. It was the same anger which had driven her to escape. Before she could even do anything, his hand was back on her neck. But this time, she placed her hand on his forearm and held it tight. She was very well aware that she couldn't win against him. The Winter Soldier. But she could at least fight to make him take a step backwards.

Natalia ignored the pain his hand inflicted on her wounded shoulder and lifted her legs slowly. She was trying to keep herself from being strangled again as she quickly brought her feet to his chest and kicked. She knew it would have no use but further punishment, but at least she would get the anger out of her system instead of simply standing there. "I am not some tool for them to use or kill.", she hissed at him between gritted teeth once her feet were back on the ground and awaited her punishment. Natalia knew this man wanted to break her. But not today. She wouldn't allow it.

Once he released her grip on her, her own fingers found her throat and shoulder. It wasn't to press on the bruises but to protect her throat. She slid down the wall panting, not even looking up. She didn't want him to see tears on her cheeks. She simply listened as she sat on her knees, leaning slightly back- and forward. Natalia coughed heavily and simply listened. There was no sign of determination or fight; it was mere surrender to this situation she had brought herself in. The redhead would come out on top and fight if she had to. Yet she doubted seeking glory for her country would get her the peace she wanted. "Okay...", she eventually said but didn't look up at the man in front of her.


Good. He had seen fear in Natalia's gaze; she had struggled. She was as afraid to die as the next. For some reason, it made him melancholy, thinking of the program. But for his part in this, he knew she did not want death, even as an escape. So the Soldier supposed that would have to be good enough.

"I am not some tool for them to use or kill."

A smirk lined his face at her words; good, there was that determination again. He had not imagined it. Why he would, the Soldier did not know.

Strange... he watched her reactions, puzzled. Yes, he had seen them many times, but many he couldn't remember, but it was odd for her in this place. But she was still young, he decided. The Soldier would teach her to understand.

"Congratulations, Natalia, you have learned that you do not wish to die today," It would be necessary for her training and essential for her complete understanding. Not only for his hand in it but the Red Rooms when they saw the capabilities he was seeing. It was the first step, deciding that death wasn't an option despite not wanting to submit. That you have to survive. He knew this, somehow.

He looked down at her and a frown struggled with his face. This was his mission. He must succeed to comply, but... more so, he had hoped she would quickly understand how things worked.

The Soldier eased himself into a slow crouch in front of her, so she might not stiffen for an attack. Likely untrue, but he attempted it. He recognized the blood on his palm as fresh and her wound must have reopened when he pinned her.

"You look very much as if you would let yourself die now," He told her and chose to raise his flesh hand to mop up her tears with his fingers. His voice lowered into a softer whisper, although his voice was still raspy. "They must not see this for you to have a chance, Natalia," He urged her and withdrew his hand.

The Soldier stood and motioned to the table she'd just been on, encouraging her to go sit there but not forcing her to.

"Despite what they think," He lowered his voice. This was not to be overheard and the softly spoken English he hoped would further avoid that happening. "Neither I nor any of them truly decide if you die or not. That choice is only yours, Natalia; it is the one thing you control now. That number can grow if you choose to."

He gave her one last look before slipping out of the room and marching down the hallway to retrieve a nurse. What was the point in them there if her wound was still bleeding! He stopped in their doorway and they instantly looked to him, shoulders shrinking in. The trainee needs proper attention. I cannot train her otherwise.

They muttered their acquisitions and scurried to gather things and follow him back to the room at a quick rate to work on Natalia.


Natalia flinched as his hand moved to her cheek to remove her tears. She looked at him, waiting for him to slap her. She was used to physical punishment, not someone showing compassion. That kind of behaviour confused her, especially from someone who had just been ready to kill her not even a minute ago. But somehow, the soft touch of skin on Natalia's cheek made her look up at the man in front of her.

She rose to her feet, ignoring his offer to sit at the table. She watched him quiet, ready to defend herself in case he decided to wrap his metal hand back around her neck. She was sure there were already dark bruises forming on her skin. Natalia frowned as soon as he used English. Why was he trying to help her? She was sure it wouldn't benefit him at all. "What number?" she asked him back in English. She had no idea why he chose to switch languages, but it came naturally answering in the language as well.

As soon as the Winter Soldier left her alone. Her whole being seemed to deflate. She had no idea where he went. But now, as her mind wasn't occupied anymore, the pain was taking over. She removed her shirt carefully. Natalia was ready to take care of the wound and remove the bullet on her own. Noone seemed to be prepared to help her. But soon, the man came back with the nurses.

They laid her down on the table again. This time they were nice enough to sedate her shoulder to take care of the wound. She ignored the women who were tending her wound. But instead, she looked at the Winter Soldier. "What kind of things do you want me to learn?" she asked, showing interest in him and her newfound future for the first time. Her voice sounded quiet and breathy as the drug took over her brain a little.


"The number of things you control for yourself instead of them," He replied quietly. The Soldier felt as if he'd been in that situation before? He couldn't really comprehend where the thought led to, though, and he let it pass over him without pausing on it further.

