"Why do you apologize for what you haven't done?" She was still suspicious, not letting go of the knife, "Were you the one who ordered her to do it?"
"No! I wouldn't do that." Steve shook his head, "But I do need you to give me the knife, Nadia." Side stepping with questions wasn't going to get her anywhere. Seeing as she had been close to killing Wanda with said kitchen knife it wasn't as if he was going to turn a blind eye, "We can discuss you having weapons at a later time but for now I'm going to need you to give it to me."
Nadia looked down at her hand, her guard was down, he could - no she wasn't a target. She was his child. He couldn't wrestle her down and pry it from her fingers. Not to mention, she was nearly as strong as he was. No need to set off her survival instincts and end up fighting a battle he didn't want or need.
Her hands were shaking, the bravado she had shown to Wanda was melting away. He took a step, "Please, Nadia. You don't need that. You're safe here."
It was as if the shaking was in her voice as well, she didn't look up at him, "Safe?" She brought the knife out from her sleeve, also producing another one from the other. "Safety isn't real. No place is safe." Were those tears in her eyes?
"No. But we can at least try to make it a safer place." Another step, he could grab them right now. No. She had to give them over. Taking them would only prove that they were trying to control her, "You can trust us, Nadia. We only want what's best for you." Please, he begged silently, give up the weapon.
--
His guard was down. She could kill him. She could gut him faster than he would have time to feel any sense of betrayal. Oh, how would it be to give into that split moment of insanity? To simply not follow the best strategy? To do whatever you wanted?
No. She didn't want to kill him. If he was dead she couldn't use him. A dead Steve was a useless Steve. At least for now. More often than not dead people were highly useful - if done correctly.
Three shied away a touch as he came yet another step forward. If he knew what she could do with this knife he would not be advancing so carelessly. So many ways to kill and torture a man with a blade.
--
"I," She didn't take another step back as he came forward slowly, "I can't." Her frame was still shaking lightly as a tear slid down her cheek, she wouldn't take her eyes off the knives.
"Please, Nadia." Steve cupped his hands lightly around her hands, "Nobody is going to hurt you here."
--
Natasha stood silently by the door, hoping that she wouldn't have to step in with any form of force. Just about any Hydra asset with a knife, no matter how young, was dangerous. The paperwork they had read mentioned training. Never explained what the training was but she had a feeling it wasn't simply cardio and push-ups with the occasional chess game. How early had the Red Room started teaching her knife skills? Knives were often far more versatile than guns and considered a good skill to hone.
She watched as Steve took her hands kindly and the flash of repulsion that crossed the girl's face before it went back to the mask of tears. Her head was ducked just enough so Steve couldn't see it. Touch was disturbing to her. Noted and to be observed further.
--
He was touching her. Three did her best to hide the grimace that came, unwanted, to her features. What did he want? Why? How was the best way to use this? Was he attracted to sniffling, scared girls?
Ah, it was a form of caretaker complex. Humans were disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Welp, she hadn't failed a mission yet and she wasn't about to. Death was not an option currently.
Three slowly let go of the knives, keeping her body in a trembling mess, and let a tear slip onto her hand. She didn't say anything and didn't look up as The Captain passed the knives to The Widow, who had been watching from a distance. She'd heard her come in a while ago. The acting was good enough to fool her father- but did it cut it for one of the Red Room's finest? Probably not. There'd have to be a way around that.
An arm was slung around her shoulder, he was saying, "How about we go watch a movie? Maybe some popcorn too." Dread curdled somewhere between her stomach and her throat. Of all things, she thought this thing might not be something she would have to do here. One of the age old routines yet again. But unlike the routine she would not make a move first. He would have to come to her to get what he wanted.
She kept her face a tired, defeated look and merely said, "Yes, sir." That would do to dampen the feeling of success but not totally crush it. As they left, Subject Three could feel the Widow's eyes on her. She would have to do better than this.
--
Heidi was the movie of the night. Steve had claimed it was probably a classic and therefore must be watched. Especially upon hearing that neither Natasha or Nadia had watched it yet. Finally, a movie that he knew and others didn't.
If it wasn't for the minor meltdown that his kid had over a pair of kitchen knives, this would be a much more pleasant situation. But he'd take what he could get.
Everyone was nestled in on the couch, the lights were out, the curtains drawn, and the screen lit up as it began to play.
It was nearly half an hour in when he felt Nadia's shoulders finally relax as she was sandwiched between himself and Natasha. Ten minutes later and she was nodding off. Understably so. It wasn't easy being confronted by someone who hurt you or everything else that had happened that day. Not that he'd ever been cornered in the bathroom by his father because he'd squirrled away steak knives up his sleeves. But he could imagine it would be rather draining.
--
Natasha watched as the girl's eyes slowly drooped closed as all three of them sat on the couch, her head eventually coming to a rest on Steve's shoulder. This kid was good. Too good. What was her end game?
In the meantime, two could play the getting comfy game. Not to mention, why sit when you can sprawl yourself out on top of other people? Careful to keep her movements slow and natural, she laid herself over Nadia, put a couch pillow on Steve's legs and placed her head there. Looking up she saw the man's soft smile. Maybe, just maybe things weren't as cynical as she had brought herself to believe. It would be good to take in the joy of this moment.
This was going to hurt like hell if this kid was playing them.
Damn it. So much for not being cynical.
--
-- Have you received a report from S3? --
-- Not as of yet, sir. --
-- If you don't soon then don't expect any. The fail safe will be initiated within the month. --
-- Yes, sir. --
A/N ~ I hope you all are enjoying the holidays!
