"Look, if you don't give me the go ahead to do it then you'll simply wake up one day without me here." Nadia cocked her head, pretending to think, "Or, worse comes to it, you'll have to fight me as I'm clawing my way out of this place." Her arms crossed and stance was wide as though challenging anyone to object.
This child had to be insane. Did she really think that they were going to let her simply go to the one who had sent ten men just for her? Steve reflected for a moment that both her parents had stubborn streaks in them and she certainly had it in her blood. There would be no going against her unless they found a better strategy. In which laid the problem. Nobody had anything better. Nadia was the only one with information on him and even what she had was limited.
"No, it's too dangerous." He shook his head, "We'll find something else." There had to be another way.
"Time is of the essence here." Nadia leaned forward on the table, her fifteen years barely seemed relevant as her eyes lit up, "If I leave within the next 24 hours then it'll be perfect. If not, then we'd have to wait for him to leave another calling card. Not to mention, he'd know what I've done."
"A what now?"
"You really think he didn't know that ten armed men would be nothing for me?" The disgusted glance she gave him felt rather unnecessary, "That used to be something for a light day of training when he wanted the focus to be on other things but still get some physical training in."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," She gave a half smile that didn't reach her eyes, "He's calling me home."
Home? No, no, no. That place would never be home for her again. Nope.
"Even more reason for you to stay." Steve crossed his arms, "If he wants you there then that'll be the last place you are."
"He doesn't know where I stand so obviously he's going to send a message." She glared at him, "The next one he's not going to be playing this nice. He'll know after this. We won't see it coming and when it does it'll be hard and fast. Nothing you or I can do about it. Then there won't be any surviving for me or anyone near me for that matter."
"And where do you stand exactly?" Tony piped up, his face set in hard lines, "How do we know you're not double crossing us again?"
"I stand wherever will get me away from Hydra." The girl practically snarled at him. "If I were with Hydra I would have pulled out of this failed mission by now."
"Not now, Stark." Steve held up a hand before the man could continue, "We've gone through it already." Fixing his eyes on his daughter, he continued with the former subject, "I don't like it."
"I don't like it either but it may just work." Natasha spoke from her spot in the back, sitting in a chair and feet propped on the table. "She has a good point."
"It's not something the Avengers would do." Clint put in, "He may just go for it."
"And if he doesn't?"
"You do understand," Nadia turned to face him, "There's no you choosing for me in this situation. You can either help me or get in my way. Both will have the same end results."
Steve's sigh almost came out as a growl, "We'll do it but you're going to deal with every precaution we give you and stick to the agreed plan." Then he leaned back in the chair, shaking his head, "This better work, kid."
"If The Winter Soldier was right," Nadia replied, "Then after this, we won't have to worry about Hydra coming after me again."
xxx
"Go over the plan with me one more time." Steve stood in the hallway near the exit, asking as though this wasn't the fourth time, Natasha beside him. He was rightfully worried. Never in a million years would she have imagined that she'd not only have a child, but have one and then send it out to go back to the terrible person who raised her. Why did life have to be like this?
Nadia barely contained an eye roll, "Go to the meeting point, get him to bring me to his evil lair, then set off the tracker." She shifted, glancing at the door, "If I have to ditch the first tracker, I have the second one. Then you'll come and take him in for his crimes. Anyways, I'd like to leave now." Obviously, this was not what she had expected for a seeing off.
Before she could say anything, Steve brought her into a quick hug. It wasn't returned but she didn't pull the knife out and stab him either. "I'm sorry," He took a step back, "Just in case, though."
Nadia didn't acknowledge the comment but looked to Natasha with an eyebrow raised, "Do you want one as well?"
Why yes. Yes, she did. The spy wasn't much of a touchy feely person but this was her daughter and a high risk mission. Of course, she wanted to hug her. Instead, she gave a small smile, "If you don't mind."
"Might as well," She shrugged and didn't say anymore as Natasha gave her a quick squeeze.
Looking away towards the door, the girl just said, "Can I leave now?"
Both parents nodded. Steve had his usual concerned parent face on, "Be careful, Nadia, and we love you."
"Can't say the same," She still didn't look at them, swinging onto the motorcycle that had been snagged from Stark's plethora of vehicles, "But once this is over, maybe."
How could the girl say something that both hurt and filled them with hope at the same time? Before they could respond, she was out the hangar doors.
Back in the common room, most of the team huddled together to watch a movie. Clint was at home and Sam was still working his counseling job. The movie was one that only Tony had watched and insisted the rest had to 'educate themselves'. Settling on the couch, curled up against Steve, as he'd taken the corner seat, Natasha slipped her hands into her hoodie pouch. There was something in it. Taking it out, she found it was a piece of paper with words on it. The light of the movie was just enough to read it.
Trust me. Even if it doesn't look like you should.
Shit.
Xxx
"One hundred seven in…" The man barely got out between coughs of blood.
All of this could be a trap. But seeing as the medication seemed to be working quite well, Nadia couldn't exactly bring herself to care beyond being slightly more cautious. If she died it wasn't as if she could do anything about it. If she was captured and tortured it wasn't as if it hadn't happened before. So a trap would merely be an inconvenience.
Might as well.
