The next few days had gone by rather quickly. Natalia noticed that Kudrin was glancing at her way more than usual, making her frown. Eventually, she ignored it instead of glaring at the woman rather unpleasantly. Her gaze would typically make people wince but not Kudrin. So instead, she looked at the young woman with her usual cold and calculating eye.
Eventually, she approached Natalia and asked to speak to her. It took her a couple of minutes to explain her new mission and show him a picture of the old man with a liking for young and beautiful women. That's where Natalia fits in. Despite her own thoughts of disgust, Natalia simply nodded and left the room with the file.
For the following two days, she avoided getting a glance at James. Before, she might've randomly collided with him with a smirk on her lips. But now, she didn't want to see him. Not till after the mission was over. Somehow the mission made her feel bad and she didn't want him to see her or even question why her mood had suddenly dropped.
Surprisingly they found ways around the Red Room. Simple glances suddenly meant so much, the arch of an eyebrow from her or a subtle smirk from him as they passed in the halls. She might come up to the food line simultaneously, and her hand brushing past his was enough to send shocks through his body. The lack of touch must be because something so simple shouldn't excite him, but it did. He enjoyed being present when she spared, although he watched as he ought to with others and not partaking.
James could only imagine if he were allowed to partake, but the rational side of him was glad that was not necessary. He didn't know if he could summon his usual vigor in a fight against her. He wanted to touch her gently, if fiercely only in passion, not from the coldness that lurked within him during a battle. But such a thing would be too obvious and he was pleased that was not something he had to do.
He was fine with their passing glances or touches. He assumed her first mission was sometime later, although time passed him in a blur as it always did. But he stopped seeing her in her familiar places. Still, he missed seeing her during meals.
But while he missed seeing her presence, it did not change much of his routine. He still slept poorly, got up when he found it acceptable, ate at the designated time, trained by himself in the morning, and then started his sessions with the Red Room candidates.
Kudrin had waited for the redhead to leave. If she was right, it would lower the soldier's mood again. She had watched the two since they returned from the mission at the opera. Their behavior had changed. First, it seemed like they were estranged and after the last mission, they were growing closer again. She also noticed slight changes in her body language and if she was right about things that were not tolerated. Of course, she was aware that some of the girls spent the night with the guards for certain favors and Kudrin encouraged them to do so. After all, it helped these girls to distinguish themselves from that act. It would be required of them to act like this for missions. She just made sure that it was clear that no child would be tolerated. Either the becoming mother or the baby was to be disposed of. Sometimes they waited until after childbirth to kill both and place them as examples.
She casually walked towards the training rooms. She knew exactly where the man was and how to make the final blow. He had disturbed her Red Room for way too long. The best thing for everyone was to dispose of the little redhead all these years ago. It wasn't the first time someone disposed of talent. Troublemakers weren't tolerated here and simply set the wrong example. What if other girls decided to escape and actually managed to do so? It endangered the whole facility.
"Soldier!" her cold voice echoed over the leaving girls and a smile formed over her lips. This ought to be good. "Have you heard from Romanova?" she asked innocently like she didn't know where the woman was. She could act like the redhead needed too much time seducing that idiot of a politician.
He rolled along the mat, and the girl did her best to cling to her grip around his neck. But he had the advantage of body weight and with the calculated roll, he threw them into the ground. She lost her angle of control. The trainee sprawled on the mat as he jumped up and stood over her. She blew out a breath and then sighed as she rose to her feet.
"Next time, stay on your feet. Do not kneel. It may give you strength, but you lose leverage," He informed her. "Your technique was correct. But you are small. You lose the advantage when you no longer have power. Stay on the high ground. It will make you more efficient.
"Yes, Soldier." The girl nodded and left the mat.
He waved them all off and they filed out.
James moved across the mat and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat away and press the loose strands of hair out of his face. He felt someone watching him and if he did not know that Natalia was off the facility on a mission of her own, he might turn to see if he could catch her watching him. Usually, that was when he was training by himself, though, and not with the girls. She was smart and left no witnesses. As was he when he lingered where she might be only long enough for it to be acceptable as passing. Naturally, there were no cameras within the Red Room, so as long as there were no witnesses, things were acceptable.
Knowing she wasn't here, he tensed at the feeling. The echo of Kudrin's voice assured him he'd been correct. James scowled into the towel and then tossed it back onto the bench, his face blank again. Her smile grated on his nerves and he marched steadily across the floor along the mat towards where she stood.
