The Soldier found out where she was and moved to retrieve her for training. It had been an additional day after he'd been called away from the Red Room to be debriefed... his body involuntarily shuddered, but he focused on his current mission. To train Natalia, to teach her to become a sufficient Widow. If she allowed it.

It was difficult but he thought about the other day's encounter and wondered how successful it would be. Only time would see that. He opened the locked door and stepped inside to scan the room for Natalia.

It was late afternoon on the following day until someone approached her again. By then, Natalia thought that this was her punishment. To be restricted to the bed until she died. There had been no sign of guards outside the door. Just her on top of the bed while being handcuffed to it. At first, she had thought it would actually get her some sleep and peace to think about what had happened after hours in the cold without anything to do. But, her wounded shoulder stretched; it didn't bring her sleep and rest but the opposite. Natalia's mind was occupied with the thought of dying like this and no one ever coming to look for her.

By the time they released her, she wasn't really able to move her shoulder as it pained worse than the day before. She was brought to the other girls and had to fight each of them. If they had known what happened the day before, they didn't show it. In fact, they didn't show mercy at all. Once the fifth arm was almost wrapped around her neck, she fought back. The only thing on her mind was the words of the Winter Soldier that you sometimes had to fight through your pain to survive. The woman who watched them seemed satisfied as she brought one of the girls down. It was her first time voluntarily winning instead of holding back. Her whole body shook in pain, but she tried to hide it.

Soon she was brought back to the room she had been to prior to the ordeal. This time they only handcuffed her healthy arm to the bedpost and left old food with her. First, Natalia ignored the food but soon was overpowered by hunger and started eating. This night she found a few hours of sleep. It was enough to keep her mind sane but not enough to feel rested. She sat on the cold ground, trying to keep herself warm. To her, it seemed like this room was actually a fridge. But it might also not be heated. After all, it was the Russian winter that had conquered so many people before. She looked up as the door was opened and looked at the Winter Soldier.

She didn't bother to stand up and potentially couldn't even. Her joints hurt from not moving, and her lips were blue from the cold. This time she didn't think they would leave her to die but retrieve her when she was vulnerable and weak.

"Hello-" she spoke as her voice sounded calm but hoarse and continued "-How are you?" It might seem like she simply wanted to do small talk. But it was her way of being grateful to see him.

He looked over her state and decided he would need to change their plans. She seemed in pain and her body was shivering subtly.

"Better than you, it would seem," He replied with a raised eyebrow. He crouched next to Natalia, reaching out with his left arm past her. He wrapped two fingers around the chains between the cuffs and pinched. It broke with a click and he then reached up and lifted her to the bed by her torso.

Natalia watched him as he walked up to her. She had nowhere to go except for the radius of her arm. Half of the space was blocked with the bed anyways. "I'm fine," she replied stubbornly even though it was most likely not his fault. Yet she couldn't help but think he was able to interfere with how people treated her. Yet she knew this was her punishment for escaping the facility. She wondered what happened to the people on guard that day for a moment. Surely they were also being punished for allowing a girl to break out.

Her eyes followed his hand to the handcuff, watching it break like a dry twig. "How did you get that arm?" she asked suddenly, sounding curious. She knew she should stay quiet about these things, yet she was interested. Natalia had chosen to speak English as it seemed he preferred that language when it came to such questions.

He would argue, except it was good to work through pain or torture. As much as he didn't like it, that wasn't supposed to matter for the mission. Still, the Soldier smiled at her. He found that vastly unlikely. He was still half crouched when she asked him another question, always inquisitive, Natalia. His body moved back up sluggishly as he thought of the answer.

But...

"I..." He spoke thoughtlessly, the English spilling thick and easy from his tongue. He blinked twice, and his blue eyes searched for answers beyond Natalia's face. He... his arm... he... he didn't really... "Don't think it matta's, does it?" He managed and he blinked the far-away look from his features. "It's a tool, and all that matters is how you can use it."

The Soldier stood fully in front of her on the bed, shook the strange feeling, and looked down at Natalia.

"So what was your punishment, Natalia?"

Natalia looked at him and tilted her head to the side. Was that lack of knowledge, or didn't he want to tell the truth? She wondered and tried to decipher his body language. The way he thought for an answer told her it was the lack of knowledge. It surprised her and she looked for signs that might indicate he was being treated the same as all the girls in this school.

