Tony's POV

Not real. Not real. Can't be happening. Please don't be real. Tony curls his fists tighter in his hair, and rocks back and forth. It's dark in the small linen closet he's hiding in. It's dark. Not quiet. There are sounds outside of the closet. Glass breaking. Wood splintering. Woman screaming. Gunshot. Silence. Tony lets out a muffled sob. He unfurls his fist to clamp it over his mouth. He has to be quiet. That's what his mom had told him before she shut the door. She had also said that she loved him. That it was all going to be ok.

Tony freezes as footsteps near the closet. This is it. He tries hard to remember the good day he was having not an hour ago. That felt like forever ago. The footsteps stop. He holds his breath and shuts his eyes. It's over. Flinches as a gun fires. Opens his eyes. A black man with an eyepatch is kneeling over him. Saying something that Tony can't hear. He doesn't even know if sound is coming out. All he hears is ringing in his ears, and he just wants it to stop because everything feels wrong wrong wrong. The closet is vibrating. Or is he shaking? The bald pirate man is gentle. He holds out his hand. Tony doesn't know why. But he takes it.

He's vaguely aware of what's happening around him. He's guided out of his home, someone strategically guarding his eyes from the gruesome scene. Then he's loaded into a black van with three other kids inside. He doesn't say anything. Just quietly sits, and closes his eyes. Prays that this is all a dream.

Natasha's POV

Natasha sits quietly on the roof of her home. She perches on the peak of the rooftop, her legs dangling at an angle. Observing the stars, waiting for her father. Crickets chirp peacefully, and leaves scatter about. There's a rustling below, so she cranes her neck. Her father comes shimmying up the roof, sitting beside her. He huffs, but grins.

"You know kid, I'm going to have to use a ladder one of these days. I'm not as agile as you are."

She laughs. "My record is eight seconds to climb up here."

"Mine is 'almost had to call an ambulance'."

"I told you the gutter pipe wouldn't hold."

"Hey, blame your mom's casserole dish. It's like eating your weight in bricks."

Natasha giggles, and opens her mouth to respond.

"Nat, Hal, come down. The cake is ready!" Her mom calls.

Her dad makes a 'yikes' face. Natasha puts a hand over her mouth to silence her laughter.

"Coming!" They yell. Once on the ground, they walk up the stairs to the patio, and swing open the door. The smell of something burning fills their noses. Her dad runs into the kitchen.

"Laney! Did you turn off the oven?"

"Yes! I shut it off after the cake was done."

"Why does it smell like something is burning?"

"Because I shut it off after the cake had burnt."

Her parents begin to laugh as Natasha collects three glasses from the kitchen cabinet. Her mom begins serving the cake, and Natasha pours the milk. Once their all settled, said their blessings, they take a bite. Natasha's nose wrinkles.

"How long did you cook this?" She asks.

Her mother chews thoughtfully. "Dry."

They turn to Dad, who's on his third bite. "Eh, it's not bad."

Natasha shrugs and takes another bite of the burnt chocolate cake. It's crumbly, and slides dryly down her throat. She washes it down with a gulp of milk.

There's a knock on the door. Her father stands, brushing the crumbs from his shirt. He makes his way to the front door. Natasha forces another bite of cake down, quickly followed by a swallow of milk. She glances up as she hears the door swing open, and her father start speaking. The conversation between him and the other person gets heated. Her dad is exclaiming with his hands, a grim look on his face. Nat and her mom share a nervous look. She jumps to her feet as a black man in a black trench coat, and eyepatch pushes past her father, followed by five guards in protective gear. They hold her father back as he struggles to get to his family. Laney jumps in front of Natasha, arms protectively outstretched.

"Natasha Romanoff, we need you to come with us." Says the black man.

"She's not going anywhere with you!" Laney shouts.

"We need you to come with us. It's for your own safety." He repeats. Two guards come up, and pull her mother away. She kicks and swings, but she's not strong enough to wrench free. The last guard seizes Natasha by the arms and pulls her towards the door. "No! Let me go! Mom, Dad!" She sobs. Tears stream down her cheeks. She slams her fist futilely into the guards chest. "Don't let them take me!" She screams.

"We'll find you!" Laney cries. "It's ok baby!"

"We love you!" Calls Hal.

The guard pushes her into the back of a black van with four other kids inside. She pounds on the door as it shuts. "Mom! Dad!" Sliding down to the floor, she buries her head in her arms and cries. She's never felt so alone in her life.