The Soldier's focus was loosened when she mentioned Natalia. His face never changed, but he worried within. There was no reason for her to ask him such a question. The fact she was... it wasn't good. It could be paranoia, of course, the knowledge he held of his feelings and the electric rush when he simply bumped into her in the halls and his hand steadied her so she wouldn't 'fall'. That knowledge could breed that paranoia, though. It did not mean that anyone else knew it. He would not give himself away on something so petty.
"Romanova has graduated," He stated the fact simply, his monotone more than usual. "I no longer train the Black Widow. But you know that." His cold, calculated gaze landed on the woman with displeasure and he stood ready in front of her.
They also both knew that Kudrin did not inform him of missions he was paired with Natalia. Kudrin informed Natalia, but his handlers and the general made it clear they were the only ones who could tell the Winter Soldier what his mission may be. He did not answer to this woman or anyone within the facility. Pchevistov, at times, when his handler was present, but that was it. James knew his handler was not here this month and would not be until the Soldier was needed for a mission.
The only thing Kudrin could do was inform him of certain girls that needed special training. So she was digging for something or she wouldn't bring something about Natalia to him. Kudrin despised getting anything that was 'hers to his attention. But, he never cared because his mission was to train those in the Red Room, not please their mistress.
"Has she failed the State and requires further training? Or have you simply lost track of one of your charges? Again." He asked with a cool, challenging gaze. He disliked playing her petty games, but this one seemed rather dangerous considering that things were different with Natalia.
"Yet it seems like the two of you still maintain a rather unusual relationship for a student and her former teacher. So I thought she might've told you what takes her so long," the woman spoke just as casually as she folded her hands in front of her lap. The displeasure didn't surprise her. After all, they had always disagreed on everything. Especially about the Soldier's charity project called Natalia. At first, it had been ridiculous. How he tried to challenge her, but soon he had become a threat. Especially after her higher-ups had shown their displeasure with handling the redhead. Ever since, she had made sure to weaken Romanova. But it did have no use. The girl had graduated with glory and continued to successfully finish her missions.
"It's a simple mission. She should've been back by now. Yet she has not reported back. So perhaps you have failed to prepare her to respond to her handlers," she spoke casually and looked around the room. She wasn't surprised by his need to point out that she had failed on Romanova. It still bugged her and the redhead was a constant reminder of it. Each time she saw her. A constant reminder of failure and why it was necessary to dispose of troublemakers. She repeatedly tapped her index finger against the back of her hand like always when something bothered her. Kudrin was more than aware of her nervous habit, so why not use it as an advantage? This was really worrying for her. "You must know that she was sent to interrogate a politician... It was supposed to be only one night, but we hadn't heard from her in days. He likes his girls to be young and beautiful. Romanova has both treats on her side. So, it shouldn't take her long to lure him into her bed," she stated that she was concerned for Romanova's well-being.
"So, yes, Romanova requires further training. But I think we better send her to the guards for this. They do like the beautiful ones, after all, and I'm sure it'll benefit their motivation if one is granted a night or two with the redhead," she announced as she thought aloud and acted like she had just noticed that the Winter Soldier was still there.
" But of course, that's none of your concern, comrade. I mean, you have to agree that inefficiency has to be punished! And why not do it in a way that will benefit us all," she smiled coldly at him.
Kudrin was fishing. The fact that she was, did not spell anything good. As much of a nuisance as this silly woman was... she and her hatred for both of them was also dangerous. "Are you questioning what assets the state decides to use? You overstep yourself, Lyudmila," He said, his voice low and dangerous. He even summoned a heavy scoff.
"Romanova shows no prior reluctance with handlers." He stated unattached, but secretly he worried. When Natalia didn't report back, she needed to improvise because something had expanded or gone wrong. Or because she was wrapped up with me, the errant thought dashed across his mind. He quickly stomped it out in front of Kudrin.
Kudrin suddenly appeared nervous and he wondered if the state was here. Or if it were a critical mission. Kudrin certainly did not worry for her safety. Even if she was the mistress of the house, he knew her concern ended with Natalia.
'Interrogate' and Kudrin made sure to spell the details out for him perfectly. He worried momentarily, but he knew Natalia was better equipped to handle such a situation.
When he thought about it... well, it surprised him at first. But Natalia was her own woman, a Black Widow and he had no control over that. She might not either, but no one owned her. He also wasn't fool enough to believe that the Winter Soldier, whether he had gained a name or not, was whole enough to have anything belong to him. Much less someone like her.