"Do you really think it doesn't matter?" she continued knowing this would most likely get her into trouble and spoke casually. "Even you must agree that sometimes the why is more important than the tool." The young redhead had searched for the correct English words before finishing her sentence.

His question made her laugh. Natalia moved her shoulder to solve the stiffness and numbness. She didn't know why his question amused her, but she gestured around.

"Welcome to my new home. Do you like it? The food is great and it's warm, comfortable and light, isn't it?" she answered sarcastically. It was the only thing she said about her punishment. After that, she stayed quiet over what they had made her starve and basically fought for her food.

She looked away from the man in front of her trying to appear light-hearted, like she wasn't cold and hungry. But the shiver would tell him otherwise. Being restricted to such a small place hadn't helped keep her warm. Yet she wouldn't complain because she knew it would only make things worse and the sparse food might stop coming. She was at the mercy of those guards, and Natalia knew that.

The Soldier's face twisted into confusion again... "Yes," He muttered, but his total resolve wasn't in it. He cleared his throat silently and wondered why it troubled him. Why wasn't it essential unless it led to a successful mission... but maybe the why might help in certain situations? He couldn't help but recognize how differently she thought from the other trainees.

He snorted at her sarcasm as she spread her hand around. The Soldier shook his head at her. Her mouth would get her in trouble and help her in many situations.

"I will see what I can do," He said, uncommitted. "You do not seem rested enough to train..." The Soldier said unhappily. If she could not train, he could not progress in his mission. He was recently reminded, yesterday during his debriefing, that his orders were firm to teach these women effectively. A slow pace was not effective.

He moved towards the edge of the bed and took in the room's emptiness. As he walked along the room for further inspection, the door opened. The Soldier stilled and watched as two men who worked for Kudrin and the Red Room walked towards his charge.

"Time to earn your keep fo..." The man paused in his harsh words as he took in the Winter Soldier standing opposite her bed. The man cleared his throat but didn't look away from his cold gaze.

"Earn what, comrade?" The Soldier questioned quickly. It wasn't hard to imagine. The man's nose pinched, but he remained quiet.

"I have orders fr-" His words were silenced as the Soldier swiftly crossed the small room to the guard and his metal arm swung out and he grasped the man by the neck. A silent snarl shaped his face, and his eyes were narrowed and dark.

"Earn. What?" He repeated, and with each slow word, he squeezed until the man was sputtering. Unlike Natalia, his fingers dug into his throat and already started bruises there.

He remained silent and the Soldier growled as he threw the guard up high over his head through the air and crashed into the door, feet away with a clatter. The Soldier leapt forward with practiced speed and even as the guard reached for his gun, the Soldier stepped down on his wrist and the man let out a savage snarl when he twisted.

"What will she earn, soldier? Answer or your wrist will be of no further concern." He announced and dug his heel in harder. Another guard charged through the door but clearly expected Natalia to fight back because he didn't expect the punch from the Soldier or when he twisted and grabbed him by his vest to throw him onto the ground. Instead, his head rattled against the floor and dazed him.

Not bothering to speak again, his boot came up and then back down and cracked the guard's wrist. He screamed out and the Soldier reached out to pick him up with his left arm again and ran his face across the cement wall. He pushed him to a halt just before Natalia's bed and leaned into his ear again.

"Now."

"Food, rations... a blanket if she did well against the other girls." He spluttered around the blood in his mouth.

The Soldier threw his fist into the back of the guard's head and dropped him in a crumpled heap on the floor. He breathed in quickly, his eyes swept over to the other guard and the other man stammered, his eyes large and filled with fear at the Winter Soldier's sudden attack.

"Inform Kudrin, when you speak to her, that I will be coming to her to explain how I will be training these girls now. This one she failed to raise correctly is not to be an exception and the state is not happy about her failures, either."

The man didn't say anything. He just jetted to his feet and whipped around the door. He watched until he was satisfied he'd taken his message to Kudrin. The department was not happy... they'd let the Soldier know that explicitly during his debriefing, and the Soldier had also been punished. Nevertheless, he had taken it as he should have and was returned to finish this mission. Kudrin would not interfere now that he felt renewed purpose.

Natalia listened and watched the whole ordeal quietly. Somehow she knew the Winter Soldier's anger was against the wrong person. Still, Natalia felt glee over finally having someone on her side. Perhaps the man wasn't as bad as she imagined him to be. The violence neither surprised nor affected her. She probably felt empathy with the man, but she didn't. They would have easily discarded her body or thrown her to fight the other girls. The only time she showed sympathy was when the man's wrist cracked. She shortly flinched as it was like her own wrist was broken.