He stood back in front of the door as they worked. His hands were held loosely behind his back, shoulders straight and feet together, and he stayed in the at-rest stance. He watched loosely as the nurses did as they told, taking care of her shoulder and touching up the other wounds.

She was wise enough to speak in their everyday language, he didn't smile, but the urge had struck him too.

"Discipline," He said in a cool voice. "Things to protect you from an attack like earlier, and change it to your advantage." Eventually, if he were to use an attack such as he had, even with his strength, she would have a much better time changing the chance and at least break free of his grip. She'd had the right idea but the wrong execution. "I will teach you to use them efficiently, instead. Also, how to continue on when you're injured as you are now. Many things."


She frowned over his reply. What kind of things? she wondered. For her, it made no sense that he tried to help her. But it seemed like listening to the stranger would keep her alive and she could learn a few things. Of course, every trainee had heard about the Winter Soldier and what he was capable of doing. If he did want to train her, she could learn and get away. Natalia knew she would need to lock that thought far away if she wanted to survive. But he had been correct about one thing: she didn't want to die.

Natalia looked at him in confusion. She bit back a comment knowing it was not wise to talk with him about her future in front of the nurses. But to her, it sounded like he wanted to make her a better version of himself; that was all for Mother Russia. "And how and when do you plan on starting?", she asked him.

Slowly the nurses started to stitch her shoulder and patch her up. They used bandages before giving her a new shirt. Natalia took it on and sat up with their help of them. "Thank you..." she mumbled towards the nurses who had helped her. This was more than she had expected and she was sure those women had been instructed not to help her. But they had helped her because of the fear of this man in front of her. Slowly she slid down from the table, holding onto the edge. Her knees felt like jelly threatening to give up underneath her own weight. Yet she stood pale but upright in front of these people. Her green eyes were fixed on the man who was supposed to be her new mentor.


"Soon." Was all he said. She got patched back up. Sedated slightly. She thanked them, and he'd have to remind her not to do such things. It showed weakness. Weakness that they'd pick up on. Natalia stood up, despite her injuries and allowed the slightest smile to curl up his lip before it disappeared again.

"You can leave," He told the nurses in his regular monotone. They gathered what they had brought and made a wide circle around him to get behind and towards the doors. He stood for a moment and analyzed how she was doing. "We will start now," He told her, Natalia's only warning before he leapt forward out of his stance and swung an admittedly light and easy-to-dodge punch. Though with her shoulder sedated, it might not be easy... but the only way to learn to fight through pain was to fight through it. Now was a perfect time.


Natalia watched the women leave and sighed. Just for a moment, she could focus on herself and ignore the men around her. Unfortunately, it would prove to be a fatal decision as the girl didn't hear his 'warning'. She first recognized him going in for an attack when it was too late. She moved too slow to her side, so his fist collided with her healthy shoulder instead of punching her face. She gasped in pain and looked at him, confused. She didn't ask why but it was written all over her face.

Natalia brought up her own arms to protect her face. She looked at the man, unsure how she should be able to win against him. She was lighter, weaker than him and injured. There was no way she'd be able to win. Only block his attacks until he turned out to be tired. Yet she tried to secure her stance and brought her right fist forward to punch him in the face. She tried to ignore the pain in her shoulder. Yet she visibly flinched.


He hit her shoulder and didn't quite pull the punch, but it wasn't devastating. She was surprised. She'd lowered her guard, which was unwise to do in any situation. "Any situation can be a dangerous one; you should never be too comfortable," He told her as he pulled his arm back to his side.

She reached up to protect her face, but he made no move to hit her.

"This is defensive," He told her as she covered her face, and it was a form of unconfidence she couldn't afford. As he spoke, she did indeed throw a punch before he'd finished speaking. He let her hit him so she'd feel the pain from making contact with him.

She knew more than she let on.

"Excellent, Natalia, my hit left me vulnerable, and you knew such," He swung a leg and aimed for her feet to try and push her to the ground. "You will be injured many times in battles. It isn't always avoidable. So, you need the ability to work through severe pain and still succeed."


Natalia flinched a little as her fist hit his face. She hadn't expected to hit him and it made her wonder whether he allowed her to punch him or simply didn't see it coming. Probably the former, as she simply couldn't imagine it taking him by surprise. Of course, a cornered animal or person would try to defend oneself by hitting back.

"No, you're talking left you vulnerable.", she told him earnestly and watched the movement of his body. She could tell he would swing his legs before his foot moved too much. She stepped backwards but was suddenly trapped by the table. She didn't know where to go as neither her left nor right-hand side seemed a good idea. So, she sat down on it and moved to the other side, leaving an object between the two.

Even though the girl grew up at the facility and was used to fighting lessons. She seemed to refuse to take an active part in it. This demeanour most likely led her to her current situation of people wanting to get rid of her. But still, she seemed not to want to use violence on other people. The last three hours might have shown that she was perfectly able to do so, but she simply wasn't willing to hurt others. "And what if I don't want that? What if I don't want to hit people?" she asked and looked at the man. She knew this kind of talk and thinking would get her in trouble, but still, she needed to ask it.


