"No, I'm not feeling murderous or hallucinating." The teen rolled her eyes at Natasha before the woman said anything. Turned out, the girl's default was surly, short, and just generally grumpy. Maybe she should have given a list of personality requirements after all.

"Good -"

"Yes, I've done the required tasks and the daily schooling." The girl cut her off again, she was hanging from a bar - holding on by her toes, eyes now closed.

"That wasn't what I was going to ask but that is good to know." Natasha leaned against one of the posts, "I was wondering if you want to come out and get a drink with me."

"Alcohol has no effect on me but if you want a sober driver at 2 in the afternoon ask someone else."

"Didn't mean alcohol," The woman smirked, "Just a drink. Hot, cold, coffee, smoothie, I'd be down for anything."

Nadia was silent for a moment. How this child could be so infuriating was beyond her. Not once after coming home from the diner had they been able to cajole her into doing anything beyond the required tasks they'd given her. The hesitation didn't even stir up any hope now that it had been done so many times.

"I'd rather not." As expected.

Natasha left at that. What was the point in bothering to offer anymore?

--

Nadia let go as soon as her mother left. Why did they continue to bother? She had given an obvious pattern so why keep hoping for an anomaly?

"So, what's this I hear about you being a bitch to your mom and dad?" Sandwiches' voice came through the vents, it was far enough away that she wouldn't have been able to hear his heartbeat or movement through the vents. From the sounds of it he wasn't even in them but outside of one. Her enhanced hearing was the only way she could hear him.

To ignore him or take the bait? What would be more useful? "Am not." Taking the bait would be more interesting. There wasn't much advantage in it but it would be a change from her usual. It wasn't as if anything particularly mattered anymore.

"Ah yes, because torturing yourself and them by being an asshole for the next three years, is not bitchy." The sarcasm practically dripped from the vents.

There was no answer to that. Most of the things the two suggested doing sounded as though it could be enjoyable. But there was that lovely ability to say no. No point in having a power struggle over required tasks but having the option was tantamount to addictive. It was the same with not being pleasant or subservient to them. They didn't do anything about it.

He did have a point, however.

"You wouldn't understand."

"What an original statement, kid." Again the sarcasm. This man had nearly as much of it as the billionaire. Then came the more serious, expected tones, "You know, you can choose to say yes. Not just no."

"It seems you may understand some." She leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes, "I may decide to be less of a bitch." Yes was never an option. Ever. Never had been. It was the only way to survive. But if these people hadn't hurt her for saying no then maybe saying yes wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Sitting in the cell, the cold metal grates pressing against her skin. The smell of oranges. A promise.

Nadia shook her head, now wasn't the time for memories. Sandwiches was here. Which meant either he was bored or there was going to be a mission soon. Either way. He was here. The only enjoyable person on this upstate base that they had moved to after her severe malfunction. The closest town was miles away and the only human beings around were occasionally her parents with the random Avenger.

It'd been a month since they'd left the diner and there had always been one person with her whenever there was a mission. Her medication doses had been figured out and, so far, it seemed that it was working. They'd warned her that over the months she'd be feeling more and more but if it was ever out of control then she was to come to them. Once and only once had she had to tell them that she'd hallucinated. After that, it was fixed.

"You still there?" Sandwiches' voices came.

"How are you even hearing me?" Nadia frowned, "It's not as if you have super soldier hearing." In fact, she was pretty sure he was at least hard of hearing.

"A magician never reveals his secrets, kid."

"Well, get your magical ass over here so I can actually see you before you go off on some mission or whatever." Nadia stood, allowing herself a grin before stopping. Was it right to say that? That couldn't be the right move. One never expressed any form of attachment. The last times she did that it ended in a death and the other one leaving. No. Attachments weren't an option.