She stood up and walked, standing in front of the man instead of sitting on the bed. She tilted her head to the side in the prospect of a blanket. Yet she turned away and walked over to the man who had been tossed on the floor. She looked down at him but didn't reach for his gun. It would be easy for her to leave with a gun. Yet she stayed and simply watched. Perhaps it was because of having the Winter Soldier on her heels or that they would kill her this time and not because she felt grateful towards the dark-haired man. At least that's what she told herself. Natalia bit down a comment about how she needed that blanket and wanted to fight if that was what it takes to get one.

Once the man ran away, she carefully walked to the Winter Soldier. She watched the man's body language, unsure if his anger would turn against her.

"How... How will I get that blanket now? It might be handy...", she spoke quietly and looked at him. There was no way of denying the room was cold. It was funny how the only thought on her mind was that blanket instead of the displayed violence.

The Soldier turned to look at her as she spoke and looked at her calmly. "You will still be able to earn it." He said and eased the rest of the tension from his shoulders. Missions usually required him to remain fighting until completion. But, once again, he was reminded of the difference in this mission.

It was good she thought this way. Nothing was given here, nor anywhere in the world. She would still need to earn it. While the Soldier understood there would be punishment for her lack of discipline and attempt to escape, he would not let it go so far that she could not train. This was a petty play by Kudrin, who believed she had all day in the program. She was unhappy her decision was ignored and thought she would break Natalia another way so she could not train to go on. This was not in the interest of the Department or the state. It was also not alright, in a sense.

"Just in the proper way," He responded. He also wanted information on what the guard spoke of before when he came in. "So how did you do against the others, Natalia?"

"And how and when?" she asked and looked at him as she awaited his answer. Natalia looked to the door again, worrying about the lack of food and a blanket. Before knowing there might've been the prospect of getting more than just food, she didn't bother thinking about it. But now that she might've been really close to receiving a blanket, she was starting to brood a little.

Her attention snapped back to the Winter Soldier once he asked her a question. She bit down a snarky comment. After all she had eaten so it might be obvious. Kudrin would've made her starve and restricted to the bed only otherwise. "First I lost, then I had enough of them wrapping their arms around my neck, so I won. She seemed satisfied though...", she stated simply with a shrug and mumbled "There was food at least" It was true. She had only decided to partake in the women's game because she had been fed up. The answer wouldn't satisfy the man in front of her but most likely anger him. Yet she saw no sense in lying; Kudrin might tell him anyway.

"Comrade Kudrin and I will discuss it," He didn't know why but felt obligated to say more. He shouldn't, but he did. "She is still in charge of all of your training, but about you, some things will change with my training you."

He nodded as she went on and he was interested in that. So she did turn around and win, then. Her realization the other day may have helped? She didn't like that she won... but essentially lost to Kudrin's wishes. Perhaps training with him was the best idea. It seemed like he just needed to push her properly.

"Your training will be very different from here on in. I will have the final say on these matters and you will gain more than just food and warmth. So long as you put your real effort into our training."

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a deal, Natalia?" Which was a strange thing to do, ask her. But if she wanted to train, succeed and get out of her current trials... it might be best if she agreed to it.

Natasha nodded and guessed that meant a few more nights without any warmth. Perhaps it would be easier for her to get used to the cold. At least she hadn't felt it as the Winter Soldier entered the room. "Will I at least be able to move around, or is this a current state?" she asked and showed him the handcuff's side, which was still dangling from her wrist. If she wasn't restrained, she would be able to keep herself warm by moving or doing sports activities. It wouldn't be ideal with the lack of food, but better than dying at the hands of the Russian Winter and losing against Kudrin. Perhaps this could be her new goal instead of fleeing from here. The thought of actively partaking in training simply to wish that smug smile on her face. It sounded way too tempting to Natalia and she started grinning a bit.

She listened to him speak and was surprised by his question. Natalia was well aware it only created an illusion of her having a choice, but she did appreciate the gesture. "I... Yes, I think that sounds about right to me," she finally agreed after a moment of silence and nodded firmly. Will I need to give up on ballet?" she asked carefully. This had been the only part of her training that was actually fun. Natalia loved to dance and the discipline behind it. She knew she shouldn't enjoy it this much and maybe show that but still, she couldn't help but ask. She would do it if training well in combat allowed her to continue dancing ballet.

