When was he going to do it? When would it happen? What was going to happen? There were several places here that could be used as serviceable torture rooms. Or would it be a different form of torture? How willing was The Witch to do his bidding? Her stomach rolled at the thought. There was no way she would survive a mental attack from the Scarlet Witch - at the very least she wouldn't be surviving in any state of sane.
Please, let it be physical torture. That could be withstood. Especially if she could pretend as though something hurt. If they took an interest in her accelerated healing and lack of feeling, she was ripped open time and time again then so be it. Better that than going against the telepath.
Three glanced up at The Captain, who was looking over the board with a pinched brow. The game had gone on for two hours so far. A couple people had come and gone, the Counselor popping his head in to say he'd be back tonight more than likely, and food had been procured. Her mother and Sandwiches were dots on the board. Wanda had been wiped out relatively recently. Sandwiches was holding out with a large force in Greenland and The Widow had holed up in Australia. As for herself, she had conquered Africa, Asia, and most of Europe with sizeable defenses and even better offensive positions. The Captain had everything else with a good defense but his offense wasn't nearly as good. If the dice rolled right then he would be defeated soon.
Was that the best course of action? Which was worse? Failing and soothing his wrath by stroking an ego but incurring punishment by not doing the best? Or winning, crushing his ego but no trouble for not doing her best? Ego always won. Mostly with men. She was already going to receive some form of torture if it was worse for failing then so be it. Three scanned the board, it was nearly her turn.
--
She had lost intentionally. It was obvious. There was no way Nadia had not seen the massive advantage she had been at. None. She was the one who had the strategy to get herself there! Neither was an accident. So why would she do that?
Steve watched as Nadia excused herself to get some water. He had to talk to her. There was no sidling around it. At the very least he had to apologize even if she understood that he would never do anything like that.
"I'm going to grab a coffee," He looked to Natasha and Clint, "Do either of you want anything?" When it was a negative from both, Steve left to the kitchen. Coffee. He was going for coffee. Definitely not to tell his daughter he didn't mean to scare the daylights out of her.
Nadia was at the counter, stirring lemonade mix into a cup of water, the ice clinking together as she stirred. Coffee. Coffee. That's what he was here for.
"I apologize, sir." The words came into the tense air, bringing no relief, "For my actions last night. They were unacceptable." She kept herself fixated on her task, not looking up at him.
Words. He had to have them in there somewhere. It was as if he was in front of Peggy all over again except not in the good way and so much worse.
"I'm prepared to receive the necessary corrective actions you deem necessary." Punish her. That's what she meant. This girl really thought he was going to hurt her.
"Don't." He rested his head on a cupboard door. Coffee forgotten. "Don't apologize, Nadia. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for."
Turning his head, he saw the confusion and suspicion cross her face before it was studiously covered up, "In fact, I'm sorry. Truly. I'm sorry for barging into your room without checking to make sure it was okay with you, I'm sorry for scaring you, and most of all I'm sorry that I gave you the impression that I - " Steve took a breath and turned towards her, her green eyes pierced into his, "That I was going to do anything inappropriate to you. I would absolutely never do that to you and wish I could kill every single person who has ever hurt you in that way, Nadia. I'm so sorry that happened to you and I'll make sure to be more considerate."
--
No. No. No.
This wasn't -
He wasn't -
Humans were disgusting. Across the board. No exceptions. Especially in this situation. There was a pattern that this went. He was breaking it.
"Please," His voice was far away, "Know I would never intentionally make you feel uncomfortable," Ah, so he wanted consensual - "and would never want to do that to you."
"Protocol doesn't -" She stopped herself, admitting she didn't know what to do wasn't keeping control of the situation. How could she use this? Getting closer. Manipulation. Gaining trust. She feigned trying to hide the confused grimace that came to her, "I don't-" Three looked up at him, he'd moved closer to her but had kept a noticeable distance, "You - you - don't." She looked down again, running a hand through her lengthening hair, "Apologies are given. Not received." Never in her life had she been given an apology until now.
Three snatched her drink and left to the common room where Sandwiches and her mother sat texting back and forth. Good strategy for living with two enhanced people. Annoying on her end but it served their purposes.
The man looked over the board with little interest, "How about we say you won, as usual, Cap?"
Her father, who had followed her in, simply nodded, "Sounds good to me. Now that Natasha's out of the game, you're completely surrounded, and Nadia over here gave up the high ground it's not if but when I'd win."
Her stomach dropped into her toes. No. She chose the wrong one. She should have won. A glance at him confirmed nothing. He was smiling. Damn it. Why had she thought she was going to get out of pain so easily?
"Nadia?" Sandwiches called to her, his eyes creased with concern, "You okay, kid?"
Nadia shook her head, "Yeah, I'm all good." No. There was a malfunction inside of her and it was making this mission all the worse. What was the mission again?
"What do you guys say about some sparring?" Methodically, the pieces were being picked up and put back into the box, Sandwiches gave her a smile, "I'd like to see how you do against your mom here."
"Is that okay with you, Nadia?" Steve grabbed the box, "If you'd rather not, you don't have to."
"It's been a while since I've had a sparring match." Nadia hoped her small grin didn't look maniacal. "It would be nice to practice."
Practice self control.