Yes, well, perhaps. The Soldier usually didn't have this much to say. Not because he did or didn't have anything to say, but because it wasn't relevant to his mission. In most cases, he never needed to utter a word, some he had to relay decisions. Here, again, was a very different mission.

He sighed and leaned forward, both palms against the table she'd hid behind. Perhaps she was simply too worn out from her escape. They could continue this at a later date.

A confused look twisted his face, and he didn't understand for a moment. Natalia's thinking was still incredibly... odd. It was off and well... wrong. She would never complete her own missions this way. That was all that really mattered. But Natalia didn't see that.

"Then you'll die. the Soldier said as simply as he could. If she continued to resist and continued to do poorly... if she couldn't become a Widow, she'd be eliminated like many before her, had been and many would come after her. His arm whirled as he leaned off the table, taking weight off it. "We may both die," He concluded calmly. If the scientists could do so, but he knew that there were other men... the ones he woke up to in the cold, who briefed him, who he would later debrief to... those men decided his fate. "There is no room for such thoughts, Natalia. They will only leave you weak and vulnerable." He continued calmly. "In here, you train with others like you, with me, but once you become a widow, you will not be dealing with children and they will not hesitate to end your life in most situations. If you can get that far with such whimsical thoughts."


Natalia took a step back as he leaned forward against the table. She looked at him and tried to watch his body language. She had become outstanding in doing so. It had shown her to take part in the courses and when she could ignore the instruction. Apparently, her statement and questions confused the man. Why wasn't he questioning all these things?

"Then this sounds like a risk you shouldn't take.", she told him a matter of factly before crossing her arms. She flinched and didn't know why she was behaving this way. After all, she grew up in this environment. Natalia wasn't able to remember anything else than the facility. From a very early age, she was trained to become something she didn't want. Everything had climaxed into her wanting to leave and she had lost everything. "It makes absolutely no sense that you help me.", she told him quietly and looked at him. She couldn't help but wonder what his actual reasons were.

The thought of death was strangely calming yet confused. She was afraid of death, but she knew she wouldn't be able to escape that forever.


A strange smile twisted on his face. It didn't wholly lack his regular cold expression but showed his slight amusement. Natalia did not understand everything; actions were not things to be undone. Nothing could be undone.

"It is much too late for that, young one," He smiled more warmly now. But she was stubborn, still. She crossed her arms and the Soldier leaned back more.

"Maybe," He agreed. To be so invested, maybe it didn't. But it fell under his mission, did it not? Yes, to successfully train the candidates of the Red Room and bring those worthy into their mantles as Black Widows. Now that he was here and had taken in what the leaders here wanted... It was within his mission to decide who.

But Natalia was looking for an answer, he knew. The Soldier caught his eye and crossed his own arms, a metal hand resting over his opposite arm.

"I see something in you," He told her, and he did see something. Whether it was potential or her pure determination, or her skill in an escape. There was something worth training in the young Natalia Romanova.

With that, he let his arms drop and pointed to the door.

"Now. It is time for me to guide the others in a session with Kudrin. You are to rest, so we may train more effectively tomorrow."


Natalia listened and almost snorted at his first answer. This sounded like something they - the girls - were supposed to hear from their targets. She knew how men should conceive her as a beautiful but innocent woman. That answer amused her. Even though she didn't see her own beauty or learn how to use it, she had heard other people talking about it. Indeed the Winter Soldier could look beyond someone's looks, wasn't he? Or else that man in front of her might be dead sooner than everyone thought.

Once he pointed towards the door, Natalia walked over to it. "Will I see the others again?", she suddenly asked as she stood facing the door. The redhead might not have made friends with any of the girls, but still, she seemed kind of emotional about the fact that they were isolating her.

The door was opened and it seemed like some guards had been listening. They tightly wrapped their hands around her upper arm and escorted her away without a second word. Natalia looked over her shoulder at her new mentor without even fighting against the men who accompanied her.


"That, too, is dependent on your actions," Once again, it would depend on how well she did, if she did too well or not enough. That decision was also entirely out of his hands. That was the director and Kudrin's decision. Not for him to make. She would need to see in time. As was his mission, he would still train them every once in a while. But not as intensely or regularly as Natalia would be now. She required more attention.

"But for now, you will not," He finished, and then they had guards take her somewhere. Perhaps to her sleeping quarters to rest, he wouldn't really know. She looked back at him, and the Soldier wondered why…


They brought her to a new room. But unfortunately, it was more of a prison cell than a bedroom.

First, as she realized they were to handcuff her against the bed frame, she started struggling against their hold on her. No!" she called and tried to kick one of them, but it only earned her a slap. "Stop it! You brought yourself into this situation on your own, ублюдок!", they said and set her against the bed, handcuffing her wrists to the bed posts. "Let's see how long you can go without food and water." one of the men sat before they locked the door against her. It was one of the coldest and darkest rooms of the facility and was obvious made to punish the children.


This is the first story of a full series around Bucky and Natasha's unseen past in the MCU. Stay tuned!

Leave a kudos or put it in the comments what you think will happen next or what you loved! It'll be great to hear from you! If you enjoyed the story, feel free to treat me to a coffee on KoFi! ko dash fi dot com slash fatedmuses