He looked at the handcuff she dangled from her wrist and couldn't help but shake his head. Natalia had no lack of sarcasm. But he was pleased that she agreed without much hesitation. It was good; things might progress much more quickly this way.

"This will shock you, but I'm not much of a ballet dancer," He said with a smirk. It was an unexpected stab of humor coming from him. "I will work out with Kudrin that you are to maintain your other lessons as long as you excel with my training."

She watched him, tilted her head to the side at his comment, and cracked a smile. Was he warming up towards her? she wondered as she kept her smile. Perhaps this could have turned out better than her training before. Natalia seemed to relax a little at that thought and watched the man thoughtful. What were his true motives for training her? she wondered. His initial statement didn't sound faithful to her, though. "Thank you..." she spoke and tried to get the image of him in a tutu out of her mind before it would get her into trouble. But still, she couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

Natalia looked at him and wondered what would come next. It seemed like he wanted to define each parameter of training her and she wasn't sure if she was supposed to ask what her training included. But, on the other hand, she could imagine that part, so she felt no urge to do so. "What's your name?" she suddenly asked him, unsure what she could call him because Winter Soldier didn't seem appropriate to her. Yet the question was out of the blue.

He nodded; her thanks still felt odd and addressed to him. He was used to people being pleased with his work, but... to an extent, and it wasn't something he was thanked for. Things he did, they were expected of him. Thanks were not in the equation. It was... odd, uncomfortable, almost.

Natalia was indeed strange. So unlike her counterparts in this facility. She laughed and he sent her a questioning look before he wiped it clean and bent to pick the soldier up by his shirt. Instead, he dragged him towards the door and threw him there. He'd dispose of him with someone as he went to speak to Kudrin.

He faced the door, standing from setting the man against the outer wall when she voiced another question. He wasn't sure why he became hyper-aware of his position and movements as he stood. But he kept his face loose because of it.

"Soldier will be fine," He told her. He... he did not know what else to say to her. He was the Winter Soldier... and... he did not know... it wasn't part of his mission, he shouldn't care... he glanced over Natalia. So many questions were out of her... and why wasn't he sufficient to answer them?

He supposed as long as his loss of information wasn't vital to training her... it didn't matter so much.

Natalia looked at the man as she sat back down on the bed. She watched him and could almost feel the awkwardness as she thanked him. Perhaps she wasn't supposed to? She had no answer to it but noted the strangeness in his behavior. In the future, she wouldn't thank him. She tried to shake the strange feeling off, yet she watched him quietly. Wildly after, he gazed at her questioning. That one definitely was a stoic and severe person. Even if he cracked some joke, he didn't expect her to laugh. It confused her greatly.

He only seemed to know being violent. Apparently, having someone to train was just as awkward to him as it was to Natalia. Yet she knew she thanked him for her life. She would've died two days ago if it was for anyone else. She frowned even more. Simple questions like asking for his real name caught him off guard. But perhaps she was misinterpreting things because why would he care about not telling him his real name. It made no sense and the thought that he might have forgotten it didn't even cross her mind. After all, why would someone forget something like that?

"In that case, I'm Romanova!" Natalia spoke calmly and folded her hands in her lap. She watched him passively as it annoyed her more than it probably should. But if he wanted to be called Soldier it would be fine with her. But it took two to play such a game.

He let out a dry, noiseless laugh. Natalia said it with as much poise as he could imagine. But, just as she declared it, that determined look again entered her eyes.

"If that's what you wish, Romanova," He said, a smirk stretched at his face without his knowledge. "If you want that blanket by tonight, you'd best come to move with this one with me." He said, motioning outside the door with his head.

"It's exactly what I wish, Soldier," she spoke calmly and managed to keep her facial expression in check. She might seem bored, but she took it as winning this one. She had cracked his mask and perhaps even made him some kind of laugh. Unfortunately, she couldn't identify his smirk just yet. But still, she was satisfied with herself. If he gave her bullshit, she would give him some as well. "I thought we were on a first-name basis. So you could've at least offered Winter." she joked but was still the epitome of calmness and boredom and didn't even crack a smile at her own joke.