"How about we meet halfway. I'll stop crouching in a hallway talking into a vent like a weirdo and you'll stop hiding in the gym like the rest of the place will kill you." The smile was in his voice. He had noticed her sentiment. Damn it. But did it matter? It didn't seem to. Whatever she did, him, the Widow, and the captain wouldn't leave her. Didn't they realize how dangerous that was? How utterly foolish were they to think that she wasn't a liability?

"Fine, but I'm drawing the line at taking a shower." She gave a short laugh, "Can't stop being a bitch too fast."

"I'll take what I can get." Was all she heard before walking out the door. There was something about Sandwiches that she couldn't help but like. If that got him killed? It'd be time to up the dose of that supposed medication she was getting.

--

He hadn't meant to overhear but it was slightly impossible not to with his enhanced hearing. Now, why he had stayed there? He didn't have a proper excuse for that. But just hearing how relaxed she was and her mannerisms with Clint was a knife of jealousy straight to the heart.

The sound of the archer getting up roused him from staying around the corner and went forward as if nothing happened. He gave a nod to Clint, walking past.

"As you heard, she's coming to the common room." Came as soon as he was three paces away, "Might be good for you to be there."

Steve stopped and turned, his face started to go red, "How-"

"I didn't survive this long in this line of work for nothing, Steve." He smiled, quirking his head down the hall, "Come on, I'm sure we'll make it to the briefing room in time."

They walked down the hall. It was so sterile. Was this really how he had been living most of his life since being thawed? The modern, metallic rooms and halls. Nothing personal. Was this really how he wanted to live? Or for his child for that matter? No. But at least now it was temporary. Today was the first step in seeing just how well Nadia was doing.

"Do you really think she'll be okay alone?" He found himself asking.

"Whether she will or not," Clint's voice was hard, "We're going to need as many of us as possible." The only people not accounted for was Bruce and Thor. Even Sam was coming.

--

He had brought the parents as well. It was hard not to visibly deflate at the sight. To be expected. The troubles of being wanted by people she had no interest in being wanted by. Well, maybe… No. She couldn't let herself get anymore attachments. It was weakness. Made her vulnerable.

"Hey, Sandwiches," Nadia let herself smile, not missing the near flinch the other two gave at her warm greeting.

Walking up, he ruffled her lengthening blonde hair, "Hey, Nuts." He paused, looking confused, "Wait, Sandwiches?"

She shrugged, everyone at Hydra had a name so would the others, "Get used to it. That's been your name in my head since I met you." Her face was carefully blank but she made sure to give a touch of good humor to her voice.

"Why?" Her mom - mother asked, a small, curious smile sneaking to her lips.

"Why did he call me Nuts?" She countered, glancing at the man in question.

"Mostly because you called me something food related," He answered, then continued, "And you went kinda nuts on us."

"Fair enough."

"So?"

"You brought a massive amount of sandwiches as the first real meal I'd had in a week and the first I had since being imprisoned." She quirked an eyebrow, "I sure as hell wasn't going to call you Lunch."

He laughed, going to the couch and plopping himself down, "Okay, kid." Turning, he pulled something out from behind it, "Stashed this before I summoned you. Got a family gift."

It was a box with - oh.

"A gaming system?"

"Yep!" He nodded, placing it on the middle table, "Figured you guys could use something beyond just the traditional board game to play when the team gets back from our mission."

Nadia frowned, "All of you are going?" Would she be allowed to be alone for once?

"Unless you'd rather -" Her dad - her father started.

"No," She shook her head, joining Sandwiches on the other side of the couch, "It just must be a big mission if you're all leaving."

"Yep," Clint stood, "Going to need all hands on deck for this one."

"I could be of use if -"

"Not in a million years." Now it was her dad's turn to interrupt.

Nadia rolled her eyes, "Fine." The smell of his stress at just the thought of her going was radiating off of him. "How long will you be gone?"

"A week at most." Her mother replied, crossing her arms, "The plan is 24 hours, however."

"Speaking of the plan." Sandwiches looked at the time, "We have a briefing room to get to." He patted Nadia's shoulder as he passed by, "See you soon, kid."