What they had... was as she said. A peek into what life they might live if they had those sorts of choices. A pleasant little secret they could have in their world. When he thought of her and how they responded to one another... how she cared for him as no other had, how he tried to return the favor in his own way. Thinking of that, how she'd said it was how she would want to live even if they couldn't, James found it didn't bother him.
So long as when she came to him he made her happy, as long as he made her truly happy, completely pleased, feel as he did, and as long as he pleased her more than anyone else. Then her missions were nothing but that. Missions, tasks they must do. If she wanted him, if she had the choice that she did not and that was what she would make, then it was all worth it.
Kudrin finished her musing and suddenly looked at him. He locked his steely gaze back on her and focused only on making himself completely stoic as he should be.
But... his stoic gaze broke and yielded to eyes blazing with anger. A night or two... Natalia hated the guards. She always had. Ever since, they showed her cruelty after her escape. Natalia's ire was not easily undone. She found their presence insulting and their manner was too. She often toyed with them or went out of her way to teach them a lesson. The idea that Kudrin's suspicions or hatred of him might force her...
But to show his rage would be to sign her death warrant personally. He needed control. So he lied quickly to maintain this situation. It had nothing to do with her as if she did not cross his thoughts as nothing more than any other girls.
"How you operate the Red Room or its occupants, matters not to me. As long as they continue to attend my sessions and do not fail me in them, attempt to leave, or show disloyalty to the state," He responded to her gleaming spiteful smile. If she thought a mere conversation would make him fold so easily... she really had no idea who she was dealing with. Of course... James was sure no one but Natalia realized who any of them now had under their control. The fact that he thought as he did would be frowned upon in and of itself.
He leaned in closer to the woman then. "Do not think I am blind to what you're doing. Your attempt to paint my training as a failure is lacking."
He snorted and raised his metal hand into a fist between them. The metal around the red star glinted as he looked over Kudrin coldly.
"We shall see when Romanova returns if my training has been inefficient or if her failure of a mission indicates it is yours that has. I am confident she will return successfully regarding what I have taught. My training is and will continue to lead to success for all Red Room candidates and the Department! Current and past. Perhaps if you focused on your part, we would have fewer failures," He said and stepped away from her with a finality in his voice.
He was done with this conversation and while he didn't think Natalia had failed, it was best to act as if he believed Kudrin in what could easily be a lie to corner him into giving up on information. The fact that this was happening was not good, though. Then again... it wouldn't be Kudrin's first time playing power games.
"No, I'm questioning their efficiency if they haven't responded in time! she spoke cooly, not the slightest impressed by the Soldier's try to intimidate her. She was aware that he wasn't allowed to hurt her. So his scowling and dark voice didn't affect her the slightest. They might hate each other, but in the end, they could not do anything against the other unless the government wanted something different.
She looked coldly at him and almost grinned as he told her about her reluctance to talk to her handlers. "That might be because she has disproportionately many missions with you, Soldier. Perhaps you take over the part of responding to the handlers and not her."
Her eyebrow quirked upwards in a displeasing manner. She hadn't understood the government's decision to keep them together. It was dangerous because obviously to have them together. Even if this was some kind of friendship, it would be hard to control, and the priorities might shift eventually. Especially because Romanova's interest was highly erratic and her priorities shifted significantly. For now, it hadn't been against the government's will, but according to Kudrin, it was only a matter of time.
She noticed a hint of anger as she mentioned sharing Romanova with the guards. It widened her smile, but she couldn't be sure of his actual outrage. Perhaps she could imagine things, but it definitely was a short difference in his usual stoic expression. Especially as he threatened her a little and raised his metal arm.
"I would watch my tongue, Soldier," she simply stated and continued "She was not my student to currently fail the country. But yours!"
"You no longer leave the Red Room; your information is flawed and inexperienced," He said coolly as she again tried to turn the handlers around on Natalia. In truth, handlers came second to the mission; everything came second to the mission. You were to respond to handlers unless it would upset the task and then you were not to.
He left with her departing sentence, done with their conversation. So that he didn't need to worry about it. Natalia would not fail. He only needed to say so much to her, which was an adequate time to leave. If Kudrin only knew... it was as he'd told Natalia a very, very long time ago. Their fates were intertwined now. James hadn't known how much they would become that way, but he had been right in that one thing.
Author's Note: 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 slash fi dot com slash fatedmuses