Once he mentioned that he wanted her to move the man away, she sighed and exaggerated like she did have better things to do than that. Yet she rose to her feet, thankful to leave this room. She walked over to the Winter Soldier and stood beside him. She watched him, trying to gauge the slightest facial expression. Eventually, she moved past him and looked down at the man. She was unsure whether he was still alive and decided she didn't want to know either.

"Where do you want him to be?" she asked and got ready to lift the man up by grabbing him under his shoulders. It would be enough to drag him around. She was sure that the man wouldn't mind his pants getting dirty and wet. But, even if he did, it was not her problem, and she didn't care.

As a heaviness settled over him, he realized it hadn't been there. This was... a normal state of being. But he didn't know why or how it had changed. Hm. He didn't delve into the thought or the... feeling? The feeling her continued pestering brought on. That Winter Soldier was a designation; it was a name... yes. But it also... wasn't.

His eyebrows pinched again as she stood and stared at him. What was she doing? Not sizing him up. She wasn't challenging him or demanding anything. She didn't even speak. So why stand there and stare? The Soldier fought hard to keep his face relaxed, and he wasn't sure why it was so damn hard. Maybe because she was looking, he had to concentrate on ensuring there was nothing there.

She asked him about what he'd asked her to do, and he was relieved to have something to focus on again. Not that he'd stopped... he shook himself and focused.

"Take him to his barracks, and then you can meet me for your blanket outside Kudrin's office. Then you must rest your shoulder so we can begin training as quickly as possible."

A satisfied smile settled on her lips as he obviously thought hard to keep his facial expression blank. The trouble was that the more he tried not to show anything at all, the more he told her in the end. Natalia thought the urge to actually say something and give him help on how to make it harder for people to read his body language and facial expression. But this was handy for her, so she stayed quiet. Moreover, he was her teacher, so why should Natalia help him? It was sad that someone like him couldn't keep his facial expression in check, or had she become good at reading other people?

Oh, there it was. The Winter Soldier was back, she realized after she had asked him what to do with the man. "I'll be there." she promised and started walking backwards while pulling the man outside the building. Once outside, the cold hit her as she didn't have a jacket but still wore the bloody clothes from her escape. Natalia hadn't been given anything since her attempted escape. Of course, she drew attention as she pulled an unconscious or dead man to the barracks. After all, she had gained some fame by almost succeeding in her escape.

Soon she was stopped by one of the guards and found herself with a gun aimed on her head. "Explain yourself!" the man demanded to know and she huffed. Natalia raised her hands in an innocent gesture but was already thinking if she could tell him. "The Winter Soldier has told me to move this man back to the barracks." she stated truthfully, but the man didn't believe her but stepped closer.

"Of course, he has!" the man spoke sarcastic and checked on the man. The guard found a pulse and seemed relieved, but still, he eyed Natalia suspiciously. He seemed unsure of what to do. After all, no one wanted to get in the way of the Winter Soldier, but he seemed to believe Natalia was lying.

"Finish your orders and we will go to the Winter Soldier!" the man ordered and kept his gun aimed at her. Natalia rolled his eyes and began to pull the man to her destination with the guard trailing her. She fixed her eyes on the man, ready to dodge a bullet. Her body was tensed. Obviously prepared to jump or hide behind the man at any given moment. Natalia dropped the man inside the barracks and looked at the guard.

"May I go to the Winter Soldier, now?" she asked even though she hated to ask for permission. She had orders to see him, and she had absolutely no respect for the puppets that called themselves guard. Especially not after taking some of them down. The man lowered his gun and nodded. Never drop your weapon on your target, Kudrin's voice echoed in her mind and a slight smirk played on her lips. The man seemed to see her reaction and almost instantly seemed to get nervous and aim again.

"Walk!" he ordered and she casually strolled towards Kudrin's office as instructed. But Natalia took her time even though the cold wind burned on her skin. Yet she could almost smell the fear of the guard, which was satisfying. "What do you think will happen when they find out you disturbed my orders? The Winter Soldier and Kudrin will be delighted with you..." Natalia spoke casually and glanced at the man from the corner of her eyes. She didn't know why but she was feeding his fear. The redhead was only a student, yet the guard seemed to fear her.

"The Department has clarified what another attempt like this would mean for the program." Kudrin said crisply, the only tone she had to her voice.

"Then it would be best to stop your interference with my training."

"I won't leave this program's fate in your hands completely."

"There are many girls, and Pcholvinsk found it agreeable."

"Romanova will still need to attend my classes. She is far from the program's competed standards."

"So long as she attends extra training with me for discipline."

"Since she's a problem case, that is agreeable. But take it as your own responsibility... with the department."

He turned from the desk he'd been standing next to so long, tired of the back and forth. Finally, they had evened out the necessities of the deal.

"Your fate is tied to this program. So you had the best hope for her complete success as well."

He stepped out, and his eyes swept over Natalia and a guard whose gun was trained on her. Hm. She was locked up, but he might as well make this a learning opportunity.

"Romanova, you completed your task?" He asked, knowing already she must have. "If this one was in your way of finishing, I want you to treat him as if he were in between you and your mission," He said, and then she could have her blanket. After she fought this man and Kudrin's little charade with these guards meant more for the base's defense would be put to rest. Between his clear message in her room and the one, she must make now. It would be good to see how she faired injured, as well.

Natalia looked at the Winter Soldier, and then her gaze switched to Kudrin's office. She seemed torn between following his orders and listening to the woman. The girl was trying to figure out who would have the more extended breath in this pissing contest between Kudrin and the Winter Soldier. But she was under the man's direct orders, wasn't she? It took her a moment to figure out what she wanted for herself. She had wanted that gun since he first aimed it at her head. He had sealed his own fate. Finally, a smirk appeared on her lips, which would turn into one of her trading marks shortly before eliminating the threats, and she looked at the Winter Soldier. "He lies on the ground in the barracks." she answered truthfully.

She kept standing with her back to the guard. "Don't tell me I didn't warn you. I did have direct orders! You shouldn't have pulled that gun." Natalia spoke to the guard even though it seemed like she was talking to the Winter Soldier. Almost immediately, the redhead turned to the guard and kicked into his solar plexus, so the man had no choice but to bow forward while gasping for air.

The gun fell to the floor, which caused it to shoot on its own. The bullet luckily missed both the Winter Soldier and Natalia. However, it startled Natalia long enough for the guard to leap for her and wrap his arm around her neck. At that moment, Kudrin walked out and gave the guard a curt nod indicating he should finish.

Natalia gauged the woman's reaction and mumbled "Oh no, you won't!" She placed her hands on his arm and jumped upward, placing her feet against the wall before pushing her feet off it, so he had no other chance, but to stumble backwards and she brought her own foot between his legs, so he fell on his back. The action caused him to release her neck. They both fell to the floor, but she was quicker on her feet and stamped her foot hard onto his face. It most likely broke more than just his nose and definitely left him unconscious.

Just like that, she had attempted to escape. Her mind had become blank and filled with rage and determination once she saw Kudrin's slight nod. Natalia didn't even feel the pain in her shoulder. It just came crashing down on her that she might've just killed a man and her eyes filled with horror as she looked down at the guard.

"Good," He said, pleased, but that was all he said. Instead, he watched critically as Natalia rationalized why and continued fighting the man. She favored kicks, which were complimentary of her training. His trainee would have more momentum this way. But, as much upper body strength as she might be able to obtain, she could always still be outmatched. Mastering the use of leverage ensured that did not happen.

His cold gaze leveled on Kudrin, who had joined to watch. He was unsure whether her signal to continue was to push Natalia to finish her task and continue the fight or if she was still malicious in intent.

It did not matter because Natalia rose victorious. Whether Kudrin liked it or not...results were results for her Red Room. The Soldier had an idea Natalia would continue to prove this point.

The still young girl looked down in surprise, perhaps shock, unhappy with it. This, they must correct. The Soldier walked over to the guard and nudged him with his boot. His chest was still, and his neck popped out of line. So she'd cracked his neck with the force of her blow. The Soldier nodded and turned to Natalia, his voice almost warm with his praise.

"Very well done, Romanova," He told her and stood aside. "You have neutralized the threat and followed through on your orders." He barely walked into the doorway of Kudrin's office, where he had left her reward. The Soldier turned back out of the room and held a blanket in front of her. As promised. Natalia would have to realize that she would be warm tonight because of her success and that it was a good thing.

Natalia kept looking down at the man even as the Winter Soldier came to her side. She didn't listen to what he said or even register that he was talking. She looked at the man's neck, which was unnaturally located and crinkled her mouth. At least it had been quick and didn't leave him paralyzed. Eventually, she turned around to take the promised blanket. She walked over to Kudrin and the Winter Soldier and snatched it out of his hands. She looked cold and calculating at the woman.

"Seems like we don't always get what we want, do we?" she spoke, sounding way more courageous and colder than she felt. Natalia said about her death and the apparent silent order to finish the redhead once and for all. Her mouth had betrayed her again, and she knew her comment would get her in trouble, but she didn't care. The woman was about to slap the girl for Natalia's big mouth, but the redhead was faster and stepped back before the fingers could connect with her cheek.

If anything, those past days had taught Natalia anything. She wasn't afraid of Kudrin anymore. In fact, she saw the woman as a weak link in the complete system. She was too fed up with her own success to realize that things weren't working as she wanted them to. She was weak. She gave a quick bow like one of those at the end of a ballet show without being dismissed. Natalia turned around to walk out of the hallway into the cold. She stepped over the male corpse, carefully placing her feet so she wouldn't end up touching him. Once outside the hallway, she clutched the blanket close to her chest, unsure if the Winter Soldier would take it away again for what she had said to Kudrin. But perhaps he wouldn't. After all, he didn't seem too fond of that woman.

The redhead waited outside for the Winter Soldier unsure if she was allowed to go back to her rooms. She simply stood there and looked around as little smokes of her breath left her lips. She was trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Natalia realized that she might not be better than the other girls. Nothing stopped her from killing and she was capable of doing so. The last few days had proved so. Even if there was no acute threat. She could've easily made the man unconscious, but her mind had gone blank, and she ended up murdering him for simply following his own orders. A cold sensation traveled down her spine. Perhaps she should have had more trouble about it, but she didn't feel anything else than anger against Kudrin.

"She may be one of our strongest, one of the angriest... but she does not follow through for the Red Room, Winter Soldier."

"She will," He said cooly and turned his deadly gaze to her, a silent threat of their own. "If you stay out of the way."

He left after that and wondered if he should do something about Natalia's lack of authority... but he didn't feel he needed to address petty politics. She had not disobeyed an order of Kudrin's... so he did not need to punish her, and she had followed him.

The Soldier stood back and watched her for a moment before he walked towards her, his boots crunching lightly in the snow. She seemed troubled, still, and this was something she would need to be taught not to be.

"Do you feel guilt?" He asked of her, his blue eyes lowered, and although they were not as steely as with Kudrin, they still were focused. This was an essential part of her training. Indeed, she would need to do these things without the hesitation he could see now. She had dutifully not hesitated then, but this could only be a distraction to her now.

She blew out her breath and watched it transform to smoke and move upwards. She heard the Winter Soldier coming before she could see him. He moved louder than the rest of the facility, more like a soldier than a spy. Perhaps it was his boots or how the Soldier moved, but his movements were so noisy compared to the girls or Kudrin's. He moved more like the guards, just in a different way. Natalia couldn't explain it.

The redhead heard his question but stayed quiet. What did it matter if she felt guilty or not? It wouldn't bring the man's life back. After all, he had just followed his orders as well. She could feel his gaze on her, but she stayed quiet. There was no truthful answer to his question because she didn't know it herself. Natalia felt torn as she apparently couldn't tell right from wrong, which greatly confused her. "What is my punishment for lashing out at her?" she asked to change the topic without answering his question. She was sure there would be consequences.

Perhaps no food or the absence of the blanket? Taking away the blanket would be cruel. That would be like showing a dog a treat and offering it. But one snatched it away seconds before the animal could eat it. There weren't many things they were able to take away. She was already on her own, away from the girls. Food and water were scarce, but they needed to keep her alive for now. So the only solution would be to take away the blanket she had earned by killing that man.

She did not choose to answer and he felt this was an adverse sign. But perhaps time would tell better than words if she hesitated next time or took down as she should.

"You did not disobey any of her orders," He stated coolly. "And you did not attack her. You did well against the soldier," He added. "So I see no need for punishment."

A slight smirk formed on her lips as the Winter Soldier stated there would be no consequences for her. She was trying to figure out whether it was because he disliked that woman or because she had followed the orders and not necessarily disobeyed them. Finally, she chose to unfold the blanket and wrap it around her shoulders to shield herself from the cold. It was already burning on her skin; if her body cooled down, it might get dangerous.

"What does it matter if I feel guilty? The result counts and I did end things as supposed to, didn't I?" she finally spoke and chose to indirectly answer his question. But she still didn't look at the man next to her. If she didn't use her sass or lash out at people, Natalia seemed to be closed up and quiet. Preferring her own company over the girls' one or the Winter Soldier. "Besides, he was a guard and not a soldier. He didn't hold the gun properly - a soldier would know how to hold one. It comes naturally to them, like holding a pen. Years of training and shooting... And his steps sounded differently. Yours are heavy and loud like the ones of a soldier who marched miles over miles. His were lighter." she said, revealing that she might see and hear more than most people believed her to be. Natalia had become a reasonable observer over the years.

"It doesn't," He responded, except that he was sure she should feel nothing over it. As he did. But... the Soldier supposed that as long as she did as she was supposed to... and her mission was successful, perhaps it did not matter. He couldn't argue the point; all that mattered was a mission's success.

She continued on and he watched on silently. He was impressed. Honestly, he was. She was not a Soldier, so how did she know? So many lessons, perhaps, the Red Room was successful. His mind seemed to dance over images of such trenches, tireless hours of training, shouting, pouring rain and bombs. You could hardly see through with running and blinding flashes to fight back.

The Soldier let them press by; perhaps he only knew because of how she did. But she said his steps matched, but he had been on many missions, which was the same, was it not? He was a Soldier for Russia, just in a different field.

"You are very wise, Natalia," He nodded, for she wasn't wrong. "You will do well."

"Thought so." she replied and felt satisfied with herself. Each time she could use her own logic against this facility's higher-ups, she seemed to relax a little. She didn't know why but it gave her a sense of being able to outsmart them. Use their weapons against them like the Red Room had tried to teach her. But they weren't supposed to do so. Simply accept their fate and do what they were told. Not to think about anything like everyone wanted her to be like a puppet.

"Not wise but observant. The only wise thing I do is show no one what I'm capable of. As long as people underestimate me, I'm the actual threat." she spoke grimly and again realized she had said too much. She shouldn't share those things, yet here she was telling the Winter Soldier about it. Why did she trust him? Did sparing her life mean that much to her? All those questions were making her head spin. "The ballet helps us to move lightly to not make a sound while walking. That's why Miss Kudrin is moving silently. But you move and fight differently than the rest of this facility. That's what gives it away. Something about your posture and...and something else. But I cannot put my finger on it.", she said and looked at him for the first time.

It was the same gaze she had given him earlier. Natalia was trying to reread him, but there was nothing to be read. Even his eyes seemed blank; only an empty mask-like thing was simply not there. It confused her a lot. Perhaps he was merely good at keeping things in check, or she wasn't as good as she thought.

He wondered what it meant that she told him this information. Perhaps she assumed he did not underestimate her and, as such, would already know. She had switched to English... Or had he? As he continued, the practice for her would be well put to use.

"If you continue that logic, you will never reach the point where they understand you can be a threat to their enemies and understand they need you."

He wondered why he moved differently. He was heavier, certainly. That is why he was sent to train them here. So he could teach them how to fight as he fought.

Something else? He did not understand the question. It did not seem relevant, though. She looked at him and the Soldier stared quietly back. The Soldier did not know what she was trying to observe, but he stayed quiet until he decided it was enough.

"You must rest now. I will ensure you rest and eat well. We begin training in two days, so be ready, for I will not pause again for rest."

"Why would I want to be a threat to their enemies? It doesn't profit me one bit," she answered and looked at him. Curiously how he would explain that. It was the initial reason why she chose to hold back. Those people expected her to do everything for them, but there was nothing they would give her back, wouldn't there? She knew that was selfish, but why should they be the only ones profiting from that arrangement.

She saw the confusion as she mentioned why he was loud. Most people wouldn't even recognize that the man was more clamorous while walking than others. But for some reason, she had. It was partly why she slowly trusted him. He wasn't part of this facility. He certainly was part of it but not as much as everyone else.

Natalia sighed as he mentioned that she should go back to her room. "I'll be ready," she simply said and looked finally away from him. Maybe training with this man would be more interesting for her. At least she could try solving that man like a puzzle. There were so many questions about him that she couldn't answer just yet. And no Kudrin to be around - that definitely was an upside.

This is the first story of a full series around Bucky and Natasha's unseen past in the MCU. Stay tuned!

Leave a kudos or put it in the comments what you think will happen next or what you loved! It'll be great to hear from you! If you enjoyed the story, feel free to treat me to a coffee on KoFi! ko slash fi dot com slash fatedmuses